Episode 31. A Secret from Cedric
By this time, Odette had snapped out of her thoughts.
‘Well, it was a bit embarrassing to think about it again.’
No wonder Walter’s expression was so sullen and disapproving.
It would have been more embarrassing if she hadn’t immediately clarified.
– Duke, I know you don’t, so relax. I was just asking, just in case.
– …….
– No, I know you didn’t, so I won’t ask you why, okay?
Odette tried her best to make up for her mistake, but for some reason, the more she tried, the worse Walter became.
In the end, the uncomfortable topic ended with Odette quickly closing her mouth as she sensed that the situation was getting worse.
‘At least when I said I would accept the marriage, the mood eased up a bit.’
For some reason, Odette could no longer deny that Walter was sincere.
She could see the relief on his face when she said she would accept the proposal.
‘But…….’
She’s still confused and uneasy.
One of the reasons why Louis was a good marriage partner was that he was missing something.
And Odette could be the one to fill that void.
She didn’t have to feel indebted to him, and she didn’t have to feel insecure about her position.
But Walter was different.
‘In the end, I never heard the reason why you want to marry me.’
And he came with terms that were a bit bizarre for a contract.
A contract marriage that made no sense from start to the end.
‘Will you ever regret wanting me?’
Maybe she’ll be the first to regret holding his hand.
Because Walter doesn’t meet a single one of Odette’s not-so-high standards.
And if that happens, then…….
“Your Highness, are you anxious?”
“Uh- huh?”
The question caught Odette off guard and she looked up from where she’d dropped her head.
Anne Sophie was looking at her, blinking wide-eyed.
“Look at your hand, it’s about to pop out.”
“…… Ah.”
It was then that Odette saw the protruding bones of her hand placed on the tea table.
She clenched her fist without even realizing it.
“Honestly, the idea of getting married makes me nervous, and besides, a husband who’s dangerous for your heart. If I were you, I’d be anxious about my own longevity!”
Anne Sophie gave her a thumbs up in understanding.
The look finally made Odette laugh lightly.
“I see. I suppose you’re right to be nervous. Duke Ertmann is too perfect, unlike me.”
“Oh, what’s wrong with you? You’re a Princess.”
“But I don’t have anything to offer him, and I’m afraid…… I’ll end up in a similar situation again.”
Yeah, that’s the problem.
It was a sense of obligation, but in reality, it was closer to a compulsion that Odette developed as a result of living as a weak person.
Without strength, you’ll be bound to incur debts, and with debts, one’s position tends to weaken.
‘I have no cards in my hand.’
No weapon to defend yourself.
For Louis, it could be argued that she could be a shield against his godmother, but for Walther?
“No matter how much I think about it, there’s no reason why Duke Ertmann would want to marry me, and I think that’s why I’m insecure.”
“Oh my God, you mean he wanted you in the first place, that’s new!”
Anne Sophie’s eyes lit up as if she was listening to an exciting story, and she continued, dropping a sugar cube into her teacup.
“But, Your Highness, from my point of view as a listener, I don’t quite understand why you are uneasy.”
“I said there was no card in my hand.”
“But you said the Duke wanted to marry Your Highness first? Then doesn’t that in itself give you the upper hand?”
“……Huh?”
Right, Come to think of it.
“Whatever the reason, Duke Ertmann wanted to marry you because he had something to settle, so you don’t have to be insecure, you’ve already broken the Duke’s leash!”
“…… No, it doesn’t seem to be that serious.”
“Pity he’s a snowmaker, why should the King care? Why don’t you rip it off and pull the leash!”
No, not the leash.
‘But you’re right.’
Until now, Odette had been insecure because she thought Walter had no reason to want her.
But is there anything in the world without reason?
There must be a reason, reason why.
‘I must find it and make it my own.’
It was then that Odette vaguely understood why she had lied in front of Walter.
She had been anxious since then.
I don’t know if it’s for political reasons, or if he wants something outright.
– Give me all of you.
He’s giving her these ridiculous terms.
It was a fear that if she too easily fulfilled this unfamiliar condition, Walter might come to consider himself unnecessary.
After realizing this, my mind became clearer.
“Thanks, Anne. You’ve helped me a lot.”
“What? Don’t be discouraged! You have the ability to communicate more than anything.”
“Ah, ability.”
Saying that reminded me.
The reason for her visit to Anne Sophie today.
Odette pulled a fan out of her bag.
She pulled the pendant off the fan and held it out.
“Here, thanks for lending me this. I’m here to give it back, but I forgot.”
“Oh, this! Did you use it?”
“No, I didn’t.”
Anne Sophie took the pendant and looked around. When she swept the round surface of the gem once with her index finger, the gem began to glow with light.
The pendant was a magical tool, made from several magic stones that had been shaped into jewelry.
It was simple to use.
It charges magical power and then changes form.
As the jewel quickly filled with light, Anne Sophie made a humming sound and manipulated the pendant.
Then, the pendant, which was just a jewel decoration, changed its appearance in an instant.
A dagger with a pendant attached to the top of the handle as a decoration.
“I borrowed it as a smokescreen in case I had to use my abilities, but the work was finished before that.”
“That’s too bad. This one was made based on Your Highness, I was curious to see how similar they were.”
“I’ll come back to help you with your experiments. Thank you as always.”
As Odette smiled faintly and got up from her seat, there was a sound knock coming from the window.
A white bird with a letter tied to its leg was sitting by the window.
It’s a bird about the size of a pigeon, but it looks a bit foreign unless you look closely.
As if she was familiar with it, Odette untied the letter tied to the bird’s leg and quickly looked through it.
Anne Sophie had already arrived and was snooping at the bird.
“What did you make with it this time, Your Highness?”
“A fountain pen. There aren’t many things as durable as that.”
By the time she turned around, the bird perched on the window was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, there are just black fountain pens lying around.
Odette picked up the fountain pen and put it in her bag, leaving the letter burned.
“I must go. I’ll come back another time, Anne. Thanks for the tea.”
“You’re welcome anytime. Did you get an urgent call?”
“Not really, but I thought I’d better get ready.”
Odette’s gaze shifted to the direction the bird had flown. There was a hint of longing in it.
“My brother says he’ll be back soon.”
* * *
A few days later, Duke Ertmann.
Walter, who had read all the letters in his hand, spoke up.
“Perhaps I should hurry up with the marriage.”
Russell, who had been reading his books, turned his head.
“Did the Fourth Princess send you a letter?”
“No, it’s Cedric. He says he’ll be back soon. Of course, it won’t be that soon.”
“Why? The place where the Crown Prince has gone is not that far from the capital, right?”
“He’s got some public business to attend to. It’ll take him a while to get through that.”
Technically, it’s not an official contribution, but he entrusted with something that he find too annoying to handle.
Walter pulled another letter from the drawer and set it down next to Cedric’s letter.
It was from Samuel Marvo, son of Count Marvo.
[…… Therefore, we decided to proceed with the work arranged by His Excellency. This letter is to express our gratitude for the help you have provided, and we will discuss future proceedings with His Majesty the Crown Prince.]
Count Marvo, the ringleader of the Western Changelings.
He was the one who wanted the Emperor to proceed with his marriage to Odette on the recommendation of the Empress Katarina.
There was no need for Walter to do anything, but he wanted things to be as certain as possible.
‘Now I can put this one out of my minds.’
He had enough on his mind as it was, arranging his marriage to Odette.
The two letters began to burn in the candlelight.
“It may be difficult to hold a ceremony before Cedric comes, but we will at least get it out of the imperial palace, so prepare within a month. Send news to the Duchy of Ertmann as well.”
“All right. By the way, is the Crown Prince’s arrival and the Fourth Princess marriage really connected? From what you say, the Fourth Princess and the Crown Prince are on the same side.”
There doesn’t seem to be any reason to object, but it means that he don’t really understand why Walter is rushing to hear that Cedric is coming.
“Rather, if His Majesty the Crown Prince returns and supports the marriage, I think we will be able to proceed with the marriage in a more stable picture.”
“If he gives me support, yes.”
“…… What?”
“You’ll know it when you see it.”
At Walter’s words, Russell put a big question mark over his head.
It meant that he had no idea.
‘Well, the Cedric he knows is probably a very gentle guy.’
How could Russell know?
– Odette wants to go to the academy quietly, so we need to help her. But I didn’t tell you not to touch those who approach you unexpectedly, haha.
– Does an older brother need a reason to protect his younger sibling? I think it’s natural.
Odette’s peaceful life at the Academy, and the fact that Regis is the only one who has ever approached her, is largely due to Cedric.
And what she doesn’t realize is that she’s not the only one.
– Did your brother Cedric know about the altercation? No, I didn’t tell him, and even if he did, it’s out of his hands.
– He’s not really interested in me, and I’m not interested in him, so we’ll just have to find our own way.
After this conversation, Walter decided to keep quiet about his correspondence with Samuel Marvo.
Of course, Cedric also has something to keep secret.
“Don’t tell Cedric about the marriage.”
With that order, Walter ended his interest in Cedric.
That’s why he didn’t think about it at all.
Not long after that, Cedric receives news of his marriage from no one else but Odette.
