Chapter 12. Withered Flower

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“Did you torment your fingers because those words were difficult to say? And purposely showed me around the castle too?”

Veronica tightly clenched her hands and glared at Marienne sitting on the bench.

“Miss Rose, did you understand what I said?”

“I understood.”

“Then you’ll do it?”

“No.”

At Marienne’s crisp refusal, Veronica raised her eyebrows.

“Are you mocking me for being young?”

“Don’t misunderstand. I answered seriously.”

“This is absurd. Why should the Empire’s star deal with a commoner like you! Do you have any conscience? Do you have no shame? How dare you brazenly come to Rockshield with the Duke! And timing it with the banquet Her Highness attends every year! Do you think you’ll be safe after trampling on Her Highness’s pure love? You shameless hussy! I will absolutely not let you get away with this!”

“Pfft.”

When Marienne gave a short laugh, Veronica’s lips trembled.

“Are you insane? How dare…… how dare a mere commoner!”

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t help but laugh……”

Remembering the Baroness’s advice, Marienne stood up.

‘Except for the imperial family, you have no one to bow your head to, Miss Rose. Don’t carelessly lower yourself and disgrace him.’

The one she feared in the Duke’s absence was the Duchess, his mother.

Unless it was someone who raised him with all their devotion over many years, there was no reason to be intimidated and back down.

She wasn’t such a delicate character to begin with.

Marienne looked down at the novice standing between girl and woman, who was a head shorter than herself.

“I cannot grant your request, my lady. This is a meaningful occasion for me too.”

“You have no shame! Don’t you feel guilty towards Her Highness?”

To the shouting Veronica, Marienne responded calmly.

“Are Her Highness and the Duke in a special relationship with a promised future? Or were they once deeply in love? Which part should I feel sorry about? Please tell me, my lady. I’ll confirm the truth directly with the Duke.”

“T-that……”

Seeing Veronica’s flustered look, Marienne could uproot her thorny delusions about the two.

“So Her Highness’s pure love was just one-sided. In that case, I hope you realize your actions greatly shame and insult Her Highness. Why are you stirring things up and tarnishing her honor?”

“Tarnishing! How dare you speak such nonsense!”

Though Veronica burst out in anger, she glanced around worried someone might hear. Again scratching beside her thumbnail with her index finger.

Marienne looked down at her pitifully.

“What will you do if it gets infected? It must be quite painful for a preciously raised lady to bear.”

“Don’t meddle!”

“Come find me if you need help. I can easily heal wounds of that level.”

“I wouldn’t accept your help even if my finger was cut off!”

Veronica turned and stormed away.

A wry smile crossed Marienne’s face as determination blazed in her eyes no less fierce.

* * *

“Oh my……”

Bell, who was about to take out the dinner dress, quickly closed the wardrobe door.

“Bell, what’s wrong?”

“I need to bring another dress. I’m sorry. It got severely wrinkled due to my poor management.”

“What are you saying? We checked it together this morning before putting it away. Let me see, would you step aside?”

When Bell reluctantly stepped back, Marienne opened the wardrobe. A strong ink smell wafted out.

“Good heavens.”

The neatly ironed dresses hanging there were soaked in black.

She felt drained, like that night at the orphanage when she carelessly lifted the bedding to find a dead rat.

Tormenting others is so childish and petty, whether done by children or adults.

The dresses the Baroness had carefully designed despite her pregnant condition!

Seeing Marienne’s expression darken ominously, Bell spoke with difficulty.

“Miss, don’t worry. The Baroness anticipated something like this and instructed to keep only minimal dresses in the wardrobe. I kept several in separate boxes, I’ll take them out and iron them right away.”

“No, Bell. I’ll wear one of these.”

“But Her Highness will be at tonight’s dinner too. You can’t go wearing a stained dress. You’ll be humiliated!”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“But……”

“The yellow dress would look bright. Please take it down for me.”

The dedicated wardrobe for dresses had high hanging rods to prevent the skirts from wrinkling.

Even the tall Bell had to stand on tiptoes and stretch her arms to reach.

Marienne glared at the ink stains concentrated only on the skirt portion of the dress.

“Miss, why don’t you let it slide just this once? I’m scared the trouble will fall on you.”

“Bell, if we stay quiet to avoid commotion, the bullying will only get worse. Because these cowardly acts have no legitimate reason or purpose. Except for my disappearance. So I must show what makes me different from someone raised delicately in a greenhouse.”

Bell reluctantly dressed Marienne in the yellow dress where the stains stood out prominently. Then with a worried face, she carefully groomed Marienne.

Shortly after, when a servant came to announce dinner time, Marienne deliberately left late.

To draw all attention at once, if possible.

Sure enough.

When she entered the dining hall, the butler’s eyes widened.

A neatly dressed servant stared at Marienne and overfilled a glass with wine.

Because of this, the Duchess frowned, and Her Highness looked Marienne up and down with a sneer and scoffed.

And the last person remaining…

Marienne approached Veronica, who had turned pale.

“I apologize for being late. There was an unexpected accident.”

The Duchess expressed her displeasure after asking Her Highness’s understanding.

“I can guess what kind of accident without you saying. Was it so urgent you had to come in such attire? You should have explained the situation and changed into different clothes.”

“I wanted to, but I couldn’t betray expectations.”

“Expectations?”

Marienne shifted her gaze from the questioning Duchess to Veronica Rampton.

Under the table, the flesh around Veronica’s fingers was torn randomly.

“Madam, regrettably, this wasn’t due to my carelessness.”

“Are you saying it was intentional? Here in Rockshield?”

Marienne stared directly into Veronica’s sharp eyes that were glaring at her.

“Yes, Madam. It was someone’s malicious act. And I know who did it.”

Veronica hurriedly turned her eyes toward Her Highness.

Whether aware of the desperate gaze or not, Her Highness leisurely swirled her wine glass.

The Duchess addressed Marienne in a stern tone.

“Her Highness is present. Miss Rose, sit down without causing a disturbance.”

The silent Her Highness raised her chin haughtily.

“Madam, there’s no need. This is far more entertaining than a dull dinner.”

“Your Highness……”

The Duchess bowed her head awkwardly toward Her Highness. Then straightening her neck, she asked Marienne.

“So who is this person? Were there any witnesses?”

Veronica pressed her red flesh with her index fingernail, lips tightly sealed.

Placing a hand on Veronica’s shoulder, Marienne shook her head.

“There were no witnesses. However, judging by the height of the splattered ink, I suspect it was someone shorter than me. Since the stains aren’t fully dry yet, perhaps there are black marks somewhere on their nails, sleeves, or hair.”

Veronica, who had stiffened, forcefully knocked away Marienne’s hand from her shoulder.

The Duchess and Her Highness’s gazes naturally turned to Veronica.

“So who are you saying it is?”

The Duchess stared at Veronica with disbelief as she asked.

“I’m sorry, but I cannot say. It’s merely speculation. However, I wore the damaged dress to reveal this person’s impure intentions.”

Her Highness twisted her lips and set down her glass.

“Intentions? To shame and trouble you, I suppose.”

“Regrettably, it’s not that simple, Your Highness. This person aims to disgrace the Madam here and Your Highness, the Empire’s star.”

Veronica’s head snapped up from where she had been looking down.

The young lady’s chin trembled.

“Would they commit such a bold act because of a commoner who thinks little of stained clothes? I think not. Rather, it seems more reasonable that they meant to mock the Madam’s efforts in preparing dinner, and to cause displeasure to Your Highness who made the effort to attend. Whether I wore this dress or changed into new clothes with a miserable face, the dinner’s atmosphere would be ruined. In a way, I was merely used by this person.”

Veronica, who had been listening, suddenly jumped up unable to contain herself.

“Lies! Those are lies! Your Highness, Madam! That’s not true! I never harbored such disrespectful thoughts! This is a plot! You evil woman! You wicked, vicious snake!”

Veronica, who had been bursting with anger, met the Duchess’s horrified eyes.

“Veronica.”

“Madam, my true feelings…… that’s not it.”

Veronica ran out of the dining hall in tears.

The Duchess quickly stood up, briefly paid respects to Her Highness, and chased after Veronica.

A heavy silence settled.

Her Highness looked at the cold plate before standing up. She walked click-clack to Marienne’s front and coldly commanded.

“Kneel.”

The moment Marienne’s knees touched the floor, red wine poured down from her crown.

Her Highness set down the empty glass and asked Marienne, who had her eyes closed.

“Tell me. What do you think my intention is?”

Red liquid dripped from Marienne’s chin onto her dress, leaving yet another stain.

“To punish me.”

“Do you know your fault?”

“I ruined Your Highness and Madam’s dinner. I’m sorry.”

“What about your childish act toward the young lady?”

When Marienne kept her mouth shut, Her Highness sneered.

“How bold. Not asking forgiveness even after insulting a Marquis’s daughter.”

“If she apologizes first, I’m willing to admit my rudeness.”

“Not bold but foolish? If you weren’t the Duke’s bella, I would have cut out your tongue right here.”

Despite the cruel threat, Marienne lowered her eyes without wavering.

Her Highness spewed out her rising anger at this worthless pride.

“Do you think you’ve become nobility by being in his embrace, enjoying his touch, wrapped in the luxury he gives you? Do you think blue blood flows in your veins as you imitate noble speech with your pretty face held high, having commoners who were once like you serve you? Remember this — you are a dirty, vulgar wench. A filthy wh*re deserving contempt and disdain.”

Marienne raised her wet eyelids to look directly at Her Highness.

Her Highness, showing her true colors, glared threateningly.

“I’ll gouge out those impudent eyes. I’ll tear apart that pretty face that has nothing but looks. Remember this. The moment that man casts you aside, that’s what I’ll do to you. So struggle all you want. Spread your stinking legs and hold on. A man’s pure love is more fleeting than flowers that bloom and wither in a season. The cards you hold are just as meaningless. Though as a calculating wh*re, you must have done your sums.”

After viciously spewing those words, Her Highness turned her gaze from Marienne.

Just as Her Highness, who had composed her rigid expression gracefully, was about to pass by Marienne—

“Your Highness, I have something I wish to ask.”

Her Highness raised her eyebrows and stopped.

“When a commoner woman meets a noble man and her circumstances improve, does she become a wh*re? If so, are noble ladies who enter political marriages for their family’s benefit and personal advancement called the same?”

“You…… do you wish to die here?”