THIBV - Chapter 47

"You can hear the detailed story that day. And the butler, take this."

Cedric received two letters from Count Nicholas.

There were Cedric's and Anna's names written on them respectively. It was Bridget's.

"The instructions say to pack your bags as written there."

"Yes, it won't take long."

Cedric took it politely and shared it with Anna.

The letter was quite thick. The first page contained a short note explaining the current situation.

"The atmosphere between His Majesty the King and the Lady seemed ominous."

He remembered what Bridget had said about her being away for a while.

'That's what you were talking about.'

You weren't planning on going to your parents' house. That's a good thing.

Cedric was delighted.

If Bridget gains the King's favor, she will not have to go through the same terrible thing as yesterday again.

The only thing he didn't understand was the story about Penelope.

It was written that Bridget would not punish Penelope and that she should be left alone to live as before.

Cedric, who had thought Penelope would be dragged off to prison, felt a little disappointed.

'I guess you have some thoughts on this too.'

He decided not to be impatient, knowing that Bridget would eventually chase Isaac and Penelope out.

The next page was followed by a long list of things to pack.

'It's a bit strange.'

Bridget wrote down her luggage list. In a horizontal line.

'Normally, these would be written vertically for easy reading.'

Cedric's gaze, which had been patiently scanning the dizzying list to the last page, paused at some point.

He suddenly looked around, quickly crumpled up the last page, put it in his mouth, and swallowed it.

Out of the corner of his eye, Cedric saw Anna in the distance quickly putting one of the letters into her mouth and chewing it.

Their eyes met, and they nodded as if sending a signal.

***

After a while, the servants loaded Bridget's luggage into the carriage.

Isaac, who had quietly escaped upstairs to avoid Count Nicholas, approached him timidly and watched the servants move the luggage.

Isaac never received the letter, but he quickly figured out that Julian was trying to keep Bridget in the palace.

'The King is fond of Bridget. If he can come to an agreement with me, then he must be trying to sign a government contract.'

It would be natural for a man to be angry and upset at having his wife suddenly stolen by the King, but Isaac did not feel that way at all.

His head was spinning with the calculations.

'Should I call this a blessing?'

Not only did Bridget become Countess Spencer's benefactor, but she also seduced Julian.

It was amazing and wonderful.

'I thought I was either unlucky enough to get involved with the Count of Kensington or that I was going to die by association for something Penelope did.'

Isaac didn't know for sure, but he had a feeling that maybe Bridget had become friendly with Millea Spencer and somehow caught Julian's eye.

'Yesterday the King came to fetch Bridget. But at that time Penelope did something crazy...'

In fact, it was the opposite causality, but Isaac could only guess so.

'Bridget is the King's mistress!'

In this case, Bridget, as well as himself, would be greatly rewarded.

Isaac was excited that perhaps this would be an opportunity to enter politics.

Historically, there have been many instances where a government favored by a King would provide a seat for each of her husband, his family, and his in-laws.

Isaac stomped his feet with joy...

The overwhelming desire for upward mobility overrode yesterday's fears.

'If only Bridget would speak well of me...!'

But soon, thoughts of what he had done flashed through his mind.

'You're not going to pay off my debt with the money you got from the King and divorce me, are you? I'm worried. I'll have to see Josh soon. I'll lend him more money. So much that Bridget can't possibly pay back.'

Money was overflowing.

If it only gave him entry into aristocratic society, that level of investment was nothing special.

Plus, there was an attractive investment opportunity that could tempt Josh.

The trade business of the Kingdom of Cartania as spoken of by Bridget.

After much research, he found out that what Bridget said was true.

There was talk that the Kingdom of Cartania had opened a new trade route and that if things went well, maritime trade with the Eastern Continent would be possible.

Bridget may not have known, but that was a lot of information.

'Bridget asked me to invest in it in her name, so I'll Invest a small amount, and I'll also encourage Josh to lend me some money to invest. Of course, I'll invest a lot more money than that."

No matter how much Bridget tried to please the King and received numerous gifts, she could not possibly have received more wealth than the income from her business.

Isaac decided to push through with the money.

'I should also send a bunch of presents to my mother-in-law. Wait, Bridget had a younger sister who couldn't get married because of her circumstances, right? I'll have to make her pay for it too.'

Isaac knew that family was Bridget's Achilles heel.

Bridget couldn't move when it came to family matters.

That's why this marriage was arranged in the first place.

As long as she holds onto Bridget's weakness, she will not be able to bring up divorce so easily.

There was just one catch.

'But didn't the rumors say that the King would die soon? I heard that he didn't have much time left to live.'

Isaac thought of Julian, who seemed fine on the outside.

"That kind of person lusts after women? He looks fine and healthier than me, even though he's supposed to be doing it today or tomorrow. I can't figure out what's right...'

Isaac glanced at the servant who was carrying the luggage.

"Why are you carrying so much stuff? If someone saw you, they'd think you were going to stay there forever."

Even if you bring a lot of luggage, you will have to pack it up again as soon as the King dies.

The servant answered in an impertinent tone.

"Anna says His Majesty is perfectly fine! Madame told me to be at ease. Please step aside. I am busy."

It was a bad feeling, but it was a bit ambiguous to point out.

The loyalty of the employees who had been watching everything that had happened yesterday had completely fallen to the ground, even though they had not been feeling good about Isaac and Penelope, to begin with.

All they had left was pity for Bridget.

Isaac was annoyed by the servant's attitude, but now was not the time to bring it up.

He called Anna right away.

"What do you mean His Majesty is fine? I heard that he is in very poor health due to the curse. Tell me everything you know."

"Why do you ask me that? You were the one who saw His Majesty up close yesterday. I don't know anything."

Isaac glared at Anna, who answered in a sullen tone.

"I know what Bridget told you, so why don't you tell me the truth?"

"I said I don't know!"

"Give me the letter you received earlier."

"Hey, why are you doing this?"

"Ugh, can I give it to you?"

Isaac eventually snatched Bridget's letter from Anna.

Only then did Anna confess.

"As it is written there, His Majesty is pretending to die. I am an ignorant person, so I don't know what it means, but anyway, it is all a political deal."

Indeed, such words were written in the letter.

Bridget was telling Anna not to worry and to come to the palace and be with her, as the King was in good health and caring for her very much.

Bridget told Anna to bring enough clothes and luggage, as it seemed like she would be staying at the palace for a long time.

"All the royal families who were under the shadow curse died young, what are you talking about...?"

Anna whispered a conspiracy theory floating between the lines to Isaac, who was mumbling indecisively.

"That's because people with the Shadow Curse are so powerful that their lives are always threatened by other royal families or Kings of other kingdoms. They get assassinated or poisoned. But His Majesty the King is a monster that doesn't even respond to poison."

Anna, who had been talking smugly as if the King's health was of no bene 

fit to her, slapped her mouth, and said. 

"Ah."

"Madam told me not to say anything! You have a mouth! Please give me back the letter!"

Previous                Next

Support Novellate!