Chapter 18
I went down alone for breakfast, but only the Duke of Sephardy and I arrived on time.
He spoke to me familiarly, as if we were fairly close, while I hesitated awkwardly.
“Maribel.”
“Father. Where is Mother?”
“She had a headache and said she’d skip breakfast. I heard you left the table early last night — are you feeling all right?”
“Thankfully, Duke Romero escorted me home.”
“…I see.”
He wore a slightly peculiar expression.
He’s supposed to marry his daughter to Arius, not to Pedro, so it must be awkward for him.
Come to think of it, the Duke of Sephardy was one of the few who knew the extremely private fact that Pedro was the emperor’s illegitimate son.
Maybe he’s trying to link me with Pedro.
“Is something the matter?”
“Seeing you reminds me — Prince Eschia forgot to give you the gift he’d dedicated to you, so I brought it now.”
“Oh.”
“He said it’s a pair of earrings set with top-quality opals. Doesn’t it look like he put some effort into choosing it?”
Inside the red box, a large opal earring rimmed in gold gave off an eerie light.
Aside from being annoyingly big as if meant to show off, the cut and the setting were nothing special.
It was a valuable jewel, but as a former jewelry designer I found the design disappointingly unambitious in a way that made me want to tinker with it.
I stared down at the jewel and tilted my head.
“I’m not sure this piece suits me. It’s beautiful, but don’t you think it would suit Gabriella better than me?”
The Duke of Sephardy, who had seemed lukewarm, looked flustered.
“Even so, isn’t it a gift Prince Eschia gave you?”
“Father, to be frank, I find that prince rather unpleasant.”
“Whatever do you mean.”
When I said it more plainly, his color drained.
“Maribel, you haven’t heard the rumors, have you? Didn’t you know that just the other day the Moro tribe abducted children again and caused a commotion?”
How could I know that in this town with no internet?
Still, it wasn’t hard to understand why he brought it up.
He was likely trying to connect two illegitimate children, and since I — with Moro blood mixed in and therefore of lower standing — had shown dislike for Pedro, he must be getting anxious.
The duke waved his hand and desperately changed the subject.
“You said you wanted to buy a fan. Go today. I didn’t have the merchant summoned to the dukedom on purpose. The prince said he wanted to spend some quiet time with you….”
“Oh my! Everyone’s here.”
‘Quiet time’ indeed.
I didn’t need to look to know who would be going with me. It would be Pedro again.
I didn’t want to hear that. I rose abruptly from my seat and looked toward the group gathered for breakfast, who were distant enough to be a blank background.
“…Everyone arrived on time.”
I gave a small cough at my father’s hollow throat-clearing and smiled faintly.
Maribel married Pedro for exactly one reason: because Pedro promised that the rebellion would make her empress.
If the villainous Maribel had any naive streak, it was that she believed that promise.
After channeling all of Maribel’s fortune into the rebellion and handing the throne to Pedro, he discarded her like chewed gum and, claiming sincerity, began eyeing Gabriella, who had been the crown princess.
I wasn’t going to make that mistake again.
“You came even though you must be tired. I’m grateful, especially to Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“It’s nothing. I apologize for being late, my lord duke.”
My father, as the host of the dukedom, made the greeting, and the crown prince offered a light reply. Thus the breakfast took on the appropriate ceremonial tone.
They discussed what to do and which places in Sephardy were nice.
“Maribel sister, aren’t you going to choose a fan today?”
“Yes. I don’t own one yet.”
Cecilia the princess scoffed lightly as she spread orange jam on her bread.
“Miss of Sephardy, you’ve really lived cut off from the world. Should I be impressed or pitying you?”
“I often feel constrained myself. I don’t know about fans or fashion at all.”
Good — you opened the door, at least.
I smiled pleasantly at the infuriating Cecilia.
“I’m going out myself to pick one today, but it seems Father is worried. He keeps insisting someone accompany me….”
“That seems reasonable, miss. A woman of your rank should always be careful.”
That warning was sincere and came from the crown prince.
“My brother is right. Especially you should be careful at this time.”
Cecilia’s remarks, laced with thinly veiled jabs that implied I’d be stoned because of my hair and eyes, did nothing but aggravate me.
“Thank you for your concern. Perhaps going alone really is a bad idea.”
“Then, miss, I—”
Pedro opened his disagreeable mouth so I beat him to it.
“Duke Romero, if you have nothing else to do, may I ask for your assistance?”
I called on Duke Romero because I absolutely refused to go with Pedro.
I also wanted to increase my time near Arius for my plan.
“Do you mean me, miss?”
“Yes, Duke.”
Arius, suddenly singled out, couldn’t hide his surprise.
I nodded in the most innocent way. Fine if he agrees, fine if he doesn’t — I was just testing the waters.
All eyes fell on us.
Their faces were half shock, half curiosity, and I lowered my gaze to look slightly deflated.
“If it’s troublesome or you have other plans, no worries.”
I glanced up at Arius; the surprise had already faded from his face. His expression was oddly blank, which made it more confusing.
“That sort of thing shouldn’t be difficult, miss. Prince Eschia just—”
“Aren’t Duke Romero and his warriors the strongest fighters in Naparo?”
“But Maribel, Prince Eschia is strong as well.”
The Duke of Sephardy interjected in the middle.
A man looking to sell his daughter.
A figure much like my father in the real world, who had played people and lines for profit.
I widened my eyes and asked him back.
“But I thought Prince Eschia has never actually fought in battle.”
“Well……”
Though he was an illegitimate son of the emperor, and even if adopted, Pedro remained Eschia’s heir. A family heir shouldn’t be sent to battle but should guard the domain.
Feigning ignorance, I laughed brightly.
“I think Duke Romero has far more combat experience than Prince Eschia.”
Pedro’s pride pricked by the blunt comparison, he swept his red hair back.
“I know you’re not familiar with politics or power plays, miss… but protecting you from enraged people wouldn’t be difficult.”
“Is that so? I’ve heard that recently some people with the same hair color as mine committed truly heinous crimes.”
The room fell cold at the nonchalant comment.
It might have embarrassed Maribel to have her greatest shame spoken aloud by her own mouth.
But it didn’t affect me at all.
I simply wanted to use every weakness I had with precision.
Maribel was a character modeled on me — for that reason, a little honesty seemed acceptable.
“No matter how finely I dress, as Princess Cecilia advised, I should be careful.”
I shot a feigned forlorn look at Cecilia and then turned to Arius.
“Duke Romero, is my request too much?”
“Hmph.”
He gave a short sigh. After I’d made so many reasons and asked like this, it would be hard for him to refuse.
“It’s not that it’s difficult, miss. I will come for you after lunch.”
“Thank you, Duke Romero.”
I said that and spread orange jam on my bread.
A strange silence settled.
“Well, then… please do take care of her.”
My father’s weak voice echoed hollowly across the hall.
“It’s so hot.”
“It’s not that hot, really. You get overheated easily, Miss Maribel. If you’re very uncomfortable, shall I bring some ice?”
“No, I’m fine.”
I shook my head listlessly like a drooping plant and reached for the fan Luisa handed me.
“I have a fan now too. I can’t believe I still have to go buy another fan in this heat.”
“Oh, don’t think of it like that. It’s not a temptation or a ball accessory.”
“It’s much bigger and nicer.”
“Stop saying strange things. When you buy the fan, head housekeeper Venta will tell you how to use it.”
“Really?”
I had no energy left to learn anything in this heat.
Luisa, who was trying to cheer me up, raised her voice deliberately.
“By the way, is this the first time you’ll go outside the dukedom without a veil?”
“Has it been worth noting?”
“Yes. The duke and duchess are especially… particular.”
Luisa’s cheerful chatter died off as she sensed something and held back.
Perhaps my parents didn’t want to show their daughter with Moro blood in public.
With public opinion turning particularly unfavorable toward the Moro at this time, the plan to have me go out with Pedro to the lands might have been meant to showcase my delicate position.
Or perhaps it was meant to break my spirit.
