C113
"It's hot," Lariette thought, wiping the sweat off her forehead. Is it because of the sponsorship? Even though she was wearing a cool summer dress, her skin still felt strangely warm, and the sun-exposed limbs were hot, with a trickle of cold sweat running down her back.
"Maybe it's because those eyes are annoying."
That makes sense. Shelia's voice and tone were so superficial that she wanted to slap her in the face. When Asrahan was mentioned in her mouth, she felt her head spinning. Perhaps due to stress, her body felt heavier, and a wave of intense fatigue washed over her, making her on the verge of yawning.
"I'm so slow to realize that bad luck."
Lariette bit the inside of her lip to hold back the urge to vomit. Now is the time for a relaxed look. That way, she can properly warn Shelia Mirchen.
"Did you hear what Lady Blanche just said?"
"Asrahan, it shouldn't be a false rumor, considering she called him by his name."
"Marriage!"
There was a commotion among the young aristocratic ladies invited to the tea party. They were busy sharing the information that Lariette had just whispered, and soon a chattering voice filled with sarcasm spoke up. Someone burst into exclamations, while another let out a sigh of regret. Asrahan Candel was always the talk of the town, so it's no wonder that everyone was so surprised. Furthermore, his fiancée was Lariette Blanche. Blanche was only a fictitious name, but it was still a story of the two main royal ducal families coming together. Rumors had once swept the social scene when she was expelled from Blanche and was dating the Duke of Candel. It was rumored that she moved in with him and ran off with money after the breakup, then she appeared at a social gathering after a long time and announced her marriage to Candel.
"Hey, you're lying!"
Shelia's sharp cry drew people's attention. She continued with a vulnerable voice, feeling a satisfying shiver run down her spine as the attention returned to her.
"Well, no matter how rude Lariette was to me, I tried not to say it for old times' sake... I feel sorry for Duke Candel."
She looked sad as if her heart was broken. It was an abominable attitude, and the surrounding nobles leaned in to listen more closely to Shelia. Everyone was dying to hear the provocative scandal surrounding Candel and Blanche.
"I heard it myself. Duke Candel said he now hates Lariette."
Shelia lowered her eyelashes and spoke loudly.
"Oh, if possible, could you please stop looking at us? I want to apologize properly."
"No, I don't want to."
Clearly, Asrahan's aversion was a response to Shelia's request, but in Shelia's mind, it had long become "I hate Lariette." She was so confident in her exaggeration that she even altered her memory to suit her own narrative. She didn't even realize that she changed it herself. Therefore, Shelia had no qualms about paying Candel a false and ridiculous price. If she had known such reality in the first place, she wouldn't have spread unfounded rumors until now.
The buzz grew even louder with Shelia's comments. They caught glimpses of Lariette and engaged in various speculations.
"It must be true, the way you speak so confidently."
"After Blanche's failure, Lady Blanche went mad."
"And did you run away with the jewels?"
All of that was very clear to Lariette, who had enhanced her hearing after learning magic.
"That's why she hated society."
Despair rushed in, realizing that nothing had changed. Lariette confronted Shelia, who was looking at her with an ironic smile. It seemed she had learned how to manipulate the audience's response, pretending not to know anything about it. But Lariette was the sole princess of the Empire, a woman who had held sway over society without being trapped in any book since her debut. There were countless people who were jealous of her and wanted her to fall, like Lady Charlotte, but few openly bared their fangs in front of her. Because if they did, they could have had all their teeth ripped out and be expelled from society. To Lariette, Shelia's appearance was simply ridiculous.
"Lady Mirchen, can you take responsibility for what you say?"
Lariette stepped closer to Shelia. The violet eyes looked at her coldly, and a sharp sense of dominance washed over her. Lariette wasn't a very merciful woman during the Blanche era. Insulting her was insulting her relatives, and she acted harshly not to belittle anyone. The dignity from that time remained unchanged. No, it was even more overwhelming thanks to Lariette's growth through various life-or-death difficulties. With instinctive fear, Shelia grimaced but recognized the eyes around her and bit her lower lip forcefully. A beautiful voice came out.
"Yes, of course. I'm sure I heard it myself."
"If you're lying, you'll have to pay for mocking the duke."
"What do you mean by lying? Say it outright!"
Shelia jumped out of her seat and snorted. Now a commoner without a castle couldn't dare to belittle her. As people babbled at the sound of lies, Shelia's face was distorted by impatience. One couldn't live a life like a commoner who couldn't attend any social gatherings in scandal. It was horrifying to imagine, so she looked at Lariette with a murderous gaze. Lariette, who had a cold expression in front of her, continued aloud, thinking it was unfortunate to pretend to be calm alone.
"Lariette, don't be unpleasant. You're done now, but why are you spreading your imagination alone? Did you go crazy like your mother?"
There was a pompous sneer around Shelia's mouth. There were a series of empty coughs among the surrounding nobles at her bitter mockery. Some were caused by embarrassment, others feigned unknowing mockery like an empty cough. Contrary to Shelia's expectation that she would be furious, Lariette still had a somber expression when she heard the insult toward her mother. She squinted, looked coldly at Shelia, and soon smiled.
"…Yes, what do you think, Asrahan?" Lariette smiled beautifully and asked.
Upon Lariette's words, the aristocrats roared around. Their eyes were filled with expectations and doubts about whether Duke Candel really attended that tea party. But when his shadow was not found, let alone Asrahan, their gaze turned back to Lariette. This time, the way they looked at her was as if she were truly mad. Shelia was about to mock Lariette with a bright smile. But in that instant, the bracelet on Lariette's wrist began to glow. Precisely, the round gemstone, which she thought was an unusual gem, shimmered splendidly, and a low, deep voice emerged.
"That's bullshit I've never heard before."
A deep, cold voice. It belonged to Asrahan.
"I don't think I would be happy to kill her right now. Can I take care of it?"
He's very angry.
"No, I'll handle it for now."
"If you insist."
In response to Lariette's answer, Asrahan stepped back, but his voice still brimmed with anger. Exclamations of fear came from the surrounding area, causing a stir. The rumor prevailed that Duke Candel's cruel temperament spared no one, not even women. Everyone doubted the notion that they would let their family go if they were deemed complicit in Shelia's mockery.
"What, what is this...!"
"It's called the finest magical communicator. I wouldn't know since I've never seen Lady Mirchen."
Lariette smiled gracefully, gently lowering her eyes. Shelia flushed and sharply responded to the comments that ignored her.
"How do you know it's Duke Candel? Don't lie!"
"How can you be so ignorant?"
"What are you saying now...!"
"How dare you say I'm ignorant now?" Shelia tried to shout, but she fell silent. It was because Lariette grabbed her shoulder tightly.
"How many families do you think will have to purchase the finest magical communicators?"
Lariette lowered her head and looked at Shelia. There was no more courtly honor.
"Why are you spreading your imagination just to do wicked things?"
Lariette spoke as if repenting and responded to what Shelia had said. Shelia trembled with embarrassment as her hands caressed her head, in other words, someone was laughing at her. Unable to bear it, Shelia fought to the end.
"Lie, lie..."
"I'll prove it."
And this time it was Erzebut. She continued, looking at Shelia with a face that was neither sweet nor friendly.
"Duke Candel and Lariette are engaged. I guarantee it in the name of the royal family."
Now everyone looked at Shelia as she stepped onto the stage. Shelia quickly turned her head and ran towards the exit, avoiding eye contact. It was a routine matter because she couldn't pretend to be Candel. The gaze that emerged from the silence was overwhelming. Shelia couldn't force herself to groan because she felt suffocated. Breathing became difficult, her head was spinning. In the end, Shelia decided to flee.
"Ugh...!"
Shelia ran with her arms swinging wildly, falling off the table and rolling on the floor. The noble complained about the deafening noise. Erzebut looked at Lariette with a raised eyebrow. Did we catch her?
Lariette silently shook her head. If she decides to find out, she can catch her wherever she goes, that's why she could relax now.
"Lady Blanche, your marriage to Candel! Congratulations!"
"Congratulations! It's a match made in heaven."
When Shelia disappeared, other young lovers quickly surrounded Lariette. They smiled and blessed Lariette and Asrahan. It was quite amusing that those who had laughed at her a moment ago were now blessing her.
She was tired of this.
Lariette still frowned without responding. Disillusioned and tired once again, perhaps due to stress, her body felt strangely warm.
"I'll go first."
Lariette left the place, bidding farewell to Erzebut and Zenvier. She would have stayed in her seat pretending to be fine, but today she didn't feel well. Eager to return soon, Lariette walked with more haste, unable to wait to go back and be embraced by Asrahan. But it was someone's fury that greeted her at the main entrance of the Count's residence.
"You bastard!"
Shelia was waiting to retaliate against Lariette. It was a swift punch. Lariette stared indifferently at the hand approaching her cheek, having no intention of moving or using magic. She didn't have to do that.
"Argh!"
Suddenly, a man who appeared from Lariette's side lightly grabbed Shelia's wrist and twisted it. Lariette said, looking at him as if she had expected it, "Thank you, Sir Gerard."
"Don't mention it," Gerard subdued Shelia, responding courteously.
"Argh!! Because of you, because of you!"
Shelia shouted and cursed vehemently. She fought wildly, but Gerard didn't even budge.
"You ruined everything! Is it fine to ignore people and press them with power? You're a bad, bad girl!"
"You need to calm down," Lariette pressed her finger against her forehead. Her head throbbed as she continued to listen to the agonizing scream.
"You're the one who acts differently based on your status and looks down on commoners."
"When did I...!"
"Idiot, it's not the people's eyes you should fear now."
The nobles will curse and ridicule Shelia for some time. But she shouldn't be too afraid of them. If they lose interest, they'll be busy forgetting about this incident and finding another source of mockery. Lariette slowly stirred the air with her fingers. Then, a tree trunk rose from the ground and soon closed Shelia's mouth. It was so strong that it took measures.
"You should fear my judgment of your disposition."
Lariette recited sorrowfully and took another step. Gerard, who gently moved Shelia aside, followed in her footsteps.
"They're getting to know each other, but it's just as frightening as the Lord himself," Gerard secretly admired and helped Lariette into the carriage. He smiled at the thought that the master had found his partner.
"Will you go straight to the mansion?"
Gerard, who closed the carriage door, turned to Lariette and asked. And soon, the smile disappeared from his face.
"...Madam?"
It was because Lariette lost consciousness as soon as she sat in the carriage.
"Madam, madam!"
Gerard's shouts filled the carriage. Asrahan returned to the mansion immediately after hearing the news of Lariette's collapse. It was rude of him to leave during a meeting with the Emperor, but it was none of his concern.
"Lariette!"
Asrahan took a deep breath and rushed towards Lariette, who was lying on the bed. He arrived so quickly that even his clothes were disheveled.
"Is she okay?"
Asrahan sat beside Lariette and urged a new doctor to respond. Not long ago, they said there was nothing wrong with her body, so why did she suddenly collapse? Asrahan thought he would kill the new officer if the diagnosis turned out to be a misdiagnosis from resulting anxiety. He couldn't dare to leave the man who hurt Lariette alone.
"Hmm... Did she use magic today?"
"Yes, she did. It was a little bit of magic..."
Gerard immediately responded to the priest's question, and the priest nodded as if he expected that.
"As expected."
"So, why is Lariette sick?"
Asrahan asked, clenching his teeth impatiently. He didn't want a quick response, but he wanted to grab the new priest by the neck for talking about other things. Unaware that his life was threatened, the priest smiled cheerfully and replied.
"Congratulations, sir."
In a sudden celebration, Asrahan clenched his fist. What was there to celebrate when Lariette was ill? Anger rose to the top of his head, but the following words slowly loosened it.
"She's pregnant!"
Asrahan knelt on the floor.
Tags:
ITDHL (Novel)