~Chapter 89~
Aska gave a tense, vague smile. He was the groom, yet strangely, it felt as though Baldwin and Anais were the true protagonists of the wedding.
People paid far more attention to the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess than to Aska and Gwendolyn.
‘I heard he had a disability.’
Estus had particularly closed and rigid customs.
There were even rumors that if Baldwin had other siblings or illegitimate children, he would never have been able to inherit his title.
And yet, Baldwin looked like someone born to rule people from the very beginning.
Even the exclusive nobles of Estus carefully watched Baldwin’s mood.
When Baldwin requested a private meeting, Aska felt as if his heart had stopped.
What did I do wrong?
That was the first thought that came to him.
In Estus, there were two people you must never make enemies of.
One was the Emperor of Estus.
The other was the Grand Duke of Constantine.
People said that if the Emperor ruled the sky, Baldwin ruled the land.
They said the current reign of Estus was firmer than ever.
Maybe that was why.
It felt as though Aska was offering his neck straight into the jaws of a wild beast.
“Your Highness… you wished to speak with me…?”
Baldwin smiled faintly. It was a dry smile.
It might have been better if he hadn’t smiled at all. Aska swallowed nervously.
“If you have something to say, please speak. I will listen to anything.”
Baldwin slowly moved his hand. Until Aska could see the writing on the notepad, his heart shrank tight with tension.
Of all things, a private meeting.
[You will be visiting Estus often from now on. Each time, someone will need to guard your residence.]
Aska didn’t quite understand and replied,
“That is true, but at present my mother is taking care of such matters. She will continue to do so.”
Light gathered in Baldwin’s violet eyes.
[When there is a mistress of the house, is there any reason for your mother to trouble herself?]
Aska’s eyes widened.
Gwendolyn?
He swallowed hard.
“Of course. That is true.”
[As the daughter of the Horace family, she will have no trouble managing a household. If she lacks anything, the Dowager Lady can teach her. So from now on, you should trust your wife and focus on affairs outside the home.]
Only then did Aska understand Baldwin’s intention.
This was Baldwin’s roundabout way of saying that Gwendolyn must never set foot on Estus soil again.
A very Estus-like way of speaking.
‘There’s definitely something going on.’
Aska’s mind spun quickly.
Originally, the marriage between Gwendolyn and Aska had been a contract.
Through Gwendolyn, Aska planned to secure a foothold in Estus.
He wanted to expand his trading business.
And Gwendolyn planned to have a child through Aska and return to Estus.
Aska knew that her future plans always included that man.
He vaguely understood Gwendolyn’s obsessive fixation on Baldwin.
‘Did they have a falling-out?’
According to Gwendolyn, the two shared a tragic love.
Yet in Baldwin’s expression, Aska could not find even a trace of affection.
Something decisive must have happened.
To Aska, there was nothing to lose in a deal with Baldwin.
He had gained what he wanted through Horace, gained Gwendolyn and a child, and if he could also gain Baldwin’s favor—
Aska was a merchant. A businessman.
“Your Highness is correct. As a daughter of the Horace family, she will surely fulfill her role as the mistress of a household. From now on, I will trust my wife and entrust the family to her. As for Estus… I don’t think I’ll have time to visit.”
Baldwin firmly grabbed Aska’s shoulder, then released it.
[Go see my secretary. There seems to be much needed these days for building cruise ships.]
“Th-thank you, Your Highness!!”
If Aska’s goods could be loaded onto Constantine’s ships, the publicity alone would be immense.
Aska gained much from this marriage.
It was a very satisfying one.
Rosmalyn watched Anais, who was moving around the reception hall as if she were the main character.
“Dowager Lady.”
“Ah.”
Rosmalyn turned with a mechanical smile. The noblewoman who had called her handed her a glass.
“It’s been a while. You haven’t gone out at all lately—did something happen?”
Her eyes were like piranhas tearing at flesh.
Rosmalyn swallowed nervously. Even after living long as a noblewoman of Constantine, every question was difficult.
‘Always think about whether your conduct brings shame to Constantine, Rosmalyn. Never reveal your origins.’
Those words were nailed into her ears.
She still could not escape her mother-in-law’s ghost.
“Nothing in particular. Since a new mistress has entered the house, what could I possibly do? I simply took a short rest.”
“I see. I heard you brought in the Countess of Crenbel as an etiquette tutor…”
So the rumors had spread.
Rosmalyn smiled awkwardly.
“I believe it was a poor personnel decision. I’ve already resolved things with my daughter-in-law.”
“Ah.”
The noblewoman looked as though she had more to say.
Rosmalyn opened the path.
“You seem curious. If it’s something I can answer, I’ll gladly do so.”
This was the moment Rosmalyn enjoyed most.
Moments when she could answer others, provide information.
Wasn’t that why they hovered around her—to get even a scrap of meat?
Rosmalyn slightly lifted her lips.
With the dignified air of a Dowager Lady.
“I heard the Grand Duke and Duchess will soon depart for Lakexia. I hear they’ll be overseeing the railway project there. Would you perhaps be able to connect us? The iron ore from our mines is of excellent quality.”
At that moment, a crack formed in Rosmalyn’s smile.
Lakexia?
They’re going where?
It was a schedule she didn’t know.
Her smile wavered.
“Dowager Lady… did you not know…?”
“How could that be? I was just thinking about the departure date. I’ll speak to the Grand Duke about that matter.”
She quickly replied calmly.
But inside, her mind went blank.
Rosmalyn forced herself to keep smiling.
Again.
Once again, Rosmalyn was being left out.
Just like when her mother-in-law was alive, she was being pushed aside even within Constantine.
It felt as though all the blood was draining from her body.
She couldn’t lose this.
All that remained for Rosmalyn was the shell called Constantine.
If that were stripped away, nothing would remain.
Constantine was Rosmalyn’s life itself.
‘I will not be pushed aside. I will not leave.’
If she had to push someone else out to protect her place, she would gladly do so.
That was how Rosmalyn proved her life.
Only one week remained until we departed for Lakexia.
It hadn’t been long since our marriage, yet it felt as though a great deal of time had passed.
So much had happened.
Time flowed faster than expected.
About a week before departure, news arrived from Hertel.
Fortunately, the new branch manager had adapted well.
Through aggressive marketing strategies, they were drawing in customers from Hertel and nearby areas.
By selling high-margin products on a first-come basis, the branch’s performance was rising efficiently.
Everything was going so well it felt almost strange.
Then the summer banquet invitation arrived.
Preparations were handled by the Empress’s palace maids led by Countess Rainglass, but the invitation was issued in the Empress’s name.
The summer banquet at Grainfield Hall of the Imperial Palace had “water” as its theme.
My suggestion was fully adopted.
An ankle-revealing dress design and low-heeled shoes were chosen as the dress code.
For men, the dress code was a blue handkerchief and light-colored formal wear.
I swept my hair up cleanly and pinned sapphire ornaments here and there.
I wore a silver silk dress that revealed my ankles.
The dress followed my figure closely, softened by an organza wrap for modesty.
I wore a thin chain necklace, and my earrings fell neatly downward.
I looked much more light and fresh.
“Alright. I think this is enough to finish, Your Highness.”
“Isn’t it too revealing?”
“Not at all. Everyone wears something like this. If anything, for a summer banquet, it’s quite modest.”
Ella’s words gave me courage.
It felt new.
And refreshing.
