Chapter 6 (Part 5)

Hernes was sitting elegantly in the drawing room. She wore a light green dress, and despite the color being oddly striking, it looked luxurious. Perhaps due to her upright posture.

Hernes, who had been looking at a painting of flowers, turned her head. As soon as she met her eyes, she spoke.

“Did you decorate this mansion?”

Surprised by the sudden question, Brienne calmly answered.

“No.”

“I thought so, considering the nice paintings hanging around. Cardin must have bought them.”

Hernes’s words subtly contained disdain. Without thinking deeply, she sat across from her.

“I should have greeted you first, I’m sorry.”

Since Hernes had come all the way here, she felt she should say something. Hernes looked at her for a moment before speaking.

“When we’re alone, there’s no need for formalities. Say what you want.”

With her saying that, Brienne had nothing to say. Just then, Melin brought out the tea. In front of her was the crimson tea she had drunk many times before. In contrast, Hernes had a yellow-hued tea.

Despite her upset stomach, she took a sip of the tea. As she placed the cup down, Hernes spoke.

“There’s a Gelleride ball in a week. It’s a very large event gathering the nobility in Devok right now.”

That meant it would be her first formal event attending with Cardin. Her heart raced for a moment.

Brienne had never properly attended social gatherings. Her father had no interest in her existence, and she never felt the need to attend such events to build connections.

Later, her father told her to attend such events to find a husband, but she didn’t particularly want to marry that way. Even if her father hadn’t committed fraud, she wanted to leave Devok to study herbs.

“As far as I know, you haven’t attended social gatherings often, have you?”

“No.”

Hernes’s gaze turned cold.

“It seems you’re the first person in our family with no social experience.”

“…….”

“If you go out in that state, words will surely spread. Especially with the bad rumors going around.”

Brienne recalled the rumors she heard from the servants. Her mouth tasted bitter, knowing that most people had learned about it without her knowledge.

“What rumors?”

She was curious to know if it was the rumor she knew. Hernes coldly replied.

“They’re curious about how someone from such an insignificant family ended up connected to ours. There’s also talk that Cardin intentionally married you to discard you later because of what your father did.”

“…….”

“Isn’t it an interesting rumor? In reality, you’re the one planning to leave Cardin.”

Brienne hands were clammy with sweat. 

What did Hernes want to say?

“Why did you come here?”

Her voice trembled with tension.

“I don’t like the idea of a Messerode family member being talked about without knowing anything.”

Hernes lightly lifted her teacup. She calmly drank the tea and placed the cup down.

“For the time being, shouldn’t you properly play the role that suits your position?”

Hernes gaze was chillingly cold, as if ready to cast her out if she didn’t perform properly.

“I….”

Brienne tried to speak honestly about her condition, but Hernes cut her off.

“It won’t be easy, given your insignificant family and what your father did, but acknowledging that and developing your capabilities is most important right now.”

Hernes stood up. As Brienne stared blankly, Hernes’s eyebrows slightly furrowed.

“What are you doing? Stand up.”

“Where are we going?”

“We need to prepare a perfect dress so that no words arise about you.”

“Now?”

Hernes looked down at her with a cynical gaze. Her eyes were arrogant, as if asking if she needed to say more. She reluctantly stood up from the chair.

As she followed Hernes, Hernes spoke.

“The ball is in a week. You must be flawlessly perfect.”

Hernes gave her a cold look before leaving the mansion first.

* * *

The dress shop Hernes took her to was incredibly luxurious. As soon as people saw Hernes, they hurriedly bowed and approached kindly.

“Welcome.”

Hernes introduced her and slowly began to speak.

“I’m here to look at dresses suitable for Brienne to wear at the Gelleride ball. Are you prepared?”

“Of course. Please come this way.”

The dresses the staff showed were not what she typically imagined. The designs were quite simple, but the fabric shimmered with a mysterious light, obviously luxurious at first glance.

As Brienne tried on a few dresses recommended by the staff, Hernes chose one. It had a long fabric that wrapped around the arms and was the most understated among the ones she tried on.

“Choose this one. At the Gelleride ball, it’s a virtue to wear the most understated dress rather than something flashy.”

Brienne nodded, not particularly disliking it. The staff approached with a bright smile.

“As expected, Madame, you have a good eye. This dress is the most expensive in our store.”

She looked at Hernes. Hernes emotionlessly scanned the dresses hanging around. She seemed indifferent, as if money meant nothing to her.

After changing back into her clothes, she approached Hernes.

“I’ll send someone to your mansion soon.”

“Someone?”

Hernes looked her over from head to toe.

“Are you still surprised after seeing yourself?”

Her cheeks flushed. Brienne had never properly engaged in noble society, so she didn’t know what dresses to wear or what accessories to use, but she didn’t want to be disregarded like this.

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t speak rudely to me.”

Hernes raised an eyebrow and looked at her. It was the most vivid expression she had seen on her face so far. She clasped her trembling hands together and continued.

“You told me not to stand on ceremony when we’re alone, so I’m saying this. Since you’re taking the trouble to groom me, I’d appreciate it if you spoke kindly.”

Hernes let out a laugh as if it was absurd.

“Kind words?”

“Yes. Honestly, I don’t have to attend that ball. According to your words, I’m someone who will eventually leave Cardin.”

Hernes’s gaze was persistent. Brienne’s eyes didn’t waver, as if looking at something peculiar.

Just then, the staff approached with a smile. The tension that had been as taut as a string suddenly unraveled like thread.

“The dress has been loaded into the carriage. Is there anything else you need?”

Hernes turned her gaze away from her and spoke lightly.

“No, thank you.”

Hernes elegantly turned and left the store. A gentle breeze blew outside. Just then, the carriage door opened.

Hernes boarded the carriage first, and Brienne followed, causing the carriage to set off. The atmosphere wasn’t particularly pleasant. Still, she felt she had to say something, so she spoke up.

“Thank you for the dress; I’ll wear it well.”

Hernes, who had been looking out the carriage window, turned her gaze to her. When Brienne didn’t avoid her eyes, Hernes spoke.

“Do you know about your father?”

Father. Brienne’s breath caught for a moment.

“My father?”

Her voice unintentionally grew louder. Hernes answered indifferently.

“It seems Cardin took care of everything. You didn’t know?”

Although her tone was neutral, it was purely meant to provoke her, as if Hernes had intended to inform her of this news.

She felt a strange gaze. When she looked up, Hernes’s green eyes, similar to Cardin’s, shone calmly.

“Cardin tends to act selfishly without informing those who need to know.”

Her words were filled with a negative sentiment toward Cardin, but there was no time to think deeply about them. Not after the mention of her father.

‘Was Cardin’s departure to the beach also because of my father?’

It felt like her mind was sinking into an abyss. Still, she felt she needed to know the truth, so she spoke.

“Can you tell me what Cardin did related to my father?”

Hernes observed her for a moment before slowly opening her mouth.

“I heard your father didn’t pay at a hotel under the Messerode family name and got into a fight at a restaurant.”

The blood coursing through Brienne’s veins seemed to freeze. It was so absurd that a hollow laugh escaped her. It was just like her father. There was nothing to be disappointed or surprised about, but it felt wretched that the Messerode family was involved.

Especially hearing it from Hernes made her feel like her existence was being indelibly marked. As if she truly came from a lowly, disgraceful family.

Brienne couldn’t lift her head. Meanwhile, Hernes spoke firmly.

“Your father was imprisoned, and Cardin had to go there personally to resolve it, or your father would have died. I heard Cardin went up to Devok to release him.”

For a moment, Brienne’s mind couldn’t process it. It felt like her ominous premonition was entirely correct. Then, a splitting headache struck.

She clutched her forehead and managed to exhale. She didn’t think Hernes was lying, but she still wanted to confirm.

“Did Cardin really do that for my father?”

She couldn’t believe it. Previously, he had even sought her consent to deal with her father, so why was he suddenly protecting him?

“Yes.”

The short answer was so clear. Coldly so. 

Why hadn’t Cardin mentioned it? 

Even though he had said he had urgent matters and went to Devok first.

‘Why on earth.’

Brienne was angry at her father for what he had done, but she couldn’t help feeling some anger toward Cardin as well. No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t understand. He knew how much she despised her father, so why had he been so lenient?

As she let out a deep breath in frustration, Hernes spoke.

“Cardin is that foolish.”

“…….”

“Roquek is doing everything to take over this family, yet he’s caught up in unnecessary matters.”

It sounded as if everything was her fault. As she barely exhaled, Hernes continued in an indifferent tone.

“If he doesn’t produce an heir within three years, the head of the Messerode family will change. Roquek’s side has already registered his son as an heir, making the situation worse.”

Brienne’s eyes widened.

“The head of the family will change?”

“That’s Messerode family law. Even Cardin can’t easily change it.”

Hernes looked out the carriage window as if tired. Brienne felt increasingly unwell throughout the carriage ride. Her breath grew short, and her head felt dizzy.