Chapter 7
“Well, it's a bit awkward to say this... There are rumors, however absurd, that suggest that Alsie and the Duke's engagement was orchestrated by you. That you had a suitable substitute ready for the Duchess's seat. So, I was wondering... perhaps Sasha…”
"Even if those preposterous rumors were true, what would you do about it now?"
"Excuse me...?"
Her eyes widened in disbelief as if she couldn't fathom what she had just heard. Observing her reaction, I quirked the corner of my mouth.
“That's precisely what I said. Why is someone who cares so much about her friend bringing this up now that everything is done and over with? There's no going back at this point.”
"What in the world..."
"Why not be straightforward? That's not what you really want to ask me. You're curious about my relationship with the Ducal Prince, not the Duke."
As I untangled her clenched hands from mine and pulled away slightly, her usually fair cheeks turned a deep shade of red, like red paint was thrown in her face. At this point, I'm quite certain.
I’m certain of everything now.
"I, I..."
"Oh, am I mistaken? I was just about to explain in detail if you were interested."
I twirled a strand of my hair around my finger and smiled playfully, watching as the Princess's slender shoulders trembled. What a pity. I hadn't intended to start a feud with her.
"Goodness, do I appear so naive? It's clear to me that I don't need to hear it. I've seen all the ways my stepmother charmed my father. It's just..."
"Is that why you said your stepmother resembled me? The woman who was once your father's mistress and was later elevated to the position of his second wife?"
“... Among the aristocracy, mistresses are quite common. It's easier to become one, whether you're a man or a woman, especially if you're the child of a nanny. I'm not trying to engage in a conflict with you, Sasha. I understand your history well. However, no matter how much the world may change, nobles remain nobles, and your relationship will eventually come to an end. At this juncture..."
"It's not that you don't want to clash with me; it's that you don't have the confidence to challenge me and come out victorious."
"What did you just say?"
Adriana's voice rose sharply as she reacted to my statement, then quickly scanned the surroundings, took a deep breath, and once again held my hand.
Or rather, she attempted to hold my hand once more. I stepped back to avoid it.
"Why are you so invested in whether I appear to be one of the numerous mistresses in the noble world you so proudly describe? You've said it yourself, that this relationship will eventually come to an end. Does it bother you because you know that that's not the case?"
"Hahaha. Who's feeling offended? I'm simply offering my sympathy for how seeming your words are! Do you really think what you're enjoying now will last forever? Don't misunderstand me – nobles have little choice but to form connections with fellow nobles. I'd hope that Sasha can find her way before it's too late..."
"Is there anything you can talk about aside from the nobility? I never thought the Princess would be such a staunch classist, but it appears that she should consider finding her way before it's too late."
A wry smile appeared on Adriana's pale face, which had turned a shade paler in an instant. She realized the mockery she had attempted had been thrown back at her.
"How dare you advise me now? Do you honestly believe this will last indefinitely, given that you're just an aristocrat’s nanny’s daughter who tasted a bit of power? People are fated to return to their proper paths eventually, especially nobles who come to realize that nothing is more valuable than their own blood. At a crucial juncture, whose side do you think he will be on? He'll likely rid himself of the mistress who has blinded him and cast a shadow over his relationship with his family..."
"So I'm a cunning witch-like mistress, and Benya is such a jerk that he'd sever his ties with his family just because of me? Falling in love with such a foolish man – your judgment is truly remarkable."
"W-What did you just say?"
"Of course, Benya isn't a fool who would be swayed by a few sweet words. He's leagues above someone like your father, Princess."
"Stop it! Can't you stop?!"
Adriana's voice, now shrill, wasn't particularly loud, yet it was enough to capture the attention of those nearby. Furthermore, it drew the focus of those who were observing us keenly.
The first to approach was Juan, naturally. The siscon Ducal Prince rushed to support his older sister, who was visibly trembling, casting alternating bewildered looks between us.
"Noona, what's wrong? What's going on?"
"Why is there such a commotion? Sasha?"
As whispers of curiosity circulated, Lethias quickly approached us, his expression confused. Just as I was about to speak, Adriana beat me to it. Her voice, surprisingly steady now, emerged.
"Duke. Though I'm willing to grant leniency and tolerance during the Christmas season, it's difficult for me to simply ignore this level of disrespect."
"What are you talking about?"
"The Duke's vassal has insulted me gravely. How could I possibly overlook such blatant disrespect?"
"What's going on... Sasha?"
Lethias's voice carried a hard edge, an unusual occurrence. His sky-blue eyes had grown icy, rendering him unrecognizable. At moments like this, he resembled his younger brother greatly.
Adriana hesitated for a moment, and just as she was about to speak again, Juan, who was shooting anxious glances my way, cut in abruptly.
"Enough now, please calm down. I apologize, Duke. As you can see, my sister has had a bit too much to drink... She's been quite preoccupied with our family matters lately..."
"W-What?"
Adriana's expression mirrored the look on Juan's face at the imperial court banquet when he'd intervened. It was a look of shock.
Had that been the case before, Juan should have exploded in a fit of rage, determined to tear me apart.
"Why are you like this...?"
"Let's settle down and compose ourselves. This isn't a big deal. Duke, I'm truly sorry."
"W-Why are you doing this? It's not a small matter, don't you realize it?"
"Come on now. Why make a fuss at someone else's event? That's why I told you to drink in moderation. You're not handling your alcohol well..."
Not even worth mentioning are the expressions of the bystanders, witnessing a sibling exchange that was taking a completely unexpected turn.
In any case, with that notorious siscon stepping in, the atmosphere indicated that the inebriated Princess must have misconstrued something. Consequently, the heated discussion was only further exacerbated.
"What happened? Are you okay, Sasha?"
Our Bear, who had reverted to his usual innocent demeanor, scratched his head and looked at me. I smiled and nodded.
"It's alright. Nothing major occurred. She might have had a bit too much to drink."
"Sasha."
The bride of the day, who had somehow approached us, held my hand and gazed into my eyes with a mixture of worry and concern. You're good, guys.
"Sasha, are you all right? Maybe my friend said something strange... She's been acting oddly for a while now."
"It's fine, Alsie. There's really no issue. She might have just had too much to drink."
In the meantime, the Parke siblings continued their argument and moved to a corner of the reception room.
Juan wore a puzzled expression, his lips sealed tightly, while Adriana's face was on the brink of tears. Tsk tsk, what nonsense are they talking about? What could they possibly be thinking?
"But... If someone says something strange to Sasha, don't hesitate to tell me."
"Alsie's right. Just as I would expect from my wife! Alright, Sasha. If someone troubles you, let us know immediately!"
"Oh, my wife..."
"Why? You're my wife. I am your husband."
That's quite reassuring. I maintained a determined expression for a moment, leaving behind the couple who started gazing deeply into each other's eyes with such intensity.
Oh, I'm quite hungry. Let's eat something first.
"Excuse me... Are you okay?"
To cool my head, I sat on the stairs leading to the reception area and the lobby with a plate of food. Suddenly, a voice came from behind me.
When did you get here? Without turning around, I responded with my mouth full of soufflé.
"Why wouldn't I be okay? How's the Princess?
Instead of answering immediately, Juan slowly descended the stairs and approached me. However, he didn't sit down; he remained in the shade of the owl statue. Are you trying to hide?
"I don’t know what happened... Anyway, I apologize. Noona isn't usually like this, but she's been a bit more sensitive lately..."
Suddenly, I burst into laughter as I remembered the night I first encountered these siblings. It's hard to believe that Juan then and Juan now are the same person.
Even more ludicrous was the fact that he had never spoken to me as much as Knoxus had. Of course, Knoxus must have talked to Juan about this and that.
I'm afraid you two no longer appear to be friends of the same feathers, despite the fact that they both fell into the same hallucination on their own.
Did Knoxus even tell Juan to watch over me when he wasn't around? Juan's pink gaze seemed to be searching for something in my direction.
What do you and Knoxus have in common? If you both fell into this trap due to the same catalyst...
"Why are you alone?"
"Yes?"
"I mean, why is Benya missing? I heard earlier that he had something urgent to attend to, but he usually doesn't leave you alone."
"I'm often alone in this hotel. Besides... Thank you for your efforts. I was worried it would cause a scene."
He lifted his head and gave me a faint smile, blinking rather rapidly as if he were embarrassed.
"That's true, causing more trouble wouldn't be good for anyone. I made a mistake last time... Ahem, don't worry, I'll make sure Noona doesn't make a complaint against you."
"Even if she does complain about me, it won't change anything."
Attempting to suppress a laugh, I tried to speak, which ended up coming across as rather sarcastic. At this, Juan flinched as though he'd been pricked and stared at me.
The way his pink eyes seemed to tremor was remarkably similar to his older sister's.
How will he react when he finds out who his beloved sister is in love with? Will he chase after him and challenge him to a duel? Or will he explore other routes to avoid confrontation?
"Hey, you know... Sasha, if you ever need my help..."
"Madame Sasha!"
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