Chapter 2: ②

Several days after Dorothy visited Frederica’s house, this time Frederica came to Dorothy’s house.

“You didn’t need to come all this way, you could have summoned me anytime. I have nothing to do besides embroidery anyway.”
“Hehe. So in other words, you, the Countess, have free hands and free time, right?”
“That would be correct.”

At Dorothy’s words, Frederica smiled brightly.

“Hey, then why don’t you try working at the imperial palace?”
“At the imperial palace??”

Dorothy was surprised by Frederica’s sudden invitation.
Working at the imperial palace, the heart of the nation, required proper status and guarantors.
Above all, depending on the department, a high level of education and manners was essential.

“Dorothy, you are Countess Miller, you know. Your background is solid, and if needed, our family, the Feremelen Marquess House, will be your guarantor. Besides, your manners and education were praised by the academy teachers, weren’t they? You’ll be fine. Rather, letting your talents rot away inside this mansion would be the ultimate waste.”

Frederica laughed softly, clearly intentional.
She had brought this proposal with the absolute assumption that Dorothy would not refuse.

“They’re looking for a lady-in-waiting to serve the Empress, someone who appears publicly. It’s closer to a secretary than a typical lady-in-waiting. You’d need to interact with people outside on the Empress’s behalf, including nobles with titles. Starry-eyed young ladies who target such people wouldn’t work, and there are even people from other countries, so rudeness would be unacceptable. In that regard, Dorothy, you’re already a countess. Your relationship with your husband is a bit… well, but that hasn’t leaked outside, so no problem. And you’re serious about your work, so I felt bad jumping the gun, but I already told the Empress about you.”

Among the cushion covers Dorothy had delivered the other day were those requested by Empress Aurelia.
While everything during Aurelia’s time as Empress was decorated lavishly for the prestige of the Empire, Aurelia herself had been raised as the daughter of a duke from a small country and did not have particularly extravagant tastes, wanting her private chambers to have a calm and gentle atmosphere.
Frederica’s father, the Marquess of Feremelen, was on friendly terms with Aurelia’s father, and when Aurelia visited the Feremelen household and saw the cushion covers, she said she liked them and wanted the same.
That was how the request reached Frederica, and Dorothy delivered the embroidered cushion covers recently.
Frederica had kept this from Dorothy because she did not want her to make them overly ornate just because they were for the Empress, and also because she did not know where eyes and ears might be lurking.
She feared that if it were not treated as an ordinary order, Daisy might claim they were hers and seize them.
That type of girl would do such things without considering the consequences, driven by impulse and the desire to make herself look good.
If it succeeded once, she would certainly try to use Dorothy again next time.
To prevent that, Frederica kept Aurelia’s name hidden and placed the order as usual.
Aurelia liked all five and purchased them.
Naturally, the proceeds were deposited into Dorothy’s account.
At that time, Frederica heard that Aurelia was looking for a lady-in-waiting who could handle external correspondence, and she recommended Dorothy.
You never know how connections will link up, which is what makes fate so interesting.

“You’ll do it, right? Please, Dorothy?”

She knew it was forceful, but if she did not push like this, Dorothy would simply wither away here.

“…Yes, it sounds interesting. If the Empress permits it, I would like to try working.”
“Thank you. Then I’ll come to fetch you in seven days, so be ready. Here is the official letter from the Empress, and this one is for Silas.”

The letters tossed to her so casually should not have been treated so lightly.

“My father is probably informing Silas as we speak, so if he says anything, just tell him I told the Empress about you. You can blame everything on me. If that gets you out of this house, bring it on.”

She lightly thumped her chest, looking very gallant.

“In seven days, you’ll come with me to the imperial palace, and I’ll introduce you to the Empress as my friend. Then we’ll act out a little farce where she takes a liking to you and you start working right away.”
“A farce for whom, exactly…?”
“Well, for various parties. During those seven days, word of your excellent grades and abilities at the academy will spread casually. I’ll make it so everyone finds it convincing. It’s approved by His Majesty, so it’s fine.”
“His Majesty is involved as well?”
“Of course. To His Majesty, Lady Aurelia is his most beloved Empress. He’s very overprotective of her.”

Though both the Miller House and Dorothy’s family were count houses, they had history but little real power.
Thus, they rarely had any contact with the imperial couple, but Dorothy had once thought that the Emperor, whom she saw from afar, was a man of strong will and power.
If that Emperor was involved in this matter, then no matter what Silas said, stopping it would be impossible.

“Then I’ll make preparations. Is there anything I should bring with me?”
“Let’s see, you’ll obviously bring your embroidery tools.”

Embroidery was both her hobby and something she intended to continue, especially since the Empress liked it.

“The uniform will be provided there.”
“I don’t own much to begin with, so that’s a relief.”
“…Your sister-in-law seems to be getting lots of new dresses, though?”

Apparently she bought them at Stacy’s shop and bragged about them to her friends.
Some of Daisy’s friends were younger siblings of Frederica’s friends, so information traveled quickly.
Even at a young age, nobles never neglected gathering such information.

“I only go out to friends’ houses at most, so I don’t really need them… Will I need them for palace service?”
“Who knows? Depending on the situation, maybe. In that case, I’ll lend you my clothes. My father liked you as well, so don’t hesitate to rely on us.”
“I’m sorry. Even though I’m married, I’ll probably end up relying on you.”
“Don’t worry about it. I was the one who recommended you to the Empress, after all.”

Frederica had been helped in many ways during their school days, so now it was her turn to help Dorothy.

“Dorothy! What is the meaning of this?!”

While Dorothy and Frederica were discussing matters, the door suddenly flew open and Silas stormed in.

“Oh my, Count Miller, it’s been a while.”
“Frederica…!? Ah, no, Lady Frederica of the Feremelen Marquess House.”
“I’m honored you remember me. But even if this is your own home, barging into a lady’s room without knocking… Where did the manners you were supposed to have go? Or do you believe that because she’s your wife, any treatment is acceptable?”

Frederica laughed elegantly, while Silas looked awkward, the contrast nearly making Dorothy laugh as well, though she desperately held it in.

“Silas, is something the matter?”
“Dorothy, I just heard from the Marquess of Feremelen that you’ll be serving the Empress?”
“Yes. I was fortunate enough to receive a letter from the Empress as well. This one is addressed to you.”

Silas accepted the letter and read it.
It simply stated that Dorothy was to serve as an attendant and that this had the Emperor’s approval.
A mere count could not refuse something approved by the Emperor.

“In seven days, I will move to the imperial palace.”
“W-Wait, hold on. Being told so suddenly…”
“Silas, why do you need to be so flustered?”
“Dorothy?”
“There is nothing you need to do, is there? I am simply packing my belongings and moving.”
“What do you mean…”
“Silas, this mansion does not truly need me. In fact, I have nothing to do here. We haven’t even had a proper conversation in a long time, so I don’t understand why my moving would trouble you.”

Dorothy tilted her head in genuine confusion, making Frederica nearly laugh this time.
Looking at Silas like this, she could sense something like affection toward Dorothy.
Yet she could not understand why he had neglected her so completely.
Was it because he failed at the beginning?
Or because his sister complex had grown worse?
Either way, Dorothy was now going to work at the imperial palace, and the state of their marriage was none of Frederica’s concern.
Whatever Silas felt now, Dorothy’s heart had already left him.
It was the result of Silas continually rejecting the relationship Dorothy had tried to build.
And that was why he could not stop her from going to work.

“…Won’t you reconsider?”
“What is there to reconsider when His Majesty has already approved it? Besides, I myself wish to try working at the imperial palace. Silas, let us decide what to do next after I have settled into palace service.”

In a sense, it was a final notice.
Silas knew it too.
A childless couple could divorce after three years.
A white marriage could be dissolved after a year and a half.
Divorce was not mandatory, but the system existed.
Silas and Dorothy were in a white marriage.
The time when divorce would be possible was approaching.

“I think this is a good opportunity to put some distance between us. Let’s both think about what we want.”
“Y-Yes…”

Frederica seemed to see through the fleeting thought that if Silas simply shared the marital bed with Dorothy, things could be fixed, and she warned him first.

“Count Miller, this has been approved by His Majesty. Please make sure that in seven days, there will be no unfortunate incident where Dorothy cannot appear before the Emperor.”
“…I understand, Lady Frederica of the Feremelen Marquess House.”

Until Dorothy left in seven days, ensuring her safety was essential, or the Miller House could be easily destroyed.
That was the warning.

“Well then, Dorothy. I shall come for you in seven days.”

With that, Frederica departed.

“Dorothy, I…”

Silas began to say something, then fell silent.
Dorothy looked straight at him.
It felt like it had been a long time since she had properly looked at his face like this.
They had lived in the same mansion without meeting each other’s eyes.
Nothing had happened, they had simply existed.
Usually Daisy would soon intervene, pulling Silas into a world of just the two siblings, but today Daisy was absent.
Thinking about it that way, Daisy might have served as a buffer between Silas and Dorothy.

“There is no need to force yourself to say anything. This is the only kind of relationship we were able to build. That is all.”
“…Even now…”
“Silas, I will be serving the Empress.”

That statement said everything.

“…I understand…”

Slowly raising his head, Silas looked at his wife.

“If there’s anything you need, tell me. I’ll prepare it.”

For the first time, he properly looked around his wife’s room and felt something was off.
Every month, he checked the expenses allocated for Dorothy.
There should have been payments for high-quality furniture.
And dresses as well.
Yet this room was plain, with not a single luxurious piece of furniture, and the dress Dorothy wore did not look expensive at all.

“…Dorothy, do you have many dresses?”
“Dresses? I have a few for evening parties, but they are all outdated designs, so I do not plan to bring them. The Empress is at the forefront of fashion, and it would be embarrassing for her attendant to dress like that.”

At Dorothy’s words, Silas opened the closet.
Several dresses hung inside, but all of them were plain.

“I’ve been receiving bills for your dresses.”
“They were not mine. I have not had a single dress tailored since coming to this mansion.”

Dorothy said this as if it were obvious, making Silas want to clutch his head.
Then whose dresses had he been paying for all this time?
The wife he thought was extravagant had not even bought a single dress.
Which meant Silas was the worst kind of husband, having never even gifted his wife a dress.
And not just dresses.
Hair ornaments, necklaces, rings, she had none of the things he believed he had given her.
Then he recalled something.
Once, Daisy had been wearing a necklace that was supposed to have been a gift for Dorothy.
When he asked about it, Daisy said Dorothy had given it to her, saying she did not need it.

“…Dorothy, where are the gifts I gave you?”
“Gifts? I have never received anything from you, Silas.”

Ah, I see.
He had been deceived about everything.
Even when they married, his friends had told him Dorothy was a woman who indulged in men.
At home, Daisy and the servants testified that she behaved when Silas was present but acted selfishly when he was gone.
Daisy told him Dorothy wanted this and that, and he bought many things.
But what was the reality?
His wife lived in a remote corner of the mansion, a place unfit for a lady of the house, owning only plain furniture and modest dresses, and was preparing to go work at the imperial palace.
He had believed everything he was told.
He never verified any of it himself.
That was the greatest reason Silas was now about to be abandoned.