55 - The Bride of the Great Lord is a Warrior from Hell
Roderick's Bride is a Warrior from Hell 55
Cynthia stood next to Alisha, wearing only a displeased expression.
Occasionally, when Alisha sought help, Cynthia would pretend to worry, saying things like, "That was really stupid," while laughing and insulting her.
Cynthia's nonsense only made the timid Alisha more withdrawn.
Angela Miller, though annoyed, was the only one who looked after Alisha.
Of course, even she would become harsh in her touch and tone when she got frustrated.
Both of them expressed their annoyance at being stuck with Alisha's chores through grumbling.
Frankly, Alisha now thought that she had been a burden back then.
A hopeless, giant burden who wouldn't listen no matter what was said.
But looking back, the two of them had acted in ways that were unacceptable in the hierarchy between ladies.
Alisha would have been justified in striking them for their rudeness.
"Being good at finding a man is also Lady Alisha's ability, isn't it?"
"Cynthia, Lady Alisha is not one to be overconfident."
To Cynthia's taunts, Angela subtly retorted in a seemingly polite manner.
They're just playing around.
Alisha barely suppressed a hollow laugh.
It must be around this time.
When the young ladies from the northern noble families of Miller and Brenel made their debut in the central Imperial Society.
In the first timeline, they returned to the north without making any noticeable moves, but this time they seemed to be acting differently because of Alisha herself.
"Why don't you say anything? I'm really disappointed. How could friends not contact each other even once?"
Alisha managed to recall them, but she couldn't conjure up any strong emotions.
They were figures from a distant memory.
The actions unfolding before her eyes were insignificant compared to other matters.
It was obvious that they were trying to mess with her while smiling, but it was so blatant that she didn't even feel angry.
A faint smile appeared on Alisha's expressionless face, soon turning into a bright smile.
Cynthia's voice, which had been excessively loud in front of Alisha, suddenly stopped.
The timid Alisha that Cynthia knew couldn't even make that kind of expression to her maids.
Angela's expression also subtly crumbled.
"Who... are you?"
Alisha's face, softened by the spreading smile, uttered a pure question.
A moment of silence fell.
Everyone was watching Alisha being tormented, though they didn't show it.
Cynthia and Angela were flustered as they felt the surrounding noise suddenly cease.
"Cough."
A suppressed laugh echoed softly in the silence.
Only then did people begin to whisper weak chuckles and surprised remarks.
A sound like air escaping also echoed from somewhere.
Since it was a banquet held in the Imperial Palace, all invited nobles were in attendance.
With so many people gathered in the Imperial Society of Imperial Capital Baden, there were more great nobles of the rank of Count or higher than at other parties or welcome receptions.
"You! How dare you..."
Cynthia spat out a short sound with a flustered face.
Angela's expressionless face only turned red and purple.
"I'm so sorry. I feel like I've seen you somewhere, but I can't remember, Lady."
Alisha chattered without giving Cynthia a chance to speak.
Alisha's innocent face looked at Cynthia and slowly shook her head, then stared at Angela's face before shaking her head again.
"You're out of your mind...!"
Just as Cynthia was about to shout, Alisha looked at Cynthia and then stopped her gaze on Angela.
"I don't remember this one at all, and the Lady over here, I think I've seen her passing by. Lady... Miller?"
Alisha trailed off, speaking softly.
"...Thank you for remembering me, Lady Alisha. I'm Angela Miller, whom you've met before."
"Ah, Lady Angela. I don't remember well, but it's nice to see you. Thank you for acknowledging me."
"Then."
Angela Miller took Cynthia, who was about to burst out in anger, and retreated.
Alisha didn't bother to follow them and insult them.
They were figures from a distant past who weren't worth it.
The party celebrating the princess's birth was held in the grand theater.
A place of honor was prepared in the center of the stage for the Emperor, Empress, and Duchess Palz.
The Emperor and Empress's seats were placed side by side, and Duchess Palz, the host of the party, was seated separately in a slightly lower position.
Duchess Palz's chair, who was in charge of Princess Dorothea's upbringing, was in the form of a luxurious bench, making her shine as the main character.
On other parts of the stage, the Imperial Concubines' well-decorated seats were arranged, though not as elaborate as Duchess Palz's.
Everyone would feel the pain of their knees buckling if they had to go on stage and greet the Imperial Family even once.
They had to greet the Emperor and Empress and properly greet them according to the Imperial Family's hierarchy.
If they greeted the Imperial Concubine with the wrong rank, face, or name, they would be forever buried in noble society.
A dance hall was set up in front of the stage.
The court musicians tirelessly created lively songs, quiet songs, dignified songs, and elegant songs.
In the dance hall, gentlemen and ladies who led the dance according to the host's arrangement dominated the atmosphere.
There was a place where people could stroll at a reasonable distance from the dance hall.
That place was not left as an empty space either.
On one side, they spun a roulette wheel and threw dice.
Court attendants delivered sweet wine to the nobles who threw dice, betting gold and silver treasures.
Drinking wine and throwing dice, shouting loudly, made the rigid party hall cheerfully lively.
People swarmed in front of the dazzling dessert bars set up everywhere.
Golden ceilings and decorations.
The red carpets in the dance hall.
Thanks to the gorgeously dressed nobles, beautiful things caught the eye no matter where you looked.
People greeting each other happily.
People chatting and bursting into laughter.
Couples looking for partners and going to dance after meeting their match.
Groups whispering their own words in a noisy place.
Even people leaving the crowded banquet hall to chat on the terrace.
Among the people of various appearances, Alisha stood alone.
After going on stage to pay respects to the Imperial Family, she had almost disappeared without a trace.
There were people leading the party everywhere in the banquet hall.
They were either members of the Imperial Family, close to the Imperial Family, or had a dense network of connections in Imperial Society.
Alisha had to become one of them.
But Alisha only opened her mouth when Cynthia and Angela appeared in front of her.
There were few people in this large crowd who could acknowledge and talk to Alisha, who was not actively participating in the party.
Even to the friendly greetings, Alisha remained passive.
And she only looked at the grand theater's luxurious golden ceiling painting.
The ceiling painting, which depicted a beautiful angel descending from the sky to the earth, sparkled in the light of the chandeliers.
"That painting cannot be bought."
A low voice fell over Alisha's head, who had been captivated by the ceiling painting.
Alisha, who had paused at the unexpected voice, turned to the side.
Reikart was standing there in formal attire.
He was intently gazing at the ceiling painting that Alisha had been looking at.
"...Your Highness?"
Alisha had parted ways with Reikart coldly the last time they had met.
Compared to that, his attitude in speaking to her again was even friendly.
But Alisha was surprised for another reason.
"Have you been well? Why are you here alone? Were you sick? It's been a while."
Reikart Tessen was not one for words.
The most common thing his closest aide, Roderick, heard was, "Leave."
The most common thing Henrik, who assisted the Grand Duke in his personal life, heard was also, "Leave."
Yet, such a person was speaking to her without giving her a chance to answer.
"Has Your Highness been well too? I have been well."
Alisha said calmly.
It was not easy to speak while controlling her complicated feelings and confused mind.
Originally, Reikart should not have been here.
According to the memories of the first timeline, Reikart had missed Princess Dorothea's celebration party due to illness.
As Grand Duke Tessen had doubted Princess Dorothea's legitimacy at the time, malicious rumors were rampant.
Even now, the rumors about the Grand Duke were bad.
That was Alisha's question.
It wasn't that the Grand Duke had specifically threatened the nobles, but the words that followed Reikart were always ominous.
In the actual battlefield, Reikart seemed to use a terrifying axe, but he didn't even carry anything similar to an axe within Imperial Capital Baden.
Yet, the nobles always found Grand Duke Tessen difficult and avoided him.
More important than that now was that Reikart was probably sick.
Did you hurt?
Alisha was bewildered by the man's question asking if she was hurt.
It wasn't Alisha who was sick, but Reikart.
If Alisha's hypothesis and suspicions were correct, and if it was as she remembered from the first timeline, Reikart would now be suffering from a mysterious pain to the point of accepting the marriage he hated.
"Did something happen in Ludern? Or were you sick somewhere?"
There was no pain visible on Reikart's face as he spoke to Alisha.
At first glance, that was the case.
Alisha once again looked up at the face that asked if she was hurt.
Slightly furrowed eyebrows caught her eye.
Reikart was standing upright, but from time to time, his fingers seemed to want to reach up and touch his forehead.
As expected.
Reikart's condition was deteriorating.
She didn't know the reason, but that was certain.
She also knew the consequences.
Marriage.
Reikart would end up marrying someone he hated more than death.
He often told Alisha not to marry him, but at this rate, it was only a matter of time before he proposed to his betrothed, Alisha, asking her to marry him.
A bitter smile was about to appear at the ironic situation, but Alisha flashed the smile she showed in Imperial Society.
There was no sincerity in the harmless and soft-looking smile.
Reikart, who had watched Alisha quite a bit from the side, recognized that smile.
Alisha had rarely shown him that smile.
Was it because there were many eyes watching? As he was thinking, Alisha's two hands suddenly grabbed Reikart's hand.
"Your Highness, a dance?"
Alisha raised her voice as if to be heard.
A face with a troubled expression and an innocent-looking smile appropriately mixed looked at Reikart.
"...Did you want to dance?"
Reikart felt a refreshing feeling as the unpleasant sound that had been gnawing at his mind disappeared for a moment.
His sensitivity had also amplified in recent days as his condition worsened.
The unpleasant sound of being eaten by bugs filling his head not only grew louder, but also occasionally brought the same pain as when Lua rose.
He was suppressing the pain to avoid showing it outwardly, to the point where he felt like he was going crazy himself.
Today, too, he had planned not to attend the party because of the pain.
Not only today, but he avoided places with many people unless it was a special occasion.
He didn't come to the Imperial Palace unless it was a day he had a private meeting with the Emperor.
If he groaned or let out pain while touching his head, he knew what kind of rumors would spread in the world without even hearing them.
Finally, the cursed Tessen Grand Duke is about to become a demon.
The Tessen Grand Duke has contracted a terminal illness.
Perhaps rumors that the Tessen Grand Duke had died could spread immediately.
In this uneasy situation, Reikart had come to the party with many eyes watching because of Alisha.
He had hurriedly prepared and come to the Imperial Palace upon hearing that Alisha, who had been stuck in Ludern for almost a month, would be attending the party.
Fortunately, Alisha looked good, unlike the unpleasant rumors.