A terrified man crawled out of the tree and lay face down.
"My lord."
"Go and tell your master what you saw. There are no exceptions."
Esther, who was sitting on the floor, grabbed him as he turned around.
"Hey, Enoch!"
"There are no exceptions. So you'd better think wisely, Esther."
Enoch turned around and this was the situation.
After finishing his recollection, he let out a choked breath.
He felt like he was free from the past that had always weighed him down.
At the same time, he desperately wanted to see Agatha.
'Is the salon over?'
No, it was a problem that could be solved if he just went without her having to come.
Go and apologize and explain.
Even now, if it wasn't too late, he thought he would want to turn back the relationship. No, if she allowed him, he would be the one who wanted to move forward.
“My lord!”
The aide, John, the adjutant, Chad, and the knights, who had been pacing anxiously in front of the barracks, discovered Enoch and ran towards him.
“Are you okay? Did something else happen?”
“Nothing happened. It looks like my relatives are interfering with things again.”
“How dare you! I knew that. I heard there have been a lot of meetings lately, but they still haven’t come to their senses...!”
Enoch ordered an investigation into Baron Thatcher, Esther, and their relatives, while holding back his excited retainers.
“The new Baron Thatcher has contacted Esther on the relative's behalf. I have ordered Knapul to bring the mastermind, so keep an eye on the movements. I will soon submit a petition to His Majesty for the revocation of the title, so be prepared.”
“Understood, my lord!”
It was time for Enoch to take a deep breath and prepare his words.
“Oh, my lord. The Lady has come.”
Adjutant, Enoch heard Chad's report and stopped his hand that was loosening his collar.
"When?"
“It wasn’t long ago. She said he would go for a short walk while waiting for my lord, but then she came back and left right away.”
“Where did you go for a walk?”
“Roughly over there... my lord?”
Enoch swallowed as he checked the direction. When he was with Esther, he had only felt the presence of several people once, except for the weeds.
Would it be a leap to think that it was Agatha?
“Where did you say she was going?”
“It seemed like she was going back to the mansion.”
“Go back to the mansion. Bring my horse here immediately.”
In the ominous atmosphere, the knights with their military discipline in full force moved quickly.
Enoch immediately mounted his horse and headed towards the Nobilis Second Mansion, leaving behind an aide, John, and two knights to handle the situation.
Until he passes through the gate and reaches the mansion.
Enoch's face hardened with an ominous feeling that he couldn't explain.
Allen, the head butler of the Nobilis family who moved from the Nobilis First Mansion to the Nobilis Second Mansion, came out to greet them.
“Your Grace, have you arrived?”
"My wife?"
“The Lady is in her office. What brings you-”
Enoch got off his horse and headed straight to the office on the fourth floor.
In Agatha's space, which he entered after a long time, the close maid and the first vice-captain, Leon Takran, who was assigned as an escort, and the knights were all outside the office door.
“My lord...”
The moment his eyes met with Leon's.
Enoch could see that his ominous premonition had become reality.
Knock knock.
“...Agatha.”
He knocked on the door. After knocking, he waited for a long time, but there was no answer from inside.
“There’s something you’re misunderstanding. Can’t you give me one more chance?”
Now he feels ready.
The moment he raised his hand and knocked on the door again, a thin voice came from inside.
“Go back.”
A voice as cold as ice.
“I don’t want to see you right now.”
A small but cold voice stabbed deep into the man's lungs.
Enoch, who had been standing in front of the office for hours, finally gave up after the meal brought by the maid who was close to him. He had a premonition that even meals would be skipped if he was there.
Let's talk tomorrow.
Enoch, who had retreated like that, was never able to properly face Agatha again.
This time she was avoiding him.
***
As Agatha woke up in the morning and was lightly getting ready, her maid, Marie, came in carrying a jewel box wrapped in a carpet.
“Madam, the brooch you ordered has been completed.”
Another maid, Jessie, opened the box, revealing a flower made of pearls and diamonds.
It was a beautiful brooch with a satisfying, elegant pearl luster.
“Would you like to wear it today?”
“I think it will go well with the dress you are wearing.”
The smooth silk dress had no special decorations. Agatha readily decided to wear a new brooch.
“Hang it on the left.”
She wore a brooch on her chest, braided her hair, and secured it with a gold leaf-shaped pin.
Agatha, who had completed the look of an elegant Marchioness, nodded.
“It’s done now.”
Agatha muttered to herself as she watched the maids stepping aside at once.
Should I not go down today?
She and Enoch were still having breakfast together.
It was obvious that he wanted to talk to her somehow, but Agatha continued to ignore him.
Now, she didn't feel like anything she heard would make her feel better.
Will this marriage end up being like all the other marriages she's had in the past?
Agatha was sure that wasn't the case until she came back from her honeymoon. But now she doesn't think she can say that.
She wore new jewelry and put on makeup, but yesterday felt like today and the day before felt like yesterday.
"Jessie."
In times like this, it might be a good idea to change her mood.
Agatha decided to go and see the Crown Prince, Anthony Roxiba, for the first time in a long time.
“I will enter the palace after dinner. Send a message to His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
When she went down to the restaurant, Enoch was already there.
“Did you sleep well?”
As Agatha sat down to be greeted by Enoch, the cook appeared with a tray.
“This morning’s main course is freshly baked bread topped with fresh oysters. I added a sauce with the sour taste of oranges that arrived early in the morning.”
“Oysters. Good choice.”
“I baked oranges as a dessert pie because they taste so good. Enjoy your meal.”
The oysters baked in a sweet and sour orange sauce were a perfect match. Agatha slowly savored the taste and sipped her wine.
“Agatha, would you mind giving me a moment of your time today?”
Today again, Enoch asked for a chance to explain himself. Agatha blinked as if it was the first time she had heard this request.
“I have an appointment with His Highness the Crown Prince. I have to go to the palace soon, so today will be difficult.”
“Agatha.”
“You must have a lot of work to do today, so let’s talk later. But I think it will be enough.”
As it was a morning with not much time for meals, the plate was already empty. Agasa dabbed her mouth with her napkin and got up from the table.
"Have a good day."
As she turned and walked away, she felt Enoch's eyes following her.
"Lady..."
Jessie trailed off as if she wanted to tell her to at least listen.
“I have to dress up properly when I enter the palace.”
Agatha cut off her maid.
“Choose a type with a rich hem. I’d recommend something red.”
Jessie looked back at the restaurant with a look of regret but soon followed Agatha's order.
“I’ll prepare it right away.”
No outfits went with gold, and no dress was in a strong primary color. Agatha wore layers of thin gold bracelets and a diamond necklace.
“The earrings should be small.”
By the time she picked out her shoes and put on her makeup, it was time to leave.
As Agatha went down to the hallway, Leon Takran, the first vice-captain in charge of escort, was waiting in front of the carriage.
“Are you ready?”
“We can leave right away.”
“Please take care of me today too, Sir Leon.”
A young vice-captain with a slightly haggard face escorted Agatha and formed an escort formation.
Although he was silently carrying out his assigned tasks, he was also saying a lot with his eyes.
'It's a good thing Sir Hubert isn't my escort.'
If it had been Second Vice-Captain Hubert Karwen, who said whatever he wanted without being tactful, he would have already talked about Enoch.
As always, the carriage, tightly surrounded by knights, left the newlyweds' mansion and headed for the imperial palace.
Since Agatha's face was like a palace pass, she was able to enter the palace without any special inspection or verification.
“Welcome, Marchioness.”
The chief chamberlain who was waiting in front of the palace greeted Agatha.
“Your Highness?”
“He is supporting you.”
“It’s worth contacting you.”
“Would you like to eat first?”
“No, give me the tea.”
"All right."
When Agatha went to the back room with the guidance of the chief steward, Anthony was sitting at the table.
He was having a late meal in the cool breeze.
“Are you having lunch?”
“I woke up late.”
Since she had called in advance to say that she would be visiting, Anthony was already well-dressed. Agatha grumbled as she sat down in front of Anthony.
“Please wake up early.”
“Sometimes you have to have days like this where you can be lazy.”
Anthony, who smiled shamelessly, if not occasionally, cut a well-cooked sausage.
“Anyway, what’s going on today?”
“I didn’t come here for anything special.”
“Are you just here to enjoy tea time?”
Agatha, pretending not to hear Anthony's suspicious remarks, picked up a sandwich. It was a simple snack that the thoughtful chamberlain had brought out, considering that it was still early in the meal.
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