A Reversal of Unrequited Love - Chapter 58

The next envoy from the North brought a gift from the Duke of Trisel along with the letter.

A collar with a name tag ‘Cory’ and a fluffy cat cushion. Even small toys like a feathered fishing rod came, making Hyacinth look down at the gray cat. Receiving gifts even from the Northern Duke, this cat indeed had a successful life.

And Ethan also gifted Hyacinth a set of tiara and brooch made of the finest amethyst. The scale was so grand that her nanny Seina, the maids, and even the Crown Princess Beatrice, who were in the room at the time, were all astonished. Hyacinth couldn’t take her eyes off the dazzling sparkle, anticipating how the news would spread like wildfire in Tyche’s social circles.

She was extremely satisfied.

The exchange of letters continued through summer and autumn until winter.

That winter, instead of whining about the cold, Hyacinth dragged Caleb to the garden almost every day. They even made snowmen when it snowed.

“Why are you doing this all of a sudden? You used to refuse to leave the bed in winter.”

“Hmm.”

“You really didn’t want to step out of your room in winter.”

She remembered how the nanny had a hard time convincing her to attend even the weekend service, coaxing the stubborn little girl to go out just for one day.

“Caleb, people can always change.”

“When people do things they didn’t do before…”

Hyacinth tightly packed a snowball and looked back at Caleb.

“Don’t throw it.”

Before his warning ended, Hyacinth threw it. Caleb got angry and tried to retaliate, but fortunately, Benjamin joined her side, allowing her to win. Though it was a 2:1 unfair victory, a win was a win.

Returning to the inner room, her nanny’s sharp gaze was quite piercing.

“You’re not a child…”

“I wanted to make a snowman, but the snow didn’t pack well.”

Seina paused her scolding and chuckled.

“Tyche is relatively warm, so it can be difficult.”

“Would it be easier in the North?”

“They can even make ice sculptures there.”

“Amazing.”

Come to think of it, she never made a snowman in the North.

Though it was partly because she had to maintain the dignity of the mistress… Recalling the cold winter in the North, Hyacinth quietly looked down at her fingertips.

They were fine. Not a single rotten part.

Hyacinth clicked her tongue briefly and pulled herself out of the gloomy memories. Ethan Erentis would have to make at least ten snowmen for her.

The interval between the letters slightly increased.

It was inevitable in winter. The heavy snow in the North could isolate them. Consequently, the letters from Ethan and Hyacinth grew thicker.

That winter, Tyche saw snow three times.

And when the last snow melted, the magnolia buds revealed their white form. It was a sign that spring was coming.

And Ethan Erentis,

Sent what might be his last letter. Announcing the completion of Bremlin Castle, he added a postscript.

I will visit when the flowers bloom.

Hyacinth touched that sentence, the elegant handwriting, for a long time.

* * *

It was a spring day when acacia buds bloomed.

While embroidering in Tyche’s pavilion, Hyacinth listened to her friend’s voice.

Diane, who had come to visit Tyche early in the spring, visited almost daily, sharing various anecdotes. Whether she was interested in such scandals or not, it was better to know how the social circles operated, so Hyacinth gladly listened.

“So they say the Hugo Viscountcy is walking on thin ice.”

“How long has it been since the Viscount couple got married? Aren’t they still newlyweds?”

“About three months, if my memory serves me right. They got married in late autumn. Yes, that’s right. My goodness, having an affair with a maid as soon as the seasons change.”

“Oh dear, the Viscountess must be having a hard time.”

“…Well, what can she do? It’s the fate of noblewomen.”

Resting her chin in her hand, Diane shrugged. Her rather sharp expression revealed her resignation and determination that she too would eventually face such situations as a noblewoman.

It was a wise attitude. The social world is inherently strict with noblewomen’s infidelity while lenient with noblemen’s. The Viscountess of Hugo would have no choice but to suffer in silence.

Hyacinth clicked her tongue briefly and rethreaded the needle.

“By the way Lady Hyce, is it true that the Crown Princess is planning a new event?”

“Oh, really? What kind of event?”

“…It was a bit complicated. It aimed to create time for couples and, for the engaged, time with mutual family consent…”

“Oh.”

Hyacinth soon let out a sigh of realization. She remembered the nature of the event Diane was talking about.

Moved by Viscountess Hugo’s tears, Crown Princess Beatrice had organized a new event with the Queen’s tacit approval.

The event was called ‘A Girl’s Prayer.’

The name clearly reflected the Crown Princess’s lyrical taste.

At this event, engaged young lords and ladies, or those with arranged marriages, had time to get to know each other better. Already married couples enjoyed time to focus solely on each other, and lastly, unmarried noble youths were given the opportunity to share tea with unmarried noble ladies.

The intention was good. The only problem was that it was difficult to implement due to the constraints of family agreements and the supervision of knights.

Hyacinth delved into her memories.

In her dream, that is, in her previous life, she had not participated in the event called ‘A Girl’s Prayer.’ Above all, if her memory was correct, the event had disappeared after being held this year. The preparation was complex in many ways, and a significant problem arose as engagements and marriages rapidly increased after the event.

“Hyce.”

“Yes.”

Hyacinth raised one eyebrow. She could predict what question her friend would ask.

“Are you going to attend?”

…As expected.

“They say the Trisel Ducal family will arrive in Tyche the day after tomorrow… Can I ask who you’ll attend with?”

“You already asked, didn’t you?”

“But~.”

Diane burst into a cheerful laugh.

“Everyone in Tyche has heard about your amethyst set. They can’t help but be curious!”

“Haha.”

“Are you finally going?”

I don’t think ‘finally’ is the right word, my friend… Hyacinth shook her head.

“Tyche is currently excitedly betting.”

“They must have nothing to do. Tell them to take a walk since it’s spring.”

“Even Their Highnesses participated.”

“Who?”

“Secret.”

It was uncertain exactly who participated, but Caleb must have participated at least. Judging that she needed a serious conversation with her dear cousin, Hyacinth narrowed her eyes.

While she was contemplating how to ambush Caleb in her mind, Diane winked lightly.

“Actually, Hyce. All of Tyche is paying attention.”

“…”

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s the instinct of all social circles to want to match beautiful men and women. You’re pretty~ His Highness is handsome~ and your statuses match perfectly~.”

Diane hummed with a rhythm, picked up the book she had spread open on her lap again.

“As you know, marriage among nobles is just that. The husband’s infidelity is half-expected, and the wife tactfully exchanges letters with knights. If there are more than two heirs, well, if the husband permits, she can even get physical.”

“Diane.”

Why was Diane’s choice of words more explicit than hers, who had been married once? Ignoring Hyacinth’s serious expression, Diane continued her spirited speech.

“If that’s the basic premise of such marriages, it’s best to choose a high-ranking, handsome man.”

“Yes, yes. I get it, Diane.”

“He’s a Duke, so his rank is high.”

“Indeed.”

“And he’s handsome.”

“Of course, he’s handsome!”

Hyacinth was confident about Ethan’s face if nothing else. She swore his beauty would never be second to anyone. Even Hyacinth, who had grown up surrounded only by expensive and beautiful things, had admired his appearance at first sight. In both her previous and current lives, what captivated her the most was Ethan Erentis’s face.

“You’re going to accept his proposal, right?”

Diane’s eyes sparkled like a cat facing catnip. Hyacinth rolled her eyes sideways to avoid them.

Hoping her friend would tire and change the subject, Diane was persistent this time. With her twinkling eyes fixed on her, Hyacinth shrugged her shoulders.

“Well?”

“Welllll?”

“Well, something will be decided this spring, I guess.”

“Hmm. Okay. I’ll respect whatever decision you make.”

“Thank you.”

Diane winked playfully.

“For the record, even if I respect it, Tyche might not.”

“…Thanks for letting me know that too.”

Hyacinth sighed, and Diane laughed again. Just then, a spring breeze swirled around the gazebo. Watching her friend return her focus to the book, Hyacinth took a deep breath.

Spring in Tyche. The air was filled with a sweet floral scent.

It was a season where life thrived everywhere. There was no trace of gray left in this place, even at the tail end of winter.

Hyacinth gazed at the fresh greenery outside the gazebo.

“They say the Trisel Ducal family will arrive in Tyche the day after tomorrow… Can I ask who you’ll attend with?”