Episode 63. A bolt from the blue from both sides
Maxim entered the study in the morning. His steps were more cautious than usual. When Maxim walked in like that, it was usually because he was bringing something ambiguous to discuss. And with an expression as flustered as his gait, he greeted Martha.
Martha lifted her eyes from the documents, waiting for Maxim to speak.
"My Lady."
"What is it?"
"Her Majesty the Empress wishes to visit the Duke of Valois this afternoon."
Martha looked at Maxim.
"Her Majesty the Empress herself?"
"Yes. A letter arrived just a moment ago."
Martha thought as she set down the documents. Her Majesty the Empress had never visited in person before. She had always summoned her. Come to the palace, attend events together, stop by for tea. It was always Martha who was the one going. But this time, Her Majesty the Empress said she would come in person. This meant she had made up her mind.
Martha muttered to herself. What? Is she deciding to torment me even on days without events now?
Maxim continued.
"And, My Lady, someone has already arrived this morning."
Martha looked at Maxim.
"Who is it?"
"The Duke of Ashford. He is currently in the study with Duke Claude."
Martha was silent for a moment. The Duke of Ashford was there on the very day the Empress was arriving. On the same day. It was too strange a coincidence. No, it might not have been a coincidence. The Duke of Ashford couldn't possibly be unaware of news from the Imperial Palace. He might have known that the Empress was coming to the Valois estate today and had reserved a seat in advance.
Martha looked at Maxim.
"Did Prince Leon come along too?"
"Yes, Princess."
Martha said while organizing documents.
"Father must be in a difficult position. Will the Duke of Ashford leave soon?"
"He declared earlier that he is hungry and will stay until dinner."
"Ugh, I wonder what his ulterior motive is. Since the number of guests will increase with the Empress's arrival, please prepare the reception room for the afternoon."
Maxim nodded and left. As Martha rose from her seat, she thought to herself. Martha thought that today would not be a quiet day. She simply hoped it would pass without incident.
As the afternoon arrived, a carriage bearing the imperial crest entered the main gate of the Duke of Valois estate. The stable keeper rushed out, and the servants lined up toward the entrance. Martha stood at the entrance with Claude and Edward to greet them. Isabella stood beside them.
The carriage door opened, and the Crown Prince stepped out. Then, with the Crown Prince's help, the Empress stepped onto the carriage platform to disembark. She was impeccably dressed once again today. Her silver-gray dress shone quietly in the afternoon sunlight.
As the Empress stood at the entrance of the Valois estate, she looked around once. It was a scanning gaze. Martha didn't know exactly what she was measuring, but she knew she was measuring.
The Crown Prince looked at Martha and nodded in greeting. Martha returned the greeting. Her Majesty the Empress greeted Claude.
"Duke of Valois, I have come to visit unexpectedly. I hope you are not uncomfortable."
Claude said, bowing at the waist.
"It is an honor to have Your Majesty the Empress visit."
The Empress looked at Martha.
"Serena, have you been well? You look fine since I last saw you a few days ago. Have you gained some weight?"
"Thanks to you, Your Majesty the Empress, I have been doing well."
You! You!! Because you aren't the one calling me!!! I feel at ease; that is why!!!!
The Empress smiled at Martha. That smile looked warm, yet it was not a warm smile. Martha knew it. She returned the same smile to the Empress.
Claude escorted the Empress to the central reception room. Everyone followed behind the two. The reception room door opened. Upon seeing the Empress, the Duke of Ashford rose from his seat. As the Empress entered the reception room, she looked at the Duke of Ashford. It was a fleeting moment. In a very brief instant, the Empress's gaze changed and then returned to normal. Her expression did not change. However, Martha saw that change in her eyes. It was a look of displeasure.
The Duke of Ashford bowed and spoke.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects. It has been a long time since we last met."
His voice was firm and proper. It was polite. Yet, within that politeness lay something solid. A refusal to back down was contained within that firmness. As the Empress took her seat, she spoke.
"What brings the Duke of Ashford here?"
"I have business with Duke Claude. I did not expect Your Majesty to come."
"I see."
It was a single word. However, that single word was not a simple answer. It meant that he knew she was here, and it also meant that she was displeased. People took their seats in the reception room.
The Empress and the Crown Prince were in the center. The Duke of Ashford and Leon were on the left. Claude, Isabella, and Edward were on the right. Since there were not enough seats, Martha sat in the seat facing the Empress. It was a seat that was neither one nor the other. Not toward the Empress, nor toward the Duke of Ashford.
As Martha sat there, she thought. It is the perfect seat. A seat that leans neither to one side nor the other.
The tea and refreshments to be served were brought out. As she accepted the teacup, she felt the atmosphere of the drawing room. On the surface, it was quiet. It was an ordinary drawing room where people drank tea, picked up snacks, and exchanged greetings. However, within that silence, there was something taut. It was the tension of two distinct forces settling into the same space, conscious of one another.
The Empress took a sip of tea and looked at Martha.
"The Duke of Valois' estate is truly cozy. It must be Serena's handiwork."
"You are too kind. Besides, it was Mother who decorated it, not me."
Isabella bowed her head while looking at the Empress. The Empress glanced at Isabella briefly, then looked back at Martha.
"Serena is the talk of the palace these days. Wherever you go, Serena is being mentioned."
"It is all thanks to Your Majesty the Empress's care."
The Empress said as she set down her teacup.
"The Crown Prince has been talking about Serena quite often, too."
Martha picked up her teacup. She pretended not to hear. She took a sip of tea. It tasted good. It was tea Helena had brewed with great care. She focused solely on this tea. She let the Empress's words go in one ear and out the other. The Empress continued.
"The Crown Prince has been very interested in Serena lately. Did you talk about anything special?"
Marta looked out the window while holding her teacup. She saw lavender in the garden. Let's see, one lavender flower, two, three... The Empress spoke again.
"Serena?"
Martha looked at the Empress. Oh my, she's a pro at harping on things. Would it hurt to just let it slide?
"Ah, I'm sorry. What did you say?"
The Empress looked at Martha. Something flashed in her eyes. It was a look that indicated she had realized Martha was pretending not to hear. Yet, feigning ignorance, she repeated.
"That the Crown Prince is very interested in Serena."
Just then, the Duke of Ashford cleared his throat twice and naturally interjected.
"Your Majesty, Princess Valois is a young lady who already has ties to the House of Ashford."
"Although he does have a history of a broken engagement."
Her voice was soft. Yet, it was a word like a soft blade. The Empress looked at the Duke of Ashford. Her eyes changed. It was a common trait between these two that only their eyes changed while their expressions remained the same. Watching this, Martha thought, "You two are alike."
The Empress raised her teacup and said,
"Having a broken engagement is no flaw."
"Of course not."
The Duke of Ashford looked at Leon.
"Because the person who broke off the engagement is sitting right next to you."
Leon, who had been drinking tea, choked and coughed when his name was mentioned. Then, perhaps uncomfortable with the gaze focused on him, he looked elsewhere. It appeared as though he were looking at nothing, but in reality, his eyes were seeing everything. The hand holding the teacup looked relaxed, but it was not a relaxed hand.
Suddenly, Martha was slightly surprised that she knew this much about Leon.
The Empress and the Duke of Ashford looked at each other with smiles. Naturally. However, those smiles were not directed in the same direction. They were two smiles aimed at each other.
The air in the drawing room felt like it was growing cold. Even though there was warmth rising from the teacup, the air was chilly. Isabella wore an expression that showed she couldn't even tell if the tea she was holding was warm or cold. Claude sat beside her, drinking tea and looking out the window. He wore a face that showed he didn't want to get involved in this fight. He looked like he knew why the Duke of Ashford had come here today. And he looked like he knew why the Empress had come as well. Pretending not to know, despite knowing, was the best Claude could do right now.
Edward was picking up a piece of bread while staring blankly into space. Martha sat in the middle of it all and thought to herself, "The elders are fighting because of me. You two, I have absolutely no opinion. Whether you bicker or not..."
The Empress looked at Martha again.
"Serena, I didn't hear your answer earlier. Regarding the rumor that the Crown Prince is showing interest."
Martha looked at the Empress. She still isn't done, that woman...
This time, Martha couldn't avoid it. The Empress was asking directly, and pretending not to know any longer would have been rude. Martha put down her teacup and said.
"It is an honor that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is showing interest."
The Empress looked at Martha. Martha smiled and continued.
"He is Your Majesty's son, after all. It is an even greater honor to hear you say this in person."
The Empress looked at Martha. Her eyes were trying to read Martha's expression and intentions. Whether this Princess was genuinely happy or retorting. Her eyes were trying to read that boundary. Martha met those gazes and thought to herself, "Read it, Your Majesty. I am more confident than anyone when it comes to controlling my facial expressions."
The Crown Prince, sitting beside the Empress, looked at Martha. There was something in his eyes. It was like a smile. It was the look of someone laughing inwardly.
Duke Ashford set down the tea and said.
"Your Majesty, I understand that Princess Valois has not yet decided on a marriage partner."
The Empress looked at Duke Ashford.
"That is correct. That is why I brought it up."
"Right now, the madwoman Valois... no, Princess Valois is extremely busy with official duties. She's also about helping the family recover."
"Uh, uh... Duke Ashford, you clearly said she was a Valois madwoman."
"Anyone would think you are Serena's father."
"She is like a daughter to me. Sometimes she confuses me with the Duke of Valois and calls me 'Dad.'"
"Hahaha."
You're kidding. When did I...
The Duke of Ashford and the Empress stared intently at each other. The atmosphere was such that it felt like sparks were flying every time their eyes met. The air between the two was completely different. Their words were polite. They were courteous. But beneath that politeness, two firm resolves were pushing against each other. A refusal to back down. A determination to take what they wanted. Even though it wasn't visible on the surface, it was palpable.
Feeling this, Martha thought to herself, "Those two are completely fighting over me right now. I'm not an object."
Yet, she said nothing. She simply drank her tea and gazed out the window. She picked up the snack Helena had brought out. A moment later, Martha rose from her seat.
"I'm going to get some fresh air."
The Empress looked at Martha.
"Sure."
As Martha left the drawing room, she thought to herself, "I'm alive."
She let out a sigh as she walked down the hallway. It was only after stepping outside that she realized she had been tense the entire time she was inside the drawing room.
So this is what it feels like for the Empress and the Duke of Ashford to be in the same space at the same time. It felt as if cold air was coming from two directions simultaneously. Sensing the atmosphere, Edward and Leon seemed to have left ahead of time.
She stepped out into the garden. The afternoon sun was setting. Long shadows hung from the trees. A scent wafted from the lavender flowerbeds. The air was different. It was air that was much easier to breathe than in the drawing room.
Martha stopped as she entered the garden. Leon was there. He was sitting on a garden bench, looking straight ahead. It seemed he had come out first when the atmosphere inside turned tense. Seeing Martha approaching, Leon turned his gaze away. Their eyes met.
Just then, footsteps were heard from the garden entrance on the opposite side. It was the Crown Prince. It appeared the Crown Prince had also followed her and had come out to avoid the interior. As he entered the garden, he looked at Leon. Leon looked at the Crown Prince. It was only for a moment. No greetings were exchanged. No words were exchanged. They simply stared at each other.
The moment the two looked at one another, the air changed. It felt as if the air in the garden was shifting to that of the drawing room.
Martha watched the two of them and thought to herself, "This isn't comfortable either."
The Crown Prince walked over naturally and looked at Martha.
"The Princess has come out to avoid us, too."
His voice was light. There was a hint of playfulness in it. However, that playfulness was conscious of Leon.
"That is how it turned out."
The Crown Prince looked at Leon.
"Prince Ashford, too."
Leon looked at the Crown Prince.
"Yes."
It was just a single word. Because that word was so brief, it felt heavier all the more. The three of them stood in the garden.
The Crown Prince spoke to Martha.
"Did yesterday's work wrap up well?"
Martha looked at the Crown Prince.
"Ah, yes. Well, it went well."
Leon looked at Martha.
"What happened at the Imperial Palace yesterday?"
It was a question, though it was a statement without a question mark. The atmosphere changed again. Martha chose her words for a moment before speaking.
"Just this and that."
Leon looked at Martha, then at the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince looked at Leon. The way they looked at each other was different. The Crown Prince's eyes were silent. Leon's eyes were trying to read. They were eyes trying to reach a conclusion while reading.
The Crown Prince spoke first.
"Shall we go for a walk? The garden is spacious, so walking would be nice."
Martha nodded and walked. Leon began walking alongside Martha. The Crown Prince walked on the opposite side of Martha. The three walked side by side. Martha was in the middle. It was a path where three people with uneven paces walked together. The Crown Prince had a slow, leisurely stride. Leon had a large, solid stride. Walking in the middle, Martha tried to match their pace but gave up.
"I will just walk at my own pace..."
The Crown Prince said to Martha.
"There is lavender in the garden. Did it come from the herb estate?"
"Yes. It was transplanted. It comes from the estate's herb field."
"The scent is lovely."
Leon said.
"Have you seen the estate's herb field in person, Your Highness?"
The Crown Prince looked at Leon. Leon walked, looking straight ahead. He was asking the Crown Prince, yet he did not look at him. That actually made him seem sharper. The Crown Prince took his words and said.
"I haven't seen it yet."
"I see."
Leon said.
"I have been there."
The Crown Prince looked at Leon. Leon looked at the Crown Prince. The two looked at each other over Martha. Martha walked in the middle and looked at Lavender. She was pretending not to see.
The Crown Prince turned the conversation back to Martha.
"I heard the Valois Riding Estate is nice. I heard the rolling hills are particularly beautiful."
"Yes. I think it would be good for you to visit."
Leon said.
"I have been there, too. There is a horse there. Its name is Grumpy."
The Crown Prince looked at Leon.
"Grumpy?"
"It is the Princess's horse."
The Crown Prince looked at Martha.
"Is the horse's name Grumpy?"
Martha looked at Leon. Leon was walking while looking straight ahead. He had a composed face. It was clear he was acting composed on purpose. Martha thought to herself, "Young Master Leon, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you? It's so childish."
The Crown Prince said to Martha.
"Do you like horseback riding, Princess?"
"I'm still learning."
"Who is teaching you?"
Leon, standing beside him, beat him to it the moment he finished speaking.
"I am teaching her, Your Highness."
His voice hadn't changed. It was the same tone. Yet, that same tone sounded even sharper. The Crown Prince looked at Leon. Leon looked at the Crown Prince. This time, neither of them took their eyes off the other.
The garden was quiet. The wind passed by. The lavender swayed. Amidst it all, the two were looking at each other. There were no words. Though there were no words, much was exchanged.
Martha walked through the silence and thought, "Why is everyone acting like this, inside or outside?"
Martha stopped walking and said.
"Look, the roses have bloomed."
Both of them looked at Martha at the same time. Walking toward the roses, Martha said.
"I think this is the first time they've bloomed. Mother has been waiting for them. She said these roses don't bloom every year."
The Crown Prince walked behind Martha and said.
"Doesn't this situation make you uncomfortable, Princess?"
Martha looked at the Crown Prince.
"What situation?"
The Crown Prince looked at Leon, then at Martha. Martha looked at them and said.
"It is uncomfortable."
The Crown Prince looked at Martha.
"But what can be done?"
Martha said, looking at them. Her voice was calm. It was the voice of someone who acknowledged the discomfort yet remained unshaken by it. The Crown Prince let out a soft chuckle. It was a brief laugh. It was a sincere laugh.
Leon froze beside him. It wasn't that his expression had changed. Yet, something had hardened. It felt as if he were clenching his fist, even though he hadn't.
Martha looked at the rose and thought to herself, "I think I know why these two are acting this way. Pretending not to know seems like the best thing I can do right now."
The Crown Prince stood beside Martha and looked at the rose.
"It is beautiful."
"Yes. I think Mother will be pleased."
Leon looked at the rose from the opposite side of Martha.
"Red roses don't bloom for long. You have to take good care of them."
Martha looked at Leon. Leon spoke while looking at the rose.
"They are also easy to break on windy days."
The Crown Prince looked at Leon. Feeling that gaze, Leon looked back at the Crown Prince. The two looked at each other with the rose between them. Martha felt those two gazes crossing over her and thought, "I am not a rose."
Just then, a voice was heard from the garden entrance. It was the Empress.
"So you were here."
The three of them turned around at the same time. The Empress was entering the garden. The Duke of Ashford was following behind her. The two entered the garden side by side, yet they were not quite side by side. They were two people walking while maintaining a distance.
Watching this, Martha thought to herself. She thought that if only these four were there, it would be a spectacle more impressive than any theater performance.
The Empress's carriage and the Duke of Ashford's carriage were waiting side by side in front of the entrance. Sunlight was slanting in toward the main gate. It was the time when afternoon was turning into evening.
The House of Valois saw off the Empress, the Crown Prince, the Duke of Ashford, and Leon. The Empress approached Martha first.
"Thanks to you, I had a pleasant stay today, Princess. I will be in touch again soon."
Martha bowed her head.
"Your Majesty, thank you for coming."
The Empress looked at Martha and extended her hand. She took Martha's right hand gently, yet firmly. Her hand was cold. The Empress's hand was extremely cold. It was a hand devoid of warmth. Yet, there was strength in her grip. She held it tightly.
As Martha accepted that hand, she thought, "It looks like it will be hard for me to pull away first until this hand lets go."
Just then, the Duke of Ashford approached from the opposite side. And naturally, as if nothing were wrong, he took Martha's left hand. Martha froze. The Duke of Ashford looked at Martha and said.
"My Princess, I enjoyed today too. We should see each other often."
Martha looked at the Duke of Ashford. Why is the Duke acting like this again?
The Empress looked at the Duke of Ashford. The Duke of Ashford turned his head, which had been looking at Martha, to look at the Empress. At the same time, they both smiled. Naturally. But those smiles were not directed in the same direction. They were two smiles aimed at each other.
Martha stood in the middle of it all. The Empress was holding her right hand. The Duke of Ashford was holding her left hand. Both hands were being held. Martha thought to herself, "What a bolt from the blue."
Edward bowed his head as he watched the scene from behind. His shoulders trembled slightly. As the Crown Prince watched the scene, the corners of his mouth turned up ever so slightly. Leon froze as he watched the scene. Claude looked away. Isabella parted her lips before closing them. Lucy took out a notebook from beside the entrance pillar.
Martha smiled, her hands held in their hands. I have to smile. I just have to smile. There was no other way in this situation but to smile.
[Lucy's Secret Shock Journal Chapter 63]
The Empress and the Duke of Ashford arrived on the same day. In the reception room, the two of them exchanged sharp words while smiling. Duke Claude looked out the window with an expression of indifference.
In the garden, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prince Leon walked on either side of the Princess. They didn't say a word, but the air was chilly. The Princess, however, was engrossed in admiring the flowers, completely oblivious to the situation. I still don't know if she has any sense or not.
At the entrance, the Empress held the Princess's right hand, and the Duke of Ashford held her left. The Princess froze for a moment, then smiled. It was a smile, yet it wasn't a smile. Should I split the Princess in half and send the right side to the Imperial Palace and the left side to the Ashford ducal family?
Previous Next
Comments
Post a Comment