Chapter 53
53. The Beginning of Change2022.03.03.
Arthur’s private reception room. Tristan, his brow furrowed, wore an uncomfortable expression. Lukan looked at him and chuckled with a click of his tongue.
“Looks like the lady’s really gotten under your skin, brother.”
Tristan shot back.
“She hasn’t done anything to deserve any favorable attention.”
“Why not? She’s pitiful and cute.”
Tristan glared at him seriously. Before Tristan could even open his mouth, Lukan grimaced in response to his expression and waved his hand dismissively.
“No, but from my perspective, doesn’t it seem like she’s trying her best in her own way?”
Lukan continued.
“She had no choice; she was just following orders. From a maid’s position, when the Marchioness gives a command, she can’t very well say no or tell her to shut up. She must have stood there obediently, saying ‘Yes, understood,’ and listened.”
“……”
“But look at what she actually did. Did she cause us any harm?”
As if urging him to think about it, Lukan jerked his chin.
“That note’s contents. How do you think something like that ended up getting passed? She must not have gotten a good reaction from the Marquis and Marchioness for letting it slip through, right? Why do you think that was? From where I’m standing, can’t you see she was desperately trying to buy time and minimize the damage, brother?”
Tristan said coldly.
“That’s an overly generous interpretation.”
Lukan chuckled with a look that said, Of course you’d say that, and leaned back against the chair. The sidelong glance said, Yeah, whatever. That’s Sir Tristan for you. Tristan stood from his seat.
“Anyway, investigate that woman a bit more.”
Lukan, slouched lazily, saluted to his forehead.
“Yes, sir.”
“It seems she passed the note to Doctor Lorenson or a maid in the morning. I’m sorry.”
Lionel apologized to Kay for the fact that Reina’s escort and surveillance hadn’t been perfect. Kay shook his head.
“No, it might have happened when I was guarding her, and I didn’t notice either.”
A short sigh followed.
“And if she hid it on her body and passed it then, there’s no way for us to know anyway. We can’t very well search the lady’s body while she’s in her nightgown or watch her too closely.”
Kay wasn’t entirely at ease either. Reina’s inclinations and the security lapses were separate issues. Even if she was friendly toward them and hadn’t passed anything substantial, the fact that she could pass something at all was the problem. It bothered him a little… Maybe they should assign a personal maid to stay by her side after all. Kay pondered several options in his mind and asked.
“Were there any other suspicious things about that lady normally?”
Lionel answered.
“No. Nothing unusual. Other than when Your Excellency takes her out, she doesn’t leave the room. We’ve reported all conversations she has with the maids or Doctor Lorenson to Your Excellency.”
“And Your Excellency’s reaction when you report?”
“Well……”
Lionel trailed off, lowering his gaze as if lost in thought. It was the action he took when he had some vague suspicion but nothing clear enough to put into words, so he held back judgment.
“……He’s the same as always. It seems he believes she can’t cause him any real harm.”
Lionel composed his expression and said.
“I’ll watch her more closely and stay vigilant.”
From Lionel’s attitude, Kay intuitively sensed that he felt something similar. With a small sigh, Kay ran a hand through his hair and broached the subject.
“……Do you think Your Excellency wants to take that woman as his mistress and protect her?”
Lionel made a strange face.
“His mistress?”
After a brief moment of contemplation, he continued.
“……Given Your Excellency’s personality, I don’t think he’d keep a mistress. He’s not the type to get swayed by a woman to the point of ignoring political risks, or to flaunt one, and his position as a son-in-law makes it even less likely.”
Kay pressed his brow wearily, as if fatigued.
“I agree about Your Excellency’s personality. But given the current situation, he might actually do it.”
“……Pardon?”
Kay went on.
“Since he can’t make it official…… Once Lady Christina returns to her place, that woman’s position could become precarious, couldn’t it?”
Lowering his hand, he added matter-of-factly.
“Evidence disposal could happen, after all.”
Lionel’s expression turned troubled, as if he hadn’t considered that far.
“……That could be true.”
Kay gave a wry smile.
“That’s why he might be considering publicly acknowledging her as his mistress to protect her openly. At least then she wouldn’t be quietly eliminated without a trace.”
No wife would like her husband’s mistress, but no wife would want the suspicion of assassinating her husband’s mistress either. Especially not in House Julius right now. Kay smiled with a slight furrow of his brow.
“It would be a loss for Your Excellency. It’d tarnish the image of the pristine hero.”
Kay pushed up his monocle with his index finger and chose his words carefully.
“But if that woman’s safety keeps weighing on Sir Arthur’s mind, it’ll end up holding him back. So one option I’m considering is advising him to officially make her his mistress, place her somewhere safe, and put it out of his mind.”
Kay lightened the mood a bit as he looked at Lionel.
“What I just said is just preparing for the worst case. We should aim to avoid it getting that far as much as possible. House Julius has just gained Elector status and is being cautious in its movements, so it won’t escalate into a serious issue.”
Lionel replied.
“Yes.”
Kay stood, wrapping up.
“Still, keep an eye on the atmosphere between Your Excellency and that woman. I’ll look into it from other angles.”
Lionel nodded.
“Understood.”
* * * Knock knock.
“Yes.”
Reina jolted to her feet from her seat, greeting Arthur as he entered the bridal chamber without having sorted out her thoughts.
“……”
Reina stood awkwardly facing him, her hands clasped together, her face stiffer than usual. Dressed in Christina’s gown, viewed from afar. On the ring finger of her left hand, the wedding band still remained.
“……”
Though she tried to maintain a blank expression, she carried the heavy air of someone awaiting punishment after committing a grave mistake. He’d left her alone to compose herself after discovering the note and her panic, but she seemed unable to resolve any of her turmoil on her own. Arthur’s words that he didn’t want her meeting Taylor. His offer to bribe her. Her worries over the note being found out. The wedding ring he’d placed on her finger. None of it. More than ever, she seemed full of unspoken words, yet she couldn’t approach or speak to him as usual. When he returned, she didn’t know what to do, and even the unconscious joy of seeing him didn’t surface. He must have been agonizing over it, yet somehow managed to say he wanted to decide after meeting Taylor. On the bed lay the two pouches of gold coins he’d left behind, untouched. As Arthur’s gaze turned that way, Reina’s fingertips twitched nervously, and she bit her lower lip with a slightly flustered look. Only then did it belatedly occur to her that she should have put them away somewhere.
“……”
Arthur gave a faint smile and closed the door behind him. As he walked into the room, he began to unfasten his cloak ornament as always but paused midway. He stopped a few steps from her and looked at Reina. For some reason, he didn’t want to leave her standing like that. Arthur called to her.
“Madam.”
“……”
She startled and looked up at him. Arthur spread his arms slightly and said.
“Will you help me?”
“……”
Reina gazed up at him with hesitant eyes. As if confirming the request, she glanced down at the ornament securing his cloak and the badge on his chest, then looked back up with a cautious light in her eyes. Arthur watched her steadily, still smiling.
“If it’s not too uncomfortable to come to me…… I’d like to ask you once.”
Unable to reply, Reina stared at him for a moment, then bit her lip and gave a small nod, like half-acceptance. She took one step, then two toward him. Arthur smiled softly.
“Thank you.”
“……”
Reina dipped her head slightly as if stirring. Then, pretending nonchalance despite her faintly trembling hand, she reached up and unfastened his cloak ornament. Plop……
“……!”
Why am I the one startled after undoing it myself? Reina flinched faintly and hurriedly caught the cloak sliding down his back with both hands. She hadn’t expected it to fall like that. With their height difference, she struggled to grab the cloak slipping off his shoulders, fumbling a bit. In a near-dangling posture, she clutched the cloak on both his shoulders. Arthur lifted one hand and caught the part falling from his right shoulder, handing it to her.
“S-Sorry.”
“……”
Arthur just smiled.
“……”
Swish. With her face flushed in embarrassment, Reina took the cloak, folded it, and draped it over her arm. She swallowed dryly, then with her still-trembling hand, reached for his outer coat…… Her face wandered in hesitation, unsure how to proceed.
“……”
Unable to bring herself to touch it, Reina hesitated and looked up at Arthur. She’d thought maybe he’d remove it himself and hand it over for her to tidy. She didn’t seem to have the nerve to undress him further. But Arthur didn’t remove his coat himself; he just stood there smiling down at her. As he sometimes did, it felt a little like he was teasing her.
“Madam.”
“Y-Yes?”
Arthur laughed.
“Don’t look so dejected. It hurts my heart.”
“……”
Arthur gently touched her hair. It was a fleeting, soft brush.
“I told you. I won’t blame you.”
“……”
The curtains by the window fluttered.
“I knew.”
Reina, who had been fiddling with her fingertips to hide her emotions, her face stiff, suddenly pouted her lower lip. Then, head bowed, she looked pitiful, as if holding back tears at her chin. Reina, who had been looking down, stealthily lifted her eyes to gaze at him.
“……I’m sorry. The note……”
“……”
Her subdued voice was barely audible. Arthur chuckled softly.
“I said it’s fine.”
Arthur held her gaze for a moment, then embraced her. It was a light hug, free of any burdensome intent. Pat pat. Arthur’s hand patted Reina’s back.
“……”
Only after speaking it aloud did Reina realize it was truly what she wanted to say. Reina sniffled and buried her face in his chest. It was strange. He was the one putting her in the most anxious situation, yet he was also the one who made her feel the most at ease.
