IDEFYEM - Chapter 58
Black Man, I'll Do Everything For You Except Marriage!
[I'm sending a horse with my bird, so if you don't mind, please come out today. The location is marked on the map.
P.s. I have obtained information related to the matter you requested.]
Putting the most important information in the postscript, I almost missed it!
I was excited about his travels and took the note with me.
The dinner promise I made in exchange for the last request was a promise, and since I had new information, there was no reason not to go out.
Moreover, it wasn't just the content that bothered me.
[You seem to have been up to some pretty interesting things recently, Enrica. These days, every time I go out on the town streets, I hear your name.]
If you're talking about something interesting, I'm sure you're talking about the dress incident.
Every time I go out on the streets of town, I hear my name.
Even though I thought it was ghostly timing, I quickly rummaged through the closet out of curiosity. And I put on the knight's robe that I had previously worn.
My striking pink hair was tied up, hung to one side, and hidden inside my robe.
I chose plain, neutral-colored clothes so as not to be noticeable even if my insides were exposed.
I bundled up the blanket to make it look like I was sleeping in bed and then quietly left the Count's residence.
Now that I have learned the magic to erase my presence, it is not difficult to sneak out.
After somehow getting out, I chased after a hawk that was flying slowly, flapping its wings as if telling me to follow.
I've felt it since last time, but you're really capable.
Without hesitation, I silently walked in the direction the bird led me. There was a horse and a map prepared by Tristan. I quickly got on the saddle and looked at the destination marked on the map.
Hmm, it looks like an ordinary restaurant in an ordinary town.
I can take a walk around the village and go to where Tristan is waiting.
I wrote a note explaining its contents and hung it at the hawk's feet.
"Will you go and tell your master?"
The hawk flapped its wings as if nodding and immediately flew up into the sky.
After looking up at the blue sky, I set off with a refreshed mind.
***
The village streets were noisy with the energy of people. Although I could feel eyes glancing at me while I was covered in a robe.
When I cast a low-strength stealth spell, my gaze quickly wandered away.
Rumors in social circles were often well-known not only in newspapers subscribed to by nobles but also in gossip magazines sold on the street.
The initial goal is to make sure that word about the dress is spreading.
I was wondering where I should go to check it out in a village where commoners live. Soon I realized there was no need to look for that place in the first place.
"Did you see that today too?"
The sound of girls chatting as they walked pierced my ears.
Although the quality of the fabric is not very good, they are wearing clothes with sophisticated designs. It was also noticeable that each person was sharing bead bracelets, which are popular these days.
"You mean Lady Enrica's dress?"
Even so, I didn't expect to hear the sentence I wanted so quickly.
Since this is a place where there is no need for etiquette, people call my name out loud. I scratched the corner of my mouth, feeling a little embarrassed.
"Nowadays, everyone is busy waiting for the newspaper because of that. Isn't it fun because it's like putting together a puzzle?"
"That's right, I haven't thrown away a single piece so far and just cut it up."
"I heard that Auntie Laura in the dressing room is staying up all night copying that dress. I'm going to ask her to buy it for my birthday!"
"Ah, I really, really envy Miss Enrica."
The girl clasped her hands together with eager envy in her eyes and said.
'It's going a lot better than I thought, it's almost embarrassing."
When I met him with my own eyes, I felt like my heavy heart was relieved. That was when I turned my back to go in a different direction.
A slightly disgusted voice came back to the girl's last words.
"Oh, no matter what, I... It was scary. How can you live there?"
I tried to guess the words I had missed by turning my head, but I could only hear the sounds of laughter coming from the backs of the girls who were already far away.
'First... I don't think public opinion about the dress is bad.'
In fact, it felt so successful that saying it wasn't bad would be an understatement.
But I feel so uncomfortable and curious about what that means!
'Is the site of the Count's mansion bad? It didn't look like it...'
For a long time, I couldn't let go of my lingering feelings about the true meaning of that word, so I walked around in the same spot.
***
I quickly took off my robe and headed to another location.
In actual combat, the stealth magic, which I used for the first time, did its job well.
Now I thought I could trust that and move on to a downtown area where rumors were more active.
The destination was already decided.
'Bakery de Larve' is a café and bakery that is very popular these days among noble ladies and young ladies.
I parked my horse nearby and entered the fragrant-smelling area.
"I'll go after having a cup of tea."
I ordered an appropriate menu from the staff who greeted me with a friendly smile and waited.
Coincidentally, it seemed like a gathering of noble ladies was taking place in the hall.
I took a seat in the corner, pricked my ears, and focused on what I was hearing.
This time, after about 10 minutes, the topic I had been waiting for appeared.
"... By the way, have you read the newspaper?"
"Sure. Everyone is probably aware of it even if they pretend not to care."
"It's a unique way of promoting it. My daughter collects the newspaper scraps."
Even among noble ladies with high standards of opinion, I didn't hear any bad words.
A woman wearing a sparkling ring on her ring finger frowned and said.
"Don't you think it's too much? There's such a fuss about a wedding."
The atmosphere at the table calmed down.
That person... I understand that she recently got married to Baron Budland. There was a rumor going around that the outdoor ceremony, which had been planned for the best, was a failure due to the gloomy weather, and she and Martha were originally close friends.
This meant that there was ample reason to be antipathetic to this noisy atmosphere.
Well, you can't win everyone's favor. The goal from the beginning was to collect the dress fabric that had leaked from the Duke's residence.
I shrugged and started getting ready to get up. Then a familiar voice rang.
"It's a special day like few others in life. We must spend it in blessings."
Wow, it's Tristan's older sister, the Marchioness Dyke!
I didn't seem to notice because I was sitting in the furthest seat. I'm really touched that you're taking my side like this when I'm not around.
"Aha, a special day?"
But then Baroness Birdland showed a bit of overt hostility. It seemed like she was trying to find fault with the fact that the Marchioness Dyke has recently been going through a very public divorce.
Such a mean and stupid move. I secretly frowned because it felt like it had happened because of me.
However, the Marchioness wore a relaxed smile, as if there was a reason why she was called the godmother of society.
"For that moment, yes. Even if the results were not good, I wouldn't regret it."
Divorce was still so rare in social circles that there was no precedent for it except in very special cases. I heard that the divorce process is dragging on and the wife is having a hard time.
However, the Marchioness smiled, confidently admitting a problem that could be her fault.
"I'm sorry you never had that experience, Baroness. Still, it doesn't seem good to be jealous of a Young Lady who is making a new start."
"You mean jealousy? It's too much to say... !"
In social circles, the person who raised his voice first was the loser. Sure enough, the people around were already looking at the Baroness in an unusual way.
After watching the situation come to an end on its own, I slowly moved my chair back.
The moment I opened the door and was about to leave the bakery, I heard the last words behind me.
"Who would be jealous of such a marriage? I can't survive even if you ask me to!"
Come again with the jingling sound of the door decoration! The cheerful voice of the employee contrasted with my complicated mind.
No, what on earth was happening earlier?
What's wrong with Kael!
What if the opponent is Grand Duke Kronhardt?
If there was a reason why everyone was so disgusted, even if I washed my eyes, I couldn't find it.
'Oh, no way.'
There was one reason that crossed my mind at that time. The engagement between me and Kael was clearly accomplished by betraying Grand Duke Kronhardt.
But in that time, I have changed and accomplished many things. By defeating monsters at the hunting banquet and sharing information about the Duke's business, I made a good impression in social circles.
Thanks to this, the bad rumors were put to rest and I was welcomed everywhere.
But Kael...
He is a person who lives faithfully at home and is buried in work. There was not enough opportunity to change his impression in social circles.
'It's clear that my guess is correct.'
If the situation is like this, won't the atmosphere of the upcoming wedding be ruined?
At least I want to avoid getting hit by eggs while walking down Virgin Road!
Faced with an unexpected problem, I cried and thought.
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