Episode 14. The Dark Side of That Marriage
Swish! The cool blade passed over Eaton's face.
“Ugh!”
He screamed with a pale face as if he was going to faint. Fortunately, the only thing that was cut off was the gag that had been covering his mouth.
“Please, spare me, Count! Oh, didn’t you say you would spare me just now!”
Eaton, who was finally able to speak, cried and protested. Christine grabbed his chin and lifted it.
“You are a very good artist, Viscount Eaton.”
A cold voice echoed through the wide hall. Eaton, realizing what was being said, quickly made an excuse.
“I was just pissed off at Mrs. Hans’ party... just joking..."
Before he knew it, Christine's rapier was aimed at Eaton's neck. That alone was enough to make Eaton suffocate.
“Do you know why I let you go to the party? Because I can’t kill you without anyone knowing.”
But now it was different. This was the chapel of a ruined monastery. It was a place that few people visited in the cold and short winter days.
“If you die here, you’ll be found after winter. A half-rotted mummy.”
“Ugh! Ugh, please save the Count! Please save me!”
Eaton cried again, tears and snot running down his face.
“Then answer sincerely.”
“I, I really don’t know who killed him. But the Marchioness was always very devoted to the Marquis, so I don’t think he was poisoned.”
“Then who did it?”
“I really don’t know... Huh!”
Eaton, who had been strongly denying it, flinched when his eyes met Christine's. Then he muttered in a crawling voice.
“S... tone..."
“Are you talking about the Marquis’ eldest son?”
“Yes, there was someone who saw the two of them arguing on the day the Marquis died. It was also Stone who pointed out the Marchioness as the culprit from the beginning. Of course, this is just my guess.”
“Yeah, there was Stone.”
Christine, who had been muttering, suddenly glared at Eaton with a fierce face.
“But why didn’t you defend her? Even though you liked her?”
“What difference does it make if someone like me defends her? Stone is the heir to the Oswald family.”
Oswald Marquis. One of the five noble families that formed the Council of Nobles. With the death of the Marquis, Stone, the successor, automatically became a member of the Council. So, he was a big shot that a lowly noble like Eaton could not easily touch. However, Christine saw through Eaton's intentions.
“No, you wanted her to be even more cornered. If she were that broken and ruined, it would be much easier for you to take her.”
“...!”
“Did I hit the nail on the head?”
Christine's voice was low and sinister. Eaton felt instinctively afraid.
“I, I did have that kind of feeling... It’s not like I didn’t have it at all...”
“So did you really have a hot night with her?”
Eaton hung his head.
“Actually... Madam didn’t even glance at me.”
Christine, who came out of the monastery, was naked, not wearing a single thread. His transparent white skin and fluttering silver hair, which had been bathed in moonlight, seemed like a being from another dimension. Red drops of blood were sprinkled on his pale white cheeks, but even that was strangely beautiful. Zimmer quickly ran over and wrapped a long cape around him.
“Did you know that the Marquis was a patient with limited mobility?”
Christine asked, wrapping the cape around her body.
“Yes, well... I think the Marquis is keeping it a secret.”
Christine's eyes sharpened.
“Why didn’t you report it?”
Instead, Zimmer looked dumbfounded.
“Have you forgotten that you said there was no need to investigate the Marchioness? You said she was a traitor...”
Christine furrowed his brow as he remembered what he had said.
“I don’t need to investigate Adele, but I need you to investigate the death of the former Marquis Oswald. And Stone Oswald.”
“We knew this would happen and are already investigating.”
Zimmer smiled kindly as Christine paused and looked up.
“I said this because I thought you might be curious someday.”
A guy with a keen eye for detail.
“And pack your simple luggage and take it to Adele’s house.”
“Yes, Sir!”
Christine was deeply offended by Zimmer's smiling face. It was as if he had known this would happen all along.
“It’s different from what you think.”
“I didn’t think about anything!”
“She really is a bad guy.”
He got into the carriage, muttering as if he were grumbling. Zimmer quickly followed him and asked.
“But are you sure that’s okay?”
"What?"
“It’s winter, the peak mating season, and you’re staying in the same house with that person. It seems like the Emperor is thinking of marrying Princess April, so if something unpleasant happens...”
When Christine made an impression,
“It’s just like that. Yes. I’m fine with either one...”
Zimmer began to wipe the window with his sleeve until the sting on the back of his head subsided.
“It is the Emperor’s command.”
"Yes?"
“There’s something I need to find from her. A blank document with the Emperor’s signature.”
Zimmer looked a little shocked.
“Then, did you deliberately approach the Marchioness?”
“I told you. I don’t like traitors.”
Zimmer looked dumbfounded this time. Wasn't that because he liked her? When he met Adele, his emotions would race. With such a hot gaze?
“Adele, don’t come, stay there!”
“Oh my god! What kind of beast would do such a thing...”
Blood dyed the pure white snow field dark red... and lying in the middle of it all...
Swish! The cool blade passed over Eaton's face.
“Ugh!”
He screamed with a pale face as if he was going to faint. Fortunately, the only thing that was cut off was the gag that had been covering his mouth.
“Please, spare me, Count! Oh, didn’t you say you would spare me just now!”
Eaton, who was finally able to speak, cried and protested. Christine grabbed his chin and lifted it.
“You are a very good artist, Viscount Eaton.”
A cold voice echoed through the wide hall. Eaton, realizing what was being said, quickly made an excuse.
“I was just pissed off at Mrs. Hans’ party... just joking..."
“Aren’t you too old to be joking around and scribbling on walls?”
As Christine returned to Adele after hearing the bell, he discovered graffiti on the wall of his house. It was a picture of a naked woman in a lewd relationship with a man. Beneath it was written: "Reminiscing about a hot night with the Marchioness."
As Christine returned to Adele after hearing the bell, he discovered graffiti on the wall of his house. It was a picture of a naked woman in a lewd relationship with a man. Beneath it was written: "Reminiscing about a hot night with the Marchioness."
“Please save me! I will do whatever you say! So please! Please!”
Eaton prayed without stopping while tied to the chair.
“From now on, answer the questions I ask you carefully. If you lie even a little, this blade will pierce through you.”
Christine drew his rapier and ran his fingers along the sharp blade. Eaton swallowed dryly at the chilling warning.
“Oh, of course!”
“Why are you bothering the Marchioness?”
“That’s... because he rejected my proposal...”
“Proposal? Are you saying you confessed before the funeral was even over?”
“Actually, I liked her all along!”
“So you poisoned the Marquis?”
Eaton quickly shook his head.
“W-What are you talking about! It is a well-known fact that the Marchioness poisoned her husband!”
“There is only testimony, no evidence.”
“But everything the Marquis eats is fed to him by his wife.”
Christine's hand, which had been stroking the rapier, stopped.
“Feed him some food?”
“The Marquis was not very mobile, so his wife always had to take care of him. Of course, it was kept a secret for the sake of the family’s honor.”
It was an unexpected story. He knew that Adele had married an old Marquis, but he didn't know that he was a patient with limited mobility.
“...Since when?”
Eaton prayed without stopping while tied to the chair.
“From now on, answer the questions I ask you carefully. If you lie even a little, this blade will pierce through you.”
Christine drew his rapier and ran his fingers along the sharp blade. Eaton swallowed dryly at the chilling warning.
“Oh, of course!”
“Why are you bothering the Marchioness?”
“That’s... because he rejected my proposal...”
“Proposal? Are you saying you confessed before the funeral was even over?”
“Actually, I liked her all along!”
“So you poisoned the Marquis?”
Eaton quickly shook his head.
“W-What are you talking about! It is a well-known fact that the Marchioness poisoned her husband!”
“There is only testimony, no evidence.”
“But everything the Marquis eats is fed to him by his wife.”
Christine's hand, which had been stroking the rapier, stopped.
“Feed him some food?”
“The Marquis was not very mobile, so his wife always had to take care of him. Of course, it was kept a secret for the sake of the family’s honor.”
It was an unexpected story. He knew that Adele had married an old Marquis, but he didn't know that he was a patient with limited mobility.
“...Since when?”
“It was from the time they got married.”
Then Eaton started talking, forgetting his own situation.
“Actually, she’s called a Marchioness, but the Oswalds needed someone to be their stepmother who was no better than a walking corpse. So they thought of taking a daughter from a good family and making her a Marchioness and using her. She’d look much more real than a maid.”
“She was only a Marchioness in name?”
“Yes! Count Grills noticed that and put his daughter in that position.”
Count Grills was Adele's biological father.
“Knowing that, he let his daughter get married?”
“It must have seemed like an opportunity, since it was a time when business capital was in dire need.”
Christine was dazed as if he had been hit in the head. Adele, why on earth...? You said you would become a noble and live well. But you followed your biological father, who abandoned you and left without looking back... Is that all you could do to live like that?
“He was a very bad man. He married his daughter on the condition that he would receive the Marquis’s inheritance in advance. He didn’t care if his daughter would be kicked out penniless after the Marquis died. In short, he sold his illegitimate daughter for money. I felt bad for the Marchioness who got married at a young age without knowing anything.”
Eaton, who had been clicking his tongue, quickly shut his mouth as soon as his eyes met Christine's. It wasn't something he should be saying.
“You know a lot about the Marquis’ circumstances.”
“Actually, he’s a distant relative on my mother’s side. Hehe.”
“So, do you really think she poisoned her husband?”
Then Eaton started talking, forgetting his own situation.
“Actually, she’s called a Marchioness, but the Oswalds needed someone to be their stepmother who was no better than a walking corpse. So they thought of taking a daughter from a good family and making her a Marchioness and using her. She’d look much more real than a maid.”
“She was only a Marchioness in name?”
“Yes! Count Grills noticed that and put his daughter in that position.”
Count Grills was Adele's biological father.
“Knowing that, he let his daughter get married?”
“It must have seemed like an opportunity, since it was a time when business capital was in dire need.”
Christine was dazed as if he had been hit in the head. Adele, why on earth...? You said you would become a noble and live well. But you followed your biological father, who abandoned you and left without looking back... Is that all you could do to live like that?
“He was a very bad man. He married his daughter on the condition that he would receive the Marquis’s inheritance in advance. He didn’t care if his daughter would be kicked out penniless after the Marquis died. In short, he sold his illegitimate daughter for money. I felt bad for the Marchioness who got married at a young age without knowing anything.”
Eaton, who had been clicking his tongue, quickly shut his mouth as soon as his eyes met Christine's. It wasn't something he should be saying.
“You know a lot about the Marquis’ circumstances.”
“Actually, he’s a distant relative on my mother’s side. Hehe.”
“So, do you really think she poisoned her husband?”
“I told you, she feeds the Marquis everything he eats.”
“If her husband was poisoned, who would be suspected first? And would she have poisoned him?”
“How could I know the inside story...”
“No, you know. If you believed she poisoned her husband, you wouldn’t have proposed to her.”
“That, that is...!”
“If her husband was poisoned, who would be suspected first? And would she have poisoned him?”
“How could I know the inside story...”
“No, you know. If you believed she poisoned her husband, you wouldn’t have proposed to her.”
“That, that is...!”
Before he knew it, Christine's rapier was aimed at Eaton's neck. That alone was enough to make Eaton suffocate.
“Do you know why I let you go to the party? Because I can’t kill you without anyone knowing.”
But now it was different. This was the chapel of a ruined monastery. It was a place that few people visited in the cold and short winter days.
“If you die here, you’ll be found after winter. A half-rotted mummy.”
“Ugh! Ugh, please save the Count! Please save me!”
Eaton cried again, tears and snot running down his face.
“Then answer sincerely.”
“I, I really don’t know who killed him. But the Marchioness was always very devoted to the Marquis, so I don’t think he was poisoned.”
“Then who did it?”
“I really don’t know... Huh!”
Eaton, who had been strongly denying it, flinched when his eyes met Christine's. Then he muttered in a crawling voice.
“S... tone..."
“Are you talking about the Marquis’ eldest son?”
“Yes, there was someone who saw the two of them arguing on the day the Marquis died. It was also Stone who pointed out the Marchioness as the culprit from the beginning. Of course, this is just my guess.”
“Yeah, there was Stone.”
Christine, who had been muttering, suddenly glared at Eaton with a fierce face.
“But why didn’t you defend her? Even though you liked her?”
“What difference does it make if someone like me defends her? Stone is the heir to the Oswald family.”
Oswald Marquis. One of the five noble families that formed the Council of Nobles. With the death of the Marquis, Stone, the successor, automatically became a member of the Council. So, he was a big shot that a lowly noble like Eaton could not easily touch. However, Christine saw through Eaton's intentions.
“No, you wanted her to be even more cornered. If she were that broken and ruined, it would be much easier for you to take her.”
“...!”
“Did I hit the nail on the head?”
Christine's voice was low and sinister. Eaton felt instinctively afraid.
“I, I did have that kind of feeling... It’s not like I didn’t have it at all...”
“So did you really have a hot night with her?”
Eaton hung his head.
“Actually... Madam didn’t even glance at me.”
“That’s too bad.”
“Then I guess I’ll be spared now...”
Christine shook his head.
“I told you, didn’t I? If there was even the slightest lie, I wouldn’t let you live.”
“So I told you the whole truth? It’s true!”
“Graffiti on the fence?”
“...!”
At that moment, Eaton realized that he had never intended to spare her in the first place.
“Have you forgotten what you just confessed with your own mouth? That graffiti was a lie.”
“That, that...!”
The corners of Christine's red lips rose thinly as Eaton looked at him with a creepy face.
“Of course, it’s not like there’s absolutely no way to survive.”
“What is it?”
“Finish everything immediately and leave Greenhill.”
“But my family has lived here for generations! That’s it!”
“Then you’ll just die here.”
He was so determined. He had no other choice but to live. Eaton nodded with a sad face.
“I'm leaving.”
Chaenggang!
“Then I guess I’ll be spared now...”
Christine shook his head.
“I told you, didn’t I? If there was even the slightest lie, I wouldn’t let you live.”
“So I told you the whole truth? It’s true!”
“Graffiti on the fence?”
“...!”
At that moment, Eaton realized that he had never intended to spare her in the first place.
“Have you forgotten what you just confessed with your own mouth? That graffiti was a lie.”
“That, that...!”
The corners of Christine's red lips rose thinly as Eaton looked at him with a creepy face.
“Of course, it’s not like there’s absolutely no way to survive.”
“What is it?”
“Finish everything immediately and leave Greenhill.”
“But my family has lived here for generations! That’s it!”
“Then you’ll just die here.”
He was so determined. He had no other choice but to live. Eaton nodded with a sad face.
“I'm leaving.”
Chaenggang!
Christine threw the rapier she was holding in front of him and turned around. Eaton, who was tied to the chair, stretched out his leg and pulled the rapier. The sharp blade easily cut the rope that bound him. However, Eaton, who was holding the famous sword, quickly fell into a sinister temptation. Christine was now defenseless, exposing his back. And empty-handed. No matter how brave a warrior is, what can he do empty-handed if he is attacked by surprise? If he dies here as he said, he will be found after winter. Everything will be buried neatly.
“Yaaaah!”
He thrust his rapier with all his might into Christine's back, but soon his mouth fell open in shock.
“Gasp, this, this is...!”
His terrified pupils shook wildly, then suddenly widened in shock. Whoosh! Christine's shadow, now enlarged, swiftly rushed toward him.
“Kwaaah! Aaaah!”
A terrible scream echoed along with the smell of blood.
“Yaaaah!”
He thrust his rapier with all his might into Christine's back, but soon his mouth fell open in shock.
“Gasp, this, this is...!”
His terrified pupils shook wildly, then suddenly widened in shock. Whoosh! Christine's shadow, now enlarged, swiftly rushed toward him.
“Kwaaah! Aaaah!”
A terrible scream echoed along with the smell of blood.
***
Christine, who came out of the monastery, was naked, not wearing a single thread. His transparent white skin and fluttering silver hair, which had been bathed in moonlight, seemed like a being from another dimension. Red drops of blood were sprinkled on his pale white cheeks, but even that was strangely beautiful. Zimmer quickly ran over and wrapped a long cape around him.
“Did you know that the Marquis was a patient with limited mobility?”
Christine asked, wrapping the cape around her body.
“Yes, well... I think the Marquis is keeping it a secret.”
Christine's eyes sharpened.
“Why didn’t you report it?”
Instead, Zimmer looked dumbfounded.
“Have you forgotten that you said there was no need to investigate the Marchioness? You said she was a traitor...”
Christine furrowed his brow as he remembered what he had said.
“I don’t need to investigate Adele, but I need you to investigate the death of the former Marquis Oswald. And Stone Oswald.”
“We knew this would happen and are already investigating.”
Zimmer smiled kindly as Christine paused and looked up.
“I said this because I thought you might be curious someday.”
A guy with a keen eye for detail.
“And pack your simple luggage and take it to Adele’s house.”
“Yes, Sir!”
Christine was deeply offended by Zimmer's smiling face. It was as if he had known this would happen all along.
“It’s different from what you think.”
“I didn’t think about anything!”
“She really is a bad guy.”
He got into the carriage, muttering as if he were grumbling. Zimmer quickly followed him and asked.
“But are you sure that’s okay?”
"What?"
“It’s winter, the peak mating season, and you’re staying in the same house with that person. It seems like the Emperor is thinking of marrying Princess April, so if something unpleasant happens...”
When Christine made an impression,
“It’s just like that. Yes. I’m fine with either one...”
Zimmer began to wipe the window with his sleeve until the sting on the back of his head subsided.
“It is the Emperor’s command.”
"Yes?"
“There’s something I need to find from her. A blank document with the Emperor’s signature.”
Zimmer looked a little shocked.
“Then, did you deliberately approach the Marchioness?”
“I told you. I don’t like traitors.”
Zimmer looked dumbfounded this time. Wasn't that because he liked her? When he met Adele, his emotions would race. With such a hot gaze?
***
“Adele, don’t come, stay there!”
“Oh my god! What kind of beast would do such a thing...”
Blood dyed the pure white snow field dark red... and lying in the middle of it all...
“Haaak!”
Adele opened her eyes with a scream. She looked around and saw a familiar bedroom scene with flickering candlelight.
'Whew... It was a dream...'
She couldn’t sleep, so she kept tossing and turning until she dozed off. She must have had a nightmare during that time. It was always the same dream. Adele got out of bed, brushing her sweaty hair back.
Adele opened her eyes with a scream. She looked around and saw a familiar bedroom scene with flickering candlelight.
'Whew... It was a dream...'
She couldn’t sleep, so she kept tossing and turning until she dozed off. She must have had a nightmare during that time. It was always the same dream. Adele got out of bed, brushing her sweaty hair back.
Slurp... She opened the wine bottle by the fireplace and took a sip. Christine was mistaken. She was no longer the girl who would sleep with sugared milk. On days when she couldn’t sleep, she would rely on alcohol like this. Feeling the strong alcohol wine licking her insides, she went to the bookshelf next to the fireplace. After taking out the books on the bottom shelf, she felt around the wall, and it creaked. The wall behind the bookshelf popped out like a drawer. A small box came out of it. Inside the box was a red scroll document. It was something that the late Marquis Oswald had hidden in the deepest part of the safe. It seemed very important, so Adele had taken it out when she left the Marquis eight years ago. But surprisingly, there was nothing in the document. At the bottom was only the signature of the Grand Duke of Valencia. The signature of the Grand Duke of Valencia was a bit unexpected. He was not on good terms with the Council of Elders, so it was assumed that he was not on good terms with the Marquis. And soon after, the Grand Duke of Valencia became the Emperor.
A blank document with the signature of the current Emperor... What does it mean?
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