Chapter 65
The first meeting with the delegation ended so quickly that all my tension and worries felt pointless. To be precise, it passed in a whirlwind because of Roden Node. I couldn’t stop recalling the man’s face, smiling at me rather than at the beautiful scenery. A sigh escaped me. Memories of the lake left a bad impression for both Louyan and Roden Node. Since my feelings were never born from pure goodwill, they were instead etched into my mind even more vividly. Isilia decided to be content with the fact that neither the delegation nor Duke Branzio’s party seemed to mind her presence.
She sighed again as she counted the remaining months they would stay in the empire. Since it was only the first meeting, the six months they were set to remain in the Padivan Empire had not yet decreased. Last night, Isilia had returned to the Agnes Mansion, skipped dinner, and fallen asleep. She woke at dawn and sat on a chair. As she sighed repeatedly, a maid waiting behind her approached.
“Milady, Lady Sophia has asked that you join her for breakfast.”
“…Understood.”
“Yes, Count and Arwin will also be joining.”
The call snapped her back to reality. Sunlight streaming through the open window colored the hem of Isilia’s dress. Although she had returned from her outing in poor condition, the maid showed no sign of concern. Thanks to that, Isilia, uninterrupted in her thoughts, rose from her seat. She hadn’t washed last night. She considered whether she had time for a morning bath and nodded to the patiently waiting maid. There was plenty of time. A well-trained servant wouldn’t make a mistake. Shaking off her complicated thoughts, she spoke.
“First, prepare some warm water for me to bathe.”
“Yes, milady.”
As the maid left the room to prepare the bathwater, silence fell. From among the neatly arranged invitations on the table, she picked up the striking red envelope—the hostess of the Branzio household. Skimming the sudden invitation sent by Yuria, Isilia called a servant and received two blank sheets of stationery. She had postponed replying because it was difficult to respond, but she could no longer ignore it. The invitation allowed her to bring the children, but Isilia hesitated, recalling the faces of El and Johan, who had recently visited. Since Duchess Yuria suggested going to the salon, it would probably be one of the shops in the noble shopping district. Isilia worried that her presence, along with the children, might fuel unpleasant rumors.
“…….”
Her golden eyes flickered beneath lowered lashes. Isilia held the quill and thought for a long time before deciding. Ink quickly seeped into the smooth paper. After finishing her reply to Yuria, she opened the remaining sheet. …Now that she thought about it, since leaving the Endrianz Mansion and returning to Agnes, she had never sent a letter to Louyan first. The sudden realization made her grip the quill tighter. She had only replied to Louyan’s letters. …I didn’t notice.
“Milady, may I come in?”
At the rhythmic knock, she lifted her head. Other maids carrying steaming water headed to the bathroom. They came and went in the small space set aside in the room. Watching their busyness, Isilia lowered her gaze. Unlike when replying to Yuria, the words she wanted to write now wouldn’t come.
“All ready.”
“…Understood. I’ll come soon.”
Hesitating, Isilia dipped her quill one last time.
—
Descending the stairs for breakfast, Isilia paused. The maid’s neatly braided hair retained its shape without a strand out of place. Holding the stair railing, she bit her lip and continued down. The once purely happy, cozy family moments had, at some point, transformed into guilt weighing on her shoulders.
[…Your appetite has decreased recently.]
[It’s hard to tell, since it hasn’t changed since Endrianz Mansion.]
It had been shortly after returning from the Endrianz Mansion to Agnes. Her father’s green eyes scrutinized her, noting the reduced portion sizes despite her awkward excuses. She smiled somewhat uneasily, repeating that nothing had changed. But she felt that nothing had truly changed. Her loss of appetite had persisted since the Endrianz Mansion. Isilia had eaten leisurely as usual, just in slightly smaller portions. Now that Sophia had returned, the atmosphere would be warmer. Then the scrutinizing eyes would lessen—they hadn’t been able to focus on the meal as a family of three. She felt relieved.
“Isilia, still beautiful as ever. Have you been well?”
“I have, it’s been a while.”
She smiled at the gentle greeting as she entered the dining room. Her father, seated at the head, gestured toward her. Bowing slightly in response, Isilia sat opposite Arwin and Sophia. Arwin said nothing, waiting until she took her seat. She greeted Sophia naturally, as if nothing had happened.
“Sophia, I’m glad you returned safely.”
“I was able to rest sufficiently at my family home. I’m sorry you had to trouble yourself on my account.”
Her soft pink eyes glimmered with genuine gratitude. The flowing pink hair and eyes made Sophia look like a fairy-tale princess. She and her husband had perfectly realized the love Isilia had always admired. Branzio and Yuria were the same. Only she and Louyan were different from that legendary romance.
Her mouth suddenly felt dry, and she picked up the glass of water she had been given. She no longer knew whether her feelings were wistfulness for the past or embarrassment—or maybe both. Lukewarm water stirred her insides. She called a servant to bring cold water.
“It was fortunate that Arwin was assigned near the Clozet Counts’ estate.”
“…….”
“Although it was an unexpected visit, Father was very pleased, so it was enjoyable.”
The soft voice breaking her thoughts was sweeter than powdered sugar, yet carried a sharp undertone. Arwin, sitting beside Sophia, scowled. Normally, Sophia wouldn’t need to go to the outskirts, but when Arwin was suddenly sent there, she had to follow—not for romance, but to keep track of her wandering brother. Silence fell at the table. Arwin became even quieter. Sitting across from them, Isilia ignored Arwin’s tightly pressed lips. In the quiet space, punctuated only by the clink of cutlery, she raised her head. Sophia’s soft pink eyes met hers.
“But it’s a pity I couldn’t be there on the day Isilia returned.”
“…Sophia.”
Arwin, silently cutting meat with a knife, finally spoke. He meant she shouldn’t continue. Sophia smiled as if sketching with her eyes and looked aside.
“You’re shutting me up.”
“It’s inappropriate to talk about this during meals.”
“The inappropriate thing is your attitude toward her.”
Arwin’s green eyes met Sophia’s. Isilia realized faintly that their conversation revolved around her. Even if Sophia’s family estate, the Clozet Counts, was near the outskirts, rumors in the social circles and salons spread faster than the wind. …Before the scandal with Louyan died down, a new rumor had already surfaced. She had nothing to say.
“What do you mean by that?”
She gripped her knife tighter. The hope of a peaceful meal felt almost delusional. Having overcome the large hurdle of the delegation and Roden Node, it seemed yet another wall had been built. She sensed a gaze on her cheek. Turning her head, she found green eyes staring at her intently.
“You said you didn’t care about the rumors, yet you’re the most affected, Arwin.”
Her firm words shifted her father’s gaze to Sophia. Her brother, sitting beside Sophia, now fully frowned.
“Going to the outskirts unexpectedly was supposedly for your sake, but it was just because you couldn’t control your anger.”
“…Even if you were angry with me, it’s better to discuss such matters back in the room.”
“Of course, since the family is involved, we can’t request a duel with His Majesty or the Duke of Endrianz.”
“Sophia.”
Arwin called Sophia with a stern expression. Each word came out sharply, as if scrubbing the house. Isilia, pretending calm, looked at Arwin, Sophia, and her father. Breakfast instantly felt like being doused in ice water. Her father seemed content just watching. Isilia remained silent as her brother and sister-in-law began their quarrel. She felt her heart pound, thinking she was the cause. Sophia, with lips pressed together, tilted her head, letting her soft hair cascade over her shoulders.
“The truth of the rumors aside, to us, she is still a lovely young lady.”
“Sophia.”
“Arwin, you asked His Majesty to assign you to escort the Divine Kingdom delegation, didn’t you?”
