Chapter 15
Episode 15.
As Agatha greeted each of the arriving guests warmly, she took her place beneath a gazebo adorned with white pillars and fine draperies.
The carpeted area naturally filled with nobles, becoming quite bustling.
Sweet white wine, desserts, and fruits were brought in.
Agatha smiled demurely, covering her lips with a fan. A gentle voice then drifted into the momentarily quiet space.
“Not a single person is missing. You must have been a little flustered by the sudden invitation.”
“Oh my, how could that be! It’s not uncommon for Lady Agatha to host grand salons occasionally, is it?”
“Of course. We heard you returned to your estate a few days ago, so we were anticipating you’d open your salon soon.”
“That’s fortunate. How have you all been doing?”
No sooner had Agatha spoken than various ladies and young noblewomen began chattering about recent social trends. She had already heard much of this from her friend, Marchioness Iris Domunia, before opening her salon.
“Naturally, the most exciting news is about Lady Agatha herself.”
Agatha winked one eye.
“Are there still many people interested in my wedding? I thought most would have moved past it by now.”
Her playful remark drew laughter from various corners.
Indeed, given the nature of the noble world where secrets rarely stayed hidden, the affairs involving Enoch and her had long since become common knowledge.
Their sweet courtship, unlike a political marriage.
The Emperor’s personal luncheon invitation.
The fact that Agatha Nobilis was the owner of the island that would become the hub for the new trade route.
Even the imminent wedding and the plan to negotiate with the Mainyucore Empire on Palavi Island, combining it with their honeymoon, were heating up the social circles and the court.
“Knowing this, I have something special prepared for all of you who attended today. Jessie?”
Agatha called for a maid, who then handed something to the ladies and young noblewomen.
It was a wedding invitation, elegantly decorated with the Nobilis family’s symbol, a rose, and the Aratus family’s symbol, an eagle’s feather.
“It’s in three weeks. You are the first to receive a personal invitation today.”
“Goodness, what an honor, Lady.”
“How kind you are! You must be terribly busy with wedding preparations.”
As details about the venue and time began to spread among the attendees,
“Miss.”
“Yes?”
Agatha’s face lit up as she looked up at the quiet call from her attendant.
Her smile, framed by bright, sun-kissed blonde hair and a delicate face, was so lovely.
The nobles, surprised by her unfamiliar presence, turned to look.
He possessed a sturdy physique befitting a knight and a face so handsome it drew gasps.
The faint stubble on his cheeks, giving him a rugged appearance, was a badge of honor from the battlefield.
There stood the young Marquis, a war hero whose marriage to Agatha Nobilis would surely secure his wavering family’s position.
“Enoch.”
For a fleeting moment, Enoch, who had paused his steps, naturally approached Agatha’s side and kissed the back of her hand.
“Agatha.”
“What brings you here? I heard you were very busy today…”
“I was passing by. My aide informed me you were holding a salon here. I felt I hadn’t seen you in a while, so I stopped by briefly. I hope I’m not intruding.”
“Not at all. Um, your next engagement…?”
His aide, John, who caught Agatha’s gaze, quickly chimed in.
“You have a luncheon with the Minister of Finance.”
“Then you can spare me about 20 minutes. Shall we take a walk? The flowers are blooming beautifully today.”
Enoch willingly offered his arm. Agatha, rising immediately, sought the understanding of the stunned attendees.
“I’ll be back after a short stroll. Please, feel free to continue your conversations.”
“Of course, Lady. Please enjoy your walk.”
It was only after Agatha had walked a considerable distance towards the valley that the nobles regained their senses.
Enoch, after a brief glance at the suddenly boisterous gazebo, calmly turned his attention back to Agatha.
“Have you been well? You seem a little less radiant than when I last saw you.”
Is that so?
Agatha reflexively touched her cheek, then quickly composed her expression.
“Perhaps it’s because I’ve been staying up late lately. Oh, by the way, I sent you my plans for the mansion repairs through Ben. Did you read them?”
“Yes. I preferred the third option.”
After their marriage, Agatha planned to renovate the Nobilis Second Estate, rather than the Nobilis First Estate where she was currently staying or the Aratus Estate, and make it their marital home with Enoch.
After a moment’s thought, Agatha realized the third option was designed to have separate private bedrooms and a shared marital bedroom.
It was her preferred layout, but she had pushed it aside, thinking it might be too intimate for a political marriage.
Agatha blushed subtly. She felt he had been unusually proactive since their luncheon with the Emperor.
Of course, she had been the one to initiate things first.
Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Enoch had become somewhat more assertive.
“That’s good. Having both private bedrooms and a marital bedroom is recommended for easier adjustment.”
“That’s sound advice. May I ask who gave you that recommendation?”
“Our family’s head butler. Allen has been by my side since childhood; he’s served the Nobilis family for five generations.”
“Allen.”
“You might have seen him a few days ago when he escorted me back to the estate.”
“Yes. I remember him.”
Enoch led Agatha along a well-trodden path. The sweet scent of flowers blooming profusely beside the trail wafted towards them.
“Agatha. Actually, there’s something I need to ask your permission for.”
“Please, tell me.”
“I informed you previously that my relatives were meddling with the position of Marchioness, didn’t I?”
That’s right.
She supposed that was the reason he had decided to marry.
Agatha nodded readily.
“Have you found out who is behind it?”
“To be precise, the classification is complete.”
Agatha thought she knew what he wanted permission for.
“You’re going to go and assert your authority, aren’t you? With the knights.”
As the head of the family, he had the right to punish relatives who caused internal discord.
Last time it ended with banishment outside the capital, but this time, it might also serve as a warning.
“It won’t take too long. About two weeks, I expect. I’ll leave carrier pigeons, so please send me correspondence if you need to contact me.”
After the wedding, they would be away for at least a couple of months for their honeymoon.
It was a welcome development that he could sort out the household affairs before then.
Agatha lightly tapped his arm with a small smile.
“Have a safe trip. When you return, you’ll likely be incredibly busy, so be prepared.”
“Oh dear. Hearing you say that makes it sound quite daunting.”
“I’ll contact you frequently. Will you reply promptly?”
He paused for a moment, then nodded and took her hand, kissing the back of it. Twenty minutes had passed before they knew it.
“I must be going now. I will return as quickly as possible.”
“Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“……”
He gave her a peculiar look before turning his back and leaving.
Agatha found his gaze odd for a moment but dismissed it as her imagination. She watched his broad back recede, then calmly organized her own tasks.
I’ve already taken the measurements…
While he was away, she could prepare the fittings so they could be tried on immediately upon his return.
For anything else requiring his input, she could send him a message via carrier pigeon.
Of course, Agatha, who wouldn’t miss this opportunity, planned to send him occasional letters just to check in.
Agatha returned to her gazebo with a smile, finding herself surrounded by nobles who seemed strangely more excited than before.
“Lady! You seemed very close with Marquis Aratus. Were you perhaps really in love?”
“Lady Agatha. Congratulations on your wedding!”
Though it was a little awkward,
The social gathering, her first in a long time, concluded successfully that day.
Thump-thump-
Countless military boots left their imprints on the crimson-dyed marble.
Ten days had passed since Agatha bid him farewell and left the capital.
The head of the Daechuh family, one of Aratus’s blood relatives who had led this recent affair, had just met his end at Enoch’s hand.
“My Lord.”
Enoch gazed at Huber Karwen, the second-in-command of his knight order, with a dispassionate look.
“The family members of Baron Daechuh have been apprehended.”
“Well done.”
Enoch casually sheathed his sword and surveyed the bound figures kneeling in the center of the hall.
He had two sons and one daughter.
All three were adults, and the eldest son had a history of being jilted after being banished from the capital by Enoch’s order.
“I believe the heir was the eldest son.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
The sharp sound of military boots approaching made the Daechuh family members, who had been bowing their heads deeply, tremble.
The eldest son, in particular, trembled almost hysterically under the chilling aura.
Then.
Flap-flap-*
The familiar flapping of wings from the past ten days naturally drew Enoch’s gaze upward.
A pigeon, soaring in the air, landed on his sturdy arm with a short whistle.
Three roses, encircled by green vines.
The carrier pigeon, once again, bore the Nobilis family crest around its neck.
