Chapter 13: Reactions Around Me
“Donāt say such strange things.
Thereās no way something like that could be true.”
“Yesterday, Lloyd-sama and I agreed to leave things alone for the time being, but at this point itās basically settled.
Brian-sama has feelings for you, Maria-sama.”
I brought the letter closer to my face.
There was a faint scent of musk.
Come to think of it, it smelled like Brian-sama.
His smiling face immediately came to mind.
I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks.
“Itās so faint, though.
It must just be a transferred scent.”
“Please write a reply.
Quickly.
Iāll deliver itāno, I insist on delivering it myself.”
I read the letter once more.
Unlike letters written by women, it was very concise.
If that was the case, did that mean I didnāt need to include all the usual decorative phrasing?
“Bell.
The contents are just asking about my health and my favorite flowers, without any flowery compliments.
Should I write my reply the same way?”
“Yes, I think men might prefer something less overdone.
This is something we should confirm with a manā¦ā¦ Iāll go ask Lloyd-sama.”
Bell dashed out of the room.
She didnāt need to be in such a hurry.
Since I had nothing to do, I returned to my embroidery.
I stitched a pale green little bird beside the blue flower.
Around it, cream-colored small flowers.
If I may say so myself, it turned out very well.
Bell returned, bringing Lloyd with her.
“Young Lady, Lloyd-sama says he will deliver it.
It seems a butler from their side came to deliver letters as well.”
Oh my.
If a butler was delivering it, then for such a light topic, that meant there must have been other letters too.
“Please send it together with Fatherās reply.
And as thanks for the investigation this time, Iād like to send this as well.
What do you think?”
The two of them leaned in to look at the handkerchief and recoiled.
“Young Lady, how bold.
This is wonderful.”
Bell grew extremely excited, while Lloyd let out a low groan.
“May I ask what image inspired this embroidery?”
“Brian-samaās eyes.
I didnāt plan it from the beginning.
I was just stitching to distract myself, and then I wanted to recreate those eyes.
Before I knew it, it turned out like this, and I think it came out quite well.”
Lloyd pressed his lips together, as if he had made up his mind about something.
“Let us wrap this and deliver it together with the letter.
That will make things quick.”
“Then wait a moment.
Iāll add a bit more and make it even more gorgeous.”
“No.”
“No.”
The two of them spoke in unison.
Clearing his throat, Lloyd smiled.
“This is perfect as it is.
Anything more would only be distracting.
Young Lady, please write the letter.
No extra embellishment is necessary.
A standard greeting and your reply will suffice.”
Bell took the embroidery from me, quickly removed it from the hoop, and began ironing it.
While I was writing the letter, the handkerchief was neatly folded.
Then Bell asked Lloyd,
“What about perfume?”
The discussion moved on without me, and I hurriedly cut in.
“Does it mean something when a woman perfumes her letter too?”
“Yes.
According to recent trends, for women as well, it can signify affection.
People seem to enjoy guessing feelings based on the type of scent used.
Young Lady, what would you like to do?”
“I canāt.
No.
What if this is all a misunderstanding?
That would be far too embarrassing.”
“Then shall we apply just a little to the handkerchief?”
“Yes.
Just that.”
Bell took the perfume I usually use and, from a distance, sprayed a single mist toward the handkerchief.
A fine haze spread softly, enveloping the fabric.
This perfume had a fresh, gentle floral scent, so it shouldnāt be taken in any strange way.
Bell wrapped it in fine paper and laid out several ribbons.
“Which ribbon color would you like?”
“Green, please.”
Bell tied a pale green ribbon around it and wrapped it together with the sealed letter in cloth.
Ahāwouldnāt the scent from the handkerchief transfer a little to the letter like this?
Before I could say anything, Lloyd had already taken it and was heading for the door.
“Um, Lloyd.
That letter, umā¦ā¦”
“Maria-ojÅsama.
Given the current circumstances, I believe Brian-samaās consideration is something we should be deeply grateful for.
I will convey our thanks as well.”
Lloyd said that as he briefly looked back, then immediately left the room.
Bell guided me to sit in a chair and placed a letter in front of me.
“This is from Lady Emil.
Iāll prepare some tea, so please take your time reading it.
I also asked around and gathered some information, which Iāll tell you later.”
The letter Bell brought back was written in the typical style for women, filled with unnecessary things at the beginning and end.
I searched for the main point and found it.
āThat day was such a shock I didnāt even have time to blink.
I think everyone felt the same.
After you left, it was complete chaos.
Really, no one could keep track of who was saying what.
So, you want to know what happened after that, right?ā
The first page ended there.
āI thought Jason-sama was suspicious.
But if it was only at the planning stage and never carried out, thereās no way to charge him, right?
Itās frustrating.
Isnāt there something that can be done?
I think thatās how most people feel.
All my friends and the people my family spoke with said the same.
Is someone investigating this?
If you learn anything, let me know.ā
Compared to our usual letters about embroidery and books, the intensity was overwhelming.
Just reading it left me exhausted.
I tilted my head back and let out a long breath.
After sipping the tea Bell had prepared and nibbling on some chocolate, I finally felt calmer.
“Young Lady, I asked around among the servants as well.
There were plenty of stories about Jason-samaās womanizing, but there was no information about a mistress.
Do you think the marquisās family knew who she was?”
“Probably.
After all, opposing his marriage to her was what started everything.”
In truth, I myself didnāt know who she was either.
To me, she had always just been the maid Mary.
I only heard about her true position from Jason-sama when I was on the verge of death.
I hadnāt known the circumstances while I was alive.
I had gone through everything without knowing a thing until the very end.
Thinking of how foolish I had been made me feel miserable.
That evening, a letter addressed to Father arrived.
It was from the Captain of the Royal Guard, proposing a private consultation with only five people present:
Deal Marquis, my father, the Captain of the Royal Guard, Jason-sama, and Brian-sama.
That evening, Lloyd came to inform us of this.
“It seems they will be going to the Royal Palaceās Royal Guard headquarters tomorrow afternoon to hold the discussion.”
A decision would probably be made there.
If there was to be any punishment, it would likely be pronounced on the spot.
Since my brother was not summoned, it was safe to assume he would escape punishment.
That night, I went to bed with a heavy feeling.
I thought I might have another unpleasant dream, but I didnāt dream at all.