35. As If She Might Crumble Away
Perhaps the Orphee ducal family already harbored dislike for Ansi. That was something she had anticipated, so it didn’t come as a major blow.
What she hadn’t expected was that Damian de Orphee would have no intention of resolving it.
Of course, Damian had never proactively suggested they go meet the Duke and Duchess of Orphee. But… he always spoke kindly of her, acted affectionately… made it seem like she had no flaws at all.
So she thought—perhaps he was simply waiting for her to take the initiative, that he’d actually be pleased if she proposed the meeting.
But no. That wasn’t the case.
No matter how much he said he loved her, shame was still shame. He too was well aware that, in a practical and objective sense, he couldn’t confidently present her to his parents.
In truth, it would have been stranger if he didn’t know that.
Even if he’d behaved like a hopeless romantic until now, as long as he wasn’t an idiot, he had to at least be aware of that much.
And yet…
Why did it feel so disappointing?
In that moment, Ansi realized—
She had expectations of him.
Without even knowing it… she had been relying on this man.
How ridiculous.
“…I understand what you’re saying, Damian.”
For now, a strategic retreat was necessary.
At present, the only viable route into the Orphee family’s inner circle was through Damian de Orphee. If he was cutting her off this firmly, she couldn’t exactly throw a fit about wanting to meet his family.
With a lukewarm smile, Ansi leaned in and embraced Damian.
He, in turn, held her even tighter.
But the look in his eyes as he gazed over her shoulder had gone cold.
If he could, Damian would have blocked Ansi from ever meeting anyone in the Orphee family for the rest of their lives. And if that wasn’t possible, then at least for the time being, he felt he must.
What would Ansi do once she learned what kind of person Damian was in their eyes?
People tend to judge others based on how they are perceived. And within that gaze, Damian had no value. The moment Ansi felt that atmosphere, she too would naturally begin to evaluate him as less.
Moreover, he didn’t like the idea of placing Ansi within Cardian’s line of sight.
That curious glint in Cardian’s eyes when he looked at her at the banquet—it had triggered something primal in Damian. A sense of threat.
So really, what good could come of such a meeting?
For either of them.
Ansi, being a dry and unsociable woman, seemed like she’d prefer not to have a formal introduction with the Duke and Duchess anyway.
But why did she look so… disappointed?
And why did that expression make his chest feel so tight?
At first, he had simply taken a liking to her as one of his chess pieces. But occasionally, he found himself far too drawn to her expressions and movements.
Those big eyes that sparkled even when her lips were tightly shut.
That blunt, straightforward way of speaking—because she didn’t know how to flatter or be charming.
And yet, when she smiled, she shone brighter than anyone else in the world.
Seeing such a woman so disappointed… grated on him.
The woman in his arms was small and fragile.
It felt like if he held her too tightly, she might crumble away.
How much of her life had she spent for his sake?
That question suddenly arose in his mind.
Not because he wanted to test Damian de Orphee’s remaining potential—
But because he was now curious about the life remaining for Ansi de Orphee.
At the end of May, a leisurely tea party was held at the center of the rose garden at the Orphee Duke’s estate. The leaves shimmered in the energy of the approaching summer.
“How is your new daughter-in-law, Madam Duchess?”
At a noblewoman’s question, Marianne paused her fan. Her brows tilted slightly with feigned sorrow.
“Well… she hasn’t come to greet me yet.”
“Oh my! That’s terrible.”
“She still hasn’t?”
The nobles began voicing words of sympathy. Marianne lowered her eyes demurely and savored their responses.
“It must be my lack of virtue. Still, I’m happy. Such a lovely daughter-in-law has entered the family.”
A benevolent smile graced her lips.
Her words sparked an outpour of admiration.
“Oh my, Lady Marianne, your heart is so generous.”
“Ansi should be grateful to have such a wonderful mother-in-law.”
“In that case… why don’t you invite Ansi personally? Introduce her to us as well.”
At that final suggestion, the corners of Marianne’s lips lifted. She gave a gentle laugh and narrowed her eyes.
“Shall I?”
“Yes, please invite her, Lady Marianne.”
“You’ll invite me too, won’t you, Madam?”
Everyone at the table was one of Marianne’s loyal followers. They were quick to read her intentions and guide the conversation to fulfill her wishes, even if unspoken.
That brat who dared carry the Orphee name yet hadn’t even shown her face.
Marianne gladly decided to invite her darling second daughter-in-law.
Standing before a full-length mirror, Ansi removed her indoor dress and examined the mark on her waist. Her brows furrowed.
“Just as I thought…”
A few days ago, the mark had suddenly grown darker. What had once been faint now had become fairly clear.
〈At first it was barely visible, but then one day it suddenly darkened. I thought of it again yesterday and checked—it was definitely more vivid. It keeps growing clearer.〉
Her mother had said the mark gradually darkens. But Ansi had a different theory.
The mark had intensified the day she witnessed—and prevented—Damian’s death. Though several days had passed since, it hadn’t darkened further.
Two deductions followed:
First, the mark would likely grow more vivid each time she prevented his death.
The extent of the change from just that one event… meant that by the third or fourth time, it might be fully formed.
Second, once it did become complete…
She might die.
‘I’m still okay for now.’
Just then, someone knocked on the door. Ansi quickly pulled her dress back on and turned with a composed face.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and Simon entered.
“A letter has arrived for you, Madam.”
Eyes sparkling, Simon handed her the envelope. Ansi accepted it. The seal stamped in wax was unmistakably that of House Orphee.
“The Duchess has invited you to a tea party.”
Ansi nodded slowly and unfolded the letter.
I hope we can enjoy a lovely time together and get to know each other. Please do attend. —Your new family, Marianne
The elegant, flowing script conveyed an invitation to a tea party taking place tomorrow.
Though short notice, the invitation itself was welcome.
‘I didn’t think she’d reach out first.’
Ansi had assumed she would have to initiate any meeting, given that they likely disapproved of her. But if they were extending an invitation, she had no reason to refuse.
‘Should I tell Damian?’
If he had no intention of hiding her from his parents forever, then now that she had received an invitation, he couldn’t really stop her.
But if he did try to stop her…
She’d lose even the minimal chance to form connections beyond Damian.
As she mulled over the thought, her gaze settled on the soft golden flowers in the nearby vase. She stared at their gentle light in silence.
“You’ll attend, won’t you, Madam?”
Ansi turned away from the flowers and nodded toward Simon.
“Of course I will.”
She wouldn’t tell Damian. Not beforehand. If it came up later, she could mention it then—but there was no need to give him an excuse to interfere.
Besides, he had already said he would be home late tomorrow… she wouldn’t need to invent an excuse.
“We should pick out a tea-party appropriate outfit ahead of time. I’ve heard the Duchess has exquisite taste in fashion, so I’ll do my best to ensure you don’t lose out in comparison!”
Simon beamed with excitement.
“Have you ever met the Duchess yourself, Simon?”
“No, Madam. Only saw her from afar at your wedding.”
That was odd. Even if Damian lived separately, wouldn’t his parents at least visit once if he was in the same capital?
“How long have you worked here, Simon?”
“About half a year. Not that long, right?”
Then it wasn’t too strange that he hadn’t met the Duchess.
Ansi had intended to ask what kind of person the Duchess was, but it looked like she’d have to find someone else in the house.
Marianne de Orphee, Duchess of Orphee.
To carry a smooth conversation at the tea party, Ansi needed to understand her personality and temperament.
“Is there anyone in this house who came from the Orphee Duke’s estate?”
“Elma. She’s served the master since he was a child.”
If she had been at the main estate that long, she’d surely know a lot about the Duchess. But Elma was too close to Damian. Ansi didn’t want word getting back to him that she’d been asking around about his mother.
“Anyone else?”
“Hmm… I don’t think so. Not that I know of.”
“Not a single person?”
“As far as I know, no.”
That, too, was strange. Even with a separate residence, it was common to bring at least a few people over from the main house.
