<Chapter 9>
“Yes, that’s correct.”
The head maid, Bongfiju, who had followed behind, answered with a falsely polite tone.
“Quite simple.”
Only two bags?
For a noble lady embarking on a long journey, it felt oddly lacking.
Still, I didn’t feel like bothering to care.
I didn’t want to comment on how little luggage there was and end up giving her an excuse to go shopping.
‘Well, at least it won’t take much time.’
That was when it happened.
Without being asked anything, Bongfiju hesitated for a moment before adding more on her own.
“And I will also be accompanying the young lady to the Grand Duchy.”
Her voice was thick with tension.
“Denied.”
But as if he had already taken a strong dislike to her, Sebastian flatly rejected the idea without a second thought.
“Young Master!”
Sebastian’s cold voice sent a chill down the spine.
Yet Bongfiju, who had been ordered by Marquis Blanche to keep an eye on Erica, had no choice but to raise her voice in protest—she had to follow the girl, no matter what.
‘I must go with her, no matter what!’
If she returned to the marquisate like this, it would only prove her uselessness, and she’d be dismissed for sure.
It was as if her life depended on this moment, and Bongfiju pressed on.
“We can’t send the young lady alone. If something were to happen to her—”
But she couldn’t finish her sentence.
Sebastian’s cold, crimson gaze fell on her with an icy gleam.
“Those words…”
The boy spoke slowly, his voice utterly devoid of warmth.
“…make it sound as if you’re certain the Grand Duchy of Acliff will do something terrible to a mere little girl.”
The atmosphere changed in an instant.
Both the knights of Acliff who had come with Sebastian and the people from the temple who had come to see them off hardened their expressions.
Only one person remained calm: Sebastian.
His lips curled slightly, as if amused.
“Is that the will of Marquis Blanche?”
“N-no, that’s not it…”
But Bongfiju couldn’t get the words out.
Desperate to get permission to follow, her nerves got the better of her, and she slipped up again.
Thick cold sweat trickled down her temples and dropped to the ground.
An elder priest stepped in.
“Your Grace, I understand how you feel. But first, please calm down…”
“Priest, I am calm. My mind is as cold and clear as it can be.”
Sebastian smiled at the priest—a painted-on smile, unmistakably drawing a line.
The priest, faced with such a firm stance, could say no more.
The Grand Duchy of Acliff had been undeniably insulted, and Sebastian had every right to be outraged.
If the priest insisted on stopping him now, it would make it appear as if the temple had abandoned its neutrality and sided with the Marquis Blanche’s house.
“Haa… I see what you’re saying.”
The priest fell silent, and Sebastian’s eyes returned to Bongfiju.
Seeing the one person she had hoped would mediate step back, Bongfiju turned deathly pale.
Sebastian, his tone quiet but menacing, pressed on.
“Answer me. Is that really Marquis Blanche’s true intent?”
Bongfiju frantically shook her head and stammered.
“Y-your Grace, no. It’s not like that.”
Step.
Sebastian took a large step toward her.
Terrified, Bongfiju stumbled back several steps, yet it felt like the distance hadn’t changed.
Sebastian’s eyes didn’t smile, only his lips lifted.
“And how exactly am I supposed to believe that?”
“Y-your Grace…”
“What kind of master speaks so recklessly in front of their servant that even someone like you would unconsciously utter such rude words?”
Sebastian’s icy fury flared, dominating the surroundings.
No one dared stop him. Even those closest to him from the Grand Duchy of Acliff had no intention of intervening.
The elder priest rubbed his forehead in distress.
He had already officiated the wedding ceremony and acted as its witness.
But Bongfiju’s comment now had placed everything in jeopardy.
Erica also realized how serious the situation was.
‘No… this can’t happen.’
She held her breath and squeezed her eyes shut.
Why did Bongfiju keep making mistakes like this, when she always told her to be cautious?
Though young and fragile, resentment welled up inside her like a spring.
But she couldn’t just resent her—she had to act.
‘This marriage must not fall apart.’
If it did…
The girl swallowed hard. Worst-case scenarios spread through her mind like ink in water.
‘I’ll be the one to die in the end. And Mother won’t be safe either.’
Mother.
Erica thought of Julia.
The warmth of her embrace, her gentle smile—remembering them calmed her trembling body.
And from deep within, courage began to stir.
Biting her quivering lips, Erica dropped to her knees with a thud.
The sound was loud enough that everyone’s attention shifted from Bongfiju to her.
“M-my lady!”
The startled priest raised his voice, and even Sebastian frowned slightly and asked, displeased.
No one had expected this reaction from her.
“Please stand up at once!”
Someone cried out to her.
‘Probably someone from the temple.’
But as no one could dare touch a noble lady carelessly, they merely hovered nearby, helpless.
“Oh no, the precious young lady has fallen to her knees!”
Someone lamented in dismay.
‘This is nothing.’
Of course, it was unthinkable for a marquis’s daughter to kneel like this.
But Erica couldn’t think of any other way to calm Sebastian’s anger.
She had knelt many times before—if this could soothe his rage, she’d even be grateful.
Fortunately, her action seemed to catch Sebastian’s attention.
“What are you doing?”
The boy’s cold voice fell over her head, laced with annoyance.
‘I can do this. Be strong.’
Encouraging herself, Erica swallowed hard and opened her mouth.
“I understand why Your Grace is angry.”
She had feared her voice would tremble like a bleating goat, drawing mockery, but her voice held firm.
“I want to answer in Bongfiju’s place.”
“…I didn’t ask you.”
“I know… but I want to speak anyway.”
Erica’s voice was shaky but determined, almost like a whisper, yet resolute.
Knowing that everyone here was listening to her only made her more nervous, but she tried not to shrink back.
“I had to speak before the misunderstanding grew any worse.”
“Misunderstanding?”
“Yes. It wasn’t my father’s will. It wasn’t Bongfiju’s either.”
Hmm.
A low sound came from Sebastian.
Erica quickly assumed he was taking the bait.
So without waiting for permission, she continued.
“I…”
She bit the soft flesh inside her cheek and blurted out the rest.
“I was afraid to go alone to an unfamiliar place… so I begged Bongfiju to come with me.”
Her voice trailed off, and her eyes shifted to the maid.
Marquis Blanche’s appointed watcher.
Life would be far freer without her.
But Erica believed that, for now, she needed her.
‘Even if Bongfiju is removed, the marquis will just send someone else.’
Her clenched fist tightened.
‘That’s the one thing I have to stop.’
Erica couldn’t defy Bongfiju.
But just as Bongfiju knew her, she also knew Bongfiju.
And knowledge could be power.
If she was going to be monitored anyway, better to be watched by someone she could somewhat read, like Bongfiju.
‘Only then will I have even a little freedom to act.’
