Chapter 19: The Actress

“Even so, nothing has changed, has it.”

“…No.”

“Lady Livia may indeed be carrying wounds in her heart.
Perhaps we were unable to understand those wounds for her.”

Harird pondered the head steward’s words, wondering if that was truly the case.

His relationship with Livia was not bad.

It had already been half a year since his divorce from Electra.

For the past three months, just as the head steward advised, he had continued telling Livia not to concern herself with Electra.

He had also put a complete stop to the search for her.

Harird had been hailed as a hero for his battles in the Grandra frontier, gaining fame.

He had been granted the title of viscount, and the domain was still being managed without issue, making his life seem smooth and successful.

He was formally engaged to Livia.

There had been some minor friction regarding that point.

Marrying immediately after a divorce would indeed look bad in the eyes of society.

Agreeing with the head steward and the others, Harird had no choice but to placate Livia and say that they could not marry right away.

Because they were not yet married, it was pointed out that others might think he still had lingering feelings for Electra.

Once that was said, he had nothing he could argue back with and could only focus on being considerate toward Livia.

With the fame of his promotion and his reputation as a hero, and with Livia being called a saint, some time had passed since they returned to the domain.

Invitations to tea parties and evening gatherings from other noble houses had begun to arrive.

“Should we present Livia before other noble houses.”

“It would be a fine opportunity for everyone to learn of your relationship, my lord.”

“…Are you saying that sincerely, Said.”

“Of course, my lord.”

“Livia is…”

She was an orphan who had been raised in the church.

She should not have received any education as a noble lady.

“My lord.
She may have been raised as an orphan, and compared to nobles, her manners may be lacking.
…However.
You are a knight praised as a hero, and she is a woman called a saint.
If people were to deny the two of you simply because your noble etiquette is imperfect, then no one in this world could ever marry.
Lady Livia will become a viscountess.
But is it not acceptable for her to remain as she is.”

“…What did you say?”

Harird widened his eyes in surprise at the head steward’s words.

They were opinions he never expected to hear from a servant serving a noble house.

“My lord and Lady Livia are not an ordinary noble couple.
Your meeting was different, your union was different, and what is expected of you is also different.
Who is demanding ‘noble lady-like behavior’ from her.
Her background and way of life are already widely known.
Despite that, demanding manners would call the other party’s sense into question.
Of course, when dealing with high-ranking nobles or royalty, proper etiquette is necessary, but…”

“I-Is that… so?”

“At Lady Livia’s age, telling her to thoroughly relearn noble etiquette would be cruel.
Would it not simply crush her ‘good qualities.’
At the very least, what is demanded of her is ‘being a saint.’
…Of course.
Pardon my boldness, but regarding the children who will likely be born between the two of you, I would advise that they be properly educated as nobles.
You may clash with Lady Livia on that point.
However, regarding Lady Livia herself… that is how I see it.”

“I-I see… So that’s how it is.”

Livia was not a noble lady.

Because of that, her words and actions could be surprising at times.

Yet the servants of the Carlson house had dealt with her appropriately.

Harird found those aspects of her charming.

…Though every time expenses were presented to him, he was inevitably dragged back to reality.

“Let’s return to the matter at hand.
It seems Livia is still fixated on Electra.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“…We are not going to find Electra, are we.”

“The search has been terminated.
We have asked merchants connected to the Carlson house, but there have been no further reports.”

“I see…
Then, about having that actress pretend to be Electra…”

“Shall I make the arrangements.”

“Yes, please.”

Harird had no choice but to prepare an actress.

He then arranged for her to meet Livia.

“Pleased to meet you, Lady Livia.
My name is Electra.”

“…You are the lady of the house?”

She looked nothing like Electra.

Only her hair color matched, a pale aqua blue.

(Come to think of it… has it already been over two years since I last saw Electra’s face.)

Harird found himself thinking that.

He knew the woman before him was not Electra.

But then… what kind of face had she had, no, what kind of expression.

It had been a political marriage.

There had been no wedding ceremony, and in the end, they had not even shared a vow’s kiss.

On top of that, it had been a white marriage, without even a proper wedding night.

They had spent only a single day together.

If there had been no summons to the frontier, what would have happened now.

He had never heard the servants speak ill of Electra.

He could tell they deliberately avoided mentioning her.

Yet the household had not gone bankrupt, and the domain had been properly managed.

It was clear that Electra had been an exemplary noble wife.

She had also been the daughter of the neighboring Viscount Vent, which was why it had been a political marriage.

Now that they were divorced, there had been no excessive retaliation, but active ties with the Viscount Vent house were no longer sought.

Nothing disastrous had occurred.

It simply felt somewhat constricting.

…Even though the woman here was not the real one, indescribable emotions welled up within Harird.

“I am no longer in a position to be called your wife.
Please address me as the daughter of Viscount Vent.”

Those words made Harird stiffen in shock.

This actress was, of course, not Electra.

In other words, she had just “claimed to be a noble lady” on her own.

Only now did he realize what a serious problem it would be if this were discovered.

(B-But it’s only today.
If Livia is satisfied here and now, she will never meet her again…!)

“Madam…!
I’m sorry, it’s because I loved Lord Harird…!”

Livia spoke those words to “Electra.”

“What are you apologizing for.
Is it not wonderful, to find someone you love.”

“No, it isn’t…!
Madam, you must have suffered, haven’t you.
These past six months… so I’m sorry…!”

“These past six months, I was able to spend my time peacefully at my parents’ home, the Vent family.
So there is nothing for you to worry about.”

Harird watched the exchange with mounting anxiety.

He did not think Livia would realize the truth, but it was not good to fabricate noble family circumstances on a whim.

“That’s not true!”

“…Pardon?”

The actress tilted her head at that.

“Madam, there is something I decided I would say once I met you!”

“And what might that be.”

Up until then, the actress had dealt with Livia with a gentle smile.

She tilted her head in a manner befitting a noble lady.

Perhaps she truly did come from some noble house.

“—Madam, let us live together!”

“…What?”

No one present, neither Harird nor the head steward, had anticipated such a proposal.

“With the two of you.
That would be…
I, Electra, am divorced from ‘Lord Carlson.’
I see no meaning in living together.”

That’s right, Harird thought, agreeing with the actress’s opinion.

He no longer saw any point in continuing the act.

“But!
Madam, you were supposed to live here all along, weren’t you.
And because I… because I fell in love with Lord Harird, you had to leave the house.
For you to be driven out like that… it’s not right.
That’s why, Madam… I want you to continue living in this house as you always have!”

(What… is Livia saying…?)

Cold sweat poured down Harird’s back.

Livia wore an expression as though proclaiming this to be a wonderful idea.

If—
If the one standing here had been the real Electra.

Then perhaps even Harird might have agreed with Livia’s words.

…But.

The woman here was merely an actress, not Electra.

A complete stranger hired with money to pretend to be her.

There was no way they could keep such a person confined in the mansion indefinitely.

“Livi—”

“—That is a wonderful idea.
Then, may I accept your kindness and be allowed to live here together with you?”

“W-What!?”

Unbelievably.

The actress with the same pale aqua hair as Electra accepted Livia’s proposal.