She must have lost interest in me. Tatiana rested her chin on her hand, gazing absently out the window where the festive atmosphere was stirring. Having been kept by her mother for a good two months preparing only for Duke Atlas’s banquet, she was completely in the dark about outside news.
Whether the sun was setting or the moon was rising, who was coming and who was going.
It felt as if she had been blinded alone in the bright white night, all for the sake of receiving a mere ring. Even when names of renowned knights from across the continent were mentioned one by one, accompanied by cheers and laughter, she could only manage a faint smile, barely lifting the corners of her mouth.
“They say there won’t be any wars for a while since the flags of our Freya Empire have been planted all the way to the Southernmost part of the continent. All thanks to His Highness the Crown Prince…”
“Speak properly. Not the Crown Prince, but the Black Wolf.”
“……”
“No, these days they call him the Red-Eyed Grim Reaper, or the Red-Eyed Wolf.”
Rebecca’s clear voice cut across the table, breaking the warm atmosphere. The intention behind her words was obvious, making her feigned innocence seem all the more discordant.
“Why? You all know it’s true. That in recent years, half of Freya’s territory was expanded directly by that man.”
“Rebecca.”
“What? Did I say something wrong again?”
Rebecca clasped her hands lightly with an innocent face. Everyone pretended to be troubled, but their sparkling eyes showed far more interest than when they were discussing the knights. After all, if they were whispering about that one man’s name, he was even more famous than ‘the renowned Cartien family.’
“They say he’s incredibly tall? A head taller than most knights.”
“My brother says just being near him makes you feel like you’re freezing. There’s a chill in the air. He wondered if he was even human.”
“Ah, we don’t need to speculate. We can just ask Tatiana!”
“……”
“You would know best about that beast of a man. Among us, you’re the only one who’s seen him up close.”
Rebecca’s gaze flew to Tatiana as if this had been her target all along. No matter how high Tatiana’s reputation had risen, before the Cartien Viscounty reached its current position, Rebecca had no doubt that she herself would be the future queen of society.
‘Acting so high and mighty when you’re just a nouveau riche thanks to your sisters.’
Rebecca had always been irritated by Tatiana’s haughty demeanor, as if she truly believed herself to be a queen just because everyone praised her. Deliberately bringing up that man to Tatiana was her way of making her realize, don’t forget your humble origins.
“What was it again? Did he ask you to dance, or to marry him?”
“Rebecca Carriean.”
“Before going to the battlefield, he said it was his last wish, didn’t he? Tsk, tsk. At least thinking about it now, he was a man who knew his place. Seeing how he even refused the title bestowed by His Highness the Crown Prince.”
What? What are you going to do if I look at you like that?
Rebecca curled her lip at Tatiana’s calm gaze directed at her. She might have preferred if Tatiana had shown outright anger. The impassive violet eyes irritated her even more.
“I understand how angry the Viscountess must have been. I really do.”
“…You understand my mother?”
“Of course. Even if that man is supposedly of the Targa Marquis bloodline, he’s been cast out long ago. Honestly, we don’t even know if the rumors are true, and with the Viscountess putting so much effort into your marriage prospects, it’s understandable she’d be displeased if you got involved with a man who’s practically a commoner.”
“…Ahem.”
The table froze, incomparably colder than when Camille had been mentioned. Everyone except Tatiana and Rebecca cleared their throats and averted their gaze. In this social circle, no one was unaware of how Viscountess Cartien had treated those who dared to covet her precious daughter.
Insult and contempt were just the beginning. Scornful laughter had echoed throughout all of Lebron, ensuring they would never dream of it again.
Even if it had been just a single letter requesting one dance.
“Tatiana, what did you think of him? They say his eyes are blood-red, like they’ve been dyed in blood.”
“Well…”
“Don’t be like that, tell us the story. What’s the harm between friends? There was such an uproar back then. Surely you haven’t forgotten?”
“Whether proposals or dances, that man’s letter wasn’t the only one flooding in to me.”
“……”
Tatiana, who had been quietly observing Rebecca, drained the rest of her tea. With a graceful gesture, she raised her hand to summon a waiter. The very picture of a lady enjoying her afternoon tea.
“There were too many to remember each and every one while living my life. Isn’t that right, Rebecca?”
“How would I know that!”
“I think you would. Given how interested you are in me.”
Tatiana rose from her seat, pushing back her chair without making a sound. Rebecca, who had been staring blankly up at her for a moment, flushed and let out a hollow laugh.
“I suppose. How could such a precious person, soon to be Duchess Atlas, remember a letter from such a beast? But what will you do now that things aren’t going according to plan?”
“……”
So it finally came out.
Tatiana, who had been reaching for her handbag, stopped her movement as if resigned. Seeing Tatiana’s signs of agitation, Rebecca seized the opportunity and spoke even more rapidly.
“On your birthday, rumors were rampant that you would receive an engagement ring, but I was so surprised when the Duke suddenly left, saying he had to go to the imperial palace. And they said you had already left the venue too.”
“If I showed my face at someone else’s banquet for that long, it should have been sufficient response to our friendship.”
“Friendship? Ha, how absurd!”
Rebecca’s eyes reddened at Tatiana’s unapologetic explanation. Everyone was too afraid to ask, but opinions varied on why Tatiana, who was supposed to receive a ring that day, suddenly disappeared, and why the Duke unexpectedly went to the palace. The other girls seemed intent on bowing their heads and asking for forgiveness later, but not her.
“Who doesn’t know that your mother has been going in and out of Duke Atlas’s residence like she’s the mistress of the house! She’s the type who would stop at nothing to get you into the Duke’s family!”
“…Is that all?”
“What do you mean?”
“The rumors about my mother.”
“……”
“You know too. That my esteemed mother is not the type to merely do that much to a family that displeases her eyes and then let it go.”
Though she had only removed a hint of smile from her gentle voice, it was enough to convey the warning. Only then did Rebecca recall her mother’s earnest plea, ‘Never speak carelessly about the Cartien Viscount’s family.’ She bit her pale lips nervously.
“I, I was just because you keep…”
“Don’t worry. No matter how strict and harsh my mother is, it’s usually limited to those who deserve it.”
“Huh!”
“However, I think I can tell you this one thing clearly.”
Here.
A neat smile returned to her fine lips as she raised a purple quill pen toward the approaching waiter. If it were about the engagement with Duke Atlas, it would be best to bury it as if nothing had happened, but even if not, there were still ways.
“I don’t know how red that man’s eyes were, but if we’re talking about someone with red eyes from meddling in others’ affairs, we needn’t look far, should we?”
△▲△▲△
“My Lady, shall I call for a carriage?”
Anne, who was standing by the entrance door of the coffee house, hurried over and draped a cloak around Tatiana. As Tatiana received service while standing opposite, she let out a little laugh at Anne’s awkward shuffling.
“How much have you heard?”
“…About the Black Wolf, the engagement ring, and the Madame story.”
“Ah…”
At Anne’s apologetic face, having caught only the main points, Tatiana’s light brown eyebrows twitched. The restless Anne soon composed herself, tying the velvet ribbon that hung beneath her elaborate feathered hat, she reassured her mistress in a firm voice.
“Don’t worry too much. This kind of rumor will settle down soon enough.”
“That would be great if Lady Regina divorced once more.”
For the first time today, Tatiana properly smiled as Anne, who had frozen in place, instinctively lifted the ribbon at her neck.
It was, in fact, true.
Being born into such a family, the only redeeming quality was growing unperturbed by scandals.
Be it mother or one sister or another, not a single day went by without some commotion. There were even half-joking remarks that if one were to collect copyright fees from the Cartien gossip magazine, they’d be richer than most tycoons.
“My Lady, then shall I have all your shopping items delivered straight to the house? I don’t think everything will fit in the carriage.”
“Send the box with the pink ribbon on the center to Aileen.”
“That’s Madame Renue’s latest hat, isn’t it? How much is that? And you’re just giving it away?”
“It’s something Aileen liked.”
“Even so…”
Following Tatiana’s gesture, Anne checked the large box placed next to the entrance at the storage room and shook her head nervously. She had anticipated that the box intended for delivery to the Viscount’s residence would be refused and instead be brought here. She wasn’t sure what her mistress meant, but it was certainly too extravagant as a gift among friends. After all, if it was a hat from the most famous, or rather, notoriously expensive boutique in Lebron, its price would easily exceed the annual salary of a certain group of mercenaries.
“Then what? Are you worried that Lady Aileen might take pity on you and misunderstand?”
“It’s fine. I thought of that and bought the others as well.”
“Ah…”
Looking at the piles of colorful boxes piled up beside, Anne had nothing more to add. Whether one should commend the size of the package or speak of cleverness, it was certain that my mistress had little interest in material possessions.
‘Well, naturally. How could it be otherwise?’
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