“...She hasn’t even had her first night yet?”
A faint, but clear enough voice pierced her ears to detect the subtlety in the words. Sylvia stopped walking without realizing it. As she stopped walking, the conversation taking place in the room became more clearly audible.
“Oh my God, how...”
“I know that the two of them are very close.”
“That’s right. They looked so good at the last banquet too!”
“Oh, really. They two are in the prime of their lives, and they’re so happily married, so how can there still be no news of a child? It’s all because the Duchess refused to marry the Lord!”
“Oh my, oh my.”
Someone spoke in a dramatic tone, and those who were very excited agreed. This made Sylvia laugh silently when she realized that the topic of their conversation was herself and Randall.
'So this is what happens in the end.'
Honestly, she wasn’t surprised. Rather, their reactions right now were so natural that Sylvia could picture them with her eyes closed. She didn’t know which of the Duke’s servants said it, but she had expected this would happen soon, so it wasn’t shocking at all.
Sylvia crossed her arms and leaned her back against the closed door, wanting to hear what they were talking about. The women in the room, unaware of her presence, chattered even more excitedly.
“Why on earth does the Duchess refuse to go to the countryside? The Duke is so wonderful...”
“Why on earth does the Duchess refuse to go to the countryside? The Duke is so wonderful...”
“Actually, some say it’s all for political reasons.”
“Oh my, what...?”
Someone lowered their voice to a whisper, and the others followed suit, holding their breath. Sylvia tilted her head to focus on the conversation flowing through the room.
“Her Highness, she is from the Florette family. As the southern proverb goes, ‘the crab is better than the crayfish,’ and the King has a negative view of the North, so how could a person from the Florette family be any different?”
"No way..."
“The Duchess is using the first night as an excuse to stifle the spirit of the North. It’s no different from showing her intention not to be a proper hostess.”
“Oh my God.”
As the suspicion deepened, a soft anger began to creep into the people's voices. Sylvia thought with cold, sunken eyes outside the door.
'I don't know who that person is, but they're good at using their head.'
In the Kingdom of Elvares, the first night is considered an unspoken duty of a couple. If you are the head of a family, that duty becomes even more important. They have to produce many strong successors and take care of their territory without any problems. In fact, it was Lord Randall who initially refused the first night. However, judging from the conversation just now, it seems that the northerners had already developed antipathy toward Sylvia. That is understandable, as the King had been wary of the north for a long time.
In fact, the marriage between Randall and Sylvia was almost forced by the royal family. To the northerners, the rumor that Sylvia was trying to fight by refusing the first night would be more credible than the fact that Lord Randall refused the first night. Since ancient times, a common enemy has always strengthened internal solidarity.
'There is room for the royal family to step forward. It is difficult in many ways...'
Her golden eyes narrowed. The danger was that this rumor could give the royal family room to intervene in the North. The truth was irrelevant. It was just that it could provide an excuse to attack the North politically. The King would surely object to the rumor. He would insist that Randall, not Sylvia, was rejecting the first night and that this was a disparagement of him who arranged the marriage. If things got that bad, Randall, that stupidly upright man, would claim that he was the one who rejected the first night. The King would feel like he was watching prey walk into his mouth on its own feet.
'Could it be that the King started this rumor?'
Just as Sylvia was continuing her reasonable suspicions, a sharp sound of a teacup hitting its saucer struck her ear, as if to cut off the conversation. The woman who was presumed to have made the sound coldly rebuked her.
“I don’t think that’s something we should be arguing about.”
Sylvia opened her eyes wide at the familiar voice.
'...Philia Seicrine?'
Sylvia froze in shock, her eyes wide open. Meanwhile, the woman who had been excitedly spreading the rumors let out an uncomfortable voice.
“Lady Seicrine, what did you just say?”
“I’ll say it again since you didn’t hear. I don’t think it’s something that the public should be talking about.”
But Philia stood firm. The energy that had been felt in the room died down in an instant at her words. In the suffocating silence, Philia continued speaking in a dry voice that Sylvia had never heard before.
“The decision on whether or not to have a wedding ceremony is not something that is decided by the old-fashioned worldly perception, but by the parties involved. It is an extremely private matter between a couple.”
"But..."
“Isn’t interfering in other people’s household affairs no different from challenging the authority of the head of the household? I wonder what His Highness will think when he finds out about this.”
“Hipp.”
The Young Lady, who had been persistently protesting, made a small, frightened sound and closed her mouth when Randall was mentioned. Only then did Philia return to her usual cheerful tone.
“Let’s talk about something a little more noble than this. I came because I heard that this meeting was run for that purpose.”
“Oh, of course! Of course, it should be like that.”
“Ahem. I heard that the popular author who wrote the novel ‘The Wingless God’ just released a new work...”
After that, there was no more talk about the rumors, and the conversation flowed smoothly for the most part. Sylvia stood there leaning against the door for a while, then left feeling uncomfortable.
'...What.'
Her heart was beating irregularly. When has she ever felt like this?
'Oh yeah.'
When Rubia handed her the note accusing me of her father's treason, she felt exactly like that. It felt like everything she had believed and known up until now was being completely denied.
'Even if we're rivals, isn't it true that we're not each other?'
Philia Seicrine clearly had a grudge against Sylvia. So it would make sense that she would be happy for her opponent to be involved in such a scandal. Why on earth...?
“...”
It was a feeling that was suffocating her, whether it was discomfort or unfamiliarity. In the end, Sylvia couldn’t go far and stopped at the end of the break room hallway to catch her breath. As she closed her eyes and calmed her mind, she suddenly heard a noise from around the corner and a frightened voice.
“Duchess! Why are you here? I told you to stay in the lounge...”
“...Countess Glever.”
Rubia opened her eyes wide in surprise when she saw Sylvia standing in the middle of the hallway, despite her repeated request to stay in the break room. She grabbed Sylvia’s hand in a hurry and dragged her into the break room next door, closing the door. Only then did Rubia let out a sigh of relief and turn around to meet Sylvia’s gaze. Her purple eyes were filled with hesitation, but she soon spoke with a determined look.
“More than that, I said I had something to tell you.”
“...”
“I am very sorry to be the bearer of such scandal, but the Marquis of Seicrine... is spreading rumors that the Duke and Lady are not a proper couple.”
For some reason, Rubia looked apologetic, even though she wasn't the one who spread the rumor.
“I’m sorry I’m late in telling you this because I had to confirm the original source of the rumor. He’s not like that, so why on earth would he do that...?”
“....”
"Ma'am?"
When Sylvia didn't even open her mouth in surprise, Rubia called out to her in a puzzled manner. Seeing her, a thought suddenly occurred to Sylvia and she opened her mouth.
"Countess."
“No, why on earth are you standing there like an idiot... Yes, go ahead.”
“You clearly hated me.”
“Cough.”
Rubia coughed dryly, embarrassed by the sudden revelation. She just moved her lips as if she had no words to say. Sylvia continued speaking without waiting for Rubia’s answer.
“I don’t think you like me that much now either.”
“Why are you suddenly saying that...”
“But why are you helping me? Actually, it would be easier if you just pretended not to know.”
It's a very simple thing to say 'wrong' to something wrong. But it's harder than you think to say that out loud. When everyone else is pointing to the left, the person who points to the right is the only one who is likely to be abandoned by the group. Just like she, Alyssa did.
"I don't think that's something we should be arguing about."
But Philia Seicrine did just that. When everyone there was excited and talking about the scandal of the Duke and Duchess, she chose to pour cold water on them without hesitation. How on earth is she to understand that behavior?
'There is room for the royal family to step forward. It is difficult in many ways...'
Her golden eyes narrowed. The danger was that this rumor could give the royal family room to intervene in the North. The truth was irrelevant. It was just that it could provide an excuse to attack the North politically. The King would surely object to the rumor. He would insist that Randall, not Sylvia, was rejecting the first night and that this was a disparagement of him who arranged the marriage. If things got that bad, Randall, that stupidly upright man, would claim that he was the one who rejected the first night. The King would feel like he was watching prey walk into his mouth on its own feet.
'Could it be that the King started this rumor?'
Just as Sylvia was continuing her reasonable suspicions, a sharp sound of a teacup hitting its saucer struck her ear, as if to cut off the conversation. The woman who was presumed to have made the sound coldly rebuked her.
“I don’t think that’s something we should be arguing about.”
Sylvia opened her eyes wide at the familiar voice.
'...Philia Seicrine?'
Sylvia froze in shock, her eyes wide open. Meanwhile, the woman who had been excitedly spreading the rumors let out an uncomfortable voice.
“Lady Seicrine, what did you just say?”
“I’ll say it again since you didn’t hear. I don’t think it’s something that the public should be talking about.”
But Philia stood firm. The energy that had been felt in the room died down in an instant at her words. In the suffocating silence, Philia continued speaking in a dry voice that Sylvia had never heard before.
“The decision on whether or not to have a wedding ceremony is not something that is decided by the old-fashioned worldly perception, but by the parties involved. It is an extremely private matter between a couple.”
"But..."
“Isn’t interfering in other people’s household affairs no different from challenging the authority of the head of the household? I wonder what His Highness will think when he finds out about this.”
“Hipp.”
The Young Lady, who had been persistently protesting, made a small, frightened sound and closed her mouth when Randall was mentioned. Only then did Philia return to her usual cheerful tone.
“Let’s talk about something a little more noble than this. I came because I heard that this meeting was run for that purpose.”
“Oh, of course! Of course, it should be like that.”
“Ahem. I heard that the popular author who wrote the novel ‘The Wingless God’ just released a new work...”
After that, there was no more talk about the rumors, and the conversation flowed smoothly for the most part. Sylvia stood there leaning against the door for a while, then left feeling uncomfortable.
'...What.'
Her heart was beating irregularly. When has she ever felt like this?
'Oh yeah.'
When Rubia handed her the note accusing me of her father's treason, she felt exactly like that. It felt like everything she had believed and known up until now was being completely denied.
'Even if we're rivals, isn't it true that we're not each other?'
Philia Seicrine clearly had a grudge against Sylvia. So it would make sense that she would be happy for her opponent to be involved in such a scandal. Why on earth...?
“...”
It was a feeling that was suffocating her, whether it was discomfort or unfamiliarity. In the end, Sylvia couldn’t go far and stopped at the end of the break room hallway to catch her breath. As she closed her eyes and calmed her mind, she suddenly heard a noise from around the corner and a frightened voice.
“Duchess! Why are you here? I told you to stay in the lounge...”
“...Countess Glever.”
Rubia opened her eyes wide in surprise when she saw Sylvia standing in the middle of the hallway, despite her repeated request to stay in the break room. She grabbed Sylvia’s hand in a hurry and dragged her into the break room next door, closing the door. Only then did Rubia let out a sigh of relief and turn around to meet Sylvia’s gaze. Her purple eyes were filled with hesitation, but she soon spoke with a determined look.
“More than that, I said I had something to tell you.”
“...”
“I am very sorry to be the bearer of such scandal, but the Marquis of Seicrine... is spreading rumors that the Duke and Lady are not a proper couple.”
For some reason, Rubia looked apologetic, even though she wasn't the one who spread the rumor.
“I’m sorry I’m late in telling you this because I had to confirm the original source of the rumor. He’s not like that, so why on earth would he do that...?”
“....”
"Ma'am?"
When Sylvia didn't even open her mouth in surprise, Rubia called out to her in a puzzled manner. Seeing her, a thought suddenly occurred to Sylvia and she opened her mouth.
"Countess."
“No, why on earth are you standing there like an idiot... Yes, go ahead.”
“You clearly hated me.”
“Cough.”
Rubia coughed dryly, embarrassed by the sudden revelation. She just moved her lips as if she had no words to say. Sylvia continued speaking without waiting for Rubia’s answer.
“I don’t think you like me that much now either.”
“Why are you suddenly saying that...”
“But why are you helping me? Actually, it would be easier if you just pretended not to know.”
It's a very simple thing to say 'wrong' to something wrong. But it's harder than you think to say that out loud. When everyone else is pointing to the left, the person who points to the right is the only one who is likely to be abandoned by the group. Just like she, Alyssa did.
"I don't think that's something we should be arguing about."
But Philia Seicrine did just that. When everyone there was excited and talking about the scandal of the Duke and Duchess, she chose to pour cold water on them without hesitation. How on earth is she to understand that behavior?
Humans do not move in things that do not benefit them. Humans are a species that seeks their own happiness from the misfortune of others. The human heart is like a flower petal that fades away and is easily swayed by small temptations. Also, humans...
When Sylvia continued her rambling thoughts as if reciting a prayer, Ruba, who had calmed down from embarrassment, calmly opened her mouth.
“As you said, I don’t like you that much. Of course, I appreciate that you tried to pass me the note.”
“...”
“But didn’t I tell you back then?”
“...”
“As you said, I don’t like you that much. Of course, I appreciate that you tried to pass me the note.”
“...”
“But didn’t I tell you back then?”
“...”
“As a vassal, I just did what was natural to me as a human being.”
Ah. Sylvia let out a sigh without realizing it. It was as if a corner of the glass wall called 'distrust' that had been surrounding her had shattered. While Sylvia was lost in an emotion that she could not express in words, Rubia lowered her eyes and muttered softly.
“Of course, I don’t like you, but I don’t hate you either.”
“...Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you. Could you say that again?”
"It's nothing."
It was such a small murmur that Sylvia was a bit late in asking back, but Rubia straightened up and tried to ignore the question. Then, Rubia suddenly remembered something and pushed Sylvia’s back.
“By the way, the Duke is looking for his wife. Please return to the banquet hall quickly.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Rubia flinched at Sylvia's plain words, which had regained some of her composure. She rubbed her arms, which were giving her goosebumps, and turned her head away.
“... Well, it’s not like I did anything that would really help. I’ll be leaving now.”
Rubia disappeared after showing a perfect manner that made one sigh. Sylvia stared at the spot where Rubia had been standing for a while.
‘...Strange people.’
Ever since Sylvia came to the North, jer mind has been troubled. Surely this can't be. The evil of humanity that she has experienced and seen over the years is still vivid in her mind. Why does she keep thinking that there might be someone who maintains good intentions until the very end? Even though she believes that there is no such thing as an eternal heart. Why on the one hand does she want that ridiculous thing to become reality? Why...
"Sylvia."
Ever since Sylvia came to the North, jer mind has been troubled. Surely this can't be. The evil of humanity that she has experienced and seen over the years is still vivid in her mind. Why does she keep thinking that there might be someone who maintains good intentions until the very end? Even though she believes that there is no such thing as an eternal heart. Why on the one hand does she want that ridiculous thing to become reality? Why...
"Sylvia."
At that moment, Randall's smiling face suddenly came to mind. Sylvia shook her head in surprise, shook off her confusion, and ran out of the break room. As she crossed the hallway, she checked the break room where Philia and Young Ladies had gathered a moment ago, and it was empty.
'Did they go back to the banquet hall?'
Sylvia tilted her head and hurried her steps toward the banquet hall. Outside the window, a thick darkness had already descended. The moment Sylvia finally stepped into the entrance of the banquet hall.
“What did you just say, Marquis?”
The chilling voice of Randall flew into my ears and pierced my ears.
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