Chapter 116: Chapter 115

“I made all the decisions. It was my decision not to leave Lennox, and it was again my decision to reject His Majesty’s job offer.”

In fact, she shouldn’t have asked him now. Moreover, she shouldn’t have heard what he had to say next!

“Marie, all I wanted was for you to stay safe and happy for a long time. I never wanted anything else. I’m serious.”

Marianne was deeply touched by her father’s sincere voice. Ober’s cunning words, which she had suppressed in her mind, burst like firecrackers in sharp contrast with her father’s words.

That was too bad a coincidence.

<Marie. Duke Kling may already have known that perhaps the emperor wants to make you, your father, and your family unhappy forever.>

Those were Ober’s words.

<Marie, all I wanted was for you to stay safe and happy for a long time. I never wanted anything else. I’m serious.>

Those were her father’s words.

<But whatever the reason, let me apologize if that troubled you. Let me promise I won’t blame you even if you blame me.>

Those were the emperor’s words.

These words by three different men messed with her mind. Her other hand which was not held by her father at the moment, squeezed her mind as if to tear away the frills of her dress. Although she had so many questions to ask her father like iron melting endlessly in a furnace, she couldn’t bring herself to bring them up.

‘Dad, why did you consider it as unhappy for me to be the empress? Was it because their political rivalry in the court was too harsh? Was it because you were so worried about my heavy duty as the empress? If not, why…’

“Lady!”

At that moment Cordelli, who was standing there waiting, ran in a hurry.

“I just received a message from the palace. They have something that needs your approval, so they want you to go to the palace as soon as possible…”

Cordelli’s eyes slanted upwards slightly as if she was the main culprit that had broken the peace.

“You must go now, too. We’re all set for your visit to the countess.”

Marianne was just standing blankly like a statue in the court garden.

“Marie.”

In the end, Kling let go of her hand first.

“I’m sorry, but I think we should stop our walk for today.”

He gestured toward a servant who was glancing at him impatiently from the distance.

Recognizing its meaning, the servant bowed to him and turned back to make a beeline to the palace.

“We can talk more later when we have a chance again. Take care,” Kling said.

Cordelli received an umbrella from him. He patted his daughter with his warm hand and slowly walked away. Marianne turned around belatedly and looked at his back.

The burning sun drew a heavy, long shadow behind his shoulders.

* * *

Marianne’s wagon that just exited the mansion was headed for Noble Road in the east.

After a long drive along the well-paved road, a series of luxurious mansions with extensive gardens finally began to show off their splendor.

It was a familiar but strange scene to her. There were also streets lined with noblemen’s houses in the castles of Lennox and Kling, but they were different from the streets in the capital where noblemen lived.

It was strange to her as she had visited Milan only several times during her previous and this life. She couldn’t be confident enough to distinguish the houses by simply looking at the form of the building and the garden.

Perhaps the only mansion she could identify on this street would be Mrs. Chester’s.

‘How come I only know the way to the place I hate going the most?’

She looked out the window of the wagon for a long time, feeling a bit sad. Several mansions, whose owners she didn’t recognize, passed by as if she was turning a picture book. There was heavy silence inside her wagon.

Meanwhile, Cordelli sat next to Marianne and quietly looked at her face.

In her eyes, Marianne hadn’t felt well since she met Ober in the imperial garden.

She was in the same depressed mood after she visited the emperor’s study and then took a walk with Duke Kling in the mansion.

Cordelli thought she would have soothed her if she had played the baby, complaining she felt depressed, but the aura wrapped around Marianne was much heavier and more casual.

Her unusual calmness made it even harder for Cordelli to speak to her.

“Phebe, you’re almost there now. When you get off, you have to behave. Today our lady is visiting as a guest, so if you cause trouble, I won’t comb your feathers.”

Cordelli talked to Poibe, which was trotting on the couch with its little feet.

As if she didn’t hear it, Marianne was looking at the scenery outside the window.

Only after Cordelli with a sullen look tumbled around Poibe’s snack box three or four times did the wagon finally enter the main gate of the mansion she was supposed to visit.

A couple of horses driving the wagon slowly stopped in front of the center flower garden.

Marianne looked outside for a while even after the wagon stopped. After Cordelli called her with a worried look, she got off the carriage, helped by Cordelli. The bright sun was pouring over the top of her head.

“We’re honored to see Lady Marianne!”

Waiting for her earnestly, Mrs. Renault and Mrs. Charlotte politely greeted her.

Marianne raised the two while watching Poibe flying into the woods.

“It’s been too long, Mrs. Renault. You arrived here on time, Mrs. Charlotte.”

“I couldn’t keep you waiting, so I arrived a little early and had a chat with her. How did your meeting with the emperor go?”

“Well… Well, it was all right.”

She laughed faintly. Ms. Charlotte, who was quick-witted, thought she might have been hiding something, but she returned with an elegant smile, pretending not to notice it on purpose.

“I apologize for inviting you to this shabby place. If you had something to say to me, it would have been easier for you to call me the Elior Mansion,” the countess suggested.

Her tone was calm and humble, but it was strangely sharp.

“No. I insisted on coming to this place. I wanted to visit you in person and express my apologies sincerely.”

“Apologies? No way. I am not in a position to accept your apologies.”

“Madame!”

“And it’s not a big deal that would require you to apologize. What happened that day was an accident anyway.”

“But….”

“Even if someone plotted it with bad intention, there is nothing you can take responsibility for as long as you knowingly stood as an onlooker.”

Mrs. Charlotte wrapped her arms as if to calm down the countess. Several maids lined up behind the countess and several servants standing near the wagon also glanced at each other and whispered among them.

Watching them quietly, Marianne smiled awkwardly as if she was on the spot.

“I see. Then, let me tell you a different reason why I’ve come to see you today. I hear that lots of rare objects from all over the world are arriving at your place here just like Mrs. Chester’s mansion. Would you please show me some rare treasures if you don’t mind? I’m thirsty, so I want some tea, too.”

Mrs. Renault knitted her brows while looking at her grinning. However, she slanted her mouth upwards slightly and bowed with a smile.

“…No problem. Let me escort you to the parlor first.”

When she was done, the countess let go of Mrs. Charlotte’s hand and came to her.

“Thank you.”

Marianne walked, helped by the countess. Mrs. Charlotte and Cordelli followed.

Although Marianne looked at the countess’s face quickly while walking along, she had no idea what she was thinking now as there was no expression on her face.

The four soon arrived at the parlor. A middle-aged woman, who appeared to be the countess’s chief maid, took the tea tray and served them. Although they exchanged a few words while drinking tea, the countess continued to respond in a consistent manner.

“This tea tastes good. Is this the leaf of Shina? I like it. I hear you can’t get much of it because of its low yield. Did they bring some through a merchant vessel? Blanc Merchant Vessel? Or Rubrome Merchant Vessel?”

When Marianne asked her questions like that with an interested voice.

“Yes. Rubrom.” The countess replied curtly.

“Got it. I hear Sir Arthur’s two merchant vessels are monopolizing the maritime trading rights, and that explains everything. If you can obtain such a good quality item like this, no client will save their money to get it.”

Even when Marianne praised her, the countess replied curtly again without showing any reaction. As the atmosphere between them was so tense, it was rather Mrs. Charlotte and Cordelli who were getting nervous while listening to their exchange of words.

Marianne asked things like, “Who made this mug?” “When was that picture drawn?” “Do you have any other masterpiece or gem?” “I wish I had some dessert to have with tea,” “The chef at the Elior Mansion makes sweet desserts,” “In fact, I like wine more than tea,” and “I think it’s okay to have tea with you when I’m free…”