“How about expressing your feelings to the Duchess today?”
“Wow, I'm telling her my feelings. What kind of nonsense is that?”
The man's ears widened in an instant as if she had some crazy idea, and he started spouting out loud words.
“The person who is still acting like the late Duchess.”
“But the Lord gave permission.”
Antjone felt even worse because the sight of the ungainly man floundering seemed to reflect her twisted feelings.
You want to reach out more because you can't reach it, and you're anxious. Antjone to Kaian and Burbrook to Claudel was like that, but it wasn't very ridiculous.
If she had not been forced to marry by royal order in the first place, she would not have been a very poor hostess in the eyes of Kaian, who had no interest in central politics and had no interest in the extravagant entertainments of the nobles and ruled the estate with a gentle manner.
The black hair and red eyes, which were characteristics of the Temnes relatives, were very precious, and if you met a woman with the same black hair or red eyes, you were more likely to have such a child in succession.
So, if they had the same black hair and red eyes, when he took that woman as his hostess, several children with black hair and red eyes appeared in the succession generation.
Thanks to this, in the collateral lineage, a daughter and a son with shiny black hair like Antjone and like Antjone's mother, appear from time to time.
If there is a woman who is an adult, has looks, has good character, and is healthy, she has always been implicitly prioritized as the next hostess of Temnes because she values the color of symbolic appearance. Marrying a woman from a powerful family for political reasons, like the Duke of Temnes, was much rare if you follow the family line. Is there anything for Temnes to be ashamed of?
However, the ancestral Duke of Temnes was so determined to suppress Vermont that he chose to marry the Princess. It was as if he intended to put an end to the grudge that had been building up for a long time.
Since Kaian was raised by such a father, it was natural for everyone in the territory to think that it was natural for Kaian to try to attack Vermont, even if it meant using war.
Even when he was selecting soldiers from among his subjects to go to war, he worked together and sharpened his sword to destroy Valmonde once and for all.
'It was me. I was going to be a Suchess.'
There was quite an age difference, but it wasn't too much of a difference.
Within Temnes, the presence of Antjone, with her jet-black hair and blue eyes, was so conspicuous and special that she had no doubt that she would grow up to be Kaian's bride.
The world had already changed for others, with the previous Duke marrying a Princess. Some thought it was unreasonable for her to do so, but from her perspective, she maintained and believed in the traditions that were advantageous to her.
If Kaian had been serious about marrying Claudel, he wouldn't have said something like that if he divorced Claudel, she would be kicked out, so it's okay to go pick up a woman who has nowhere to go.
A woman who was thrown out of her family after her marriage was broken often chose to die an honorable death rather than become a street slob or go to a monastery in misery.
The stigma of being a lucky woman was a cruel yoke for noble women to endure.
'That's what His Highness told Burbrook to do.'
When she heard Burbrook's words, she thought it was a drunken old widower's delusion, but when she questioned it carefully, she found out that more than one person had heard the conversation nearby that day.
'Then I can't believe you whipped me for such a meaningless ring.'
Is it strange that things are so twisted and entangled in layers that cannot be undone, like a double knot? Antjone, whose evil spirit had reached its limit, tried to fool Burbrook.
“Why are you so embarrassed? You will be the Princess of Vermont’s new husband.”
"New... Husband?"
Burbrook's eyes widened in ecstasy as he repeated words he had never thought of.
“If you put her in a situation where she has nowhere to go, she will be happy. There is no way Vermont will take back the daughter who was driven out of Temnes.”
"Yes. Of course.”
“It must be difficult for anyone to suddenly live in the same house.”
She glanced at Claudel as if she were jealous of her.
“Someone wastes her time without ever getting married, and now she finds her second husband. I'm jealous."
Burbrook was very inexperienced with women. However, it seemed to him that he deserved what he had always dreamed of, for a woman like Antjone, who was one of the most beautiful women in the estate, even envied him.
“Well, then is that okay?”
"Yes. Sure."
She smiled wickedly.
***
When the dance ended, cheering applause erupted from all directions.
"Ha."
I was out of breath and took several deep breaths.
'Kaian.'
Standing across from me, I looked longingly into the eyes of my husband, who was looking down at me.
As the head of the family, the man who was attending such an important event only did what he had to do with courtesy and did not seem to be affected or shaken by the incident with me.
When Kaian, who was supporting my waist and hand, tried to draw his hand, Claudel hurriedly grabbed his hand.
“Let’s talk for a moment.”
The man who disappeared and told me not to mention anything about the village of Plogne again was not seen again until the dance started today.
"Yes? Kaian.”
I couldn't quite figure out what to say to him. I was very confused. However, I couldn't tell anyone that I was involved in something that the Queen had told him to keep secret, including sensitive matters related to my identity.
Even if Kaian had not been banned from speaking out, I would not have been able to open my mouth to anyone. Didn't I become unable to speak properly even to Hannah?
After passing through the moment of our life together, Hannah became romantically involved with the upper lord who was sponsored by Temnes, even to my best friend, who felt the same way as I shared the scars from the pain caused by the misfortune of the town of Plongne. So I ended up asking her if she was siding with Kaian.
Kaian.
I felt that this man was the only one who could give me any relief from my now bottomless panic.
“You have more to tell me.”
Everything I learned in the past few days was all sharp.
The fragments of the truth hurt me as if I were picking up the sharp, broken pieces with my bare hands. There was no way I would let it go without checking. To me, my life depended on it.
Kaian answered in a low, firm voice.
"No."
He spoke coldly with an unmoved expression.
“Can’t you see these guests? I don’t know what you’re talking about at such an important time.”
His words were reproachful as if he was showing my shortcomings as a hostess.
"Ah...”
I could not bear my dizziness and stumbled. Before I could reveal my ugly side, the man who had naturally taken me into his arms moved me to his feet amidst the lingering applause of thr guests.
"Doctor. Take Claudel away and let her rest.”
"Lady. Are you okay?”
The doctor who was waiting across the crowd hurriedly approached.
“Because she doesn’t get to dance often. She seems a little nervous.”
As Kaian raised his voice as if to show off the guests, those who were watching them closely started whispering among themselves.
He raised his hand towards those crowded in the wide hall.
“Everyone listen! Enjoy this night that His Majesty the King has permitted!”
As Kaian gave a command, Valquiterre, who was sitting at the head table and looking down, stood up and waved his hand.
After seeing that scene, Claudel left the hall.
“Walk slowly. No, would you rather be carried on my back?”
"No. It's okay. I can’t be faulted on a day when there are so many guests.”
“Lean a little closer to me, Lady."
Hannah supported me by her side with a worried look on her face.
I tried to walk slowly as the doctor recommended, but I couldn't feel anything under my feet.
As if the ground had disappeared and I was struggling in the water, my steps became slower and my body felt more and more distant.
My heart was pounding and I could feel the sadness welling up as if I was about to burst into tears again.
There is such sadness that it fills up even an empty cave-like wound.
The more I did this, the more I managed my expression. Far from being sad, someone would have thought that I was walking with dignity and authority as the hostess of Rowen Castle.
When I arrived at the bedroom, I felt the temperature difference so much that the air felt cool against my cheek. The noise of the hall and banquet hall filled with hundreds of people could be heard.
“Shouldn’t you eat something?”
“I don’t feel well and I just want to rest.”
“Shall I bring you an apple or some cold juice?”
Tuk.
I felt the baby moving in my stomach as if he was responding. I blinked my sore eyes and spoke quickly.
“If that’s the case, I’ll try it. Please, Hannah."
“I’ll be back soon.”
I went to the window and looked out blankly.
“It's ecstatically pretty.”
The sight of Rowen Castle, all lit up on all sides, was so different that it felt new even though I had gotten used to it since I had seen it for the past six months. What a day filled with joy I would have had if it weren't for the worries that torment ny heart.
“When I found out I was pregnant, I never imagined something like this would happen,”
Because he said he would trust me if I gave birth to a child.
I thought that once my relationship with Kaian became stable, we would get along well in the future.
But now, every time I felt a life stirring in my stomach, I couldn't help but feel frustrated.
I'm sorry.
The door that normally opens and closes without making a loud noise made an unfamiliar noise.
My eyes widened when I saw the black figure standing in the doorway.
“You...”
He was the orchard manager who kept bringing freshly picked apples to me because I was suffering from morning sickness.
“Did you bring apples?”
Hannah had just gone to the kitchen to bring the apples.
However, instead of answering, the man hesitantly approached me. I, who was standing at the window with nowhere to retreat, felt his behavior was strange.
“Ha, I have something to tell you.”
The person who always left a basket by the door, said hello, and then walked away was too close. It was when I, feeling uncomfortable, widened the distance and moved to the side.
A rough hand reached out and grabbed my wrist.
“Yes, I adore you, Lady."
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