Chapter 29: Outside

“This is from the tenth jeweler.”

As the aide held out the box, Leonard set down the necklace he had been holding. The disheveled chain slid over the sparkling jewel like a coiled snake before slipping away. As the chain disappeared, the exposed gem emitted an ethereal light.

That wasn’t all. Including the necklace Leonard had tossed aside, the nine jewelry boxes on the desk each displayed their own unique charm.

Leonard held up the last necklace he received to the light. The gem, smaller than a pinky nail, scattered tiny lights through its intricate craftsmanship. After turning it this way and that, Leonard set down the necklace with a satisfied touch.

“This one is the best.”

“Is that so?”

“Add the last jeweler to the list and dismiss the rest.”

“Understood.”

The aide took away seven of the boxes from the desk. Leonard looked at the three remaining necklaces. Being different types of gems – sapphire, ruby, and diamond – they were all equally beautiful in their own way. As Leonard tapped each one gently, he smiled pleasantly. Now that he had such pretty necklaces, someone came to mind to give them to.

“Find out where Bliss has been going lately and choose an appropriate time to come back.”

At Leonard’s instruction about the necklace’s intended recipient, the aide reported as if no investigation was needed.

“Miss Bliss Adrian has become Princess Jasmin’s lady-in-waiting and frequents the imperial palace.”

When Leonard’s gaze sharpened, the aide tactfully changed the form of address. Only then did Leonard’s expression soften as he mulled over the aide’s words.

“Lady-in-waiting?”

“Yes.”

“Princess Jasmin, how unexpected.”

It was surprising, given how the royal was famous for not taking on ladies-in-waiting.

“It’s not like she suddenly wants to pull in the Adrian Marquis family, so what could be the reason?”

Princess Jasmin’s maternal grandfather was a Grand Duke. Therefore, she had no particular need to rely on the Adrian Marquis family’s power.

“Miss Bliss became a lady-in-waiting the same day she went to meet Princess Jasmin.”

“Then the reason must lie with Bliss… Well, we’ll figure that out gradually. In any case, this works out well. There will be many opportunities to meet Bliss.”

Leonard spoke after closing each of the boxes one by one.

“What about the investigation on Caelan?”

The aide pushed the report that had been on the desk to where Leonard could see it clearly.

“I’ve compiled only the facts beyond what’s publicly known, but there’s nothing that could be used as a weakness.”

At the aide’s words accompanied by a head shake, Leonard looked down at the report with dissatisfied eyes.

“Then why did you bring such a report?”

Despite being thick enough to make into a book, it didn’t contain what he wanted.

“What I want is a justification to bring Bliss back. Dig up everything about Caelan, even the trivial details.”

“Understood.”

As the aide withdrew with the report, Leonard closed his eyes while pressing his forehead. He’d been having occasional headaches from lack of sleep since that day.

“How pathetic.”

Leonard leaned his head against the chair with a self-deprecating murmur. As he relaxed and closed his eyes, he recalled the nightmare-like incident from before.

Marquis Caelan Adrian, who hadn’t been invited to his party, had shown up. He had watched Bliss from afar, and Leonard had observed Caelan.

“That wasn’t the look of a man viewing his wife.”

Observation – it was clearly an observing gaze. Even for an arranged marriage, it wasn’t an appropriate way to look at one’s wife. That’s what had irritated Leonard and made him block Caelan’s path.

He had hoped Caelan would let Bliss go after hearing gossip about her. But Leonard couldn’t get the answer he wanted, and his own actions were exposed.

He had invited Bliss to the party to reveal her selfish nature. And he had spread malicious rumors about her.

It wasn’t because he hated Bliss. Rather, it was the opposite.

He had planned to appear when her reputation was in tatters and she had nowhere to go. Then that greedy Count Bonita would have handed her over.

“The Adrian Marquis, of all people.”

That cunning old man had caught an unexpected big fish.

“It’s not over yet. Watch me, Bliss.”

Leonard firmly held onto his feelings for Bliss that he had harbored all this time. Hoping that someday in the future, they would become husband and wife.

***

It was when Caelan was watching Bliss’s back as she walked to Princess Jasmin’s quarters.

“Want to see her even though you see her at home?”

When the familiar voice spoke to him, Caelan replied without taking his eyes off Bliss.

“Count Karhen Nebula.”

“Ah, must we converse so formally?”

Karhen placed one hand on his chest and tilted his body slightly. Passing noble ladies giggled at his playful tone. Karhen winked at them. Being unmarried and possessing striking features, Karhen was popular among young ladies.

After the ladies who had received his subtle greeting disappeared, Karhen crossed his arms while putting on a serious expression.

“These days…”

“These days?”

Since Karhen had recently been abroad and hadn’t met with Caelan, the latter listened carefully, wondering if something had happened. However, when Caelan remained silent, Karhen’s expression gradually began to crumble.

“Sigh, are you going to tell me or not?”

Karhen erased the serious expression he had been forcing and returned to his usual self. With his characteristic smile and playful eyes, he nudged Caelan’s arm.

“If you don’t tell me quickly, I’m leaving.”

Though they were supposed to address each other by their titles in the imperial palace, Karhen often spoke casually when others weren’t around.

“For the sake of our friendship built over years of interaction, tell me quickly.”

“With Bliss, I keep…”

Karhen turned his head to look for the Marchioness, but she was no longer in sight. Yet Caelan kept staring in that direction, making Karhen’s eyes narrow.

“Your eyes keep wandering to her.”

“Isn’t that natural since she’s my wife? Ah, no.”

Karhen circled around Caelan while recalling their relationship.

“I thought you’d marry Latte, but then Count Bonita suddenly intervened and your partner changed. To that Bliss Bonita.”

Whether he was listening or not, Caelan still wouldn’t take his eyes off the direction Bliss had gone.

“Though it was an arranged marriage, you still made the choice. I wondered if you liked her, but there’s not a hint of affection in your eyes. I thought maybe Count Bonita was secretly blackmailing you.”

“Blackmail?”

Caelan turned to look at Karhen for the first time. Karhen spread his arms wide as if saying ‘finally you look at me.’

“Yes. You were forced into marriage. Seeing how you just let your wife cause trouble and spend money freely, there must be something with Count Bonita.”

Despite Karhen’s exaggerated spinning to get attention, Caelan said nothing and faced forward again. Karhen pouted, having moved dramatically on purpose to be noticed.

“That’s not it?”

“My eyes keep wandering.”

“…Didn’t you just say that? Did you already forget? Did you develop some illness while I was away? Or was it an accident? What exactly happened?”

“I think something happened not to me, but to Bliss.”

“Will you explain so I can understand… sir?”

Karhen quickly changed his speech when he noticed a passing noble, smiling with his mouth while his eyes pressured Caelan to speak up.

“You’ll understand just by watching, without needing an explanation.”

“That just makes me more curious. But…”

Karhen tapped Caelan’s shoulder, trying to get his attention.

“Since I’ve been listening to you all this time, why don’t you look at me now?”

“That should be my line, Karhen.”

It was Karhen who had been chattering away while sticking close to him. Caelan turned to his eternally shameless friend with an exasperated expression.

“Well?”

“Well what? Why are you spinning around?”

“Don’t you notice anything different?”

“Sorry, but I’m busy enough watching Bliss. Just tell me what’s different about you.”

Despite Karhen pouting at Caelan’s merciless rejection, he spread his arms wide again. He had been walking around the imperial palace wanting to show this off, and quite a few people had noticed, but his friend hadn’t.

“My clothes are different.”

When Caelan snorted, Karhen lowered his arms like he was finally giving up.

“It’s made from fabric I got from the kingdom. They sprinkled gold dust on the fabric, what do you think?”

“It’s fine.”

His expression didn’t look like he thought it was fine at all.

“…It’s my fault for asking such a question to a friend.”

Karhen was thoroughly disappointed that his attempt to show off to his friend had been wasted.

“You need to touch it and wear it to see it better, but how would you know? You need to have an interest in these things…”

“Interest.”

“Yes. Like how you just admitted you’ve changed regarding your wife. Hey? Are you even listening?”

As if something had occurred to him during their conversation, Caelan half-turned his body.

“Right, since I’m interested, I should look into it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“To do more things together with her.”

Caelan smiled faintly, looking more relieved than before. He had felt that just opening the rose garden and having meals together wasn’t enough, and now he had thought of a new approach.