Chapter 17
The Grand Duke looked fiercely at his knight.
Marion's feelings were strangely complicated.
One moment it was gratitude and concern, then it was attachment, and now it was boiling thirst.
The desire for possession and human affection become intertwined very easily.
The Grand Duke spoke weakly.
... “I have to end this once for all. Tomorrow I'm going to Welsh's house. Don't tell her.”
"Good".
“And the knights get ready.”
The vein came out forcefully from the back of his hand.
“I will have to leave the capital soon.”
***
Rumors about her spread like wildfire.
Even though she was confined to the palace, she could tell.
Even the maids seemed to know everything that happened yesterday
From what I heard, the Morty estate didn't have much contact with the outside world, but ever since she spoke openly about the duel over dinner, rumors had spread.
Unexpectedly, the maids seemed excited.
“Madam, have you really defeated a Welsh knight?”
“Uh huh! Tell us!”
Sumona gave them a short warning, but Omarion nodded.
"Yes".
“Oh, how rude Mrs. Welsh is. When she used to visit, she didn't treat us very kindly...”
“Not in front of His Highness!”
At Sumona's angry rebuke, the maids quickly shut their mouths.
Omarion's heart grew heavier.
As expected, rumors were spreading.
After all, since Nanael was his fiancée, and her family was part of the alliance, she must have visited the palace often.
She finished composing herself with a gloomy face.
However, she was happy that she was able to leave her hair loose and wear underwear.
She was excited to be able to snack to her heart's content without encountering villains.
“I must go into the kitchen later and ask them to make lots of biscuits with raspberry jam. I will give them to the gardener, the gatekeeper, and the maids who clean the windows.”
“Is Sir Charles still in the palace? If so, I should ask him to have tea with me.”
Sumona slowly approached Omarion, who was swinging her legs like a child.
"my lady".
Seeing her serious face, Omarion quickly adjusted her posture. After receiving a strict education in etiquette, it became her habit to straighten up whenever she saw the old maid.
But to her surprise, Sumona did not point out her rude behavior.
Instead, she bowed her head deeply.
“I'm really sorry.”
Omarion panicked.
“Why?”
“If I had known that Mrs. Welsh made you uncomfortable, I would have made sure that you could avoid meeting her. How surprised I was to hear that the lady fought a duel...”
The old maid's shoulders began to shake.
Omarion shook her head in surprise, “No, I had to go. I’m fine.”
“No, ma’am. It’s okay at all.”
Sumona spoke in a firm tone and took her hand.
The old maid's hands were smaller and more wrinkled than hers.
But they were warm.
“If you don’t like banquets, you don’t have to go… I’m so sorry that I didn’t notice and made you suffer.”
“It is the duty of the Grand Duchess”...
"The most important thing is you, Omarion Morty."
Omarion looked at her in utter shock.
With her hair neatly pinned and wearing a clean outfit, Sumona suddenly looked like a widow from her hometown.
She looked like an Ammari healer who washed wounds with strong liquor and crushed herbs tirelessly.
Omarion also remembered the swordswoman who always stood by her side, holding her dead husband's sword.
Sumona and Daedric's face began to merge with the wizard's face and the swordsman's face.
“Rituals and duties are important, but the most important thing is that the lady is happy. Anyone who cherishes Omarion would think so.”
"Somona"...
“Omarion Morte is talented and warm-hearted. Everyone in this palace sincerely wishes for your happiness.”
Omarion looked at Sumona.
Something warm, different from the heat Victor made her feel, touched her chest. Suddenly, her eyes became hot.
All week, she never wanted to cry, as hard as it was.
But now she can barely swallow her tears. She replied in a muffled voice.
... “Yes, thank you.”
The old maid smiled kindly.
She inhaled several times with her head bowed.
***
She hung out in her room all afternoon eating snacks.
Soft custard cream puffs, sweet pecan pie, and delicious Southern-style fried desserts were served one after the other.
Unfortunately, Sir Carls was absent and could not be invited.
He and Victor seemed busy with something.
“Could it be because of what you did?”
An ominous thought invaded her mind, but thanks to her maids, who chose some beautiful flowers for her and talked endlessly, she soon forgot her fears.
She put flowers in a vase, ate a lot of sweets, and took a bubble bath.
After that, Sumona came with a mountain of invitations.
Amazed, I read the names on the letters.
Most of them were from families you'd never heard of.
Sumona explained.
“Most of them are invitations from the ladies of the knightly families, ma'am.”
Knights' families? Why...? "
“Her Highness defeated Sir Geoffrey! Now that they knew about the lady's amazing skills, they must be curious! "
I was embarrassed by the maids' endless praise.
“Is Sir Geoffrey of Sutherland a famous knight? He didn't seem that strong...
With Sumona's help, I opened most of the invitations.
She had to read it to write a negative response.
She was in the middle of reading a letter when the door opened.
“Marion.”
Like a gentle afternoon breeze, Victor entered the room.
A friendly smile, as always, graced his lips.
He approached her and touched her cheek gently. His hands smelled like iron.
“Did he carry a sword today?”
She was confused for a moment, but quickly convinced herself that he must have attended the hunt with his friends.
“Did you read all the letters?”
“Almost.”
Can I help you?
Victor picked up one envelope. It was a letter bearing the coat of arms of the Duchy of Welsh.
“Who will treat me?”
Surprised, she nodded, and Victor tore open the envelope, skimming its contents.
“What are you saying?”
“They want to apologize for disrespecting our family.”
He snorted as he tore the letter in half. She looked at Victor in surprise.
“The Duchess must be Nanael’s mother... Did you write this?”
I asked carefully.
“Can I not go?”
“Marion, you are the Grand Duchess. You are the highest-ranking woman in the empire after the Empress. You don’t have to go anywhere you don’t want to.”
She stared at Victor silently.
Victor was harsher than usual today...and irritable.
The guilt she had barely suppressed rose up and consumed her once again.
She closed her eyes and apologized.
"I'm sorry"
Victor looked at her in surprise.
“Why are you apologizing?”
“Because of me, Your Highness’s honor—”
“Don't think like that.”
He carefully wrapped his hands around her cheeks, as if he were handling a glass doll that could easily break.
Victor's voice was as sweet as the snacks she had eaten all day.
“I told you, you can do anything and you will never insult me.”
There was a spark of heat in his amber eyes.
Embarrassed and happy, she nodded quickly.
She loved that he told her that all the time, even if it was a lie.
Victor smiled again, then suddenly spoke in a serious tone.
“Actually, I think we should go to the estate soon.”
"You mean Morty's estate?"
“Yes. I couldn’t go because I was sick… for fear of spreading rumors.”
His eyes darkened.
“You kept hearing a lot of terrible things. I'm sorry you had to go through all that during social season... If you don't want to go-”
She shook her head violently.
She was sick and tired of the banquets.
She thought that if her one wish could be granted, he would have to get her out of the capital immediately.
Moreover, Victor could not have spoken more satisfactorily.
She smiled and took his hand.
“No, I want to go too.”
A dazzling smile appeared on Victor's face.
“If you want, we can leave now. Or tomorrow.”
She glanced at the pile of invitations.
Was it an illusion that his eyes suddenly became cold?
“There are a lot of unnecessarily interested people”…
“…”
“How can we leave tomorrow?”
He furrowed his brow.
It's hard, but there were a few ladies who treated her honestly.
I asked carefully.
“However, I want to go to one or two banquets... can I?”
In an instant, her perfect smile was distorted.
“Ah! Is his work so important? Is he tired?”
As she looked around, she saw Sir Carls, who had entered the room behind Victor, clicking his tongue.
“Why is Sir Charles acting like this again?”
Victor's hand gently turned her head towards him.
He nodded with a smile flawless enough for her to think that what she saw earlier was really an illusion.
“Of course. But this time, take me too. We have never attended a banquet together.”
She was thinking of attending a small banquet for women only, but she couldn't refuse Victor more.
After she nodded, he laughed cheerfully.
“I can finally dance with you.”
Watching Victor kiss the back of her hand, Sir Carls shook his head.
She quickly lowered her head, and her cheeks became red.
• End of chapter •
To be continued •••
My Instagram account [@I.n.w.4].