75. Emotional violence
"I wish you had worn that necklace today. I wanted to see it. It's a shame, Your Highness."
The conversation changed when the Baroness, sitting at the far end of the table, spoke up.
The noble ladies, who had been excitedly discussing the upcoming exhibition early next month, now began to chat excitedly about the Grand Duchess's diamond necklace, which had been causing a stir in Letzen for some time.
I heard you're a precious and beautiful jewel. It seems like you two are on good terms. I'm jealous.
Those who offered her compliments all wore bright, friendly smiles. However, Erna could now easily detect the thorns beneath their surface. This was thanks to her vague understanding of high society.
“I didn’t wear it because I thought it wouldn’t be appropriate for lunch.”
Erna struggled to hide her embarrassment and offered a suitable answer. Her heartbeat quickened, and a pang of nausea began to rise, but she didn't waver in the smile on her lips. The words of encouragement to show up again, the laughter, and the compliments to the loving newlyweds flowed back and forth, sweet as the fragrance of flowers that filled the garden room.
Even as she held and kneaded cold, stiff hands, Erna managed to fulfill her role as hostess. She kept the conversation flowing, providing appropriate responses, and meticulously grasped the currents of this social season. After a stroll through the garden filled with spring flowers and a cup of tea, she was so exhausted that the corners of her mouth twitched, but even then, she never lost her smile.
The vain and vain Grand Duchess is enjoying a luxurious honeymoon.
It was only after returning home that she realized her reputation was in jeopardy. She had cleverly sabotaged her reunion with Princess Gladys, then lured the Prince away, using her money to indulge in extravagance. That was Erna Dneister. The scandal had been fueled by news from Pelia that Prince Bjorn had purchased an expensive diamond necklace for his wife. Of course, this time, she was never given a proper explanation.
This is the kind of person she is.
Others defined, judged, and displayed aspects of her that she herself was unaware of. The best Erna could do was to be cautious, to prevent things from escalating further.
After tea time ended and the ladies departed, it was already late afternoon. Now, the only guest left in the garden room was Princess Louise.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, we were able to hold today’s lunch meeting without a hitch.”
Louise, who had been quietly watching Erna greet her with a smile, sighed deeply and folded her fan. The gentle smile she had worn throughout the meeting vanished, and her face cooled. She looked remarkably like Bjorn.
Express your gratitude, invite them to dinner, and talk about fountains and flowers.
Erna, unable to continue the conversation she had planned in advance, just looked at Louise with a puzzled look.
The fact that so many of the noble ladies of Schwerin attended today's gathering hosted by the Grand Duchess was thanks to Louise's efforts. Even the ladies who had been reluctant accepted the invitation thanks to the enthusiastic Princess's persuasion.
Erna was delighted that Princess Louise, who had always been cold to her, had opened her heart. It was the reason she dreaded this day, yet also looked forward to it.
“I wonder if I made a mistake...”
"I'm siding with the Grand Duchess publicly for the sake of my brother and the royal family. I hope you don't think of it as a friendship between us."
As Erna tried to sit across from her, Louise stood up from the table, a clear gesture of refusal.
“Still, you helped me a lot, so I’m grateful for that...”
“Couldn’t Your Highness think a little more of my brother and the royal family?”
Louise's gaze, which had been wandering between the fragrant decorative plants, the marble sculptures between them, and the glass walls allowing sunlight to filter through, fell on Erna again.
"Even that necklace people are talking about is like that. Why did you have to buy such an expensive piece of jewelry from a foreign country and cause such a stir?"
"It was a birthday present from the Prince, Princess. I didn't force it or anything..."
"If you want to indulge, do it at Letzen. I won't get involved in that either."
Louise frowned as if to say she didn't want to hear any more.
“And I don’t like letters that ask for more than necessary familiarity.”
"Don't misunderstand, Princess. I didn't ask for anything like that. I simply wanted to say hello. It was a kind of friendly exchange, usually between family or friends."
Her voice began to tremble, but Erna maintained her composure and continued her explanation. It was Madame Fitz who had advised her that it was proper etiquette to send regular letters to the royal family. It was one of the duties assigned to the Grand Duchess, and Erna faithfully fulfilled this duty.
“But, Grand Duchess, we’re not like that.”
The wrinkle between Louise's eyebrows deepened.
“Don’t you think it’s emotional abuse to unilaterally force a friendship on me, a close friend of Gladys, by prioritizing only the position of the Grand Duchess?”
Erna couldn't offer any further response to Louise's cold question. Every word spoken without raising her voice felt like a sharp knife cutting into her heart.
"I still want to tell you that I'm Gladys' friend, and that friendship is very important to me. Of course, I'm the Princess of Letzen, so I'll stand by the Grand Duchess for my brother and the royal family, but please don't force our friendship beyond that. And please, consider the dignity befitting your position as the eldest Princess of Letzen."
Louise, having finished what she had to say, left the garden room.
Erna, who had been standing there blankly for a while, quickly followed the Princess. Emotional violence. She understood the meaning behind the princess's cold words, but she still wanted a proper ending.
Louise, who had been staring at her with a weary expression, left without a word. After seeing off the last guest, Erna returned to her room with weary steps.
Ahe plopped down on the chair in front of the desk and let out a long sigh. Still, she was glad she had been turned down before she could offer to have dinner with her. If she had, she would have been even more embarrassed.
Bjorn was right.
Erna had to accept the truth she didn't want to admit.
So, should we live without any expectations, accepting the hatred of everyone who loves Princess Gladys as a given?
No matter how much she pondered it, a question that remained elusive clawed at her heart. It was emotional violence. The label attached to her efforts was a bit upsetting and shameful.
Erna remained silently in that spot, mulling over her questions until the surroundings were bathed in the glow of sunset.
Suddenly, she missed her grandmother. Perhaps it was because she had had an overly tiring day.
“Not bad.”
Bjorn gave a cool response. It was hard to believe he'd read the very report he was holding.
While the butler, flustered by the unexpected reaction, was flustered, Bjorn rose from his seat. His smiling face was devoid of any trace of anger.
Butler Greg quickly regained his composure and stepped back. Bjorn, who had approached the fireplace, thoughtlessly threw the paper he was holding into the flames. The atrocities committed by the Viscount and his wife soon vanished into ashes.
“From now on, let’s report once every two weeks.”
“Ah... yes, Your Highness.”
Greg nodded and complied.
“I will do so.”
Seeing that the period had been shortened from one month to two weeks, he felt relieved as it seemed that they were at least aware of the need to monitor the situation.
The Prince issued an order the night after the wedding to monitor and report on the Hardy family's activities. Even during his honeymoon, he received reports by mail and telegraph. For a while, his father-in-law indulged in minor luxuries and investments, but as time passed, he grew increasingly timid.
Today's report contained news that Walter Hardy was selling his son-in-law to raise investment funds. While it's still early days, it seems quite a few people are attracted to the name of Prince Bjorn, which he's promoting. Brenda Hardy's indulgence in extravagance is also growing alongside her husband's business plans.
Bjorn reviewed a few items on the week's agenda, gave brief instructions, and left the study. The conscious smile that had been lingering on his lips vanished as he climbed the stairs and passed through the long hallway.
The Hardy family's extravagant behavior was something he had anticipated when he chose Erna Hardy as his wife. It was nothing to be surprised or angry about now; it was merely a slight annoyance. As long as it didn't cross the line, he decided not to interfere. After all, to calm a noisy child, you have to give them a piece of candy.
Instead of heading straight to the place where he would greet his guests, Bjorn turned his steps toward his wife's room.
“Her Highness has not yet finished her preparations, Your Highness.”
The head maid, seeing him enter the reception room of the suite, approached him quickly and bowed. Bjorn, checking the time, nodded readily and approached Erna's desk by the window. There was still plenty of time left until the painter's visit.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll wait.”
Bjorn sat cross-legged on a chair draped with a lace shawl. The maids, who had been observing him, returned to their tasks.
Pavel Lore.
As he recalled the name of the artist he would soon meet, he felt a strange sense of emptiness.
What on earth is he talking about?
Bjorn slowly opened his eyes, his gaze lingering on the console positioned diagonally across the room. Golden antlers glittered brilliantly in the bright spring sunlight. They were the spoils of his second bachelor's party, the very trophy he'd given Erna in a drunken stupor. His tightly clenched lips relaxed at the sight of the ribbon neatly tied to the antler's crown.
Bjorn first discovered the Ribbon Man antlers the weekend after returning from his honeymoon. He was leaning against the window, smoking a cigar, when he turned around and the absurdly shaped trophy caught his eye.
'What the heck is that?'
When he asked, Erna, who was sitting at her desk writing a letter, raised her head.
'You have so many identical trophies around the house. I marked them to identify mine.'
Erna, who had answered each question bluntly, returned to writing her letter. Her demeanor was calm and elegant, a departure from her usual eccentric behavior.
That day, Bjorn laughed for a long time. He faced Erna, who stared at him as if she didn't understand, and his cheeks grew cold. It had been blue then, but now it was pink. It seemed as if she were giving it different ribbons depending on the season.
Bjorn chuckled and approached the console. As he gently stroked the smooth end of the ribbon, the bedroom door opened, revealing Erna, ready to model for a portrait. Her aquamarine dress, lavishly adorned with gold thread, pearls, and delicate lace, was more splendid and beautiful than anything Erna had ever seen.
Bjorn stood before his wife with a satisfied smile on his face. His gaze slowly traced Erna's sparkling tiara, elaborately braided hair, veil, and dangling earrings, then stopped on Erna's pale nape.
“What about the necklace I gave you?”
Bjorn's eyes narrowed as he looked at the pearl necklace emitting a soft light.
"I wish you had worn that necklace today. I wanted to see it. It's a shame, Your Highness."
The conversation changed when the Baroness, sitting at the far end of the table, spoke up.
The noble ladies, who had been excitedly discussing the upcoming exhibition early next month, now began to chat excitedly about the Grand Duchess's diamond necklace, which had been causing a stir in Letzen for some time.
I heard you're a precious and beautiful jewel. It seems like you two are on good terms. I'm jealous.
Those who offered her compliments all wore bright, friendly smiles. However, Erna could now easily detect the thorns beneath their surface. This was thanks to her vague understanding of high society.
“I didn’t wear it because I thought it wouldn’t be appropriate for lunch.”
Erna struggled to hide her embarrassment and offered a suitable answer. Her heartbeat quickened, and a pang of nausea began to rise, but she didn't waver in the smile on her lips. The words of encouragement to show up again, the laughter, and the compliments to the loving newlyweds flowed back and forth, sweet as the fragrance of flowers that filled the garden room.
Even as she held and kneaded cold, stiff hands, Erna managed to fulfill her role as hostess. She kept the conversation flowing, providing appropriate responses, and meticulously grasped the currents of this social season. After a stroll through the garden filled with spring flowers and a cup of tea, she was so exhausted that the corners of her mouth twitched, but even then, she never lost her smile.
The vain and vain Grand Duchess is enjoying a luxurious honeymoon.
It was only after returning home that she realized her reputation was in jeopardy. She had cleverly sabotaged her reunion with Princess Gladys, then lured the Prince away, using her money to indulge in extravagance. That was Erna Dneister. The scandal had been fueled by news from Pelia that Prince Bjorn had purchased an expensive diamond necklace for his wife. Of course, this time, she was never given a proper explanation.
This is the kind of person she is.
Others defined, judged, and displayed aspects of her that she herself was unaware of. The best Erna could do was to be cautious, to prevent things from escalating further.
After tea time ended and the ladies departed, it was already late afternoon. Now, the only guest left in the garden room was Princess Louise.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, we were able to hold today’s lunch meeting without a hitch.”
Louise, who had been quietly watching Erna greet her with a smile, sighed deeply and folded her fan. The gentle smile she had worn throughout the meeting vanished, and her face cooled. She looked remarkably like Bjorn.
Express your gratitude, invite them to dinner, and talk about fountains and flowers.
Erna, unable to continue the conversation she had planned in advance, just looked at Louise with a puzzled look.
The fact that so many of the noble ladies of Schwerin attended today's gathering hosted by the Grand Duchess was thanks to Louise's efforts. Even the ladies who had been reluctant accepted the invitation thanks to the enthusiastic Princess's persuasion.
Erna was delighted that Princess Louise, who had always been cold to her, had opened her heart. It was the reason she dreaded this day, yet also looked forward to it.
“I wonder if I made a mistake...”
"I'm siding with the Grand Duchess publicly for the sake of my brother and the royal family. I hope you don't think of it as a friendship between us."
As Erna tried to sit across from her, Louise stood up from the table, a clear gesture of refusal.
“Still, you helped me a lot, so I’m grateful for that...”
“Couldn’t Your Highness think a little more of my brother and the royal family?”
Louise's gaze, which had been wandering between the fragrant decorative plants, the marble sculptures between them, and the glass walls allowing sunlight to filter through, fell on Erna again.
"Even that necklace people are talking about is like that. Why did you have to buy such an expensive piece of jewelry from a foreign country and cause such a stir?"
"It was a birthday present from the Prince, Princess. I didn't force it or anything..."
"If you want to indulge, do it at Letzen. I won't get involved in that either."
Louise frowned as if to say she didn't want to hear any more.
“And I don’t like letters that ask for more than necessary familiarity.”
"Don't misunderstand, Princess. I didn't ask for anything like that. I simply wanted to say hello. It was a kind of friendly exchange, usually between family or friends."
Her voice began to tremble, but Erna maintained her composure and continued her explanation. It was Madame Fitz who had advised her that it was proper etiquette to send regular letters to the royal family. It was one of the duties assigned to the Grand Duchess, and Erna faithfully fulfilled this duty.
“But, Grand Duchess, we’re not like that.”
The wrinkle between Louise's eyebrows deepened.
“Don’t you think it’s emotional abuse to unilaterally force a friendship on me, a close friend of Gladys, by prioritizing only the position of the Grand Duchess?”
Erna couldn't offer any further response to Louise's cold question. Every word spoken without raising her voice felt like a sharp knife cutting into her heart.
"I still want to tell you that I'm Gladys' friend, and that friendship is very important to me. Of course, I'm the Princess of Letzen, so I'll stand by the Grand Duchess for my brother and the royal family, but please don't force our friendship beyond that. And please, consider the dignity befitting your position as the eldest Princess of Letzen."
Louise, having finished what she had to say, left the garden room.
Erna, who had been standing there blankly for a while, quickly followed the Princess. Emotional violence. She understood the meaning behind the princess's cold words, but she still wanted a proper ending.
Louise, who had been staring at her with a weary expression, left without a word. After seeing off the last guest, Erna returned to her room with weary steps.
Ahe plopped down on the chair in front of the desk and let out a long sigh. Still, she was glad she had been turned down before she could offer to have dinner with her. If she had, she would have been even more embarrassed.
Bjorn was right.
Erna had to accept the truth she didn't want to admit.
So, should we live without any expectations, accepting the hatred of everyone who loves Princess Gladys as a given?
No matter how much she pondered it, a question that remained elusive clawed at her heart. It was emotional violence. The label attached to her efforts was a bit upsetting and shameful.
Erna remained silently in that spot, mulling over her questions until the surroundings were bathed in the glow of sunset.
Suddenly, she missed her grandmother. Perhaps it was because she had had an overly tiring day.
***
“Not bad.”
Bjorn gave a cool response. It was hard to believe he'd read the very report he was holding.
While the butler, flustered by the unexpected reaction, was flustered, Bjorn rose from his seat. His smiling face was devoid of any trace of anger.
Butler Greg quickly regained his composure and stepped back. Bjorn, who had approached the fireplace, thoughtlessly threw the paper he was holding into the flames. The atrocities committed by the Viscount and his wife soon vanished into ashes.
“From now on, let’s report once every two weeks.”
“Ah... yes, Your Highness.”
Greg nodded and complied.
“I will do so.”
Seeing that the period had been shortened from one month to two weeks, he felt relieved as it seemed that they were at least aware of the need to monitor the situation.
The Prince issued an order the night after the wedding to monitor and report on the Hardy family's activities. Even during his honeymoon, he received reports by mail and telegraph. For a while, his father-in-law indulged in minor luxuries and investments, but as time passed, he grew increasingly timid.
Today's report contained news that Walter Hardy was selling his son-in-law to raise investment funds. While it's still early days, it seems quite a few people are attracted to the name of Prince Bjorn, which he's promoting. Brenda Hardy's indulgence in extravagance is also growing alongside her husband's business plans.
Bjorn reviewed a few items on the week's agenda, gave brief instructions, and left the study. The conscious smile that had been lingering on his lips vanished as he climbed the stairs and passed through the long hallway.
The Hardy family's extravagant behavior was something he had anticipated when he chose Erna Hardy as his wife. It was nothing to be surprised or angry about now; it was merely a slight annoyance. As long as it didn't cross the line, he decided not to interfere. After all, to calm a noisy child, you have to give them a piece of candy.
Instead of heading straight to the place where he would greet his guests, Bjorn turned his steps toward his wife's room.
“Her Highness has not yet finished her preparations, Your Highness.”
The head maid, seeing him enter the reception room of the suite, approached him quickly and bowed. Bjorn, checking the time, nodded readily and approached Erna's desk by the window. There was still plenty of time left until the painter's visit.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll wait.”
Bjorn sat cross-legged on a chair draped with a lace shawl. The maids, who had been observing him, returned to their tasks.
Pavel Lore.
As he recalled the name of the artist he would soon meet, he felt a strange sense of emptiness.
What on earth is he talking about?
Bjorn slowly opened his eyes, his gaze lingering on the console positioned diagonally across the room. Golden antlers glittered brilliantly in the bright spring sunlight. They were the spoils of his second bachelor's party, the very trophy he'd given Erna in a drunken stupor. His tightly clenched lips relaxed at the sight of the ribbon neatly tied to the antler's crown.
Bjorn first discovered the Ribbon Man antlers the weekend after returning from his honeymoon. He was leaning against the window, smoking a cigar, when he turned around and the absurdly shaped trophy caught his eye.
'What the heck is that?'
When he asked, Erna, who was sitting at her desk writing a letter, raised her head.
'You have so many identical trophies around the house. I marked them to identify mine.'
Erna, who had answered each question bluntly, returned to writing her letter. Her demeanor was calm and elegant, a departure from her usual eccentric behavior.
That day, Bjorn laughed for a long time. He faced Erna, who stared at him as if she didn't understand, and his cheeks grew cold. It had been blue then, but now it was pink. It seemed as if she were giving it different ribbons depending on the season.
Bjorn chuckled and approached the console. As he gently stroked the smooth end of the ribbon, the bedroom door opened, revealing Erna, ready to model for a portrait. Her aquamarine dress, lavishly adorned with gold thread, pearls, and delicate lace, was more splendid and beautiful than anything Erna had ever seen.
Bjorn stood before his wife with a satisfied smile on his face. His gaze slowly traced Erna's sparkling tiara, elaborately braided hair, veil, and dangling earrings, then stopped on Erna's pale nape.
“What about the necklace I gave you?”
Bjorn's eyes narrowed as he looked at the pearl necklace emitting a soft light.
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