Chapter 95: Excuses
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 95: Excuses
Feeling a prick of guilt at her words, I took a step back and tried to soothe the Marchioness.
“Still, you should consider yourself lucky. When I first arrived at the Grand Duke’s Castle, I was practically confined to the main keep.”
As I reminded her that the Grand Duchy was designated a military zone, the tension in the Marchioness’s face relaxed slightly.
“Even so, I can’t live like this! It’s too boring!” she said, her lower lip jutting out in a pout. “At the very least, call a jeweler for me. Or a dressmaker. Surely the North has things like that.”
“You don’t have any money.”
“Good heavens, listen to the way she talks!”
The Marchioness recoiled as if she had just been offered pity by a beggar.
“Am I not even allowed to look? And what do you mean, I don’t have money! Have you forgotten that I am a Marchioness?”
To be fair, since she remembered how I used to be back at the Marquis’s estate, her indignation was somewhat understandable.
“If the Frais family is willing to foot the bill, I can call a dressmaker for you.”
I was already quite exhausted from dealing with her since early morning. At first, I had no intention of granting any of her requests, but now, if calling a dressmaker was all it took to stop this complaining, it felt like a fairly reasonable compromise.
“Call the one you used for your clothes,” the Marchioness said with a sulky expression, though she winced slightly at the mention of the bill.
Since yesterday, she had been eyeing my dresses with great interest. This was already the third time she had mentioned that they looked different from the styles in the capital.
I suppose she does have an eye for quality.
“I’ll send word to Couter soon. The proprietor is a Madame Ramondria; she’s quite talented.”
“What? Ramondria?” the Marchioness asked, her eyes widening. “That woman opened a boutique in Blenheim?”
“You know the Madame?”
“What do you mean, do I know her?” The Marchioness tilted her head. “She was the most sought-after dressmaker in the capital for a while. Until she was ruined because of Ladriel.”
“What does that mean?”
When I asked urgently, the Marchioness gave me a strange look.
“Don’t you remember? Ladriel’s debutante dress.”
The Marchioness’s explanation was a bit scattered, but I could piece together what had happened. It seemed Ladriel had commissioned her debutante dress from Madame Ramondria, demanding it be more extravagant than anyone else’s. Even after the dress was finished, Ladriel wasn’t satisfied and kept demanding more jewels and ornaments. Eventually, the Madame refused to make further alterations, stating that any more would violate imperial etiquette.
“After that, all sorts of nasty rumors about the Madame started spreading. Eventually, her employees left to start their own shops and took all her clients. I even heard she had to close down entirely.”
“That was because of Ladriel?”
“There’s no proof, but isn’t it obvious?” the Marchioness lowered her voice. “I’m still scared of that girl.”
She grumbled that Ladriel was the type who would do anything if things didn’t go her way.
My mind went blank for a moment. The Madame must have known all of this. Come to think of it, I remembered how incredibly nervous Ramondria had been during our first meeting.
She came all the way to the North because of Ladriel, only to run into me. How shocked must she have been?
And yet, she had been so kind to me. She hadn't let it show once during all the time we spent together.
More importantly, why do I have to feel guilty everywhere I go for things I didn't even do?
I let out a small sigh and asked, “How long do you plan on staying?”
“I don’t know. I’ll have to leave before Raphael’s vacation ends… anyway.”
As the door opened, the Marchioness hurriedly switched to formal speech, but relaxed immediately upon seeing that the newcomers were Raphael and Janet.
Raphael, who had just finished getting ready after oversleeping, was wearing a pair of cute suspender trousers. While I exchanged warm greetings with my brother, Reta poured the tea.
Janet waved Reta away with an arrogant gesture and smiled at me.
“Your Highness, I have a request…”
“What is it?”
“Would it be alright if I used the servant passages as well?”
Her honeyed voice was incredibly grating.
“I have so much to take care of for the Marchioness and the young master… but the guest corridors are so restricted, and I have to take such long detours to get anywhere…”
I gave the wriggling Janet a brief glance before looking back at Reta, who was standing behind her. I had asked Reta to attend to the Marchioness for the time being specifically to keep an eye out for any suspicious behavior.
“Reta?”
As if she had been waiting for the cue, Reta spoke up sharply.
“If you need anything, you can simply inform me or the other maids at any time.”
“You heard her, didn't you?”
“But, Your Highness…!”
“That’s enough, stop it.”
The Marchioness, who had been listening, waved Janet off dismissively. “It didn’t work for me either, so don’t waste your energy.”
At those words, Janet bit her lip in frustration.
“A delegation from Rondoris will be visiting soon,” I said, looking back and forth between the Marchioness and Janet. “I ask that you stay quiet and out of sight until the delegation leaves. Especially you, Janet—keep that in mind. Unlike me, the Blenheim Knights are truly terrifying.”
“Oh my, Young Mi—Your Highness! What could I possibly do to warrant such words?”
Janet’s eyes flared with a sharp, predatory glint.
What indeed.
The Marquis had gone so far as to marry off his own daughter to prevent Blenheim and Rondoris from growing closer; there was no way he would let this golden opportunity pass. It wouldn't be surprising no matter what dirty tricks Janet tried to pull.
“If you find my suspicion offensive, you are free to return to the capital right now.”
“Young Master Raphael was looking forward to this visit so much. How can you say such hurtful things?”
No, I meant you should go back alone.
Just as I was about to lose my temper at her audacity, Raphael spoke up bluntly.
“I hate it here.”
“Young Master, what are you saying?” Janet said, forcing her lips into a smile. “You said before that you liked the Grand Duke because he was cool. Don’t you remember?”
“Did he?”
At the Marchioness’s indifferent question, Janet nodded vigorously. “The Young Master has always admired strong people.”
“That was… before I knew he was… marrying Sister,” Raphael mumbled under his breath.
I was just about to laugh at how cute he looked with his sulky, youthful face when Cecilia arrived to announce my next appointment. It was time to wrap things up. Of course, this was a small ploy of mine to end the tea time with the Marchioness early.
Seeing the exhausted expressions on the faces of the Marchioness and Janet, who now had to spend the rest of the day together, I took my leave in high spirits.
I had just stepped out of the room with Raphael when he whispered, “Sister, come here for a second.”
He took my hand and led me to his room. Leaving me in his small parlor, he hurried into the bedroom and returned with a small jewelry box in his hands.
“What’s this?”
“A wedding present for you.”
Taken aback by the unexpected gift, I carefully opened the box. Inside was a thin hairpin set with a small sapphire.
“Oh, it’s beautiful.”
“Do you like it?”
I nodded vigorously.
“I saved up my allowance to buy it.”
Good heavens. A wedding present bought with a child’s saved allowance.
Looking into his sparkling eyes, my heart felt like it was melting. Seeing how proud Raphael looked, I leaned down slightly toward him.
“Put it in my hair for me.”
Raphael nodded, but as he looked at the side of my head, he suddenly froze.
“…Did the Grand Duke give you that one?”
Raphael’s gaze was fixed on the sapphire hairpin I was already wearing. The design was similar to the one he had just given me, but the sapphire was much larger and clearer—a high-quality luxury item. He must have missed it earlier because he had been sitting on the opposite side.
A look of disappointment clouded Raphael’s face.
“No, Brother Ferdin gave me this one.”
“Brother Ferdin did?” Raphael’s eyes went wide.
“Is it that surprising?”
“No, it’s not that, but…” Raphael hesitated for a moment before continuing. “I was always the only one who gave you things like this. It’s just strange that he did.”
“He gave it to me as a wedding gift.”
As I answered, my heart gave a small thud.
Wait… were all the accessories I sold… things Raphael had given me?
I had sold every single piece of jewelry I owned without exception. If Raphael found out, he would be so hurt.
I wasn't the original Annette, but I found this boy, who clung to me and called me 'Sister' with his cute curly hair, truly endearing.
I must make sure to treasure this one.
I stroked his soft brown hair. “Still, I like the one you gave me the best.”
Raphael’s dimples reappeared as he smiled in relief, but then he tilted his head curiously.
“What about the Grand Duke?”
“Did the Grand Duke give you anything?”
Standing gracefully in the hallway, Cecilia pricked up her ears. Through the half-open door, she could faintly hear the conversation between the Grand Duchess and Young Master Raphael.
“A-A ring. I received a wedding ring.”
“Is that all?”
“…A dress! He gave me this dress as a gift, too.”
“…A dress?”
“Oh, and a flower garden! He even gave me a flower garden.”
A heavy sigh, far too deep for a young boy, echoed out.
“Sister, can’t you just come back to the capital with us?”
Cecilia’s eyes widened in shock.