Episode 145. Milliora's Country Life (2)
"I guess your half-blood is preventing you from becoming a true lion's daughter."
"You think I'm ungrateful? Don't you recognize the truth? Sigh..."
The image of Prince Kydel, who had just stormed off, began to swirl through my mind.
Yes. I admit I was tactless. I could have held back on the divorce talk and brought it up after I returned to the capital. Why would I have brought it up so early? But I didn't want to drag it out any longer. The anxiety lurking within me only grew.
I was growing increasingly angry at his anger at me.
How dare he bring this up now?
The reason I agreed to help him was to make His Highness Grayon the Crown Prince and secure our divorce. So I could reclaim my dream of single life.
He knew that and even asked Prince Grayon to give me a title! What if he remarries the daughter of another powerful family who admires him...
The Count, too, married a Countess to ensure his family's survival. He abandoned my beloved mother. That was the life of the nobles.
As the Duke had said, the reason I couldn't dream of a life with him was that I knew their lives could never be the same as mine.
That wasn't something I could change, no matter how hard I tried.
I collapsed and curled up.
"You think I'm ungrateful...?"
The wind outside the window carried the scent of flowers.
I thought I'd dozed off, but the sound of Prince Kydel entering the room woke me up.
His face was still devoid of the smile he usually gave me.
I walked over to him and stood upright. I deliberately cleared my throat to show my sincerity.
"Your Excellently."
"..."
"Thank you."
"What do you mean?"
"Everything... You've done so much for me that I don't even know how much to thank you. I've never forgotten."
He replied,
"You're welcome, Lorisha."
"..."
I didn't know the words to express how I felt at that moment.
A gaping hole opened in my chest, a cold wind rushing through it like a storm.
"You're welcome, Lorisha." couldn't have been more polite.
He spoke as if to a stranger.
"The Marquis of Rond has returned. Would you like to see him?"
"Yes, Your Excellency."
I answered sheepishly and followed him down the hall.
His back, as I watched him walk down the hallway, was so broad and solid. And it felt unfamiliar.
As unfamiliar as "You're welcome, Lorisha."
As I descended the stairs, I heard Sir Rond chuckle.
That loose, happy laugh suddenly reminded me that this was someone else's home.
I quickly composed myself and smiled with all my might.
The Marquis of Rond beamed at me.
"Madame Kydel!"
"Marquis of Rond, I've missed you!"
I ran over and hugged him. He smelled like grass. It was the same smell that came from a gardener.
Even though my mind was a mess, a thought came to me.
This is the smell of love.
“How have you been? It seems like a lot has happened at the palace lately.”
“You’ve really been burning your butt every day...”
At that moment, the Marchioness let out a small groan, clutching her stomach.
“Ah.”
“Are you okay? Madam, are you okay?”
The Marquis of Rond suddenly stood up and groped her, not knowing what to do. Her expression quickly calmed down, but the Marquis of Rond continued his fuss.
Looking at them made me feel like an idiot. Even Prince Kydel cleared his throat in embarrassment.
The Marquis of Rond seemed to notice, rubbing the Marchioness of Ronde’s arm and saying,
“Marquis, my stomach hurt for a moment, but I’m fine now. It’s true.”
“It’s true?”
“Yes. It’s true. But are your arms stronger than this morning?”
“It’s because the Knights threw a few guys at me. I have to deal with them immediately when they cause trouble.”
"Yes. Of course. But it feels good to be called Marquis. Sir Rond suits it well, but I think Marquis suits you well, too."
"Is that so? Then please call me Marquis often."
"Yes. Marquis. Hohoho."
I gripped the armrest of my chair tightly, and Prince Kydel let out a low sigh.
There's an old saying, "Let the innocent throw the first stone," and seeing this made me think that even if a guilty person threw a stone at her, they wouldn't be able to say anything.
Her Highness Princess Miliora, who was known for her sullenness and venom, was stroking her husband's arm with honey dripping from her eyes.
And what about the Marquis of Rond? "Then invite many, Marchioness?"
Anyway, the Marquis of Rond said,
"Eria. It's time to bring the Marchioness some refreshments."
"Oh, it's okay now. We have guests."
When the Marquis of Rond looked slightly sullen, Princess Miliora explained to us,
"You should only eat good things when you're pregnant, so why don't you make me special snacks to fatten me up?"
"Well, you're still pretty."
I managed to reply. The Marquis of Rond looked at her as if entranced.
"Where in the world is there such a beautiful woman?"
I staggered to my feet. I'd been exhausted from Prince Kydel the whole way here, and I didn't think I could bear this any longer.
Prince Kydel rolled his eyes in embarrassment and followed me to his feet.
Then, Her Highness Miliora stroked Sir Rond's cheek, making him look at her, and said absentmindedly,
"Are you going? Go and rest. Let's go for a walk together tomorrow."
We fled back to our room and closed the door.
"Whew. I came for nothing. You didn't have to worry."
"I see. You don't have to worry about the prosperity of the new Marquis."
What kind of old-man-like response was that?
I sat down sullenly, and he changed into comfortable clothes. I was startled by the sight of his abs and had to turn my head. My face flushed for no reason.
"Tomorrow, while you spend time with the Marchioness, I'll meet with the Marquis Rond and tour the Knights Templar."
"..."
Even after seeing such a sight, he was still thinking about work. He'd be cultivating friendships with the southern warlords and inspecting their military strength.
When I didn't answer, he turned to me.
Strangely, I no longer dreaded talking to him. It was because I had resigned myself to the idea that things couldn't get any worse.
"I guess your half-blood is preventing you from becoming a true lion's daughter."
"You think I'm ungrateful? Don't you recognize the truth? Sigh..."
The image of Prince Kydel, who had just stormed off, began to swirl through my mind.
Yes. I admit I was tactless. I could have held back on the divorce talk and brought it up after I returned to the capital. Why would I have brought it up so early? But I didn't want to drag it out any longer. The anxiety lurking within me only grew.
I was growing increasingly angry at his anger at me.
How dare he bring this up now?
The reason I agreed to help him was to make His Highness Grayon the Crown Prince and secure our divorce. So I could reclaim my dream of single life.
He knew that and even asked Prince Grayon to give me a title! What if he remarries the daughter of another powerful family who admires him...
The Count, too, married a Countess to ensure his family's survival. He abandoned my beloved mother. That was the life of the nobles.
As the Duke had said, the reason I couldn't dream of a life with him was that I knew their lives could never be the same as mine.
That wasn't something I could change, no matter how hard I tried.
I collapsed and curled up.
"You think I'm ungrateful...?"
The wind outside the window carried the scent of flowers.
I thought I'd dozed off, but the sound of Prince Kydel entering the room woke me up.
His face was still devoid of the smile he usually gave me.
I walked over to him and stood upright. I deliberately cleared my throat to show my sincerity.
"Your Excellently."
"..."
"Thank you."
"What do you mean?"
"Everything... You've done so much for me that I don't even know how much to thank you. I've never forgotten."
He replied,
"You're welcome, Lorisha."
"..."
I didn't know the words to express how I felt at that moment.
A gaping hole opened in my chest, a cold wind rushing through it like a storm.
"You're welcome, Lorisha." couldn't have been more polite.
He spoke as if to a stranger.
"The Marquis of Rond has returned. Would you like to see him?"
"Yes, Your Excellency."
I answered sheepishly and followed him down the hall.
His back, as I watched him walk down the hallway, was so broad and solid. And it felt unfamiliar.
As unfamiliar as "You're welcome, Lorisha."
As I descended the stairs, I heard Sir Rond chuckle.
That loose, happy laugh suddenly reminded me that this was someone else's home.
I quickly composed myself and smiled with all my might.
The Marquis of Rond beamed at me.
"Madame Kydel!"
"Marquis of Rond, I've missed you!"
I ran over and hugged him. He smelled like grass. It was the same smell that came from a gardener.
Even though my mind was a mess, a thought came to me.
This is the smell of love.
“How have you been? It seems like a lot has happened at the palace lately.”
“You’ve really been burning your butt every day...”
At that moment, the Marchioness let out a small groan, clutching her stomach.
“Ah.”
“Are you okay? Madam, are you okay?”
The Marquis of Rond suddenly stood up and groped her, not knowing what to do. Her expression quickly calmed down, but the Marquis of Rond continued his fuss.
Looking at them made me feel like an idiot. Even Prince Kydel cleared his throat in embarrassment.
The Marquis of Rond seemed to notice, rubbing the Marchioness of Ronde’s arm and saying,
“Marquis, my stomach hurt for a moment, but I’m fine now. It’s true.”
“It’s true?”
“Yes. It’s true. But are your arms stronger than this morning?”
“It’s because the Knights threw a few guys at me. I have to deal with them immediately when they cause trouble.”
"Yes. Of course. But it feels good to be called Marquis. Sir Rond suits it well, but I think Marquis suits you well, too."
"Is that so? Then please call me Marquis often."
"Yes. Marquis. Hohoho."
I gripped the armrest of my chair tightly, and Prince Kydel let out a low sigh.
There's an old saying, "Let the innocent throw the first stone," and seeing this made me think that even if a guilty person threw a stone at her, they wouldn't be able to say anything.
Her Highness Princess Miliora, who was known for her sullenness and venom, was stroking her husband's arm with honey dripping from her eyes.
And what about the Marquis of Rond? "Then invite many, Marchioness?"
Anyway, the Marquis of Rond said,
"Eria. It's time to bring the Marchioness some refreshments."
"Oh, it's okay now. We have guests."
When the Marquis of Rond looked slightly sullen, Princess Miliora explained to us,
"You should only eat good things when you're pregnant, so why don't you make me special snacks to fatten me up?"
"Well, you're still pretty."
I managed to reply. The Marquis of Rond looked at her as if entranced.
"Where in the world is there such a beautiful woman?"
I staggered to my feet. I'd been exhausted from Prince Kydel the whole way here, and I didn't think I could bear this any longer.
Prince Kydel rolled his eyes in embarrassment and followed me to his feet.
Then, Her Highness Miliora stroked Sir Rond's cheek, making him look at her, and said absentmindedly,
"Are you going? Go and rest. Let's go for a walk together tomorrow."
We fled back to our room and closed the door.
"Whew. I came for nothing. You didn't have to worry."
"I see. You don't have to worry about the prosperity of the new Marquis."
What kind of old-man-like response was that?
I sat down sullenly, and he changed into comfortable clothes. I was startled by the sight of his abs and had to turn my head. My face flushed for no reason.
"Tomorrow, while you spend time with the Marchioness, I'll meet with the Marquis Rond and tour the Knights Templar."
"..."
Even after seeing such a sight, he was still thinking about work. He'd be cultivating friendships with the southern warlords and inspecting their military strength.
When I didn't answer, he turned to me.
Strangely, I no longer dreaded talking to him. It was because I had resigned myself to the idea that things couldn't get any worse.
"If your Excellency had married a woman you liked, you would have lived happily ever after."
Prince Kydel's eyes twisted into a look I'd never seen before.
"'A woman he liked'?"
"Didn't Your Excellency sleep in a different room on our first night because you didn't like me?"
"...!"
Prince Kydel's eyes widened, and he gritted his teeth. But he didn't say anything. I felt ashamed of myself for saying such things, and I hated the situation in which I had to say them. But I didn't feel the urge to avoid them any longer.
"We've had a bad relationship since our first meeting. You seduced me at the behest of His Highness Grayon. You wanted me to gain a title so I could live on my own."
"That...!"
He looked flustered. It seemed to sting.
“We’ve never had what a normal couple should have. So when I say we should end it, why do I become the bad one? Why do I become ungrateful, incapable of recognizing the good?”
I realized I was crying only when my voice cracked.
“Lorisha.”
“The nobles with daughters are vying to snatch the next first messenger. You know that, Your Excellency?”
I’d never seen Prince Kydel’s eyes waver so much before.
“That’s none of your concern!”
“...”
I felt a little sad. I was already sad enough, but a little more. The fact that Prince Kydel had raised his voice at me for the first time left a small wound in my heart.
“They’re doing whatever they want. There’s always talk at times like this. Ignore it,” I said, trying to keep my voice from trembling with the tears welling up in my eyes.
“Your Excellency, do you really think I could do that?”
He gritted his teeth for a moment and then walked out. I sobbed and changed into my pajamas.
“Damn it. It’s like a couple arguing.”
***
We gathered at the restaurant at an appropriate time the next day. It was an ordinary morning, not too late like Loire, nor too early in the morning like Kydel. I sat down at the table with a bright face, summoning all the skills and strength I had acquired from my days as a clerk at the apothecary. Prince Kydel was also a master at wearing masks, so we were able to pretend to be quite calm customers.
Fortunately, I could easily forget the emotional predicament I was in, overwhelmed by the lovebirds before me. For example, the Marquis and his wife’s technique of eating without looking at their plates at all.
They stared intently into each other's eyes, playing with their forks and knives. They ladled more than half their food into each other's mouths, so there was no spilling.
"The vegetables are so fresh today."
"I picked them myself early in the morning. I'm going to feed you, Marchioness."
They stared intently into each other's eyes, playing with their forks and knives. They ladled more than half their food into each other's mouths, so there was no spilling.
"The vegetables are so fresh today."
"I picked them myself early in the morning. I'm going to feed you, Marchioness."
"Oh my. I can't thank you enough. I'm so touched, Marquis."
"I hope our baby grows well because you're happy. "
"Oh my!"
The Marchioness flinched, holding her belly. We all stared at her in surprise. I almost dropped my fork. The Marquis Rond was immediately terrified.
"Madam?"
She said, laughing,
"It seems our baby just grew so much!"
And hahaha. Hohoho.
I felt a little dizzy, but Prince Kydel continued eating calmly, with a polite smile on his face, as if he had no emotions.
His attitude helped me come to my senses.
We chatted and finished our meal safely.
Then the Marquis stood up.
“We’ll have dessert by the lake. It’s just a short walk away.”
"Oh my!"
The Marchioness flinched, holding her belly. We all stared at her in surprise. I almost dropped my fork. The Marquis Rond was immediately terrified.
"Madam?"
She said, laughing,
"It seems our baby just grew so much!"
And hahaha. Hohoho.
I felt a little dizzy, but Prince Kydel continued eating calmly, with a polite smile on his face, as if he had no emotions.
His attitude helped me come to my senses.
We chatted and finished our meal safely.
Then the Marquis stood up.
“We’ll have dessert by the lake. It’s just a short walk away.”
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