Chapter 25: Aiming the Arrow to Reveal the Secret

【What does this mean?】

The dagger demanded to know why she had set it down so dismissively. Though it lacked a physical form to express emotions, the voice resonating in her head betrayed its bewilderment. Despite recognizing this, Bliss made no move to pick up the dagger again.

“It means I’ll think about it.”

【But I haven’t even stated my conditions yet.】

“I’ll hear them later.”

【Hey, at least listen to me first. Then we can…】

She wasn’t desperate enough to blindly accept whatever conditions the dagger might impose.

Rising from her seat, Bliss left the dagger on the table. Though its voice persisted in her mind even after she’d set it down, the sound gradually faded as she increased the distance between them.

Now aware that the voice had a limited range, Bliss turned away. Having requested time to think, she intended to carefully evaluate everything away from the dagger’s presence.

Confident that the rose garden’s caretakers wouldn’t disturb the dagger, Bliss departed without hesitation.

The dagger, which had been persistently calling out to Bliss, abruptly fell silent.

【What a peculiar human.】

Not only had she questioned its teachings, but she was also the first to abandon it in such a manner.

Soon after, footsteps approached.

A figure stood before the dagger, studied it intently for a moment, then picked it up. Unlike its earlier behavior, the dagger remained silent as the person raised it for closer inspection.

“So Bliss has acquired another secret.”

It was Caelan.

His gaze lingered on the spot where Bliss had stood before shifting to the direction of her departure.

“How should I go about uncovering that secret?”

Caelan remained there for a long while, lost in thoughts of Bliss. Throughout his contemplation, the dagger in his hand maintained its silence.

***

“Since you’ll be entering the imperial palace starting today, shouldn’t you wear something more formal?”

Jackie gazed wistfully at the dress hanging on the rack. Elated by her new position as a maid, she had brought several dresses early that morning. When Bliss rejected all ten-plus options and requested her usual attire instead, Jackie couldn’t conceal her disappointment.

“Such elaborate dresses would only hinder my movement.”

Bliss turned around with a gentle smile. Though she appreciated Jackie’s thoughtfulness, her response was a firm refusal. Jackie replied with a dejected “I understand” and positioned herself behind Bliss. As she prepared to style her hair, Jackie’s eyes suddenly brightened.

“Then may I use plenty of accessories?”

“No. I’d rather not carry heavy ornaments in my hair.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Jackie’s enthusiasm deflated as quickly as it had risen. Though Bliss could sense the maid’s disappointment through her touch as she styled her hair, she responded only with a subtle smile.

“By the way, how did you become Princess Jasmin’s lady-in-waiting?”

Jackie’s curious eyes met Bliss’s in the mirror.

“The princess is known for keeping people at a distance. It’s remarkable that you became her lady-in-waiting immediately after meeting her, my lady.”

“Everyone must find it as surprising as you do.”

“Of course! The entire household is already abuzz with the news! Once word spreads, you’ll be the center of attention, my lady.”

“Yes, that would be nice.”

Bliss didn’t mind drawing attention. While she examined her reflection from various angles, Jackie stepped back.

“It’s done.”

Bliss rose with a satisfied expression. Her hair was elegantly half-tied, allowing the remainder to fall naturally.

The moment Jackie stepped away, Bliss moved toward the door. After stepping out, she raised her hand to stop Jackie from following.

“Stay here.”

“Pardon?”

“There’s no need to follow me. Why don’t you tidy up the room instead?”

“Ah…”

Jackie glanced around the room with surprised eyes before looking back at Bliss. Her small stature and youth made her appear especially delicate, and the thought of leaving everything to such a young girl made Bliss feel guilty.

However, as Caelan had pointed out, she wasn’t ready to hire additional maids since she hadn’t found anyone suitable. So Bliss, having decided to manage what she could on her own for now, emphasized once more to Jackie.

“You don’t need to come with me. Understood? I’ll return soon.”

Bliss maintained eye contact with Jackie while stepping back. Jackie instinctively moved to follow but then clasped her hands together and bowed.

“Have a safe trip, my lady.”

Though it might have seemed improper to bid farewell from inside the room, Bliss turned away without concern. Lifting her skirt, she felt lighter and confident that moving around the imperial palace wouldn’t be uncomfortable.

As she walked with light steps, Bliss gradually slowed her pace. The person approaching from the opposite direction also stopped upon noticing her.

“Did you sleep well?”

Unable to think of anything more suitable, she blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

“You seemed to sleep well… You were sleeping so peacefully that I left quietly.”

Why was he steering the conversation toward her? Bliss fidgeted with her skirt as she spoke.

“Well, I need to get going now.”

She waited with an awkward smile for him to step aside, but he remained firmly in place. When she attempted to sidestep Caelan, he caught her arm, turning her halfway around.

“Shall we go together?”

Upon reflection, the dagger wasn’t her only unexpected encounter.

‘Right, this man was here too.’

“I have to go to the palace today.”

“No.”

Bliss firmly cut off Caelan’s suggestion, making it clear there was no room for discussion. Seeing his expression harden, she quickly softened her voice to explain her refusal.

“Even if we enter the imperial palace together, our paths would diverge inside. Then one of us would have to get out and walk…”

Bliss let her words trail off. There was no need to specify who would end up walking. She carefully removed Caelan’s hand from her arm.

“I don’t want to inconvenience you.”

As Caelan regarded her with a mixture of surprise and amusement, Bliss stepped back to a safe distance, just out of his reach, and shrugged.

“So it’s better if we go separately. I’ll see you this evening.”

Bliss gave Caelan a polite nod before turning away. She had already been delayed by dismissing Jackie, who wanted to follow her, and now by refusing Caelan. Not wanting to make a poor first impression on Princess Jasmin, she hurried along. As she held her skirt tightly to avoid tripping, the staff parted to make way for her.

The butler approached Caelan, who stood watching Bliss’s retreating figure.

“The madam has certainly changed.”

She was different now, walking past the bowing employees without acknowledging them. Previously, she never rushed anything. Though she showed more consideration for royal appointments, even that had been merely an act. Outside of dealing with royalty, Bliss had always done exactly as she pleased.

“I hear she’s stopped the beatings and treats the maid Jackie well. She’s changed significantly. Wouldn’t it be better to stop doubting her, my lord?”

“Do you truly believe she changed because of my good treatment?”

“I do.”

The butler remained firm in his conviction.

“Well, she has changed, that’s undeniable.”

“Then will you truly accept her as your wife?”

“I didn’t say I’d accept her as my wife. But I can acknowledge her as the Marchioness.”

Caelan ruthlessly crushed the butler’s hopes. Acknowledging her changes was one thing, but accepting and caring for her as his wife was quite another.

“Have you maintained records of all Bliss’s expenditures?”

“Yes, I’ve documented everything in detail, including all purchases.”

Every expense the Marchioness incurred, from maintenance costs to personal expenditures, was recorded. Even the dresses she took from the tailor without payment had been settled by the butler and noted in the ledger.

In less than a year, Bliss’s expenses as Marchioness had nearly filled an entire ledger. Only her recent frugality had prevented the need for a second volume.

“Keep it ready, we’ll need it soon.”

“May I ask what for?”

“It’s time to settle accounts.”

The butler fell silent, understanding why Caelan had agreed to acknowledge her as the Marchioness.

Caelan’s lips curved into a smile. His reaction was unusual – where once he would have scowled at the mere mention of Bliss’s name, now he seemed amused just thinking about the situation.

“I’ve been wondering how to reveal another secret that seems to have emerged.”

Caelan’s instincts told him the dagger would accept Bliss as its master. He could only imagine what abilities might manifest when she held it. While it would be preferable if she disclosed everything willingly, he suspected she would try to keep it hidden.

So Caelan prepared one of the arrows he had been carefully stockpiling against Bliss. He would use it to reveal the secret of the dagger.

“You’ve enjoyed yourself while neglecting your duties as Marchioness. Now it’s time to pay the price.”