Jeffrey sat under a tree a short distance away while Sylvia and Randall rested on Solis Hill. He had a distraught expression on his face, unlike when he was with the duke and duchess.
"Osmond, I heard that you are in the process of negotiating a marriage with Lady of Marquis Seicrine?"
“...”
“Huh? What should I do?”
Philia asked again as if telling him the correct answer and urging him to choose it.
'...Idiot.'
Even in this midst, seeing that voice so appealing, it seems that there is still a bud left in his heart that he has not yet trampled down. Jeffrey, with a bitter smile, cursed himself inwardly and got up. Philia peeked her head out from beyond the tree at the sound of him getting up from his seat, but all she could see was his back.
The Marquis of Seicrine pressed his temples against the headache that had become familiar to him. He looked out the window of his study and sighed deeply.
'I feel like my memories are becoming more and more vague these days.'
He was worried that maybe he was already suffering from dementia. At least he had to see Philia meet a good person...
"Osmond, I heard that you are in the process of negotiating a marriage with Lady of Marquis Seicrine?"
A few days ago, Jeffrey stopped in his tracks on his way back to the Knights' Quarters after training. He turned his head and saw several knights gathered on one side of the training grounds. The young, handsome blond knight standing in the middle shook his head awkwardly.
"What is that...? It’s just that the family has decided to propose marriage, it’s not set in stone yet, so don’t talk nonsense."
"Hey. What's wrong with you? There's no reason to refuse. You'll make a great pair."
"That's right. Where in the world can you find a man as good as you? Be confident!"
"I told you to stop. Let's go in now."
Osmond pushed his way into the inn, pushing past the knights who kept adding to the conversation. Jeffrey stood there for a while, dumbfounded, not even realizing that his own feet had become stiff.
‘...Marriage proposal.’
He sighed as he looked at the peaceful scenery of Solis Hill, which was different from his own. It was the social season. Philia's marriage was also one of the people's main interests. The Marquis of Seicrine was one of the most prestigious families in the North, and with her lively personality and cute appearance, she was definitely a noteworthy bride.
'Is Mr. Osmond's family the Count Limbert family?'
Jeffrey's face darkened as he remembered that the Osmond family was quite prominent.
'From the Marquis' perspective... Osmond would be a perfect son-in-law. He has a great personality, great looks, and even a great family background.'
Jeffrey let out a deep sigh and lowered his head. At that moment, there was a sound of someone approaching and sitting down on the other side of the tree Jeffrey was leaning against. He realized it a step too late and was about to put up his guard.
“If you sigh like that, the ground will collapse.”
He heard the voice of the person who had been occupying his mind until just a moment ago. Jeffrey, momentarily dazed by the unbelievable situation, muttered without realizing it.
“Why are you there...”
“That’s because you run away as soon as you see my face.”
“...”
“...Don’t run away this time. My feet hurt from walking all the way up here.”
As Philia went on, she became less confident in her voice and tried to hold him back with some lame excuse. However, Jeffrey, who had regained his senses and was getting up, stopped moving at those words. If it had been normal, he would have pretended not to hear and just left. But now, as if the entire sky full of sunset was sinking down on his shoulders, he couldn’t move his feet at all. In the end, Jeffrey looked complicated and lost in thought before carefully sitting back down.
"What is that...? It’s just that the family has decided to propose marriage, it’s not set in stone yet, so don’t talk nonsense."
"Hey. What's wrong with you? There's no reason to refuse. You'll make a great pair."
"That's right. Where in the world can you find a man as good as you? Be confident!"
"I told you to stop. Let's go in now."
Osmond pushed his way into the inn, pushing past the knights who kept adding to the conversation. Jeffrey stood there for a while, dumbfounded, not even realizing that his own feet had become stiff.
‘...Marriage proposal.’
He sighed as he looked at the peaceful scenery of Solis Hill, which was different from his own. It was the social season. Philia's marriage was also one of the people's main interests. The Marquis of Seicrine was one of the most prestigious families in the North, and with her lively personality and cute appearance, she was definitely a noteworthy bride.
'Is Mr. Osmond's family the Count Limbert family?'
Jeffrey's face darkened as he remembered that the Osmond family was quite prominent.
'From the Marquis' perspective... Osmond would be a perfect son-in-law. He has a great personality, great looks, and even a great family background.'
Jeffrey let out a deep sigh and lowered his head. At that moment, there was a sound of someone approaching and sitting down on the other side of the tree Jeffrey was leaning against. He realized it a step too late and was about to put up his guard.
“If you sigh like that, the ground will collapse.”
He heard the voice of the person who had been occupying his mind until just a moment ago. Jeffrey, momentarily dazed by the unbelievable situation, muttered without realizing it.
“Why are you there...”
“That’s because you run away as soon as you see my face.”
“...”
“...Don’t run away this time. My feet hurt from walking all the way up here.”
As Philia went on, she became less confident in her voice and tried to hold him back with some lame excuse. However, Jeffrey, who had regained his senses and was getting up, stopped moving at those words. If it had been normal, he would have pretended not to hear and just left. But now, as if the entire sky full of sunset was sinking down on his shoulders, he couldn’t move his feet at all. In the end, Jeffrey looked complicated and lost in thought before carefully sitting back down.
Philia, who saw why he didn’t leave her back, became cheerful and started chattering.
“How have you been? Even though it’s only been a few days, I really missed you. I ran away because my father has been annoying me so much lately...”
Jeffrey closed his eyes and listened to her voice as if he was listening to her singing. Now, it may be considered a cheerful sentiment, but Philia’s voice really sounded like the chirping of a magpie.
"Hey, you guys! What are you big guys doing, surrounding a little kid? Don't you have any shame?"
As a child, Jeffrey, who was unusually small and dwarfed compared to his peers, was a good target for bullying by neighborhood bullies. That day, as usual, he was being bullied at the corner of the market. A red-haired girl dressed in a maid’s uniform, whom he had never seen before, suddenly barged in and protected him. The boys who had been bullying Jeffrey frowned at the girl.
"Who are you?"
"Where did that short girl come from, so fearless..."
"What? You just called me short!"
The girl, Philia, bared her teeth and bit the boys without mercy. Eventually, the boys ran away crying, and Philia rolled around on the dirt floor, grinning brightly and reaching out to Jeffrey.
"They're gone! Get up!"
From that incident, Philia and Jeffrey began to become close friends. When Jeffrey finished helping his father with work and hurried to the back of the store, Philia, who had been waiting for him behind a tree, would pop her head out and smile.
"Jeffrey!"
Philia introduced herself as the maid of the Marquis of Seicrine. As a maid, she had an air of guile that could not be hidden in her appearance and speech, but as a young boy, Jeffrey was so focused on the maid’s outfit that he did not notice it. As they spent more time together, Philia lay down on the hill and put a crown on Jeffrey, and he blushed secretly.
"Jerry! Your store will be supplying vegetables to the next generation regularly!"
"Wow! Really?"
"Yes! I'm telling you, it's true! The lady of that house is a picky eater, but she eats the vegetables from your store. I can't thank you enough!"
When Philia was seven and Jeffrey was nine, Jeffrey's father happily told him that he had made a deal with the Marquis of Seicrine. At that time, his family was in a difficult situation due to a decrease in income, so the father was overjoyed.
"A ring... I can buy it."
Jeffrey tried to suppress his heart pounding with excitement at the thought of buying a ring and confessing to Philia and followed his father to deliver vegetables to the Marquis's residence. While his father was talking to the Marquis's servant at the back door of the restaurant, a commotion was heard from the sponsorship.
"...Miss! Miss Philia! Come down and don't risk it! You should go to class! Prince Belfort will be waiting for you!"
"Anyway, that damn class! What does it matter to me whether that idiot waits or not?"
"Miss!"
Jeffrey turned his head unconsciously at the familiar name and opened his eyes wide. In one corner of the mansion's backyard, Philia was sitting on a tree branch in a luxurious white nightgown. And the moment he discovered a group of servants under the tree, worried that she might get hurt.
"...Ah."
The heart that had just sprouted inside him dried up with shock. The betrayal that Philia had deceived him all this time. The shame and guilt he felt when he realized that she had known about Jeffrey's family circumstances and had designated his store to deliver vegetables. All those emotions burned like flames and tore through his insides, and when Philia found Jeffrey that evening, he was dry-eyed.
"...I hope you never come back again. I really do."
“How have you been? Even though it’s only been a few days, I really missed you. I ran away because my father has been annoying me so much lately...”
Jeffrey closed his eyes and listened to her voice as if he was listening to her singing. Now, it may be considered a cheerful sentiment, but Philia’s voice really sounded like the chirping of a magpie.
"Hey, you guys! What are you big guys doing, surrounding a little kid? Don't you have any shame?"
As a child, Jeffrey, who was unusually small and dwarfed compared to his peers, was a good target for bullying by neighborhood bullies. That day, as usual, he was being bullied at the corner of the market. A red-haired girl dressed in a maid’s uniform, whom he had never seen before, suddenly barged in and protected him. The boys who had been bullying Jeffrey frowned at the girl.
"Who are you?"
"Where did that short girl come from, so fearless..."
"What? You just called me short!"
The girl, Philia, bared her teeth and bit the boys without mercy. Eventually, the boys ran away crying, and Philia rolled around on the dirt floor, grinning brightly and reaching out to Jeffrey.
"They're gone! Get up!"
From that incident, Philia and Jeffrey began to become close friends. When Jeffrey finished helping his father with work and hurried to the back of the store, Philia, who had been waiting for him behind a tree, would pop her head out and smile.
"Jeffrey!"
Philia introduced herself as the maid of the Marquis of Seicrine. As a maid, she had an air of guile that could not be hidden in her appearance and speech, but as a young boy, Jeffrey was so focused on the maid’s outfit that he did not notice it. As they spent more time together, Philia lay down on the hill and put a crown on Jeffrey, and he blushed secretly.
"Jerry! Your store will be supplying vegetables to the next generation regularly!"
"Wow! Really?"
"Yes! I'm telling you, it's true! The lady of that house is a picky eater, but she eats the vegetables from your store. I can't thank you enough!"
When Philia was seven and Jeffrey was nine, Jeffrey's father happily told him that he had made a deal with the Marquis of Seicrine. At that time, his family was in a difficult situation due to a decrease in income, so the father was overjoyed.
"A ring... I can buy it."
Jeffrey tried to suppress his heart pounding with excitement at the thought of buying a ring and confessing to Philia and followed his father to deliver vegetables to the Marquis's residence. While his father was talking to the Marquis's servant at the back door of the restaurant, a commotion was heard from the sponsorship.
"...Miss! Miss Philia! Come down and don't risk it! You should go to class! Prince Belfort will be waiting for you!"
"Anyway, that damn class! What does it matter to me whether that idiot waits or not?"
"Miss!"
Jeffrey turned his head unconsciously at the familiar name and opened his eyes wide. In one corner of the mansion's backyard, Philia was sitting on a tree branch in a luxurious white nightgown. And the moment he discovered a group of servants under the tree, worried that she might get hurt.
"...Ah."
The heart that had just sprouted inside him dried up with shock. The betrayal that Philia had deceived him all this time. The shame and guilt he felt when he realized that she had known about Jeffrey's family circumstances and had designated his store to deliver vegetables. All those emotions burned like flames and tore through his insides, and when Philia found Jeffrey that evening, he was dry-eyed.
"...I hope you never come back again. I really do."
Jeffrey ignored Philia thoroughly since that day. He knew that his current feelings were born from shame and an inferiority complex about not having anything to show off in front of the person he liked, but he stubbornly treated her as if she were a stranger. When Philia realized that Jeffrey had noticed everything, she tried to ask for his forgiveness.
However, the following year, Randall left for the palace, and Philia, who was left alone, entered the academy according to her parents' wishes, and they naturally grew apart. When Jeffrey's family's circumstances improved, he devoted himself to his studies and martial arts, and fortunately, thanks to his natural talent and effort, he was able to join the Knights of Belfort.
Although he was now a desirable groom, Philia and he was still very far apart. Philia was the only daughter of the Marquis of Seicrine, a great noble family in the north. He was a mere knight from a commoner background, without even a hereditary title. How could someone so lowly dare to have such a precious young lady in his heart?
The days of childhood when he could just smile brightly and turn a blind eye to reality are long gone.
Philia, who had been talking nonstop for a while, suddenly stopped talking. She glanced over her shoulder and quietly started crying.
“But, if you want to see my face, I’m willing to go there.”
Philia, who had been talking nonstop for a while, suddenly stopped talking. She glanced over her shoulder and quietly started crying.
“But, if you want to see my face, I’m willing to go there.”
“...”
“Huh? What should I do?”
Philia asked again as if telling him the correct answer and urging him to choose it.
'...Idiot.'
Even in this midst, seeing that voice so appealing, it seems that there is still a bud left in his heart that he has not yet trampled down. Jeffrey, with a bitter smile, cursed himself inwardly and got up. Philia peeked her head out from beyond the tree at the sound of him getting up from his seat, but all she could see was his back.
Philia opened her lips in embarrassment, but his words came first.
“Go back.”
"Uh?"
“I don’t know who you are, but the sun is setting. Please get home early. That’s all for now.”
“Hey! Wait a minute...!”
Jeffrey spoke as politely as if he were talking to a stranger and then disappeared. Philia reached out and tried to grab the hem of his cloak, but the thin fabric slipped through her fingers like water.
“...What, did you go?”
Philia stared blankly at Jeffrey's back for a while. Soon, she accepted reality and lay down, kicking the air and grumbling.
“That stubborn idiot is for real!”
“Go back.”
"Uh?"
“I don’t know who you are, but the sun is setting. Please get home early. That’s all for now.”
“Hey! Wait a minute...!”
Jeffrey spoke as politely as if he were talking to a stranger and then disappeared. Philia reached out and tried to grab the hem of his cloak, but the thin fabric slipped through her fingers like water.
“...What, did you go?”
Philia stared blankly at Jeffrey's back for a while. Soon, she accepted reality and lay down, kicking the air and grumbling.
“That stubborn idiot is for real!”
She knew him from the time he quietly endured bullying from the neighborhood bullies, fearing that the bullying would be directed at younger and weaker children. Jeffrey Cedars was a truly consistent person. So, she liked him. To the point where she still foolishly harbors the same feelings, she had as a child when she didn't know what was cool.
"...Damn."
Philia opened her eyes wide and stared at the sky turning purple, but eventually, unable to hold back her tears, she covered her face with both hands.
"...Damn."
Philia opened her eyes wide and stared at the sky turning purple, but eventually, unable to hold back her tears, she covered her face with both hands.
***
"...Ugh."
The Marquis of Seicrine pressed his temples against the headache that had become familiar to him. He looked out the window of his study and sighed deeply.
'I feel like my memories are becoming more and more vague these days.'
He was worried that maybe he was already suffering from dementia. At least he had to see Philia meet a good person...
While he was lost in his worries as a father who loved his daughter so much, there was a knock on the door.
“Master, Lady Bella has come to visit.”
“Oh, come in.”
The Marquis straightened his disheveled appearance and stood up from his seat. With his permission, the door opened and a beautiful woman with short light brown hair entered the room, smiling and greeting him.
“Meet the Marquis of Saicrine.”
“Sit down. Didn’t you say you were bringing a new product today?”
"Yes, that's right."
The Marquis of Seicrine and Bella took their seats on the sofa. As soon as the Marquis sat down, he furrowed his brows in an attempt to hide the sweet scent that wafted out.
'Is it perfume?'
By the time he thought that Bella's perfume was giving him a headache, his eyes had become hazy. Bella, who had confirmed that the Marquis was intoxicated by the scent, approached him and called out darkness. Her pupils were slit vertically and her eyes turned red.
“Your Excellency, your daughter is precious to you, isn’t she?”
"...Precious."
“Then you want your daughter to have the best? Whether it be objects or people.”
"Best thing..."
“Yes, that would be good. Someone like the Duke of Belfort, for example. How happy would your daughter be if she married someone like that?”
Bella continued her whisper in a hypnotic, exaggerated tone. As she spoke, the darkness behind her changed into a snake shape, flowing into the Marquis’ shadow.
“I found out through the Ghost Children, but my goodness. The Duke and Duchess haven’t even had their first night together yet?”
“...”
“Could it be... that she is doing this on purpose to deceive the North under the royal family’s orders? How can someone like that be placed in the position of Duchess? It’s horrible in the world.”
Bella covered her mouth with one hand, shocked. But the lips covered by her thin, white hand were smiling.
“We can’t just stand by and watch that woman continue to deceive the northerners. Other people need to know about this.”
“...Yes. I have to tell everyone...”
“That's it.”
As the Marquis, whose eyes were out of focus, muttered dryly, Bella nodded in satisfaction, snapping her thumb and index finger together. Then her eyes returned to a pinkish hue and the darkness cleared.
“Then I guess I’ll be going now. Do you really have to tell everyone the truth?”
Bella left the room, laughing happily. Her laughter echoed around the Marquis's room for a long time, not fading away.
“Master, Lady Bella has come to visit.”
“Oh, come in.”
The Marquis straightened his disheveled appearance and stood up from his seat. With his permission, the door opened and a beautiful woman with short light brown hair entered the room, smiling and greeting him.
“Meet the Marquis of Saicrine.”
“Sit down. Didn’t you say you were bringing a new product today?”
"Yes, that's right."
The Marquis of Seicrine and Bella took their seats on the sofa. As soon as the Marquis sat down, he furrowed his brows in an attempt to hide the sweet scent that wafted out.
'Is it perfume?'
By the time he thought that Bella's perfume was giving him a headache, his eyes had become hazy. Bella, who had confirmed that the Marquis was intoxicated by the scent, approached him and called out darkness. Her pupils were slit vertically and her eyes turned red.
“Your Excellency, your daughter is precious to you, isn’t she?”
"...Precious."
“Then you want your daughter to have the best? Whether it be objects or people.”
"Best thing..."
“Yes, that would be good. Someone like the Duke of Belfort, for example. How happy would your daughter be if she married someone like that?”
Bella continued her whisper in a hypnotic, exaggerated tone. As she spoke, the darkness behind her changed into a snake shape, flowing into the Marquis’ shadow.
“I found out through the Ghost Children, but my goodness. The Duke and Duchess haven’t even had their first night together yet?”
“...”
“Could it be... that she is doing this on purpose to deceive the North under the royal family’s orders? How can someone like that be placed in the position of Duchess? It’s horrible in the world.”
Bella covered her mouth with one hand, shocked. But the lips covered by her thin, white hand were smiling.
“We can’t just stand by and watch that woman continue to deceive the northerners. Other people need to know about this.”
“...Yes. I have to tell everyone...”
“That's it.”
As the Marquis, whose eyes were out of focus, muttered dryly, Bella nodded in satisfaction, snapping her thumb and index finger together. Then her eyes returned to a pinkish hue and the darkness cleared.
“Then I guess I’ll be going now. Do you really have to tell everyone the truth?”
Bella left the room, laughing happily. Her laughter echoed around the Marquis's room for a long time, not fading away.
***
Meanwhile, deep in the night. The Belfort Duke's Castle.
“It never said that I had to touch it with my hands, right?”
"...Yes?"
Randall was in a very awkward situation in his bedroom.
“It never said that I had to touch it with my hands, right?”
"...Yes?"
Randall was in a very awkward situation in his bedroom.
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