Else looked up. She wished he hadn't said love. She thought she could comply if he said it was a 'punishment' that she had to accept. That he hated her completely. If he had said that..
“Please, Else. Don’t reject me anymore. Don’t be against me... Just be pretty like before. Yes? We were good, weren’t we? Remember what it was like back then.”
Sibyl gently grabbed Else's chin. Her gaze, which had been shaking anxiously, naturally fell on him. Else couldn't respond and just moved her lips. She couldn't remember when the 'good times' he had mentioned had been. Did they ever have good times? Now, it was even vaguer.
“Were there ever any good times?”
Sibyl’s expression hardened at the words that spilled out of her lips like a sigh. Else dropped her gaze and thought about Henrietta. Even without thinking about it, her face was imprinted on her retina. They said they were blood relatives on her mother’s side, but she felt Sibyl in her facial features. They couldn’t help but resemble each other. The two were closer relatives than Jules and Else.
“I met Lady Grancel.”
It was a brief meeting, almost to the point where it would be correct to say that they had met. Else was invited to the salon, but she ended up not going. On her way back to the bedroom, Madame de Dalmas followed her. Jeanne and Jules stayed in the salon for an hour and returned. Jules still had an unsatisfactory face. There was nothing she could do. Else could not be as shameless as Jules said.
"So?"
“That girl...”
“Do you want me to marry that woman?”
She closed her lips. Her sharp eyes were sharp and fierce. The hand that grabbed her shoulder was disgusting. Even if he says that. Even if he acts like this. Else’s answer was set. She shouted with her eyes distorted.
“...Do whatever you want. Whatever you want!”
“Speak straight. Don’t regret it.”
Else shivered. Her teeth chattered. She lifted her limp hand and slapped his cheek. Sybil’s head turned violently. Else was surprised and pulled away, crouching. She twisted her shoulder to escape the grip, but the force only strengthened her.
"Haha."
The hand that had been holding her shoulder dropped. A dull pain was felt in her shoulder that had been freed for a moment. Else glared at him, panting as if sobbing.
“You really want to play with me...”
He chuckled softly. Her jaw clenched violently. Her throat ached as if he was being strangled. A shudder ran down her spine, and tears gathered in her eyes. He threw Else aside as if he were throwing her away and took a step back. Else collapsed and looked up at him. A low rumbling sound was heard above her head.
“...Yes. I’ll do as you wish.”
She wiped the tears from her eyes. Else's expression disappeared.
Now that the twins were crowned Prince and Princess of the King, a baptism was a necessary event. Else looked at the pure white satin dress worn by the cardinals of the diocese. The satin dress, which seemed to be woven from the foam of the waves, was delicate and intricate from the sleeves to the hem. The translucent veil worn on her head was decorated with falcons, laurels, orchids, roses, and vines that could be engraved with the Duke of Montana’s coat of arms in fine lace.
Jeanne looked at the Duchess’s white neck under her upturned hair. Her elegantly stretched neck and rounded shoulders were extremely beautiful. She glanced at her puffy puffs and adjusted the sleeves that covered her arms. The loosely gathered sleeves were also adorned with lace.
Jules brought a yellow diamond brooch symbolizing a golden eagle. The diamond was decorated with pure gold and rubies, making it shine even more noble and beautiful. If there was a precious item that would go well with the Princess’s transparent skin, it would be a sapphire or an emerald that matched the color of her eyes, but today, she had to dress up only with precious items that symbolized the royal family.
The Princess, who had pearls and star-shaped diamond pins placed between her braided hair, was the last to wear the veil. Although she was a Princess, the Princess wore the Queen's crown because the King had permitted the woman he loved to wear it.
“You are beautiful.”
Jeanne said with a big smile. Else looked at herself in the mirror. The Queen's crown shining on her head was burdensome. Even if she was the biological mother of a Prince and Princess, their statuses were clearly different...
“May I wear the Queen’s crown?”
“His Majesty has given your permission. It suits you perfectly.”
Jeanne spoke while looking at the crown reflected in the mirror. The Queen's crown, like the King's, was very splendid with jewels, each with a different name. A blue diamond called the diamond of St. Dominic, a ruby called the ruby of Princess Belje, an emerald of Queen Busantioca, and in addition, it was a jewel among jewels made of pearls from the Black Sea and countless small diamonds. It literally symbolized the Queen and the mother of the nation.
“You want to be a mother who is not ashamed of the Prince and Princess, right?”
Jeanne gently comforted her, as if reading Else's gloomy face. Else nodded slowly.
As the maids and she were leaving the bedroom, Sibyl came to fetch Else. Sibyl, who had grown more splendid than ever, was splendid beyond compare. He looked young and manly, wearing a crown of pure gold laurel leaves. Sibyl gently wrapped her arms around Else’s waist. Else carefully lowered her gaze and walked down the corridor. The cathedral where the baptism was held was inside the palace. Just as nobles had a family chapel in their castles, the palace also had a cathedral, a chapel for the royal family.
Else entered the cathedral with Sybil with a nervous face. She was familiar with the procedure, but it was her first time walking in front of so many people. Else walked toward the bishop with a nervous face and blushing cheeks. The bishop had a very kind face. He greeted Sybil and then greeted Else with a straight face.
Else, who walked alongside Sibyl, carefully stepped onto the platform. The hem of her dress, which was so extravagant that it felt cumbersome, squeaked with every step she took. When she faced the bishop, the twins’ nanny, Countess Icalant, carefully handed the babies over.
Sibyl held his son in his arms with a very affectionate and kind fatherly face. Else naturally held her daughter and watched the ceremony unfold. While the bishop read a passage from the Bible with a solemn face, Else stared at Sibyl's back and turned her head away from the harsh gaze.
Lady Grancel. So... there was Henrietta. Else stared blankly into the woman’s eyes without averting her gaze. The shadowy sky-blue eyes did not waver at all. Jules said that this woman was Sybil's lover. She said that she was trying to steal Else’s man away, so she had to set up a thorn.
Else didn't want to be a thorn in Henrietta's side. From Henrietta's perspective, Else was a bad woman who stole her man. No matter what their relationship was like... From Henrietta's perspective, who had been engaged to Sybil for a long time, Sybil was just like her husband, and Else was her husband's mistress.
So, no matter how Else behaved, it would be disgusting and repulsive. She had no intention of pretending to be pitiful and innocent. She had no intention of shedding tears and begging Sibyl to break off the engagement with Henrietta. She didn't want to show such a vulgar disgrace, even if it meant getting her head chopped off with an axe.
“Abelard Roalec Diancourt Calixa Romanerei van Ricarlo III, faithful servant of God...”
Before the bishop's solemn voice could finish, Else turned her gaze away from Henrietta. Henrietta's face was distorted horribly. Next was Hermi's turn. Else handed Hermi over to Sybil and received Abelard.
Hermi was held in her father's arms like a beautiful doll. Unlike her brother, Hermi, who had her eyes closed as if she were asleep, she opened them. Their eyes met. In that moment, Else's eyelids trembled slightly. A tingling heat warmed her eyes. Small and pale... A lovely daughter like a young flower.
She pursed her lips and curled her fingers. She felt like she could do anything for Hermi, for the babies. She felt like she could be shameless no matter what the world said.
Because, because Else's babies were the most precious in the world. She thought that if she could protect them by living as a shameless mother, not a shameless woman, she would do anything. If Sybil were to tie her up in the palace... Else would gladly swallow the shame and humiliation. Just like she had protected her children from Millium. That's how she could become strong.
“Else.”
When Hermi's baptism was over, Sybil looked back at her. The moisture that had been condensing ran down her cheek. Sybil was momentarily flustered, then his face hardened. Else looked away from him and wiped her tears with her fingers. Suddenly, long fingers took Else's hand away and wiped her under-eyes.
“Why are you crying?”
She didn't respond. She held out her arm for Sibyl to put his on. Else put her arm on his and stepped down from the platform. As soon as she stepped down from the platform, the first thing she saw was Sibyl's fiancée. Else looked at her with cold eyes and pursed her lips.
“Your fiancée is over there.”
"Yes."
“Originally, that lady was supposed to wear the crown. Isn’t that right?”
Sybil didn't answer, but just stared at her. Her nerves felt like they were being prickled. After a long while, Sybil opened his mouth.
“...I will do whatever you want.”
"What are you talking about?"
Else asked, glaring at him. Sybil only tugged at the corner of her lips.
“Please, Else. Don’t reject me anymore. Don’t be against me... Just be pretty like before. Yes? We were good, weren’t we? Remember what it was like back then.”
Sibyl gently grabbed Else's chin. Her gaze, which had been shaking anxiously, naturally fell on him. Else couldn't respond and just moved her lips. She couldn't remember when the 'good times' he had mentioned had been. Did they ever have good times? Now, it was even vaguer.
“Were there ever any good times?”
Sibyl’s expression hardened at the words that spilled out of her lips like a sigh. Else dropped her gaze and thought about Henrietta. Even without thinking about it, her face was imprinted on her retina. They said they were blood relatives on her mother’s side, but she felt Sibyl in her facial features. They couldn’t help but resemble each other. The two were closer relatives than Jules and Else.
“I met Lady Grancel.”
It was a brief meeting, almost to the point where it would be correct to say that they had met. Else was invited to the salon, but she ended up not going. On her way back to the bedroom, Madame de Dalmas followed her. Jeanne and Jules stayed in the salon for an hour and returned. Jules still had an unsatisfactory face. There was nothing she could do. Else could not be as shameless as Jules said.
"So?"
“That girl...”
“Do you want me to marry that woman?”
She closed her lips. Her sharp eyes were sharp and fierce. The hand that grabbed her shoulder was disgusting. Even if he says that. Even if he acts like this. Else’s answer was set. She shouted with her eyes distorted.
“...Do whatever you want. Whatever you want!”
“Speak straight. Don’t regret it.”
Else shivered. Her teeth chattered. She lifted her limp hand and slapped his cheek. Sybil’s head turned violently. Else was surprised and pulled away, crouching. She twisted her shoulder to escape the grip, but the force only strengthened her.
"Haha."
The hand that had been holding her shoulder dropped. A dull pain was felt in her shoulder that had been freed for a moment. Else glared at him, panting as if sobbing.
“You really want to play with me...”
He chuckled softly. Her jaw clenched violently. Her throat ached as if he was being strangled. A shudder ran down her spine, and tears gathered in her eyes. He threw Else aside as if he were throwing her away and took a step back. Else collapsed and looked up at him. A low rumbling sound was heard above her head.
“...Yes. I’ll do as you wish.”
She wiped the tears from her eyes. Else's expression disappeared.
***
Now that the twins were crowned Prince and Princess of the King, a baptism was a necessary event. Else looked at the pure white satin dress worn by the cardinals of the diocese. The satin dress, which seemed to be woven from the foam of the waves, was delicate and intricate from the sleeves to the hem. The translucent veil worn on her head was decorated with falcons, laurels, orchids, roses, and vines that could be engraved with the Duke of Montana’s coat of arms in fine lace.
Jeanne looked at the Duchess’s white neck under her upturned hair. Her elegantly stretched neck and rounded shoulders were extremely beautiful. She glanced at her puffy puffs and adjusted the sleeves that covered her arms. The loosely gathered sleeves were also adorned with lace.
Jules brought a yellow diamond brooch symbolizing a golden eagle. The diamond was decorated with pure gold and rubies, making it shine even more noble and beautiful. If there was a precious item that would go well with the Princess’s transparent skin, it would be a sapphire or an emerald that matched the color of her eyes, but today, she had to dress up only with precious items that symbolized the royal family.
The Princess, who had pearls and star-shaped diamond pins placed between her braided hair, was the last to wear the veil. Although she was a Princess, the Princess wore the Queen's crown because the King had permitted the woman he loved to wear it.
“You are beautiful.”
Jeanne said with a big smile. Else looked at herself in the mirror. The Queen's crown shining on her head was burdensome. Even if she was the biological mother of a Prince and Princess, their statuses were clearly different...
“May I wear the Queen’s crown?”
“His Majesty has given your permission. It suits you perfectly.”
Jeanne spoke while looking at the crown reflected in the mirror. The Queen's crown, like the King's, was very splendid with jewels, each with a different name. A blue diamond called the diamond of St. Dominic, a ruby called the ruby of Princess Belje, an emerald of Queen Busantioca, and in addition, it was a jewel among jewels made of pearls from the Black Sea and countless small diamonds. It literally symbolized the Queen and the mother of the nation.
“You want to be a mother who is not ashamed of the Prince and Princess, right?”
Jeanne gently comforted her, as if reading Else's gloomy face. Else nodded slowly.
As the maids and she were leaving the bedroom, Sibyl came to fetch Else. Sibyl, who had grown more splendid than ever, was splendid beyond compare. He looked young and manly, wearing a crown of pure gold laurel leaves. Sibyl gently wrapped her arms around Else’s waist. Else carefully lowered her gaze and walked down the corridor. The cathedral where the baptism was held was inside the palace. Just as nobles had a family chapel in their castles, the palace also had a cathedral, a chapel for the royal family.
Else entered the cathedral with Sybil with a nervous face. She was familiar with the procedure, but it was her first time walking in front of so many people. Else walked toward the bishop with a nervous face and blushing cheeks. The bishop had a very kind face. He greeted Sybil and then greeted Else with a straight face.
Else, who walked alongside Sibyl, carefully stepped onto the platform. The hem of her dress, which was so extravagant that it felt cumbersome, squeaked with every step she took. When she faced the bishop, the twins’ nanny, Countess Icalant, carefully handed the babies over.
Sibyl held his son in his arms with a very affectionate and kind fatherly face. Else naturally held her daughter and watched the ceremony unfold. While the bishop read a passage from the Bible with a solemn face, Else stared at Sibyl's back and turned her head away from the harsh gaze.
Lady Grancel. So... there was Henrietta. Else stared blankly into the woman’s eyes without averting her gaze. The shadowy sky-blue eyes did not waver at all. Jules said that this woman was Sybil's lover. She said that she was trying to steal Else’s man away, so she had to set up a thorn.
Else didn't want to be a thorn in Henrietta's side. From Henrietta's perspective, Else was a bad woman who stole her man. No matter what their relationship was like... From Henrietta's perspective, who had been engaged to Sybil for a long time, Sybil was just like her husband, and Else was her husband's mistress.
So, no matter how Else behaved, it would be disgusting and repulsive. She had no intention of pretending to be pitiful and innocent. She had no intention of shedding tears and begging Sibyl to break off the engagement with Henrietta. She didn't want to show such a vulgar disgrace, even if it meant getting her head chopped off with an axe.
“Abelard Roalec Diancourt Calixa Romanerei van Ricarlo III, faithful servant of God...”
Before the bishop's solemn voice could finish, Else turned her gaze away from Henrietta. Henrietta's face was distorted horribly. Next was Hermi's turn. Else handed Hermi over to Sybil and received Abelard.
Hermi was held in her father's arms like a beautiful doll. Unlike her brother, Hermi, who had her eyes closed as if she were asleep, she opened them. Their eyes met. In that moment, Else's eyelids trembled slightly. A tingling heat warmed her eyes. Small and pale... A lovely daughter like a young flower.
She pursed her lips and curled her fingers. She felt like she could do anything for Hermi, for the babies. She felt like she could be shameless no matter what the world said.
Because, because Else's babies were the most precious in the world. She thought that if she could protect them by living as a shameless mother, not a shameless woman, she would do anything. If Sybil were to tie her up in the palace... Else would gladly swallow the shame and humiliation. Just like she had protected her children from Millium. That's how she could become strong.
“Else.”
When Hermi's baptism was over, Sybil looked back at her. The moisture that had been condensing ran down her cheek. Sybil was momentarily flustered, then his face hardened. Else looked away from him and wiped her tears with her fingers. Suddenly, long fingers took Else's hand away and wiped her under-eyes.
“Why are you crying?”
She didn't respond. She held out her arm for Sibyl to put his on. Else put her arm on his and stepped down from the platform. As soon as she stepped down from the platform, the first thing she saw was Sibyl's fiancée. Else looked at her with cold eyes and pursed her lips.
“Your fiancée is over there.”
"Yes."
“Originally, that lady was supposed to wear the crown. Isn’t that right?”
Sybil didn't answer, but just stared at her. Her nerves felt like they were being prickled. After a long while, Sybil opened his mouth.
“...I will do whatever you want.”
"What are you talking about?"
Else asked, glaring at him. Sybil only tugged at the corner of her lips.
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