Chapter 46
A quick sideways glance revealed that the women seemed to be maids looking for tableware suitable for a formal dining setting. The only thing that stood out was that their immaculately pressed maid uniforms looked to be of better quality than the dresses Yulia used to wear. They probably served a very wealthy household.
“Seriously, how much work could there be that someone dies?”
“They said there were times they worked twenty hours a day all week just to meet delivery quotas. Textile factory work is grueling—working like that, how could anyone survive?”
“If someone told me to work like that, I’d have run away already.”
“And it’s not even like they’re paid well. They only get the same wages as any other factory. Innocent folks from the countryside are just desperate to find work and don’t know better, so they get tricked.”
Whether it was because many people came and went in rich households or because gossip spread faster there, the maids chattered on about things Yulia had never heard.
“So she wasn’t just rude—she was downright awful?”
“Is she even just rude? She came to our house once for some errand or something, and when our madam greeted her, she barely nodded her head. I was so embarrassed standing beside her.”
There were rumors that she would attend parties without RSVP’ing, or that if one happened to run into her at a salon or café, you’d better be a duke before she’d even acknowledge your greeting.
“Being rude would be the least of it. I heard from Count Arin and Marquis Berr that even in noble transactions, she’s stingy with money.”
“Really? Don’t nobles usually go out of their way to pay more in those cases?”
They shook their heads as they spoke of how Count Clu never paid fair prices when buying factories or ranches from imperial nobles, nor showed any humanity in how he worked or treated people. They said he must have succeeded by being that cold-blooded.
“Technically, Count Clu isn’t even one of our empire’s nobles, right? Someone like that causes harm to our people, and His Majesty says nothing? Why?”
“Who knows? Maybe something’s going on between them. I heard they meet often. Anyway, you’ve got to admit—Count Clu is incredibly handsome.”
“True. With a face like that, I bet he’s had tons of women. He may act all aloof, but I’m sure he’s been quite the playboy behind the scenes, right?”
Hearing their ongoing chatter, Yulia once again realized how absurd and groundless rumors could be. In one place, they claimed she seduced her brother—who had no experience with women—and here, they said it was her brother who seduced the emperor.
“Does Baron Luper’s daughter know all this and still want to marry him?”
“There’s even talk that Count Clu bought her with money.”
“Well, no matter how rich he is… what noble would willingly give their daughter to someone like that?”
“The young ladies die for him, though.”
“I saw him once, and yeah, he’s got the looks—but he’s also really well-built. And you know, there are women who enjoy being roughly handled by that kind of man.”
“Think Baron Luper’s daughter might be like that?”
“Who knows? Maybe she acts all prim and proper but enjoys wild nights.”
Yulia didn’t care what the maids said. She’d already become numb to rumors like how she’d supposedly seduced Cayente or that she was pregnant with his child.
But she was surprised to learn that Cayente had such a bad reputation not just among nobles, but even among his own employees. She hadn’t known he could be so unrelentingly harsh. How broken must someone be to turn out that way?
She imagined those gossiping maids in the kitchen from last time were probably fired, too.
At the same time, she found him even stranger. He was so frugal, yet he spent money on her as if it were water.
“…I’ve never once considered your existence insignificant.”
That ridiculous comment, which she’d brushed off at the time, suddenly seemed like it might actually be true—and that made it even more absurd.
Maybe that was part of the reason Yulia hadn’t been able to completely empty her heart of Cayente. He poured effort into this marriage, spent what he considered precious money, and claimed not to devalue her—yet still wanted her to be unhappy. She couldn’t understand that logic at all, and that lingering question of “why?” refused to go away.
As Yulia stood there lost in thought, listening blankly to the gossip, Lucy suddenly stormed over.
“Who do you think you are, running your filthy mouth like that? Saying who enjoys what?”
Apparently, Lucy’s voice had carried far. While Yulia wasn’t particularly bothered by what was said, Lucy clearly wasn’t going to let it go. Even before she approached, Lucy had been fuming. She launched into a tirade filled with words one wouldn’t expect from a sweet-looking girl, and the startled maids trembled when they realized Yulia had overheard everything.
They must have thought a huge scandal was about to erupt now that the subject of their gossip had caught wind of it.
“That’s enough, Lucy. They know it was wrong now.”
Once again, Yulia had no intention of punishing them. If she went around punishing every rumor, there wouldn’t be anyone left in the empire.
“I’ve memorized your faces! Say one more word and I’ll make sure the Count formally complains to your employer.”
Yulia’s only fear was what Cayente would do to these maids if he found out. Even if the rumors weren’t all true, it did seem like he had lost whatever basic affection he’d once had for humanity.
✦ ✦ ✦
“He’s suspicious even when he’s not around.”
As Henry said, the reporter from the principality hadn’t shown up at the plaza in recent days. He didn’t seem like the type to leave quietly, so Cayente suspected he’d found something and was digging deeper. But for now, Cayente was able to enjoy his usual routine—sitting on the terrace of the coffeehouse, savoring the aroma of his drink.
“Summer’s almost here.”
The coffeehouse owner had urged him to come inside due to the heat. The sun had gotten stronger over the past few days, and it would soon be too hot to sit here in the afternoons.
Summer…
Cayente suddenly realized it had been a long time since he’d actually felt the change in seasons. Until now, every day had felt the same, with only his clothing shifting. Maybe it was because he was about to get married. Even if that marriage meant nothing to him personally.
“Miss, I know where those maids work. If anything they said today upset you, please let me know. I’ll tell the Count to make sure they’re punished properly.”
As he was lamenting the soon-to-vanish peace of this quiet moment, he saw Yulia walking toward him in the distance.
Wearing a dress in such a pale orange it was nearly apricot, she looked like she was already basking in summer. Her cheerful outfit made her shine.
“…Ah.”
Yulia, spotting Cayente, suddenly stopped. Cayente said nothing and simply watched her. It looked like she would’ve preferred to ignore him if their eyes hadn’t met, but with no choice, she walked over to the table.
“Hello. Lovely afternoon, isn’t it?”
Her voice was emotionless and distant, as though she’d carefully scrubbed it of any feeling.
“What brings you here?”
“I came to place an order for the wedding favors. In the principality, it’s customary to give gifts to guests who attend weddings.”
She stopped just far enough away for her voice to reach him without raising it—yet didn’t step any closer.
So she was finally recognizing her situation. He’d expected this distance, but it still felt unfamiliar. Yulia had always been someone who broke down walls and approached others first. Seeing her now, holding herself back and keeping her distance, felt unsettlingly strange.
“I’ll be going now. You’re busy.”
It wasn’t a pleasant feeling. Without waiting for a response, Yulia turned to leave. Seeing the butterfly pattern on her dress fluttering as she walked, Cayente suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist.
“What are you doing?”
“Sit.”
“…What?”
“I said sit.”
He didn’t know why, but he didn’t want to let that butterfly fly away. Even Cayente was startled by his own action. When he suddenly ordered her to sit, Yulia wordlessly took a seat across from him.
“You’re not even going to ask why I wanted you to sit?”
“Would you even answer if I did?”
“I don’t recall ever not answering one of your questions.”
Yulia didn’t even want to face him. Even sitting down, she turned her body to the side and looked elsewhere.
“Fine. Then answer me. Why make me sit down?”
“I just wanted to look at you.”
“…What?”
“At the very least, I feel like you’re worth the money I’ve spent. That part’s quite satisfying.”
Yulia bit her lip slightly, but her radiant aura didn’t fade. Her tidy hair, bright skin, and the new dress all contributed. One way or another, she looked good. But she didn’t smile.
“Well, I’m glad your doll play was satisfying.”
So her attitude had changed enough to know it wasn’t a time to smile at him. Maybe she wasn’t such a fool after all. Still, Cayente found her indifferent, unsmiling gaze irritating.
“We’re leaving for Hilden Island tomorrow morning. Pack your things.”
“…Okay.”
Despite their wedding being just around the corner, she didn’t ask where they were going, why, or how this would affect the ceremony. No complaints. No questions. Cayente felt a strange urge to sigh at the invisible wall between them and continued.
“We’re going to meet my mother.”
At last, a reaction. Yulia’s eyes flickered in surprise.
“Lady Maria… is she well?”
Worrying about his mother—of all things.
