Chapter 46
Chapter 46.
A terrified man crawled out from behind the trees and prostrated himself.
-H-Head of the family.
-Go and tell your master what you saw. There are no exceptions.
Esther, who was sitting on the floor, grabbed him as he turned away.
-E-Enoch!
-There are no exceptions. So you'd best think wisely, Esther.
Enoch turned away. And this was the current situation.
He finished his recollection and exhaled a pent-up breath.
He felt as if he had escaped the past that had always weighed him down.
At the same time, he thought how desperately he missed Agatha.
'Has the salon ended?'
No, it was a problem that he could solve himself by going, without her needing to come.
Go, apologize, and explain.
He thought he wanted to mend their relationship if it wasn't too late. No, if she allowed it, it was he who wanted to move forward.
"My Lord!"
John, the aide who had been pacing anxiously in front of the tent, Ched, the adjutant, and the knights spotted Enoch and rushed over.
"Are you alright? Did something happen again?"
"Nothing happened. It seems my kin are at it again."
"How dare they! I knew it. Their frequent meetings lately, those scoundrels still haven't learned their lesson...!"
Stopping his agitated retainers, Enoch ordered an investigation into Baron Thatcher, Esther, and the relatives.
"The newly appointed Baron Thatcher contacted Esther as their representative. I've ordered the informants to bring the ringleaders, so keep an eye on their movements. We will soon petition His Majesty to revoke their titles, so prepare for that."
"Understood, my Lord!"
It was when Enoch, taking a breath, ordered them to prepare their statements.
"Ah, my Lord. The Madam visited."
Hearing the report from the adjutant, Ched, Enoch's hand, which had been loosening his collar, stopped abruptly.
"When."
"Not long ago. She said she was going for a short walk while waiting for you, but she returned and left immediately after."
"Where did she go for her walk?"
"Towards that direction... My Lord?"
Enoch swallowed a groan as he confirmed the direction. There was only one time he had sensed multiple presences, excluding the informants, when he was with Esther.
Was it a leap to think that was Agatha?
"Where did she say she was going?"
"She seemed to be heading back to the mansion."
"Heading back to the mansion. Bring my horse at once."
The knights, sensing the unusual atmosphere, moved quickly with heightened discipline.
Enoch, mounting his horse with John the aide and two knights remaining to manage the situation, headed for the Nobillis Second Mansion.
From passing through the castle gates to reaching the mansion.
Enoch's face was stiff with an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
Allen, the head of the Nobilis family's general affairs, who had moved from the Nobilis First Mansion to the Second Mansion, came out to greet him.
"Welcome, Marquis."
"Where is she."
"The Madam is in the study. What brings you-"
Enoch dismounted and headed straight for the study on the fourth floor.
In Agatha's room, which he entered for the first time in a long while, her personal maid and the First Commander, Leon Takran, assigned as her guard, along with other knights, were all standing outside the study door.
"My Lord..."
The moment his gaze met Leon's.
Enoch knew his ominous premonition had become a reality.
Knock-knock-
"...Agatha."
He knocked on the door. After knocking, he waited for a long time, but there was no response from inside.
"There is something you are misunderstanding. Can you give me one more chance?"
Now he was ready.
As he raised his hand to knock again, a faint voice drifted from inside.
"Go back."
A voice as cold as ice.
"I don't want to see you right now."
The small, chilling voice pierced the man's heart deeply.
Enoch stood in front of the study for hours, but eventually retreated when his personal maid brought him a meal. It was because he predicted she would skip her meals if he stayed.
'Let's talk tomorrow.'
Having retreated like that, Enoch could not properly face Agatha thereafter.
This time, she was avoiding him.
As Agatha was waking up and lightly dressing in the morning, Marie, her personal maid, entered carrying a jewelry box covered in velvet.
"Madam, the brooch you ordered has been completed and delivered."
Jessie, another personal maid, opened the box, revealing a flower woven from pearls and diamonds.
It was a beautiful brooch, its elegant pearl luster satisfying.
"Will you wear it today?"
"It would suit the dress you're wearing."
Her smooth silk dress had no particular embellishments. Agatha readily decided to try on the new brooch.
"Put it on the left side."
She fastened the brooch to her chest and braided her hair, securing it with a gold-leaf-shaped pin.
Agatha, completing the image of an elegant Marchioness, nodded.
"That's perfect."
Watching the maids withdraw all at once, Agatha murmured to herself.
'Should I not go down today?'
She was still having breakfast with Enoch.
He clearly wanted to strike up a conversation, but Agatha kept ignoring him.
She felt like nothing he could say would make her feel better now.
Was this marriage going to become like her previous ones?
She had been certain it wasn't like that until they returned from their honeymoon. But now, she couldn't say that.
Even with the new jewel and makeup, yesterday felt like today, and the day before yesterday felt like yesterday.
"Jessie."
In times like these, it would be best to change her mood.
Agatha decided to visit Crown Prince Antony Roxiva, whom she hadn't seen in a while.
"I'm going to the palace after lunch. Send a message to His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Yes, Madam."
When she went down to the dining room, Enoch was already there.
"Did you sleep well."
As Agatha acknowledged Enoch's greeting and sat down, the chef appeared with a tray.
"Today's main dish is freshly baked bread topped with grilled fresh oysters. We've used oranges that arrived this morning to add a tangy flavor to the sauce."
"Oysters. A good choice."
"The oranges have a wonderful flavor, so I've also baked them into a dessert pie. Please enjoy your meal."
The grilled oysters with the sweet and sour orange sauce were a good pairing. Agatha slowly savored the taste and drank her wine.
"Agatha, will you spare me some time today?"
As always, Enoch asked for a chance to explain. Agatha blinked as if hearing the request for the first time.
"I have an appointment with His Highness the Crown Prince. I need to go to the palace soon, so it will be difficult today."
"Agatha."
"You must have a lot of work today too, so let's talk later. That will be enough."
As breakfast was not a long meal, the plates were already empty. Agatha dabbed her lips with a napkin and rose from the table.
"Have a good day."
Enoch's eyes followed her as she turned and walked away.
"Madam..."
Jessie trailed off, as if wanting to say, 'At least listen to him.'
"I'll need to dress properly when I go to the palace."
Agatha cut off her personal maid's words.
"Bring me something with a full skirt. Red would be good."
Jessie looked back at the dining room with a hint of regret, but soon complied with Agatha's order.
"I'll prepare it right away."
There was no outfit that suited gold as well as a dress in a strong primary color. Agatha layered several thin gold bracelets and put on a diamond necklace.
"Small earrings."
After choosing her shoes and doing her makeup, it was almost time to leave.
When she went down to the entrance hall, Leon Takran, the First Commander assigned to escort her, was waiting by the carriage.
"Is everything ready?"
"You can depart immediately."
"Please take care of me again today, Sir Leon."
The young commander, with a slightly haggard face, escorted Agatha and formed a protective formation.
Although he was silently carrying out his duties, he too was saying a lot with his eyes.
'It's a good thing Sir Huber isn't my escort.'
If it were the tactless Second Commander, Hubert Karwen, who said whatever he wanted, he would have already been talking about Enoch.
The carriage, as always, was tightly surrounded by knights, and it left the newlywed mansion for the palace.
Because Agatha's face was like a palace entry pass, she was able to enter the palace directly without any particular checks or inspections.
"Welcome, Marchioness."
The Head Steward, who was waiting at the palace entrance, greeted Agatha.
"Where is His Highness?"
"He is in the garden."
"It's good news that was worth contacting him about."
"Would you like to have a meal first?"
"No, bring tea."
"Understood."
Guided by the Head Steward, she went to the garden, where Antony was sitting at a table.
He was having a late meal, enjoying the cool breeze.
"Are you having lunch?"
"I woke up late."
Thanks to the prior notice of her visit, he was at least dressed properly. Agatha sat down opposite Antony and grumbled.
"Please wake up earlier."
"Sometimes you need to have lazy days like this."
Antony, who laughed shamelessly despite it not being just 'sometimes,' sliced a well-cooked sausage.
"By the way, what brings you here today?"
"I didn't come for any special reason."
"You just came to enjoy tea time?"
Agatha, pretending not to hear Antony's suspicious tone, picked up her sandwich. The thoughtful Head Steward had brought a light snack, considering it was before the meal.
