Chapter 43
Chapter 43.
Agatha didn't turn her head, though she felt eyes on her.
Just then, the ensemble members filled the empty stage and began to play.
Dududung-
Listening to the resonating melody, Agatha raised her hand. A lady-in-waiting, who had been waiting at a distance, quickly brought and set down wine and a glass.
It was one of the things Agatha had come to enjoy lately.
As Agatha was about to take the bottle after dismissing the lady-in-waiting, a hand reached out first and pulled out the cork.
Glug glug glug-
Red wine filled the transparent glass. Agatha, who had been gazing at Enoch's hand tilting the bottle, took the glass.
Until the performance ended, she drank only the wine in silence.
The performance ended. Agatha, who gave a perfunctory clap and stood up, stumbled, and Enoch instinctively reached out.
Slap-
Agatha, who had instinctively pushed him away, opened her eyes wide. Enoch looked down at his outstretched hand.
“I’m sorry. I did it without thinking.”
“……It’s alright.”
“Let’s go. I want to rest.”
Agatha left the VIP room first. Following her were her lady-in-waiting with a dark expression, the First Commander, and Leon Takran.
Enoch, letting out a short breath, followed them out.
In the corridors and halls, nobles who had finished their impressions and poured out had already surrounded Agatha.
“Marquis Aratus.”
Enoch was also buried among the nobles who approached him.
Enoch’s gaze occasionally turned towards Agatha.
And there was a gaze that secretly watched that scene.
The fact that Marquis Aratus and his wife had left the VIP room separately, and that they were still standing separately now, forming their own groups.
The gaze that had been closely observing the situation vanished the moment Enoch looked up.
After staring at a pillar on one side of the corridor for a while, Enoch lowered his gaze to the small warmth touching his arm.
“Let’s go, Enoch. I feel tired today.”
It was the first time she had initiated contact in days.
Agatha looked up at him, who remained motionless, with a puzzled expression.
“Enoch?”
“Yes. Let’s go back early.”
The surrounding nobles, watching the situation, stepped back with smiles.
“Farewell, Marquis.”
“Marchioness, until we meet again.”
Agatha, escorted by Enoch, left Armand Hall.
The nobles still remaining in the hall watched them, pretending not to.
A strange rumor had been circulating in high society lately.
That the Marquis and Marchioness Aratus, who used to stir up rumors daily, had been quiet recently, that they were rarely seen together, and that the amount of wine delivered to their newlywed residence had increased.
“Hmm, doesn’t it seem like we’ll hear some interesting news soon?”
“I don’t know. Judging by their appearance just now, it doesn’t seem like it.”
As she heard the hushed whispers around her, Marchioness Iris Domunia, Agatha’s closest confidante, quietly fanned herself.
Early morning.
Clatter, clatter-
A four-horse carriage, escorted by the Aratus Knights, entered the grounds of the Aratus mansion in the capital.
It was now a familiar sight to see the flags of the Aratus family and the Nobilis family flying simultaneously.
What was a little unfamiliar was the presence of Enoch Aratus, accompanying Agatha for the first time since she had entered this mansion.
The carriage stopped, and Enoch, dismounting, extended his hand towards the open carriage door. Agatha took his hand and gracefully stepped onto the ground.
Isabelle Aratus was waiting in front of the main residence.
“Welcome, Madame Aratus.”
“Good morning, Isabelle.”
“You’ve come with my brother today.”
Isabelle offered a small smile. Agatha casually changed the subject without saying much.
“Our schedules just happened to align. Thank you for the ride, Enoch.”
“It was nothing.”
He was scheduled to go hunting with some acquaintances afterward.
It was a brief hunting trip as a check-up before the autumn social season, the main hunting season, officially opened.
The man, who paused for a moment, added, “Today’s schedule shouldn’t take too long. If you’re amenable, how about we return together at the same time?”
“Alright.”
“……I’m not forcing you.”
Agatha lightly shook her head at Enoch’s words.
“It’s better if we act together for a while. If I finish early, I’ll head to the hunting grounds.”
The reason Enoch accompanied her today was a letter sent by Marchioness Iris Domunia.
“My dearest Madame Aratus,
Lately, more and more eyes among the nobles have been watching you and Marquis Aratus.
While it is still mere speculation, why not show a few affectionate moments together if it is not your intention to avoid it?
If you have something in mind, I would be delighted if you could give me a hint.
Your eternal friend, Iris Domunia.
P.S. I heard Madame Caden attended Armand Hall yesterday.”
‘It’s about time for the raid.’
Agatha decided to reinforce her security while simultaneously putting an end to the rumors.
If one of her relatives, the Caden family, had heard the rumors, there was a chance they would investigate from various angles or simply barge in.
That was why Enoch was accompanying her today.
If a renowned and skilled knight like him, famous across the continent, were by her side, they would refrain from acting as they did before.
“Is it alright for me to do that?”
Agatha asked Enoch for permission. For a moment, his expression seemed to harden.
“……You can always come to me.”
“I’m glad you think so. Then I’ll see you in a bit.”
The man, who had been standing with his eyes slightly shaded, gestured. Leon Takran, who was serving as his escort today, followed closely.
“Maintain strict vigilance and report any anomalies.”
“Yes, my lord.”
The man, who brushed his lips against Agatha’s hand in passing, turned away.
Silence enveloped the surroundings until he disappeared. Soon, Agatha, with a much brighter expression, turned back to Isabelle.
“Well then, shall we begin welcoming our guests today?”
Isabelle quietly nodded. What Agatha had prepared for today was a small art exhibition centered around the garden’s colonnade.
The colonnade was decorated like a temporary art gallery, and simple drinks and food were arranged in the garden for guests to enjoy freely.
As preparations concluded, the guests began to arrive.
“Welcome, Lady Iris.”
“It’s nice to see you again after yesterday. I rushed here upon hearing that I could see your rare collection.”
As the mansion was not open to the public today, it was planned to be an event for a select few invited guests.
Agatha, giving a slight nod to the discreet gaze from Lady Iris, led the guests inside.
“Now, shall we move to the colonnade? By now, the artworks brought by everyone should be arranged.”
“My heart is pounding. I wonder what kind of artworks the others have brought…”
In the colonnade, dozens of artworks waited, each covered with a white cloth in beautifully decorated sections.
Agatha, holding a glass of champagne from a table, approached the first piece and stood there.
“The first piece is mine. The artwork I brought is—”
The servants, receiving Agatha’s gaze, quickly pulled off the white cloths. Gasps of astonishment erupted from various places.
“Allow me to introduce it. It is the ‘Lady in a Dream’ by an unknown artisan, acquired a few years ago.”
The artwork, imbued with the artisan’s soul, possessed an indescribable, overwhelming presence.
The dreamlike colors and the ideal form of the woman walking through a dream.
The painting, filling the vast canvas, drew admiration. Subsequently, a flood of immense appreciation poured out.
“My goodness, I wondered who had won this piece at the secret auction!”
“I never thought I’d see this piece again here. It’s even more mystical up close. It’s beautiful.”
“Isn’t this its first public unveiling? Madame Aratus has made a truly significant decision.”
Servants bustled among the nobles, collecting empty champagne glasses and circulating new ones. The countesses and young ladies, who had emptied their champagne in an instant, had their cheeks flushed with excitement.
“What will the next piece be?”
“Looking at the layout, I believe it’s mine.”
Countess McKellen, who came forward next, smiled shyly and introduced her piece.
“Although it may not be as good as Madame Aratus’s first piece, I have brought a decent collection.”
From sculptures to oil paintings, sketches by masters, and even works created by artists directly supported by nobles, the salon heated up with the appreciation of various artworks that followed, though none as impactful as the first piece.
As all the artworks were unveiled and free appreciation and conversation ensued.
Marchioness Iris Domunia approached Agatha, who was intermittently ensuring there was enough food and drink.
Iris, naturally taking a seat on the adjacent couch, opened her mouth.
“I heard the Marquis gave you a ride this morning.”
“It’s thanks to taking your advice.”
Iris, covering her lips with her fan, chuckled softly and asked,
“Is there any news I should be aware of?”
It was a question about the letter she had sent that morning. Agatha paused for a moment, leaned back on the couch, and spoke quietly.
“Perhaps.”
“……”
“It might be good to prepare a little.”
