TM 48

Chapter 48. That

The woman was walking with a maid by her side, her face sombre. She wore a light gray dress she had never worn before, her long hair loosely braided, a white ribbon tied at the end of the braid.

Teobold looked at that ribbon and thought: something had changed. Something.

What was it? After a brief moment, he found the answer.

Today, the woman wasn’t wearing a necklace. The round pendant she always wore—the engagement gift he had given her—was missing. Teobold observed this small change and said briefly:

“Go outside.”

The butler behind him withdrew silently. The sound of footsteps faded, then the door opened and closed. Even so, Teobold’s eyes never left the woman. Her steps were weak. Such a lifeless stroll—it was like watching a sick animal.

It was then that Elia appeared. As if on cue, in perfect timing and manner.

Teobold, standing by the window, shifted his weight onto one foot. Straightening his posture, he watched the two women in the garden. He realized that this unexpected encounter had been orchestrated, and that he was the sole audience of this secret performance.

The two women facing each other began to speak, skipping even the usual polite greetings. Teobold could already predict what would happen next. Lorelia’s face looked like she could burst into tears at any moment.

He watched every detail of the woman. Her eyes looking at the elder lady, her lips hesitating, the fingers fidgeting together in front of her lower stomach. When she finally cried, he swallowed dryly in an instant.

Her protruding Adam’s apple quivered, sank, then rose again.

Elia wiped the tears from the woman’s cheeks. Lorelia took a deep breath and controlled her emotions. He could see her calming down while listening, but he couldn’t hear what they were saying.

It was at that moment that a crack appeared in the otherwise composed man’s brow.

Annoyance.

From the women’s position, the third-floor windows were not visible. Even if they were, he thought, they probably wouldn’t pay any attention to him. They were completely absorbed in each other, which irritated Teobold.

“You are of the royal bloodline. You cannot mix your blood with northern barbarians.”

What calculation are you making, he thought, my clever aunt.

After finishing their conversation, the two women began walking side by side. They reached the entrance but did not leave; instead, they turned back toward this side. It seemed they intended to continue walking together to deepen their rapport. Teobold watched a little longer, then turned away.

The empty room was quiet. He returned to his desk, lost in thought. Instead of sitting, he slowly opened a drawer.

Inside the empty drawer lay a coil of hair.

Reddish-brown hair. A white silk ribbon. Embroidered silver thread glimmered.

“Lorelia’s women cut their hair for the men going to battle.”

Teobold stared at it for a moment, then slowly reached out and picked it up.

I also want to give it to you, my lord. Anything I can give, I will.

The luscious hair was like the tail of a red fox. If you ran your fingers through it, you could feel its soft texture. The ribbon tying it wound gently around his fingers.

The sensation of touching it was strangely addictive. Once in hand, he wanted to keep feeling it. Even when not holding it, he often thought of it. That was why he had kept this intriguing token in the drawer instead of discarding it.

Why would he throw it away? It was already in his hands.

I pray for your victory.

Teobold held the woman’s hair for a long while, enjoying its softness between his fingers. Standing at his desk, he did not let it go for a considerable time.

“His Majesty invited us?”

Lorelia was startled by the news the butler brought.

Her first thought was this: Could she also see her father and mother? Could she stop by the house briefly while she was there? From Kingsburg Palace to the Mendel estate was four days by carriage.

But she quickly dismissed the foolish thought. Even if she went to the palace, there was no way she would meet the Hays family. The king and queen would never arrange such a thing. She and Teobold were not in a position to receive such kind treatment.

To the royal family, the Perbrante couple were annoying. They had chosen each other over the prince and princess. King Delmas had turned a blind eye since their engagement and had never sent a congratulatory letter. And now he suddenly invited them to the palace? There could be no good intention.

This was not an invitation—it was a summons.

“But next week is too soon. It’s during the Sun Festival; shouldn’t we leave the guests behind?”

Lorelia murmured her complaint cautiously. The butler, eyes lowered, said nothing. Everyone could see the timing was inconvenient, so there was no need to agree.

“The week after, it’s the prince’s celebration…”

As she murmured, Renier lifted his eyes. Lorelia thought his gaze was softer than usual. Perhaps because he remembered her husband’s celebration was on March 14. His expression faintly reflected the pride a teacher feels in a well-behaved pupil, similar to what Father Holtman used to make.

“You are correct, Madam. But His Grace has already made the decision.”

“Yes. Then there’s no choice…”

She trailed off, worry in her expression. She knew she must follow her husband’s instructions. He, too, had no alternative.

What could she do against the king’s command? The Perbrante family had sworn loyalty to the Royal House of Roang, and Teobold was duly King Delmas’ vassal.

“You will travel to Kingsburg by ship. His Grace ordered the sailing ship gifted by Margrave Apel to be prepared.”

“The margrave’s gift… you mean, the Lorelia?”

“Yes.”

A ship named after her—Lorelia felt slightly embarrassed.

“How long will it take by ship?”

“If the weather is favorable, about three weeks.”

“Three weeks?”

Three weeks. Her eyes widened. By carriage from the central lands it had taken four weeks; by sea, it would be reduced by a week?

Ships were more incredible than she had imagined. The thought made her a little excited.

“How can it be so fast? Is the current in the sea that strong? The ship must be much larger than a carriage.”

“….”

“Ah, the ship can travel at night. The carriage needs to rest the horses, but the ship doesn’t?”

Her gloomy expression brightened slightly. The butler had no reply to the sudden barrage of questions, only looked at her eager face, and then, as if suppressing a smile:

“Please ask His Grace later. He will explain far better than I.”

After replying politely, he returned to his usual calm demeanor.

Lorelia shrank slightly. Was he mocking her? For marveling at a ship?

But Lorelia was from inland, and her father owned no vessels. Teobold wondered how many ships he had, but asking now might look foolish. At least one more ship had been added, so there must be at least two, she guessed.

The margrave’s wedding gift bore her name, but it was not hers. The ship belonged to Teobold. So did this mansion, the lord’s forest, and all his vassals.

Throughout the vast Trisen territory, Lorelia owned nothing. Everything belonged to her husband; she merely sat by his side.

“One more thing to mention,” the butler said, drawing her attention. In an even voice, he continued:

“Please take the second daughter of Margrave Apel as a maid.”

“…You mean Miss Helene?”

“Yes.”

Lorelia could not hide her astonishment. This was sudden.

“Miss Helene turned eighteen last month. She is qualified to be a maid.”

“….”

“You have met her before, have you not?”

“Once or twice, when she was invited.”

“What do you know about her?”

“She is the youngest daughter of Margrave Apel and your cousin… that’s all.”

The butler fell silent, eyes lowered, as if hesitating whether to speak further. Lorelia tensed at this unfamiliar expression. Just when she feared what might be said:

“Miss Helene was once proposed to be married to you.”

Renier pronounced it precisely: a marriage proposal.

“Your mother, Lady Anna, had promised her brother, Margrave Apel, that she would be betrothed to him. It was not a formal engagement, but widely known among the nobility.”

“….”

“I thought it best to let you know.”

Lorelia froze for a moment.

A promise among adults did not necessarily mean engagement. Aristocratic relations changed with circumstances, and many proposals became stories of the past. Often, one party became engaged to someone else. Lorelia and Prince Albert’s proposal had been one of these.

But making the person a maid was a matter of another order entirely. It was as if telling Teobold to become Prince Albert’s servant.

The person who saw her every day, helped with her dress, and accompanied her to social gatherings would now be a maid. Once taken as a maid, it was hard to dismiss her. Moreover, Helene Apel was the husband’s cousin and the advisor’s daughter.

“What if she doesn’t want to?”

Lorelia did not want it, yet she hesitated to refuse. She didn’t want to appear frightened or intimidated by Helene.

Perhaps this had been told to her intentionally, to make her uncomfortable with her husband’s former proposal nearby.

Truly, he was such a cruel man.

“What if Miss Helene… refuses?”

“She will not refuse. Being the lady’s maid is a great honor.”

The butler said definitively. Lorelia was disappointed.

“You only need to send a single letter to her room. Tell her you want her as a maid in Trisen Mansion, and she will come immediately.”

No. I don’t want it. Lorelia silently searched desperately for an excuse. How could the butler make such a decision? He had no right to do so.

Yes, the butler has no right to choose my maid.

“Did you choose my maid?” she asked, lifting her chin to appear dignified. Renier met her eyes quietly, then respectfully lowered his gaze.

“No, Madam. It is by His Grace’s order.”

Lorelia had nothing more to say.