Side Story 1 ; Part 3

“You mean castrate? Isn’t that too extreme?”

As Tasha burst into laughter at the thought she hadn’t considered, Isabelle found herself awkwardly silent.

Watching her, Tasha grinned mischievously and leaned back.

“What do you think is the most dangerous thing in the forest?”

“Wolves… bears?”

“It’s grass. All you have to do is shoot the wild beast with a bow.”

At Tasha’s words, Isabelle looked at her hand without realizing it. However, her hands were not visible properly as they were covered by her gloves.

“Are you saying there is a plant that can cause infertility? ”

“It’s called Livano. It grows mainly in cold regions, and you can only see it when it snows. Since it’s white, it doesn’t stand out.”

“….”

“Do you want it?”

Isabelle quickly withdrew her hand, feeling embarrassed. 

“What nonsense are you talking about? To someone without an heir.”

“This is the reason why I don’t understand you here in the capital.”

Tasha shrugged, seemingly indifferent.

“You married a Marquis and now your last name has changed. You’re now part of the Marquis’s family, right? Then, if you give birth, it will be of Marquis blood; what else do you need?”

It seemed like an innocent question, even naive.

Watching Isabelle’s expression, which seemed truly bewildered, Tasha chuckled softly.

“I think I know why you can’t adjust here.”

“….”

“Put simply… it’s a kind of promise. I became a part of the Marquis’s family through marriage, but that doesn’t mean I have the duke’s blood flowing through my body. As his wife, I have an obligation to bear a child who inherits the blood of the duke.”

As she explained methodically, Tasha still looked puzzled.

“But, in fact, doesn’t the duke also have very little of the noble bloodline? It’s not like they’ve been practicing incestuous marriages for generations. Besides, it was the Marquis who broke that promise first.”

“Well, that’s…”

“It wasn’t an arranged marriage or anything like that; it was a marriage based on love, where you both pledged at the wedding to love each other for a lifetime. The marquis broke that first. Yet you’re expected to uphold your vows to the end?”

“It’s not simply avoiding an affair. Then, if I don’t bear Salvatore’s blood…?”

Isabelle couldn’t continue her sentence. It was because of Tasha’s expression, which seemed to ask what the problem was.

After hesitating to speak several times, she finally let out a deep sigh.

“…Just in case, I’m asking, My Lady.”

“What is it?”

“You haven’t… fed him, have you?”

Isabelle asked cautiously, and Tasha looked at her meaningfully.

“…What do you think?”

“Crazy…”

Shocked, Isabelle covered her mouth. Seeing her reaction, Tasha burst into a hearty laughter.

“It’s a joke. I haven’t fed him yet.”

“‘Yet’?”

“The fact that feelings cool down isn’t solely their fault, right?”

Isabelle, who had been getting more and more excited, fell silent at Tasha’s calm voice.

“As you say, it’s a fact that, thanks to him, I’m enjoying things I haven’t experienced before. And it seems he also has his own difficulties after bringing me here.”

“….”

“Maybe we just didn’t realize we weren’t compatible.”

Whose fault is it when love fades?

Realizing that what was believed to be eternal emotions were just a momentary desire.

As Tasha tightly sealed her lips and glanced up at the sky again, Isabelle observed her lonely profile for a moment before lifting her head. Countless stars were scattered across the dark night sky as they both gazed silently into the heavens.

It was a moment when they stood together, wordlessly watching the sky.

“Tasha!”

At the sound of the voice, both of them turned their heads simultaneously. It was a familiar voice.

As the sound of footsteps on the grass drew closer, an awkward expression flashed across Tasha’s face.

“Tasha, why did you… without a word again!”

“Rudy, it’s just…”

‘Is his nickname Rudy? It doesn’t suit him.’

Isabelle piped up, turning her head slightly towards Tasha.

“Oh, isn’t it Marquis Evan? ”

With a tone full of familiarity, Isabelle raised her voice, causing Ludwig to pause in surprise as he seemed to notice her for the first time.

“Marchioness Salvatore?”

“Did you come out for some air? So do we.”

Isabelle casually hooked her arm through Tasha’s, who glanced at her with surprise but didn’t object.

With a bewildered look on his face, Ludwig glanced back and forth between the two.

“Why is the Marchioness… with Tasha?”

“Because I asked her to come out for some fresh air. If I had known you would be this worried, I would have told you in advance.”

Isabelle said, leaning closer to Tasha as if confiding in her.

Although Tasha looked surprised, she didn’t protest.

Ludwig stumbled over his words nervously.

“Well, uh, the party was a bit stuffy…”

“Seeing you come to find her, it seems like the Marquis Evan is more affectionate than Isaac. How enviable.”

“Well…”

Isabelle giggled, covering her mouth coyly. Then she leaned her head against Tasha’s shoulder.

“By the way, I asked the Marchioness if she could teach me how to ride, but I have to get permission from the Marquis first.”

“Uh, yes?”

“Is that not possible? I won’t bite.”

Tasha turned her head as if to say, ‘What are you talking about? ‘, but Isabelle ignored her and waited for Ludwig’s response.

Ludwig’s face turned bright red.

“Of course, Marchioness. Tasha, you don’t need my permission for this…”

He stammered hastily, but it was clear that his true feelings were evident.

‘Why did she fall in love with such a man? It was pathetic.’

Suppressing a laugh, Isabelle stood up.

“I’ll go see my husband now. See you at the party, Marquis, Tasha.”

“I’ll escort you. Tasha, you should get up too…”

“Oh, I’m fine. I also want to take a walk alone. Since you are already here, how about enjoying a leisurely romance with your wife? The stars are so pretty.”

Pointing her finger towards the sky, Isabelle turned her gaze to Ludwig, who slowly lifted his head. His eyes sparkled as they met the twinkling stars.

“Come to think of it, you two met in the northern forest, didn’t you? I heard there are a lot more stars in the forest than here.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Ludwig’s face was reminiscent as he recalled the past.

The fierce gaze he had directed at Tasha was now much softer.

“Thank you for your consideration, My Lady.”

“Don’t mention it.”

With a light wave of her hand, Isabelle moved away, leaving Ludwig to sit down next to Tasha with a thud.

“Next time, say something before you leave. I was worried, Tasha.”

“Sorry, Rudy. Were you really worried?”

“Of course.”

‘Why did someone who worries so much have to be like that?  ’

Isabelle inwardly chuckled, but it wasn’t her place to interfere.

“…Put on this at least.. You’ll catch a cold if you’re out in the cold too long.”

“It’s okay. You’re cold too.”

“We need to go back in a short while before you catch a cold.”

His earlier irritation was replaced by a surprisingly affectionate tone.

As if that alone was good enough, Tasha laughed out loud.

Hearing that laughter, Isabelle looked up at the night sky again. It was a night when the stars shined exceptionally brightly.

***

It was the very next day that Isabelle received a small gift from the House of Evan.

Inside the neatly wrapped box were a small bouquet of flowers and a letter envelope stamped with the Marchioness’s seal.

Inside the thick envelope, there seemed to be something hard.

“…Everyone, leave the room.”

At Isabelle’s command, the servants all exited the room.

Once the door was closed, Isabelle frowned slightly and cut open the envelope. Something fell out onto the floor.

“This is…”

What fell onto the floor was a pendant about the size of two fingers.

The pendant, made of gold, had a long chain, and the lid could be twisted open.

‘I was thankful for yesterday. I hope it helps.’

Isabelle read the writing on the card closely before opening the lid of the pendant. Inside, there was white powder, resembling salt.

There was no explanation, but she knew immediately what it was.

“Who would send such a thing…”

Isabelle rubbed her forehead as if she had a headache.

Ludwig Evan seemed to be very nice to her when she pretended to be friendly with his wife. However, even if that were the case, sending something like this as a thank-you gift was inappropriate.

Exhaling a sigh, Isabelle promptly wrote a reply.

Not long after, Tasha responded to Isabelle’s invitation.

As soon as the maids had set out the tea and pastries and withdrawn, Isabelle showed Tasha the pendant she had sent.

“I called you here to see if you’ve lost your mind, My Lady.”

“Whether you use it or not is your choice, Isabelle.”

Tasha casually replied. Isabelle couldn’t help but chuckle at how she called her by name without any hesitation.

“I never gave you permission to call me by my name.”

“It’s the name you gave me, isn’t it? Besides, you called me by my name yesterday.”

Isabelle’s retort was cut short by Tasha’s gentle tone.

For a while, Isabelle stumbled over her words, eventually blurting out:

“…You’re really shameless.”

“Would you just like your husband to play around with other women even after getting married? ”

“And what about your husband, who suddenly changed his tone when he realized you were talking to someone else?”

Although she retorted with the image of Ludwig Evan she had seen last night, Tasha showed no signs of anger.

Sensing that no matter what she said, she would lose, Isabelle asked bluntly:

“Are you going back to the forest?”