Jessica’s complexion changed.
For the nobles of Astelle, apologizing on one’s honor meant acknowledging one’s mistake and sincerely asking for forgiveness, putting their very name on the line. Regardless of what the other party might demand.
Unless families intended to feud, even for major transgressions, it was rare to demand an apology on one’s honor.
So this went beyond a battle of wills between Asili and Jessica, it meant that there could be—no, there already was—a problem in the relationship between House Camedich and House Belucci.
“Are you serious?”
“I am. Didn’t you yourself admit to making a mistake?”
Even with an apology on one’s honor, given how badly the situation had deteriorated, it was fair to say there was no way to recover the relationship.
Yet she couldn’t avoid the situation either. She had already admitted to her mistake with her own words.
Not apologizing in this situation would be proving herself to be a person without manners, and at the same time, it would be going against the order of nobility.
If she mishandled this, she could become a laughingstock for a while. She, whom everyone looked up to and wanted to curry favor with.
“…Ha, I apologize on my honor.”
There was no other choice.
Jessica glared at Asili, thinking she would never forget this. She enunciated each word clearly, putting force behind them.
“Would you give me a chance to make amends for my mistake?”
Asili smiled at that. It looked like a gentle smile, but Jessica, being right in front of her, couldn’t help but notice.
The fact that this woman was mocking her.
“…Yes, Lady Belucci. I have no desire to use your mistake as leverage to demand unreasonable compensation. So you can rest assured.”
At the words ‘rest assured,’ Jessica’s face contorted once again.
Asili was throwing Jessica’s own words back at her. However, Jessica had no way to counter here. All she could do was endure this humiliation and move on.
“Thank you, Madame. Then, as a token of my apology, would you accept this handkerchief?”
If Asili were to accept the handkerchief Jessica was offering now, it would mean agreeing not to attack her over the same issue again.
However, unexpectedly, Asili shook her head.
“No.”
“……”
“May I ask for something else instead of the handkerchief? If you’re truly apologizing to me.”
Jessica asked, as if dumbfounded.
“You’re directly requesting an item to be given as an apology?”
“Isn’t this an apology on your honor?”
At the innocent tone, Jessica almost burst into a mocking laugh.
Despite receiving a glare that looked as if it could devour her, Asili remained unshaken. Instead, she smiled again and made her request.
“I’ll ask for something as useless to you as a handkerchief. The ribbon tying your braid, I’d like to have that.”
At this calm request, the surroundings became noisy.
In Astelle, unmarried women were required to wear modest dresses up to their necks and braid their hair neatly in a single plait, not allowing even a single strand of hair to fall loose carelessly.
But she had asked for the ribbon tying the braid. This meant asking her to stand before everyone at this party not as a proper maiden, but as a loose woman who didn’t guard her chastity.
“What did you say?”
“Don’t you think? It seems you won’t need that ribbon anyway.”
“Do you understand what your words mean?”
“I wonder.”
At the leisurely response, Jessica clutched the hem of her dress tightly.
Asili observed Jessica’s face, which was completely failing to maintain composure, as if watching a spectacle, then spoke again.
“If it’s difficult for you, I suppose it can’t be helped. I’ll refuse an apology that lacks sincerity.”
“Madame!”
Jessica’s shrill cry was heard, but Asili didn’t look back.
She had returned the insult, and this was the line she had set for today. She didn’t want to cross it. Because she wanted to trample her more slowly, for a longer time.
“Asili.”
At the low voice calling her name, Asili stopped her thoughts and turned around.
The man, so tall that she had to lift her head quite a bit just to see his face, was a handsome man with a masculine impression, black hair, and blue eyes.
But even before confirming his face, Asili knew who he was.
If there was someone who called her name, which no one else called, it could only be Esperad Camedich, her husband.
“We’re finally meeting today.”
“Are you alright?”
Much was omitted from that question, but Asili immediately understood what he was asking.
“I’m fine.”
“I left for a moment, and you encountered a difficult situation.”
It was what she had hoped for.
Swallowing those words, Asili replied.
“I was prepared for it, so don’t worry.”
They weren’t in a tender relationship where they would worry and reassure each other, but Asili put on a semblance of a smile, hoping it would appear that way to others.
However, the consciously raised corners of her mouth soon fell. It was due to the murmuring that momentarily drowned out even the grand music being played.
At the strange commotion, Asili turned around. Then she widened her eyes.
“…!”
Despite the ball having started quite some time ago, a man appeared belatedly.
However, the reason people were whispering wasn’t simply because of his tardiness.
The newly arrived man was a strikingly handsome figure, enough to capture everyone’s attention at once.
With curly, voluminous blonde hair and eyes as beautiful as blue jewels.
Every step the man took in his pristine, high-quality formal attire drew more and more gazes, never letting them stray.
Everyone continuously uttered exclamations at his noble and beautiful appearance, like a well-crafted work of art.
Asili’s heart began to pound rapidly.
Was it because the man’s beauty was so magnificent? Because he made her nervous? No, it wasn’t an inappropriate emotion for a newlywed woman to have.
Yet Asili couldn’t take her eyes off the man for a very long time.
If someone had seen her like that, they might have gossiped that the newly married Duchess Camedich had fallen for the dazzling appearance of Joseph, the eldest son of the Bonaparte Count family.
She was somewhat aware of that fact, but even so, it was difficult to turn her head away. She simply couldn’t.
It wasn’t because Joseph was so handsome that any unmarried lady would dream of marrying him.
If that were the reason, it might have been fortunate.
Despite having imagined this situation countless times, she couldn’t calm her heart, which was already pounding like crazy.
It felt as if only Joseph Bonaparte and Asili were left in this space. His presence was that unique. At least to her.
“Asili?”
At the sight of Asili sending an unusually persistent gaze, Esperad called his wife’s name.
She knew she should provide a proper explanation, but she couldn’t reassure her husband or take her eyes off Joseph.
At least to her, it was natural. Because she alone knew that, despite his captivating appearance, he was a terrible demon.
Before her regression, Joseph had killed Asili and the child she carried in her womb.
Joseph Bonaparte, the father of that poor child and her husband.
That damned bastard.
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