Episode 148. Their Newlywed Way (2)
The Duke Clement's residence was located in the mountains, far from the capital. As the Emperor's uncle, he had virtually no interaction with His Majesty beyond their blood relationship. This was due to the blood-stained history of the imperial family.
However, as the eldest member of the imperial family, he was always attended by a member of the imperial family or someone representing him. This time, it was the Duke's responsibility.
In the carriage heading there, Prince Kydel looked at me with a quizzical expression.
"Madam. You seem different today."
“You call me Madam....”
The Duke Clement's residence was located in the mountains, far from the capital. As the Emperor's uncle, he had virtually no interaction with His Majesty beyond their blood relationship. This was due to the blood-stained history of the imperial family.
However, as the eldest member of the imperial family, he was always attended by a member of the imperial family or someone representing him. This time, it was the Duke's responsibility.
In the carriage heading there, Prince Kydel looked at me with a quizzical expression.
"Madam. You seem different today."
“You call me Madam....”
"Why, then, should I call you honey? Honey, you seem particularly radiant today."
"Huh..."
I stared at him, his impudence unwavering.
"I've been wondering for a while."
"Tell me."
"Are you naturally shameless, Prince? Or do you only use it when you deem it necessary?"
Prince Kydel's eyebrows furrowed strangely, and he looked at me before saying,
“I’ve never heard that love requires shame, Lorisha.”
“...”
This person, with such a smooth tongue... He’s so smooth with words, even his tongue wagging...
I quickly shook my head to shake off the strange thought. Still, I felt a slight flush on my cheek.
He smiled at me.
“So, I plan to be proud and faithful to my feelings and desires. Marriage is such a wonderful thing. How many acts in the world do desires and duties coincide? But you are both my desire and my duty. And I’m so happy about that. My wife...”
Ah, that’s all I had to say.
To change the subject, I asked the first thing that came to mind.
“What, what’s different about me today?”
In fact, I had put on a lot of makeup with Madame Olga’s help. I had a red dress specially recommended by Her Highness the Princess, and I wore gorgeous jewelry. I even paid special attention to my makeup.
I was his wife, and I had a duty to uphold his dignity. Unfortunately, my duty in that regard was slightly at odds with my desires.
But Prince Kydel didn't answer my question for a long time. He just stared at me until my face flushed red from the question.
When I swallowed hard, he whispered softly, his voice breathy and ready to snap.
"I feel like turning the carriage off to the side of the road right now. So don't provoke me, dear."
"I, when did I..."
I couldn't finish, so I bit my tongue and leaned my face toward the window. He let out a raspy gasp and turned his head to his own window.
We arrived at the Grand Duke's residence amidst a tense silence.
***
The Grand Duke's residence, to put it mildly, had a rather ancient atmosphere. As we entered the castle, the nobles who had already arrived were gathered in small groups, chatting.
As we passed, a wave of shock washed over us. We were witnessing the sight of a lion cub and its lecherous bastard child appearing side by side in public.
He sensed my tension and whispered, looking straight ahead.
“Lorisha. Shall we kiss?”
“Prince?”
“Those people are so dark.”
I stared at his straight profile and chuckled.
'He’s so pretty. My husband.'
I said, feeling much more at ease.
“That’s when we’re alone. I don’t want to do things for people to see. Because...”
“Because?”
“My husband is precious.”
Huff.
Prince Kydel held his breath, making a similar sound. I could almost feel his body tense through my grip on his arm.
I noticed his reaction, and he glanced at me. I gasped, too. That look in his eyes was the same one he’d used to when he’d attacked me at night.
He muttered, as if chewing,
“Lorisha. From now on, don’t say a word.”
“Yes!”
Oops!
“Yes” wasn’t an answer either. When I realized my mistake and scrunched my face, he stopped and turned to me.
I swallowed again.
Then he looked down at me gently and tucked my hair behind my ear. At first glance, his face seemed hard, as if he were angry, but I knew he wasn't. My heart pounded.
Then, I heard a small sigh from the woman standing nearby. They were shocked by Prince Kydel's actions.
"Huh? This man is mine now?"
A bright smile formed on my face as I thought that. Then, he met my eyes and smiled brightly in return.
"Shall we begin, Lorisha?"
"Yes, Your Excellency."
I met many nobles through Prince Kydel's introduction. Some I'd seen from afar when I worked as a maid, but most were new to me.
They greeted me politely, but no one smiled genuinely at me. Their pretense of politeness was purely for Prince Kydel's sake.
Finally, I stepped forward to Grand Duke Clement and offered a happy birthday on behalf of Duke Kydel, who would stand in for His Majesty the Emperor.
Watching the gaunt, gaunt old man, half-reclining in his chair, repeatedly nodding "Yes, yes" to those who greeted him, I assumed he must be around 130 years old.
After this long and tedious process, we finally sat down at our table.
People milled around with glasses, chatting and even dancing lightly.
Prince Kydel was summoned to his private study by the Grand Duke's grandson. Even though he was a grandson, he wasn't much older than the Duke.
After he left, a chill ran down the back of my neck. I could tell without even turning around that the women were glaring at me.
A loud voice, as if to demand my attention, rang out through the silence.
“Is that the illegitimate child?”
“I’ll admit they’re half-hearted, but your audacity is even more astonishing. To show up at an official event now! And today, you’re here as a representative of the royal family, the messenger? Oh my goodness.”
“Look at those jewels. They’ve already started to drain the Kydel family’s fortune! They must have been ordered from the Rohan jeweler. They’re quite pretty. Hmm.”
I felt a little angry, then quickly gave way to emotion.
Prince Kydel brought me these gorgeous jewels, claiming they belonged to his mother. However, no matter how I looked at them, they seemed brand new, which made me suspicious.
But from what they said, it seemed like they’d made the excuse that I’d be offended if they said they’d bought them new. I was angry that he’d lied. But thinking about how he must have been struggling to find a way to give me a present, I found myself thinking they were rather pretty.
I tried to ignore the obsession of those women, who even knew where he’d ordered the jewels.
Another middle-aged woman's voice retorted,
"Don't be angry. It's bad for your beauty. How great must she have been to occupy the position of imperial maid, even her own chambers, in Kydel's own bedroom. But! A butterfly that soars so splendidly is sure to burn to death in an instant."
"Butterfly? It's a moth, isn't it?"
"Oh, my mistake. Hohoho."
"Hohohoho."
I sipped my drink and looked around the room. Even without the women chattering behind me, many women were casting jealous glances at me from behind their fans. Come to think of it, I was attracting as many eyes on me as Prince Kydel himself. I felt like a big shot.
"You are now a public servant to the Tagar society ladies. Hohohoho."
Suddenly, the voice of the Marchioness Miliora came to mind, and I shook my head briefly.
"Come to your senses, Lorisha."
I straightened my back, and the weight of the heavy jewels dangling from my neck and ears became a new sensation.
I had never imagined myself walking around with such things hanging from my shoulders. But I decided to accept that this was who I was now.
Being Locard Kydel's wife also meant the weight of these meaningless, expensive, and pretty stones. And that jealousy and envy.
I could now carry it willingly, even joyfully. I was amazed at how much I had changed.
As I thought about it, my mood lifted.
When he returns, I'll show them off by dancing. Let's give them a collective stomachache!
But before I could even think about it, five colorful dresses obscured my vision. This time, a swarm of young ladies had appeared.
"Miss Loire?"
"Lady Kydel."
"Oh. Sure. 'Now. '
I stared at the pink-haired young lady I'd never seen before, and then I spotted Keryl Lisanne standing at the end of the group. She was the Baroness, the leader of Her Highness's tea parties.
I'd thought she'd been out of the social scene for a while, but it seemed she'd resurfaced after the Ancart family's downfall.
Keryl averted her gaze when our eyes met. I snorted inwardly.
'Keryl Lissen. To covet Prince Kydel with such audacity.'
"What's so funny?"
The pink-haired woman snapped back, and I stared at her.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Evelyn, the daughter of Countess Robail."
"'Now,' you mean."
"What does that mean?"
"It's such a basic sentence. Can someone explain it to me?"
I sneered as I glanced at them, each woman's face contorting.
With everyone flocking like this, she'd thought crushing one illegitimate child would be nothing, but she was taken aback when I didn't flinch. I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should finally release the seal of my curse, but then decided against it.
Madan Kydel was a real hassle.
I said, feeling much more at ease.
“That’s when we’re alone. I don’t want to do things for people to see. Because...”
“Because?”
“My husband is precious.”
Huff.
Prince Kydel held his breath, making a similar sound. I could almost feel his body tense through my grip on his arm.
I noticed his reaction, and he glanced at me. I gasped, too. That look in his eyes was the same one he’d used to when he’d attacked me at night.
He muttered, as if chewing,
“Lorisha. From now on, don’t say a word.”
“Yes!”
Oops!
“Yes” wasn’t an answer either. When I realized my mistake and scrunched my face, he stopped and turned to me.
I swallowed again.
Then he looked down at me gently and tucked my hair behind my ear. At first glance, his face seemed hard, as if he were angry, but I knew he wasn't. My heart pounded.
Then, I heard a small sigh from the woman standing nearby. They were shocked by Prince Kydel's actions.
"Huh? This man is mine now?"
A bright smile formed on my face as I thought that. Then, he met my eyes and smiled brightly in return.
"Shall we begin, Lorisha?"
"Yes, Your Excellency."
I met many nobles through Prince Kydel's introduction. Some I'd seen from afar when I worked as a maid, but most were new to me.
They greeted me politely, but no one smiled genuinely at me. Their pretense of politeness was purely for Prince Kydel's sake.
Finally, I stepped forward to Grand Duke Clement and offered a happy birthday on behalf of Duke Kydel, who would stand in for His Majesty the Emperor.
Watching the gaunt, gaunt old man, half-reclining in his chair, repeatedly nodding "Yes, yes" to those who greeted him, I assumed he must be around 130 years old.
After this long and tedious process, we finally sat down at our table.
People milled around with glasses, chatting and even dancing lightly.
Prince Kydel was summoned to his private study by the Grand Duke's grandson. Even though he was a grandson, he wasn't much older than the Duke.
After he left, a chill ran down the back of my neck. I could tell without even turning around that the women were glaring at me.
A loud voice, as if to demand my attention, rang out through the silence.
“Is that the illegitimate child?”
“I’ll admit they’re half-hearted, but your audacity is even more astonishing. To show up at an official event now! And today, you’re here as a representative of the royal family, the messenger? Oh my goodness.”
“Look at those jewels. They’ve already started to drain the Kydel family’s fortune! They must have been ordered from the Rohan jeweler. They’re quite pretty. Hmm.”
I felt a little angry, then quickly gave way to emotion.
Prince Kydel brought me these gorgeous jewels, claiming they belonged to his mother. However, no matter how I looked at them, they seemed brand new, which made me suspicious.
But from what they said, it seemed like they’d made the excuse that I’d be offended if they said they’d bought them new. I was angry that he’d lied. But thinking about how he must have been struggling to find a way to give me a present, I found myself thinking they were rather pretty.
I tried to ignore the obsession of those women, who even knew where he’d ordered the jewels.
Another middle-aged woman's voice retorted,
"Don't be angry. It's bad for your beauty. How great must she have been to occupy the position of imperial maid, even her own chambers, in Kydel's own bedroom. But! A butterfly that soars so splendidly is sure to burn to death in an instant."
"Butterfly? It's a moth, isn't it?"
"Oh, my mistake. Hohoho."
"Hohohoho."
I sipped my drink and looked around the room. Even without the women chattering behind me, many women were casting jealous glances at me from behind their fans. Come to think of it, I was attracting as many eyes on me as Prince Kydel himself. I felt like a big shot.
"You are now a public servant to the Tagar society ladies. Hohohoho."
Suddenly, the voice of the Marchioness Miliora came to mind, and I shook my head briefly.
"Come to your senses, Lorisha."
I straightened my back, and the weight of the heavy jewels dangling from my neck and ears became a new sensation.
I had never imagined myself walking around with such things hanging from my shoulders. But I decided to accept that this was who I was now.
Being Locard Kydel's wife also meant the weight of these meaningless, expensive, and pretty stones. And that jealousy and envy.
I could now carry it willingly, even joyfully. I was amazed at how much I had changed.
As I thought about it, my mood lifted.
When he returns, I'll show them off by dancing. Let's give them a collective stomachache!
But before I could even think about it, five colorful dresses obscured my vision. This time, a swarm of young ladies had appeared.
"Miss Loire?"
"Lady Kydel."
"Oh. Sure. 'Now. '
I stared at the pink-haired young lady I'd never seen before, and then I spotted Keryl Lisanne standing at the end of the group. She was the Baroness, the leader of Her Highness's tea parties.
I'd thought she'd been out of the social scene for a while, but it seemed she'd resurfaced after the Ancart family's downfall.
Keryl averted her gaze when our eyes met. I snorted inwardly.
'Keryl Lissen. To covet Prince Kydel with such audacity.'
"What's so funny?"
The pink-haired woman snapped back, and I stared at her.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Evelyn, the daughter of Countess Robail."
"'Now,' you mean."
"What does that mean?"
"It's such a basic sentence. Can someone explain it to me?"
I sneered as I glanced at them, each woman's face contorting.
With everyone flocking like this, she'd thought crushing one illegitimate child would be nothing, but she was taken aback when I didn't flinch. I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should finally release the seal of my curse, but then decided against it.
Madan Kydel was a real hassle.
"Miss Evelyn Robail. Tell me what you couldn't bring yourself to tell me alone. I'll listen now."
She snorted, realizing I'd intentionally inserted the word "now."
She snorted, realizing I'd intentionally inserted the word "now."
"Do you really think I'm afraid of a woman of your caliber who came with these noble ladies? We came together because we're equal competitors."
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