Irena was startled and dropped the bundle of letters from her hand.
Pasasasa.
When the neatly folded papers fell and scattered, Irena quickly picked them up and put them back in order.
Claudel's busy daily life was reflected in her letters.
[I am in a state of hesitation these days due to His Majesty's sudden visit to Roeen. When on earth do I get used to the Duchess's work? The butler still helps me with a lot of difficult tasks, but I keep being clumsy.]
It seemed that the butler was preparing for the King's reception and a big event on behalf of Claudel, who had been suffering from morning sickness for a while.
[Not long ago, the baby was suddenly sending a signal from the womb. It's so amazing. Hannah said she thought the baby would be a boy.
She said he was very brave. But somehow I think it's a girl. When I was young, I was also nagged a lot for running around like a wild pig.]
For some reason, Irena thought Claudel was missing her deceased parents.
In her letter, she did not say who it was that had nagged Claudel for being a 'wild pig' with all her affection.
It could have been her mother, her father, or perhaps both of her parents were nagglers.
[I thought about talking about it when I sent you the letter last time. I am very cautious about my pregnancy. The baby to be born will be of Vermont and Temnes descent.
His Majesty Valquiterre said that when this baby is born, he will hear me shouting. But I don't know. I had to hear the family name intertwined like this before the joy of having a child or the realization that I was becoming a mother.]
Claudel ended her letter by saying that she wanted to inform the Duke of Vermont of this fact as late as possible.
“Whoa.”
Irena somehow sighed after looking at her letter.
“Why do I feel like this?”
Even when she heard the news that she had a nephew, her worries outweighed her joy. She also seemed a bit upset.
“Do you feel like I’m falling behind even though I’m the older sister?”
Everyone calls her Lady or Princess, but she is not like that, she is widowed and the Duke of Vermont says he will search for her next husband, and the men have chosen her. She felt it every time she sat across from them.
Naturally, Irena was older than Claudel, so she developed and learned things quickly during her growth process.
On the contrary, after Claudel lost her parents, her heart was unfortunately closed, and she spent several years without speaking properly.
Pasasasa.
When the neatly folded papers fell and scattered, Irena quickly picked them up and put them back in order.
Claudel's busy daily life was reflected in her letters.
[I am in a state of hesitation these days due to His Majesty's sudden visit to Roeen. When on earth do I get used to the Duchess's work? The butler still helps me with a lot of difficult tasks, but I keep being clumsy.]
It seemed that the butler was preparing for the King's reception and a big event on behalf of Claudel, who had been suffering from morning sickness for a while.
[Not long ago, the baby was suddenly sending a signal from the womb. It's so amazing. Hannah said she thought the baby would be a boy.
She said he was very brave. But somehow I think it's a girl. When I was young, I was also nagged a lot for running around like a wild pig.]
For some reason, Irena thought Claudel was missing her deceased parents.
In her letter, she did not say who it was that had nagged Claudel for being a 'wild pig' with all her affection.
It could have been her mother, her father, or perhaps both of her parents were nagglers.
[I thought about talking about it when I sent you the letter last time. I am very cautious about my pregnancy. The baby to be born will be of Vermont and Temnes descent.
His Majesty Valquiterre said that when this baby is born, he will hear me shouting. But I don't know. I had to hear the family name intertwined like this before the joy of having a child or the realization that I was becoming a mother.]
Claudel ended her letter by saying that she wanted to inform the Duke of Vermont of this fact as late as possible.
“Whoa.”
Irena somehow sighed after looking at her letter.
“Why do I feel like this?”
Even when she heard the news that she had a nephew, her worries outweighed her joy. She also seemed a bit upset.
“Do you feel like I’m falling behind even though I’m the older sister?”
Everyone calls her Lady or Princess, but she is not like that, she is widowed and the Duke of Vermont says he will search for her next husband, and the men have chosen her. She felt it every time she sat across from them.
Naturally, Irena was older than Claudel, so she developed and learned things quickly during her growth process.
On the contrary, after Claudel lost her parents, her heart was unfortunately closed, and she spent several years without speaking properly.
The Duchess of Vermont took care of her in many ways. Claudel was quite smart, so she was able to quickly catch up on things she hadn't learned properly in the years since.
Finding a supportive, like-minded spouse is a long way off for Irena these days.
“Claudel is having a baby.”
Did she have a competitive spirit that she had never felt before?
Irena immediately shook her head.
"No. This is not like that. I regard Claudel as my rival.”
Finding a supportive, like-minded spouse is a long way off for Irena these days.
“Claudel is having a baby.”
Did she have a competitive spirit that she had never felt before?
Irena immediately shook her head.
"No. This is not like that. I regard Claudel as my rival.”
Rather, it may be because the news of her younger sister, who is surprisingly well-established, made her realize her relatively unstable situation, and her burden increased a little.
“Phew.”
Irena let out another long sigh.
The letter was said to have been sent ten days ago, as it took quite a while for it to arrive this time.
Rowen's weather and climate were completely different from those of Valmonde, so what Claudel grew up watching the Duchess of Vermont do did not help much, and she seemed to struggle even more with her pregnancy.
“This is not the time.”
Irena retrieved the gloves she had left on the sofa and put them back on.
“You only asked me to keep the news of your pregnancy a secret from my father, but you didn’t tell me not to give you any gifts, right?”
If her ex-husband had not been killed in the war, would she have had a child of her own by now? Irena quickly pushed this question back into the realm of unconsciousness.
It wasn't enough time for her to celebrate and bless one life.
When she paid for her fare to go out, her maid, Ai, was disgusted, but she had no choice but to pick up the outer clothes, which she had taken off a moment ago, and go out along her shopping street.
Irena headed to the store, about ten minutes away by carriage, and picked out a gift for the baby.
Claudel's writing about 'eating morning sickness' made her nervous, so she started snacking on snacks like sugar-coated dried fruit and chocolate, appropriate for the first baby born to the Duke of Temnes - as seen through the eyes of the unlucky and arrogant Duke of Temnes.
As Irena was picking out items that would not make people say, 'Did you just send this kind of thing to my child as a gift?', the afternoon was already over and the sun was about to set.
"Miss. I'm hungry."
“It’s winter so the sun sets quickly.”
“Why are you buying so much?”
“Because it’s a New Year’s gift to the Duchess.”
In the end, the maid and Irena rode in the carriage, and the remaining seats were filled with large boxes.
But when she returned to the mansion, Irena felt something noisy and strange.
In the tense atmosphere, several unfamiliar men rushed outside, their cold cloaks fluttering.
'That guy?'
Irena recognized the Duke of Vermont's adjutant and pretended to recognize him, but he quickly mounted his horse and ran away along the dark road, as if he was busy.
Irena took off her gloves, hat, and coat, handed them to the maid, and headed to the Duke of Vermont's drawing room.
Knock.
"Come in."
When she knocked on the door, she heard the Duke of Vermont's voice from inside, and it sounded more excited than usual to her ears.
"Father."
"Where have you been?"
"I went to the shops."
Irena quickly added.
"I haven't sent Claudel a New Year's present yet."
"A present?"
The Duke of Vermont chuckled at her words.
"Were you planning to send Claudel a congratulatory gift for her pregnancy?"
"...Yes?"
Irena was startled. What Claudel had asked to keep a secret for the time being because it was burdensome was being casually mentioned by her father.
“What are you so surprised about? How could this father not know?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t send her any gifts.”
“Yes?”
The Duke of Vermont caressed the telegrams on the table.
“That child fell from the ship into the lake and died.”
“What... are you talking about?”
Irena heard a crack in one side of the world surrounding her.
“There are more than one or two witnesses. And that damn Duke pushed his pregnant wife off the bow of the ship and killed her.”
Her eyes darkened and the world spun around in confusion.
“That’s ridiculous. Claudel...”
There was no way.
The two of them were not the kind of relationship that others in the world thought they were. They were a couple who were so devoted to each other that it made Irena shed tears that she had been unable to bring up after sending her ex-husband away and pretended not to know.
If she were to fill the empty space of her unfinished sorrow with new relationships, they would be the ideal people who were like them.
“The Duke of Temnes could not have harmed Claudel.”
“Yes. He’s always ready to take up arms against Vermont.”
The Duke of Vermont said coldly.
“Even if he pushed his wife to the brink of death the first time, that’s just how he is.”
“I... I’ll go.”
“I can’t allow it.”
“Claudel had an accident!”
At Irena’s words, the Duke of Vermont suddenly stood up from his seat and looked down at her with a commanding look.
“What difference would it make if you went? Claudel, who drowned and hasn’t been heard from for three days, won’t come back alive.”
“How can you say that?”
Irena was shocked by her father’s attitude of gossiping about the tragedy of his niece and daughter who grew up under his name.
“It’s only a matter of time before rumors spread to the capital. For the time being, walks are prohibited. Stay quiet in the mansion.”
“Father!”
“Listen. Let’s bring the Princess to the room.”
At the Duke of Vermont’s words, his men standing outside the room came in and grabbed Irena’s arm.
“What are you doing! Can’t you let this go?”
“Behave.”
The Duke of Vermont pursed his lips with a satisfied expression.
“I’ll have to beat him until I have nothing to regret.”
The atmosphere in the Rowen estate, which had been struck by a sudden thunderbolt during the ‘Water Banquet’, one of the most anticipated events of the year, was so chaotic that it was hard to describe in words.
Many people had seen the Duchess fall from the boat, and it was later reported that she was pregnant with the heir.
The lake was quite deep and wide, and there were many floating lanterns on the water for the event.
They were worried that the woman who had fallen into the water and lost her strength might not have been found because of the paper boats and lanterns that filled the lake like embroidery.
The people of the estate had to collect the small boats they had been happily floating with mixed feelings.
But after the colorful remains of the festival floating on the surface were cleared away and several laps around the lake were completed, the Duchess, not even a single strand of her distinctive hair, could be found.
The festival was ruined, the pregnant lady was missing, and the people, suffering from mobilization for days, were resentful and at their worst. Then, in the castle prison, Burbrook and Antjone were dragged out with ropes tied around their necks and wrists.
Thud. Thud.
The angry people threw stones at them in a frenzy.
“My Lord! I have been wronged!”
Burbrook cried ugly and loud.
“It’s all because of that woman! I have been wronged!”
Thud. Thud.
More stones were thrown at Antjone, but she covered her head and face with her arms and screamed.
“Aww! Let go of this! I can’t let go of this! It hurts!”
They were dragged away while being stoned and sold to slave traders after the public’s retribution.
“This is ridiculous! Lord Kaian! Ouch! Lord Kaian! Ouch!”
Stones continued to fly endlessly at the two people who had become so dirty that it was hard to recognize their appearances.
“I have been wronged!”
“Aww! How can you treat me like this! Lord Kaian! Lord Kaian!”
The crowd that had gathered like a swarm of bees outside the castle could be heard leaving the village and moving further away.
The butler looked at Kaian with a pitiful heart.
Kaian sat on a chair in the dark office and looked at the butler with sharp eyes.
“Claudel is not dead.”
"Miss. I'm hungry."
“It’s winter so the sun sets quickly.”
“Why are you buying so much?”
“Because it’s a New Year’s gift to the Duchess.”
In the end, the maid and Irena rode in the carriage, and the remaining seats were filled with large boxes.
But when she returned to the mansion, Irena felt something noisy and strange.
In the tense atmosphere, several unfamiliar men rushed outside, their cold cloaks fluttering.
'That guy?'
Irena recognized the Duke of Vermont's adjutant and pretended to recognize him, but he quickly mounted his horse and ran away along the dark road, as if he was busy.
Irena took off her gloves, hat, and coat, handed them to the maid, and headed to the Duke of Vermont's drawing room.
Knock.
"Come in."
When she knocked on the door, she heard the Duke of Vermont's voice from inside, and it sounded more excited than usual to her ears.
"Father."
"Where have you been?"
"I went to the shops."
Irena quickly added.
"I haven't sent Claudel a New Year's present yet."
"A present?"
The Duke of Vermont chuckled at her words.
"Were you planning to send Claudel a congratulatory gift for her pregnancy?"
"...Yes?"
Irena was startled. What Claudel had asked to keep a secret for the time being because it was burdensome was being casually mentioned by her father.
“What are you so surprised about? How could this father not know?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t send her any gifts.”
“Yes?”
The Duke of Vermont caressed the telegrams on the table.
“That child fell from the ship into the lake and died.”
“What... are you talking about?”
Irena heard a crack in one side of the world surrounding her.
“There are more than one or two witnesses. And that damn Duke pushed his pregnant wife off the bow of the ship and killed her.”
Her eyes darkened and the world spun around in confusion.
“That’s ridiculous. Claudel...”
There was no way.
The two of them were not the kind of relationship that others in the world thought they were. They were a couple who were so devoted to each other that it made Irena shed tears that she had been unable to bring up after sending her ex-husband away and pretended not to know.
If she were to fill the empty space of her unfinished sorrow with new relationships, they would be the ideal people who were like them.
“The Duke of Temnes could not have harmed Claudel.”
“Yes. He’s always ready to take up arms against Vermont.”
The Duke of Vermont said coldly.
“Even if he pushed his wife to the brink of death the first time, that’s just how he is.”
“I... I’ll go.”
“I can’t allow it.”
“Claudel had an accident!”
At Irena’s words, the Duke of Vermont suddenly stood up from his seat and looked down at her with a commanding look.
“What difference would it make if you went? Claudel, who drowned and hasn’t been heard from for three days, won’t come back alive.”
“How can you say that?”
Irena was shocked by her father’s attitude of gossiping about the tragedy of his niece and daughter who grew up under his name.
“It’s only a matter of time before rumors spread to the capital. For the time being, walks are prohibited. Stay quiet in the mansion.”
“Father!”
“Listen. Let’s bring the Princess to the room.”
At the Duke of Vermont’s words, his men standing outside the room came in and grabbed Irena’s arm.
“What are you doing! Can’t you let this go?”
“Behave.”
The Duke of Vermont pursed his lips with a satisfied expression.
“I’ll have to beat him until I have nothing to regret.”
***
The atmosphere in the Rowen estate, which had been struck by a sudden thunderbolt during the ‘Water Banquet’, one of the most anticipated events of the year, was so chaotic that it was hard to describe in words.
Many people had seen the Duchess fall from the boat, and it was later reported that she was pregnant with the heir.
The lake was quite deep and wide, and there were many floating lanterns on the water for the event.
They were worried that the woman who had fallen into the water and lost her strength might not have been found because of the paper boats and lanterns that filled the lake like embroidery.
The people of the estate had to collect the small boats they had been happily floating with mixed feelings.
But after the colorful remains of the festival floating on the surface were cleared away and several laps around the lake were completed, the Duchess, not even a single strand of her distinctive hair, could be found.
The festival was ruined, the pregnant lady was missing, and the people, suffering from mobilization for days, were resentful and at their worst. Then, in the castle prison, Burbrook and Antjone were dragged out with ropes tied around their necks and wrists.
Thud. Thud.
The angry people threw stones at them in a frenzy.
“My Lord! I have been wronged!”
Burbrook cried ugly and loud.
“It’s all because of that woman! I have been wronged!”
Thud. Thud.
More stones were thrown at Antjone, but she covered her head and face with her arms and screamed.
“Aww! Let go of this! I can’t let go of this! It hurts!”
They were dragged away while being stoned and sold to slave traders after the public’s retribution.
“This is ridiculous! Lord Kaian! Ouch! Lord Kaian! Ouch!”
Stones continued to fly endlessly at the two people who had become so dirty that it was hard to recognize their appearances.
“I have been wronged!”
“Aww! How can you treat me like this! Lord Kaian! Lord Kaian!”
The crowd that had gathered like a swarm of bees outside the castle could be heard leaving the village and moving further away.
The butler looked at Kaian with a pitiful heart.
Kaian sat on a chair in the dark office and looked at the butler with sharp eyes.
“Claudel is not dead.”
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment