Chapter 6
#6. I’m Home2021.09.19.
“That girl is Christina! The greatest lady in high society!”
The Marchioness huffed and puffed, her face flushed as if she were barely holding back her rage and bewilderment while catching her breath.
“……I thought you would recognize her at a glance. But it seems we were negligent. There must be some reason why you can’t identify that girl.”
Arthur’s expression didn’t change. The Marchioness took several deep breaths before continuing.
“……It must be that years of hardship and resentment have clouded your eyes. How could I not understand your sense of betrayal? You must have so much to say. I’ll hear it all, so come into the castle first and let’s talk.”
Arthur didn’t reply and simply smiled. It was a light smile, yet it made the onlooker feel an immense pressure. The Marchioness gripped her fan with trembling hands, forcing her chin up to put on a dignified expression.
“Even if there’s a misunderstanding, it can be resolved through conversation. Give us a chance to make amends. We’re in the same boat now, and you wouldn’t completely turn your back on House Julius, would you?”
The Marchioness’s voice continued.
“Don’t put Christina in a difficult position just to express your resentment toward us. In the end, that girl will be your shield. You’re damaging your own shield right now. Please don’t do that. Above all, isn’t she the wife you’ll spend the rest of your life with?”
An uneasy silence once again fell over the camp.
“Is that so.”
At last, Arthur spoke.
“Let me see my wife again first. My eyes might be mistaken.”
Color returned to the Marchioness’s face. But Arthur’s words weren’t finished.
“But if she still isn’t my wife this time, I won’t let it slide like before.”
The faces of the Marquis and his wife stiffened.
“What do you…….”
Arthur continued calmly.
“If you want to correct a mistake, you must start by admitting it. If you desire a ‘chance to make amends,’ then don’t try to hide the wrongdoing.”
Arthur smiled brightly at them.
“This time, she must truly be my wife. If so, as long as that young lady remains in my hands, I will stay silent about this matter.”
The next moment, Arthur gave a short nod toward the back.
“Conversation comes after. Farewell.”
With that curt dismissal, the Marquis’s jaw dropped. * * *
‘It’s certain. He’s figured it out. And he’s throwing this tantrum because he’s offended.’
Kicked out of Arthur’s camp, the Marquis ground his teeth. Don’t hide anything? Insolent bastard! The Marchioness pressed her forehead, biting her lip.
“……I told you we should have gotten rid of that girl ages ago!”
The Marquis snapped back curtly.
“Who was it that said she was invaluable because she kept her mouth shut and handled any task perfectly? Who decided to keep her around?”
“…….”
The Marchioness clamped her mouth shut, as if she didn’t even want to respond, and squeezed her eyes tight. After fuming for a long while, the Marquis muttered through gritted teeth.
“……What if we get rid of her now?”
The Marchioness muttered in frustration.
“Do you think they won’t realize if we try that? If we’d done it sooner, maybe, but now it would only be more dangerous.”
“…….”
The urge to erase all evidence of the past affair surged in the Marchioness’s heart time and again, but she could no longer act rashly. If they were caught attempting something like that, it would truly be the end. The entire world’s attention was focused on Julius Mansion right now. Too many reporters had gathered, and inside the mansion was Lord Rembrandt, the imperial eyes. If someone were found dead in the house at a time like this, it would be like shouting to the neighborhood that they had something to hide. Above all, someone might already be watching. It wasn’t the right moment to resolve things through dangerous means.
“…….”
The Marchioness tore at her fan hysterically, muttering to herself.
“If he says he’ll stay silent if we hand her over, it means he has evidence and is demanding proper compensation for the sham marriage, right? He doesn’t intend to completely break with us, does he?”
“…….”
The Marchioness muttered as if to herself.
“We can still turn this around. Even if it comes out, Arthur won’t gain anything but a blemish on his image…….”
“…….”
The Marquis thought with a terrifyingly hardened expression. He was furious to the tips of his hair, but this time his wife was right. The priority now was to appease the man somehow and seal his lips. If rumors of a sham marriage leaked at a time like this, the Elector position he had barely secured would……
‘Yes. Better to negotiate than cause a commotion.’
His rage subsided, and his mind began to cool. Everything had to flow naturally without any big noise. As soon as he returned to the mansion, the Marquis said to his wife.
“Send her out. To Triumph Square.”
The Marchioness flinched and looked at him. The Marquis continued.
“He won’t cooperate unless he sees us yield. Show him a gesture that we’ll do as he wants.”
The Marchioness’s vision darkened, her eyes trembling beneath. She had prepared herself just in case, but. Was that really the only way? And what about after?
“……If we send that maid out in front of everyone, what about Christina!”
The Marquis twisted his face in anger.
“Why do you think we’ve been wasting time and money dragging this out until now?!”
He immediately summoned the head butler and head maid, issuing orders.
“Keep the torches to a minimum. Bury ‘Christina’s’ face in the darkness. Olga, with that girl. And assign maids who can keep their mouths shut to attend her.”
“Yes.”
The head butler and head maid left upon receiving the orders. The Marquis tried to light his pipe, but his trembling hands missed a couple times, and he irritably flung it away. Tobacco leaves scattered messily on the carpet as his heavy breathing filled the room. Recalling the guest who was practically an imperial watchdog, the Marquis strained his bloodshot eyes.
‘The sham marriage must never be exposed. Lord Rembrandt, the Emperor’s nephew-in-law, is watching.’
To avoid suspicion, he had to resolve this somehow by tonight at least.
‘To do that, I need to appease Arthur first.’
The Marchioness stood dazed, staring at him, then staggered and barely steadied herself against the table. * * *
「I can’t do it. I really can’t…….」
「If I go out there, what happens afterward…….」
「Even if I wanted to take all the blame alone and die, I couldn’t…….」
「How could I die alone in this situation…….」
「Even if I say I stole the dress and wore it, deceived the Marquis’s family elders, and married as the lady’s stand-in, no one would believe me…….」
Reina knelt before the Marchioness, pleading, but the response was sharp as a blade.
「Don’t make a fuss.」
「Sir Arthur is just momentarily angry.」
「Your role is simply to quell this current uproar. Nothing more, nothing less.」
「We’re only placing you there temporarily to show we’ll sincerely comply with Sir Arthur’s demands.」
「Don’t be scared. You won’t have to stay there long.」
「Arthur will only torment us to a reasonable degree and stop before it becomes irreparable.」
「Arthur wouldn’t want to make an enemy of us either.」
「He’s hailed as a hero now, but the bastard who rescued the captured Crown Prince—do you think Empress Maria will leave him alone?」
「More popular than the Crown Prince?」
「Once Empress Maria’s checks begin, Arthur will quickly realize he needs ‘Julius’ as his backing.」
「He needs the protection of ‘Julius.’」
「If he’s not an idiot, Arthur will figure it out.」
The Marchioness smiled coldly, meeting Reina’s eyes at her level.
「And, Reina.」
「You just do as you’re told. Don’t overstep with your opinions.」
Reina looked up at the Marchioness in a daze, collapsed on the floor.
「This time, I’m explaining especially because you’ve suffered too.」
「So do well.」
「Without staining Christina’s honor.」
* * * And so, in the end, Reina was dragged before him once more. Once again, under the name ‘Christina Julius.’ * * *
「Be thoroughly Christina in front of Arthur.」
「Don’t let any slip of the tongue grab our ankles—don’t fall for any leading questions.」
* * * A wedding ring was slipped onto Reina’s finger after five long years. Large teardrop pearls dangled from her ears, and a necklace hung around her neck.
“…….”
Her vision was pitch black. But either way, it was death here or death there. * * *
“……When you said she wasn’t Your Excellency’s wife, I was summoned by my parents and suffered greatly. They asked if I had somehow offended Sir Arthur. How could I make my husband say such a thing.”
Arthur, who had been watching her quietly, let out a small laugh. Was it because she was laced so tightly she could barely breathe, standing before thousands lying through her teeth? She thought she might faint. Yet everything felt so unreal that she became eerily calm, like a fool. She knew it couldn’t possibly be peaceful, so why did it feel that way? The wind blowing under her ear shook her loose hair as if it weren’t hers. Her pierced ears burned. The earrings were heavy. Reina exhaled ragged breaths from her chest constricted by the corset, trembling faintly.
“…….”
He extended his hand. It was only when she heard the gasps of admiration from the surrounding spectators that Reina realized it was an escort. Her breathing began to steady. In that surreal haze, Reina placed her hand atop his. The moment Arthur lightly gripped her slightly brushing hand, a thunderous cheer erupted. A world echoing like an echo from another realm. The torches flickered slowly. Reina stared at Arthur’s face in a daze. Was it because of his eyes meeting hers? Emotions from five years ago resurfaced, ones she had forgotten. A brief moment together in a position neither had wanted, with a gentle person. The feelings from that night when she sent off her make-believe husband for one night, unable to say anything, thinking since he wouldn’t return alive anyway, it didn’t matter if a maid stood in.
“……I’m glad…… you returned safely.”
Unthinkingly, words she hadn’t planned slipped out. He smiled and replied.
“They told me not to come back?”
Reina shut her mouth, a bit flustered. Only then did she remember. The one line from him that had ultimately kept Reina from staying silent until the end.
「……I’m leaving having heard only your pained voice.」
“…….”
And the words she had impulsively offered came back. Not knowing the Marquis had put a mere maid like her in the lady’s place instead, pitying him as he headed to his death to keep his promise with Julius…… That he didn’t need to return. That living like Ryan Dalton* might be fine……
“…….”
The fact that she had let her voice be heard anyway served as a good excuse. In a state of resignation, Reina bowed her head.
“……I didn’t expect you to come back so successfully.”
He chuckled softly.
“Is that so.”
……Did that offend him? Reina fidgeted, bowed her head, and added quietly.
“……You’ve returned well. Seeing you again…… feels good.”
He smiled.
“I’m home.”
And with that, she felt relieved. ――――― *Ryan Dalton: A character from a classic novel who deserted as a prince, abandoning his status and name to live forever yearning for his beloved fiancée. Interpreted as a coward and fool.
