Chapter 8
“Lady Veldegart!”
A loud voice rang out behind Romian as she left Shihab’s palace almost as though she were fleeing.
Romian slowly turned around.
The person calling out to her while waving his hand enthusiastically was a handsome young man with curly black hair and blue eyes, whose appearance gave off a kind and gentle impression.
It was none other than Viscount Alfredo Linhardt.
Alfredo approached until he was standing right beside the stopped Romian, then introduced himself with the impeccable manners of a gentleman.
“I am Alfredo, His Highness Shihab’s cousin.”
“I’m Romian Veldegart.”
Just as she was about to gather her skirt and curtsy in greeting, he casually waved his hand.
“Ah, there’s no need for formalities. I just wanted to ask you something.”
“…?”
Romian knew Alfredo’s face. As the eldest son of House Linhardt, she had seen him before, although their families were of such different status that they had never actually spoken.
So when he suddenly approached her with such a friendly smile, Romian was taken aback.
Outwardly, however, her calm and gentle expression did not waver in the slightest.
Naturally, that composure only gave Alfredo an even better impression of her.
He laughed somewhat playfully and said,
“That dark green dress was worth three hundred million dena? That’s quite incredible. Don’t you think?”
“I suppose so.”
Romian was certainly surprised.
When she had heard the amount from Dukein, she had nearly fallen backward.
Alfredo continued smiling.
“Could someone really borrow three hundred million dena using just that one dress as collateral?”
“It was a royal possession, and Queen Nella used to wear it frequently. So I suppose it would be possible.”
Her answer was calm.
But from it, Alfredo obtained every bit of information he had been trying to uncover.
The thing that had played the biggest role in allowing Dukein to obtain three hundred million dena was the ruby tiara Alfredo had handed to Shihab yesterday.
Alfredo smiled knowingly.
“So you weren’t the one who borrowed the money after all.”
“……!!”
Romian’s shoulders flinched at Alfredo’s words.
Her light brown eyes rolled around as though asking,
How on earth did this man know?
The way her thoughts were written so plainly across her face was rather adorable, and Alfredo chuckled.
Then he continued in an impeccably gentlemanly tone.
“I won’t ask why. But why don’t you tell His Highness Shihab the truth? You two have been engaged for quite a long time, and you’ll soon become family.”
There were exactly two things Alfredo was curious about at this point.
First, why was Shihab letting such a perfect opportunity slip through his fingers?
Second, why wasn’t this woman confessing the truth to Shihab and begging him for mercy?
Neither of their actions made any logical sense.
Alfredo had been taught to emphasize cold reason above all else, as befitted the eldest son of a ducal family, so he simply could not understand the situation.
He continued smiling, but his eyes had become much more serious as he looked at Romian.
Her answer was deeply disappointing.
“…I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I see.”
Romian had decided to continue insisting that she was the one who had committed the crime.
Alfredo, who had expected a slightly more interesting answer, gave a bitter smile.
“Lady Veldegart, I honestly don’t know you. I’ve merely become familiar with your face from seeing you around. To be honest, until recently, I even wondered whether you could really become the Crown Princess.”
As expected, her family’s influence was far too insignificant for her to become the wife of a prince.
There was only one position as Queen Consort, so it had to be used as effectively as possible.
Moreover, many nobles had been watching Romian with keen interest, wondering how long Henri IV’s little game of playing with dolls would continue.
But I don’t think that’s all there is to it.
Romian did not know it, but before she had even arrived at the palace, Alfredo had asked Shihab something.
I don’t understand, Shihab. You hated her so much, didn’t you? Isn’t this the perfect opportunity to throw her out of her position as your fiancée?
That was precisely why Alfredo had asked Shihab first.
If possible, he wanted Shihab himself to be the one who removed her from the position of his fiancée.
And this was unquestionably an excellent opportunity.
But unexpectedly, Shihab had shaken his head.
And the reason he gave was rather flimsy.
No. I guarantee you, if that happens, Father will take her into the harem. She might even become his second Queen. That’s how much he cherishes her.
Why are you thinking so extremely?
She was too young back then, so Father couldn’t openly reveal those kinds of desires. But she’s an adult now. If I cast her aside, he’ll gladly swoop in and take her for himself.
If Shihab was so certain that Henri IV would behave that way, there had to be a basis for his belief.
In fact, considering the countless women in the harem who resembled Queen Nella even slightly, it wasn’t entirely unreasonable.
After all, Romian was the woman in the entire kingdom who most closely resembled Queen Nella in Henri IV’s eyes.
From her perspective, that’s an option she could never refuse. That’s definitely what will happen.
Becoming the second wife of a man old enough to be her father?
It would still be better than being buried alive in some rural backwater.
She didn’t seem like that kind of materialistic woman.
She sold Mother’s belongings after only one day because she needed money. If that isn’t materialistic, what is?
Well, given the circumstances, I suppose you have a point.
Even while having that conversation, Alfredo honestly thought to himself,
But so what if she becomes Henri IV’s second wife?
What was so terrible about becoming one of the many women living with an old man old enough to be her father?
That was her life, not his.
To be honest, Alfredo even thought Shihab was rather pathetic for using that as his reason.
In an indifferent tone, Alfredo brought their long conversation to an end.
Shihab, so in the end, you’re paying off a three-hundred-million-dena debt because you don’t want your former fiancée, who’s a year older than you, to become your stepmother?
…….
For some reason, Shihab had ultimately been unable to answer.
No one can completely understand their own heart.
And from Alfredo’s perspective, simply having managed to probe Shihab’s feelings that deeply was satisfying enough.
At the very least, he was certain that the woman standing before him was not the worthless, merely lucky woman described in the rumors.
I should take out at least one insurance policy.
With that thought, Alfredo put on a kind mask for Romian.
His face formed a smile beautiful enough to belong in a painting, and he spoke words sweeter than honey.
“If things become unbearable, please tell me.”
“What?”
“When things become so difficult that you feel like you want to die, when you can’t endure it anymore, please let me know. If you do, I’ll help you.”
“…Why would you?”
Romian was by no means an easy person to deal with.
Even though a handsome young man capable of making anyone’s heart waver was showering her with gentle words, she watched him with wary eyes, her guard raised like a frightened little animal.
Alfredo shrugged.
“Well. Let’s just call it cheap sympathy.”
After ending their conversation, Romian returned to the Veldegart estate.
The Countess, who had been anxiously waiting for Romian’s return, came running outside barefoot the moment she saw the carriage.
“Romian! What happened? He forgave you, didn’t he?”
Forgave me?
She said it as though the outcome had been a foregone conclusion.
Romian sighed.
Although her mother spoke as though everything had gone according to plan, there were large luggage bags scattered around the drawing room, as though she had been prepared to flee at the slightest sign of danger.
She packed quite a lot.
If the royal family actually decided to execute them, would they even have time to gather their luggage and run?
If anything, simply attempting to flee would only increase their punishment.
Romian was too exhausted to explain such obvious things one by one, so she gave a brief answer.
“His Highness Shihab decided to pretend he didn’t know about it. His Majesty the King still doesn’t know.”
“Oh, my!”
The intended meaning was simply that they should keep quiet since the King did not know.
But the Countess fixated on something entirely different and began jumping for joy.
“His Highness Shihab? He’s covering up three hundred million dena? That means he must love you! He acts cold on the outside, but he’s actually already fallen for you!”
“That’s not it! Please, just be quiet!”
“Oh, child. How could you possibly know what goes on in a man’s heart? I’m telling you, I’m right! This is wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!”
Romian explained Shihab’s cold voice and harsh attitude several times, but the excited Countess didn’t hear a word.
Eventually, Romian gave up trying to convince her and let out a long sigh.
“Good grief.”
It had been an excessively long day.
Emma looked at Romian with an expression that suggested she understood everything and gently patted her shoulder.
“Please go upstairs and get some rest, Miss.”
“Mm.”
She couldn’t deny it.
Perhaps because the tension had finally left her body, she felt as though heat was spreading throughout her entire body.
Romian obediently returned to her room and removed all her clothes.
After wiping herself down with a lightly dampened towel and lying on the bed, her entire body sank into the mattress as though it had been turned to lead.
Blinking slowly as sleep began to take over, Romian recalled everything that had happened that day.
Still, I’m glad Shihab said that.
She had never imagined that Shihab would pretend not to know.
In truth, it had been the perfect opportunity for Shihab, who hated her, to finally sever their relationship forever.
But why did he cover for me?
Did he perhaps feel a little sorry for me?
Judging from his behavior all these years, there was no way to believe that the kind of love the Countess had been singing about had suddenly blossomed.
Romian simply hoped that perhaps he pitied her, even if only a little.
Then she remembered the words of the mysterious man who had spoken to her with an enigmatic smile.
You two have been engaged for quite a long time, and you’ll soon become family.
Family…
Everything that man had said was suspicious and difficult to trust.
And yet, his words had left a certain resonance in Romian’s heart.
Especially that one word.
Family.
Romian’s pale cheeks slowly took on a faint pink hue.
Will His Highness Shihab become my family?
Today, he had not been particularly different from usual.
He had looked down at her with cold eyes and even told her that he couldn’t stand the sight of her.
But even so, he protected me.
Romian was a woman whose own biological mother had told her to go out and die in place of her older brother.
To someone like her, Shihab’s consideration felt overwhelmingly moving.
It was as though, for the first time, a single cup of hope had been poured into Romian’s heart, which had dried up like a tree on the verge of death.
Could our relationship change, even just a little?
Holding onto that hope, Romian briefly imagined a future in which their relationship had become somewhat kinder.
Once she did, she could no longer simply lie still.
Romian sat up in bed.
She turned on the lamp beside the bed and opened the drawer of her nightstand.
Inside were neatly arranged threads and needles, a bundle of white fabric, and an embroidery hoop.
Even though he doesn’t accept things from me, I can still do something for him…
Embroidery was the one thing Romian could confidently show to others.
Rubbing her tired eyes, she began embroidering a handkerchief for Shihab.
Delicate, pale reddish-orange osmanthus blossoms quickly spread across the white handkerchief, making it beautifully radiant.
