Chapter 34
Angelica Hinsward had struck like a bolt of lightning between them.
Natalie, the capable maid and investigator, had found out the following:
Angelica Hinsward. 25 years old. The eldest daughter of the Earl of Hinsward and the Vice-Captain of the 1st Princess’s personal guard. A talented individual who had been on the fast track to success from an early age, knighted at a young age.
She was neither married nor had a lover, and her striking, slender appearance had even led to the formation of a secret fan club in the royal capital. She was one of the few female knights in the capital.
Marie closed the report on Angelica, who boasted a dazzling resume incomparable to her own.
When she thought about it calmly, the only thing she could surpass Angelica in was appearance. Even that wasn’t a clear win, as their looks were so different that they couldn’t even be compared. It wasn’t something Kalik seemed likely to care about anyway.
Then what were her strengths? Or before that, could this even be called a competition? Angelica Hinsward probably didn’t have the slightest idea that Marie was thinking this way. After all, she was a successful knight.
“Lady Marie.”
“Mm.”
“I didn’t gather this information to make you feel inferior.”
“…”
Natalie had gathered all this information in less than half a day because she was worried about Marie. How amazing Angelica Hinsward was as a knight didn’t matter. After all, they weren’t going to have a sword duel, nor did they need to.
Angelica casually called Kalik “Sir Kal.” It was clearly a joke, a harmless habit. She wasn’t new to calling him that. It was obvious from the way Kalik interacted with her.
“What kind of relationship did they have…?”
“Based on my investigation, they had no particular relationship.”
“Ah, really?”
Marie’s face brightened immediately. That was the most important thing to her. If they were just Knight 1 and Knight 2 to each other, that was enough. Even the camaraderie between a Captain and Vice-Captain was acceptable.
What she couldn’t forgive was anything beyond that—anything personal.
“But.”
“But what?”
“They weren’t so shallow as to say they had no relationship.”
“What do you mean?”
“My investigation only covered their relationship after joining the knight order. If you go back further, there are some concerning details.”
Marie’s expression darkened again. She focused on the phrase “go back further.” Natalie was the type to carefully choose her words, so whatever she said was worth paying attention to.
In other words, the concerning details were worth being nervous about.
“The two of them…”
“Mm.”
Marie gulped.
Natalie’s eyes gleamed like a hawk’s.
“They’re childhood buddies.”
“What? Child…hood?”
“Yes, childhood. Or, as some might call it, childhood friends.”
Childhood friends!
“But Angelica doesn’t have… you know, the same anatomy as him.”
“It’s just an expression. It doesn’t mean they literally share the same… anatomy…”
“Alright, alright! I get it!”
“Yes, Lady Marie.”
Marie managed to stop Natalie just before she completed her sentence. But she fully understood the meaning.
In short, Kalik and Angelica had been close friends since childhood. They were of similar age, and their families were close. There was no reason for them not to be close.
“Then…”
Why hadn’t Peter Escael chosen Angelica Hinsward as Kalik’s marriage partner?
A new question began to swirl in Marie’s mind. Until the Emperor’s command, there had been no marriage proposals for Kalik.
It was the same for Marie. She had reached her twenties without dating or meeting anyone. In her case, it was because her father, Albrecht, had grandly declared that his youngest daughter would stay by his side until the day she died of old age.
“Don’t worry, Lady Marie. There’s absolutely no reason for you to be concerned.”
“Why? What makes you say that with such confidence?”
“Because you and Lady Angelica Hinsward belong to completely different categories.”
“Categories?”
“Yes. You’re in the ‘sexy older woman’ category, while Lady Angelica Hinsward is in the ‘energetic peer’ category.”
Marie clutched her head. That explanation only made things more confusing. Natalie’s words were always worth listening to, but her mix of serious vocabulary and nonsense often led to misunderstandings.
This was probably one of those times.
“Enough!”
Marie jumped out of her chair. She shoved the report back toward Natalie, telling her to put it away.
When she thought about it, there was no need to overthink this. Angelica Hinsward was just visiting. She hadn’t done anything suspicious.
If anyone was scheming, it was probably herself.
“Badmouthing someone without reason is wrong.”
“As long as you don’t act on it, it should be fine.”
“Are you telling me to use force?”
“If necessary, I’ll be your hands and feet.”
With that, Natalie knelt on one knee. It was a ritual-like gesture she always performed before taking action.
Marie, looking exasperated, helped Natalie to her feet and spoke to her as if soothing a child.
Prejudice wasn’t good.
“If you’re determined to see something as bad, it’ll look bad.”
Even if she couldn’t get along with Angelica, she could at least treat her properly as a guest. Marie took a deep breath, resolving herself.
She had already done enough wrong by lying to Kalik.
She couldn’t commit another, new wrong.
Feeling ashamed for briefly seeing Angelica as a rival, she silently apologized to Angelica Hinsward. At the same time, she considered that Angelica’s presence might serve as a good lubricant for her relationship with Kalik.
Of course, what they really needed now wasn’t a lubricant but an adhesive.
“Entertaining guests is the duty of a hostess.”
“Then, Madam, shall we have some tea?”
“What?!”
Marie, despite being startled, praised herself for not visibly jumping.
“Did I surprise you?”
Finally, the moment had come.
Angelica Hinsward was leaning against the doorframe, smiling as she fiddled with the hinges.
Her green eyes, which resembled Kalik’s in their kindness and warmth, stared intently at the nervous Marie.
Out on the spacious balcony connected to the backyard, Viola was already there. Contrary to Marie’s expectations, Viola had come to the annex herself rather than summoning them to the main building. Lily stood behind her, as if guarding or monitoring her.
“Greetings to the Marchioness of Escael. I am Angelica Hinsward, Vice-Captain of the Third Guard serving Her Highness the Princess.”
Angelica knelt on one knee, offering a solemn and respectful greeting. Viola placed a hand on Angelica’s shoulder with a smile.
“You look healthy.”
“Yes. It’s been a while.”
“But why call me Marchioness? That feels so distant. You can call me as you used to.”
“I can’t do that anymore.”
Angelica’s gaze shifted to Marie. She was saying that she couldn’t act as she had in the past because she had grown up and Kalik was now married.
Suddenly feeling like the reason for all this, Marie called for the maid. The table was already set with various beautiful desserts, but there was nothing better to divert attention.
“Please, have a seat.”
Once Viola had finished checking the table, she sat down first. Angelica followed, and Marie quietly slid into her seat last, making sure not to make a sound.
Then came a refreshing silence.
The first topic of conversation was international affairs—the power struggle over maritime trade between the Empire and neighboring countries.
Marie had thought the conversation would revolve around light topics like dresses or accessories, so she was a little surprised. Judging by the greetings exchanged after a long time, she had expected small talk about their personal lives.
Of course, such topics couldn’t trouble Marie. The Odillia family dealt in military supplies, so when it came to international affairs, there was no one with more knowledge or answers than her.
Contrary to her earlier apprehension, Marie began to feel hopeful that she wouldn’t be left out of the conversation. That is, if only she could figure out Viola’s intentions after recently being scolded by her mother.
Fortunately, Viola Escael was an adult. She didn’t exclude Marie by discussing her past with Angelica Hinsward. However, from Marie’s perspective, she might have preferred it if they had.
“…So, what does my dear daughter-in-law think?”
If they were going to forcibly include her like this.
“Ah, I… my thoughts are…”
Marie struggled to come up with an answer. The topic had shifted while she was momentarily distracted by other thoughts.
Even if they asked her about resolving the conflict between Odillia and Escael, what could she say? She also felt a bit resentful that they couldn’t have phrased it more gently or waited to discuss it privately.
“I think… since we’re all adults, we should each take a step back.”
Viola’s expression softened slightly, but not in a good way. Clearly, she wasn’t satisfied with Marie’s answer. It was too simplistic and superficial, leaving Viola visibly disappointed.
“That’s right. We’re adults, aren’t we? I also think it’s important to compromise and let go of what needs to be let go.”
Unexpectedly, Angelica sided with Marie. She winked at Marie, striking a balance between enthusiasm and naturalness, taking on the role of a moderator.
She listened attentively to Viola’s words while also acknowledging Marie’s small contribution, making her seem like a skilled host.
This made Marie question why she was even sitting here. Somehow, the conversation felt disjointed. They were discussing a serious topic, but it seemed like everyone’s minds were elsewhere, unable to come together.
While it was common for nobles to converse like this, for Marie, who was encountering it for the first time, it felt like being an ant trapped in quicksand.
“This is fate, so get along well.”
“Ah, yes…”
Viola didn’t hide her fondness for Angelica. She seemed indifferent to how Marie might feel about it.
Meanwhile, Marie was wrestling with her own unanswered questions. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Angelica Hinsward wouldn’t have come to Escael without a reason. There must be something she didn’t know.
It could involve Viola, Peter’s intentions, or, in the worst-case scenario, something related to Kalik’s responsibilities.
“Kalik’s an old friend of hers. You could say they’re the closest of friends.”
“That was true when we were younger. But not anymore. Now, we just greet each other occasionally.”
Occasionally.
Marie’s heart sank. She wrestled with the sentence, torn between taking it literally, which was shocking, and interpreting it optimistically as mere casual encounters. If she tried to spin it conveniently, there would be no end to it.
She had to accept that Kalik likely played a significant role in Angelica’s sudden visit.
Perhaps it was just her imagination, but she felt a stabbing pain below her chest. The pain seemed to sink downward, like water being swallowed, only to rise back up her throat like reflux.
The persistent pain alternated between a squeezing ache in her upper abdomen and dull throbs.
In the end, Marie decided she needed to excuse herself to the restroom. So before Angelica could say anything, Marie stood up.
At the same time, she felt the ground beneath her give way, as if the earth was sinking, and her vision spun.
“Ah.”
Her legs wobbled, and before she could process it, the scene before her eyes tilted downward, and the sky loomed closer.
Then, the nausea she had been suppressing erupted, spilling out of her throat.
“Morning sickness?”
It was a murmur from one of them.
Or perhaps it was from one of the four, including Lily and Natalie.
“Mo-morning… sickness…?”
The stammered words came from Viola, who had turned pale as a sheet. She trembled as if she had heard something she shouldn’t have.
Then, as if competing with Marie, Viola collapsed.
“Madam!”
Lily, who had been about to catch Marie, turned toward Viola instead. In her mind, Kalik’s voice echoed, “Protect Marie,” like a resounding command. But at that moment, Viola appeared weaker than Marie, who was already being supported by Natalie.
“Madam, get a hold of yourself!”
Lily shook Viola vigorously, holding her in her arms. As the empire’s strongest, her shaking caused Viola’s jewelry to scatter everywhere.
“You… you’re making me… even more… dizzy…”
“Madam! Don’t die!”
“I’m… not dying… ugh…”
While the other maids scrambled to pick up the scattered necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, Lily carried Viola like a princess and hurriedly left the room. Though no one explained it directly, Lily instinctively knew that Marie’s vomiting and fainting were somehow connected to Viola.
“Are you alright?”
Angelica, after checking Viola’s pulse, glanced over Natalie’s shoulder at Marie. There wasn’t much for her to do, thanks to Natalie’s competence.
But when Marie saw Angelica looking down at her, she fainted again. The mental shock outweighed the physical pain.
There was also a part of her that wanted to escape into unconsciousness.
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Viola mal mısın? Başta ilişkilerine karşı olumluydun. Şimdi ne oldu da böyle salak işler yapmaya başladın? Boşanmalarını istiyorsan adam gibi söyle sen de kurtul biz de kurtulalım. Bu ucuz kötü kaynana rolleri niye? Bu kadar seviyorsan Angelica’yı, o zaman onunla evlendirseydin oğlunu. Aralarındaki ilişkiyi merak ediyorsan ilk baştaki gibi sorsana. Kız ilk sorduğunda dürüstçe cevaplamıştı ztn tekrar sorsana.