Chapter 6 - Even a Possessed Girl Squirms When Stepped On
Chapter 6 – Even a Possessed Girl Squirms When Stepped On
“Rubellian-! What is the meaning of this!”
Bang!
As the door opened with a tremendous crash, the gazes of the two figures in the room quickly turned toward me.
“M-My lady?”
At my appearance, entering with steps that could rival a Tyrannosaurus, Rubellian sighed lightly as if he were used to it. However, the young man standing in front of him looked at me with pupils that seemed to cause earthquakes, as if my appearance was unfamiliar.
Ignoring him, I approached Rubellian and asked in a low voice.
“What on earth is going on?”
“Eve, you made such a loud entrance, is there really a need to lower your voice like that?”
“That’s not the point. What do you mean he went missing- No, is this some midnight dragon situation? Why did he go missing from there? What reason would there be for him to go missing?”
At my question, Rubellian answered in a gentle and soft voice as if to reassure me.
“It’s nothing serious. It seems the assassin escaped during the brief confusion caused by the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet.”
“This is nothing serious?”
Like saying the hamster we kept at home had escaped… Oh wait, no. This is actually quite a grave matter.
Like casually mentioning that the cockroach we kept at home had escaped, I was horrified looking at Rubellian’s face as he described it so lightly.
However, Rubellian’s face was so calm that it made my excessive reaction seem embarrassing.
“I mean… why would he escape? Obviously, the imperial family will publicly claim they’re throwing him in prison while secretly releasing him.”
“Well, if I knew that, I would have been an assassin rather than a duke, wouldn’t I?”
“This isn’t the time for jokes. Is he really missing? Could the imperial family be plotting something again?”
No matter how I thought about it, there was no reason for the assassin to escape. It was obvious that the imperial family had ordered it in the first place, so he should have stayed put and left when the imperial family released him. Making it known that he had escaped like this wouldn’t benefit anyone.
“When did this news come in?”
“Just now.”
At my question, Rubellian lightly gestured with his chin. Understanding his meaning as he pointed behind me, I finally turned my head toward the young man who had been standing there awkwardly. The young man, who had a neat and tidy appearance and wore glasses, seemed to be around Bill’s age.
Actually, it wasn’t just their age that was similar—
“You look alike?”
“It’s my first time meeting you, my lady. I’m Wilson. I’m Bill the treasurer’s brother. I serve as His Grace’s aide.”
Unlike Bill, who treated me like a rock that had rolled in from somewhere, Wilson, who finished his greeting quite politely, bowed deeply.
“I don’t think I’ve seen you at the mansion before.”
“Officially, I work at the imperial palace, so I couldn’t visit the ducal house during the day and have been unable to greet you, my lady. Please forgive my rudeness.”
“Why do you work at the imperial palace…”
I was about to ask without much thought when I looked back and forth between Rubellian, who was sitting calmly, and Wilson’s faces, then let out a light sigh.
In the original story, Rubellian had sharpened his sword for quite a long time to take revenge, and for that purpose, he needed someone in the imperial palace to be his eyes and ears.
I nodded at the structure I was beginning to understand.
“So, you’re someone who works hard for my husband.”
“You flatter me, my lady. I was merely trying to repay House Florence, which has supported my brother and me since childhood. Rather, I consider it an honor to be able to repay them.”
I was impressed by Wilson’s attitude, which was so polite it seemed ready to penetrate through the mantle. The late Duke Florence must have accumulated quite a bit of virtue.
“Originally, the imperial family tried to keep this incident secret. As you know, it wouldn’t be good for the imperial family if word got out that the assassin who even wounded His Grace had disappeared.”
“Perfect for rumors that the imperial family let him go on purpose. Of course, even if no one openly suspects that, gossipers’ tongues are always frightening.”
“However, they eventually decided to inform the nobles. While the imperial family’s official position would be to tell the nobles to stay alert, in reality…”
“It’s a kind of warning. If the nobles act even slightly out of line, they plan to frame them. They’ll say they kidnapped the assassin.”
“Exactly.”
Wilson nodded at Rubellian’s words, then offered me an apology.
“I’m sorry, my lady. I caused you worry by letting this matter reach your ears. I was in such a hurry to inform His Grace that I failed to notice there were people around…”
“So, the fact that the assassin is currently missing hasn’t been officially announced yet, but it will be announced soon—is that what you’re saying?”
“That’s correct.”
I furrowed my brow.
Did the imperial family really lose the assassin? Or are they deliberately hiding the assassin and plotting something?
After pondering for a moment, I turned my gaze to stare at Rubellian. Rubellian, who was conversing with Wilson with an utterly calm expression, looked perfectly normal, so there was nothing particularly strange about him.
When Wilson finished his report and left, I asked Rubellian with a worried expression.
“Who on earth would do such a thing?”
However, Rubellian, leaning back in his chair, only stretched out his arms toward me. Instinctively seeking his embrace and sitting on his lap, he wrapped me in his strong arms.
“Whatever the case, there must be quite a commotion at the imperial palace too.”
“Of course there would be. What if you get caught in the crossfire? If they think you spirited him away… Oh, wait a minute.”
As I was speaking, I suddenly remembered something and grimaced, then I gave Rubellian a meaningful look.
“You didn’t do it, did you?”
“…”
At my question, Rubellian hesitated, then he made a somewhat incredulous expression and lightly flicked my forehead.
“Really, you have quite an imagination.”
“Hmm. You really didn’t, right?”
“First, it’s important to find the assassin’s whereabouts. If the imperial family really lost that assassin, whoever has him now must have already figured out the relationship between the imperial family and House Florence.”
“What about the possibility that the imperial family is lying? I mean, they deliberately said he escaped and are watching how the noble houses react.”
“What would the imperial family gain from that?”
“You’re right, there’s nothing, but really, where did that guy go? The Holy Spirit Festival is right around the corner, and he’s creating all sorts of worries.”
I clicked my tongue.
I was thinking that things were taking a strange turn when Rubellian’s low voice reached my ears.
“Either way, whoever gets their hands on the assassin will certainly gain a lot.”
“Because the information value is huge. He’s also living proof that the imperial family is targeting House Florence.”
“Exactly, right?”
The last words were muttered almost under his breath as Rubellian curled up his lips.
Reading a strange feeling from his smile, I could only tilt my head in confusion.
* * *
In conclusion, the assassin’s escape from the imperial palace became a major topic of discussion in high society.
Those who didn’t know the details were gripped by fear that the assassin might harbor resentment against all nobles and commit such acts, while conversely, those who knew the inside story were even more disturbed because they couldn’t understand it.
However—
“What am I doing at such an important moment?”
Scribbling on the papers on the table, I muttered with a soul-drained expression.
The Duchess’s office was filled with mysterious papers—or rather, to be precise, papers whose identity was clear but I didn’t understand why I had to look at them. They were documents containing personal information about nobles belonging to the Florence duchy.
These papers, adding a second layer of torment to an already tangled situation, made me clutch my head in frustration.
“Aaaaargh! I hate studying!”
“You memorized everything well, so why are you acting like this!”
“Just because I’m good at studying doesn’t mean I like it!”
As I cried out, feeling like I might vomit from memorizing all the families, Mrs. Jena shook her head.
“Recognition from within the family is very important for the lady of the house. No matter what people say outside, as long as the inside doesn’t fall apart, House Florence will be eternal.”
“I know that too. I know, but…”
At Mrs. Jena’s words, I sighed deeply and collapsed on the table. I know, but there’s just too much to think about right now.
Having been practically held captive by Mrs. Jena these past few days, I hadn’t even had a chance to meet Rachel.
The only consolation was that she had to spend all day in the prayer room in preparation for the Holy Spirit Festival, so no one could approach her.
“Ugh, living is too hard. Should I just die quickly?”
“His Grace would be sad if he heard that.”
“You devil of a woman! Saying that makes me feel sorry!”
I shouted at Mrs. Jena, who calmly stabbed at my heart. She, who had been staring at me with pitying eyes, soon sighed lightly.
“I sincerely hope my lady learns all these things well.”
“…?”
“You need to do well to gain the family’s recognition. That way, when my lady is in a critical situation, there will be someone to help you.”
There was a strange expression on Mrs. Jena’s face as she said this, so I stopped my roaring and stared at her intently.
She would criticize me while taking care of everything I needed, and though she only said things I didn’t want to hear, they were all correct.
Looking at her calm face, now wrapped in silence, I suddenly had a thought and asked a question.
“I have something to ask you.”
“Please speak.”
“The day I first came to the ducal residence. Why did you show me that dress?”
“That dress?”
I nodded. When I chose Charlina’s dress, Mrs. Jena had made an exclamation of “Oh—” as if quite surprised.
At the time, I thought she had put that dress in to test me, but knowing Mrs. Jena now, it didn’t seem like that was her intention.
“That was a mistake.”
“A mistake?”
“Since there are no women using the dress room in the ducal house, the dresses His Grace prepared for my lady were in the late madam’s dress room. And that day, while bringing dresses for my lady, one of the maids made a mistake and the dresses got mixed up.”
“But when I chose it, why did you react like that?”
“Well, that’s…”
“Weren’t you surprised that I chose something more modest than expected?”
At my question, Mrs. Jena frowned as if asking what kind of nonsensical thought that was.
“The ducal house’s financial situation isn’t so dire that we need to save money on dresses. And… that dress was what the madam cherished most because the late Duke personally chose and gifted it to her.”
“For something so precious, it seemed rather shabby?”
“He discovered it while walking down the street and bought it saying it would suit the madam… I told His Grace what kind of undignified dress this was.”
“You had quite a temper back then too.”
I muttered, newly amazed by Mrs. Jena’s spirit. However, instead of glaring at me, Mrs. Jena smiled and continued.
“Still, the late Duke insisted that it suited the madam. And ultimately, His Grace’s choice was correct.”
I stared for a moment at Mrs. Jena, who spoke with a wistful expression. From her face, it seemed she had quite liked Charlina.
“The madam loved that dress the most.”
“So that’s why you made that expression when I chose it?”
“That’s part of it, but…”
Mrs. Jena looked at me with a somewhat complicated expression. Soon she sighed slowly and spoke.
“The late madam said that if she had a daughter, she would definitely pass that dress down to her.”
“Ah.”
“She even joked that if she had a son, she’d tell him to use it for a proposal. So when my lady picked that dress exactly, I unconsciously made that expression.”
I blinked. Actually, I had just chosen the most modest dress. Somehow I felt embarrassed.
Then, as if she hadn’t just shown a warm expression, Mrs. Jena suddenly made a fierce face.
“Either way, you must study.”
“Ah, really! I said I got it!”
“The late madam, though she wasn’t quick to memorize, at least studied diligently. But my lady… Sigh.”
“I said I got it!”
“And most importantly, since Lady Arinne Delrun will also be coming to this Holy Spirit Festival, shouldn’t you work even harder?”
“Wait, Arinne Delrun?”
It was a familiar name. That woman who stood next to the Crown Prince and called Rubellian ‘oppa’—no, ‘elder brother.’
“Mrs. Jena knows Arinne Delrun too?”
“You must have seen her at the last party. She’s a paragon of nobles, overflowing with learning and refinement. Despite being a woman, she’s versed in politics and economics, fluent in foreign languages, whether it’s musical instruments or horseback riding, there’s nothing she falls behind men in.”
“Well, that’s natural. There’s no reason she should fall behind men in the first place… But why are you telling me I need to work harder because Arinne Delrun is coming?”
I raised one eyebrow. I had a hunch, but surely it’s not what I’m thinking right now? Looking at her with slightly anxious feelings, Mrs. Jena said calmly.
“Lady Arinne Delrun once proposed to His Grace.”
“I knew it! I knew this would happen! I told you so! Not just a female friend, not just a younger acquaintance, but they went as far as a confession?”
I stood up, slamming the table with both hands. No wonder the Crown Prince kept desperately trying to push Arinne Delrun toward Rubellian—there was such a reason!
That bastard Crown Prince, since there was some deal involved in my marriage with Rubellian, he’s trying to separate us two!
“Ha! Ha! Ha!”
“My lady, have you finally lost your mind?”
“No, I’m perfectly fine. So, what happened with the proposal? He obviously rejected it, right? Since he married me.”
“Don’t worry too much. His Grace isn’t the type to have wandering eyes.”
“No, but this hurts my pride. From the Crown Prince’s perspective, didn’t he call Arinne Delrun because he thinks I’m inferior to her? If I had looked better, he would have called someone else.”
“Wouldn’t most people normally think that way? Of course, it’s true that my lady is beautiful, but… Are you listening?”
While letting Mrs. Jena’s words go in one ear and out the other, I continued my thoughts.
The Crown Prince is one thing, but why did Arinne Delrun come?
For such a noble, educated lady to come just because the Crown Prince said ‘Go break those two up’—why would she? From what I saw that day, she didn’t seem like the Melina type either.
Having already recognized me as ‘My lady = a very lacking child,’ Mrs. Jena shook her head and sighed.
Eventually, after chanting ‘That bastard Crown Prince!’ hundreds of millions of times, I perfectly finished that afternoon’s lesson, then pondered how to separate the Crown Prince and Rachel—at this point, the answer seemed to be that I simply dislike the Crown Prince himself, never mind the future and plans.
After much consideration, I organized all the circumstances where Melina might harm Rachel, then visited the temple the next day.
* * *
“The Saint cannot meet with you yet due to the Holy Spirit Festival prayer ceremony.”
“That’s fine. Just deliver this when she comes out of the prayer room.”
“What is this?”
I went to the temple but couldn’t meet Rachel as expected. However, it didn’t particularly matter.
Even if I met her and said ‘Beware of that wench Melina!’ Rachel would probably respond with ‘Oh my, you’re more of a prophet than I am. You should be the Saint.’
I smiled brightly at Alfred, who was scanning the letter with suspicious eyes.
“Is this not dangerous?”
“Do I look bold enough to do something dangerous to the Saint?”
“Yes.”
“…Well, I’m not.”
I shook my head while mulling over the letter’s contents. The letter contained countermeasures for all the evil deeds Melina had committed in the original story.
For example, it mentioned what rumors were circulating in high society these days, and that Lady Melina Barnes seemed to be preparing something, so she should be careful.
Of course, there were no such rumors. I had simply made them up to write the letter.
In any case, given the uncertainty of the future, it was the best precaution I could take.
“Understood.”
“You must deliver it, okay?”
I came all this way just to give one letter, so if there’s a delivery accident, I won’t forgive you in the name of possessed girls!
As I turned and walked along the temple corridor, I stopped short at the figure visible ahead.
“Duchess Florence?”
Well—enemies meet on a narrow bridge, as they say.
I curtsied toward the Crown Prince standing before me.
He too looked surprised, perhaps finding it somewhat unexpected to meet me here. But as if nothing had happened, he smiled warmly.
“I see the Duchess here.”
“I came to pray to the Lord briefly for House Florence’s well-being.”
“It’s quite pleasant to see the Duchess making efforts to fulfill her duties as a duchess.”
The Crown Prince’s face showed no trace of regarding Rubellian and me as thorns in his side. This year’s Academy Award for Best Actor. While grumbling inwardly, I smiled brightly.
“Since His Grace cherishes me so dearly, I’m also working hard to be of some small help to the ducal house.”
Hmm, even though I said it, it seems a bit excessive. I have not even a speck of pride as a noblewoman, and it sounds like something a favored concubine would say. No wait, I’m a stupid commoner-born duchess, so it doesn’t matter.
…Does it not matter?
“The Duchess seems to love the Duke quite a lot.”
“Yes. Every day feels like a dream to me.”
It does feel like a dream. Here I am laughing heartily with the person who’s going to kill me.
I smiled cheerfully while cupping my cheeks with both hands.
Unlike my expression, the Crown Prince’s face, which had been showing a warm smile just moments before, slowly hardened.
“Is that so…”
“…Your Highness?”
“Love… Yes. That’s love too, isn’t it. Either way, the Duchess got what she wanted. Ah, Rubellian must have gotten what he wanted through it as well.”
The last words were almost like a mutter. However, I stiffened slightly, having too easily read what those words meant.
The Crown Prince was pointing out that my marriage with Rubellian was essentially a transaction.
But showing that I caught on to this here would be absurd. I looked up with wide eyes and tilted my head.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Nothing. Either way, I’m relieved to see that the Duchess likes the Duke.”
As if he hadn’t hardened his expression at all, the Crown Prince smiled warmly while looking at me. Meeting his expectations, I spoke with an innocent and lacking expression.
“Yes, I love him. Your Highness wouldn’t know how much His Grace loves me too. Why, even the clothes I’m wearing now were bought for me by His Grace.”
“I see. Indeed, according to the rumors I hear, the Duke also cherishes the Duchess greatly.”
“Oh my, for such rumors to reach Your Highness’s ears, how embarrassing.”
Ugh. Ewwwww.
I inwardly vomited while expressing doubt about my life. Living is really hard. I’d rather the Crown Prince were stupid like Melina so I could at least threaten him to his face, but since he’s so skilled, I can’t even treat him carelessly.
Actually, in this situation, there wasn’t really a need to act in front of the Crown Prince. Perhaps Melina had already tattled.
But if he was merely putting on an act with me, was there any point in showing my true self?
Eventually, as I performed even more enthusiastically as a noblewoman in love, the Crown Prince smiled deeply and spoke in a meaningful voice.
“Yes. Rubellian cherishes the Duchess.”
“Oh my…”
“But if someone else were to offer Rubellian greater benefits than what the Duchess can give him, would the Duchess truly be able to keep her position?”
“Pardon?”
I hesitated at the Crown Prince’s words, spoken in a low voice. However, before I could react, the Crown Prince moved away with an inconspicuous smile.
And as he passed by me, I, who had been grinning like an idiot just moments before, completely erased the smile from my face and glanced at his retreating back.
“Someone who could give Rubellian greater benefits…”
He was saying ‘A woman like you could be abandoned at any time.’ If those words had come from someone else’s mouth, I would have brushed them off without a care, but the speaker was the Crown Prince.
The one who was certain there was a deal between Rubellian and me.
I distinctly felt something ominous.
* * *
