43. Something is wrong
“Please forgive your father, Erna.”
Brenda Hardy, who had been babbling for a long time, finally got to the point when the white steam rising from her teacup had dissipated. The corners of her awkwardly upturned lips trembled, spasmodically.
“We were so cornered back then. As you know, the situation was really bad.”
Brenda Hardy swallowed dryly and examined Erna's complexion. Her gaze and expression were as gentle as ever, yet they added to the strange tension.
"Well, of course, it must have been upsetting from your perspective. Why don't we understand how you felt? But..."
“The tea has cooled down.”
Erna lowered her gaze and examined the tea table, whispering softly.
While Brenda Hardy flinched, a maid quietly approached, clearing away the cold tea and pouring fresh water. The clattering of porcelain further accentuated the suffocating silence.
"I apologize, Viscountess. I've been rude. Please continue with what you were saying."
As the maid left, Erna faced Brenda Hardy again. Her demeanor was exceedingly polite, but it wasn't difficult to discern the underlying meaning.
She doesn't want to hear any more.
Brenda Hardy gritted her teeth involuntarily, but she couldn't bring herself to continue the interrupted conversation. Her stomach churned, but she couldn't continue to treat Erna like she had before, as she would become the Grand Duchess of Schwerin, the city's most prestigious lady, next week.
The country bumpkin who ran away after being beaten returns as the next Princess.
When the rumor first spread, she, like all the other Letzens, scoffed. Even if the poisonous mushroom prince had committed a madman, there was no way the royal family would accept his marriage. He'd ruined the marriage with his reckless greed, and now he'd thrown his own life into the fire. She'd laughed heartily at Erna's innocence, trying to soothe the grief of impending bankruptcy.
But what a surprise. The King readily approved the marriage. And what's more, he even ordered the wedding to take place this fall. Planning the Prince's wedding in just two months? It was a violation of formality and tradition, yet no one dared object. The marriage itself was already absurdly unconventional, so even bringing it up now seemed ridiculous.
Even while the Hardy family was in shock and at a loss, the wedding proceeded systematically.
Prince Bjorn first had the Baroness of Baden and Erna move into his townhouse. Naturally, all wedding-related matters were delegated to the Baroness of Baden.
This was a measure that completely excluded Erna's parents, but the target was none other than the royal family. It was humiliating and infuriating, but there was no other way but to endure it. After all, Erna's selection as the Grand Duchess had saved them from bankruptcy. The wedding was only a week away. The thought that in a week, the Hardy family would become royal in-laws deepened their previously lacking patience.
"But you have to make up with your father before the wedding, Erna. You're going to walk down the aisle together, so it'd be awkward if you were awkward. Yes?"
Brenda Hardy, who had been lightening the mood with small talk, took a moment to glance at the other person and then subtly brought up the main topic. She didn't forget to hint with a bright smile that she was Walter Hardy's daughter.
“How about having dinner together? I’ll invite Baroness Baden as well.”
“I don’t think I can give you a definitive answer right now, Viscountess.”
Erna clasped her firm hands together and continued speaking slowly.
“I’ll get back to you after checking the schedule.”
Her fingertips began to tremble slightly, but thankfully, she was able to maintain a calm expression and voice. Despite the obvious displeasure on her face, Viscountess Hardy accepted it obediently. She did, however, display a persistent attitude, repeatedly insisting she contact her.
Erna escorted the Viscountess to the townhouse. That night, as she lay there, battered and bruised, the thought of the contemptuous gaze that had stared down at her made her feel cold, but she didn't want to spread groundless rumors.
“I know it’s presumptuous and impolite to say this, but young lady, they are so shameless.”
Lisa, who was watching the Hardy family's carriage moving away, spoke rudely. Erna gave her an embarrassed look, but Lisa decided not to correct her opinion.
"How can you say you forgive someone after doing something like that to a young lady? I just can't understand."
"Lisa."
"You won't forgive them so easily, will you? If you do, I won't be able to understand you either, young lady. Of course, I'll still love you even if I don't understand."
Lisa put particular emphasis on the last words.
Erna, who had been looking at her with a puzzled expression, soon broke into a bright smile. In that shy moment, the young lady seemed so unearthly, her beauty tickling Lisa's heart.
The day she met Erna again, Lisa firmly resolved to follow and love her for the rest of her life.
Now that she was about to become the Grand Duchess, she thought she'd forget about her lowly maid, but Erna came to the Hardy mansion to fetch Lisa herself. For Lisa, who had been treated like a wretch, waiting for the day she'd be kicked out, the young lady that day was a ray of hope.
'You've suffered a lot because of me, haven't you?'
Erna's hand, stroking Lisa's cheek as she hesitated, not knowing what to say, was very warm.
'I'm sorry, Lisa.'
Those plain words of apology eventually made Lisa cry.
That day, Lisa burst into tears in the arms of a girl smaller than her. Even though she knew she was embarrassing herself, she wouldn't stop crying. Erna, without saying a word, simply soothed Lisa's trembling back and offered her her arms.
I must follow, love, and protect you for the rest of my life.
Lisa followed Erna, once again steeling her resolve. Having risen from a neglected country bumpkin to a young lady's maid and now serving the Grand Duchess, the responsibility was immense.
“But, Miss, the Prince hasn’t come to see you.”
Lisa's eyes became determined as she thought of Prince Bjorn, a formidable enemy no less than the Hardy family.
The Prince on a white horse who saved the young lady.
Just that one fact made her forget the past that had been like a poisonous mushroom, but the more shr looked at it, the more strange the Prince's attitude towards Erna became.
Seeing him rushing to marry Erna, turning the entire nation upside down, one would expect him to be deeply infatuated with her. However, their relationship was anything but cordial. Furthermore, the Prince rarely met with Erna. And that wasn't all. He never sent her a single flower or letter. They were anything but the epitome of a normal couple.
Something went wrong.
After much deliberation, Lisa came to this conclusion.
If something is wrong, it is definitely very wrong.
"Ah. I'll come see you tomorrow. We've agreed to have lunch together at the palace."
Erna answered with a nonchalant smile. Her face was bright, as if she hadn't even considered the oddity of meeting her fiancé after only two weeks.
"Miss."
Lisa faced the young lady with a serious expression. She had intended to warn her that this was not the way to go, but seeing Erna in person broke her resolve.
“I’ll dress you up nicely.”
The girl was already pretty enough, but Lisa still decided to give it her best shot.
“I will decorate you really, really beautifully!”
The Poisonous Mushroom Prince falls head over heels in love.
She decided to keep that promise a secret from herself.
Erna, who had been staring blankly at Lisa, burst into an innocent laugh again. She was a beautiful girl, oblivious to others' emotions.
“This damn bastard.”
After saying those words, Leonard collapsed onto the table, knocking over his glass and spilling the unfinished brandy.
Bjorn chuckled as he set down his empty glass. It took a long time for his eyes, which had closed on their own, to open again.
The bar, bathed in the clear, translucent sunlight of a fall morning, presented a horrific scene. Empty bottles strewn across the floor like fallen leaves, and among them lay a swarm of unconscious fools. Some laughing, some crying, some undressing. It was a display of a colorful array of ugliness.
Bjorn stood, clutching the antler trophy, which stood proudly in the midst of this chaos. He was already quite drunk, having dealt with the relentless swill of the drinkers, who seemed to be risking their lives. It was difficult for him to control himself.
But Bjorn escaped the club unscathed. He had to lean against the wall several times to steady his staggering body, catching his breath, but the tragedy of being thrown into a tangle with the drunkards never happened.
Two bachelor parties.
Even when he thought about it with his brain dulled by alcohol, it was incredibly funny.
The ones responsible for this pathetic act were the stags with a bitter past who had once presented him with a golden trophy. Obsessed with cutting off Bjorn Dneister's antlers this time, they had crafted a trophy of their own and held a bachelor party. Bjorn learned of this last night, just as he was leaving the club.
Even though it was his second time, they said it was meant to be a profound gesture, like starting with the same mindset as the first time. It was such a flimsy excuse that he couldn't even laugh. Still, the reason he joined in on this madness was because those idiots dared to order a golden trophy in his name.
'If you just leave, you'll lose. The trophy money will be billed to Schwerin Palace anyway.'
The one waving the receipt, babbling nonsense, was Berryman, the most recent stag hunted by Bjorn Deneister. The name on the payer's list, absurdly enough, was indeed his. It was a sloppy scam, born from the complacency of the workshop owner, who trusted his regular customers—the sons of noble families—overly, and the vengeful desires of the fools.
When they offered him their first drink, Bjorn had intended to just accept it and leave. He resented their daring to try to scam him, but considering the trophies he'd collected, he knew he'd have to throw them down after one. But with each drink, Bjorn grew more serious. Throwing two bachelor parties was ridiculous, but losing that madness was even more ridiculous.
Ultimately, the night of the stag race intensified as both sides held on to their resolve. With everyone's ferocity building and their relentless pursuit, the epic battle dragged on until dawn. Had Leonard held out a little longer, victory would have been far from assured.
"Ha..."
Leaving the club building, Bjorn let out a long sigh, bathed in the piercing sunlight and refreshing breeze. The moment his gaze landed on the fountain in the square, he found himself laughing. Even as he boarded the carriage and closed his eyes, the laughter continued intermittently.
If Erna hadn't appeared at the fountain that dawn, things might have been different, Bjorn thought, closing his eyes slowly. And when he opened them again, the carriage had stopped in front of the Grand Duke's residence.
“Oh my goodness. Now. You’re back like this!”
Mrs. Fitz, who had approached him as soon as he got out of the carriage, cried out in astonishment. It was her unexpected addition that stopped Bjorn, who had just given a half-hearted smile and was staggering along, in his tracks.
“Miss Hardy is waiting.”
“...Erna, why?”
Mrs. Fitz sighed in disbelief at Bjorn's slow, frowning question.
“Because you promised. To have lunch with your fiancée today, Your Highness!”
“Please forgive your father, Erna.”
Brenda Hardy, who had been babbling for a long time, finally got to the point when the white steam rising from her teacup had dissipated. The corners of her awkwardly upturned lips trembled, spasmodically.
“We were so cornered back then. As you know, the situation was really bad.”
Brenda Hardy swallowed dryly and examined Erna's complexion. Her gaze and expression were as gentle as ever, yet they added to the strange tension.
"Well, of course, it must have been upsetting from your perspective. Why don't we understand how you felt? But..."
“The tea has cooled down.”
Erna lowered her gaze and examined the tea table, whispering softly.
While Brenda Hardy flinched, a maid quietly approached, clearing away the cold tea and pouring fresh water. The clattering of porcelain further accentuated the suffocating silence.
"I apologize, Viscountess. I've been rude. Please continue with what you were saying."
As the maid left, Erna faced Brenda Hardy again. Her demeanor was exceedingly polite, but it wasn't difficult to discern the underlying meaning.
She doesn't want to hear any more.
Brenda Hardy gritted her teeth involuntarily, but she couldn't bring herself to continue the interrupted conversation. Her stomach churned, but she couldn't continue to treat Erna like she had before, as she would become the Grand Duchess of Schwerin, the city's most prestigious lady, next week.
The country bumpkin who ran away after being beaten returns as the next Princess.
When the rumor first spread, she, like all the other Letzens, scoffed. Even if the poisonous mushroom prince had committed a madman, there was no way the royal family would accept his marriage. He'd ruined the marriage with his reckless greed, and now he'd thrown his own life into the fire. She'd laughed heartily at Erna's innocence, trying to soothe the grief of impending bankruptcy.
But what a surprise. The King readily approved the marriage. And what's more, he even ordered the wedding to take place this fall. Planning the Prince's wedding in just two months? It was a violation of formality and tradition, yet no one dared object. The marriage itself was already absurdly unconventional, so even bringing it up now seemed ridiculous.
Even while the Hardy family was in shock and at a loss, the wedding proceeded systematically.
Prince Bjorn first had the Baroness of Baden and Erna move into his townhouse. Naturally, all wedding-related matters were delegated to the Baroness of Baden.
This was a measure that completely excluded Erna's parents, but the target was none other than the royal family. It was humiliating and infuriating, but there was no other way but to endure it. After all, Erna's selection as the Grand Duchess had saved them from bankruptcy. The wedding was only a week away. The thought that in a week, the Hardy family would become royal in-laws deepened their previously lacking patience.
"But you have to make up with your father before the wedding, Erna. You're going to walk down the aisle together, so it'd be awkward if you were awkward. Yes?"
Brenda Hardy, who had been lightening the mood with small talk, took a moment to glance at the other person and then subtly brought up the main topic. She didn't forget to hint with a bright smile that she was Walter Hardy's daughter.
“How about having dinner together? I’ll invite Baroness Baden as well.”
“I don’t think I can give you a definitive answer right now, Viscountess.”
Erna clasped her firm hands together and continued speaking slowly.
“I’ll get back to you after checking the schedule.”
Her fingertips began to tremble slightly, but thankfully, she was able to maintain a calm expression and voice. Despite the obvious displeasure on her face, Viscountess Hardy accepted it obediently. She did, however, display a persistent attitude, repeatedly insisting she contact her.
Erna escorted the Viscountess to the townhouse. That night, as she lay there, battered and bruised, the thought of the contemptuous gaze that had stared down at her made her feel cold, but she didn't want to spread groundless rumors.
“I know it’s presumptuous and impolite to say this, but young lady, they are so shameless.”
Lisa, who was watching the Hardy family's carriage moving away, spoke rudely. Erna gave her an embarrassed look, but Lisa decided not to correct her opinion.
"How can you say you forgive someone after doing something like that to a young lady? I just can't understand."
"Lisa."
"You won't forgive them so easily, will you? If you do, I won't be able to understand you either, young lady. Of course, I'll still love you even if I don't understand."
Lisa put particular emphasis on the last words.
Erna, who had been looking at her with a puzzled expression, soon broke into a bright smile. In that shy moment, the young lady seemed so unearthly, her beauty tickling Lisa's heart.
The day she met Erna again, Lisa firmly resolved to follow and love her for the rest of her life.
Now that she was about to become the Grand Duchess, she thought she'd forget about her lowly maid, but Erna came to the Hardy mansion to fetch Lisa herself. For Lisa, who had been treated like a wretch, waiting for the day she'd be kicked out, the young lady that day was a ray of hope.
'You've suffered a lot because of me, haven't you?'
Erna's hand, stroking Lisa's cheek as she hesitated, not knowing what to say, was very warm.
'I'm sorry, Lisa.'
Those plain words of apology eventually made Lisa cry.
That day, Lisa burst into tears in the arms of a girl smaller than her. Even though she knew she was embarrassing herself, she wouldn't stop crying. Erna, without saying a word, simply soothed Lisa's trembling back and offered her her arms.
I must follow, love, and protect you for the rest of my life.
Lisa followed Erna, once again steeling her resolve. Having risen from a neglected country bumpkin to a young lady's maid and now serving the Grand Duchess, the responsibility was immense.
“But, Miss, the Prince hasn’t come to see you.”
Lisa's eyes became determined as she thought of Prince Bjorn, a formidable enemy no less than the Hardy family.
The Prince on a white horse who saved the young lady.
Just that one fact made her forget the past that had been like a poisonous mushroom, but the more shr looked at it, the more strange the Prince's attitude towards Erna became.
Seeing him rushing to marry Erna, turning the entire nation upside down, one would expect him to be deeply infatuated with her. However, their relationship was anything but cordial. Furthermore, the Prince rarely met with Erna. And that wasn't all. He never sent her a single flower or letter. They were anything but the epitome of a normal couple.
Something went wrong.
After much deliberation, Lisa came to this conclusion.
If something is wrong, it is definitely very wrong.
"Ah. I'll come see you tomorrow. We've agreed to have lunch together at the palace."
Erna answered with a nonchalant smile. Her face was bright, as if she hadn't even considered the oddity of meeting her fiancé after only two weeks.
"Miss."
Lisa faced the young lady with a serious expression. She had intended to warn her that this was not the way to go, but seeing Erna in person broke her resolve.
“I’ll dress you up nicely.”
The girl was already pretty enough, but Lisa still decided to give it her best shot.
“I will decorate you really, really beautifully!”
The Poisonous Mushroom Prince falls head over heels in love.
She decided to keep that promise a secret from herself.
Erna, who had been staring blankly at Lisa, burst into an innocent laugh again. She was a beautiful girl, oblivious to others' emotions.
***
“This damn bastard.”
After saying those words, Leonard collapsed onto the table, knocking over his glass and spilling the unfinished brandy.
Bjorn chuckled as he set down his empty glass. It took a long time for his eyes, which had closed on their own, to open again.
The bar, bathed in the clear, translucent sunlight of a fall morning, presented a horrific scene. Empty bottles strewn across the floor like fallen leaves, and among them lay a swarm of unconscious fools. Some laughing, some crying, some undressing. It was a display of a colorful array of ugliness.
Bjorn stood, clutching the antler trophy, which stood proudly in the midst of this chaos. He was already quite drunk, having dealt with the relentless swill of the drinkers, who seemed to be risking their lives. It was difficult for him to control himself.
But Bjorn escaped the club unscathed. He had to lean against the wall several times to steady his staggering body, catching his breath, but the tragedy of being thrown into a tangle with the drunkards never happened.
Two bachelor parties.
Even when he thought about it with his brain dulled by alcohol, it was incredibly funny.
The ones responsible for this pathetic act were the stags with a bitter past who had once presented him with a golden trophy. Obsessed with cutting off Bjorn Dneister's antlers this time, they had crafted a trophy of their own and held a bachelor party. Bjorn learned of this last night, just as he was leaving the club.
Even though it was his second time, they said it was meant to be a profound gesture, like starting with the same mindset as the first time. It was such a flimsy excuse that he couldn't even laugh. Still, the reason he joined in on this madness was because those idiots dared to order a golden trophy in his name.
'If you just leave, you'll lose. The trophy money will be billed to Schwerin Palace anyway.'
The one waving the receipt, babbling nonsense, was Berryman, the most recent stag hunted by Bjorn Deneister. The name on the payer's list, absurdly enough, was indeed his. It was a sloppy scam, born from the complacency of the workshop owner, who trusted his regular customers—the sons of noble families—overly, and the vengeful desires of the fools.
When they offered him their first drink, Bjorn had intended to just accept it and leave. He resented their daring to try to scam him, but considering the trophies he'd collected, he knew he'd have to throw them down after one. But with each drink, Bjorn grew more serious. Throwing two bachelor parties was ridiculous, but losing that madness was even more ridiculous.
Ultimately, the night of the stag race intensified as both sides held on to their resolve. With everyone's ferocity building and their relentless pursuit, the epic battle dragged on until dawn. Had Leonard held out a little longer, victory would have been far from assured.
"Ha..."
Leaving the club building, Bjorn let out a long sigh, bathed in the piercing sunlight and refreshing breeze. The moment his gaze landed on the fountain in the square, he found himself laughing. Even as he boarded the carriage and closed his eyes, the laughter continued intermittently.
If Erna hadn't appeared at the fountain that dawn, things might have been different, Bjorn thought, closing his eyes slowly. And when he opened them again, the carriage had stopped in front of the Grand Duke's residence.
“Oh my goodness. Now. You’re back like this!”
Mrs. Fitz, who had approached him as soon as he got out of the carriage, cried out in astonishment. It was her unexpected addition that stopped Bjorn, who had just given a half-hearted smile and was staggering along, in his tracks.
“Miss Hardy is waiting.”
“...Erna, why?”
Mrs. Fitz sighed in disbelief at Bjorn's slow, frowning question.
“Because you promised. To have lunch with your fiancée today, Your Highness!”
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