IDHGA 10

Chapter 10

My heart beat uneasily, but that was all.

It was because his voice resembled the voice that had once pleaded with me so earnestly.

In my past life, I had been completely infatuated with him.

He too had seemed utterly smitten with me, and we both strove to fulfill each other’s requests, no matter how unreasonable, somehow managing to do so.

Fulfilling what the other desired—that, we believed, was proof of our love.

Unaware that such things would actually cause my love to fade.

That was why I did not particularly welcome that voice of his, which sounded as though he was about to make a request.

Because I thought I might once again be swayed by that voice, or by my feelings for him, and end up granting him anything.

—

*‘Please, I beg you, Rose. Please, don’t let me doubt you any further.’*

Those words I still remember vividly, but which he, the man before me now, would never recall.

The words he had spoken with a face full of despair upon hearing the sordid rumors about the Crown Prince and me.

With a face that would have pained anyone to see, and a pitiful voice, he had begged me never to go to the Imperial Palace again.

The result of making flimsy excuses and refusing the Princess’s invitations after that was, as you know, utterly disastrous.

Perhaps it was because I knew the man who had clung to me with such a pained expression, that I felt this way.

Seeing him, who now said he wanted to meet me, filled me with sudden fear.

Without even averting my gaze, I feigned a calm tone.

“Do you still have something to say to me?”

“There are always many things I wish to say. I had to spend the whole night choosing and deliberating over what to say first when I met you, my lady.”

“…I see.”

“Knowing that you might not be receptive, I had no choice but to use a roundabout method. If it is not too forward, could you spare me a moment of your time after the meal?”

“I’m sorry, but Duke, I have many matters I brought with me from my territory, so that would be difficult. I must leave immediately after the meal.”

To his gentle, careful request, laced with a hint of earnestness, I gave a firm refusal.

I didn’t know what he would say, but I had an instinctive feeling that I should avoid facing him for too long today.

“I am grateful for your help yesterday, with my aunt and uncle, in saving me. I have prepared a gift for you to take when you leave. I hope it pleases you.”

So I spoke once more, in a resolute tone.

This was as far as I could allow him.

The gaze pouring onto my back from behind was burdensome, but I managed to lead him to the dining room without once looking back.

“Where is my aunt?”

“She is waiting inside.”

Upon arriving at the door, I saw Head Butler Randel standing there.

The relief I felt was so great that I almost let out a sigh without realizing it.

As soon as I confirmed that my aunt and uncle were waiting inside, I hurried my steps and entered first, with Ashird following behind me.

“Oh, you’re here!”

As we entered, my uncle beamed and rose from his seat.

He must have been so grateful that Ashird had helped me yesterday.

It was almost unsettling how warmly he welcomed him, just as he had when Ashird was his nephew-in-law before my death.

I averted my gaze from the two who were welcoming him so warmly and took my seat.

“Thank you for inviting me.”

“Not at all. Considering the debt we owe you, this is a rather modest meal, and I’m quite embarrassed.”

“Modest? Not at all. You must have felt this invitation was sudden, yet you arranged it so quickly; I am truly delighted.”

I sat down and watched the three of them take their places.

Ever since I realized I had returned, almost every day, this new life given to me feels unfamiliar, but the most unfamiliar of all is the person I love.

To see him display such uncharacteristic humility.

Of course, that doesn’t mean he was an impolite person.

He is a very courteous person who enjoys behaving properly, but he is not the type to offer honeyed words filled with goodwill to just anyone.

He would not readily respond so favorably or speak so comfortably to someone he met, in a sense, for the first time yesterday.

*‘Yesterday, and today as well. What is wrong with him? Is this really the Ashird I knew?’*

Unable to quell my sense of unease, I was staring at them when Ashird, now seated, looked around and spoke to my uncle.

“By the way, is Earl Mason not joining us today?”

At that question, my uncle let out an awkward laugh, “Haha.”

My father, after hearing what happened at the party yesterday, immediately asked about the Crown Prince’s well-being and then criticized my conduct towards royalty.

He showed no concern whatsoever for how shocked his daughter must have been, or whether his sister and her husband had come to any harm.

And today, despite hearing that the Duke of Fontaine was coming, he instead warned me not to get too close to him.

He must have gone to curry favor with the Crown Prince, no doubt.

Except for the Council of Five Great Nobles, my father spent most of his time in the capital building connections or seeking advice for business ventures he could undertake in the North.

And since the Crown Prince was at the center of that, he would visit him at every opportunity.

I gave a slight bow to the man sitting across from me.

“My father had a prior engagement today and could not join us. He asked me to convey his thanks to you, Duke.”

“Oh dear, is that so? I was hoping to become closer with the Earl as well.”

“Haha, we shall arrange a gathering with the Earl next time. I hope you won’t feel slighted.”

“Slighted? Not at all. I am the one who made a sudden request to be invited to dinner, and I am merely grateful for such a warm welcome.”

Hahaha, good-natured laughter erupted here and there.

My uncle has always been that way, so I can understand, but what on earth was wrong with Ashird?

Unable to join in the cheerful laughter that filled the dining room, I silently lowered my gaze.

Still, this will pass. Just enduring this time will be enough.

Though it felt like a corner of my chest was letting out a creaking sound, I could bear it.

I quietly began my meal, leaving the three of them to their chatter.

Yes. That much, at least, was fine until then.

—

“What? Duke, you know how to play Othello? It’s a game hardly any young people know these days!”

“I grew up at my grandfather’s knee and played it a few times. I only remember the basic rules.”

“Othello is a simple game. You can play endlessly with just the basic rules… Well, well, I’m surprised. You know a game that’s almost obsolete.”

“I’m surprised too. I thought it was only popular during my grandfather’s time.”

“Surely not. It’s true that almost no one plays it nowadays, overshadowed by the popularity of chess, but I used to play it often with my parents when I was young.”

The problem was that the two of them got along better than expected.

During the meal, Ashird suddenly brought up Othello, mentioning he had recently taken an interest in it, and my uncle, who would jump at any mention of Othello, eagerly picked up the topic.

Wait, Ashird? The man who, in my knowledge, only ever played sparring matches with knights his entire life, suddenly brings up Othello?

“My husband prefers Othello to chess. I only know the rules myself and can’t play well, so I wasn’t much of an opponent. This is wonderful. If you’re both willing, perhaps you could have a game after the meal?”

“Is that so? Then, if you don’t mind, Marquis, might I learn a move or two?”

“Hehe, I’d be grateful, but I’m afraid I might be the one learning!”

“Haha, surely not.”

My aunt added her encouragement, and Ashird readily agreed.

Suddenly, this was utter nonsense.

“Eloise. You come along too.”

After barely managing to maintain a composed expression throughout the meal, I had intended to quietly return to my room.

It was not only confusing that a man who had never even set foot in noble games in his lifetime was suddenly behaving this way, but I also felt I needed to properly sort out my memories.

So I tried to slip away quietly to organize my thoughts, but…

My aunt, who seemed to be following behind the two men walking ahead, suddenly turned and approached me, who was a little distance behind.

She wanted me to come along while the two played their game.

“…Me?”

“Well, who else is here besides you?”

My aunt blinked as if stating the obvious.

Well, yes. That wasn’t wrong.

“I don’t see any reason for me to be there, Aunt.”

“Does one need a reason to entertain a guest in one’s home? Besides, it’s not me he helped, it’s you. So it’s only natural that you go, not me.”

“But Aunt, I’ve already done my part.”

Why. Must you. Keep pushing me towards him.

Of course, of course, my aunt doesn’t know I’m trying to avoid Ashird, so she can say that.

After all, to anyone else, he seems like a person with no reason to be avoided!

“Whether you’ve done your part or not, he’s someone worth knowing. You don’t need to draw such a clear line. Just go and exchange a few words and come back; why go to such lengths to avoid him?”

That’s right. It wouldn’t hurt to get to know him.

He is, after all, one of the Five Great Nobles of the Empire like me, and once I inherit the title of Margrave Mason, I will have to see him regularly in the capital.

Her words weren’t entirely wrong, but…

“I don’t plan on attending any social parties in the future. I’m busy enough with my own duties, and anyway, once this season ends, I’ll return to the North, and I won’t have to come to the capital until I receive my title. There will be plenty of time to build friendships then, won’t there?”

That logic only applies if our situation were normal.

Only if the two of us were truly just noble to noble.

I firmly shook my head.

“I’ll do it after I receive the title. I think it’s perfectly fine to handle matters after that.”

This should be a sufficiently flawless reason.

I thought my aunt would finally be convinced, but in that moment—

“Hah.”

A scoff, light but laced with enough emotion to convey her feelings.

My aunt looked at me as if she had heard something utterly ridiculous.

“Surely you don’t actually believe your father will give you the title, do you?”

“Pardon?”

“You refused the Duke of Fontaine because you think you’ll get the title, and that everything will be fine?”

“…Aunt.”

“Ha! Really…”

“What do you mean by that?”

My aunt was almost mocking me now.

After spewing sarcastic remarks implying I knew nothing of the world and couldn’t judge people, she finally let out a short laugh and looked at me.

“Eloise. I told you, didn’t I? To be wary of your father.”

Even if he is her brother, my aunt let out another hollow laugh.

Then, suddenly, she fixed me with a gaze that had turned icy cold.

“I, Eloise, was the one your grandfather had designated as his successor.”

She said, dropping a bombshell of a statement.