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10. The Circle of Rumors
How far had the rumors spread that even the word “engagement” was being thrown around? It had only been a little over a week since the tea party. But was a week really enough time for such talk to spread so far?
“Engagement, of all things.”
An engagement between lovers. It was a bit sudden, an unexpectedly rapid development. Had something progressed between Rayel and Angelica in that time? Had someone actually seen them together like that?
I asked the Countess Garnet, who seemed uneasy at my surprised reaction.
“Where did this rumor come from? I had heard rumors before that they were lovers.”
“I’m not entirely sure, but it seems the rumor started spreading from the neutral faction side.”
“And what other rumors have been circulating…?”
“They say His Majesty gave the young lady a necklace as a gift. Someone even claimed to have seen him putting it on her tenderly…”
“What did you say?”
Had things really advanced that far? In just a week? That couldn’t be possible.
Even though Rayel knew Angelica, they only met for the first time a week ago. So what could have happened in that short time for them to exchange gifts?
It was Rayel and Angelica, after all. Even if Rayel had feelings for Angelica, he wasn’t the type to confess outright, and Angelica was slow to open her heart. In the original story, it was only toward the end that they finally acknowledged their feelings.
Rumors were one thing, but exchanging gifts? That had to be a misunderstanding.
“Are you sure it was His Majesty putting a necklace on Miss Werner? Could it have been a mistake or misunderstanding?”
“The rumor I heard was that someone definitely saw His Majesty giving her the necklace. He personally placed it around her neck, apparently.”
“Hmmm… really…?”
If they had just received a gift, it would be enough to say “they exchanged gifts as lovers,” and that would be the end of it. It would have been surprising enough if Rayel had given a gift, but if it were just that, the rumor wouldn’t have turned into talk of an engagement.
The problem was that Rayel personally put the necklace on her. If that was true, then it was no wonder such a rumor had spread.
I kept wondering who had witnessed this and how. I was curious about who started the rumor. At this point, there was no way to stop it. Surely this was what the two wanted.
I sighed inwardly and tried to keep my expression neutral, when Baron Evitt, who had been quietly thinking, spoke up.
“If that’s true, isn’t it surprising? His Imperial Majesty and Miss Werner of the Werner family are engaged. I don’t know much about Miss Werner, but it’s really shocking that His Majesty even had a lover.”
“There have been rumors they were lovers for some time, but now the engagement rumors have started spreading as well.”
“Is that so? It must be quite credible if it’s spreading this fast.”
The Countess Garnet nodded in agreement.
“The rumor started from the neutral faction that the Werner family belongs to. So it seems like reliable information.”
“Even so, the Emperor getting engaged… could they actually be getting married…?”
“Well… The Werner family is a long-established noble house, but with their current situation, I doubt it.”
“Oh, I heard their family business isn’t doing well lately.”
“Though the rumor can’t be stopped, it seems unlikely they’ll actually marry… it’s probably too soon.”
“That sounds right.”
I quietly nodded at her words. Even if the engagement rumor was true, the chance of marriage was slim. Unless something major had changed between them, Angelica’s family situation was different from the original story, so marriage wasn’t something that could happen easily.
“I wonder if Miss Werner even knows about these rumors.”
“She probably does. Since the neutral faction spread the rumors first, she likely knows.”
“When I visited the last tea party she was invited to, she didn’t seem to know about the ‘lover’ rumor.”
“Really? Then was that rumor false? What about the engagement rumor…?”
“From what I confirmed, they said they are not lovers, so that rumor must be false. But engagement… I’m not sure. You can be engaged without being lovers…”
“That’s true. But then, what about the necklace gift…?”
“…It could be preparation for the engagement. Maybe just a showy gift.”
If they were engaged in this situation, it could be some kind of contract, like in the original story where Rayel’s weakness was exposed to Angelica. Since their first meeting was quick, that was possible.
But just having a weakness exposed isn’t enough to force a contract. Rayel wasn’t under pressure to marry like at the start of the original story, and Angelica’s family situation was worse than before.
So what could be the reason they were pushing this?
My head was starting to hurt, so I asked a maid for a fresh cup of tea. The warm floral aroma helped calm me a bit.
“I guess we just have to wait and see. If the rumors spread more, Miss Werner will find out, right? Then maybe she’ll make a statement — whether the engagement is true or not.”
“Yeah, I’m really curious, but we have to wait.”
She nodded with a disappointed look. I also wanted to know the truth properly, but contacting Angelica directly was awkward since we weren’t that close. It was too soon to openly ask about such a thing.
If she finds out soon, the truth will come out. Together with Baron Evitt, who was quietly watching his tea cup, and the Countess Garnet, who seemed full of expectation, I moved on to other conversations.
“…What’s really going on?”
I sighed deeply while looking at the sunset from the mansion’s terrace. Contrary to my expectations that the truth would soon be revealed, rumors about Rayel and Angelica were only growing.
At every tea party I had attended over the past week, the main topic among the ladies and young noblewomen was the engagement rumor. It had spread widely, reaching not only the neutral faction but also the emperor’s supporters and other nobles.
“Have you heard? It’s about His Majesty and Miss Werner.”
“You mean they’re lovers?”
“Not only lovers — I heard they’re engaged soon.”
“No way. Really?”
The rumors, far from dying down, were spreading like wildfire through high society.
“But the Grand Duchess said they’re not lovers.”
“Yet they say His Majesty even gave Miss Werner a necklace.”
“The Grand Duchess said she was told they weren’t lovers, but wasn’t sure about the engagement.”
“If they exchanged gifts, wouldn’t that mean it’s true? And it’s not just anyone — it’s His Majesty. He’s never shown interest in any young lady until now…”
“But the Grand Duchess was told directly by Miss Werner that they aren’t lovers.”
I wanted to stop the rumors where I could, but without clear facts, it was impossible. I wished I could meet Angelica and confirm it.
The rumors spread uncontrollably because neither side made a statement.
Rayel remained silent, and Angelica hadn’t appeared in society for a week. She was unreachable, and the Werner family didn’t reply to letters. I was starting to think I might have to visit them in person.
Even at the neutral faction’s tea party today, no one knew Angelica’s whereabouts.
“His Majesty’s silence is understandable, but why hasn’t Miss Werner shown up?”
“Could she be preparing for an engagement ceremony?”
“But the official announcement hasn’t even been made yet. Isn’t this too fast?”
Yeah. Too fast, indeed. When I first heard the engagement rumor a week ago, I just accepted it. But with no word from Rayel and Angelica vanished, the rumors spread too quickly.
There was no way I could stop the rumors by myself. One of them had to step forward. I felt I had to meet either Rayel or Angelica.
Maybe I should visit Angelica. Rayel probably wouldn’t meet me if I went to him. I heard he wouldn’t even meet Alexandra.
If only Lucius were here, I could meet them together. But he had gone on a business trip to Sinadeli a week ago and hadn’t returned yet. I was told some issues at the reconstruction site meant it would take longer. When he returned, I would try to talk to him.
The sun set quietly and the night sky covered the world. Leaning against the terrace railing and watching the stars slowly appear, I suddenly spotted a familiar sight near the main gate.
“…Huh? That is…”
A carriage! A black carriage with the double sword emblem — it was definitely from the Grand Duke’s household. Lucius had come!
Seeing the carriage pass through the main gate, I stood up quickly from where I had been leaning and rushed outside through the hallway to the first floor and the front door. From a distance, I saw the carriage approaching.
Feeling anxious and tapping my feet, Warren and the servants gave me strange looks. Ignoring them, I anxiously waited for the carriage to stop.
Noticing I was waiting, the coachman quickly brought the carriage to a halt, and soon it stopped in front of the mansion.
“Lucius!”
“…Tiana?”
The door opened and Lucius got out of the carriage. I hurried to him and clung to him. Surprised by my sudden action, he looked at me, but I spoke first, overwhelmed.
“I have something to talk about! It’s very important! It’s urgent!”
“Huh?”
Holding both of Lucius’s hands, I tried to pull him inside the mansion, but he looked bewildered.
