Chapter 14
Sir Carls opened his eyes wide in surprise, then let out a long release.
“It seems that you have heard some useless gossip. Yes. That is true. The Duke of Welsh provided military support to the Knights of Morte on the battlefield, and in return, he demanded an engagement with his daughter. Victor had no choice but to accept.”
Her heart sank.
She lowered her eyes.
“What people said was actually true.”
“But the engagement ended a long time ago!”
When Karls hurriedly bent down, the cart shook violently from side to side.
“Oh!”
Carls shook his head.
“As soon as the Duke of Welsh learned that His Majesty was ill, he broke off the engagement. After that, the Grand Duke married you. Nanael Welsh is no longer related to His Majesty.”
“But didn’t the ladies say they were forced to separate?”
It wasn't hard to imagine Nanael and Victor as a couple. They would have been a really good pair...
Suddenly, she felt sick to her stomach and lowered the meat skewer she was eating.
Carl's face turned pale.
“Ma’am, you haven’t finished your food.”
She looked away with a sombre expression.
She was ashamed that she was worried all the time.
She didn't want Victor to know about her humble feelings.
I begged Carls.
“Please do not tell the Grand Duke that I asked about Mrs. Welsh.”
Carls looked at her.
After all, he was Victor's knight.
His master will be informed of any events.
But in fact, if Victor looked at her with disappointment, she wouldn't be able to bear it.
She had no choice but to say something she didn't really mean.
“If I ever told him.”..
“?”
“I will break up with you.”
Karls gasped and dropped his sword.
***
She stared at the luxurious palace with bleary eyes.
Catalonia Monarchy.
It was the residence of the Marquis family, who were reputed to be the wealthiest in the empire.
The “Golden Room” of the Catalan estate, where jewels were stacked taller than a man, was a favorite topic of discussion among minstrels*.
[*Note: The minstrel was a medieval artist. Originally describing any type of artist such as a musician, juggler, acrobat, singer, or fool, the term later came to mean an artist who sang songs and played musical instruments.]
But to her, it was just torture.
After she entered the ballroom, she was greeted by the Marquis of Catalonia, and then immediately hid along the wall. The Marquis chandelier, which was made of beautiful and expensive crystals, helped distract her for a few moments.
However, Mrs. Welsh's voice was too loud to ignore.
“The Grand Duke of Morte is like every woman’s dream.”
“Isn’t he the greatest knight on the continent? Besides, who can resist that gracious look! Knights in fairy tales are nothing compared to him.”
“For the time being, the Grand Duke has been quiet. Will we hear good news soon, Nanael?”
“Oh my God, how could you ask me that? How shameful!”
At the sound of faltering laughter, Mrs. Welsh covered her mouth with a fan and smiled like a flower.
Omarion couldn't take it anymore.
She picked up a glass of champagne and sat down in a chair as far away from Miss Welsh as she could find.
After Karls scolded Count Meinfeld, no one was openly hostile, but their curiosity and sarcasm were still present. She bowed her head.
“Away from the limelight where I belong.”
At that moment, a shadow fell at her feet.
“The Grand Duchess.”
... “Is someone trying to talk to me?”
She was startled and instinctively raised her head.
This was the first time she had seen a young lady stand in front of her willingly.
She was wearing a stunningly gorgeous dress, paired with a ruby necklace that contained large jewels that would leave you gasping.
Her long black hair was curly, but strangely shiny. It was covered in small jewels.
The moment Omarion saw the dazzling diamond circlet on her head, she forgot her manners and opened her mouth.
This was the first time she had seen such an expensive outfit, even though she attended social events every day.
Was she the Imperial Princess?
Oblivious to her thoughts, the lady sat next to her without hesitation.
“Forgive my impudence, madam. I am Catalina of Catalonia, daughter of the Marquis.”
Catalina hurriedly stopped her from saying hello.
“Please sit down. I also broke etiquette.”
She called an escort with a graceful gesture, and picked up a glass of champagne. Omarion stared blankly at her.
“Why are you talking to me? There is nothing useful in being close to me now.”
“Is she here to make fun of me too?”
“Forgive my rudeness, but why are you here?”
When asked, Catalina answered sternly.
“They are really rude. Isn't that right?”
Her glare was directed toward the center of the ballroom.
At the end of this glow was Mrs. Welsh. Omarion was stunned.
This was the first time that anyone other than her had criticized Ms. Welsh.
Catalina spoke with a harsh attitude that did not suit her appearance.
“I didn’t want them to desecrate my family’s salon, but I couldn’t rescind their invitation because the Welsh Knights are their escorts. I apologize again for the rudeness, Your Highness.”
“Oh, no.”
“Thank you for your kind words.”
She swallowed these words with a small smile.
Catalina misinterpreted her smile as depression and explained.
“Nanael Welsh pretended to be the Grand Duchy’s steward for a long time. Every time the Grand Duke made a contribution on the battlefield, she flaunted as if she were his wife. Even his real wife is not arrogant.”
"Is this true?"...
Omarion nodded, feeling strangely happy that someone else hated Nanael as much as she did.
Catalina clenched her fists.
“Then the Grand Duke got married, so I started spreading rumors that when the Grand Duke gets better, you will be the next Grand Duchess. It is ridiculous and very low.”…
Catalina shuddered at her words and emptied her cup in one gulp. Omarion was overwhelmed by the momentum and nodded.
Unlike many women in the social world, Nanael didn't like her.
Catalina set down her glass with a clatter.
“Your Highness is the rightful host of the Morty Estate. What she is doing is not honorable. I am sorry to express my frustration to Her Highness who came from a foreign country.”
Omarion looked at Katarina.
She looked like a woman who was proud to be an empire.
She was wearing a fancy dress and smelling shame, and looked like a true aristocrat.
Before she could think, the words spilled out of her mouth.
“Catalina is truly noble.”
"Is this correct ?"
Catalina smiled softly.
The jewels in her hair followed her movements and sparkled brilliantly.
Her family's wealth was obvious just by looking at her.
Catalina spoke with a serious expression.
“I do not forget the rights and obligations that I have as successor of Catalonia. Unlike someone...”
“Rights and Obligations”...
Omarion nodded without saying a word.
Then, for the first time in the social world, she laughed and spoke freely.
***
Catalina.
Thanks to her, Omarion wasn't in a bad mood today.
After dinner, she washed with unscented water to remove the scent of perfume from her body.
After she put on a shirt, everything became a little mysterious.
Catalina pretended that all the rumors were nonsense, but Nanael Welsh was someone who could truly stand by Victor.
She was the daughter of an allied family, and the most popular in the empire.
She may have been Victor's mistress, and would become Grand Duchess, replacing Omarion.
“I am a Grand Duchess who cannot even act as a hostess.”
She came here after she sold it, out of duty as an amari.
So this kind of suffering was just something to be endured.
She sat next to the bed holding her sword.
She had a difficult life full of struggles.
She was used to being alone.
However, perhaps the reason she felt so sad was because Victor was so kind.
This was the first time she had someone like him in her life.
"Sigh"...
As she buried her head in her arms, the bedroom door suddenly opened.
“Marion!”
Victor entered and looked at her impatiently.
She greeted him awkwardly.
«Hello, Grand Duke»...
What happened?
He stopped right in front of her.
He moved in front of her gaze, trying to get her to look at him.
She kept avoiding his eyes.
What happened?
“Oh, what?”
“You're not looking at me.”
She closed her eyes tightly and hugged her sword as if it were her lifeline.
Every time she saw Victor, useless thoughts flooded in and she couldn't look at him at all.
When I stubbornly refused to look at him, he stopped moving.
... “Did you know that we couldn't talk properly for a few days?”
“It's because I'm tired.”...
“The servants say that if you are in the dining hall, you will go upstairs when I come.”
She bit her lip.
It was a palace filled with many people, but only two masters.
She had to finally face him.
Her expression hardened and she raised her head.
Victor had terribly sunken eyes.
She smiled, swallowing her rising sadness.
“That's because I really wanted to rest. "Nothing happened."
***
• End of chapter •
To be continued •••
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