Chapter 193: A Dream Resembling a Memory
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 193: A Dream Resembling a Memory
“Thank you!” Antonel replied with a radiant smile.
I thought the conversation would end there, but…
“I’ve seen many actors in my time, but I’ve never seen one who pours as much emotion into their voice as you do. Your acting was… it was superb. When you betrayed Lady Violetta, I wanted to climb onto the stage and slap you myself…”
The Countess poured out her impressions for so long that the people standing nearby began to look embarrassed.
“You are going to be a truly magnificent actor.”
At those final words, Antonel’s face flushed a shy red.
“I am truly honored that a lady such as yourself would say that.”
“A performance this outstanding will surely be seen in the capital soon, won’t it?” the Countess asked, her cheeks still rosy with excitement. “If you ever find yourself in need of help, do not hesitate to seek out the House of Asellino.”
She’s quite the onion, I thought.
Before the performance, she had seemed so lukewarm. I never expected her to be this enthusiastic.
“Thank you for bringing me today. I almost missed out on a wonderful show,” Countess Asellino said with a slightly sheepish expression as we left the dressing room.
Turning my head, I saw Lucion standing a step behind us, watching the scene with a look of deep satisfaction. Come to think of it, Lucion was the one who suggested we go see the actors. He really does have an uncanny knack for understanding the hearts of noblewomen.
When I gave him a look of silent praise, Lucion tilted his head slightly.
“It seems Countess Asellino has fallen quite hard for Antonel.”
“Fallen hard?”
She certainly seemed to like him more than I expected, but "fallen hard" felt like a bit much.
Lucion let out a pleasant chuckle. “I may not look it, but I know a thing or two about noblewomen who watch performances. She’s definitely going to be lovesick for a while.”
He leaned in closer. “A late-blooming passion is the most dangerous kind, after all.”
Lucion whispered this to me, but eventually took a step back under Norton’s wary gaze.
It was when we reached the lobby after I had thanked Lucion that I spotted the Countess. She was busy purchasing three sets of every single item at the merchandise stall.
“One set for my room, one for display in the study… and I should have a spare set in case something gets damaged while I’m using it.”
A mountain of packages was piled high in the arms of the footman attending her. The Countess had even requested a replacement for the viewing card she had rejected before the show.
“Six more times to get the special gift,” the Countess muttered, clutching the card, before turning to me. “Grand Duchess, do you think I could get tickets for tomorrow’s opera as well?”
“Tomorrow too?”
She really was hooked.
Just as I was about to say I’d try to secure them through Alcent, Elian, who was standing beside us, spoke up.
“I’d like to see it one more time as well.”
In the end, after asking Alcent for tickets for the next day—and the day after that, just in case—we finally boarded the carriage to return.
“Cecilia, who taught you to lift your feet so high when boarding a carriage?”
“I apologize, Countess.”
“Keep your head straight. And keep your feet together.”
Watching Cecilia get scolded by Countess Asellino the moment we sat down made even me straighten my back. Meanwhile, the Countess herself was preoccupied with inspecting the merchandise she had brought into the carriage.
“What is this book?”
The Countess pulled out the opera script book. It was a product designed to look like the book published by the protagonist, Lady Violetta, within the play.
As she listened to my explanation and flipped through the script with interest, she paused at the final page, her head tilting in confusion.
“Adapted by… Cecilia?”
“Cecilia adapted Berlini’s script herself. Believe it or not, Cecilia is quite a well-known writer in the North.”
Even the most unexpected people have their hidden talents, the Countess’s eyes seemed to say as she stared at Cecilia.
“To think a child with such abysmal etiquette…”
Cecilia gave an awkward smile at the murmur, which was hard to distinguish as either a compliment or an insult. The Countess seemed lost in thought and remained silent for the rest of the carriage ride.
*
“I will assist you with your bath.”
“No, it’s alright, Reta. I can wash by myself.”
I sank my body into the hot water, which was heavily scented with rose oil.
“But you look so tired…”
“I’m fine. You should go and rest as well.”
Knowing that I preferred to bathe alone, Reta bowed her head helplessly and left the room.
“Phew, I’m exhausted.”
Between hosting guests for days on end and attending the opera, my body was spent.
Loik should be here soon…
I decided I’d get out after just a little longer.
Maybe I’ll just close my eyes for a second?
My eyelids, which had been growing heavy, slid shut in an instant.
*
“It is an honor to meet the Saintess.”
“I am truly grateful for the assistance of the Blenheim Knights. May the Goddess’s blessing be with you.”
The knight before me lightly kissed the back of my hand and straightened up. As he stood to his full height, I had no choice but to look up at him.
I heard the Northern knights were famous for being tall and handsome, but this…
The Knight Captain, standing at the head of the row of knights in black uniforms, was large enough to stand out even among them. His broad shoulders and thick forearms were intensely masculine. Beneath his neatly swept-back black hair, his sharp eyes were striking.
At first glance, his face seemed cold and intimidating, but when he lowered his gaze slightly, the corners of his eyes softened, making his expression turn gentle. Regardless, he was handsome enough to make one’s heart skip a beat.
Where have I seen this man before?
His face was definitely familiar, but the memory hovered just out of reach. More importantly, what was I doing here? What was this situation?
Even as questions filled my head, my mouth moved naturally.
“We had prepared quarters for the knights at the Temple… but I heard from the aide that you decided to stay at the Grand Duke’s townhouse instead?”
The man hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“I will stay at the Temple.”
“There will be many things to coordinate with the Temple, so staying at the townhouse might be inconvenient due to the distance.”
“Is that so? The aide mentioned earlier that it only takes fifteen minutes by horse.”
When the Knight Captain glanced at the aide standing beside him, the aide flinched and took half a step back.
The man spoke again, firmly this time. “If there is a spare room in the Temple, I would like to stay here.”
“Are you sure? The rooms are for priests, so they are quite modest. The beds aren't very large, so it might be uncomfortable.”
“I… prefer the Temple,” the man said, his face flushing slightly.
Behind him, the other knights’ expressions seemed to darken for some reason.
“Then I will show you to your quarters.”
As I moved to lead the way, the man took a step toward me.
“May I escort you?”
His massive frame cast a shadow over me as he carefully offered his arm. The moment I placed my hand on his solid arm, I flinched.
The man pulled his arm back in surprise. “Did I… make a mistake?”
“No. It’s just, your arm was much firmer than I expected…”
At those words, the man’s face and neck turned a deep crimson.
“I’m sorry! I said something strange…!”
The man slowly offered his arm again. I carefully rested my hand on his rock-hard arm and we began to walk. His mere presence as he moved lent an air of intimidation to the Temple.
When I stole a glance up at him, his face was still flushed.
It’s actually quite cute how shy he is.
“Are the monsters appearing in the capital coming from the East?”
“It’s not certain. Lord Adrian said it seems like someone is intentionally causing chaos before the Dragon fully reveals itself.”
The man’s arm tensed suddenly.
“Do you mean… Duke Kyle?”
Oops. I quickly covered my mouth with one hand.
“I’m sorry. I’ve just grown so used to calling him that.”
“You two seem to be close,” he said, his voice dropping an octave.
“Not exactly,” I replied with a sheepish smile. “His Grace asked me to call him that because titles are cumbersome.”
“…Please call me comfortably as well.”
“The Grand Duke?”
“We will be seeing a lot of each other. As Duke Kyle said, using formal titles every time is quite a hassle.”
“Then… should I call you Lord Loik?”
We had arrived in front of the knights’ quarters. The man stopped and met my eyes, speaking softly.
“Just Loik is fine.”
The low, resonant voice vibrating in my ear made my heart race involuntarily.
*
A gentle hand shaking me caused my eyes to snap open. The ceiling of the luxuriously decorated master bedroom gradually came into focus.
Was it a dream?
It felt far too vivid for a dream. Loik leading his knights to the Grand Temple, and me receiving them as the Saintess. But Loik had never been to the capital since he was cursed, and I, of course, had never been in the Grand Temple. It was something that could never have happened in reality.
It must have been a dream.
The part where I was surprised by the firmness of Loik’s arm was something that happened when I first arrived at the Grand Duke’s Castle. It seemed my actual experiences had somehow bled into the dream.
“Were you dreaming?”
Loik, lying beside me, spoke slowly.
“Why am I in bed?” I asked. I was certain I had been soaking in the bathtub.
“You fell asleep in the tub, so I carried you out.”
The moonlight streaming through the window cast shadows across Loik’s face. His voice didn't sound particularly gentle.
Is he angry again because he thinks I’m overworking myself?
“The water was so warm, I must have dozed off for a moment.”
I was about to make an excuse about being tired from the opera when he spoke.
“Did Duke Kyle appear in your dream?” Loik asked, his voice stiff.