Chapter 10. Nucria

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While having her late dinner in the dining room, Marienne thought of Nigel standing outside the door.

Had he been guarding her, not trusting the inn room without a lock?

Marienne smiled faintly while spooning her potato soup.

That couldn’t be…… He openly showed how much he hated her.

The undercooked potatoes crunched between her teeth.

By the time she finished washing up, the others must have finished their meals as the dining room was empty.

Looking at the vacant table, Marienne recalled mealtimes at the orphanage.

Constantly watching for the matron’s criticism while eating thin porridge……

Even when she was living with the drunk tanner, the dining situation wasn’t much different.

Meals were just a means to quickly fill her stomach, a constant tension of never knowing when curses or empty bottles might fly.

It wasn’t until she entered Rose Shoe Shop that she first had edible food on the table and began making eye contact with others during meals.

Though the plates of freshly made, appetizing food were always placed in front of her brother, and her portion was leftover stew or fruit with the rotten parts cut away…… Still, it was good.

It was too much to hope for a table set just for her, someone to dine with while looking only at her.

That’s why when the Duke offered to have dinner together, she was truly happy.

Because dining alone with him was exactly as she had dreamed.

Even if it was a perfect lie.

Marienne turned her eyes to the lovers at the opposite table.

They held hands on the table, constantly making eye contact and laughing at who knows what.

They fed each other bread and, overcome with passion, kissed. Sweet laughter and whispers overflowed.

Though she put the soup in her mouth, it wouldn’t go down.

Must be because of the undercooked potatoes. Or maybe the tasteless rye bread.

Left alone in the dining room after the lovers left, Marienne rubbed her arms, feeling chilly despite the late summer evening.

Climbing the stairs to her room, she thought of the handkerchief she needed to complete.

Just the thought of being able to give something to someone brought warmth to her shrinking heart.

Though they might not welcome it, they might unexpectedly like it.

Standing on the landing, Marienne shook her head seriously.

Again, again thinking wishfully.

Only to get badly burned afterward.

Marienne imagined the Madam dropping the handkerchief and stepping on it as she walked past.

Surprisingly, her mind became calm. Like when she saw the three silver coins on the dressing table.

Entering the room, she found Nigel shaking his wet hair. He seemed to have used the tub after she finished.

“The water must have cooled quite a bit, wasn’t it……”

Nigel walked past Marienne standing in the doorway and left.

Left alone, Marienne finished her cut-off sentence.

“……cold?”

She shrugged her shoulders while lifting her head.

“It doesn’t hurt. It doesn’t hurt. It doesn’t hurt at all.”

Deliberately rolling up her sleeves bravely, she took out the handkerchief and lace from her bag.

Threading the needle, she made a promise to herself:

Somewhere in this vast, wide world, there must be someone who will truly cherish me, look at me warmly, caress me, call me pretty, and clutch their chest as if they can’t breathe without me.

And when that time comes, I’ll cherish them more than anyone else.

Without any expectations or wishes, just pure love.

If such a person exists……

Before she knew it, night had fallen as she imagined the Nucria flower she would embroider after adding the lace.

Marienne took out the nightgown the Baroness had wrapped in linen from the travel bag Bell had packed.

“Ah ah…… My lady.”

Though her sophisticated and progressive designs were excellent, they were sometimes lewd.

A little, or perhaps too much for a country bumpkin to handle.

Marienne held up the flowing nightgown with its long dress form.

The wallpaper pattern on the opposite wall flickered through the thin fabric in the candlelight.

“My lady…… what have you given me?”

Marienne extinguished all the candles, put on the nightgown, and went to bed early.

She pulled the blanket up to her neck and lay on the edge as if she would fall off with a slight push.

The inn’s dining room must have turned into a tavern, as drunken laughter and loud voices drifted up.

I hope Bell feels better tomorrow. She couldn’t even eat and was so weak, what should we do.

Ah! And tomorrow morning, I must ask Sir Hector what the Nucria flower looks like.

I wonder how Rahta is doing. She said she would never go to Rockshield.

Marienne blinked her drowsy eyes and pushed the Duke’s pillow to the opposite side.

Her bottom was sore from sitting in the carriage all day.

Marienne soon fell into a deep sleep.

* * *

A wooden cup sloshing with cheap liquor was placed before Nigel.

Salt-preserved olives, dried jerky, and the innkeeper’s specially prepared lamb giving off a gamey smell were laid on the table.

The gathered knights pounded the table with their fists and shouted.

Flushed red, they were excited by the drinking contest between their lord and Hector.

Nigel, who had his arms crossed, picked up his cup.

His heavy Adam’s apple bobbed as he gulped down the drink with loud swallowing sounds.

Finally, the empty wooden cup was placed before Hector.

It was a contest of male pride.

Hector glared at the cup while swallowing back nausea that rose to his throat.

Already twenty cups in.

The large wooden barrel beside the table had already shown its bottom.

Putting the cup face down would mean surrender, accepting more drink would continue the match.

With bleary eyes, Hector stared at his lord.

How is he so composed? Is this possible? Did he make a hole in his throat or something!

Damn it! Urgh!

There’s no way he can swallow more. He feels like vomiting just from breathing.

But why me? What did I–!

What did I do wrong!

Theo giggled while pouring more liquor into Hector’s cup with a splash.

Just the sound of pouring made Hector’s nausea rise.

He brought the cup to his lips while his knees trembled. But before he could open his throat, he rushed to the empty wooden barrel, stuck his head in, and started vomiting tremendously.

The knights’ laughter nearly brought down the dining room.

The spectators cheered, and the piper who had come running at news of noble visitors enthusiastically raised the mood.

His pocket was already heavy with advance payment from the victor.

Hector, who had emptied himself as if he would spew out his internal organs, clutched the barrel and grumbled to Theo.

“Why me? You’re here, Ruben’s here, even the vice commander who’s a drunk is here. Why me? Since when did he ever drink with me!”

“As your friend, let me advise you, Hector.”

“What?”

“Don’t touch what you shouldn’t touch. Don’t even look at it. Got it, you fool?”

Hector, overcome with frustration, lifted his head and glared at his lord climbing the stairs.

“Damn it, what did I even do? What did I! Whaaaat!”

Hector’s head plunged back into the wooden barrel as he burst out in frustration.

Bleeurgh!

“Hah……”

Nigel gripped the railing and ran his hand through his hair while exhaling dizzily.

Though he usually enjoyed drinking, he never drank excessively. Even considering concerns about seizures, he had never had more than three or four cups.

Nigel staggered up the stairs and barely made it to the room. Then he grabbed the handle and pressed his hot forehead against the cold door.

How pathetic……

On edge all day and acting like a child.

Getting worked up over such a tiny woman.

If you want her, just take her. She’s just a woman who can be bought with a few coins.

Besides, she likes me without knowing her place.

She flinches at every touch, moans like a sob when I devour her lips.

When my tongue touches her, her cute n*pples harden, and when I dig deep inside.

Hah……

Nigel banged his forehead against the wooden door, thump, thump.

Then, as if angry, he pulled away and wiped his face.

“Crazy bastard.”

Bursting through the door, Nigel immediately plunged his head into the water jug he saw.

Fortunately, the full jug was cold enough to snap him to his senses.

After cooling his burning heat, he threw his boots, tunic, and chemise on the floor. Then roughly wiping off the moisture with whatever cloth he could grab, he walked to the bed wearing only his trousers.

Why hesitate? If I want it, I should take it. Isn’t that why I sought her out?

I made a contract with a commoner just to torment her so cruelly, to exploit her as I please and discard her ruthlessly when the time comes.

Fretting every moment over such a vulgar woman who would sell her soul for money!