No one can predict life. No one knew that Countess Alemichi would become the Empress of the Crania Empire.
No one knew that after the Monde Duchy faltered, the Duchess would become the Chief Lady-in-Waiting to the Empress, and her daughter would dominate the social circle. No one predicted that the Princess of Ostein would marry the Grand Duke of Lusenford.
That’s why the social circle is interesting. Everyone flocks to Craine each season, expecting what interesting, surprising, and shocking events might unfold.
Of course, there were ordinary seasons where unremarkable ladies and gentlemen got married, elderly people passed away when their time came, and couples who married last year had children. But this year was truly an entertaining and enjoyable season.
The Grand Duke of Lusenford made an incredibly good marriage and rose rapidly, while his former lover Beatrice Ravalley is in an endless downfall! Everyone was screaming with excitement!
“I heard she asked to borrow money?”
“There’s no way she’ll pay it back, absolutely don’t lend her any!”
“I heard she’s selling all her real estate, well, that’s her business.”
The humiliating history of the Monde Duchy’s debt was also brought up.
“I suppose they’ll tear down parts of the castle to sell materials again this time.”
“Are there any materials left to sell?”
Ah, how exciting. People were thrilled by the fall of those who had been at the very top. As long as it wasn’t happening to them.
For nobles, where reputation and face were most important – indeed, everything – selling real estate was the most fatal blow.
The more real estate one had, the higher their power rose, so the fate of the Monde Duchy selling their symbolic properties was truly at a critical point this time.
Having lost both real estate and reputation, the Duchess of Monde was extremely anxious. Above all else, she was strongly attached to the enormous townhouse in Craine and absolutely didn’t want to lose it.
How hard had she worked to get it! It was the townhouse she had proudly purchased after climbing back up from rock bottom, where she had even sold building materials.
Of course, the debt had increased somewhat when buying the house. It increased even more with the expansion. But still, it was a cherished home that she had even expanded! Above all, it was a symbol of the Duchess of Monde’s revival! She couldn’t give that up. Absolutely not!
“How is Beatrice?”
“She’s sleeping.”
The Duchess of Monde knew she had done wrong. That’s why she reduced her drinking to just one glass, no, one bottle a day, and was reflecting deeply. Isn’t reflecting enough?
“Quickly contact the creditor. We must sell Monde Castle, I can’t live in this cramped place!”
Indeed. The townhouse located in the theater district was called a townhouse, but it was practically an apartment.
The three-story building was so narrow that with all their precious furniture and artworks that the mother and daughter couldn’t bear to part with, there was barely room for people to walk.
On exactly the third day of living here, the Duchess of Monde decided to take action, leaving her sick daughter behind.
“But, my lady. In the castle……”
There’s her dead husband’s body in the castle. I know. The butler, doctor, and loyal servant John handled it.
“Remove that first! What’s more important, some countryside castle or the Craine townhouse? How can we entertain guests here?”
Of course, even if the Monde Duchy were to hold a party now, nobody would attend, but without removing some furniture from this cramped downtown apartment, even small gatherings like before would be impossible.
“Staying in Craine is about survival. It’s just one castle. We still own the rest of the territory besides the castle, so it’s fine!”
That was true. The Monde Duchy’s income came mostly through social gatherings in Craine.
The jewels Beatrice received, the secret gratuities given just for attending events, the various wealth men offered – these were crucial sources of income.
So they had to hold on in Craine somehow. This small apartment was inadequate as a foothold for their comeback.
“When we didn’t have a townhouse before, at least Beatrice was young, but she’s older now!”
The Duchess of Monde mercilessly evaluated her daughter as an asset as she turned away. Let’s have a drink while handling business. That helps the mind work better. But how did she end up drinking so much in the first place? She couldn’t remember.
****
For Kaela, the social circle wasn’t just a pleasant place. It was a boring and sad place where she would be surrounded by elderly ladies listening to their talk while looking for Peon, and just watching Peon dance with Beatrice before returning home.
The social circle that changed dramatically after marriage felt somewhat unfamiliar. Nevertheless, it still wasn’t enjoyable. As long as Beatrice reigned as queen of the social circle, she would forever find it uncomfortable.
Of course, Kaela’s position in society had become quite significant as the Grand Duchess of Lusenford, heir apparent to Ostein, and even having the important authority of Regent. But still, she had no interest.
“…Shouldn’t you reply to these?”
Denise and Marie looked at the pile of letters overflowing from two silver trays with tired expressions.
Having nearly drowned and barely recovered her position, Kaela was certain that among those letters, there were hardly any worth properly responding to.
Still, due to her personality, she reluctantly reached for the tray. While Peon these days threw away incoming letters without even opening them, Kaela opened and read each one.
“What replies.”
As the Grand Duke entered, filling the space with his overwhelming presence, the maids hastily withdrew. He picked up one of the piled letters. Then immediately frowned. It was a card from Marquis Heihar wishing good health.
“Don’t check them.”
Peon immediately dropped the card as if throwing away something dirty.
“Why not? They’re addressed to me.”
Her voice was sharp. It suggested she wouldn’t let it go if pushed. Denise quickly pulled Marie out and quietly left the room. Her Highness seemed unsettled.
“Everyone in Craine knows you fell in the river and got sick. There’s no need to reply, and even you know most of these letters would only cause more trouble if you responded.”
He wanted to burn them all but held back because he knew well how Kaela would respond.
“That’s my choice.”
After crying extensively at the warm Ostein beach, Kaela was only able to get up after about two more days of recovery.
In terms of her timeline, this was the first time she had wailed so deeply since her father passed away. Having released the tears that had only been building up inside like a beast, it was natural for her weak body to be exhausted.
Peon tended to her without saying anything. As always, as if proving he wouldn’t leave in fear as she dreaded, he cared for her consistently.
But Kaela found him newly uncomfortable.
He had been special even when she was deeply submerged alone, unresponsive to her surroundings, but he became even more special when he woke her and pulled her up, making her uncomfortable.
It was rather more comfortable when she could only steal glances at him. She wanted to go back to that time.
“Go away.”
Unable to even meet his eyes, she pulled the tray of letters closer, avoiding him.
“Where would I go when I have nowhere else to be?”
Peon calmly sat beside her and opened a newspaper. The paper contained a small article about how the Duchess of Monde had finally managed to save all of her Craine townhouse, deciding instead to give up Monde Castle.
Having gone that far, the Monde family was completely falling from mainstream society. Giving up their ancestral castle was the ultimate humiliation.
“Why don’t you have anywhere to go?”
Kaela mumbled while reading an opened letter. As Peon said, it was a letter not worth replying to, so she quickly put it aside and opened the next one.
Unfortunately, the next letter was also not worth replying to. Rather, responding would only cause more headaches.
“I don’t.”
“Go to that room.”
“How can I go there when it’s yours?”
“Why is that room mine? It’s oppa’s.”
“When married, everything is managed by the wife and the husband just lives there.”
Is that how it is? Kaela blinked before opening another letter.
“In my experience, it was the opposite.”
She jabbed at Peon before lowering her eyes to the letter dejectedly. She jabbed again. She did it knowing it would make him feel guilty.
“I’m correcting that.”
Should’ve not answered. Peon had become increasingly better with words since his regression. Meanwhile, Kaela had kept her mouth shut from her final life in Lusenford until now. So speaking would obviously lead to getting caught up in his pace.
It wasn’t easy to ignore someone with such an overwhelming presence, but Kaela tried her best. She opened the pile of letters one by one, read them thoroughly, and sorted them.
“Kaela?”
But the letters weren’t easy to focus on.
“Kaela.”
He came closer and kissed her shoulder that was slightly exposed through her dress. Even when she shrunk her shoulders, he continued.
“I’m sorry.”
Perhaps because he knew she would eventually listen? She felt unfairly treated at times like this.
Ah, lately she had become really sensitive and her personality had worsened. Kaela weakly stared at the white paper portion of the letter, not really reading.
No, she had only been soft towards Peon from the beginning. It would have been better if it had been a cleanly failed one-sided love. Why did they have to marry and create endless reasons for resentment?
All sorts of thoughts came to mind. She hadn’t been this complicated in thinking before. Since dying would make things simple. Even now that would work, but why was she thinking and worrying so complicatedly? Kaela found herself ridiculous.
Peon rested his forehead on the edge of her shoulder without saying anything.
I wish you wouldn’t read letters from those people.
Look at me instead of reading those.
He wanted to say it all but these were words he had no right to speak. All he could do was try to get her attention and childishly interfere. Even crimes committed unwillingly under force were still crimes.
“Ah… the Marchioness of Schroz is inviting me for tea.”
This letter couldn’t be refused. Since they had held the engagement ceremony anyway, perhaps the Marchioness of Schroz wanted to make a courtesy call.
“I didn’t know she was capable of such things?”
Surprising. Peon muttered with his chin on her shoulder.
“I should go to this one.”
Considering the delicate situation with the Regency Law, attending such occasions would reduce conflicts. They needed to at least maintain appearances of being on friendly terms.
Returning to Lusenford would settle all conflicts, but the problem was that the Regency Law could become effective at any time due to the Emperor’s poor condition.
Kaela took out her favorite white, clean letterpress and pen. Then she glanced at Peon.
“Should I go with you?”
He immediately asked. He would intrude even on ladies’ gatherings.
“No, it’s fine.”
Should she call him with affection in the title, or what should she call him since he said to stop calling him oppa? Finding it awkward, she was trying to refrain from calling Peon anything as much as possible.
The one time earlier when she said “oppa’s” still lingered in her mind. It must be easy for Peon since he could just call her name. Since she’s his younger sister, he could speak informally, how convenient.
In reality, Kaela always found him difficult. As difficult as he was, it would be perfect to use honorifics and call him “Your Highness” but.
She looked at Peon who had opened the ink bottle for her, pressed down the paperweight, and then rested his chin on her shoulder again.
“…Is it heavy?”
Since he was putting no strength into it, it wasn’t. It wasn’t hot either. Despite it being summer, when he clung to her it was rather cool and refreshing.
“Should I move away?”
He should try clinging properly first. Since he only got dragged around doing what Beatrice told him to, had Peon ever clung to anyone? He was stiff-necked even before the Emperor. So he doesn’t understand these feelings.
“Did I do something wrong…?”
Only Kaela was anxious, worried, trying hard to look good, and fretting. His relaxed lounging was so annoying.
“I did wrong, I’m sorry.”
Kaela quickly turned her head and began writing a reply to set up the tea appointment with the Marchioness of Schroz. Peon never left her side the whole time.
****
Peon was becoming increasingly skilled at managing his expressions. He couldn’t help but smile whenever he saw Kaela getting angry, feeling wronged, and struggling with deep wounds.
His wife, who used to lie lifelessly like a porcelain doll without any expression, now constantly sent signals that she was alive. He was overjoyed and grateful but never showed it.
He wanted Kaela to keep focusing on herself. Since he could take whatever she needed to spew out and explode with, he hoped she would do so freely. So he did his best to manage his expressions well in front of Kaela.
“Hey, look at me.”
But there was no value in managing expressions in front of Beatrice, who suddenly appeared in the palace corridor as if she had been waiting.
He knew she was approaching but had no reason to avoid her, so he just faced her. Looking haggard as if she had been sick for days, Beatrice, whose face everyone used to praise, seemed determined not to stay quiet if ignored.
“Let’s talk.”
Having carefully chosen an empty corridor worried about eavesdroppers, Beatrice whispered while scanning the surroundings.
Peon had been frequently visiting the palace lately due to the Emperor’s favoritism. Already knowing this, she had thoroughly scouted a place without people and cornered him.
“I have nothing to say, and no desire to talk.”
“Can’t you do that much as a friend?”
“No.”
“I have something to say. Why didn’t you reply to my letter?”
From the start, Beatrice began moving her fingers to drop the ineffective taboo one by one again.
“Don’t tell me Kaela prevented you?”
Peon, who had been looking down at her with emotionless eyes, smirked at those words.
