When she opened her eyes, Jules was there. She asked Else gently, "Are you awake?"
“Is the temperature correct?”
Jeanne asked kindly. Else nodded slightly and looked out the window at the trees that were beginning to bud.
For breakfast, she had tea, milk, and biscuits. She heard that the chef had prepared a meal of sardines for breakfast, but Else did not like it. She did not particularly enjoy meat, and she did not want to eat such a feast for breakfast. However, the chef said that he had prepared only dishes suitable for a banquet table, as if it were the King's order. In the end, she only ate three bites and left the rest.
The Marchioness de Levante, Jeanne, was a very lively and cheerful person. She got along well with Jules, and as much as she got along well, she bothered her. If she had known that the idea of going out after dinner was a place like a salon where noble ladies gathered, she would have naturally declined.
However, Else nodded and was eventually dragged out and had no choice but to act as their leader. At first, she thought it was the courtyard attached to the King's bedroom like before... The place where Else was was a garden where noble ladies leisurely rode boats.
"Oh."
It was a woman wearing a hat with white feathers. The dark blue hat with a large brim was romantic and old-fashioned. Her slender neck was also impressive, with frills and a large topaz hanging from it. Her puffy chest and small shoulders, as well as her gorgeous dress, contrasted with her white face, and were very beautiful. Else stared at her with a slightly hardened face. The woman smiled brightly when she saw Else.
However, the poison in her eyes was still there, so Else knew at first sight that she was against her. The black-haired woman who was walking slowly behind her also raised her head at her small exclamation. It was her first time seeing her face, but the woman next to her was very familiar.
Ivanna.
It's been a year. It wasn't a face she hadn't seen in a long time, but Else felt unfamiliar, as if she had met someone from the distant past. Else was the woman who had despised and persecuted Sibyl. The past, when she had frequently scratched and hurled dirty curses, was not that far away. Else was the first to look away.
“Are you the Duchess of Montana?”
The woman in the feathered hat smiled cheerfully. She bowed with one knee and looked at her with sparkling eyes. It was a prickly curiosity.
Else looked at her without saying anything and wiped her eyes. The diligent maid opened the curtains, and the morning sunlight poured in fiercely. Else groggily got up. Her whole body ached and felt numb, as if she had been beaten rather than had sex. She thought she had slept soundly until morning, but Jules said she hadn't come to her senses for a whole day and a half.
It was fortunate that the twins had been fed by their wet nurse, but... Else was surprised that she had lost a day and a half.
“The fever rises every now and then...”
As she staggered and lost her balance, Jules supported her. Her neck and chest felt dizzy as if they had been bitten by insects because her delicate skin had been chewed and pulled. She couldn’t bring herself to look at Jules because of the messy traces. She was feeling around on the floor with her head down.
“How are you feeling?”
"It's okay."
“Let’s eat something and then go out.”
Without nodding, she stared at the spot where the sunlight was shining. As she staggered down from the bed, she saw unfamiliar women one after another. They looked at Jules with surprised eyes.
“These are the people sent by His Majesty. They are ladies who have lived in the court for a long time. They are noble and dignified.”
Jules smiled brightly, but it didn't seem genuine. It was a smile that had been cultivated through her long years of court life, as she had said. Else turned her gaze and looked at the women one by one. When she heard the words, "Sent by His Majesty," the women's faces came into view a little more clearly. She was unnecessarily concerned about last night and wondered if any of them had spent the night with Sibyl.
But soon, Else shook her head and turned her gaze away from them. It was all right. Whoever Sybil spent the night with. How he spent the night... She shouldn’t have such a foolish attachment to him. If it were such a foolish attachment, she should have cut it off a long time ago.
“Countess Loper, would you please give us a chance to introduce ourselves to Her Royal Highness the Duchess?”
The woman standing in the center cautiously spoke to Else, who was looking away without any interest. She was a beautiful blonde with blue eyes. On either side of her stood a short blonde woman and a tall black-haired woman, both of whom held their hands together.
“Yes, Madame Marchioness.”
Jules smiled brightly. Else looked at her with an awkward posture, as this was her first time experiencing something like this.
“Jeanne of the House of Levante, Your Highness, the Duchess.”
“She is also the only granddaughter of the Duke of Touro.”
The woman who had been lifting the hem of her elegant purple dress with rich lace and folding her knees raised her head. Next to Else, Jules added the introduction with a satisfied expression. Else greeted her like a noble lady, recalling the name 'Duke of Touro' that she had once heard from her father.
“Nice to meet you, Marchioness of Levante. I believe you have been living in the court for a long time, so you know the etiquette of the royal court better than anyone else. I would be grateful if you could guide me well, even if I am lacking.”
Else pulled in her chin, straightened her back, and received her greeting. Her face turned red because her neck was completely exposed, but she was a Duchess. In fact, she was nothing more than the King's mistress, and her title of Duchess was meaningless, but she was the woman who gave birth to the King's children.
It was fortunate that the twins had been fed by their wet nurse, but... Else was surprised that she had lost a day and a half.
“The fever rises every now and then...”
As she staggered and lost her balance, Jules supported her. Her neck and chest felt dizzy as if they had been bitten by insects because her delicate skin had been chewed and pulled. She couldn’t bring herself to look at Jules because of the messy traces. She was feeling around on the floor with her head down.
“How are you feeling?”
"It's okay."
“Let’s eat something and then go out.”
Without nodding, she stared at the spot where the sunlight was shining. As she staggered down from the bed, she saw unfamiliar women one after another. They looked at Jules with surprised eyes.
“These are the people sent by His Majesty. They are ladies who have lived in the court for a long time. They are noble and dignified.”
Jules smiled brightly, but it didn't seem genuine. It was a smile that had been cultivated through her long years of court life, as she had said. Else turned her gaze and looked at the women one by one. When she heard the words, "Sent by His Majesty," the women's faces came into view a little more clearly. She was unnecessarily concerned about last night and wondered if any of them had spent the night with Sibyl.
But soon, Else shook her head and turned her gaze away from them. It was all right. Whoever Sybil spent the night with. How he spent the night... She shouldn’t have such a foolish attachment to him. If it were such a foolish attachment, she should have cut it off a long time ago.
“Countess Loper, would you please give us a chance to introduce ourselves to Her Royal Highness the Duchess?”
The woman standing in the center cautiously spoke to Else, who was looking away without any interest. She was a beautiful blonde with blue eyes. On either side of her stood a short blonde woman and a tall black-haired woman, both of whom held their hands together.
“Yes, Madame Marchioness.”
Jules smiled brightly. Else looked at her with an awkward posture, as this was her first time experiencing something like this.
“Jeanne of the House of Levante, Your Highness, the Duchess.”
“She is also the only granddaughter of the Duke of Touro.”
The woman who had been lifting the hem of her elegant purple dress with rich lace and folding her knees raised her head. Next to Else, Jules added the introduction with a satisfied expression. Else greeted her like a noble lady, recalling the name 'Duke of Touro' that she had once heard from her father.
“Nice to meet you, Marchioness of Levante. I believe you have been living in the court for a long time, so you know the etiquette of the royal court better than anyone else. I would be grateful if you could guide me well, even if I am lacking.”
Else pulled in her chin, straightened her back, and received her greeting. Her face turned red because her neck was completely exposed, but she was a Duchess. In fact, she was nothing more than the King's mistress, and her title of Duchess was meaningless, but she was the woman who gave birth to the King's children.
Although they were in a shameful place, Abelard and Hermi were not ashamed. Yes. Her babies were not shameful. Absolutely, absolutely... When she tensed her back and looked at the woman, the woman parted her red lips.
“Thank you, Your Highness. I will do my best to assist you.”
This was her first time, so her shoulders were tense, but Else did not forget to smile brightly. The Marchioness of Levante was first introduced to the two noble ladies standing behind her. The woman with the wavy blond hair and the petite stature was the Viscountess of Dalmas, and the woman with the black hair and the slightly exotic impression was the Countess of Alentus. They were all daughters of the noble families of Siena and had even married into families of the same rank, establishing themselves as noblewomen of the court.
“First, take a bath.”
The Marchioness Jeanne of Levante spoke softly to Else, who was looking at women who lived completely different lives from her, even though they were of the same noble family. Else nodded and walked to the bathroom.
A few days ago, Sibyl had chosen the twins' wet nurse and sent her to Else. She was the wife of Count Icalant, and she had a very young face and gorgeous looks for her age. She was in her early thirties and already had four children. The woman, who had given birth a little earlier than Else, very carefully nursed the twins. Of course, Hermi couldn't even suckle and just whined.
She was a woman who had raised three babies and had just had another young son. Else couldn't forget the woman's expression, which was quite bewildered, as if she was bewildered by Hermi's reaction. In the end, Else held Hermi in her arms and soothed her, saying that she would raise the children a little longer and then leave them. Even Abelard spat out the unfamiliar nipple.
“I heard that His Majesty gave you a very beautiful bathtub as a gift, but seeing it in person, I am amazed at his insight and attention to detail.”
Else arrived at the steaming bathroom and went into the bathtub while being attended to by the women. There were dirty scars all over her body. In Lugdun, the scars were so prominent that they would not fade. Even though it was a long-awaited love affair, it was uncomfortable to be in this state in front of the women she had just met today.
But Else sat in the bathtub with a haughty expression on her face as if she were oblivious. The Marchioness of Levante, who was gently wiping her shoulders with a wet towel, whispered softly.
“There is no need to be embarrassed. It is a sign that His Majesty favors you.”
Was her stiff face flushed? The Marchioness and the Countess smiled secretly and tried to comfort her. They were telling her to relax, but somehow Else was more concerned about those words. Else looked at Jules without answering. Jules was bringing rose oil and putting it in the bathtub.
A month ago, it was a situation she could not have dreamed of. She was the daughter of a low-ranking noble in the countryside.... This is a situation in which she took the daughters of extremely high nobles as her maids and acted as a superior to them. It was a ridiculous situation. She wondered how long she could continue living like this.
“Thank you, Your Highness. I will do my best to assist you.”
This was her first time, so her shoulders were tense, but Else did not forget to smile brightly. The Marchioness of Levante was first introduced to the two noble ladies standing behind her. The woman with the wavy blond hair and the petite stature was the Viscountess of Dalmas, and the woman with the black hair and the slightly exotic impression was the Countess of Alentus. They were all daughters of the noble families of Siena and had even married into families of the same rank, establishing themselves as noblewomen of the court.
“First, take a bath.”
The Marchioness Jeanne of Levante spoke softly to Else, who was looking at women who lived completely different lives from her, even though they were of the same noble family. Else nodded and walked to the bathroom.
A few days ago, Sibyl had chosen the twins' wet nurse and sent her to Else. She was the wife of Count Icalant, and she had a very young face and gorgeous looks for her age. She was in her early thirties and already had four children. The woman, who had given birth a little earlier than Else, very carefully nursed the twins. Of course, Hermi couldn't even suckle and just whined.
She was a woman who had raised three babies and had just had another young son. Else couldn't forget the woman's expression, which was quite bewildered, as if she was bewildered by Hermi's reaction. In the end, Else held Hermi in her arms and soothed her, saying that she would raise the children a little longer and then leave them. Even Abelard spat out the unfamiliar nipple.
“I heard that His Majesty gave you a very beautiful bathtub as a gift, but seeing it in person, I am amazed at his insight and attention to detail.”
Else arrived at the steaming bathroom and went into the bathtub while being attended to by the women. There were dirty scars all over her body. In Lugdun, the scars were so prominent that they would not fade. Even though it was a long-awaited love affair, it was uncomfortable to be in this state in front of the women she had just met today.
But Else sat in the bathtub with a haughty expression on her face as if she were oblivious. The Marchioness of Levante, who was gently wiping her shoulders with a wet towel, whispered softly.
“There is no need to be embarrassed. It is a sign that His Majesty favors you.”
Was her stiff face flushed? The Marchioness and the Countess smiled secretly and tried to comfort her. They were telling her to relax, but somehow Else was more concerned about those words. Else looked at Jules without answering. Jules was bringing rose oil and putting it in the bathtub.
A month ago, it was a situation she could not have dreamed of. She was the daughter of a low-ranking noble in the countryside.... This is a situation in which she took the daughters of extremely high nobles as her maids and acted as a superior to them. It was a ridiculous situation. She wondered how long she could continue living like this.
“Is the temperature correct?”
Jeanne asked kindly. Else nodded slightly and looked out the window at the trees that were beginning to bud.
***
For breakfast, she had tea, milk, and biscuits. She heard that the chef had prepared a meal of sardines for breakfast, but Else did not like it. She did not particularly enjoy meat, and she did not want to eat such a feast for breakfast. However, the chef said that he had prepared only dishes suitable for a banquet table, as if it were the King's order. In the end, she only ate three bites and left the rest.
The Marchioness de Levante, Jeanne, was a very lively and cheerful person. She got along well with Jules, and as much as she got along well, she bothered her. If she had known that the idea of going out after dinner was a place like a salon where noble ladies gathered, she would have naturally declined.
However, Else nodded and was eventually dragged out and had no choice but to act as their leader. At first, she thought it was the courtyard attached to the King's bedroom like before... The place where Else was was a garden where noble ladies leisurely rode boats.
"Oh."
It was a woman wearing a hat with white feathers. The dark blue hat with a large brim was romantic and old-fashioned. Her slender neck was also impressive, with frills and a large topaz hanging from it. Her puffy chest and small shoulders, as well as her gorgeous dress, contrasted with her white face, and were very beautiful. Else stared at her with a slightly hardened face. The woman smiled brightly when she saw Else.
However, the poison in her eyes was still there, so Else knew at first sight that she was against her. The black-haired woman who was walking slowly behind her also raised her head at her small exclamation. It was her first time seeing her face, but the woman next to her was very familiar.
Ivanna.
It's been a year. It wasn't a face she hadn't seen in a long time, but Else felt unfamiliar, as if she had met someone from the distant past. Else was the woman who had despised and persecuted Sibyl. The past, when she had frequently scratched and hurled dirty curses, was not that far away. Else was the first to look away.
“Are you the Duchess of Montana?”
The woman in the feathered hat smiled cheerfully. She bowed with one knee and looked at her with sparkling eyes. It was a prickly curiosity.
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