Chapter 17: [Chapter 017] From their gaze to their tone, they're nothing but pure evil
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I stared intently at Roardnes, my mind now somewhat clearer.
'There's no such thing as a free lunch.'
The beast before me was clearly trying to get me indebted to him. I swallowed hard, my throat dry as a desert. I didn't know why he was angry. Was it because he didn't like the fact that a woman who had wanted to escape from Noah was blatantly in his mansion? But I hadn't come here with that intention from the beginning. I had simply planned to play along with Noah until he grew tired of me, and then I would wish for his miserable downfall.
"I haven't forgotten, Your Highness."
I didn't know why Roardnes was angry, but I understood what he meant. And under these circumstances, I realized I needed whatever help he could offer. Asking my family for help was out of the question, given my position and the situation with Blier. The only way I could see forward was to divorce the Count of Acacia and inform Noah of it, then break up with him.
'I did need the help of a direct royal family member.'
Divorcing a noble wasn't simple; I would need the seal of a direct royal family member. To do this without Noah's knowledge, I had no choice but to steal his seal or seek help from a close relative of the royal family.
'If I could get one more favor... I could ask this man, who seems to despise the idea of being Noah's mistress, to approve my divorce.'
As I thought about it, my rapidly beating heart began to slow down. I didn't know exactly what to ask for, but I was certain I would gain something in return.
'The only thing that bothers me is...'
I glanced at his complex eyes.
'Why does he look at me like that?'
Was it simply because he was surprised to see someone with a face identical to Adriene's in front of Adriene's tombstone? Or because I had not properly greeted him as a royal?
'Or perhaps...'
To think that he was chasing me because he was infatuated with me seemed absurd. His tone was always polite, but his expression was arrogant and cold, and his actions were extremely restrained. As Roardnes' crimson eyes met mine, I felt a strange tension in the air.
"Countess of Acacia."
Noah's voice cut through the tense atmosphere.
"I hear my maids were rude to you. Is that correct?"
***
"I offer this poem to the memory of Her Highness, the Duchess of Avadelia, who has gone to the Lord at such a young age."
Applause erupted. I watched as people I didn't know praised me, saying how much they missed Adriene. My volunteer work at the orphanage, my attendance at the temple, like any other citizen of the empire, was beautifully embellished. Some even went so far as to call me the reincarnation of Saint Marini. I was told that this ceremony would last two days.
"Madam."
"...Let's go."
There was nothing more to see. Even after death, only people like these remembered Adriene. People who wanted to look good in Noah's eyes. People who wanted to be close to him. I turned towards the direction where Noah and Roardnes had disappeared. When Noah appeared, Roardnes had taken him aside, saying he had something to discuss. I pulled my hat down, but the red dress beneath the black shawl drew the maids' eyes immediately. As I walked towards my carriage, the music from the party hall faded into the distance. As I approached my carriage, I could hear another noise.
"I don't want my wife to become a spectacle."
It was Noah's voice.
"I'm not here to gawk at Adriene's corpse."
"...I'm here to confirm."
"I never sent you an invitation. Is that why you're here?"
Noah's calm voice overlapped with Roardnes's, who seemed to be suppressing his anger. I pretended not to hear and moved my legs as quickly as my pounding heart. I quietly got into the carriage and opened the window to watch them.
"Confirm what?"
"...I need to see Adriene's corpse with my own eyes."
"It's been two years since my wife became the Duchess. It's disrespectful to call her by her first name."
I could only see Noah's face directly. Roardnes's golden blond hair remained still.
"I'm not here to explain."
"Explain what?"
Noah's expressionless face gradually turned cold. He slowly lifted his head, looking down at Roardnes as if looking at something utterly ridiculous. Although they were of similar height, he deliberately tilted his chin, looking down at his nephew.
"A childhood sweetheart. Are you here to see the corpse of that childhood sweetheart?"
"...How dare you."
"I doubt you still have feelings for her."
"I knew her first, and I cared about her first."
"...So?"
Noah chuckled. Roardnes could be seen clenching his fist. It was unlike the prince who always seemed so composed.
"Am I not the one who is both her lover, husband, and now even her mourner?"
"...!"
"Adriene didn't need a troublemaker like you, who runs around and leaves a trail of blood wherever you go. She needed someone stable and mature like me. Don't waste your time on something you can't have. Invest your time in what you can get."
And Noah's dark blue eyes met mine directly. It was as if he already knew of my existence. He smiled.
"I have to greet the guests. Excuse me."
Then, he turned his back on Roardnes, who was still standing tall, and came towards me. He was only a few steps away, but it felt like he had crossed a vast distance.
"Are you alright?"
...And his flawless face was filled with worry. I couldn't help but be concerned about Roardnes. He had probably come here to confirm the existence of the corpse I had become, as Noah had said. And he was clearly...
"He said he was in love with her."
Noah grabbed my chin, his gaze fixed beyond me.
Even though his grip couldn't have been half his strength, it hurt a little.
"Look at me."
"..."
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"I asked if you were alright. What did the maids in my mansion do to you?"
They hadn't done anything. A few were simply curious because I looked like their mistress, while others had gathered because of the commotion.
"Aren't you going to answer?"
Noah didn't release his grip on my chin. I shifted my gaze away from him and met his blue eyes. I felt a sudden, sharp sensation, as if the seat of the carriage had sunk. Slowly, I pried Noah's hand away and leaned back a little. He didn't take his eyes off me.
"Tell me what the maids did to you."
"Nothing."
He gripped the window frame tightly, as if exercising patience.
"Tell me."
Even though my mind was racing after Roardnes' sudden confession, I suddenly had a thought. When I was Adriene, would Noah have asked me like this? If Roardnes was right, he was a mature man I could rely on. Maybe he could have easily solved the problems within the mansion.
"You're testing my patience."
"They didn't do anything to Blier." But what about Adriene? I had so much to say.
"Well, if I must say, the maids in the mansion treated me with utter contempt."
"What?"
"From their eyes to their tone, everything about them was impure and hateful. I couldn't stand it."
When you weren't around, I was nothing more than a ghost in that place. No one wanted to be my companion, and I was left to wither away alone, afraid that anything I did would be reported to the royal family. I was afraid of becoming a burden to you.
'I was waiting for you to come.'
I wanted to tell you, even though I knew you were busy. The fear I felt within the mansion faded, and all that remained was anger. I remembered how those maids had scattered in fear at Roardnes' single word. They had never shown even a hint of respect for Adriene or Blier.
"I'm upset."
"...I'll apologize on their behalf."
He replied that way after a long silence. I avoided his gaze. I had so much to say, but I couldn't say it as Blier. And his answer wasn't satisfying at all. What would Adriene have said? Would she have whispered softly, "I'll take care of everything, don't worry about it"? Just imagining it made me want to burst into tears. A memorial held for me while I was still alive. My lost mother's necklace. Noah wanting Blier. And yet, Noah calling Adriene "my wife."
"I'm going."
"Wait a moment. I'll send a knight with you."
Just as I was about to say that I would suppress my tears and go, there was a sudden bang.
"There's no need for that."
"!"
Someone lightly opened the left door of the closed carriage. When I turned my head, a shining man filled the carriage.
"I'll see my wife off, so the host of the party should stay in the mansion."
It was Roardnes, who had been standing far behind him. With a double tap on the carriage wall, the coachman started the carriage immediately, as if he had been waiting. The carriage sped away so fast that Noah could only watch helplessly with wide eyes. I, too, was surprised and looked at Roardnes, who was already sitting across from me, crossing his long legs and arms. A pair of bright red eyes stared at me intently. He looked very displeased.
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