CHAPTER 90………………………………..
The theater, located along the main avenue passing through the city center, was always bustling with people waiting for the performance to begin and street vendors selling snacks to them.
The air, filled with the sweet scent of candy and pastries, mingled with the perfume of the noblewomen, creating an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation.
Shy couples, wearing expressions both lovely and sweet, stood side by side, exchanging glances, occasionally blushing.
Watching them, Anje quietly clicked his tongue.
‘Such pretentiousness won’t last long…’
Judging by the almanac, half of these people each had different partners, while the other half only appeared affectionate on the outside but secretly held ill feelings toward each other.
Though naturally skeptical of love, Anje often felt a bitter sense when he noticed that people who outwardly seemed deeply in love were, in fact, harboring separate intentions in their hearts.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been here.”
At the dowager’s words, Anje turned from gazing out the window and looked around.
In the lounge prepared for VIPs, noblewomen sat in small groups around tables, sipping tea while waiting for the performance to begin, Anje and the dowager included.
“I used to come here quite often, but after Joseph went to the front lines, who has the mind for such things? Worrying all day in my room, wondering if news would come from the battlefield. I know it doesn’t help Joseph in the slightest, but there’s nothing else I can do.”
“Any parent with a child at war would feel the same way.”
The dowager gave Anje a bitter smile as he gently held and patted her hand.
“But this place hasn’t changed at all. Still so lavish, even more splendid than before. As if war had never happened. Yet people talk nonsense about my son, who endured hardships and brought the war to victory—calling him ruthless, bloodthirsty, and whatnot. They don’t even know whose efforts maintain this peaceful life.”
Understanding what the dowager implied, Anje glanced around. He felt the glances of those nearby stealing looks at them.
Yet strangely, the gaze he felt wasn’t entirely in line with the dowager’s words. Most of their disapproving looks were directed at him.
As expected, he overheard a nearby group of ladies whispering.
“My goodness, how shameless. Seeing him openly with the dowager, he’s clearly making his move now.”
“Making his move?”
The other lady’s question prompted a response from a woman who tapped the table with her fan, sounding frustrated.
“Have you no sense? Don’t you get it? He’s trying to take the place of the fiancée now that the duke and Miss Crow have been separated. That’s why he coaxed the innocent dowager out here, showing off in front of everyone. What a scandalous man! Good heavens!”
Though speaking in hushed tones, it was all audible to Anje.
‘Sometimes having sharp ears isn’t such a blessing,’ he thought.
Sometimes ignorance really is bliss. He sipped his tea, trying to hide his expression. He had no idea how such rumors had spread, or why they were interpreting things so strangely.
Had he grown up in the slums behind the city, he might have confronted them immediately. Even without the dowager, he would have challenged them boldly.
“That dress—isn’t it a new piece from Manet’s atelier? It’s beautiful, but far too expensive to buy. The dowager must have gotten it for her, right?”
‘Well… that one’s true, so I can’t argue.’
Anje rubbed his nose, feeling a bit awkward at overhearing their words.
“Of course. How could a fallen noblewoman afford such a dress? Even thinking about theater for a girl like her would be absurd.”
‘That part’s a bit unfair…’
Anje was careful with his spending, but not so poor that he couldn’t attend a theater performance.
Listening to their increasingly ridiculous conversation, Anje began to feel slightly incredulous.
“What’s wrong, Anje?”
The dowager, sitting across from him and thus further from the gossiping ladies, apparently hadn’t heard any of it.
Since it wasn’t anything the dowager needed to know, Anje tried to conceal his reaction—but some hint of it must have shown.
“It’s nothing.”
He forced a small smile, but the dowager’s brow furrowed more deeply.
“Nothing, you say? Let me see…”
Tilting her head, she glanced around Anje. Her eyes met those of the ladies whispering behind him.
“Oh, hello there, Dowager. Long time no see,” said the Marchioness of Belkin, rising from her seat and smiling brightly, as if she hadn’t been gossiping about Anje just moments ago. She was experienced in social manners and knew how to maintain her expression.
“Are you here to see the play? You’ve chosen the day well. Today’s performance is a premiere by a new playwright. The male lead is famous for his acting skills.”
The dowager noticed the uneasy expression between Belkin and Anje, but quickly masked it with a kind smile.
“Yes, it seems so. I persuaded this young one to accompany me. As you know, my son is always busy, and my daughter is lately preoccupied with love affairs.”
“You persuaded Miss Bofort? How considerate. And here I thought, because you’re so soft-hearted, the young lady dares to push aside the marchioness and aim for the duchess’s position herself.”
Hiding her face behind her fan, the Marchioness of Belkin’s eyes glinted with disdain at Anje.
“Aiming for the duchess’s seat?”
Finally, the smile left the dowager’s face.
Belkin thought the innocent dowager was still oblivious to Anje’s clever little mind—she could afford to think that. After all, would a dowager calmly buy a ridiculously expensive dress for a fallen noblewoman and accompany her to theater performances if she suspected anything?
So perhaps this was a good chance to subtly inform the dowager and build a rapport. Coming from the empire’s wealthiest family, something might come of it.
Calculating this, Belkin lowered her gaze toward the dowager with a subtle air.
“How pitiful, truly. Young people these days are so cunning.”
She paused, then shot Anje a sharp glance.
“Recently, I heard that His Excellency and Miss Crow were unfortunately broken off. Both from distinguished families, so capable and talented—everyone was saddened by the news. Many had been looking forward to seeing them dance at the last ball. And the woman who caused their separation is…”
“Madam, I believe there’s been a misunderstanding,” interjected the dowager. Anje quickly shook his head and gestured subtly, signaling:
‘I’m fine. I don’t want to cause trouble over something trivial.’
He didn’t want to ruin what should have been an enjoyable outing over falsehoods or disturb the elderly dowager’s peace.
Someday, he would leave the ducal family. By then, these misunderstandings would resolve naturally.
Yet the dowager’s expression hardened further as she glanced at him.
“The broken engagement has nothing to do with this young one. I personally informed the Marquis Crow of the refusal.”
“Pardon? But—”
Momentarily taken aback, Belkin quickly regained her composure and offered a coquettish smile.
‘She has a lot of inertia… her yang element is stronger than her yin…’
Women with strong inertia tend to have endless suitors.
‘Even at her age, the men never stop coming because of that charm?’
Anje’s gaze shifted casually to the Belkin Marchioness’s fortune chart. He suspected she had many men. In the empire, treating marriage as a business affecting the family’s fate, it was common for both men and women to have extramarital affairs.
Though, it seemed Belkin was somewhat open about it.
Anje, brushing his cheek and watching her sharp gaze, then glanced at the gentleman accompanying her. Despite the chaos, he seemed focused on both his wife and the Marchioness, oblivious to Anje’s observation.
