Chapter 12: The Second Day
When I woke up in the morning, I remembered what I had seen in my dream.
It was somehow a very strange dream.
In the dream, it felt as though I was watching the people around me, myself included.
And things I should not have known appeared as well.
Of course, it must have been something my mind imagined, but even so, it felt far too real.
Every detail was vivid, as if I had truly been there watching it unfold.
It was strange, but I decided to forget about it, thinking it must be because the fatigue and excitement from the ceremony were still lingering.
Today marked the second day since the wedding.
As for what the public was saying about that unusual incident, I still knew nothing at all.
The only information I had was the rumors Bell told me on the day itself.
Thanks to Brian-sama coming to the manor immediately and taking action, our family had remained completely passive up until now.
I told myself that today, I had to look into what was happening outside.
Even if I had lived my life absentmindedly, I was still a noble’s daughter.
My information network might be thin, but it did exist.
I decided to write to Lady Emil and ask her to tell me about the rumors and public opinion she had been gathering.
“Bell.
I’m going to send a letter to Lady Emil.
Could you ask a servant to deliver it?”
“Yes.
Then I will hand-deliver it myself.
While I’m at it, I’ll ask some of the maids I’m friendly with what they’ve heard.
There are acquaintances there who are obsessed with gossip.”
If that was the case, I hurriedly wrote the letter.
Put simply, the content was just, ‘How is the world viewing this?’
I buried that message inside long-winded greetings, unnecessary embellishments, and meaningless small talk.
We both knew to read only that part, but it was an enormous hassle nonetheless.
After handing over the letter, Bell left energetically.
Today, Bell had styled my hair in a different, more elaborate way than yesterday.
The person reflected in the mirror looked different from my usual self, and that felt refreshing.
On a whim, I tried wearing a slightly more glamorous dress that I had always avoided.
When I did, a version of myself with a surprisingly different air emerged.
Feeling a little giddy, I was walking down the corridor when I ran into Noel.
“Good morning, Noel.”
“……Sister?
What happened to you?
You look wonderful again today.”
She sounded somewhat dissatisfied.
“Thank you.
I’m happy you complimented me.”
“I’ve been getting letters from my friends.
Your story seems to be quite the topic of conversation.
What do you plan to do?”
I shrugged.
“I don’t know.”
“My, you really are strange.
You’re different from before.”
“Yes.
I can’t stay the same anymore.
And you wouldn’t say you envy a marriage to Jason-sama now, would you?”
Noel was at a loss for words.
Noel and Mother used to complain that Noel suited Jason-sama far better.
In fact, before the engagement, there had even been a light inquiry about whether Noel might take my place.
But Jason-sama declined, and after that, Noel sulked for a while and refused to speak to me.
Father and my brother had comforted her, saying she was simply too young.
I myself hadn’t been enthusiastic either and secretly wished someone else would take my place, so I remember feeling disappointed.
I left Noel standing there and started to walk away.
Just then, Lloyd appeared and held out a letter.
“A letter has arrived from Brian-sama.”
As I took the letter from the tray, Noel snapped sharply.
“Isn’t that letter addressed to Father?”
Lloyd answered her.
“It was delivered addressed to Lady Maria.”
“Why is it addressed to my sister!?”
Exasperated by Noel snapping at me, I answered her anyway.
“I’m the one directly involved in this whole affair.
There may have been some development.
I need to read it right away.”
“Young Lady……”
Lloyd looked like he wanted to say something.
“Where is Bell?” he asked, searching the area with his eyes.
“I sent her on an errand.”
As I said that, I used the paper knife on the tray to break the seal.
The contents were—
“Oh?
He’s asking how my health is, what flowers I like……
It seems unrelated to the incident.”
“What does this mean?”
Noel was glaring at Lloyd for some reason.
“I couldn’t say,” he replied calmly.
“But the letter smells like men’s cologne.
That’s… that’s…… impossible.”
Suddenly, Noel began to lose her composure.
“What’s wrong, Noel?”
“I don’t know!”
With that, she stomped away, her footsteps loud.
I watched her retreating figure, then turned to Lloyd.
“I think it would be best to write a reply after Bell returns.”
“Understood.”
To be honest, I didn’t really understand, but I grasped that he was hinting I should ask Bell.
I decided to wait for Bell in my room while working on my embroidery, which I was good at.
Somehow, I found myself recalling the color of Brian-sama’s eyes.
I gathered various shades of blue thread and began embroidering a handkerchief.
I wanted to capture that cold, gleaming blue.
When I added black, deep gray, navy, and white to the sharp blue, it became embroidery that perfectly matched the image in my mind.
I was so happy with it that I became completely absorbed.
“Young Lady, Lady Maria, may I have a moment?”
When I snapped back to awareness, Bell was speaking to me at my side.
“It seems you were completely absorbed in your embroidery.
Is that a handkerchief?
It’s very beautiful and luxurious.”
“Thank you.
I remembered Brian-sama’s eyes and tried to recreate them.
What do you think?
I think it turned out quite well.”
I proudly held up the unfinished handkerchief in front of Bell.
“My, how wonderful.
To hear you say something like that, Young Lady.
I’m very happy.”
“Oh, stop it.
It’s my only real talent.
You always said my embroidery was excellent, didn’t you?
By the way, I received a letter from Brian-sama, and I was thinking of writing a reply.
Lloyd told me to ask you for advice.”
Bell looked startled and asked, “What does the letter say?”
“There’s nothing of substance.
He’s asking about my health and my favorite flowers.
What could that mean?”
“May I see it?”
Her voice was filled with pressure that allowed no refusal.
Startled, I handed over the letter, and Bell flinched.
“It’s been sprayed with cologne.
This is that fashionable thing, isn’t it!”
“That thing?
What do you mean?”
“When a gentleman sends a letter to a woman he is courting, he uses his own cologne.
It’s a sign of courtship!”
Bell’s voice was positively giddy.