Chapter 32- Five years later
[September 20, 1956.
I was invited to a formal dinner at the Marquis de Felice with Edric as his wife.
Of all things, the caviar dish that I hated the most was served.
The Marquis de Felice was upset when I skipped it and ate everything else. She said that she had made the caviar dish herself for me. In order not to disappoint her, I forced myself to eat the caviar dish. The moment I chewed it, the fishy taste that stimulated my nasal passages was so disgusting, that I quickly covered my mouth as I felt a sense of nausea rising. But it was too late.
The food came back up in my mouth.
‘I didn’t know you hated it that much.’
The Marquise apologized, tears welling up in her eyes. I didn’t know what to do with the feelings of guilt and shame towards her. Edric wiped my hands and mouth with a napkin.
‘Are you okay?’
He asked. I nodded and apologized.
‘I’m sorry.’
‘Don’t be sorry. It’s fine as long as you’re okay.’
He comforted me affectionately and led me out of the room.]
[November 4, 1957.
I accidentally stepped on Duke Claudius’s foot while dancing at a ball.
Duke Claudius seemed too pained to even care about my apologetic appearance.
When he screamed, everyone’s eyes turned in our direction.
Dozens of pairs of eyes showed concerns for Duke Claudius and approached us.
As I looked around in confusion, Edric came towards me.
‘I’ll take care of it.’
He reassured me with firm words and helped Duke Claudius to the lounge.
On the way back, I apologized to Edric again.
‘I’m sorry, it was my mistake.’
‘It’s okay. It happens.’
He comforted me plainly and turned his eyes outside the window.
His face, without a smile, looked cold.]
[June 14, 1959.
It was the opening day of the Felton family history museum.
I was in charge of explaining and guiding the ladies around the museum.
Things were going quite smoothly. Until one lady suddenly asked me a question.
I did not slept for days, preparing answers to a list of expected questions, but her question did not fit any of my expectations.
I had no idea what I was answering as I spoke to her.
I saw Edric behind the people who were tilting their heads as if they were not convinced by my answers. He was not smiling at all.]
[April 3, 1960.
Several people were missing from the Felton family’s regular banquet invitation list.
I thought they were written down clearly, but they were not in the final version.
It was strange.
Either I had misunderstood it, or there was a mistake in the delivery process.
Edric handled it smoothly as usual.
After the banquet, he called me aside.
He, no longer tells me that it is okay to make mistakes.
‘You should step away from hosting events from now on.’
I know now.
Our love that burned as fiercely as a bonfire is now nothing but embers in the remaining firewood.
And it is my duty from now on to cherish those embers so that they do not go out.]
It was five years for their marriage now.
***
“I… … really have to go?”
Mellie asked.
“It’s a banquet hosted by my family, so of course you have to go, right?”
“That’s true, but… … ”
Edric fixed his appearance in the full-length mirror and started walking before Mellie could finish her words. Mellie followed him and continued.
“I want to go too, but I’m not feeling well today… … ”
“Didn’t you miss it last time because you said you weren’t feeling well? And before that, too.”
Edric looked at the display case of cufflinks and replied mercilessly.
“Of course I believe you’re not feeling well, but I can’t guarantee anything about what other people might think.”
Finally, Edric reached under the display case and took out a pair of ebony cufflinks.
With delicate movements, he fastened the buttons to his shirt sleeves. He advised her once again in a cold voice.
“Instead of always trying to avoid it, why don’t you try to enjoy it a bit? Avoidance is a kind of habit.”
“… … .”
“I’ll be there by six, so be ready. The coordinator will personally visit and select your clothes and accessories. Leave the choice up to them.”
“Yes… … .”
Mellie answered weakly and put the jacket that she held in her arms on him.
The jacket wrapped around Edric’s upper body nicely.
Mellie looked at his reflection in the full-length mirror.
Neatly put-up blond hair. Straight eyebrows and graceful features. Sophisticated and noble looking gentleman.
He seemed to be getting more and more handsome. On the other hand… …
Mellie looked at herself standing off to the side of the mirror. If the mirror frame was a picture frame and Edric was a masterpiece, she looked like a paint stain that had accidentally been splattered on it. Mellie slowly took a step to the side.
Then her own image disappeared and only Edric’s splendid image remained in the frame like a full-length portrait, shining elegantly.
Edric was satisfied with his own appearance without noticing her small consideration.
Edric, who had finished dressing, turned around and left the dressing room. Mellie hurriedly followed him.
“Are you going out, Your Grace?”
Wilson was waiting outside the door and bowed when Edric came out.
Then, as she followed behind Edric, she bumped into Wilson’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry,”
She apologized. However, despite her polite tone, Wilson’s expression was stiff.
It was because he didn’t like the situation.
Wilson, who had once been a servant, was recognized for his sincerity and became Edric’s official secretary. He spent more time with his master and talked more with him than his wife, Mellie. Perhaps because of this, he seemed to think of himself as the second-in-command of the household. It seemed that Mellie was placed behind him, or even behind the butler. It was as if a pet dog were deciding its own order of precedence.
“Are leaving now, Edric?”
As they came down to the lobby, Mellie’s order of precedence fell further behind.
Now, Edric’s mother and Wilson took turns taking the places behind him.
While Wilson opened the carriage door, Edric greeted his mother.
“I’ll be back, Mother.”
“Yes. Have a nice trip. Don’t skip your meal.”
Ada saw Edric off with a kind smile.
Edric strode into the carriage. Wilson followed him, closing the door.
Mellie kept looking at him to make eye contact. However, he was busy reviewing the documents that Wilson had handed him.
Even as the carriage slowly picked up speed and disappeared from Mellie’s sight.
***
“Is there anything you like?”
Flora asked.
She was a coordinator at the duke’s residence, and her role was to pick out Mellie’s banquet attire and accessories with a sense.
Mellie slowly glanced at the jewelry sets listed in front of her. Then she pointed to an emerald necklace set with her fingertips.
“I think this would be good.”
“Um… … .”
Flora’s expression was ambiguous. She had chosen something else besides that.
It was always like this.
She seemed to give Mellie a choice, but in the end, she dressed and groomed Mellie with what she had chosen. This was because Edric had instructed her to dress up from head to toe in a way befitting a duchess.
“You can wear this when you attend the tea party, but I think this will go well with your outfit today.”
Flora smiled kindly and held out a pearl necklace and earring set.
Mellie nodded with an indifferent face.
The round pearl jewelry was shining softly in the velvet case.
“Get dressed and I’ll put it on for you. You’ll look really beautiful.”
Flora said to Mellie and gestured to the attendants behind her. She probably meant for them to hurry up and dress her up.
Mellie got up from her seat like a machine and put herself in the hands of the attendants.
When she came out wearing her dress, Flora came behind her with the jewelry.
“Now, wait.”
She put the necklace around Mellie’s neck.
Mellie closed her eyes for a moment as the pearl necklace settled on her light green lace dress, feeling cold. Then she opened them again.
“How is it?”
Flora asked. Mellie stared at herself as if she was looking at someone else.
She was very elegant, having been created by an expert.
Would it have been possible that if she had chosen the dress and jewelry herself, then would she have been this elegant? Mellie thought for a moment.
‘No.’
The answer came quickly.
That’s why today, without a word, she wore whatever was chosen for her.
***
As the duke and duchess entered the banquet hall, where the scent of flowers and champagne mingled sweetly, the ladies’ compliments continued.
“Oh, Duchess Felton, it’s been a long time.”
“Why haven’t you shown me your face for so long? I’ve missed you so much.”
“But you don’t seem to have aged at all, Madam. You seem to have gotten younger and prettier in the meantime.”
Mellie responded simply.
“Thank you.”
That was enough. There was no need to blush or return the favor with flashy and lively compliments.
“Then please take good care of my person, beautiful ladies.”
If Edric left, she would disappear from their point of attention in an instant.
“Oh, yes. The Duke should quickly go to the men. Leave the ladies alone. Hohoho.” The ladies’ kindness was only good when Edric was around.
The moment he disappeared, Mellie would be left out. Just like that.
“I heard that the neighboring kingdom of Senad decided to make their eldest princess the successor?”
“I guess so. It has nothing to do with us.”
“It doesn’t completely matter. They are also talking about granting women the right to vote under the leadership of the Crown Princess.”
“Oh my. Voting rights? Isn’t that so cool? It means that the women can have a voice in the internal affairs of the empire.”
At first, she tried hard to fit in with them.
“I agree with it. And if possible, I think it would be better to grant the right to noblewomen to work, along with the right to vote.”
But it was pointless. The ladies would move on to the next topic as if they hadn’t heard Mellie.
“Oh, Vanessa. Have you seen the new Entrance magazine? My article was in it.”
“I saw it too. You’re really good at writing, Madame.”
“… … .”
They were people who kept the fence gates completely closed to themselves.
Mellie could never get past that fence. The only time it was opened was when Edric was there.
Mellie spent her time sipping champagne and observing her surroundings.
It was a banquet of restrained elegance. It wasn’t flashy enough to make your eyes dazzle, but it was beautiful enough with a simple marble statue and a neatly arranged lisianthus object.
I wanted to do the same thing the next time I held a banquet at my house.
If only I had the authority to do so… … .
“Oh, did you hear? I heard that the Marquise Felicie is pregnant with her third child this time.”
“Oh my, she is pregnant? I heard that the Countess Lisa is pregnant with her second child.”
“Everyone is pregnant here and there.”
There was a brief silence, and then Mellie was suddenly summoned into their conversation.
“Has there been any news from you, Duchess Felton?”
