“Baron, you’re too good-natured for your own good! If my friend had brought such a snake-like seductress, I would have torn out all her hair!”

Toward Countess Fontaine, who was fuming as if facing a non-existent seductress, Caleb hung his head and muttered.

“However, I am a bit worried about the necklace. What on earth did the innocent Alix hear that made her give away even her precious necklace to that woman…… Of course, not being her real brother, I have no right to worry about such things.”

Countess Fontaine jumped up.

“What are you saying? The entire court knows that you and Mademoiselle Levizet have lived like real siblings for over ten years! Goodness, this is all because of one woman coming in wrongly. It’s no wonder you’re worried like this, Baron!”

At the tip of Countess Fontaine’s three-inch tongue, which played perfectly into Caleb’s intentions, Mélisande was dismantled piece by piece and reborn as an unparalleled seductress, a villain who drove wedges between faithful friends, and a highway robber who stole an innocent girl’s jewelry.

Though it would be about a million light-years away from reality, what did that matter? What Caleb harbored toward Mélisande was only deep malice. However, his skillfully concealed sinister malice never showed outwardly, like a blade hidden in a scabbard.

“Actually, Mademoiselle Louise was saying that sky-blue dress that wench wore was definitely the one Mademoiselle Levizet had made a few weeks ago. Among everything she wore, there probably wasn’t a single thing that was hers.”

Caleb remained silent for a moment before answering.

“Oh dear. A story comes to mind. Ah, no. I misspoke.”

When Caleb closed his mouth as if troubled, Countess Fontaine’s eyes flashed.

“What story? Please tell me.”

“Ah, it just occurred to me…… It might be discourteous to my friend and his wife.”

In front of Caleb, who acted as if he couldn’t forgive himself for having thoughts that might be rude to his friend and his wife even for a moment, Countess Fontaine stamped her feet with curiosity. She was a woman with less patience than a three-year-old with sweets in front of her. Caleb secretly smiled at Countess Fontaine’s all-too-readable behavior.

Pretending to be defeated by the countess, who begged him to tell only her and promised never to speak it aloud, Caleb opened his mouth. He told an allegorical tale about the situation in a low voice and asked three or four times not to mention this story to anyone else. Judging it a perfect story to spread, Countess Fontaine made a delighted expression. Now that story would spread to every corner of Rauli Palace.

Perhaps her body was itching to quickly spread gossip here and there, as Countess Fontaine hurriedly began preparing to leave. Her busy movements like a rooster crowing were amusing, so Caleb held a sneer on his face, but when Countess Fontaine turned her head, the sneer disappeared as if washed away, leaving only a good and innocent atmosphere. Countess Fontaine, who hadn’t noticed, threw out words.

“Oh, I’m thinking of holding a concert at my salon soon. I’ll invite you too, Baron Julard, so you must come later.”

Caleb nodded, saying he would. He wanted to quickly send away this noisy woman and rest.

After Countess Fontaine, excited about the idea of crushing the court’s newcomer who had become a topic of conversation, left the lounge, Caleb immediately headed to Prudence Palace, where the rooms for noble men were located.

Though he couldn’t officially obtain a room due to his status as an illegitimate child, Caleb walked naturally as if to his own quarters and arrived at the Hawthorn Room. A room used by the previous and previous-previous Marquis Levizet, then passed through a couple of owners before returning to the current Marquis Levizet.

It was Antoine’s room. Caleb opened the door and entered without hesitation.

“What brings you at this hour?”

Antoine, who had been sitting at a mahogany desk looking at documents, said while removing his glasses. Amber eyes held Caleb. Caleb said nothing and approached, embracing Antoine’s shoulders and collapsing as if crumbling. Antoine, who had been looking puzzled, soon let out a low sigh and comforted Caleb.

“Caleb.”

“……”

“My Caleb.”

What’s wrong? At the quiet question, Caleb bit his lips and raised his head to face Antoine. Antoine furrowed his brow at Caleb’s visibly agitated appearance.

“It seems Alix has been won over by that wench.”

Though no name was mentioned, the subject was clear. Antoine remained silent.

“I hate that wench.”

There was only one ‘wench’ in this palace that Caleb would hate so much. Antoine stroked Caleb’s back. After Antoine’s wedding, though he hadn’t expressed it outwardly, Caleb’s sensitivity had reached its peak. Only Antoine, his lover, could know this state.

However, it was Caleb who had introduced Mélisande to Antoine. Antoine recalled the day Caleb brought Mélisande to him for introduction. That night, while tilting his wine glass, Caleb had urged Antoine.

‘You just need to marry.’

His reddened eyes were sharp.

‘The princess won’t do. Rather, choose that woman.’

The Levizet family is still heavily under mother’s influence. For Antoine to fully inherit the family, he needed to bring in a new marchioness through marriage.

It happened to be when talks of marriage between Antoine and the princess were going back and forth.

It hadn’t been even a generation since Levizet had faced a crisis. The advantages that a marriage with direct royalty would bring to the Levizet family, which had once nearly fallen, were beyond imagination. Tax exemptions, heirs who could have succession rights to the throne, smoother influence in central politics, etc. However, the lover standing before him was demanding he abandon all of these things.

‘Why?’

‘If you marry the princess, the imperial couple will closely watch and interfere with their precious daughter’s married life. If you go against the princess’s mood even slightly, surveillance will immediately follow. Then it’s only a matter of time before our relationship is exposed.’

Choose a poor and pretty woman you can control instead of a powerful man’s daughter you can’t control. It was a cruelly selfish and desperate demand from his lover. However, Antoine gave up everything and followed.

Mélisande was the woman brought in following such words from Caleb. Though tormenting a woman who was just an empty shell anyway, someone to ignore, was quite irrational, Antoine chose silence. If it could comfort Caleb even a little, he didn’t care.

Caleb muttered low.

“I terribly hate that thing occupying the seat beside you just because she’s a woman.”

I hate that thing, not me, your real lover, being known publicly as your love. I hate that wench receiving even a bit of benefit from the Levizet name she gained through fisherman’s luck. Everything she enjoys should have been mine originally. Among the sporadic mutterings, Antoine read the true intention at the end.

I’m afraid that even you might someday be won over by that wench.

Antoine waited until Caleb’s pathological agitation subsided before speaking.

“Though I had to give the Levizet name to that thing unavoidably, the true owner of my wealth, the honor and power I enjoy, is only you.”

Antoine slowly brushed up Caleb’s brown curly hair and kissed the revealed forehead as if worshipping.

“Only you. Everything that belongs to me is already held in your hands.”

Even my heart. Antoine placed Caleb’s hand on his chest. As Caleb closed his eyes, seemingly feeling the beating heart, Antoine whispered.

“Remember. Only you make my heart beat so violently.”

***

My conversation with Elene had gone longer than expected.

By the time I came out of the room, considerable time had already passed. I moved my feet anxiously. I hoped nothing particular had happened to Mélisande in the meantime.

I was busily crossing the garden. Between the room in Piety Palace that the empress had given Mélisande and Charity Palace where I had been until just now, there was a huge garden with a long walking path called the Empress’s Path. Ah, it’s just called that—it’s not exclusively for the empress, of course.

The main palace called the Rauli Palace, the imperial palace, is divided into parts named after four virtues: Prudence, Discretion, Piety, and Charity. Among these, the path in front of Charity Palace, where the empress and high-ranking noble women reside, is called the Empress’s Path simply because of its location. In the same context, the path in front of Prudence Palace, where the emperor and high-ranking men stay, is called the ‘Emperor’s Path.’

Anyway, since the ‘Empress’s Path’ is a path that must be crossed to reach the imperial exclusive temple in Piety Palace, devout gentlemen and ladies must travel this way every Sunday.

Since that path is almost a kilometer long, I, who mainly wore pretty and impractical shoes, usually never went near it. If Mélisande hadn’t been given a room in Piety Palace, I probably wouldn’t have set foot there for about a year.

Those staying in the small rooms attached to Piety Palace and Discretion Palace are people who have been allowed to reside in the imperial palace but are thoroughly deprived of opportunities to enter the center. So they’re this far from Charity Palace and Prudence Palace, which are the centers of power.

My legs are already starting to hurt. This damn poor stamina. Well, in this life I eat as little as ant tears for body management and only do dancing as exercise, so it would be strange if I had good stamina. Eventually, I sat down on a bench placed on the side path. While receiving the breeze blowing in the shade of the street trees, I closed my eyes slightly and thought blankly.

I should manage my stamina before I collapse. While I’m at it, I should ask Mélisande, who seems like she’d fly away if blown on or break if squeezed, to join me. That sister—protective instincts are good, but she’s so pitiful that I keep wanting to feed her something. Should I start horseback riding? I heard it’s good for developing balance. Or swimming? Fencing? Mountain climbing? Sports mainly done by court noble ladies passed through my mind.