Chapter 13
13. I Was the Only One for Whom That Was a Marriage2021.10.14.
“You’re not the type to easily let someone get close, yet I heard Taylor Lorenson was an exception.”
Reina flinched at the Marchioness’s voice. In order not to leak any secrets related to the House of Julius, Reina hadn’t mingled with anyone, but Taylor Lorenson was the sole exception. That was because he was a doctor—someone she could ask about her ailing grandmother, even if only a little.
“Ma, Madam.”
Reina reflexively started to make excuses, afraid she might be suspected of letting the secret slip. But the Marchioness raised a hand to silence her.
“I’m not blaming you. You’re a girl who knows her boundaries, so I’m sure you handled it wisely enough. I simply decided it might be all right to allow Taylor Lorenson going forward as well. Doctor Lorenson already knows a fair amount anyway.”
Reina held her breath. The Marchioness continued.
“I couldn’t help wondering just how desperate you must have been. From now on, I’ll allow you to meet Taylor frequently and talk with him.”
The Marchioness smiled.
“This is my official permission.”
Reina’s heart trembled as she clutched the hem of her skirt. A doctor. It was something she yearned for desperately, yet utterly impossible given her circumstances. A doctor tending to Grandmother every day at her side? If such a thing were possible, Grandmother’s full recovery might not be a mere dream.
“You must have a lot you want to say. It seemed like you’ve been bottling up so much all this time.”
Just as the Marchioness said, Reina hadn’t been able to confide in anyone—not even Taylor—and had suffered in silence. But ever since the fire five years ago, her grandmother hadn’t fully regained her health. The caregiver sent by the House of Julius continued to look after her, but… Grandmother was recognizing Reina less and less frequently. Not only that, but the scars on her back would occasionally become inflamed, tormenting her with fever. Yet stories of Grandmother’s illness, or the fact that the House of Julius was caring for her, were tied to the secrets shared between the house and Reina—things she couldn’t breathe a word of to anyone. But now she was being granted official permission for a doctor. The house physician, no less… It was a privilege no amount of Reina’s own efforts could have secured anywhere else. Taylor was the only person she could approach closely enough to inquire about Grandmother’s condition, aside from Doctor Lorenson himself. Even so, it wasn’t information she was permitted to share with him, so her questions had been limited to the barest hints—casual mentions of burns, inflammation, fevers, or memory loss, phrased as if they concerned someone else entirely. That was the utmost limit of what she could attempt while staying mindful of the house’s watchful eyes.
“…….”
She hadn’t hesitated to plead with the Marchioness to summon Doctor Lorenson, but…
「She’s in serious condition?」
「She’s not in critical danger or suffering severely at the moment—yet you want the family physician?」
「If I keep extending such excessive favors just to you, it could raise suspicions with Doctor Lorenson or the others, which would be troublesome.」
「I already believe I’m taking sufficient care of your grandmother. Don’t you think?」
Reina had been forced to back down. The caregiver provided by the house was already a level of luxury far beyond what her own means could support, so expecting more from them had been impossible. Reina knew full well that Grandmother’s illness wasn’t the sort to resolve after a day or two of treatment. Her best option had been to save up as much money as possible while the house cared for Grandmother, then achieve independence and tend to her herself. But now—a doctor stationed permanently at Grandmother’s side, officially overseeing her care. For Reina, it was an offer that made her seriously contemplate abandoning independence altogether and devoting her life to the house. With Taylor, she could entrust Grandmother without reservation—not just as her physician, but as her friend too.
“…….”
The Marchioness wore a faint smile on her lips, as if she knew precisely the turmoil in Reina’s heart.
“My proposal seems to suit you.”
“…….”
Just as the Marchioness had foreseen, Reina could never refuse such an offer. She bit her lip and bowed her head. Accepting with resignation had become second nature; it never took long.
“What… should I do?”
The Marchioness smiled.
“I like how quickly you catch on.”
That’s why we’re keeping you alive. Satisfaction curved the Marchioness’s lips. She elegantly adjusted her shawl and rose from her seat, looking down at Reina.
“Stay by Arthur’s side and observe him.”
Her leisurely voice issued the command softly to Reina.
“And uncover something that could serve as his weakness—then bring it to me.”
Reina listened to the order in silence, head bowed. A thick, bitter tang of dark red liquid lingered in her mouth. The candy’s sweetness floated uselessly atop it, unable to mask the acrid bite. * * * Arthur let out a scoff.
‘I see. My weakness, is it.’
Leaning back in his chair, he retracted the aura he had extended. His razor-sharp senses softened, and the clamoring world fell quiet.
“…….”
Reina. Arthur rolled her true name—heard for the first time—around in his mouth. Reina.
“…….”
Propping his chin, Arthur quietly lowered his gaze. Taylor Lorenson… was it. The family physician’s son. Arthur stared silently at the glowing ember dangling from the cigar’s end.
“…….”
It was odd that the thought of her having a man hadn’t even crossed his mind. She could have had a fiancé, a lover. That had been a marriage only for me. It hadn’t been one for her at all. It might even be a memory she wished to erase. She surely hadn’t anticipated being dragged out like this. And to only realize it now…
“…….”
He recalled how she’d panicked in his arms on the way to the bed, at a complete loss before bursting into tears. How she’d kept avoiding his gaze.
“…….”
Cigarette smoke drifted into the empty air. The cigar had nearly burned itself out.
“Tristan.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
His aide-de-camp, fresh from reuniting with his family in the territory after five years, stood before him once more. Arthur flashed a grin.
“You met well with your family?”
“Yes.”
As curt as ever.
“More details.”
Tristan hesitated briefly at Arthur’s insistence before reluctantly speaking.
“……My wife’s turned from her twenties into her thirties, and the kid’s five now. All healthy. When I mentioned receiving the barony this time, they seemed quietly thrilled. No signs of any infidelity.”
Tristan pulled a deliberately sour face to mask his awkwardness, and Arthur laughed. Relieved to hear it. He understood the impulse to condense such tender feelings for a family reunited after five years into blunt summary. It had to be uncomfortable sharing unalloyed happiness in front of Arthur, whose own family ties were so tangled. Utterly denied by his father. Repaid for saving his half-brother’s life with death threats from his stepmother. Even deceived into a sham marriage. Tristan cleared his throat shortly.
“……There’s no need to hold back on my account regarding my family. Say whatever you like.”
Whether out of embarrassment, that was what Tristan said. Arthur smiled, accepting the gesture gratefully.
“Right, then I’ll share happy stories freely.”
“……Sorry that I’m the only happy one.”
“I’m happy too?”
“……You’re quick about it.”
Arthur laughed, straightened his posture, and stubbed out the cigarette.
“I’ll keep the wife around for a while. You extend her the utmost courtesy as well.”
A faint crease in his brow betrayed that Arthur’s conclusion on the ‘wife’ wasn’t entirely pleasant, but Tristan accepted the order without demur.
“Yes. ‘Utmost’ courtesy.”
“Exactly. To the standard befitting ‘Christina Julius’.”
“Understood.”
Drawing his eyes from the ashtray, Arthur added curtly.
“And look into the name ‘Reina’.”
Tristan didn’t need details to grasp whose name it was. The false bride’s real one, no doubt. Arthur went on.
“Also on ‘Taylor Lorenson’.”
……Now what name was that? Well, digging would turn it up. Tristan acknowledged with a “Yes.” Arthur turned his gaze to the window. Trapped cigarette smoke hung in the room, while outside, shriveled dry leaves drifted down from the maples. * * * Around that time, Rembrandt—who had just learned her name—was issuing the same order to his attendant Francis.
“Look into ‘Reina Astalin’ for me. Don’t let on that it’s on my behalf—frame it as your own personal curiosity. Pretending interest because she’s a beauty won’t draw any eyebrows.”
Francis’s reply came unexpectedly swift.
“The blonde maid girl?”
Rembrandt asked with mild surprise at his attendant’s reaction, which suggested prior familiarity.
“You know her?”
Francis shrugged.
“Of course. We’ve been saying it’s downright shocking that the only famous blonde beauty in this mansion is ‘Lady Christina’.”
He tacked on the remark lightly, half in jest.
“The going theory among us is that Julius must’ve clamped down hard on the servants’ tongues to stifle rumors about her—wouldn’t want Lady Christina’s value to dip.”
Rembrandt chuckled merrily.
“Were you genuinely interested because she’s a beauty?”
Francis quirked his brow and grinned.
“No comment. As instructed, I’ll conduct the inquiry under the guise of admiring a beauty.”
“Hope I’m not unwittingly playing matchmaker.”
“If I am, drinks are on me.”
Rembrandt burst into laughter. Whatever the imperial stance, he found the situation entertaining. * * * And at that same moment, yet another person eager to investigate Reina Astalin. Having returned to the marquis’s mansion and completed his assigned duties as physician, Taylor Lorenson had begun searching for her anew.
‘Where’d Father go?’
He tidied the medicinal herbs his father had directed him to fetch, then rose from his seat.
‘Reina’s nowhere today either.’
Taylor traced her usual work path and, spotting the maid who’d tipped him off to her whereabouts last time, called out gladly.
“Marina!”
She turned to look at him. As Taylor waved and jogged over lightly, Marina’s face stiffened a touch and flushed.
“……Taylor.”
Beaming brightly, Taylor asked,
“Reina’s still the lady’s personal maid, right?”
“……”
Marina’s face crumpled at the blissfully oblivious man’s cheery question.
“Yeah?”
The anticipated bolt from the blue struck soon after.
“Hey!”
Taylor flinched at Marina’s yell, shrinking back as he stared at her. Marina glared daggers at him, huffing and puffing. Personal maid, my foot! That girl you like has been decked out in a sparkling dress and glued to another man since last night! The hottest guy in the empire right now, no less! She stole the lady’s spot and is cozied up in the same bed with him!
