Many Misunderstandings
Many Misunderstandings
Max looked at his hands for a while. Then, he clenched his fists.
Why did he keep… thinking about her?
The more he tried to forget about Jubelian, the more she kept coming to mind. He relished the warmth he felt when his hand intertwined with her small, slender one, and savored the peculiar sensation that overcame him as he wrapped his arm around her waist. He tried to shake these thoughts off by distracting himself, but Jubelian’s image continued to pervade his mind. His heart had fluttered when she stroked his hair. Whenever her lips curled into a gentle smile, every minute became more and more difficult to hear as he wondered how they felt. It had been as if he was floating in a dream.
However, that dream had ruptured the moment his master appeared, filling Max with resentment. It was obvious that his master had been confining her until now. Although he knew that Duke Floyen was her father, he couldn’t help but feel angry when he interrupted them. It didn’t help that his master had threateningly ordered him to not visit his residence anymore.
Nevertheless, he reined his anger in because the duke was Jubelian’s father before he was his master. He tried to understand the duke from that perspective, but he could only remember the helplessness he felt as his master carried her away in his arms.
As Max recalled what had happened at the banquet, he gritted his teeth. The duke had been abusing his powers by intruding on his daughter.
Fresia sighed as she watched Max fuming by himself. He had become much stranger after returning from the banquet. She couldn’t help but be worried for her lord since he had begun behaving incomprehensibly despite the fact that the rebellion—which they had undergone much preparation for—was well underway.
“Fresia.”
When he suddenly called her, she raised her head and he leveled her with a serious expression. What did he want to say to look at her in such a way?
No matter how strange he had become, Maximillian always used any means necessary to achieve his purpose. Knowing better than to let her guard down in front of this inherently cold-hearted man, Fresia nervously waited for him to speak.
“Send an invitation in your name, Fresia,” he commanded.
“Huh? To whom?”
“Jubelian.”
Once that familiar name fell from her lord’s lips as she had predicted, Fresia fell deep into thought. “It’ll be difficult to invite Lady Floyen,” she said matter-of-factly.
He frowned in response. “Why?”
Fresia smiled awkwardly. “Well… Lady Floyen’s become quite famous, so she’ll be very busy.”
✤ ✤ ✤
My bed was the most comfortable place to be, after all.
Other people might’ve considered getting grounded a punishment, but it was more like a reward for me. I rolled on my bed mindlessly for a while before sighing when a gloomy thought occurred to me: people were probably in an uproar because of the scene I had caused at the banquet hall.
I didn’t need to go to another social event to know what people were saying about me. They were probably questioning the strange gift I gave and talking about how I had dramatically fainted at someone else’s banquet. Everyone was probably criticizing me for being an attention-seeker. However, as someone who disliked attending banquets and going to public places that attracted unwanted looks, I was far from attention-seeking. I simply wanted to go home after quietly attending the banquet, knowing that my reputation would continue to tarnish itself if I stood out. The situation had spiraled out of my control, though.
Well, I needed to start thinking about what I could do. In a situation like this, it would be a good idea to explain my point of view to others, but I didn’t even want to bother with that.
Wouldn’t people forget about what had happened if I kept out of touch for a while? It would probably be good not to meet up with anyone either, but that idea was soon discarded as well. Doing that would just prove futile if Father decided to marry me off to the crown prince in the end.
When I started getting a headache, someone knocked on my bedroom door.
“This is Merilyn, my lady.”
“Oh, yes,” I said. “Please come in.”
When I gave her my permission, she entered the room. My eyes widened upon seeing a pile of letters on the silver tray she was holding. “That’s…?”
Merilyn noticed my surprise and smiled gently. “These are all for you, my lady,” she explained.
I opened one of them cautiously, hoping that it wasn’t an anonymous blackmail letter. Now that I was the prime subject of all the gossip going around, I was worried that those who held a grudge against me might’ve enclosed something dangerous—like a razor blade or something—within their correspondence. After checking the contents of the letter, I grew shocked once more.
An invitation? I skimmed through the message. It started off with a greeting before transitioning into a request to attend a social event that the sender, the daughter of a noble household, was hosting. I checked the other letters just in case, and they likewise asked for my regards and expressed their hopes of inviting me. All these letters were sent in the names of daughters from noble families.
Ah, why was everyone suddenly doing this? Although I harbored a suspicion, it simply didn’t make sense for other girls to approach me using the same method as Rose had.
I really… hated this. It was, to put it plainly, rather inconsiderate of them to send an invitation to someone who was rumored to be sick. In any case, I had no reason to attend another banquet after going through such trouble recently.
If I declined their invitations without giving a reason, they might become hostile toward me. I should just say that I didn’t feel well. It was a reasonable excuse because many people had witnessed my embarrassment leaving the banquet in Father’s arms. I sighed, picking up another letter.
Then, I saw a familiar name.
Rose…? This letter was from Rose Marie Arlo. I couldn’t help but feel nervous when I saw it. It was only natural of her to be angry with me after all that had happened.
With this in mind, I opened the letter and read its contents, a strange feeling spreading through me.
Dear Lady Floyen,
How are you feeling? I was a little surprised when you left like that during the banquet because I didn’t realize that you were still feeling unwell. I sincerely apologize for not considering that beforehand. You had given me the best gift I had ever received in my life, but in return, I had only given you an unpleasant memory.
There are many more things I would like to say, but I will stop here because you are ill. I hope that you will recover as soon as possible.
It felt very strange to read a letter filled with concern from someone who I had expected to react in the opposite way. I realized that it was my first time receiving such kindness in this life. If I considered the relationship between our families, it was natural for her to say these things for political reasons… but, even so, a small smile graced my lips regardless.
I should review the remaining letters and think about how to respond.
I picked up another envelope. Hm. Count Herend… why did I feel like I had heard this name before? I thought about the list of noble families that Merilyn had given me, but I couldn’t recall seeing such a name. Well, I only memorized the households that had interacted with my family before. It was only natural that I couldn’t remember every noble out there.
This letter was another invitation. I furrowed my brows slightly and stacked up all the letters I got except for the one from Rose. Then, I flopped onto bed. It wasn’t the right time to reply to them. I had to find a solution I could use to discourage Father from making me meet with any of those prospective marriage partners first.
✤ ✤ ✤
Max wandered restlessly, looking very impatient. “Why on earth hasn’t there been a reply yet?” he asked, annoyed. “You must have sent an invitation.”
Fresia sighed in response. It had only been two days since the letter was sent. Silently, she grumbled about her lord’s lack of patience.
“You mentioned that you struck a deal with Duke Floyen as a way to get information from him, right?”
“Ah, yes.” Fresia swallowed nervously because the details of this deal were supposed to be a secret that not even her lord was aware of. It was something that he could benefit from as well… so it was better for him not to know.
“Get in touch with him.”
“I’m sorry? I have nothing to report to him at the moment…”
“You can make something up.”
Fresia could guess her lord’s true intentions from his cold words. He was trying to drive the duke away from his home by using her as bait.
✤ ✤ ✤
A week had already passed since I had been confined to my room.
“It seems like you’re well enough to take a walk outside, my lady,” Allen said, lifting the detainment order on me.
I smiled at his words and inadvertently stole a glance at the porcelain rabbit on my bedside table. Father had probably initiated preparations for my meeting with the crown prince already. I sighed. Despite how hard I concentrated these past few days, I hadn’t been able to think of a way to avoid the meeting.
It would be another story if I pretended to date someone Father approved of, but I didn’t know anyone whom he held in high regard other than Lord Frederick or Mikhail. Even so, someone as accomplished in all aspects of his life as Lord Frederich would never take part in my scheme.
That meant my only solution was to follow the original novel and cling to Mikhail again… It really seemed like I was going to die whether or not I ended up with either Mikhail or the crown prince. I sighed out of resentment for my unfortunate circumstances.
Then, I heard a noise coming from the balcony attached to my room.
Tap, tap!
I whipped around startled by the sound. Sure enough, a familiar face met me. Father’s disciple was here again. I sighed once more, walking toward the window.
Why did this guy keep visiting me instead of Father? If someone saw us…
At that moment, I suddenly thought about the scandalous rumors I once feared would arise from his visit. Wait, that was it!
I hurriedly ran towards the window and opened it. When I saw him, I smiled brightly and grasped his hands tightly. “Welcome!”
After seeing my reaction, his expression hardened. “What do you think you’re doing?” he asked seriously.
Well, it didn’t matter that he had a bit of a vile personality. He was my only solution. My mouth stretched into a grin. “Hey, do you want to…”
✤ ✤ ✤
“I can stall him for two hours at most. You must leave the mansion before then,” Fresia had said.
Max stared at the duke’s mansion as he recalled her words. Why wasn’t Jubelian coming outside? He gritted his teeth unconsciously, overwhelmed by restlessness. When he finally saw a familiar shadow manifest afar, a corner of his lips quirked up.
She was finally moving. Max crossed the garden, avoiding the guards around the mansion with ease. After arriving at the familiar ledge, he spotted her again. Judging from how she was standing, her ankle had to be okay by now.
He smiled despite himself, captivated by the view. He came to his senses soon, however. Why was he smiling like a fool? He should just tell her what he needed to tell her before he ran out of time…
It was then that he realized he had nothing to discuss with her. His thoughts absorbed him—this was driving him crazy. He was disappointed in himself for behaving so incomprehensibly, but the urge to see Jubelian and have her see him in turn was too strong to deny. It was great enough to push him forward, persuasive enough to get him to tap on her window.
He watched her turn around at his signal. Her skin looked milky soft and her hair seemed to shimmer with light, her coral lips parting slightly in surprise. Those periwinkle eyes of hers seemed to contain a world of mysteries within them.
This was the face that had been troubling him these past few days.
“What a foolish expression,” Max muttered to himself, trying to ignore the pounding of his heart. However, his efforts proved in vain the moment a broad smile manifested upon her face. Even a foolish expression like that looked pretty on her. As if possessed, he continued to stare, hopelessly enthralled.
The door that connected the balcony to her room opened. “Welcome!” she greeted brightly.
Max’s heart jumped in his chest. Then, she took his large hands in her smaller ones, and it was almost too much for him to take. “What do you think you’re doing?” Max criticized, trying to suppress his emotions as much as he could. He was afraid of her discovering how her actions affected him, but her unfaltering smile made his heart pound even harder.
Why was she smiling even after he had been rude to her? Max glared at Jubelian, wondering if her kindness came from some sort of ulterior motive.
Her delicate lips parted and she began to speak. “Hey, do you want to go out with me?” she asked.
Max stared blankly at her, surprised by the words that fell from her lips. Go out? What was she saying?
When a thought suddenly occurred to him, it felt like he had been hit by a rain of bricks. Was it possible that… all this time… she had been nice to him because she liked him?
Max had always detested people who approached him with hidden agendas, but the thought of her doing so for such a reason… felt strangely acceptable. Now that he learned the reason behind her friendliness, relief rushed through him. He understood now. That was why she said that.
He tried to control his expression, fighting the smile that threatened to rise upon his lips.
“Oh, in case you’re mistaken, I don’t like you,” she suddenly said. “I just want a contractual relationship, so could you please stop frowning?”
Max’s heart fell, his face ruthlessly contorting in response.
✤ ✤ ✤
Pitch black hair and eyes that glittered like scarlet jewels. A handsome man in possession of a perfectly symmetrical face.
That handsome man was now frowning at me.
I swear he could’ve been the main character of the novel if appearance was the only requirement… this man was Father’s disciple, so there was no doubt that he was a skillful swordsman and someone who Father approved of. This guy was the best person to act as my boyfriend in front of him, so it would’ve been nice if he could cooperate with me without making a fuss…
His eyes glittered with bloodlust. “Contractual relationship?” he asked. “What do you mean by that?”
Wow, he seemed really angry. He was expressionless just a moment ago, so I must’ve really irritated him. I mulled over what I said, thinking about what might’ve affected him so much, and quickly found the answer. Right. Now that I thought about it, I still had yet to mention the benefits that would come with my offer. I heard that mercenaries were sensitive about the conditions concerning their jobs, so if I offered something that he wasn’t satisfied with, he could refuse and immediately leave the mansion.
“In exchange for dating me, I’ll give you all the money you want,” I offered. His eyes became even fiercer, so I added another condition. “Of course, you’ll only have to do it for a limited time, so you don’t need to worry. You just have to go out with me until I become independent and leave this place.”
His expression relaxed and he sighed. “Why are you trying to leave? Wouldn’t that be the start to a difficult life?”
In response to his simplistic assumption, I smiled bitterly and said, “Remember when I told you that Father made a list of prospective marriage partners for me?” When he nodded slowly, I gave a wry snicker. “The problem is, Father already decided who I’ll marry.”
“If you really dislike that person, can’t you just refuse him?”
“Well, he’s someone who I won’t be able to refuse even if I tried.”
He glared at me coldly. “Who could it be that even you, the daughter of a duke, can’t refuse?” he asked lowly. It was the same tone he used when he had asked me if anyone had harassed me at the banquet.
An odd burst of laughter bubbled from my lips. Well, he probably thought I wasn’t being very smart in this situation. It was reasonable for me to be angry about my predicament like he was, but funnily enough, I wasn’t even upset anymore.
“Why are you laughing?” He regarded me with blatant disapproval, as if he thought I was laughing at him specifically.
“Ah, I just… happened to laugh. That’s all.”
When I evaded his question, his face scrunched up in displeasure. “So, who is this person?”
I noticed this about him a while ago, but this guy was a really persistent person. The point was that I was about to be forced into an arranged marriage, so the identity of the person in question wasn’t important. However, given his tenacious personality, he would probably be in a foul mood if I refused to answer. I had no choice.
“Hey, you can’t tell this to anyone else, okay? If they find out, I’ll be in big trouble,” I warned.
“What type of person do you think I am? Just tell me already.”
I hesitated for a while. “Maximillian Casein Assiette,” I finally managed.
“A trivial person like that—what?”
“The crown prince of this empire.”
He met my gaze with immense astonishment. “The crown prince is your prospective fiancé?”
“That’s what I said.”
He fell silent for a while. “That’s weird. There’s no way…” he muttered quietly. Doubt riddled his hesitant voice.
Well, he was someone who once insisted on speaking to me informally, so he probably wasn’t very knowledgeable about worldly affairs. I decided to be generous and explain the situation to him despite how insensible he was.
“What do you mean, weird? Despite my unruly appearance, I’m still the daughter of a duke. In terms of status, my family is second only to the imperial family,” I insisted. “Although my reputation is a mess, it wouldn’t be a loss for the crown prince and his family to obtain the duke as a relative."
When I finished giving my explanation, he chuckled. “That’s true,” he said.
I wondered if he actually understood me, but I continued to explain for now, anyway. “That’s why I won't be able to refuse the crown prince if the time ever comes.”
A long time ago, a great archmage by the name of Assiette established the Assiette empire. It was said that as a great lord and king, he used magic to solve his people’s problems. As such, Assiette’s descendants were revered as gods. Perhaps this was the reason why Father’s disciple wore such a stiff expression.
“For this reason, I’m planning to tell Father that I’m dating someone else before he could even bring the crown prince up. He won’t be unable to force this union together if his daughter ends up involved in a scandal with another man.”
At that moment, Father’s disciple spoke up. “What are you planning to do if the crown prince says he doesn’t mind?”
Goosebumps rose on my skin as soon as I heard his dreadful supposition, but I tried my best not to make my fear known. “That's impossible. The imperial family must be crazy if they approve of a woman who's already dating someone else…”
I trailed off because I was bothered by how his expression had changed. What was wrong with him? He had frowned at the word crazy.
“You might suit the crown prince’s tastes,” he said.
What? I might suit his tastes? A shiver ran down my spine at the thought.
I knew it. It really was unusual that he deliberately chose to visit the Room of Shadows to torture me. If I was really the crown prince’s type, it would be difficult to escape from him because madmen derived joy out of arbitrarily killing and harassing others.
I shuddered from these horrible thoughts and quickly calmed myself. “Then I must run away,” I said.
As soon as I said that, his expression froze over.
Ugh, why was he making that face now? Was he going through puberty this late in age? I couldn’t help but speculate because of the severity of his mood swings.
“Run away, huh?” he said, voice dropping low. “Doing that will only make your life harder, though.”
I nodded. “Well, I think I’ll be much happier penniless than if I were to marry the crown prince.”
Although I would have to sacrifice Father’s inheritance, I could sell my jewelry for a good chunk of money. Even without my inheritance, I would still be able to sustain myself by running a small business. Although this meant giving up my dream of living lavishly without having to lift a finger, running away was the only adequate solution I could think of. It was probably a good idea to start preparing right now, even.
“I’m leaving,” Father’s disciple said suddenly. He sounded really quiet.
“Wait!” I called out to him, but he had already left without listening to what else I had to say. When I came to terms with his departure, I sighed. “You should’ve at least told me if you were going to accept or reject my request,” I muttered.
✤ ✤ ✤
Fresia quietly watched Duke Floyen as he reviewed the documents she had given him. For God’s sake, she really hoped he didn’t notice anything… her back had become clammy after erupting into a cold sweat. She had only managed to stall him for an hour, but that was already quite an achievement.
It was then Regis closed the folder. “I’ve looked through the documents you gave me, but I don’t see anything different from last time.”
Right when the duke was about to stand up and leave, Fresia calmly said, “That’s impossible. If you look carefully—”
“Yulia.”
She tensed when the duke called out her real name. She knew that he only did that when he was about to threaten her. “I don’t know what your reasons for doing this are, but if you pull something like this again, I’ll call off the deal,” he warned. Then, he rose from his seat.
She glanced at him. “I have more information, though. Are you sure you don’t want to see?” she asked.
In response, he sat back down meekly despite the hostile expression he had brandished toward her just a minute ago.
A smile spread across Fresia’s face. His reaction made her wonder what kind of person Lady Floyen was. Jubelian managed to make both her lord and this scary person before her so obedient.
“So, what is it that you want to show me?” the duke asked.
Fresia took out another folder. “This.”
She had planned to disclose this information later, but it couldn’t be helped. Fresia decided to show Regis the last card up her sleeve.
A murderous aura emanated from him once he finished reviewing the document. “Was this true?”
Fresia nodded and sipped her tea instead of responding immediately. When she finished swallowing, she set the cup down and smiled sweetly. “Have you ever seen me make a mistake before?”
His face hardened and he stood up. “I’m leaving.”
Fresia looked at the duke’s retreating back, then back at the clock. Hm… it was a little earlier than what she had promised her lord… but he would probably be able to take care of it.
She picked her cup back up again, drinking what was left of her cold tea before forcefully setting it back down on the plate.
✤ ✤ ✤
Clang!
A rough burst rang across the room.
What was Jubelian planning? Mikhail looked at the broken pieces of the liquor bottle he had smashed, his face devolving into a wicked scowl. Why on earth was that woman ignoring him?!
He had sent her an invitation, bothered by the fact she had left the banquet in the duke’s arms, but she hadn’t even replied. What was her reason for treating him like this? He had even apologized this time…
Mikhail had always been treated like a genius, so this was the first time he had ever lowered himself to someone else. When his apology didn’t even entice a response, however, it hit his pride hard. Damn it. What went wrong, exactly? Although he had apologized and tried to get in touch with her, she hadn’t spared him a single glance. The tables had been turned—he was the one actively seeking her out now.
With a woman like that… he should just act as if she didn’t exist, either.
He tried to stop thinking about her with this in mind, but the bitter scent of liquor made him dizzy.
“I like you, Mikhail,” she had once said.
Perhaps it was because he was drunk, but this terrible memory clouded his thoughts. He clenched his fists and punched the wall.
✤ ✤ ✤
Bang!
Max returned to his hideout and slammed the door angrily. Fresia, who had been startled by the sound, calmed herself and observed him. He had returned earlier than expected, but why did he look so glum?
When he sat on the couch wearing a furious expression, Fresia furtively glanced at him. “Did something go wrong?” she asked.
“That’s none of your business,” Max said coldly.
Fresia frowned. Some personality he had. That was why she didn’t even bother to correct all the bad rumors about him amongst the nobility.
“What does it mean when a woman says she wants to run away from her fiancé?”
Fresia fell deep into thought for a while. Then, she smiled. “Isn’t it obvious? She must hate that person with a passion.”
Max scowled at the answer and clenched his fists. It was just as he had expected, but it infuriated him anyway. Jubelian hated him with a passion?
“So, what happened at the mansion to make you so angry?” Fresia asked softly.
He furrowed his brows and began to reproach her cold-heartedly. “I said it was none of your—”
“Did you propose to the lady, by any chance? And if so, did she say that she wanted to run away from you, my lord?”
Max felt his face getting hot in response. “Who proposed?! It was her who—”
“Hey, do you want to go out with me?” she had asked.
Unable to continue, he changed the subject instead. “Is there any news from the emperor?”
“Oh, you know. He’s doing the same old thing, rushing you for your return and… ah…!” Fresia’s expression became serious. “Rather than the emperor causing trouble, the empress sent another assassin. I told our men to keep him alive for now.”
Max smirked. “Really?”
This wasn’t the first time his spiteful stepmother, the current empress, had tried to kill him. He suspected that she had also killed the former empress, his birth mother, so he harbored a deep hatred for her. It felt like a good idea to behead the assassin and send it back to her as a gift.
“In that case, let’s…” Just as he was about to reveal this gruesome thought, someone else came to mind.
“Then I must run away,” Jubelian had said.
He squeezed his fists and clamped his mouth shut.
“What should we do about him?” Fresia asked.
“Keep him alive,” Max said softly.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
With this, Fresia began to head out of the room.
“Ah, I’m asking this out of curiosity,” Max began quietly, halting her for a moment, “but have there been any invitations for me to meet with a prospective marriage partner?”
Fresia gave a small smile in response. “If there had been such a thing, I would’ve informed you immediately, Your Highness. But why are you asking me that all of a sudden?”
Instead of replying, Max waved her away dismissively. Seriously, would it hurt for him to answer her right away? Fresia complained to herself silently.
When she left the room, Max frowned and recalled what he had thought to his master in the past: “I’ll never allow myself such a weakness. Not like you.”
He had never hesitated to dye his hands red with blood before, but strangely enough, he didn’t want to today. Why did he… suddenly feel so regretful?
He clenched his fists.
✤ ✤ ✤
Every time I dined with Father, I felt as if I was walking on thin ice. I was constantly preoccupied by the fear that he might bring up arranged marriages. Ah, I really shouldn’t have let his disciple leave so easily that day. When I sighed mournfully, Father called out to me.
“Jubelian.”
“Yes?” I asked calmly. Although I tried to look calm, I was nervous that he was going to start talking about getting me a fiancé. “Please don’t talk about that. Anything but that,” I prayed silently.
“What do you think about the crown prince?”
When I realized that I had to confront the very thing that had been troubling me, I could only turn to the heavens. Dear God, why are you doing this to me? I thought. If I could avoid answering Father’s question forever, I would, but if I kept tight-lipped, he would think I was acting strange. I hesitated for a moment before deciding to beat around the bush.
“Hm, I’m not sure,” I deliberated. “I don’t really think about him.”
When I responded like a naive noblewoman would, Father slightly furrowed his brows. “I see,” he muttered before picking up his spoon again. Just as I was about to feel relieved, he said, “Still, you should learn about him.”
Chills ran down my spine. He wanted me to learn about a sadist who might kill me? No, thank you.
Contrary to my thoughts, I smiled shyly and changed the topic. “Well, I’ve been reading a lot recently. It’s made me realize that history is an exciting subject.” I was trying to show him that I was doing my best to live my life to the fullest instead of staying a good-for-nothing. Father took the bait.
“I see. What have you been reading?”
“Ah, the history of this empire’s founding.”
His face hardened a bit. “I see,” he echoed.
I was concerned, yet again, that he might mention a marriage meeting, so I continued talking. “The most interesting part of the book is about the first emperor.” I actually thought that the treasures left by him were the most interesting, but they were both involved in the same context. “I learned that he left behind many peculiar things… do you think they’re still being passed down even today?”
Father set his spoon down. “Well, I’m not sure,” he said. Then, he stood up from his chair. “I just remembered I have some urgent business that I have to take care of. You can take your time with your meal.”
I was a bit taken aback because Father was never the first one to leave the dining room when we ate together. Hm. What was it that was so urgent? While on one hand I felt relieved, I felt empty on the other.
✤ ✤ ✤
Regis sighed after returning to his room, worried that Jubelian might consider his behavior strange. He shouldn’t have said that…
After feeling regretful for a while, he thought about what she told him earlier: “Hm, I’m not sure. I don’t really think about him.”
Although she was unreceptive to rumors, it was impossible for her not to know about all the awful things going around about the crown prince. However, his daughter had donned a stern expression, looking as if she didn't want to think about the prince's unpleasant qualities. It was also suspicious that she had been reading about the imperial family.
Regis looked at the cufflinks his daughter had given him as a gift and sighed. He really needed to stop them from getting together.
✤ ✤ ✤
When I returned to my room after I finished eating, I saw Sella arranging some flowers in a vase. The assortment of pink and white roses looked quite pleasant. Now that I thought about it, we didn’t have many of them around here.
I stared at the flowers blankly until a voice pulled me out of my reverie. “My lady.”
I turned around and spotted Merilyn holding another silver tray. “It seems like I’ve received more letters,” I commented.
“Yes, my lady,” she said. It felt like a heavy burden had been lifted off me when I heard her warm voice. We had become close recently, so she no longer acted uncomfortable around me.
Well, receiving more letters wasn’t a bad thing. When I opened one of them, I recognized Rose’s familiar handwriting.
Dear Lady Floyen,
How have you been these days? You haven’t mentioned anything about your health recently, so I assume you’ve fully recovered. Even so, I’m worried about you. I hope you don’t feel sick anymore and continue to stay healthy from now on.
By the way, I have been attending tea tasting parties recently. Since it involves surrounding oneself with like-minded people, I believe it’s a befitting way to peacefully enjoy tea without feeling burdened or uncomfortable. If you have any interest in joining us, please let me know.
If I rejected her when she was making an effort to invite me out… I would end up isolated. In the event I had to run away from home, it would be best to garner some sympathy from others by becoming more sociable. I should also learn more about the crown prince as Father suggested and discover what he disliked.
“Could you please run an errand to Count Arlo’s residence for me?” I asked Merilyn, setting down the letter.
She nodded in response. “Of course, my lady.”
✤ ✤ ✤
“Lady Floyen has fully recovered from her illness!” Rose exclaimed.
“Oh my, that’s great news.”
Members of the tea tasting circle were delighted to hear that Jubelian had overcome her indisposition. Rose smiled sweetly. “She also said that she’s interested in joining our next meeting. What does everyone think?”
“Oh my goodness, that would be amazing!”
“Of course she can!”
While everyone else shouted in joy, one person remained silent. Rose looked at her and said, “The next tea party will be at your place, Veronica. You’re okay with that, right?”
Once she had been addressed, Veronica, looking dissatisfied, spoke up halfheartedly. “Sure, she can be invited.” Although she tried to seem excited, her hand trembled as she picked up a sugar cube with a pair of tongs.
So, that woman is coming to my house, she thought to herself.
Unaware of Veronica’s mood, Rose became giddy and her cheeks flushed with happiness. “Yay! I’m so excited that I’ll let her know as soon as possible!” she exclaimed.
✤ ✤ ✤
“The hostess of the tea party was usually the only one with the privilege to invite people, but Lady Arlo invited a personal acquaintance to the group at her own discretion!” Veronica recounted, gritting her teeth.
The person listening to her sighed. “Lady Veronica,” he said. Although he spoke with a cold and lofty tone, that was part of his charm.
“Yes?”
“I’m very tired right now…”
It seemed like he was commanding her to leave, so Veronica quickly mentioned a certain someone he disliked to grab his attention. “Ah, but that personal acquaintance was Lady Floyen. Can you believe it? Isn’t it pure nonsense?” she prompted. “I know social status is of great importance, but how could she invite a selfish woman like her?!”
The man’s indifferent eyes glimmered in response. “Did you say that you’re hosting the next tea party?”
“Ah, yes I am.”
“Could you invite me as well? I’m worried about you now that Lady Floyen is attending.”
If he had been anyone else, Veronica would’ve suspected the motive behind his misleading claim, but her everlasting, unrequited love for him prevented her from thinking clearly. He was worried about her! She was certain of it, elated. The gift of his attention on her, however brief, made Veronica so happy that she ended up nodding brightly. “Of course, Sir Mikhail!”
Mikhail’s lips slowly lifted into a smirk. We’ll finally meet again, Jubelian, he thought.
✤ ✤ ✤
I went into my dressing room to browse through my clothes and let out a sigh. Hm, I haven’t shopped for anything new to wear in a while. Although I had all the appropriate dresses for going out and attending that last banquet, I needed something that would suit this new occasion. Tea parties were considered more casual in nature and they required little formality. I wanted to wear a different style, too.
As I was debating on whether I should go shopping or look through the catalog of a famous boutique, Merilyn approached me with a wrapped box. “It’s a gift from Fyodor’s, my lady,” she said.
After accepting the box, opening it, and spotting what was inside, I became confused. Wait, this was…
It was a brooch decorated with aquamarine gemstones and set with platinum. I could tell it was expensive just by looking at it. He couldn’t have sent it to me for free… I opened up the letter accompanying it, which read somewhat like this:
Dear Lady Floyen,
I am sending this gift in order to celebrate your recovery. I hope you like it, my lady. It is thanks to your benevolence that business in the workshop is now booming, after all.
Although it’s not much, I would like to send you a gift every month as a token of my appreciation. Please accept them without restraint, as I do not expect anything in return. It would also be an honor if you visited my workshop whenever you can, my muse.
The letter was lengthy, but it was essentially thanking me for promoting his work. If I thought about it, I did somewhat advertise his workshop… so it should’ve been okay to accept this.
Thanks to him, I didn’t have to worry about my lack of accessories anymore. I didn’t plan on selling his gifts, since I could use them as emergency funds in the worst-case scenario. After silently thanking Fyodor for his useful gift, I turned to Merilyn.
“I plan to visit Arcade Street,” I said. “Please make preparations.”
✤ ✤ ✤
“The lady is getting ready to go out, master. She says it’s been a while since she went shopping.”
Regis sighed in response. “Who are her escorts?” he asked.
Derrick listed the most skillful knights from the Floyen household. “Sir Geraldine, Sir Todd, Sir Dylan, Sir Howard, and Sir Ronald,” he said. “Five escorts in total.”
Regis nodded, satisfied. “Alright. That is sufficient.”
“A messenger from Madam Fresia is also here. She says there is urgent news you must be informed about.”
Although she seemed carefree on the outside, Fresia was inherently cautious and rarely summoned him for trivial things. Regis sighed. She probably wasn’t pulling his leg this time like she did last time… he needed to go.
✤ ✤ ✤
“Do you have plans for today, Your Highness?”
Max pulled a face at Fresia, who was hinting at him to leave. “Why?”
“A guest is coming.”
He felt his temper rise. “If it’s a guest, use another room here,” he said, expressing his displeasure noticeably.
“Well… the problem is… the guest is Duke Floyen.”
His demeanor grew even more unpleasant. “So? Are you telling me that I should run away and intentionally avoid him?” Max had always maintained a semblance of cordiality towards the duke because he was his master, but, as indicated by his extremely obstinate behavior, he was severely enraged as of now.
Fresia knew he was her lord… but he was so difficult to deal with. She silently groaned to herself and said, “We will be discussing an important issue this time, so I think it will take a while.”
“What issue would take that long?” he retorted.
She sighed softly. It wasn’t anything she could tell him… what should she do? In the end, she didn’t dwell too long on that question. Due to her experience in assisting him, she decided that the best course of action would be to give him a piece of information she had planned to give the duke as part of their deal. “I heard Lady Floyen will be attending a small tea party held by some noblewomen,” she said. “Sir Mikhail, of all people, will be attending the party as well.”
Max’s eyes grew large. Then, they narrowed severely. “What? Why him?”
It used to be difficult to recognize his emotions in the past because he had always been expressionless, but he had become a lot more transparent as of late. Fresia tried her best to suppress her laughter. “I don’t know. That’s something only he could divulge. But if he’s attending a gathering to see his ex-lover, doesn’t that make it seem like he still has some regrets?”
Max glared at Fresia. His expression was fierce, but it was quite different from the face he usually made when he was angry. Fresia could identify the subtle differences. This was jealousy, it seemed, and she had never thought her lord was capable of expressing such an emotion before. Not long ago, he had been an unfeeling man who didn’t hesitate to ruthlessly kill his enemies. Although he was rather generous to his allies, he was incredibly cruel and merciless toward those who opposed him. So much so, in fact, that it frightened even Fresia sometimes.
At some point, he must’ve changed.
“Keep him alive,” he had commanded last time. Fresia couldn’t yet tell if these changes were going to benefit or harm him, but she didn’t mind them. In the past, her lord gradually seemed to be turning into a monster like the emperor, but now she could sense a faint trace of humanity from deep within him.
“That’s why I’m telling you to hurry up and go…” Fresia began, but she trailed off upon seeing that Max had already disappeared. She clicked her tongue. “That was fast. How energetic of him.”
Someone knocked on the door. “The guest has arrived, Madam,” they announced.
Fresia’s face hardened. It was time to work.
✤ ✤ ✤
Max felt his blood boil and his head get hot. Back when he was ridiculously weak, he could only survive by deceiving his father and stepmother. The experience made him adept at suppressing his anger, and it became a skill which he had maintained even after he had grown in strength. However, this emotion rampaging within him—something he had always been able to restrain—now escaped his ironclad control because of a single fact: Jubelian was going to encounter Mikhail again.
After his mother died, Max decided to tread the path of becoming emperor and pledged never to be swayed by something as trivial as an emotion ever again. He swore never to let one ruin his plans. He had abided by this resolution since he was young, but now he felt the very thing he had desperately tried to avoid.
Nevertheless, he couldn’t help but visit her. As he rushed to find her, he recalled the words she had said to him before…
“It gets cold at night because we’re in-between seasons.”
“I was worried because I have strange tastes, but I’m glad you like it as well.”
“It’s not free. As repayment, you can help me out if I ever need it.”
Max felt her poisonous presence take effect, spreading over him. Even so, he found himself unable to escape, hanging on like a man addicted.
He ran to her as if he was being chased by his thoughts, arriving at Jubelian's house in no time. He would usually check if his master was present first, but he was too focused on simply making it to her room. When he arrived at her balcony, however, he had realized too late that no one was there.
Where did she go? As he frantically peered into the room and searched for her, he sensed someone getting closer. Who was that? The person’s heavy gait differed from Jubelian’s light, feather-like footsteps. Just as the bedroom door was about to open, Max hid himself.
“What kind of dress will our lady choose this time?” a maid asked.
“I’m not sure, but I think she’ll look nice in a flowy dress with frills.”
“She’s so beautiful. What wouldn’t suit her?
“You’re right! I’m envious, though. I wish I could shop at Arcade Street without any worries, too.”
Max obtained Jubelian’s location from the maids’ conversation. Arcade Street, huh?
✤ ✤ ✤
I closed my eyes due to an intense bout of fatigue before reopening them once more. Just a few months ago, I had gotten at least some exercise from following Mikhail around, but now my stamina had deteriorated from staying cooped up at home all the time. I shouldn’t forget to take regular walks from now on, at the very least.
With this in mind, I entered a renowned boutique in the capital.
“Oh my, what a surprise!” someone gushed. Although I heard the person who spoke, I didn’t think the statement was directed toward me until she blocked my path. “Have you come out to shop as well, Lady Floyen?”
Hmm… no matter how hard I studied this noblewoman, I couldn’t figure out her identity. Nevertheless, I decided to respond to her as if I knew her, or else she might naturally get offended at me for not recognizing her. “Yes, are you looking for dresses as well?” I asked.
“Oh, Lady Floyen! Other than that, there’s no other reason to visit a seamstress,” she said. “Well, I’m actually here to take a finished dress of mine home.”
“Ah, I see. Then if you don’t mind…” I excused myself, preparing to walk past her to continue shopping.
Suddenly, however, she sighed. “It’s such a shame,” she said. I reflexively turned toward her and noticed that she was still looking straight at me. That meant that she was still trying to continue the conversation.
“Huh? What is?” I asked.
In response, she spoke as if she had been waited for me to ask. “I just don’t think these dresses will suit you very well because of your slender figure, Lady Floyen. If fashion trends weren’t so important, you wouldn’t have to wear such uncomfortable, unflattering dresses. You could actually wear something that looked good on you. It’s simply… a shame.”
Her words sounded sarcastic, but I had to admit there was some truth to them. These dresses were definitely uncomfortable. The trend these days was the robe á la française, as seen in the show Rose of Versailles. With its showy stomacher and sizable skirt, this dress funneled attention to the bust. Although it was pretty, it was extremely confining. I had originally planned to order a dress to follow the trend, but this interaction reminded me to take my comfort into consideration if I was going to go through the hassle of requesting a dress in the first place. Thanks to her, I realized something important.
Regardless of her intentions, I was grateful that she offered me some useful advice. “Thank you for the advice. I will take it into consideration and order a dress that suits me,” I said with a smile.
She looked reluctant and a bit disappointed at my cordial response. “Ah, okay…”
“Then, I’ll excuse myself.”
As I strode past her, I thought about what kind of dress I wanted to request to the designer before coming up with an idea.
Ah, yes. That should be good.
✤ ✤ ✤
I was exhausted by the time I finished ordering the dress, but it was a worthwhile endeavor. I think the new dress was going to suit me much better. Now that I had completed what I had set out to do for the day, a wave of fatigue crashed into me. I was contemplating whether or not I should go back home just yet when I heard a disruptive outburst.
“You scoundrel!” someone cried. “Are you trying to avoid taking responsibility after putting a nobleman in danger? Apologize right this moment!”
I frowned, wondering who would harass a commoner at a public place like this. This guy sounded like an idiot trying to recover his self-esteem by humiliating someone else. I cast a furtive glance at the dispute, then knit my eyebrows. Why… was he here?
The nobleman mistreating the commoner was a famous enough that even I knew of him. His name was Baron Gordon, and he had once been a hot gossip topic amongst the nobility because he was a commoner who managed to ascend into the upper class. I mentioned famous, but he was more infamous to be precise. As a former usurer, he had acquired the favor of high-ranking nobles by buying them expensive gifts. He must’ve thought he could buy anything—even status—with money, but it was impossible for the nobility to easily accept him amongst their ranks since they depended heavily upon the principle of blood and lineage. Eventually, he vanished from high society after being cast away.
I was wondering why I hadn’t heard any news about him for a while. He was probably busy running around and doing stuff like this. I focused most of my attention on the commoner rather than Baron Gordon, however.
“I don’t see why I have to apologize when you’re the one at fault for falling,” the commoner said.
I knew of only one person who would dare to confront a noble with such informality. I knew it. I knew this guy wasn’t going to keep his promise.
I sighed and glared at Father’s disciple.
✤ ✤ ✤
Max disliked busy places because it reminded him of the battlefield, the only other environment that could get that crowded. Because of that, he felt lost when he stepped foot upon Arcade Street, which was wholly unfamiliar to him.
A wandering musician surrounded by onlookers played an instrument in front of the fountain at the center of the plaza. Lines of people stood outside renowned shops. A wide range of people traversed Arcade Street, moving in groups as family, friends, or lovers.
How tiring. The peaceful atmosphere made Max feel even tenser. He felt like an outsider stranded in a strange place. Where on earth was Jubelian? He was constantly moving around, trying to look for her. A man was about to bump shoulders with him, but he swiftly avoided the collision.
The man ended up falling by himself, crashing to the ground with an angry shout. “Agh! Damn it!” he seethed. “How dare you?!”
Max frowned at the man’s bizarre and excessively loud voice. What was this thing? He never avoided people who tried to start fights with him, but his top priority right now was finding Jubelian, so he ignored the man and tried to leave. At that moment, however, a group of young men who looked like guards suddenly appeared before him, surrounding him.
“What’s the matter, my lord?” they asked the man who fell. They helped him get back up.
“Where do you think you’re going after offending a nobleman like this?” the man yelled fiercely once he was back on his feet.
Max scowled. “What did I do wrong?” he countered.
“That thing you just did, you wretch! Didn’t you just trip me?”
Max unconsciously smirked, a murderous urge rising within him once he realized the man was picking a fight. Should he just kill him? Max flexed his hands, clenching and unclenching his fists. The guards surrounding him were big guys, but he knew they couldn’t compare to him. If he decided to fight back, he could guarantee himself a complete victory.
If he dirtied his hands over a matter as trivial as this, however, he would end up delaying search.
“That has nothing to do with me,” Max said, speaking as nicely as he could manage. He tried to leave once again, but the nobleman continued to rave in fury, unwilling to let him go unpunished.
“You scoundrel! Are you trying to avoid taking responsibility after putting a nobleman in danger? Apologize right this moment!”
Since he was going on about danger, Max wanted to vindicate his claims and endanger the man just like he seemed to ask for. Max suppressed his bloodthirst, however, and remained as calm as he could. “I don’t see why I have to apologize when you’re the one at fault for falling,” he said.
The baron gritted his teeth in response. How dare that good-for-nothing commoner look down upon him! As a nobleman who had been born a citizen of the lower class, Baron Gordon had been disdained in high society for his origins, making him miserable for quite some time. No matter how much support he won using money, there seemed to be no end to his suffering. Then one day, he witnessed an unpleasant scene while he was in an extremely foul mood: a group of noblewomen who usually ignored him started fawning over a good-looking servant.
“Oh my goodness,” one of the ladies gushed, “what’s your name?”
Another joined in. “Won’t you work for us? I’ll pay you plenty,” she cooed.
It was disgusting. He was so irritated by what he had seen that he ended up summoning the servant and picking a fight with him. In response, he received an apology: “I’m sorry for making such a foolish mistake,” the servant had said. “Please be generous and forgive me.”
It was truly a great spectacle to witness having this worthless peasant—once frustratingly overconfident around a group of noblewomen just moments ago—beg for mercy and kneel on the ground like a dog. Experiencing that made him feel as if he could fly. “I’m the noble here,” he had thought, reassuring himself and finally relaxing.
After that day, he bullied tall and attractive commoners to vent his anger, but unlike his other victims who easily apologized, this new guy continued to remain stubborn until the end. Baron Gordon found himself sinking back into his violent tendencies once more. He couldn’t let this bastard go!
“What are you doing? Tie up that arrogant commoner!” the baron shouted, his voice radiating vicious anger. The guards surrounding Max advanced at his orders, but another voice soon made them pause.
“Stop that right now,” it said. It sounded gentle and sweet in pitch, but its tone was cold and laced with firm dignity. Everyone immediately dropped what they were doing to glance at the woman who spoke.
“Y-you are…!”
There stood an elegant woman with silver hair, periwinkle eyes, and alluring features brilliant enough to dazzle the eye. One could immediately tell that this gorgeous woman glaring with a frigid expression was of the upper nobility. Although Baron Gordon had been deserted by aristocratic society, he wasn’t so dull as to fail to recognize someone who outranked most of high society.
“I greet the lady of the great house of Floyen. I am—”
She listened to his greeting briefly, giving a slight nod before cutting him off. “I know who you are, Baron Gordon,” she said. Although she had spoken icily, Baron Gordon was delighted to discover Lady Floyen recognized a low-ranking noble like him.
“To meet you by coincidence like this… I am truly a lucky person,” he marveled.
The children of dukes were usually treated as if they possessed the rank of a count or countess. It was rare for a baron to obtain the opportunity to strike up a conversation with someone like her. She was rather notorious, but what did it matter? If he could win her favor and eventually become noticed by the duke, it would be worth it, even if it meant utilizing all of his wealth. It would be very easy to please a young girl. Baron Gordon’s eyes shone covetously.
Lady Floyen’s coral lips parted to speak.
“Really?” she asked. “Because I’m very annoyed right now.”
The baron flinched. Her voice hadn’t contained the slightest hint of warmth.
Continues in Volume 2
Leave Us a Review
Thank you so much for spending the time to read this book. It would be really appreciated if you could:
Review this. Reviews, even very brief ones, are a huge help to new authors. If you enjoyed this story and don’t mind sharing your opinion, please consider leaving a review.
Share this. When you share this book on social media, you’re letting more people discover this story. And word-of-mouth is the best marketing for a budding author.
Connect with us. We’d love to hear from you! Stop by at the website www.wordexcerpt.com or follow us on our social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook with the handle @wordexcerpt for the latest updates.
Thank you!
