The Villainess Enjoys Her Married Life
Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Chapter 14. The Big Picture, and Admiration
2023.12.14.
“The Duchess seems rather sensitive today. This is merely a social gathering, after all.”
Marshall resolved to paint Eshika as a woman who could not read the room.
Yet Eshika did not react as Marshall expected.
“Though it may be a social gathering, should we not maintain basic courtesy toward one another?”
At those words, someone dropped a spoon.
A cold, heavy silence settled over what had been a cordial tea party.
Gritting her teeth, Marshall forced a smile.
“One must distinguish between rudeness and a simple mistake. Lady Palmania merely made an error out of a misunderstanding, yet you make the atmosphere so grim. The Duchess… having seldom engaged in high society, perhaps you are unfamiliar with such occasions.”
It was a tone clearly meant to highlight Eshika’s shortcomings and alienate her.
Marshall thought that by this point, Eshika would tuck her tail between her legs.
In fact, the Eshika she knew would never have dared to talk back to Bolan in the first place.
Yet matters were not unfolding as anticipated.
“My apologies if I dampened the mood of the party.”
A voice of apology flowed immediately, crisp and devoid of hesitation.
“According to the social etiquette I was taught by both Countess ladies, when hosting a gathering, the seating arrangements should place ladies of higher noble rank in the seats of honor first…”
Cold sweat ran down Bolan’s back.
“…Truthfully, from the moment I was shown to my seat, I wondered if the Duchy of Klaus was being slighted, and my displeasure colored my words.”
Marshall’s hand trembled faintly.
There was not a single falsehood in Eshika’s words.
The seat Eshika occupied was between a baroness and a viscountess.
It was far from the seat of honor; had Riona attended, she would have sat where Marshall was currently seated.
Regardless of her youth, Eshika was the Duchess of Klaus.
According to protocol, Marshall had committed a grave discourtesy.
And it was only natural for the Duchess to point it out.
For this was no different from insulting the Ducal House of Klaus itself.
“Whether what I learned from both Countesses was erroneous, or whether the Countess has acted grossly contrary to propriety, I cannot say.”
A faint, cold smile brushed Eshika’s lips.
Whichever side she conceded, Marshall would only end up disgracing herself.
‘Damn it… what in the world is that wretched wench saying right now?’
To be sure, even if someone like Eshika were made to sit on the floor, no complaint would ever come from the Klaus Ducal House.
Yet because every single word she spoke was textbook propriety, Marshall could not dare refute it.
“You mentioned one must distinguish between rudeness and a mistake, did you not? Which of the two would you say yours was, my lady?”
The noblewomen, unfamiliar with the internal affairs of House Klaus, began to whisper among themselves.
Quite a few young ladies were being taught etiquette by the two Countesses.
And among the guests were some of their mothers.
She could hardly explain to them that a girl like Eshika was a nobody… Marshall’s stomach burned with frustration.
“My consideration was lacking. I offer my sincere apologies for the discourtesies committed today, Duchess.”
In the end, Marshall had no choice but to bow her head to Eshika.
Eshika looked down at the crown of the host’s bowed head and calmly sipped her tea.
The apple-scented tea was quite fragrant.
**
During the party, Marshall and Bolan excused themselves and retired early, complaining of headaches and dizziness.
The gathering had evidently become unbearably uncomfortable for them.
“By any chance, is there a maid named Heremiya working here?”
After the tea party concluded, Eshika lingered longer than anyone else, sipping her tea, before asking the maid who was clearing the table.
The heavily freckled maid flinched, then shook her head.
“There is no maid by that name, my lady.”
The primary reason Eshika had wanted to attend this tea party was to meet her.
For she would one day prove to be a powerful asset to make use of.
In the original story, all tragedy began twenty years ago during a nightmarish civil war.
Every member of the imperial family, save for the Emperor and Lesvan, had been captured and dragged to the guillotine.
Yet among the princesses, there was one more survivor.
Her name was Astia Lucane—an infant seven years younger than Lesvan, whom a wet nurse had miraculously smuggled away to spare her life.
Unaware of her imperial blood, Astia had grown up like a tomboy in a rural village before discovering the truth around the age of fifteen.
Bearing her new name, Heremiya, she went to work as a maid in the Bolan Count’s estate around the age of twenty.
“…Mm…”
Now was the time to make a move.
Eshika was drawing a grander picture, looking far ahead.
Looking at the maid diligently clearing the table, Eshika parted her lips.
“The eastern border is loosely guarded, and if you travel about three days past it, you will reach the Maroun Plains.”
“… .”
The maid’s hands, busy clearing plates, froze.
“It is a lovely place for newlyweds to make a home. The reason I recommend the Maroun Plains is that relatives of the Brigitte family raise livestock there. With a letter of recommendation from me, you should be able to secure a decent home and work.”
At Eshika’s words, the maid slowly turned toward her.
And in a trembling voice, she asked:
“Why… are you telling me such things?”
Eshika did not answer with words.
She conveyed it solely through her gaze.
‘Because you are Princess Astia.’
In the original story, Astia was neither a central figure nor did she have grand episodes.
Eshika merely surmised that her life in the imperial palace would have been far from peaceful.
Her full brother, Lesvan, was always roaming the battlefields, while her half-brother, Breyton, was of poor character.
And the Empress… well, that was a tale for another time.
“… .”
The eyes gazing at Eshika wavered.
Having read the original story, Eshika knew Astia had no desire to return to the imperial palace.
The reason was likely the Allet Ring on her fourth finger.
“Love, by its nature, is bound to change. No matter how sweet a man’s whispers may be, he cannot withstand the weight of time. If you forsake a lavish and comfortable life in the imperial palace to choose him, you may regret it until the day you die of old age.”
And with that, Eshika popped the remaining cherry from the plate into her mouth.
Astia asked Eshika:
“Is that… from your own experience, my lady?”
Instead of answering, Eshika offered a faint smile.
“Who can say? I merely offer a warning. Whether that man is worth it is not for me to judge.”
“He is worth it.”
Astia’s brown eyes rippled.
They were the eyes of a woman in love.
“He is worth staking my life for…”
“Then I shall root for your love, Heremiya-ssi.”
**
Having handed over the prepared identification papers and two letters of recommendation to Heremiya, Eshika left the party.
The favor granted to her today would surely return as a boon one day.
As Eshika walked toward her carriage, someone called out to her from behind.
“Duchess!”
Halting her steps for a moment, Eshika watched as the woman ran over, panting for breath as she drew near.
It was Baroness Helenia Merhin.
Her expression was uneasy, laden with tension.
“…I am sorry about earlier.”
Helenia spoke with her eyes cast slightly downward, unable to meet Eshika’s gaze.
She was surely referring to how she had spoken to Eshika earlier, only to fall silent under the watchful eyes of the other ladies.
She seemed to feel guilty about participating in a gathering where one person was so blatantly ostracized.
“And…”
Helenia hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“I happened to overhear your conversation with the maid earlier. Ah, I did not eavesdrop on purpose! I had left something behind and came back to look for it…”
As Eshika looked coldly at the one who had overheard words she never should have heard, Helenia offered a pure smile and spoke.
“You wished that maid happiness in love. I was truly… so deeply moved.”
Helenia clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling.
“In a world where love and romance have withered away, women who still believe in love are so rare. Though truth be told, I am one of those rare few myself.”
Eshika lowered her guard.
To naive Helenia’s eyes, it seemed she had simply cheered on a maid’s love.
“Honestly, when I saw you render both Countesses utterly speechless, I thought you were such a terrifying person, but I realized I was mistaken. You are truly a warm-hearted lady. How wonderful it would be if I could be friends with someone like you…”
“… .”
“If you have the time, may I invite you to my home one day?”
She asked in an earnest voice.
Her expression looked as though she might burst into tears if refused.
It seemed Helenia had become thoroughly captivated by Eshika’s charms.
In any case, Eshika thought it fortunate that the woman was so oblivious.
Had Helenia realized Heremiya was no ordinary maid, Eshika might have had to make the unpleasant choice to silence her.
She likely could not begin to imagine what chilling thoughts had crossed Eshika’s mind.
Eshika parted her lips.
“…Let us do so.”
Even to Eshika, an innocent and candid type like Helenia was not unwelcome.
Eshika’s voice was dry, yet not cold.
“Until we meet again.”
Nor did she exude the overbearing presence she had shown when confronting the two Countesses.
Helenia’s eyes sparkled once more.
She looked like a child who had received what she wished for.
Looking at Helenia, whose gaze slowly lifted to meet hers in deep emotion, Eshika turned away.
“…I will be sure to contact you!”
Without answering Helenia’s shout from behind, Eshika stepped into the carriage.
Gazing blankly as the carriage departed and drew farther away, Helenia parted her lips.
“What a wonderful person. This is truly like love and war!”
Meanwhile, having departed the Count’s estate in her carriage, Eshika leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes.
Speaking so much after such a long time was exhausting.
Her original business had been Astia, but she had simply dealt with the wildcats lunging across her path since she had no intention of letting herself be clawed.
‘By the way… the person who was watching me earlier…’
She seemed to have caught glimpses of someone’s gaze the entire time.
Yet whenever she turned her eyes in that direction, it vanished without a trace.
‘…If it was Helenia, there is no need to worry.’
Eshika decided not to dwell on it any further.
