“...I see. I understand. I will tell Madame Charlotte that as well.”
Agatha Nobilis's married life has always been a topic of conversation.
Discord, divorce, harmony, even minor changes.
And the ones who took advantage of that gap were the enemies and their relatives.
Agatha opened her mouth to watch Isabelle, who was now moving skillfully among the nobles.
“Lady Iris. What is love?”
"Yes?"
Madame Iris dropped her fan in surprise. Agatha Nobilis, who had been married seven times since she was five, had never even mentioned the common love affair.
But the word love came out of her mouth.
“Oh, Madame Agatha?”
Agatha, seeing the bewildered Madame Iris, smiled faintly and stood up from her seat.
“I’m sorry. I made a slip of the tongue. Please forget what I just said.”
Leaving Madame Iris behind, Agatha walked among the nobles.
It seemed like she was quite frustrated. Judging from the fact that she brought up matters that she hadn't decided on yet.
In fact, the answer was already decided.
She told Enoch that she would make a decision once she thought about it, but what else could she do if she had no intention of leaving his side?
Agatha was cold to him for a few days, but eventually, she started complaining.
She misses him and wishes he was by her side, and she hopes that maybe he will change his mind.
Agatha, smiling bitterly, approached Isabelle and spoke to her.
“Isabelle. Can I ask you to look after the guests? I’m thinking of having lunch with Enoch.”
Isabelle opened her eyes wide and nodded with a smile.
“Yes, go ahead. Everyone will be happy to see you off. Right, everyone?”
“Of course. It’s a makeshift salon and the second host, Lady Isabelle, is here, so what could be the problem?”
“Yes, Ma'am. Have a nice trip, Madame Agatha.”
“I’m glad you understand. Now, I’ll excuse myself first.”
Agatha, who had first greeted the nobles, left the salon.
Behind her, her close maidservant, First Vice-Captain Leon Takran, and her escort knights were following her.
“Was the hunting ground the Claro Forest?”
"That's right."
The moment Sir Leon answered, the head of the Aratus family, Ben, appeared through the hallway.
“Madam, I heard that you have to go away.”
“Well, I guess I’ll go see Enoch.”
The butler, who had shown a subtle reaction, politely stepped aside.
“I have parked a carriage in front of the main house.”
“Good job, Ben.”
Agatha left the capital Aratus mansion in a waiting carriage. The knights guarding the carriage tightly wrapped around her were visible through the window.
The Claro Forest, where the capital's nobles often visited, was not far from the Aratus Mansion.
A little outside the castle walls, there was a small forest on a low hill. Although not very large, it was a suitable hunting ground for simple enjoyment and socializing.
They passed the gate. After a while, they saw the barracks of those who had come out to hunt in front of the dense forest.
Among them, Agatha discovered a flag with the Aratus emblem engraved on it.
As the carriage stopped and Agatha got out, the knights guarding the barracks saluted.
“Meet the Marchioness.”
Agatha asked as she greeted him.
“Are the Marquis inside?”
“He just left. I think you got on the wrong path.”
He must have gone hunting. It could be because she didn't notify him in advance and came looking for her.
At that moment, the first vice-captain, Leon Takran, who had been behind, stepped forward and opened his mouth.
“We can’t just wait around, so it would be better to contact them. Who is the contact person now?”
“Well, that’s it.”
Agatha, who was trying to say that it was okay, asked back in a puzzled tone.
“What? Didn’t he go hunting?”
"That is..."
The knight who had been observing the situation barely opened his mouth after Leon opened his eyes sharply.
“A guest has arrived and has to leave the table for a moment. I’m sorry, but you will have to wait a moment.”
"Guest?"
First of all, they probably weren't nobles who came to hunt together. In that case, they wouldn't have been able to express themselves vaguely like guests.
Leon, whose face hardened coldly as if he sensed something strange, questioned the knight in front of him.
“What was the guest’s identity?”
"...I do not know."
“There’s no way you wouldn’t know. How dare you leave the person who went out with your lord without even finding out his identity?”
Agatha took a step back and watched Leon interrogate the knights.
At that moment, the barracks door opened and Enoch's adjutant, Chad, his assistant, and John appeared inside.
“I see you, madam.”
Agatha furrowed her brows. Both the adjutant and the aide are here.
“Didn’t both of you follow the Marquis?”
“The Lord has cleared the surrounding area.”
“Then what about the escort?”
“He said he wouldn’t go far. He’ll be fine.”
Agatha stared blankly at the adjutant and the aide.
They must know that they are talking nonsense.
This meant that the chances of the visiting 'guest' being friendly with or harming Enoch were extremely low.
The adjutant and the aide bowed deeply.
'Should I ask or should I not ask?'
At the sound of the fan folding, the adjutant, aides, and knights guarding the front of the barracks all flinched.
Agatha smiled and nodded.
“I can’t help it. Then I guess I’ll take a quick walk while I wait. When Enoch comes, tell him that I’m waiting for him.”
"All right."
Agatha didn't intend to dig too deep. He'd tell her if he needed to.
“I'll be back.”
Agatha went out for a walk with her maid, First Vice-Captain Leon Takran, and four knights.
'I finally came to a conclusion and wanted to tell you.'
Although it was a little regretful, she walked around the forest thinking about the long time they would have together in the future.
Inside, the sound of birds flying and the whistle of the knight could be heard from time to time, as if hunting was in full swing.
The moment she looked up, wondering if Enoch would come back soon or if he would bring her a packed lunch.
Bam-
There was a sound of something falling behind her. Agatha looked back in wonder.
Was that footsteps?
Sir Leon and the knights stopped walking and were looking somewhere deep inside the forest.
“That woman...”
One of the knights muttered in a low voice. Agatha instinctively turned her gaze to where they were looking.
In a forest filled with tall trees and wild grasses.
In a shadowy place that would not be noticeable unless you looked carefully, a familiar blue-haired man appeared.
And Agatha stopped moving when she saw the delicate silhouette standing in front of him.
The behavior of the vassals that she had found strange a moment ago flashed through her mind.
The knight who couldn't reveal who the guest was and tried to cover it up, Enoch's actions of leaving all his men behind, and even the reactions of Leon and the knights who stopped in surprise.
"Marie."
A cold voice flowed out of Agatha's mouth. Leon and the knights, who suddenly came to their senses, all looked back at her.
“Yes, ma’am. Did you call?”
The maid, Marie, immediately nodded.
“Find out who that Young Lady is. Tell Ethel the details.”
"All right."
A faint commotion came from the knights who heard the order.
Agatha smiled. Unlike her smoothly curved lips, her hand holding the fan was full of strength.
“Ma'am, Ma'am.”
Leon, who had shut the knight who had opened his mouth uselessly with just a look, quietly bowed his head towards Agatha.
"Madam."
“Don’t say anything. I think I know the gist.”
“That’s not it. That woman...”
Her purple eyes, always praised as beautiful as a flower bud, were shining coldly.
“Sir Leon.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Agatha slowly moved her seat and opened her mouth. Once the distance was somewhat greater, it seemed that they did not notice that she had found them.
“If the escort wasn’t there to watch over me, can I assume that Enoch wouldn’t have heard of today’s events?”
If there is no specific order, do not report to him.
A belated look of embarrassment appeared on the face of the young vice-captain who understood the meaning of the words.
“...Of course, it would be so unless the lord orders a report.”
"Great."
Agatha turned around with a bright smile. Contrary to her normal appearance, her heart was beating fast, thump, thump.
Nothing is certain yet, but strange thoughts keep coming to me.
She has a feeling that that woman is having a huge influence on Enoch.
“Let’s go back to the mansion.”
Agatha returned to where the barracks were immediately got on the carriage and left the Claro Forest.
The aide, John, the deputy, and Chad looked puzzled, but underneath they were subtle relief.
It was still a bright sunny day.
The butler, Allen, looked bewildered as he welcomed Agatha back to the newlywed mansion at an unprecedentedly early date.
“Madam. What’s the matter? Is there something-”
“Ethel, is she inside?”
“Yes, she will be in her office.”
Agatha went straight up to her office. Her first aide, Ethel Maslow, who had received the news, was waiting in the office.
“Madam-”
“I’ll skip the greetings.”
The maids who were close to her stood observantly at the door.
Agatha, who was sitting on the sofa, gave orders to Ethel and offered her a seat.
“Report it.”
“Yes. The woman you saw this afternoon is Viscountess Esther Portoni.”
Was she a lady?
Agatha opened the report that Ethel had handed her.
“This is the person who was sent as a prospective fiancée by the relatives who managed Aratus while the Marquis was away on the battlefield.”
“It’s an old relationship.”
The unfolded report contained a painful sentence.
"It is estimated that they lived together on the battlefield for several months."
Agatha Nobilis's married life has always been a topic of conversation.
Discord, divorce, harmony, even minor changes.
And the ones who took advantage of that gap were the enemies and their relatives.
Agatha opened her mouth to watch Isabelle, who was now moving skillfully among the nobles.
“Lady Iris. What is love?”
"Yes?"
Madame Iris dropped her fan in surprise. Agatha Nobilis, who had been married seven times since she was five, had never even mentioned the common love affair.
But the word love came out of her mouth.
“Oh, Madame Agatha?”
Agatha, seeing the bewildered Madame Iris, smiled faintly and stood up from her seat.
“I’m sorry. I made a slip of the tongue. Please forget what I just said.”
Leaving Madame Iris behind, Agatha walked among the nobles.
It seemed like she was quite frustrated. Judging from the fact that she brought up matters that she hadn't decided on yet.
In fact, the answer was already decided.
She told Enoch that she would make a decision once she thought about it, but what else could she do if she had no intention of leaving his side?
Agatha was cold to him for a few days, but eventually, she started complaining.
She misses him and wishes he was by her side, and she hopes that maybe he will change his mind.
Agatha, smiling bitterly, approached Isabelle and spoke to her.
“Isabelle. Can I ask you to look after the guests? I’m thinking of having lunch with Enoch.”
Isabelle opened her eyes wide and nodded with a smile.
“Yes, go ahead. Everyone will be happy to see you off. Right, everyone?”
“Of course. It’s a makeshift salon and the second host, Lady Isabelle, is here, so what could be the problem?”
“Yes, Ma'am. Have a nice trip, Madame Agatha.”
“I’m glad you understand. Now, I’ll excuse myself first.”
Agatha, who had first greeted the nobles, left the salon.
Behind her, her close maidservant, First Vice-Captain Leon Takran, and her escort knights were following her.
“Was the hunting ground the Claro Forest?”
"That's right."
The moment Sir Leon answered, the head of the Aratus family, Ben, appeared through the hallway.
“Madam, I heard that you have to go away.”
“Well, I guess I’ll go see Enoch.”
The butler, who had shown a subtle reaction, politely stepped aside.
“I have parked a carriage in front of the main house.”
“Good job, Ben.”
Agatha left the capital Aratus mansion in a waiting carriage. The knights guarding the carriage tightly wrapped around her were visible through the window.
The Claro Forest, where the capital's nobles often visited, was not far from the Aratus Mansion.
A little outside the castle walls, there was a small forest on a low hill. Although not very large, it was a suitable hunting ground for simple enjoyment and socializing.
They passed the gate. After a while, they saw the barracks of those who had come out to hunt in front of the dense forest.
Among them, Agatha discovered a flag with the Aratus emblem engraved on it.
As the carriage stopped and Agatha got out, the knights guarding the barracks saluted.
“Meet the Marchioness.”
Agatha asked as she greeted him.
“Are the Marquis inside?”
“He just left. I think you got on the wrong path.”
He must have gone hunting. It could be because she didn't notify him in advance and came looking for her.
At that moment, the first vice-captain, Leon Takran, who had been behind, stepped forward and opened his mouth.
“We can’t just wait around, so it would be better to contact them. Who is the contact person now?”
“Well, that’s it.”
Agatha, who was trying to say that it was okay, asked back in a puzzled tone.
“What? Didn’t he go hunting?”
"That is..."
The knight who had been observing the situation barely opened his mouth after Leon opened his eyes sharply.
“A guest has arrived and has to leave the table for a moment. I’m sorry, but you will have to wait a moment.”
"Guest?"
First of all, they probably weren't nobles who came to hunt together. In that case, they wouldn't have been able to express themselves vaguely like guests.
Leon, whose face hardened coldly as if he sensed something strange, questioned the knight in front of him.
“What was the guest’s identity?”
"...I do not know."
“There’s no way you wouldn’t know. How dare you leave the person who went out with your lord without even finding out his identity?”
Agatha took a step back and watched Leon interrogate the knights.
At that moment, the barracks door opened and Enoch's adjutant, Chad, his assistant, and John appeared inside.
“I see you, madam.”
Agatha furrowed her brows. Both the adjutant and the aide are here.
“Didn’t both of you follow the Marquis?”
“The Lord has cleared the surrounding area.”
“Then what about the escort?”
“He said he wouldn’t go far. He’ll be fine.”
Agatha stared blankly at the adjutant and the aide.
They must know that they are talking nonsense.
This meant that the chances of the visiting 'guest' being friendly with or harming Enoch were extremely low.
The adjutant and the aide bowed deeply.
'Should I ask or should I not ask?'
At the sound of the fan folding, the adjutant, aides, and knights guarding the front of the barracks all flinched.
Agatha smiled and nodded.
“I can’t help it. Then I guess I’ll take a quick walk while I wait. When Enoch comes, tell him that I’m waiting for him.”
"All right."
Agatha didn't intend to dig too deep. He'd tell her if he needed to.
“I'll be back.”
Agatha went out for a walk with her maid, First Vice-Captain Leon Takran, and four knights.
'I finally came to a conclusion and wanted to tell you.'
Although it was a little regretful, she walked around the forest thinking about the long time they would have together in the future.
Inside, the sound of birds flying and the whistle of the knight could be heard from time to time, as if hunting was in full swing.
The moment she looked up, wondering if Enoch would come back soon or if he would bring her a packed lunch.
Bam-
There was a sound of something falling behind her. Agatha looked back in wonder.
Was that footsteps?
Sir Leon and the knights stopped walking and were looking somewhere deep inside the forest.
“That woman...”
One of the knights muttered in a low voice. Agatha instinctively turned her gaze to where they were looking.
In a forest filled with tall trees and wild grasses.
In a shadowy place that would not be noticeable unless you looked carefully, a familiar blue-haired man appeared.
And Agatha stopped moving when she saw the delicate silhouette standing in front of him.
The behavior of the vassals that she had found strange a moment ago flashed through her mind.
The knight who couldn't reveal who the guest was and tried to cover it up, Enoch's actions of leaving all his men behind, and even the reactions of Leon and the knights who stopped in surprise.
"Marie."
A cold voice flowed out of Agatha's mouth. Leon and the knights, who suddenly came to their senses, all looked back at her.
“Yes, ma’am. Did you call?”
The maid, Marie, immediately nodded.
“Find out who that Young Lady is. Tell Ethel the details.”
"All right."
A faint commotion came from the knights who heard the order.
Agatha smiled. Unlike her smoothly curved lips, her hand holding the fan was full of strength.
“Ma'am, Ma'am.”
Leon, who had shut the knight who had opened his mouth uselessly with just a look, quietly bowed his head towards Agatha.
"Madam."
“Don’t say anything. I think I know the gist.”
“That’s not it. That woman...”
Her purple eyes, always praised as beautiful as a flower bud, were shining coldly.
“Sir Leon.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Agatha slowly moved her seat and opened her mouth. Once the distance was somewhat greater, it seemed that they did not notice that she had found them.
“If the escort wasn’t there to watch over me, can I assume that Enoch wouldn’t have heard of today’s events?”
If there is no specific order, do not report to him.
A belated look of embarrassment appeared on the face of the young vice-captain who understood the meaning of the words.
“...Of course, it would be so unless the lord orders a report.”
"Great."
Agatha turned around with a bright smile. Contrary to her normal appearance, her heart was beating fast, thump, thump.
Nothing is certain yet, but strange thoughts keep coming to me.
She has a feeling that that woman is having a huge influence on Enoch.
“Let’s go back to the mansion.”
Agatha returned to where the barracks were immediately got on the carriage and left the Claro Forest.
The aide, John, the deputy, and Chad looked puzzled, but underneath they were subtle relief.
It was still a bright sunny day.
The butler, Allen, looked bewildered as he welcomed Agatha back to the newlywed mansion at an unprecedentedly early date.
“Madam. What’s the matter? Is there something-”
“Ethel, is she inside?”
“Yes, she will be in her office.”
Agatha went straight up to her office. Her first aide, Ethel Maslow, who had received the news, was waiting in the office.
“Madam-”
“I’ll skip the greetings.”
The maids who were close to her stood observantly at the door.
Agatha, who was sitting on the sofa, gave orders to Ethel and offered her a seat.
“Report it.”
“Yes. The woman you saw this afternoon is Viscountess Esther Portoni.”
Was she a lady?
Agatha opened the report that Ethel had handed her.
“This is the person who was sent as a prospective fiancée by the relatives who managed Aratus while the Marquis was away on the battlefield.”
“It’s an old relationship.”
The unfolded report contained a painful sentence.
"It is estimated that they lived together on the battlefield for several months."
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