Chapter 17
Lady Avenr de Maze found my praise of a commoner distasteful, but there was nothing she could do about it.
It was clear that Briseis had been hurt by those words—her eyes had turned slightly red.
As if trying to hide her face with her bright red hair, Briseis lowered her head a little. Her hair fell down beside her, draping over her face like a curtain and dimming it.
However, Avenr could tell from her behavior alone that she had been hurt.
“Thank you, Your Ladyship! I, too, hope to marry someone as wonderful as you and have a son!”
“What a commendable thought.”
Though she considered it crude, Lady Avenr liked the remark. After all, a mistress could simply be discarded once Damian grew tired of her.
Even if she bore a child, it wouldn’t be a blemish unless the child was formally recognized.
So it would be enough to humor her for the time being, then cast her aside once she had served her purpose or once Damian lost interest.
But Briseis was different. She was already married to her son, and she was an unpleasant woman who, with the wealth of the Marquess of Philia’s household, suppressed her son’s spirit.
“A woman must always obey her husband. Lady Delilah, once you graduate from the Academy, you should marry quickly.”
“May I ask why it’s important to marry quickly?”
Lady Avenr thought her question was quite insincere, but it pleased her nonetheless. At least Briseis would be kept quiet during this conversation.
“The sooner you marry, the sooner you can have children. If I were Lady Delilah’s mother, I would have made you quit the Academy.”
Delilah widened her eyes as if she had realized something, feigning rapt attention. Encouraged by her reaction, Lady Avenr continued.
“Even a single year spent at the Academy delays you from becoming a proper lady of the house. A woman without children holds no real power, does she?”
“Is that so?”
“Of course. A child is proof that a woman is obedient to her family. Only after bearing children does she truly become part of the household.”
As Delilah nodded as though deeply moved, Avenr went further.
“Refusing the first night or behaving that way is foolish. There are rumors that refusing intimacy wins a man’s heart, but that’s a lie.”
“You are truly wise, Your Ladyship.”
“Indeed. I’ve been the mistress of the Maze ducal household for years. Until he left like that, I made a great deal of effort myself.”
Briseis remained silent at those words. It was obvious the remarks were aimed at her. After all, she had been refusing Damian’s consummation since his return.
But she no longer wished to be entangled with Damian. Before, when he had not yet brought Delilah home, he had even been reluctant to hold her hand.
“Why do you keep your distance from me?”
“I’m… nervous. I’m just too tense.”
That had been his explanation.
But now, he had shared his first kiss with another woman and even acted as though they were lovers. There was no way she could feel the same about him as before.
She could no longer trust Damian.
“So then, the most sensible thing for a woman is to consummate the marriage as quickly as possible and have children, correct?”
“Of course. The more children you have, the more a man’s affection—being as simple as it is—will return in time.”
Because it was his own mother speaking, Damian stayed silent despite his embarrassment.
At the same time, he knew Briseis had been quietly lowering her head every time she was hurt, and he found it satisfying.
In the end, it would be Briseis who should heed his wise mother’s advice and beg forgiveness from him.
“Quite right.”
Delilah continued to listen attentively with her hands folded, pretending to agree with Lady Avenr. Briseis knew she did not truly share those views.
Even if the original story had been altered, Delilah’s nature itself had not changed.
If she truly thought like Lady Avenr, she would not have wanted to attend the Academy. Entering Wilhelm Academy must have been Delilah’s own decision.
“By the way, Dami.”
“Yes, Mother.”
By then, finger foods had been served, along with water and wine.
“Have you not consummated the marriage yet?”
“…Please do not concern yourself with our marital matters.”
Damian spoke while glancing at Briseis. For a moment, their eyes met.
Seeing her hurt, sky-blue eyes filled him with a surge of triumph, making his heart race.
“I hear your new bride wants a divorce from you.”
“That’s just her being emotional.”
Briseis said nothing more and closed her mouth.
“As my mother said, I am a simple man. If a woman behaves properly, I will quickly change my mind.”
“Hohoho. As expected, my son is wise.”
Damian looked at Briseis again. Seeing her disappointed expression and her gaze fixed on him, he found himself speaking before he realized it.
“Still, I believe a husband should listen to his wife’s wishes.”
“Dami?”
Delilah smiled and touched the ring hanging from her necklace.
He then smiled again, his gaze now dimmer.
“I won’t be having just one child.”
“Quite right.”
Lady Avenr smiled in satisfaction at his words and took a bite of her finger food.
Soon, the appetizers were served, but Briseis had no appetite and barely ate.
Then the main course arrived.
“Ugh….”
Briseis grimaced as she put a heavily salted veal steak into her mouth.
“I’m so thrilled to be dining with someone as wise as you.”
“Lady Delilah is quite adorable. A woman should be charming like this.”
Briseis realized something was wrong with her own food when she saw others eating normally.
Near the door, a maid who appeared to be her mother-in-law’s attendant was watching her and smiling. Her name was Helene.
She had long been one of Lady Avenr’s close aides.
“Brie? Why are you eating so little?”
“I’ve lost my appetite.”
“Now, sit down. How dare you try to stand in the presence of your elders?”
As Briseis attempted to stand, Lady Avenr scolded her sharply. She already knew why Briseis was acting this way.
The excessive salt had been added to Briseis’s dish entirely on Lady Avenr’s orders.
Still, Briseis no longer wanted to endure it—but she had to.
Damian needed to become the at-fault spouse to make the divorce easier. He would need the Philia marquessate’s wealth and the dowry she had brought.
That way, he could be happy with Delilah using that money.
At the thought, she burned with rage—but held it in.
“Damian.”
“Yes, Brie. Is your stomach upset?”
“Let’s switch plates.”
“Pardon? That would be quite improper, wouldn’t it?”
Even though Damian had engaged in all sorts of improper behavior with Delilah, he hesitated at Briseis’s request. Still, noticing the downward tilt of her eyes, he relented.
“Very well, let’s switch.”
“Dami! That’s not proper conduct for a noble—!”
“Enough. Mother, I know you and Father have done the same before.”
“Dami! Even so—!”
Damian cast a cold glance at his mother. A servant quickly approached and switched the plates.
“I suppose I’ve been upsetting Brie in matters like this lately.”
Damian chuckled, thinking Briseis was acting like this because she was hurt.
“My food hasn’t even been touched yet, so there’s nothing improper about this.”
“Very well.”
Briseis’s food had been touched, but she no longer cared.
“Well, in that case, give me the new bride’s plate!”
“I can eat what Brie has eaten, but not what my mother has touched.”
“Would you like mine, Your Ladyship?”
Delilah asked brightly, catching Lady Avenr off guard. Lady Avenr signaled her for help, but Delilah only smiled as if she didn’t understand.
“Shall I cut it for you, Brie?”
“No, it’s fine.”
Briseis calmly cut into the veal steak on the switched plate. Though she had no appetite, she took a bite.
The texture was excellent, and the sauce was well-made. Yet to her, it still tasted like tough leather—completely flavorless.
It felt as if something were lodged in her throat, hurting her every time she swallowed.
“I like seeing Brie eat.”
Briseis unconsciously looked at Damian as he spoke in his familiar tone for the first time in a while. His genuinely smiling face, and the way he seemed to care about her, made her feel strange.
The version of him she had loved still remained.
And because of that, she found herself even more unsure of who he truly was.
“Damian, you should eat too.”
“Yes.”
He smiled brightly at her.
Lady Avenr looked around anxiously, then paled when she saw Damian cut into his food and take a bite.
“Ugh…!”
The moment he ate, Damian’s face contorted in shock as an overwhelming burst of salt flooded his mouth.
