Chapter 22
[As for an heir… Zion is there, so that’s settled.]
It takes at least ten years, even at the fastest, for a child to grow. When someone suggested she might need a mother, Jordan said nothing. “What if she meets someone like that?” someone chided. “Someone like her,” they said — hardly polite about the other person. Still, Isilia didn’t voice that thought.
When news of the princess’s remarriage reached them, she kept silent. Only a year had passed since their separation — remarriage already? They really had no consideration for each other, she thought. They seemed to get along well enough on the surface, but were too busy tearing each other apart to bother with manners. That was how Ariel the princess and Jordan’s relationship looked. Marilian had come to Jordan’s side a few years later. Jordan announced he would appoint a female aide. Isilia inwardly breathed easier. Fortunately, Princess Ariel hadn’t given the empire’s only crown prince a hatred of women. Well, if she had, she wouldn’t have invited her either. The thought made her smile despite herself. It was all in the past. She had not known that woman would hurt her. She opened the fan to hide the twisted curl at the corner of her mouth.
“You came with Lady Inderik and at that very gathering.”
But the current situation was unpleasant. Even though Isilia had permission to speak of court affairs, it was still a terrible move — an uncharacteristic, thoughtless excuse that would give the ministers something to seize on. Even if the crown prince had an heir and the ministers wouldn’t press hard, she guessed he still couldn’t bear it. That thought alone irritated her.
“They said His Highness mentioned a woman he has his eye on.”
So that woman was Marilian. Isilia sighed. Jordan was a clever man; he would have planned how to patch things up in advance. He’d likely thought he could fix it before the ministers heard. But the more she thought about it, the more unpleasant it became.
“Did Jordan say that himself?”
“…Excuse me?”
“Did he say the woman’s name with his own mouth?”
“No, not exactly. But he said it after seeing Lady Inderik.”
Many of Jordan’s words had hurt others — she was among the harmed. Isilia closed the fan she’d been holding. The soft snap as it folded made Remia fall silent. Amused by how everyone watched her every little action, Isilia spoke in a gentle voice. The warmth in her tone eased the young lady’s tension; it was visible. Rumors spread by people who meant no malice were the most dangerous. Isilia decided to shut the curious young woman’s mouth with a mild bit of mischief under the guise of goodwill.
“The crown prince is hard to read and very eloquent. Since he didn’t name anyone clearly, you can’t trust it.”
“…….”
“Did His Highness say that and then leave?”
“He stayed… for a while.”
“Maybe he hoped someone would come by.”
“Pardon?”
“It could be an excuse. His Highness seems to like women with strong wills.”
“…….”
Princess Ariel was an exception — practically ravenous. A woman of strong will was rare in noble society. When I used to trail after Luiyan, people would gossip and call me vulgar. No wonder such an excuse would suit Jordan so well: a type he could point to and say, ‘I like a woman with backbone.’ We couldn’t take the hit just because of his excuse. We ought to return it to sender. We’d been close friends for years… and I’d been taken for a fool. A mischievous, clever friend was tiring. After this gathering, it would be better to stay at the manor for a while. I wanted to see her flustered; it was a pity I hadn’t.
Isilia greeted the stunned Remia and, before leaving the room, drove the point home.
“If there’s a young lady going about with a broken heart, please tell her that.”
“…Yes, thank you.”
Leaving the dazed Remia behind, Isilia stepped out onto the terrace. A blaze of red hair stood out like fire. That clumsy woman was playing Jordan. Isilia sighed. She had no idea how to even begin to speak about it; the thought gave her a headache.
“Did you enjoy yourself?”
“Yes. It was hard to get used to, but I enjoyed it.”
She answered with a stiff face, then drove away the others who approached. Isilia didn’t intend to argue further and ended the conversation. The sound of hooves and wheels on the road pierced the air — a carriage was leaving. Isilia called to her. Amber eyes looked back at her; that look made her uneasy, and she turned away.
“I heard some strange rumors.”
“What rumors?”
“I thought they might be about you and Luiyan — that everyone is bored of those stories — but it wasn’t that at all.”
“…….”
“You joked about it at the same table with His Highness, didn’t you?”
“…….”
“You said you’d cover for the young girls so they wouldn’t be hurt. Marilian, you know what I mean, right?”
“…Yes.”
“You’ve taken the name of House Endrianz. No more scandals, please.”
“…….”
“I’ll tell Jordan myself.”
“…….”
Feeling she’d said enough, Isilia exhaled, but received no reply and glanced back. The amber eyes snapped to hers; Marilian avoided the gaze. A thought struck Isilia and she fell silent. If — just suppose — that absurd rumor were true and was like the story between me and Luiyan, the sudden scenario made her head ache. Her heart thudded anxiously in her ears. In a quiet voice she said,
“You told me it was a joke.”
“…….”
“You said it was a filthy rumor to make sport of Luiyan and me.”
But Marilian didn’t answer. Isilia heard a thin twig snap between the other woman’s fingers. Looking down, she saw the fan in Marilian’s hand had broken clean in two. Isilia sighed. The lukewarm reaction of the woman sitting before her irritated her.
“I won’t stand for any more insults.”
If it was true, she thought, then she was right in the middle of a dirty romantic quarrel. A pointless, meaningless affair that would only tarnish her honor. She stared at the woman without emotion. The red hair trembled though there was no breeze — she must be shaking. Amused, Isilia smiled. She reached out and caught Marilian’s chin, forcing the averted gaze to meet hers.
“Mar, make your position clear.”
Hesitation was worse than silence. She spoke softly but with barbed politeness.
“You have Luiyan, don’t you?”
“…….”
“You were the woman who stood by his side and even greeted me in person.”
You remember that, don’t you? Marilian lowered her eyes. Isilia let go of the chin and touched her own pale cheek.
“You must answer plainly.”
“…….”
“If a woman given the Endrianz name is so indecisive—”
“…I was not given it.”
The tightly closed mouth finally opened, but Isilia could not feel relief. The red lips spoke something ridiculous and her mind went blank. The trembling stopped; the neat, trembling bob of hair steadied. Feeling heat against her hand, Isilia fell silent. Marilian lifted her head and looked at her.
“I was not given the Endrianz name.”
“…….”
“The marriage registration was not filed. The duke… knows as well.”
“…….”
“This is—”
“I—”
She cut off the woman’s words. Her body trembled with anger. Her temper flared hot while her head cooled, and she stared down at the woman before her. Who did this woman think she was, spouting nonsense in front of me? Enough. Isilia warned her. She raised her voice, breaking the air like a crack. Hadn’t she told her to stop?
“I can no longer listen. Stop this nonsense. Don’t tarnish the name of House Endrianz. It’s unpleasant. If you aren’t completely mad, shut your mouth.”
“I—”
