Agathe’s Errand and the Grand Duchess’s First Outing
The person Curtis had initially considered as his contract wife was not Chloe, but Agathe Montpis, who was desperately in love with him. However, Noel had strongly opposed it. He knew that if his foolish, blindly obsessive younger sister got involved with Curtis, she would inevitably ruin everything. Of course, the Marquise of Flandre and Agathe, who were currently sitting here, had absolutely no idea.
"And to make matters worse, I heard His Grace even gave that woman the Sacred Flame! It's so unfair!"
What was there to be unfair about? It wasn't hers to begin with. Yet, Agathe bit down on her handkerchief, trying to swallow her rage.
The Marquise of Flandre massaged her temples. "What can you do? They're already married. You should start looking elsewhere."
While everyone knew Agathe was obsessed with Curtis, the youngest daughter of the Count of Montpis was also famous for her lovely face and cheerful personality. Moreover, Count Montpis doted on his youngest so much that it was common knowledge her dowry would be worth tens of millions of sing. She could easily find someone else if she just took her eyes off Curtis.
"And while you're at it, I could finally get some..." peace and quiet, the Marquise almost muttered, but she quickly shut her mouth. She was worried her self-proclaimed 'niece,' with whom she shared no blood, would run to her mother crying and complaining that 'Auntie finds me annoying.'
However, Agathe seemed to have a different idea.
"Yes. There must be... plenty of other good things, right?"
"Hmm?"
"Auntie! Let's go to Basilure. The previous owner there is the one who sold the Sacred Flame. I want to buy something even better!"
Why on earth did her train of thought jump there? But Agathe's eyes were already sparkling.
"You have a lot of jewelry from there too, don't you, Auntie?"
"Well, yes... I suppose?"
That was true, but to be precise, that was back when the Marquise of Flandre was still called a princess. Things had changed after the late king passed away and her brother ascended the throne. The King wasn't stingy only toward Curtis. He hadn't given the Marquise of Flandre a single penny more than the inheritance she was strictly due. Since she wasn't married, she wasn't in a position to carelessly splurge on jewelry.
"I heard his daughter inherited the shop recently, and now they only deal in even rarer, more expensive gems!"
"Is... is that so?"
"Let's go, Auntie. Agathe is going to buy a massive ring today!"
Evidently, the ring the Grand Duchess had received from Curtis had struck a nerve. In truth, that ring only held such immense value because it came from Curtis. But Agathe seemed desperate to ignore that fact.
The Marquise of Flandre asked with a lukewarm expression, "Wouldn't it be better to go with ladies your own age?"
But Agathe was relentless. "It'll be good for you to get some fresh air too, Auntie!"
"Well, I..."
"And after that, we can go get ice cream at Boulette's!"
Ice cream.
The Marquise's ears perked up. Swallowing the words she couldn't bring herself to say—You don't have any friends, do you?—the woman stood up as if reluctantly giving in.
Honestly, the older she got, the harder it was to endure the summer heat.
A total of nine people set off for Papetin Street.
Chloe, Julia, and her younger sisters, Leah and Iris, rode inside the carriage with Ezra. Four of the Grand Duke's private soldiers escorted them on horseback, flanking the carriage. Although they had a mana-stone-powered automobile, a carriage was far better suited for the unpaved streets of the capital.
"This is so exciting! Iris, look over there! That's the gingerbread house shop Eric bought us treats from last time!"
Leah was practically bursting with excitement. Iris seemed equally captivated, her eyes wide as she stared at the clean, dazzling splendor of Papetin Street unfolding outside the window.
"Sister! There are so many signs!"
Under normal circumstances, Chloe would have joined in, pointing out the sights and chatting happily with her sisters. But she couldn't. Not with Ezra sitting across from her, looking as stiff as a statue.
"Ezra."
"Speak, Your Grace."
"Come on, I told you... don't call me that."
"No. I cannot show such disrespect to the Grand Duchess."
Chloe let out a sigh. Ezra sat perfectly upright, answering her with rigid, formal politeness whenever she spoke. The playful banter he usually threw around was nowhere to be found.
She knew exactly why he was acting like this.
This jerk is sulking.
And he had every right to be. Ezra was one of Chloe's closest friends.
"Let's see. You're from the Navy?"
On her first day assigned to the Guard, Chloe had been incredibly tense, having heard rumors that the unit was filled with snobbish nobles who hazed newcomers mercilessly. Ezra had been the very first to strike up a conversation.
She only found out later that they were from the same enlistment class. But Ezra's approach had been so relaxed and confident that Chloe, assuming he was her superior officer, had snapped to attention and answered with rigid military discipline.
"Yes, sir. I look forward to working with you."
But his response was entirely unexpected.
"We're peers."
"Pardon?"
"Hang in there."
"...Pardon?"
Ezra had patted her shoulder, pretending to wipe away a tear.
"You poor thing."
Georges, who had been standing behind him, stepped up and patted her other shoulder.
"Let us know if things get too tough. I'm the 1st Squad Leader, and he's the 2nd Squad Leader. We're always here to listen."
"Though listening is about all we'll do."
"Hey, listening is better than nothing."
What had Chloe been thinking during that exchange? Probably something along the lines of, Thank goodness, I thought the hazing would be terrible, but they're actually nice...
Of course, she soon realized the truth. It wasn't that they were exceptionally kind; it was just that they didn't have the luxury to haze anyone. Humanity always unites in the face of a common enemy.
And that common enemy was Curtis.
As squad leaders directly under the Brigadier General, Georges and Ezra had quickly bonded with Chloe. If it hadn't been for their leisure hours spent playing cards in the guard room and cursing Curtis Shan Berk to high heaven, Chloe would have resigned as his aide a hundred times over.
So, how shocking must it have been for them to learn that Chloe, who had spent every day trash-talking the Brigadier General with them, had suddenly married him overnight?
She whispered softly, "Hey. There's a perfectly logical explanation for all of this..."
"I understand, Your Grace. It must have been difficult to share such deeply personal matters with me."
But Ezra remained unyielding, keeping his eyes fixed straight ahead. Chloe let out another heavy sigh.
"We have arrived, Your Grace. This is the jewelry shop, Basilure."
Chloe's sisters seemed to sense the awkward tension between the two, but their attention was quickly stolen by the dazzling storefronts. Julia, also noticing the uncomfortable silence, did her best to liven up the atmosphere.
Perhaps because of their efforts, by the time they reached their first destination, Chloe had managed to push aside her lingering guilt.
One of the guards opened the carriage door, and Ezra was the first to step down, offering his hand to escort Chloe.
As Chloe took his gloved hand and stepped out, she muttered under her breath, "You jerk. Don't you dare come crying to me later, begging me to tell you about my love life."
A flash of fluster crossed Ezra's face, but Chloe had already stepped past him.
It was at that moment.
"Your Grace! Please look this way!"
"Your Grace! Are you visiting alone today?"
It was the reporters gathered near the jewelry shop. Chloe's posture instantly stiffened.
Curtis hadn't sent her to Papetin Street just to refine her taste. On the surface, this outing was meant to flaunt the Grand Duchess's very first public appearance after their wedding.
Even after getting married, the two of them had skipped the customary honeymoon. Under normal circumstances, going on a honeymoon would have been the natural way to handle public scrutiny, but Frederick had subtly warned them.
It would be wise not to make any sudden moves until the Duchess of Glintland returns to her country.
As if proving just how much attention was focused on their marriage, more than a few carriages had been trailing theirs since they left the Grand Ducal residence. They were all reporters.
Don't bother interacting with them. The guards I've assigned to you and the money you spend will show them exactly how much I cherish you. It would be even better if word got out that you're spending money like water on your sisters as well.
Press sketch artists were furiously drawing Chloe. She did her best to maintain her composure, keeping her spine perfectly straight.
Julia stepped up to adjust her attire one last time. It was the late Queen's dress, which the tailors had worked through the night to alter.
It really is quite uncomfortable.
Just as Curtis had said, she needed to get new clothes made first. Still, having to put on a show like this felt incredibly tedious.
Maybe I should have just worn my uniform.
As if you could.
The moment the thought crossed her mind, she could almost hear Curtis's voice responding with a look of utter disbelief.
Sigh.
Chloe lifted her chin as elegantly as possible, pulled her shoulders back, and walked up the steps into the jewelry shop.
Your etiquette training is practically nonexistent, but your posture is straight. So, keep your chin up and your neck pulled back. That alone will make you look decent.
It was slightly irritating how the man's advice kept echoing in her ears, but her military background proved useful in times like this. A soldier's greatest virtue was obedience.
"How beautiful!"
"Your Grace! Just one look over here, please!"
While the sketch artists showered her with empty compliments, Julia, Leah, and Iris followed closely behind her.
Inside, the shop owner and her assistants were waiting to greet them.
"Oh, Your Grace. We have been eagerly awaiting your arrival since we received word."
Basilure was the oldest jewelry shop on Papetin Street. The building itself wasn't grand, but because they had once supplied the royal family of Ivanes, they were highly favored by the nobility.
A middle-aged woman with elegantly styled hair introduced herself as the sixth-generation successor of Basilure. True to her profession, she wore sparkling gemstone rings on seven of her ten fingers.
"Would you do me the honor of allowing me to kiss the back of your hand, Your Grace?"
"Uh..."
Chloe's eyes darted around in panic at Lady Basilure's request.
Lady Basilure smiled warmly.
"I, too, was granted a first-generation hereditary title by the late king. As a knighted lady, I wish to pay my respects to Your Grace."
In other words, she was saying she had the right to be addressed as Lady Basilure. While it was customary for men to kiss the hands of noblewomen, Lady Basilure was a woman. Chloe was thrown into confusion, unsure if it was proper to offer her hand in this situation.
But if I respond incorrectly, that'll be a problem too.
She was highly conscious of the reporters waiting outside. If she offered her hand to a woman and the press ran a story about the Grand Duchess not knowing basic etiquette, it would be a disaster.
Just then, an unexpected savior intervened.