Chapter 3
#3. She Is Not the Woman I Married2021.09.09.
Triumph Square in the Julius Marquis territory was packed with ecstatic onlookers. Christina Julius, standing before Supreme Commander Arthur at the forefront of the triumphal army, grasped the hem of her dress, lowered her gaze, and curtsied gracefully.
“……I see the rising light of the Empire.”
At Christina’s first words directed toward Arthur, the gathered crowd erupted in thunderous cheers. The cheers continued until Marquis Julius raised his hand to quiet them. Christina paused for a moment before continuing, still bowed.
“……Congratulations on your triumphant return in great glory. I am delighted to see you in such fine form.”
The square boiled over with cheers once more. This time, the noise died down before the marquis could raise his hand. The excited crowd, fearing they might miss his first words, pressed their index fingers to their lips and urged those around them to hush. The onlookers’ eyes gleamed. The people reveled in the fortune of witnessing the reunion of this century’s couple with their own eyes and waited breathlessly for Arthur’s response. What was unfolding before them was the historic reunion that the entire Empire had been awaiting.
“…….”
Arthur, seated atop his horse and looking down at Christina, gazed at her silently before smiling as if intrigued.
“……You’re my wife?”
The crowd, wearing expectant expressions, exchanged glances or shook their heads, murmuring, ‘What did Sir Arthur say?’ Only a few people nearby could hear his voice clearly amid the massive throng. But everyone could sense the lack of ecstatic cheers. With faces a mix of confusion and anticipation, the people fell even quieter, hoping to catch even a single word.
“…….”
Christina stood silently, lips pressed together, offering no reply. Silence hung between them.
“Sir Arthur.”
Just before the atmosphere could turn awkward, the Marchioness intervened on Christina’s behalf.
“It’s been so long since we last saw you, so Christina must be quite nervous.”
Arthur regarded the Marchioness with his quiet smile, offering no response—just a bright yet somehow chilling smile. Though slightly flustered, the Marchioness forced a gentle smile and continued.
“She was barely seventeen when you left, so you might not recognize her. ……Hasn’t she grown into quite the beauty?”
In response to the Marchioness’s words, Arthur let out a small puff of laughter and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his index and middle fingers. Then he lifted his head and slowly scanned the people of House Julius. An odd tension began to spread puzzled expressions through the crowd. Marquis Julius, who had stepped back to exude a dignified and benevolent lordly aura, had a flicker of discomfort cross Antonio Julius’s face. ……She’s speaking to him, but he’s not responding? The marquis wanted to start their renewed relationship on a splendid note before the people, and he was displeased that Arthur wasn’t reciprocating his own expectations of friendliness. He considered elegantly pointing it out to draw a reply, but aware of the many watching eyes, he simply smiled. It wouldn’t do for the Marquis Julius’s first words to the national hero Sir Arthur to come off as aristocratic lecturing or correction on his unrefined demeanor. Moreover, they were in a situation where they needed to resolve the ongoing allegations of inadequate supplies. For that, they needed Arthur’s positive testimony. Thinking that far, Marquis Julius rose as if to embrace him personally. Creating a scene worthy of an illustration in the gazette wouldn’t be a bad idea. Though the temple recorders and guild reporters hadn’t gathered in full due to the unexpectedly early arrival, word would spread among the many witnesses. But just as the smiling Marquis Julius spread his arms and began descending from the dais, Arthur spoke up with a troubled smile.
“This woman isn’t the one I married?”
His clear voice carried into the crowd. Ignoring the stunned reactions, Arthur briskly turned away from Christina and directed his gaze toward the House Julius retainers.
“I said I wanted to see ‘my wife.’”
* * *
“…….”
What in the world was going on? Dragged out of bed, Reina stared at the Marchioness before her in bewilderment.
“M-Ma’am? Um…….”
The Marchioness snapped her fan shut with a sharp click and glared at Reina. Normally, she would have quickly looked up at her with pitiful, respectful eyes full of feigned fear, but this time it was impossible. Her clothes were being stripped off in a frenzy. Caught in Mrs. Hurst’s grip as she spun her around, Reina yelped and twirled like a top. Then her corset was yanked tight with a firm tug. She gasped involuntarily. The corset was tightened once more.
“Eek.”
To think there was still more room to pull. Struggling not to be crushed by the corset, Reina grunted and failed to notice the Marchioness’s unusually sharp gaze as it flashed past.
“…….”
The Marchioness still hadn’t made her final decision and was eyeing the maid before her. From behind Reina, who clung to the bedpost groaning, the Marchioness spoke.
“You know Sir Arthur has returned, right?”
“Ugh, y-yes… yes…….”
Breathing was a struggle, so Reina clawed at her corset and barely managed a reply. Was there anyone in the Empire who didn’t know he’d returned? For the past month, the temple gazettes, guild newspapers, and every extra had been full of his every move.
“Mmff.”
Head Maid Mrs. Hurst wrapped a steaming hot towel tightly around her face. Hot! Her scream was muffled inside the towel. Next, a wet towel was roughly scrubbed over her hair. Then a heated curling iron from the brazier swooped in, blasting heat.
“……!”
Her neck shrank back from the threatening fire nearing her skin, chills racing down her spine. Wait, wait! It’s hot, that’s scary! Meanwhile, the Marchioness’s voice continued from behind.
“If you want to live, you’ll have to speak to Sir Arthur in a way that doesn’t put us in a difficult position. If it comes out that you stood in for Christina back then, it’ll be trouble for both you and us. Especially you—you absolutely won’t get out unscathed. You’re smart enough to know that without me saying it.”
……? For a split second, she thought maybe she’d be acting as the lady’s maid, but she quickly realized that couldn’t be it. Reina’s face paled as she belatedly grasped the Marchioness’s meaning. What did that mean? Tell what to whom?
“Pardon?”
Reina whipped her head around in horror, gauging the Head Maid and the Marchioness’s demeanors. So, the news about Sir Arthur returning just now…… The Marchioness looked down at her coldly. It wasn’t hard to realize that Sir Arthur’s return, expected in as little as ten days, had become an immediate fire at their feet. And what the order given to her now meant. Deeply flustered but polite and cautious, Reina stammered a response.
“M-Ma’am. So, shouldn’t Lady Christina step forward for real now? Sir Arthur has returned as a proper Triumphal General, and they say the imperial family is granting him tremendous rewards.”
No reply came from the Marchioness. Reina pressed on hesitantly.
“S-Someone of that stature wouldn’t be unworthy as the marquis’s son-in-law……. What if things get messy if I go out there for no reason…….”
And it was true—he was no longer the Sir Arthur of the past. No matter how powerful House Julius was, he was no longer someone they could treat carelessly or brush off with half-hearted excuses. Even the gazettes referred to him, in their most modest terms, as ‘the rising star of the imperial family.’ Though not stated outright, the imperial family had indirectly acknowledged him as a full member by expressing joy over the ‘fraternal bond.’ In other words, he was no longer someone they could subtly foist a substitute maid onto. Then why? When they should be doing everything to bury the past, why me?
“M-Ma’am.”
Back then, she was young and clueless, dragged into it because they told her to, but now she was old enough to know that getting tangled in something like this could cost her her head. She didn’t want to get involved anymore. Just a famous person loosely connected to her. Someone whose success made her feel a vague pride……. She sincerely wanted no closer tie than that. But the silent Marchioness finally parted her tightly pressed lips.
“……It seems that bastard has caught on.”
Before Reina could ask who she meant, the Marchioness’s tone turned sharp.
“Or did you lie to me? You said he didn’t realize you weren’t Christina!”
Reina flinched and repeated the same answer she’d given every time she was summoned over the past month.
“O-Of course. Back then, he definitely didn’t notice……. I did exactly as you instructed…….”
Anxious, she hurriedly reviewed those old memories once more. But before her thoughts could unfold, the Marchioness’s piercing voice drilled into her ears.
“Then why the hell is that bastard saying Christina isn’t his wife!”
Reina froze in shock, breath catching.
‘……Sir Arthur said that?’
Her heart plummeted. The possibility that Sir Arthur had realized he’d married a fake bride and would make an issue of it terrified even Reina. That marriage had been a contract with the imperial family. What they’d done was deceive the imperial family. If it became a problem, everyone involved could face execution. At that moment, Head Maid Mrs. Hurst spun her around again and said to the Marchioness.
“What if Reina was found out? If there was a fuss five years ago, why make one now? Even I’d be pissed after five years of trying to cover it up.”
The Head Maid Mrs. Hurst, who had served three generations of marchionesses over fifty years guarding the mansion, spoke bluntly, leaving even the formidable Marchioness speechless. Mrs. Hurst didn’t stop.
“So, why not wait until he’s confirmed dead before changing your mind? When reports came of him earning merits, why not send proper supplies instead of neglecting him like that? How could he not feel slighted? I told you this could be a problem, that it wasn’t right.”
The words rang so true that Reina nearly nodded along. But seeing the Marchioness’s terrifying expression, she quickly schooled her face. Unable to confront Olga Hurst, the mansion’s veteran beloved by the dowager marchioness, the Marchioness instead glared at Reina and raised her hand clutching the fan.
“You……!”
Reina’s shoulders hunched reflexively. But the expected slap never came. The Marchioness’s hand trembled violently, veins bulging, before she gritted her teeth and turned away.
“……Get ready for now. If you handle this well, I won’t let your grandmother feel neglected. You know that if things go wrong, neither you nor your grandmother will be safe, right?”
Without waiting for Reina’s reply, the Marchioness stormed out of the room. Slam!
“…….”
Reina stared blankly at the closed door and murmured to the Marchioness who couldn’t hear.
“……Yes, of course.”
Strong hands busily tied the ribbons on her dress.
