– Chapter 6 –
After they parted that day, it was two weeks before they met again. Lenea eagerly counted down the days until that promised meeting.
She began grooming and styling her hair, which she had never cared about before. She fretted over the clothes she had chosen for the occasion until the very morning of. She even lamented her overly pale complexion.
And when she finally met Kadil again after two weeks, he handed her a large bouquet of dahlias and smiled brightly.
“I thought of you, so I picked these from the garden.”
“Thank you.”
For the first time in her life, Lenea received flowers from someone, and her heart swelled so much it felt like it might burst. She blushed and accepted the bouquet. If she were a bit more outgoing and lively, she could have responded more playfully. It frustrated her that her tongue didn’t cooperate.
Kadil was kind and always considerate. In front of him, Lenea felt like she could say anything.
“Do you still hear the voices these days?”
“No, not at all…”
As they strolled through the duke’s estate garden, they shared such conversations. Kadil listened with a concerned expression.
“Do you think something might be wrong?”
“Even if there is, I’m not sure I could fix it. I don’t really understand them.”
“I’ll look into it at home, so don’t worry too much.”
Lenea smiled and looked up at Kadil.
“How will you investigate?”
“Hmm… You know my family is quite old, right?”
Lenea nodded. Though she hadn’t attended the academy and had limited formal education in imperial history, she had pored over genealogies and history books in the library and memorized them meticulously. That included her fiancé’s family history.
The Ramban family had existed since before the founding of the empire—a mysterious lineage with little known to outsiders. Lenea had memorized what little was known, all because she wanted to know more about Kadil.
“There are a lot of old stories and books passed down in the family. Some of them might explain these phenomena.”
“I see. I’d love to see them.”
“Sorry, but taking them outside the family is forbidden.”
Kadil looked so genuinely sorry as he said that, Lenea felt embarrassed and lowered her head.
“It’s okay. I was just saying.”
“Thank you for understanding. One day, you’ll get to read them—because you’ll be my wife.”
Wife.
Lenea’s face turned crimson. One day, she would marry this endlessly kind man. That such a future awaited her—it felt like a dream.
“What’s wrong? Your face is so red. Do you have a fever…?”
“No! I’m healthy.”
She didn’t want something like a fever to rob her of time with Kadil. Still, he looked at her with concern.
Could there be anyone in the world this kind?
Soaking in the attention and care she had never known before, Lenea grew completely absorbed in him—to the point where nothing else seemed important anymore.
Even if he said things just to please her, even if he merely humored her—it didn’t matter. Kadil was the only one who didn’t deny the existence of the spirits. He talked to her about them sincerely. That alone was enough for Lenea.
But it hadn’t been just humoring.
Two weeks later, when they met again, Kadil wore a serious expression, sent the maids away, and spoke solemnly to Lenea.
“I’ve investigated the voices you hear. What I found… might be unpleasant. Will you hear me out?”
“Please, go ahead.”
Lenea pressed a hand over her pounding heart and nodded. Kadil hesitated for a long time before finally speaking.
“It’s not because something’s wrong with you. You’re perfectly normal. But…”
“But…?”
“Those beings steal the life force of people who can hear them. To make them into one of their own. Have you been seriously ill before? Didn’t they always say they were on your side?”
Lenea’s face grew increasingly pale.
“…Yes.”
“I thought so. It’s a relief you don’t hear them now, but I think we should take precautions.”
Then Kadil pulled a small velvet box from his pocket and held it out. Lenea carefully accepted the box and opened the lid.
Inside was a small red gem pendant. She lifted it with her slender fingers and gently caressed it.
“This is…”
“I searched through our family’s old records. It turns out several people experienced the same symptoms as you. This was the solution they came up with. If you wear it, you won’t hear the voices anymore. Those spirits won’t be able to approach you. …Trust me, and please wear it always.”
<Lenea.>
Suddenly, the spirits’ voices—absent for so long—echoed in her ears.
<No, Lenea. We’re not like that!>
<Don’t wear that! If you do, we’ll—>
<Lene—>
Lenea put on the pendant.
The voices stopped completely.
Kadil watched her closely with sharp eyes.
“How do you feel? Any nausea…?”
“No, not at all. I feel fine. …Thank you.”
“I’m glad it helped.”
Only then did Kadil smile warmly again.
Lenea’s life began to revolve around Kadil.
Meeting him twice a month became her everything. To prepare for those days, she started eating meat to gain a little weight, read books to create conversation topics, and even asked her parents to hire a special tutor to prepare her for the social debut she would make alongside Kadil.
“It’s a bit early, but better to prepare now than later. You’re a slow learner, so don’t disgrace the family by fumbling through things at the last minute.”
Her parents gladly agreed. Other than those two days each month, Lenea spent her days learning social manners and practicing dancing with her tutor.
Her hard work paid off. Kadil spared no praise for how beautiful Lenea had become.
“There’s no one in society as beautiful as you, Lenea.”
“You flatter me.”
“Then smile more. Being born so lovely, it’s a waste not to smile.”
Though shy and hesitant, Lenea gave him the elegant, charming smile she had learned from her tutor.
“You’re truly beautiful, Lenea.”
“…Thank you.”
Just as Kadil said, Lenea bloomed like a plant growing rapidly after a rainstorm.
At sixteen, a new emperor, Yuricien, was crowned. Lenea wasn’t particularly moved by the news. Her family hadn’t taken her to the coronation, and she was far too busy preparing for her first tea party with Kadil.
At that first tea party she attended with him, many noble ladies gossiped as they watched her.
“So that’s the third daughter of House Shuhebber… She’s nothing like what we heard.”
“I heard she was mentally deficient, but she’s elegant.”
“With enough money, anyone can look refined on the outside.”
“Regardless of what’s inside, she really is beautiful. Isn’t that dress the latest from Barbara?”
“Even the jewels suit her eye color perfectly. Well, if you have money, you can buy anything. Must be nice.”
“Ramban sure made a good match. That house has been doing well lately, but still…”
In a society that tore people apart with words, Lenea worked herself to the bone to avoid embarrassment—to not tarnish Kadil’s reputation. Whatever people said behind her back, no one dared insult her to her face.
“You did well today, Lenea.”
On the carriage ride back, Kadil leaned back against the seat and spoke. Despite her exhaustion, Lenea managed the beautiful, modest smile Kadil loved—but he wasn’t looking at her.
She hesitated, then spoke up.
“Kadil… Lady Rissen invited me to an art museum this weekend. Would it be alright if I went?”
“Yes, of course.”
“They say her family produced many renowned artists—painters, musicians, poets. Some are even in the imperial dictionary. I’m so excited to meet someone from such a cultured family.”
Lenea watched him as she spoke, but Kadil kept staring elsewhere. Her words trailed off, and she cautiously tested the mood.
“…Kadil? Are you alright?”
“Oh, yes.”
Only then did he seem to snap out of it and smile apologetically.
“The museum sounds nice. Lady Rissen… Would that be Lady Clara?”
Lenea’s heart dropped. The mere mention of another woman’s name made her stomach sink. Thankfully, the conversation didn’t go where she feared.
Kadil frowned slightly.
“She has a bit of a bad reputation.”
“She seemed nice today when we talked.”
“Then that’s good. But don’t let her influence you. You’re mine, Lenea.”
Blushing, Lenea nodded.
“Yes.”
“Too bad I can’t join you. Enjoy the visit.”
“You seem really busy these days. Are you overexerting yourself?”
“I’m starting to prepare to inherit the family title. Sorry if I worried you. If you’d rather I come with you, I can adjust my schedule…”
“Oh, no, there’s no need for that!”
“Alright. But if you change your mind, just say so.”
Then Kadil drifted back into thought. Lenea watched him and tried to continue the conversation, but he only gave half-hearted responses. Before, he would’ve helped her remove her shoes first. He had fussed over applying ointment to the blisters from her fan practice—was that just last year?
These days, that didn’t happen anymore.
Maybe he’s tired of me.
Maybe all my efforts to entertain him just made me seem like a chatterbox.
A seed of anxiety began to grow in Lenea’s heart. And it had no end.
Visiting the museum with Clara Rissen was fun. Lenea had promised to return home by five and came to realize how enjoyable it could be to spend time with someone else.
“Is something bothering you?”
Clara, small and lively, was also quick to notice. At the café they visited, Lenea was staring blankly at her cold drink when Clara’s question startled her.
“Huh? No, it’s nothing.”
“It shows on your face. Did I drag you around too much?”
“No, I had fun. Really…”
Lenea smiled as she replied, but the smile quickly faded.
“See? Something is bothering you, isn’t it?”
“……”
“You can talk about it or not—it’s up to you. But I don’t go blabbing other people’s business. You can trust me.”
Those words prompted Lenea to clumsily start opening up. Her only concern was Kadil.
“So, your fiancé doesn’t seem the same as before… Is that it?”
“…Yes. But he’s busy with succession matters, so I shouldn’t be bothering him.”
Lenea defended him with maturity.
“Hmm.”
Clara crossed her arms. A year older than Lenea and still unengaged despite her many romantic experiences, Clara had the kind of boldness that didn’t care what others thought. To her, Lenea’s dilemma seemed almost adorable.
“You can’t be too clingy. Romance is a push and pull.”
“Push… and pull?”
“Exactly. You can’t just push or pull all the time. If you’re too obvious about liking someone, like you are, it’s a problem. You have to act like it’s okay if they walk away. That’s what makes them burn for you.”
To Lenea, it was an unfamiliar world. It felt like Clara was telling her not to show her feelings. But the idea that Kadil might burn for her made her heart flutter.
“I really do like him… But how do I do that?”
“I’m not saying don’t like him. Just create some distance. If you cling too much, they’ll think you’re easy. Like, ‘She’ll love me no matter what I do.’ And then if someone more charming shows up, you might lose him.”
“L-lose him? Lose him?!”
Lenea panicked, and Clara quickly changed the subject, realizing she’d gone too far.
“Well, you’re engaged, so that won’t happen. But still, how about giving him some space? Physically and emotionally. Maybe go on a trip or something.”
“……”
Lenea tightly gripped the pendant hanging around her neck.
Please disappear from my life.
