Chapter 8 – The Northern Banquet (Part 5)

The noblewomen and young ladies, understanding the social language of the fan, fell silent, but Bellaruse did not. As a young lady from a baron’s family, she didn’t fully grasp the etiquette of the social circles, especially not the complicated language of the fan.

Growing up, Bellaruse had to find a way to survive, avoiding a father who wanted to sell her beauty. Thus, no one could blame her, especially not someone like Reubellina, who was born into a good family and had everything.

“Was my speech too short?”

Reubellina laughed lightly at Bellaruse’s retort. However, her mocking smile was hidden behind her fan, unseen by others. Her eyes showed no anger, though. The surrounding women were shocked.

“Calm down, everyone.”

Reubellina looked around, stepping forward. Bellaruse laughed at her, who couldn’t properly express her anger. She believed Reubellina wouldn’t dare speak harshly to her, unlike the attitude she showed at Scheh Boutique in the capital.

‘Pretending to be noble won’t last long.’

Whatever Reubellina was about to say, Bellaruse planned to call Inferno the moment she was rebuked or scolded. Inferno’s eyes were already on them.

“No one gets angry at a beautiful bird for not understanding human speech. So, there’s no need to be upset.”

Reubellina closed her fan with a sharp snap. The meaning of this warning sound was clear to everyone. However, Bellaruse was more shocked by Reubellina’s words than by the fan’s sound.

‘Did she just call me bird-brained?’

Bellaruse’s face turned red with shame. Inferno, noticing her flushed face, hurried over.

“Bellaruse!”

“Your Highness!”

Bellaruse leaned into Inferno as if meeting a truly beloved lover. She trembled, looking around fearfully, making it seem as if the noblewomen and young ladies around her were oppressing her.

Reubellina scoffed quietly at the sight of the “world’s lovers.”

‘Ridiculous.’

Although disgusted by the unfaithful couple, Reubellina decided to endure it. This allowed her to meet a better person and live a happier life.

‘I was happy to be away from the capital and not see that sight, but now they’ve come to the north.’

“What is the meaning of this!”

Inferno’s loud voice rang through the hall. Not only Tartenon, but other chatting nobles turned their eyes towards Bellaruse and Reubellina.

Reubellina widened her eyes, pretending to be surprised by Inferno’s shout. She covered her mouth with her fan to hide her laughter.

‘Ah, fans are truly useful.’

Reubellina glanced at Sandy, signaling with her eyes. Sandy discreetly made a circle with her hand, confirming Reubellina’s signal. Ignoring Inferno’s angry words, Reubellina glanced at him with narrowed eyes.

“……Oppressing?”

“Oppressing?”

Who was oppressing whom?

Reubellina, who had been feigning ignorance, looked directly at Inferno. As she moved her lips slightly, Inferno, emboldened, spoke louder.

“Yes. Using your status as Grand Duchess to oppress a noble young lady. It’s quite apparent.”

“That’s the first I’ve heard of such a thing. Calling someone beautiful is considered oppression?”

“Your Grace!”

Bellaruse interjected. Her green eyes were already filled with tears. Mesmerized by her pitiful appearance, other nobles couldn’t take their eyes off her. Noticing this, Bellaruse subtly pressed her arms together, pushing her chest out while letting a tear drop.

“She said I was like a bird, implying I’m too stupid to understand human speech. Isn’t this oppression?”

Bellaruse’s sorrowful plea made her seem the victim to everyone watching. The surrounding nobles awaited Reubellina’s response.

Reubellina looked at Bellaruse with steady eyes.

‘You chose the wrong opponent.’

If this were the capital, she might have had to concede to Bellaruse. But here, in the north, at the celebration of the newlywed Grand Duke and Duchess, picking a fight with her was undeniably foolish.

‘And Bellaruse has made that foolish move.’

Reubellina spoke with a smile.

“I said someone as beautiful as a bird. Should I say that to someone else instead?”

“What?”

“I said you are as beautiful as a bird.”

Reubellina omitted the latter part of her previous statement and spoke to Inferno. Despite her complimenting Bellaruse, Inferno’s suspicion didn’t fade. Bellaruse, crying even louder, shouted.

“Look, Your Highness! She just compared me to a bird, implying I’m dumb!”

“Did I?”

“Isn’t that so?”

Her sharp green eyes were fixed on Reubellina, but there was no change in Reubellina’s expression. As Reubellina tilted her head, as if confused, Bellaruse, frustrated, spoke up.

“Didn’t you all hear? Say something!”

“I heard her say you’re as beautiful as a bird.”

The Marchioness of Istorium spoke up.

“Oh my, I heard it too.”

Other noblewomen and young ladies also stepped forward, defending Reubellina, saying there was no harm in calling someone beautiful. Inferno found no room to argue.

“Did you hear that?”

In any other place, Reubellina might not have had the support, but here, at this banquet, she was backed by everyone. Nobles unhappy with Tartenon hadn’t attended, making this possible.

‘To think it would turn out like this.’

It was fortunate. Their absence allowed her to push Bellaruse and Inferno further into a corner.

‘Had they brought a congratulatory gift, I might have let it slide.’

She was only irritated by having to provide them with rooms and food at the banquet without receiving any gifts in return. Even if they had brought gifts, they wouldn’t have been seen in a better light.

Reubellina closed her fan. Her smile vanished, leaving her face cold. She stepped closer to Bellaruse, who flinched and stepped back, creating a wider space around her as other nobles moved away.

“It’s outrageous to falsely accuse, His Highness. Your Highness, you should distance yourself from such a young lady.”

“How dare you!”

“As the Grand Duchess of the North, I believe I’m allowed to give such advice.”

At Reubellina’s calm reply, the northern nobles nodded. The Grand Duchess, as Tartenon’s partner, was not seen as inferior to royalty.

‘If you were the Crown Prince, it might be different, but you’re just a prince.’

The northern nobles understood the hidden sharpness in Reubellina’s words. Only Inferno and Bellaruse failed to grasp the meaning.

“Goodness, advising His Highness, really?”

Bellaruse, clinging to Inferno, babbled. Her trivial actions made the northern nobles click their tongues. Seeing such a woman beside a prince, comments about the level of royalty were heard. However, Inferno seemed oblivious to everything.

“Is the Grand Duchess telling me what to do?”

“How could I dare speak to you, Your Highness? I only spoke out of concern for the Empire as the mistress of the North.”

“Why should you be worried about the Empire!”

“You?”

Tartenon interrupted the conversation between Reubellina and Inferno. His voice was so eerie that the northern nobles politely bowed and stepped back. It was the first time they had seen him intervene in women’s matters, so the northern nobles were cautious.

Though Reubellina was pretending to be innocent in front of them, the nobles, knowing Tartenon’s true nature, naturally kept their distance. He was someone who never left those who opposed him unscathed.

“Your words seem harsh, Your Highness.”

“Why is the Grand Duke interfering!”

“You’re disrespecting my wife. Disrespecting the Grand Duchess is the same as disrespecting the whole North.”

“What, what did you say?”

“She is no longer just a Duke’s daughter!”

Tartenon’s imposing presence bore down on Inferno. As a sword master, his aura was overwhelming. Reubellina was taken aback by his display.

‘I knew he was an exceptional knight, but I didn’t know he was this formidable.’

Having run a trading company and encountered many mercenaries and knights, Reubellina had seen many skilled swordsmen. She knew well about the ranks and abilities of knights. According to her knowledge, Tartenon was indeed an extraordinary knight. Even now, lookoing at him, not only Inferno but everyone in the banquet hall was trembling in fear.

“I’m fine.”

Reubellina gently held Tartenon’s hand. The murderous intent that had been piercing Inferno melted away like snow at her touch. Reubellina, looking down at the gasping Inferno, patted Tartenon’s hand.

“But for you….”

“It seems His Highness doesn’t know much about the northern customs as he’s only stayed in the capital.”

“…….”

Tartenon closed his mouth tightly. His stiff expression clearly showed his displeasure, but Reubellina smiled instead. Her harmless smile made Tartenon eventually chuckle too.

“If you say you’re fine.”

“I am fine.”

Reubellina knew why Tartenon intervened. It was to instill a sense of caution in Inferno. However, it was no longer necessary. From Bellaruse’s expression, it seemed she had realized the difference between them.

How satisfying Bellaruse’s resentful face was! It felt refreshing as if a decade-long indigestion had finally cleared. The smile didn’t leave Reubellina’s face.

‘So this is what it feels like to be a winner!’

The feelings she had felt until now were not those of a winner. They were merely the struggles of having a man stolen by a lesser woman. Relishing this true victory, Reubellina haughtily declared.

“Shall we continue the banquet?”

The halted music flowed softly again, and the people who had been glancing around started moving.

***

After the banquet that day, a rumor without basis spread in the North. The rumor that there was a true loser in the North.

The rumor that the Grand Duke of the North couldn’t defy the Grand Duchess circulated and reached Reubellina’s ears. It was the morning of the fifth day of the week-long banquet.

Reubellina laughed heartily at the rumor Sandy relayed.

“What? Ahaha!”

“The rumor is rampant outside now. Who is the true loser of the North? Isn’t it the Grand Duke of the North, Speraum? But since he yields to the Grand Duchess, the true loser of the North must be Your Grace.”

“That kind of rumor is welcome.”

“Right?”

“Of course.”

Reubellina thought of Bellaruse, who had fled the banquet hall. How ridiculous she had looked. After the banquet ended, Reubellina rolled on her bed for a long time laughing.

Tartenon quietly closed the bedroom door seeing Reubellina in disarray from rolling on the bed, and then gently brushed her disheveled hair.

When her face turned red, Sandy giggled. Reubellina couldn’t even turn her head because Sandy was brushing her hair.

“Still, it’s a relief that the Grand Duke treats you well.”

“If he weren’t that kind of person, I wouldn’t have come here.”

“To be honest, I didn’t believe it.”

“What?”

Reubellina’s eyes were full of questions as she looked at Sandy’s face reflected in the mirror.

“That you decided to marry the Grand Duke because you loved him.”

“…….”

A loyal maid was different indeed. Reubellina was surprised but tried not to show it. Sandy, closely observing her expression, was right in front of her. It was harder to deceive close ones, so she tried to stay composed.

Fortunately, Reubellina’s strenuous effort worked on Sandy too.

“I thought you decided to marry just because the conditions were right and you could leave the capital.”

“Oh, no. Do I seem like that kind of person?”

“Yes.”

Sandy nodded without hesitation.

“I thought you wouldn’t marry anyone other than His Highness. You were betrayed by him, so I didn’t think you would trust someone else easily. You’re such a cautious person.”

“Ah, haha.”

Reubellina laughed awkwardly. Sandy whispered to her.

“But after coming here, I see it’s different.”

-To be continued in the next volume.