025. Unbearable
The commentary spread quickly across the continent, including the large costume shop on Mephix Street, where Kaitlyn Meyer happened to be getting her dress fitted with her nieces.
“You’re going to the Elport graduation ceremony! There’ll be a lot of tall, handsome officers there.”
“Grand Duke Rosha is also graduating this year. It looks like even the Grand Duke will be dazzled by Brother Hardius.”
Ronne and Beatrice looked at each other and giggled.
“But by any chance... will Lady Bianca come that day too?”
“Lady Bianca? Isn’t she in the Bruges convent now?”
“I heard shd’ll be returning to Nowak soon. Around the time of Brother Hardius’s graduation.”
"Yes?"
Ronne cautiously looked at her aunt, Kaitlyn. She seemed preoccupied with flipping through a catalog.
“But can she come to the graduation ceremony? His Majesty the King is coming that day. How could we dare invite Bianca?”
“That’s true. The one who caused the separation between the two is His Majesty the King.”
“It’s a shame. I wanted to see Brother Hardius and Lady Bianca together.”
“But have you heard the rumor? Young Lady Bianca has completely transformed. She lost a lot of weight while she was at the monastery, and she has become incredibly slim, and her face has become incredibly pretty. Thanks to that, her value has gone up a lot. The Birmingham Palace is even eyeing her as a potential Crown Princess.”
Ronne glanced at her aunt again. Kaitlyn, who had pretended not to hear the whole time, finally opened her mouth with a chuckle.
“Well, maybe we can invite Lady Bianca to the graduation ceremony.”
“Huh?”
The commentary spread quickly across the continent, including the large costume shop on Mephix Street, where Kaitlyn Meyer happened to be getting her dress fitted with her nieces.
“You’re going to the Elport graduation ceremony! There’ll be a lot of tall, handsome officers there.”
“Grand Duke Rosha is also graduating this year. It looks like even the Grand Duke will be dazzled by Brother Hardius.”
Ronne and Beatrice looked at each other and giggled.
“But by any chance... will Lady Bianca come that day too?”
“Lady Bianca? Isn’t she in the Bruges convent now?”
“I heard shd’ll be returning to Nowak soon. Around the time of Brother Hardius’s graduation.”
"Yes?"
Ronne cautiously looked at her aunt, Kaitlyn. She seemed preoccupied with flipping through a catalog.
“But can she come to the graduation ceremony? His Majesty the King is coming that day. How could we dare invite Bianca?”
“That’s true. The one who caused the separation between the two is His Majesty the King.”
“It’s a shame. I wanted to see Brother Hardius and Lady Bianca together.”
“But have you heard the rumor? Young Lady Bianca has completely transformed. She lost a lot of weight while she was at the monastery, and she has become incredibly slim, and her face has become incredibly pretty. Thanks to that, her value has gone up a lot. The Birmingham Palace is even eyeing her as a potential Crown Princess.”
Ronne glanced at her aunt again. Kaitlyn, who had pretended not to hear the whole time, finally opened her mouth with a chuckle.
“Well, maybe we can invite Lady Bianca to the graduation ceremony.”
“Huh?”
It was natural for the children to be surprised.
It was taboo for people in the Meyer family to openly say 'Bianca' in public, but my aunt was strangely confident.
“I think the engagement will be broken off sooner than I thought. I can’t let Bianca be taken away by another royal family. I can’t let the Laichnen family suffer any more.”
“Really?”
“Oh my god...”
Ronne and Beatrice looked at each other with surprised eyes. Kaitlyn smiled leisurely and stretched out her arm for the newspaper.
And then, the next moment, she saw it. The phrase that shocked Emilia.
The abandoned fiancée of the Meyer family
Kaitlyn's body flinched as if struck by lightning.
“Aunt?”
Her nieces tilted their heads, but Kaitlyn saw nothing. Her hands clenched tightly around the newspaper, crumpling the thin paper into a mess.
“Whew, huht!”
She searched desperately for the groom.
“Call Hardius, quickly!”
It wasn't long before Hardius arrived at the costume shop.
He was quietly looking down at his mother, who was jumping around with excitement, her arms folded.
“How did this happen? Why did you suddenly mention that child, and in front of Joseph at that!”
Kaitlyn clenched her fists.
“He portrayed us as very heartless and ignorant people. Do you think that’s all? Do you know what these charlatans are saying? They want us to keep our engagement! They want you to really marry that country girl!”
She was trembling with fear, as if her sharp nails would pierce through the newspaper.
“What should I do with this? What should I do with these?! Huh?!”
“Calm down. It’s nothing serious.”
“It’s nothing?”
Kaitlyn looked up at her son as if to ask how he could say such a thing.
“Hardy, you are still young and do not know much. How fearful is public opinion? Surely they will try to tie this matter together with the Rochester Bill. They will try to guarantee the marriage of nobles and commoners by law, saying it is a fundamental right and such! How dare you use my family...”
“No, Mother. I know very well that public opinion is scary.”
Hardius picked up the crumpled newspaper and began to smooth it out again.
“But nothing is as light and easy to turn over. As easily as it boils, it can also be cooled down just as easily.”
Kaitlyn stared blankly at her son as he restored the newspaper to its original state. Her heart began to sink at the sight of his calm hands.
“Is there any good way?”
“For the time being, I intend to give them what they want. If I can create the scene they want, I think I can prevent the ridiculous incident of my marriage being brought up in the National Assembly.”
“You’re saying you’ll show them the scene they want?”
“I plan to dress her up and wear jewelry, and take her to a few social gatherings. I want to make sure that there are no more rumors that I treated my fiancée harshly. That way, I can save His Majesty’s reputation. It’s not too late to wait until public opinion has died down and then negotiate with His Majesty.”
Kaitlyn was left speechless for a moment at the extremely calm answer.
“I will get the King to break off the engagement before I graduate. No matter what.”
Maybe it's because she was so shocked by the comment. She feels relieved by Hardius's firm attitude, but something feels strange and uneasy.
“Yeah. You’re right. There’s nothing we can do about it right now anyway...”
Then a voice came from behind the curtain.
“Madam, the girls’ fittings are finished. Would you like to check them?”
“Huh? Uh... Yes.”
The curtains creaked open. A woman in a gorgeous rose-colored dress approached with a smile. It was Elier, the owner and designer of the costume shop.
“Hello, ma’am. How have you been?”
“Yeah... It’s been a while, Elier.”
Kaitlyn quickly shook off her dazed feeling and raised the corners of her lips.
Rone and Beatrice, who had finished their gabble, appeared. The children smiled shyly and stood in front of their aunt and brother.
Rone wore a rich silk dress with a gradation of violet colors, while Beatrice wore a refined dress with delicate lace and pearl embellishments.
Strangely, Hardius's gaze would not leave them. Not only the precocious Rone, but even Beatrice, who was still childish, blushed for no reason.
Hardius was fixated on the clothes his cousins were wearing, not their faces.
The day of Passover filled his eyes. Her golden hair was gathered to one side and pinned with a pin, and she glanced at him with her blue eyes like the sea...
What would happen if he gave that colorless child some bright colors?
"How is it?"
At Rone's question, Hardius blinked slowly and returned to reality.
“It suits you well.”
With a slight smile, the breathtaking afterimage faded away like a mirage.
Ha.
She doesn't know how many times she sighed. Whether it was while washing the dishes, dusting, or starching a cloth, Emilia would stop what she was doing and let out a deep sigh.
In fact, it's not that big of a deal. His Majesty the King didn't really order the marriage; it's just some senators' wild claims. As Hardius said, they should pretend to follow His Majesty the King's orders and then break off the engagement when the time is right.
But why am I so upset?
Charlotte sighs again without realizing it, resting her chin on her hand and pouting.
“Is that so wrong and so unpleasant?”
“Yes? What?”
“That newspaper article. I think everything in it is true. It was His Majesty the King’s order that you and the young master get engaged. My sister followed that order faithfully for five years, so I think Young Master Meyer should do the same.”
“What on earth are you trying to say?”
Charlotte suddenly lowered her voice and said something surprising.
“Why don’t you just get married?”
Emilia couldn't close her mouth.
Is it because Charlotte is trapped in the attic and lives only listening to fairy tales? Charlotte seems to be caught up in an absurd romanticism.
“Listen, Charlotte, would you believe that Brave could fly?”
The child makes a face as if to say, "What kind of nonsense are you talking about?"
“It means that the marriage between me and the master is just as absurd.”
“...Why? It’s not something else, it’s His Majesty the King’s order. And do you know what? My sister and Master Meyer might fall in love with each other?”
Emilia burst out laughing. It was so frivolous that Charlotte frowned.
Emilia quickly wiped away her smile and put on a serious face.
“Because you’re locked up in the attic all day, you become so ignorant of the ways of the world. There is something called ‘reality’ that doesn’t exist in fairy tales. In reality, it’s almost impossible for a commoner to marry a noble. Haven’t you heard the story of a noble who married a commoner and was excommunicated from his family? I don’t know how to say that to a young person like you, but...”
Emilia, who had been hesitating, continued speaking with a feeling of, "Ah, I don't know."
“Among the nobles, their children are said to be ‘birthing.’ However, among the commoners, they are said to be ‘breeding.’ It is truly disgusting and repulsive, but that is the reality. Let’s say that I fall madly in love with Master Meyer and marry him. In the Master’s world, the children we have are nothing more or less than ‘bastard.’ No matter how passionate the love, how could you endure something like that?”
Charlotte looked like she had been robbed of her last remaining glimmer of light.
“Don’t be too pessimistic. The world is changing little by little.”
“Yeah, Mitch said that too. There’s a revolution going on.”
It's bittersweet to see Charlotte trying to somehow rekindle the spark of hope.
“Do you know what’s really important? I don’t like Lord Meyer enough to want to marry him. I can’t be that pure and sacrificial. I love myself much more. To me, he’s... just… a ‘Godsend’ that I can’t handle.”
"Godsend?"
“Once upon a time, there was a boy who did something good and received a gift from God. God first gave him a gift the size of his palm. But the boy asked, ‘Can’t you give me a bigger gift?’ God smiled and gave him a gift the size of his head. But the boy was still greedy and asked, ‘Can’t you give me something bigger?’ He thought that since he did something good, he deserved to receive that much. The gift grew and grew and grew until it was as big as this house. So what happened?”
“As heavy as a house? How can you carry something so heavy?”
“That’s right, that’s why it’s a gift from God that can’t be handled. That’s what Hardius Meyer is to me.”
The child, who had been thinking deeply, suddenly lowered the hand that was resting on his chin.
“But, Sister, there’s one thing that kid forgot.”
“What is it?”
“You can just ask for help. Whether it’s God, family, or friends... Ask someone to help you carry your heavy burden. He can always help you, Master Meyer.”
Emilia ended up chuckling. Her eyes looked like they were saying, “Thanks to you, I’m smiling.”
“But Sister, I don’t think this is the time for us to be this leisurely.”
“Huh? Why?”
“No matter how much of a burden you are, you have to go to the ball right away. Don’t you want a dress that fits?”
“Oh, that’s right.”
Emilia immediately opened the old desk drawer. Inside the bag were a considerable amount of money she had saved up and the wages she had received from Mr. Haspel.
Charlotte's new Braille textbook, Mitch's club membership fee, a week's supply of delicious food for the whole family - the countless fun things money could buy flashed through her mind.
Emilia took exactly half of the money in the bag.
It was taboo for people in the Meyer family to openly say 'Bianca' in public, but my aunt was strangely confident.
“I think the engagement will be broken off sooner than I thought. I can’t let Bianca be taken away by another royal family. I can’t let the Laichnen family suffer any more.”
“Really?”
“Oh my god...”
Ronne and Beatrice looked at each other with surprised eyes. Kaitlyn smiled leisurely and stretched out her arm for the newspaper.
And then, the next moment, she saw it. The phrase that shocked Emilia.
The abandoned fiancée of the Meyer family
Kaitlyn's body flinched as if struck by lightning.
“Aunt?”
Her nieces tilted their heads, but Kaitlyn saw nothing. Her hands clenched tightly around the newspaper, crumpling the thin paper into a mess.
“Whew, huht!”
She searched desperately for the groom.
“Call Hardius, quickly!”
It wasn't long before Hardius arrived at the costume shop.
He was quietly looking down at his mother, who was jumping around with excitement, her arms folded.
“How did this happen? Why did you suddenly mention that child, and in front of Joseph at that!”
Kaitlyn clenched her fists.
“He portrayed us as very heartless and ignorant people. Do you think that’s all? Do you know what these charlatans are saying? They want us to keep our engagement! They want you to really marry that country girl!”
She was trembling with fear, as if her sharp nails would pierce through the newspaper.
“What should I do with this? What should I do with these?! Huh?!”
“Calm down. It’s nothing serious.”
“It’s nothing?”
Kaitlyn looked up at her son as if to ask how he could say such a thing.
“Hardy, you are still young and do not know much. How fearful is public opinion? Surely they will try to tie this matter together with the Rochester Bill. They will try to guarantee the marriage of nobles and commoners by law, saying it is a fundamental right and such! How dare you use my family...”
“No, Mother. I know very well that public opinion is scary.”
Hardius picked up the crumpled newspaper and began to smooth it out again.
“But nothing is as light and easy to turn over. As easily as it boils, it can also be cooled down just as easily.”
Kaitlyn stared blankly at her son as he restored the newspaper to its original state. Her heart began to sink at the sight of his calm hands.
“Is there any good way?”
“For the time being, I intend to give them what they want. If I can create the scene they want, I think I can prevent the ridiculous incident of my marriage being brought up in the National Assembly.”
“You’re saying you’ll show them the scene they want?”
“I plan to dress her up and wear jewelry, and take her to a few social gatherings. I want to make sure that there are no more rumors that I treated my fiancée harshly. That way, I can save His Majesty’s reputation. It’s not too late to wait until public opinion has died down and then negotiate with His Majesty.”
Kaitlyn was left speechless for a moment at the extremely calm answer.
“I will get the King to break off the engagement before I graduate. No matter what.”
Maybe it's because she was so shocked by the comment. She feels relieved by Hardius's firm attitude, but something feels strange and uneasy.
“Yeah. You’re right. There’s nothing we can do about it right now anyway...”
Then a voice came from behind the curtain.
“Madam, the girls’ fittings are finished. Would you like to check them?”
“Huh? Uh... Yes.”
The curtains creaked open. A woman in a gorgeous rose-colored dress approached with a smile. It was Elier, the owner and designer of the costume shop.
“Hello, ma’am. How have you been?”
“Yeah... It’s been a while, Elier.”
Kaitlyn quickly shook off her dazed feeling and raised the corners of her lips.
Rone and Beatrice, who had finished their gabble, appeared. The children smiled shyly and stood in front of their aunt and brother.
Rone wore a rich silk dress with a gradation of violet colors, while Beatrice wore a refined dress with delicate lace and pearl embellishments.
Strangely, Hardius's gaze would not leave them. Not only the precocious Rone, but even Beatrice, who was still childish, blushed for no reason.
Hardius was fixated on the clothes his cousins were wearing, not their faces.
The day of Passover filled his eyes. Her golden hair was gathered to one side and pinned with a pin, and she glanced at him with her blue eyes like the sea...
What would happen if he gave that colorless child some bright colors?
"How is it?"
At Rone's question, Hardius blinked slowly and returned to reality.
“It suits you well.”
With a slight smile, the breathtaking afterimage faded away like a mirage.
***
Ha.
She doesn't know how many times she sighed. Whether it was while washing the dishes, dusting, or starching a cloth, Emilia would stop what she was doing and let out a deep sigh.
In fact, it's not that big of a deal. His Majesty the King didn't really order the marriage; it's just some senators' wild claims. As Hardius said, they should pretend to follow His Majesty the King's orders and then break off the engagement when the time is right.
But why am I so upset?
Charlotte sighs again without realizing it, resting her chin on her hand and pouting.
“Is that so wrong and so unpleasant?”
“Yes? What?”
“That newspaper article. I think everything in it is true. It was His Majesty the King’s order that you and the young master get engaged. My sister followed that order faithfully for five years, so I think Young Master Meyer should do the same.”
“What on earth are you trying to say?”
Charlotte suddenly lowered her voice and said something surprising.
“Why don’t you just get married?”
Emilia couldn't close her mouth.
Is it because Charlotte is trapped in the attic and lives only listening to fairy tales? Charlotte seems to be caught up in an absurd romanticism.
“Listen, Charlotte, would you believe that Brave could fly?”
The child makes a face as if to say, "What kind of nonsense are you talking about?"
“It means that the marriage between me and the master is just as absurd.”
“...Why? It’s not something else, it’s His Majesty the King’s order. And do you know what? My sister and Master Meyer might fall in love with each other?”
Emilia burst out laughing. It was so frivolous that Charlotte frowned.
Emilia quickly wiped away her smile and put on a serious face.
“Because you’re locked up in the attic all day, you become so ignorant of the ways of the world. There is something called ‘reality’ that doesn’t exist in fairy tales. In reality, it’s almost impossible for a commoner to marry a noble. Haven’t you heard the story of a noble who married a commoner and was excommunicated from his family? I don’t know how to say that to a young person like you, but...”
Emilia, who had been hesitating, continued speaking with a feeling of, "Ah, I don't know."
“Among the nobles, their children are said to be ‘birthing.’ However, among the commoners, they are said to be ‘breeding.’ It is truly disgusting and repulsive, but that is the reality. Let’s say that I fall madly in love with Master Meyer and marry him. In the Master’s world, the children we have are nothing more or less than ‘bastard.’ No matter how passionate the love, how could you endure something like that?”
Charlotte looked like she had been robbed of her last remaining glimmer of light.
“Don’t be too pessimistic. The world is changing little by little.”
“Yeah, Mitch said that too. There’s a revolution going on.”
It's bittersweet to see Charlotte trying to somehow rekindle the spark of hope.
“Do you know what’s really important? I don’t like Lord Meyer enough to want to marry him. I can’t be that pure and sacrificial. I love myself much more. To me, he’s... just… a ‘Godsend’ that I can’t handle.”
"Godsend?"
“Once upon a time, there was a boy who did something good and received a gift from God. God first gave him a gift the size of his palm. But the boy asked, ‘Can’t you give me a bigger gift?’ God smiled and gave him a gift the size of his head. But the boy was still greedy and asked, ‘Can’t you give me something bigger?’ He thought that since he did something good, he deserved to receive that much. The gift grew and grew and grew until it was as big as this house. So what happened?”
“As heavy as a house? How can you carry something so heavy?”
“That’s right, that’s why it’s a gift from God that can’t be handled. That’s what Hardius Meyer is to me.”
The child, who had been thinking deeply, suddenly lowered the hand that was resting on his chin.
“But, Sister, there’s one thing that kid forgot.”
“What is it?”
“You can just ask for help. Whether it’s God, family, or friends... Ask someone to help you carry your heavy burden. He can always help you, Master Meyer.”
Emilia ended up chuckling. Her eyes looked like they were saying, “Thanks to you, I’m smiling.”
“But Sister, I don’t think this is the time for us to be this leisurely.”
“Huh? Why?”
“No matter how much of a burden you are, you have to go to the ball right away. Don’t you want a dress that fits?”
“Oh, that’s right.”
Emilia immediately opened the old desk drawer. Inside the bag were a considerable amount of money she had saved up and the wages she had received from Mr. Haspel.
Charlotte's new Braille textbook, Mitch's club membership fee, a week's supply of delicious food for the whole family - the countless fun things money could buy flashed through her mind.
Emilia took exactly half of the money in the bag.
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