Chapter 117: Chapter 116

Marianne kept babbling about what she wanted to say like an idiot who was slow-witted, and on such occasions, the countess reacted curtly by clearly showing her that she was now responding against her will.

More than one hour passed like that.

Apparently exhausted, Marianne stopped talking and kept sipping tea quietly. The countess’s chief maid, hesitating with an empty teapot, went out, saying she would bring new tea.

While another maid cleared the table, Marianne looked again at the countess.

“Madame!”

“Yes.”

“Do you hate me?”

When Marianne asked blatantly, everyone turned their eyes at them at the tea table.

“Is it because I’m close to people you don’t like?”

As far as those Mrs. Renault hated were concerned, the line was already clearly drawn. Anyone who had stepped into the capital’s social circles was aware that she hated those who were uncooperative in the emperor’s handling state affairs, including Mrs. Chester.

“Do you hate me because you think I’m a temptress weighing Ober against the emperor, while currying favor with them, as the rumors say?”

No one asked such straightforward questions like her. It was the first time that a noblewoman like her disgraced herself by quoting dirty rumors that were getting around on the streets.

Reflecting on what they just heard, everyone except Marianne could not hide their extreme embarrassment.

Even the maid who stepped back after cleaning up the table almost fell after missing her step and left the room, holding the tray.

But it was the countess who coped with the tense situation quickly.

“I don’t believe in rumors.”

She continued, “And it is just unthinkable for me to express my likes and dislikes about you. I totally follow His Majesty’s decision to have you as his mate, and I don’t have any intention to disobey the emperor’s order. No matter who you hang around, I don’t think I have the right to get involved.”

At first glance, her reply seemed to be a humble excuse. But upon closer examination, she didn’t deny that she was not clearly opposed to those who were uncooperative with the emperor. Nor did she have anything to do with those people who Marianne was hanging around with. In other words, she stuck to her original position with a firm conviction of her own.

“Really? I think I asked you some difficult questions earlier. Sorry.”

Marianne smiled awkwardly with a sullen expression.

Cordelli looked sullen as if she had been hurt too.

Mrs. Charlotte looked at Marianne and Mrs Renault and looked a bit worried.

The atmosphere quickly became heavy. Whatever the situation, the countess virtually rebuked Marianne, an immature lady about the same age as her daughter.

Did the countess feel she was excessive? Thinking so, she let out a sigh.

At that moment Marianne said, “If you don’t mind, can I have a look at your garden? Instead, I won’t ask you to show me treasures. Of course, if you’re uncomfortable with my request, you can refuse it.” She awkwardly asked her a favor with a downcast voice. Her green eyes, which looked lonely at the moment, sparkled as if she was begging.

Mrs. Renault was confident that she had a discerning eye when sizing up people.

Although she was not as good as Mrs. Charlotte, well known for her accurate appraisal of people’s characters, Mrs. Renault was the wife of a nobleman who had two merchant vessels. She was also a woman who had years of experience of serving the imperial family.

Thus, it was not difficult for her to identify those who sought to gain favor with a shallow trick, those who tried to escape crises with lame excuses or lies, and those who concealed pride with gentle laughter. She had seen so many people who were good but foolish, beautiful but wicked, and smart but unrighteous. But it was the first time that she had met a noblewoman like Marianne.

“Madame, I’m so sorry. I didn’t manipulate the accident at the ball on that day or looked on with any malicious intent. But the ultimate target of the accident was the emperor, and it was a tragedy that would not have happened if I had not entered Milan.”

Jason, Cordelli, Beatrice, Sir Kloud, or even the emperor…

Marianne mumbled their names inaudibly, and then came to her senses suddenly.

“Anyway, you were injured because of your loyalty to the emperor. Fortunately, you recovered well, but how can I say I’m not responsible for your pain?”

Mrs. Renault looked down at her feet with a firm look instead of replying.

“So, I’ve wanted to say this to you all the time. Sorry. Please forgive me.”

Marianne sat in front of her, with her back at an angle, while touching the flowers in the garden. She spoke with a calm voice and a gentle smile, so that she could be seen talking to Mrs. Renault about her favorite flowers by the maids and servants at her mansion.

At that moment, Mrs. Renault changed her perception of Marianne. In her eyes, Marianne was not a foolish or an immature girl anymore. Rather, she was perhaps quite cunning, or very good.

“You said you didn’t believe in the rumors circulating on the streets, right?”

“… Yes, that’s correct.”

“Got it. That’s enough.”

“…”

“Please treat me coldly like you do today. That’s how you can protect me and yourself.”

Marianne smiled brightly and looked up at the countess.

“…Lady Marianne, I’m sorry but I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” Mrs. Renault said, hiding her embarrassment as casually as possible at this moment.

Marianne knitted her brows as if she couldn’t see because of the bright sunlight and looked back at the flower garden. She touched a fully open Verbena and a few violets with her thin fingers.

“It’s okay if you don’t trust me. Of course you can trust me, too.”

“…”

“Anyway, I want you to believe what I’m saying today, even though you might not want to believe it.”

Marianne shook his head and gestured toward Cordelli lightly. She took two small pots and a shovel and sat down beside her.

“Ober is a traitor.”

Having said that, she drove the clean, sharp shovel into the hard soil.

“He will soon destroy the emperor. Let me tell you this. He is literally trying to usurp the emperor’s power. I’m his expensive doll. When he doesn’t have any further use for me, I’ll be will be burned or shredded.”

The countess couldn’t stand it anymore and clasped both hands roughly. She felt like she was shocked as if she had been hit hard by a rock rolling down from the top of the high stone mountain.

It was a big shock that made it impossible for her to stand upright.

On the other hand, Marianne was still smiling while telling her such a terrible story.

She was casual and peaceful as if she felt relaxed while talking with the countess.

“So, before Ober achieved his goal first, I decided to betray him.”

Now, she lowered her gentle voice. She was now growing more aggressive in a clean break with her chattering or her getting cold feet in the parlour a little while ago. If anybody heard from somebody about her turnaround, they would never have believed that the two were actually the same person.

“You won’t believe it, right? Of course, you won’t. So, if you’re in doubt, ask around. It doesn’t matter if you ask Mrs. Charlotte, Sir Jed, or even His Majesty. Everyone knows what role I am playing now.”

Mrs. Renault cast an embarrassed glance at Mrs. Charlotte who was standing nearby. Mrs. Charlotte sighed and nodded slightly. At the same time, the countess’s last hope was shattered.

“Well, this is the key information that I have at this moment.”

Marianne, who moved a flower to a flowerpot, stood up, dirting off her hands.

“If you are smart enough, you already know why I told you this.”

She stared at Mrs. Renault as if waiting for her response.

Mrs. Renault hesitated for a moment and barely opened her lips.

“… So, you want me to help you protect the emperor?”

“Right. I want you on my side. There are so many enemies in Milan. At the moment, the emperor’s enemy is my enemy.”

Marianne put her hand in the transparent bowl of water that Cordelli brought. The pieces of soil that had fallen out of her hands sank under the surface of the water where the sunlight clashed like a rainbow. The water quickly became dirty.

“Accordingly, don’t you think the emperor’s allies should also be my allies as well?”

Marianne pulled her hand out of the dirty water. Cordelli changed the water. As if she put some perfume in it, the new fragrant water was overlaid on her hands. While Marianne was wearing the ring and gloves that she had taken off before entering the flower garden, Mrs. Renault said nothing.

There was a peaceful silence between them.

Marianne did not press for her reply and waited long enough, amazed at how much she could be patient.

“When did you decide?” In the end, the countess gave in first.