“How long has it been since the Duchess passed away? There was once a lady rumored to be the Duke’s new lover who stayed briefly at the North Castle after the Duchess’s departure. The atmosphere was not favorable at that time. A few years after the Duchess’s passing, a new lady, claiming to be the Duke’s new wife, appeared. Since the Duke himself, who had no understanding of the emotion called love, was involved, there were many rumors circulating among the servants.”
Helen already knew this much. The Duke’s scandals had been significant enough to be talked about for quite some time. If the lady had not voluntarily left the Duke, the rumors would have persisted even longer.
“However, there is an unknown rumor outside. There’s talk of the new Duchess being a person cursed with silver hair. Isn’t it ominous for the person destined to be the new mistress to be cursed? So, even though the servants whispered, the residents kept their distance. Those who opposed the mistress at that time mysteriously died. Thus, the rumor that she was cursed soon became accepted as truth within the mansion.”
While continuing the narrative, the slave constantly glanced towards the direction where the man was. The man, seemingly uninterested in their story, clenched his fist and idly passed the time.
“Anyway, the lady claimed to have given birth to the Duke’s child. Well, when the child was born, wouldn’t it have the same silver hair as her? The midwife who delivered the child, fearing the curse, fled. At that time, the fear of the curse was indescribable, especially since the plague had recently swept through the area.”
“The slave shivered, expressing fear. At that time, I, too, was afraid of being cursed. I would fetch clean valley water and dab it on my forehead like holy water every day.”
“The master silenced everyone. And perhaps because of that incident, the two of them often argued, and not long after, the mistress left the house. I don’t know what happened next. Because the mistress left and things turned out like this with my hands. I thought I would die without a sound, but the master didn’t seem to care at all, probably because he had done such brutal things before.”
Translators: Stardust. Read on moonlight novels only
The slave, who finished the long story, took a deep breath. He looked at the man holding his leash. Perhaps because it had been a while since he talked about the Duke, his severed wrist stung, and he gingerly touched the round, swollen wrist against his clothes.
Helen expressed a smile of redemption, reaping more than what she had paid for. Silica’s mother was indeed the one with silver hair. And Silica was born with silver hair too? She couldn’t control the laughter that burst out. The Duke of Deneuve had been hiding this fact until now.
“So now, the, the price…”
“Oh, the price. Right. Since you’ve given information, it’s only right to give something in return.”
The man responded to the slave’s demand with a sly grin. Smiling, he raised the sword at his waist and struck down the slave’s neck. It was an action without any hesitation. Thud, the severed head of the slave, fell to the ground, rolling under Helen’s feet. She recoiled in horror and kicked his head with her foot.
“What on earth are you doing?”
Helen, checking if her red shoes were stained with blood, exclaimed in a disgusted tone. The momentary joy at the unexpectedly significant harvest quickly turned into irritation.
“It seems like you’ve got the information you wanted, so pay the remaining price.”
Despite Helen’s strong protest, the man remained nonchalant. He demanded the remaining payment from Helen, even though he had not kept his promise with the slave.
“Here. Is it done now?”
“Exactly. If you need anything else, I’ll be seeing you again, customer.”
Tossing a pouch to the man with a frustrated expression, Helen seemed to shiver as if she didn’t want to stay in that place any longer. She turned her robe inside out, just like when she entered the alley, and quickly exited through the back alleys. Despite witnessing a grim sight, Helen, who had obtained more information than she had hoped for, wore a satisfied expression.
“Dare to ignore me? I’ll have to show Ruffin his place in front of the woman who will become the Empress of the Empire.”
She walked back the same way, clicking her heels. Unlike when she first entered the brightly lit street at night, her steps were lighter.
* * *
“……”
“……”
Norden gazed at Herald, who had casually taken a seat in front of him. The Crown Prince, who had come uninvited, sat with his legs crossed, not touching the offered tea, facing off with him.
“What brings you here?”
Norden asked the man across from him with an unpleasant look. His sharp eyes scanned Norden up and down.
‘Surely, this is the guy who was with Retina.’
Herald, with a clenched fist and a crooked posture, remained as stubbornly silent as his stance. Despite wearing a wig to conceal his hair color, Norden could recognize him. The person who had been with Retina at the masquerade ball was in front of him, claiming to be a prince.
“When are you going back?”
“I originally planned to return after the social season, but it might be a bit earlier depending on the circumstances.”
“It’s been quite a while since you came to Rudenheim; you must miss your homeland.”
“I suppose I’m starting to miss the scenery of the North. But are you curious about when I’m going back? I heard the competition for the position of Crown Princess is in full swing. Even in your busy schedule, you’re concerned. Can I consider this an honor?”
Norden feigned ignorance and asked Herald, whose discomfort was evident. Despite not knowing why he was sulking, probing his feelings wouldn’t lead to anything good.
“I heard that there are discussions on your side too. Is there a lady who has caught the Prince’s eye?”
However, whether that touched on Herald’s uncomfortable feelings or not, his eyes flashed as he twitched his foot. Coming to him impulsively, pretending to be friendly with Retina, seemed irritating, but now that he was here, there was nothing specific to challenge him on.
“Each one dazzles the eyes. They are all outstanding individuals, to the point where it’s hesitant to bring them to the North.”
“The culture and sensibilities might not align with the North.”
“There seems to be a lady who understands the culture of the North.”
Norden smoothly accepted Herald’s somewhat mocking tone. Throughout the conversation, he maintained a constant smile, making dealing with the Crown Prince all the more frustrating, as he wasn’t lying but genuinely enjoying the conversation.
“Who is it? The lady you’re talking about.”
“Since nothing is confirmed yet, it’s difficult to say. It’s not something I’ve disclosed to my homeland or the Emperor. By the way, does His Highness the Crown Prince have a lady he fancies? I’ve heard that the candidates for the Crown Princess are all outstanding, excelling in appearance, intelligence, and character. It must be quite a dilemma to choose one among these exceptional ladies.”
Herald’s smirk twisted as he skillfully avoided Norden’s awkward questions. He easily realized that the lady Norden was talking about was Retina. While he believed Retina’s heart wouldn’t waver, having her in front of him made it challenging to maintain composure.
“Well, another lady might take that place.”
Herald nervously tapped his fingers, not hiding his discomfort. It was all because Retina looked pretty even with her hair hidden. If only she looked beautiful to him. He wished to keep her hidden from everyone else.
“You talk as if there’s a lady you’ve set your heart on.”
“People can’t predict how things will turn out.”
“It might be disappointing for the ladies striving in the Crown Princess competition to hear that.”
“Let them hear. Those ladies are more interested in the position than in me.”
Herald had little interest in the Crown Princess candidates. The competition, driven by the Empress, selected ladies similar to herself. The Empress, with her pride in the imperial family, wanted flawless women who would fulfill her desires.
“As long as they yield to power, they can’t refuse anything.”
Herald, sniffing disdainfully, belittled them. The competition, driven by power ambitions, ensured that, regardless of the outcome, the chosen lady would continue her married life.
“Like her, who doesn’t divorce even as the Emperor gradually loses his sanity behind the splendor.”
“The Empress has sharp comments about the soon-to-be wives.”
“Strategic marriages aren’t based on emotions.”
“Still, one could develop affection for the woman they’ll spend a lifetime with.”
“It seems the Prince is quite fond of that woman.”
Herald subtly probed Norden’s feelings. He wondered if Norden would reveal that Retina already had a lover she had sworn her love to but chose to remain silent. It was something Retina should say, and Herald knew he shouldn’t interfere.
Norden, in a departure from his usual demeanor, observed the Crown Prince’s emotional changes and responded with a meaningful smile.
“Yes, even if she has someone she loves, it seems he’s drawn to her enough to be tempted.”
