Chapter 5: An Unexpected Visitor

“By the way, is Jason-sama’s mistress related by blood to the wet nurse, Lady Carrie Mode, or are they unrelated?
I would like to anticipate the movements of the Mode Viscount House in advance.”

“I didn’t ask about that.
Her name is Mary, and she became my personal maid.
They say she is the one to whom Jason-sama offered his true love.”

Bell snapped instantly.

“True love!?
What is that supposed to mean?
What about the wedding vows sworn before God!?
How irreverent!”

After shouting that, she made the sign of the cross and prayed.

Bell’s ideal is pure love.

“Young Lady, I am truly sorry.
I couldn’t understand why you disliked the marriage.
How shameful of me.”

“It’s understandable.
I never gave a clear reason.”

The engagement itself had happened simply because I was swept along by Jason-sama’s momentum, and I had always felt uneasy about it.

I couldn’t understand why he was so desperate to marry me.

If he had said something like our tastes in books matched, or that he was moved by my embroidery, I could have understood that.

But Jason-sama’s compliments were nothing more than flowery phrases that passed right over my head.

‘Your lovely smile, your beautiful voice like a singing bird,’ and things like that.
What was I supposed to do with that?

I’m shy by nature, and I have never smiled at a man.
On top of that, my voice is soft and rather low.
I always wondered whose story he was talking about.

Because of that, I had never once felt happy hearing his words.

“Now that I think about it, maybe all those pretty words were spoken while he was picturing that Lady Mary.”

At my offhand remark, Bell’s eyes filled with tears.

“I was shallow to assume that a quiet young lady like you would be suited to a marriage where the other party desired you so strongly.”

“If you say that, then I’m just as much at fault.
I investigated his reputation and gave him my full endorsement as a flawless, high-quality match.
It’s disgraceful of me as a butler.”

Seeing both of them so dejected, I forced myself to speak cheerfully.

“If I had said he had a mistress and an illegitimate child, would it have been called off?
Maybe I should have just said that.”

Lloyd lowered his gaze even further, looking apologetic.

“That alone probably would not have broken the engagement.
It would have ended with a warning to clean things up before the wedding.”

So that’s how it would have been.
I had thought that might be the case.

“In the end, it was either this, or marry him and die.”

Bell stood up, leaned forward, and grabbed my arm.

“Young Lady, how was he going to kill you?
If I had been with you, I wouldn’t have let anything happen.”

“Poison.”

“Well!
Did he think he could slip past my eyes?
That infuriates me on every level!”

As Bell began to fume uncontrollably, I pulled her down and made her sit.

“…It was impossible.
You couldn’t have stopped it.
You would have been sent back to the Count House right away.
After that, I was constantly watched by Mary, and even when I sent letters, I never received any replies.
Mary probably hid them.”

Lloyd stared at me silently.

Then I realized I had just spoken about the first time.
Panicking, I covered my mouth.

Bell was simply angry, but Lloyd…
Was he suspicious?
Still, there was no way he would imagine that I had died once and come back.

“It was written in the letters that this was how it was planned.”

At that moment, Lloyd’s cheek twitched slightly.

“It seems the master and the others have returned.
I will go to meet them, so please wait here.”

Lloyd stood up, then suddenly froze.

“It appears another carriage has arrived as well.
We have a guest.
Young Lady, I will inform you who it is, so please prepare yourself.”

Lloyd straightened his collar and cuffs sharply, regaining his usual composed demeanor.
Once again the impeccable butler, he quietly left the room.

“This is the first time I’ve talked with Lloyd like this.
He’s incredibly reliable.”

“You are usually so quiet, Young Lady, and you rarely make requests or voice your wishes, so there were few chances for interaction.”

Bell tilted her head slightly.

“Still, Lloyd-sama looked a little different today.
But he’s completely on your side.
That’s reassuring.”

I tightly squeezed Bell’s hand.

This time is different.
I have Bell and Lloyd on my side now.
I’m not alone.

What about my family?
What do they intend to do with me?

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t tell.

“After this, I’ll probably be scolded terribly.
It wouldn’t be strange if I were sold off somewhere as a form of compensation.”

The hand holding mine tightened sharply.
Bell’s expression was frightening.

“Young Lady, you mustn’t lose heart.
Remember the dove at the church.
It must have been a messenger of God.
Justice is on your side, Maria-sama.”

There was no real basis for it, but those words resonated deeply with me.

That’s right.
If I’m prepared to die, I can do anything!!

Just as my spirits surged, there was a knock at the door.

My body jerked in surprise.

I’m still scared after all.

Bell squeezed my hand tightly once more.

“Come in.”

My voice trembled.

The one who entered was a footman who served as Father’s secretary.

“The Count is calling for you.
He says to come at once.”

After saying that, he added quickly.

“This is a message from Lloyd-sama.
The guest is Brian-sama, the son of the Rose Ducal House.
He may ask about the circumstances.
The Count and Brian-sama have been informed that you appear to be extremely fatigued, Young Lady.”

As expected of a perfect butler.
Flawless.

“I’ll bring you a new handkerchief.
And some smelling salts.
Please wait a moment.”

Bell hurried out.

Together with Bell when she returned, I followed the footman with heavy steps.

When the footman knocked, Lloyd opened the door immediately.

Inside the room stood Father and one young man, talking while standing.
He was tall and solidly built, with an air that made it easy to understand that he was a knight.

Mother, my brother, and my sister were not there.
That likely meant this was an official visit in the capacity of the Royal Guard.

So nervous that my body wouldn’t move smoothly, I took my time bowing.

After that, we exchanged brief introductions and greetings.
It was a very businesslike, stiff exchange.
As expected, this must be an official matter.

“Over here.
Sit next to me.”

At Father’s urging, I sat down beside him.

Bell immediately took position at my side and very deliberately handed me the handkerchief and the smelling salts.

I thanked her with my eyes and clutched the handkerchief.

“Brian-dono serves as vice-captain of the Royal Guard.
He wishes to hear about what you said today.”

Father paused there and peered into my face as if gauging my condition.

“Are you all right?
You were quite agitated earlier.
Have you calmed down now?”

I silently nodded.