Side Story 1 ; Part 4

“Are you going back to the forest?”

“Thanks to you, things seemed fine with him. There were misunderstandings between us, and he seemed to have been having a hard time. So… we decided to try to make an effort with each other.”

So, ultimately, as Isabelle thought, it seemed that she had simply asked Ludwig Evan to do something nice. It made her confession and disclosure of her secrets seem pointless.

“Don’t be too relieved. Even if he treats you well now… you never know how things might change.”

Regardless of her discontent, Isabelle didn’t think that a once-cooled love would not cool again.

Perhaps it was a recurring problem as time passed.

“So, Isabelle, I wanted to ask you something.”

Tasha looked up. Despite her hesitation, she spoke.

“…Would you like to be friends with me?”

Out of the blue, Isabelle thought Tasha’s pleading eyes were quite beautiful.

It seemed like she might understand why Ludwig Evan had brought her from the north.

“…What’s with the sudden question?”

“You saw yesterday what he did because I seemed to be close with you.”

“…”

“I didn’t tell him about what I heard yesterday.”

There was tension in Tasha’s voice.

Was it a misconception that desperation was reflected in the eyes that looked at her? Isabelle looked at her with furrowed brows.

“Do you know how pathetic you sound?”

She was truly a pitiful woman.

She didn’t even like it here. She didn’t understand why. She had already said she couldn’t endure it anymore and would go back.

“I am… … I mean, I love that person. Enough to leave my world behind.”

Isabelle couldn’t say anything in response to Tasha’s pleading voice.

Maybe she knows too. The passionate love has already cooled down, and all that remains is a pile of gray ashes.

The tiny spark that was barely found can never again ignite the same massive blaze as it did back then.

‘Even though you know that, you… … .’

***

The pendant she received from Tasha was hidden in the deepest part of Isabelle’s drawer for a while.

Unlike Tasha, Isabelle wasn’t a Patrona, so she lacked the boldness to render her husband infertile for his infidelity.

However, it brought her some solace to know that at least one person was aware of the situation.

Isabelle frequently met Tasha under the guise of learning horseback riding.

Tasha excelled at riding horses, even standing in the saddle, but she was a poor teacher.

“When people are nervous, horses get nervous too. So don’t be afraid… …”

“How do you relax, then?”

“You need to take care of that.”

“Do you know what’s really annoying about you?”

Despite Tasha’s grumbling and scolding, Isabelle burst out laughing.

Tasha always wore a bright smile when riding a horse.

Her wheat-colored hair gleamed in the sunlight, beads of sweat formed on her forehead, lively eyes sparkled beneath, and her breath was slightly labored.

Each time Isabelle saw her so joyful, she thought of Ludwig.

He must have fallen in love with this sight. He probably believed that having her by his side would help him overcome any hardships.

But he failed to realize that flowers in a vase wither quickly.

“No matter how much I think about it, I’m only doing good deeds for others. Tasha, thanks to me, your relationship with the Marquis has improved, but I gain nothing from it, right?”

“That’s not true. I have taught you horseback riding myself. I also gave you medicine, didn’t I? It’s not easily obtainable.”

“But both are useless.”

Having said that, it was a very strange feeling to know that there was a medicine hidden in the drawer that could make her husband infertile.

Even though she had no intention of using it, it felt like she held a powerful weapon.

Moreover, maintaining her friendship with Tasha was a small revenge against Isaac for Isabelle.

Ludwig Evan approached Isaac under the pretext of Tasha’s closeness to Isabelle, which annoyed Isaac.

“My husband asked if I really needed to be friends with you. Marquis Evan keeps being flirtatious.”

“Well. Your husband is quite popular.”

“Be careful. There are people flirting with your husband too.”

“There’s no need to worry about illegitimate children.”

“You’re truly out of your mind.”

Isabelle shook her head and pulled on the reins.

Yet she couldn’t help but smile when she heard laughter behind her.

As always, Callian welcomed them when they returned to the mansion.

With Isaac busy at the imperial palace, Isabelle was left in the care of his younger brother, Callian.

Whether he was preoccupied with work or spending time with the empress, it was unclear.

“You’re back? sister-in-law, Marchioness.”

Callian, who initially disapproved of Isabelle, perhaps due to his age or realizing it was unwise to antagonize his brother’s wife, began acting very respectfully.

Of course, Isabelle knew there was more to it.

“Thank you, Callian, as always.”

Isabelle had no intention of flaunting her husband’s younger brother.

She smiled warmly and waited for Callian to support her waist.

Tasha, unused to assistance when dismounting, still seemed awkward, but after Isabelle’s nagging, she accepted it obediently.

“My brother said he’d be late today, so it might be a good idea to eat first.”

“Alright, Tasha, would you like to join us for dinner?”

“I’d be delighted to accept your invitation.”

Tasha responded, looping her arm around Isabelle’s.

Look at her pretending to be friendly. Even if Marquis Evan isn’t here.

Isabelle inwardly pouted but didn’t push her away.

The three moved along slowly.

“They really resemble each other.”

Tasha, walking alongside Isabelle for a while, whispered. Isabelle glanced at Callian and nodded.

“I’ve thought so since I was young, but it seems to be getting more pronounced. It surprises me sometimes.”

“But he looks a bit gentler.”

“Because he’s still young.”

In response to Isabelle’s words, Tasha touched her chin, appearing to ponder something. Then her voice lowered.

“Then how about using him?”

“What?”

“If you have to carry on the Marquis’s bloodline, then he can do it. Since they share the same blood, it doesn’t matter if he will become the father of your child.”

“That’s absurd!”

Understanding Tasha’s implication, Isabelle became furious and raised her voice.

However, when Callian glanced back with a puzzled expression, she quickly smiled as if nothing had happened. She turned to Tasha.

“Are you crazy? Don’t say strange things.”

“But they’re both from the Salvatore family.”

“That’s right. And he’s my husband’s younger brother.”

“Then isn’t it even better?”

Tasha casually retorted.

As Isabelle resolved to scold her the moment they returned to the room, she couldn’t help but wonder if Tasha was intentionally saying such things to tease her.

“…He’s just physically grown up, still a kid who hasn’t even had his coming-of-age ceremony. He’s seven years younger than me. People have consciences, how can…”

As Isabelle shook her head as if to say it was absurd, Tasha silently watched her.

After locking eyes for a moment with a strange gaze, Isabelle sighed belatedly.

Tasha spoke up.

“I’m saying this because I think you’ve forgotten, Isabelle. Me and Ludwig… … .”

“Enough. I don’t want to hear it again. Anyway, don’t say such absurd things.”

“Absurd?”

Tasha smirked.

“…Maybe not from that perspective.”

As Isabelle pretended not to hear the faint muttering, she turned her head.

When their eyes met, Callian smiled as if he had been waiting for them.

***

It wasn’t as if Isabelle hadn’t noticed Callian’s feelings.

It was no wonder the boy had gone from snarling at her to blushing at the mere sight of her.

But Callian was too young to have his heart stirred, even by a pretty maid.

It was also a time when it was not unnatural to be attracted to someone older and more mature than one’s own age.

So Isabelle didn’t attach much significance to the child’s feelings.

She figured he would have sorted it out by the time he came of age.

“Seeing as how he’s not seeing anyone else, I’m guessing he still has feelings for you.”

“What does that have to do with anything? That was years ago.”

“That’s exactly it. Even if it was years ago, it’s a fact that he held you in his heart, right?”

“…….”

“The way I see it, Isabelle, I think there’s a reason you don’t draw the line at him.”

Tasha, who was said to be the best hunter among the Patrona, had a sharp eye.

She seemed to have some inkling as to why Isabelle was not drawing the line at Callian.

“It’s natural to prefer kindness over enmity. Even if he’s busy these days and neglects me, think about him lashing out at me.”

Though she became a Marchioness through her marriage to Isaac, Isabelle’s family, the Baroness of Zeronis, was a small family that barely retained the name of nobility and was not well known in social circles.

There was no way that the employees who took pride in working for Marquis Salvatore would be pleased with her.

Only Isaac’s affection and his brother Callian’s polite demeanor made it possible for her to be treated as a Marchioness.

If she distanced herself and Callian turned his back on her, she was certain their attitudes toward her would change.

“Even if your speculation is true, he’s not going to cross the line. He may be young, but he’s not that stupid.”

“Are you sure? Or is it just wishful thinking?”

Tasha asked, chin in hand. Isabelle hesitated before speaking.

“Both.”

* * *