Chapter 56
The warm water softened her body, easing her tension. In the past few days, her otherwise uneventful routine had been hit by a whirlwind of chaotic events. Her head felt as if it might explode from the heat, and the hectic day ended with the children’s smiles. The hair she had pinned up to keep it from falling had absorbed the humidity, making it heavy. Her hair, which reached down to her waist, had been well cared for and remained smooth and soft. Strands of golden hair, unable to bear the weight, drifted down one by one, floating on the water. Golden hair, golden eyes—people from a foreign land, like herself. The bright, shining eyes of El. The smiles of the children.
“…….”
Just like her younger self, she was on guard, expecting contact at any moment. The man who had introduced himself as Roden Node had remained silent since their encounter that day. Apparently, even the envoy had requested the Duke of Brangio and his entourage, so there would be no reason for him to speak to her. That was a relief. When she was young, if Luian let his guard down even slightly, he would come visiting the next day or soon after. She couldn’t bear not seeing his face or hearing his voice. Young love was unripe, fresh, and forward. Back then, only she and Luian existed in her world. Unlike her, the foreign man was an adult, so things were different. That, too, was a relief. She no longer wanted to overlay her younger self and Luian onto him.
[It’s a pleasure to meet you again.]
Worrying about things she couldn’t remember was a waste of time. There was no way to resolve the discomfort—after all, she didn’t remember. That was fine. Ignoring it like she was now, the one who would falter first would be him. Brushing away the lingering, old illusions, she rose from her seat. After finishing her bath and dressing with the help of her attendants, Isilia opened the balcony window. The cool autumn breeze brushed her face. Sitting down, she skimmed the invitation her maid handed her. Since the incident at the ball, invitations to the Agnes family had increased. Most of them were directed at her, despite her deliberately limiting her attendance in society. The intentions were transparent, leaving no room for even a smile. She skimmed through the contents, filled with curiosity, envy, and critique.
“…….”
Among the countless piles of invitations, one envelope, still red, caught her eye. It had been buried, so she hadn’t noticed it before. The envelope was deep red, as if it had absorbed wine. She had never received such a dark crimson color before. …Who could it be? By unspoken agreement, unofficial invitations were always yellow. Isilia turned the envelope over to check the front. A family crest was stamped on the wax seal—a single lavish rose encircled by sharp thorns.
“Brangio?”
It was the same crest as the invitation to the Brangio family’s rose garden she had received not long ago. What could the Duke of Brangio want with her? As Isilia unfolded the letter and read it, she swallowed her sigh.
「Since our last appointment, it seems you have been extremely busy, Isilia. I chose this lavish envelope, ignoring Brangio’s suggestion, hoping it would catch your eye. Isn’t it beautiful? I believe the line between vulgarity and beauty is very thin. Of course, you wouldn’t distinguish between them, but I hope for your assistance. I plan to prepare a new dress for a special occasion. It is a light outing. Conversations with you are always enjoyable, so I hope to speak with you once more before the appointed day. Isilia, if you agree, I seek your discernment in this matter.」
…He was inviting her to have a new dress made for a place she frequented. The note at the end, allowing the children to come along, was an unmistakable invitation. There had been no special gatherings before, only brief conversations. Of course, even those were interrupted by the man’s disruption at the ball. The Duchess of Brangio, Yuria, was someone Isilia had long admired, separate from her involvement with Luian. The relationship between the Duke and Yuria was the kind of love Isilia had longed for. She had tried to emulate her, but the results were different. After the Luian-Marilian incident, her social standing plummeted overnight. Sympathy was not the same as admiration.
“…….”
It was an extravagant invitation. Yet, she didn’t want to go outside. Especially now, when rumors were already rampant, going out could add fuel to the fire. Hesitating, Isilia folded the letter and returned it to its envelope. It was a matter that required further consideration.
—
Luian van Endrians sighed, staring at the letter in front of him. He had neither the right nor the courage to question the rudeness at the ball; the courteous greeting he had sent had returned in neat, precise handwriting. There was no mention of the foreign man, Roden Node, in Isilia’s reply. He was greatly relieved, yet a tightness weighed on his chest. He had no right to feel hurt. Luian blamed his own arrogance. Yet his heart still felt heavy and stifled, and he held the letter, checking its contents several times.
「Luian, I will be careful not to trouble you.」
The unyielding ending was firm. His complex emotions clouded his judgment. Clinging to whatever reason he had left, Luian wrote a new letter. Even without mentioning the foreign man, there was enough to discuss. He asked for Isilia’s opinion on the children’s attire for Johan’s birthday party next month. Though the Endrians family had their own dedicated tailor, Luian wanted to increase any chance to meet Isilia, even if only for a brief moment. Even if she no longer wished for their tea-time together….
“…….”
But if he stayed still, it would end as it was. He had allowed it to happen. He had tailored every one of her bright, shining emotions to suit himself, leaving no fragment intact. He was the only one excited about the time they had spent together at the lake. Luian admitted it. His pride, in front of her, equated to rudeness. So, wounds, shame, and regret were meaningless. Self-defense surfaced abruptly, only to be blocked by reason. Isilia had not even glanced at him, sitting with a bored, indifferent expression. She continued speaking only because of her bond with the children. He knew. Feelings of disappointment, longing, or regret would be a luxury for him.
Thus, the next day, the truth of the widespread new rumors in the palace would remain a mystery to him. His mind might understand, but his heart could not accept it. The tightly clenched fist did not injure with manicured nails. He couldn’t relax his hand. Unable to quell his anger, he tried to maintain a semblance of calm. Fortunately, his expression betrayed nothing. Luian climbed into the carriage with a blank face. His destination was clear: the Brangio Duke’s estate. An uninvited guest, yet Raymond’s audacity churned in his mind.
“Oh my, who do we have here?”
“…It’s been a while, Yuria.”
“I didn’t hear that you were coming to see Rey.”
Yuria’s tone, harsh at the sudden visitor, mirrored her expression. She passed by without acknowledging Luian, warning the mansion guards to remain alert. This reaction had persisted since Marilian’s wedding, so Luian ascended the stairs unfazed. Seeing him, Yuria frowned. Luian walked down the hallway toward Raymond’s office. Yuria being outside meant Raymond must have also heard of his arrival. His fury, simmering with anger, quickened his steps.
“Raymond.”
Upon opening the door, Raymond, waiting for him, smiled faintly. He knew his friend’s anger would be provoked by the smile, but it wasn’t enough to make him frown. So he smiled back. As Raymond sat on the sofa in his office, Luian approached swiftly. His steps were harsh—he made no effort to hide it. Raymond decided to strike first before his glaring friend could speak.
“Luian, Yuria is angry because of you. How do you plan to fix this?”
“The Divine Empire’s envoy. Weren’t you responsible? Why did Isilia end up joining the party?”
“Straight to the point. His Majesty’s—”
“Even if it was His Majesty’s intention, you wouldn’t have carried it out. His Majesty doesn’t take Yuria’s warning lightly, contrary to your thoughts.”
“My, how frightening.”
“Then you must have dragged Isilia in yourself. I’m sure I told you not to interfere. Was my warning a joke?”
“No, I’m scared. I’m taking it seriously.”
His unusually fast words and retorts carried the weight of someone determined not to forgive anything Raymond might say. Raymond moistened his dry mouth with his tongue, studying his friend. He wished he had noticed before, seeing Luian regret and suffer so much over past events. But he kept this unspoken, knowing it would be poison to Luian now.
