BVS CH 23

Chapter 23

A few days later, the audience day came as scheduled, and I’d been busy since morning.

Martin didn’t show his face at all while I got ready—but clearly, he was still keeping an eye on me.

Proof? He’d assigned Babel to stay by my side again today.

Why does he keep tagging along?

At this point, I was seriously wondering if he was a spy.

We bickered at the front entrance.

“I can go alone.”

“No, my lady. You can’t.”

“Is this another order from my husband?”

“Yes… it is.”

The glare I gave him made Babel instinctively lower his head.

Seeing him with his hands clasped politely, I could guess how much pressure Martin had put on him.

“He told me over and over to be careful with you.”

I remembered Martin arriving at the study that day, out of breath, insisting I shouldn’t go.

He’d even contradicted himself from what he’d said before.

I had won that argument, but I still recalled the worried look in his eyes. I shook it off.

“He’s not even here to see me off, but he’s so worried? Tell him I said no thanks.”

If he was really worried, couldn’t he come out once to see me off?

Maybe what he was actually worried about was me embarrassing the family in front of the royal court.

My eyes drifted toward Martin’s study.

For a split second, I saw something blocking the window—then it disappeared.

What was that?

I soon figured it out.

A bit of black hair peeked above the window sill before disappearing completely.

It definitely wasn’t Erica—she wouldn’t be in Martin’s study at this hour. So, who else could it be?

I pouted without realizing it.

If he doesn’t trust me, he should just go himself.

I almost said it out loud—good thing I didn’t, or Babel would’ve reported it to Martin in a heartbeat.

Maybe Babel really was a spy.

Pretending nothing had happened, I busied myself again.

“Let’s go.”

Even after all the preparation, by the time I climbed into the carriage, my lips were dry with nervousness.

After all, this was the event where I’d meet the male lead’s father. If I played my cards right, it could be a turning point for the Cloud family.

Still, I couldn’t shake off how strange Martin’s behavior had been.

He’d frowned as soon as he saw the royal invitation, and then handed the audience opportunity over to me.

Babel said it was because he lost to Sir Stuart in a duel…

But that explanation felt incomplete.

In another version of events—before the novel’s timeline began—maybe Martin had refused the audience entirely.

That Martin didn’t trust Gemma at all.

So… does the current Martin trust me?

I wasn’t sure. Just yesterday, he’d still tried to stop me from going.

If so, maybe this was another one of his tests for me.

One thing was certain—

Just by attending, I’ll have a chance to turn things around.

That was enough.

I pressed my lips together and stared out the window to calm my nerves.

When we arrived at the palace, I saw that a few other noble families were here for an audience too.

It looked like each had sent a representative—one from an earl’s house, another from a marquis’s.

The marquis in particular seemed surprised to see a duchess instead of a duke. I overheard him whispering to the earl behind his back, his voice dripping with mockery.

And speaking of mockery…

“That man over there—that’s the Captain of the Knights,” Babel whispered to me.

He pointed to a large, broad-shouldered man standing in the distance. I couldn’t see his face clearly, but his build made him stand out immediately.

“I see… Arnold Stuart.”

So that was Arnold.

Knowing he and Martin didn’t get along gave me a bad feeling.

As the Captain of the Knights, his sword skills were surely top tier. Losing to someone like him wouldn’t ruin Martin’s honor.

Couldn’t he have let my husband win once, just to be nice?

I was actually defending Martin without realizing it.

When the time came, Sir Stuart approached us with a stiff face to lead the way.

His long strides made Babel and me hurry to keep up.

Babel muttered quietly to me, “It’s a relief the Duke didn’t come today.”

I agreed instantly.

I’d assumed it was just Martin who disliked Stuart, but I could feel a faint hostility from Stuart toward the Cloud family too.

If Martin had been here, I had a feeling the two would’ve ended up fighting.

Even so, since I was just the duchess and a newcomer, things were relatively calm.

From Stuart’s heavy, confident steps, I could guess at his skill.

“So that’s why my husband avoided coming,” I whispered.

Babel nodded.

Just then, Stuart glanced back at us.

Now that he was closer, I could see the thick scars marking his muscles.

Martin tried to beat this guy? Seriously?

Sure, Martin was muscular too. But picking a fight with a battle-scarred captain like Stuart was just reckless.

Yeah… I can’t defend him on this one.

As I was thinking this, Stuart suddenly stopped and stared right at me.

Did he hear what I just said?

Uh-oh.

His hulking build and intimidating face made my shoulders tense.

“…Unexpected,” he said at last.

I blinked at the unexpected comment.

“I didn’t think the duchess would come herself. Then again, the Duke of Cloud does always defy expectations.”

It was true—Martin’s attendance rate at royal audiences was poor, and when he did show up, he came himself, not sending someone else.

I didn’t know how to reply, but before I could speak, Stuart cleared his throat, as if something about me bothered him.

His gaze grew heavy.

“By the way…”

His voice was low and weighty.

“Has the Duke ever spoken to you about me?”

What was he getting at?

Thanks to Babel, I at least knew who he was, but I’d never heard about him directly from Martin.

So I slowly shook my head.

Stuart’s hand rested on the hilt of his sword, as if to say, You’re sure?

“Arnold Stuart. You’ve truly never heard my name from him?”

After the second question, I began to suspect something—

Maybe it wasn’t Martin who was obsessed with this rivalry… but Stuart himself.

He’s the one who won—so why does he seem so hung up on it?

He seemed dissatisfied with my lukewarm response and quickly changed the subject.

“…Never mind. This way.”

He pointed us toward a waiting room and told us to remain there until we were called.

Then he marched away as if nothing had happened.

Only after the sound of his footsteps faded did Babel and I let out our breaths.

The ceiling here was much higher than in the Cloud mansion, and the air felt chilly.

Our family was the only one in this waiting room.

Yeah… I can see why Martin didn’t want to come.

Even without ever dueling the Captain of the Knights, I already felt uncomfortable.

Then, a familiar scent of cigar smoke drifted in.

The marquis who had been whispering earlier stepped inside.

“Good day, Duchess. I didn’t expect you to come instead of the Duke. Had I known, I would’ve brought a lovely bouquet for you.”

I gave him a faint smile.

Apparently encouraged, he dusted off his shoulder and faced me again.

Bouquet? Really?

For a marquis to openly mock a duchess like this, he must have strong backing.

Otherwise, no marquis without protection would dare talk this way to a duchess.

If not, then Gemma’s social standing in high society must be really low—lower than I thought.

I really didn’t want to play these petty games…

I glanced at Babel, and he quickly whispered the man’s name in my ear.

“Marquis Holm.”

In the novel, he was known for flattering Prince Oscar and winning his favor with smooth, snake-like words.

Since all power came from the royal family, the title of duke clearly didn’t intimidate him.

I didn’t acknowledge knowing his name, and one of his eyebrows twitched.

Smiling faintly, Holm spoke again.

“I’m hurt you’ve forgotten me so quickly. You must be enjoying yourself with the Duke these days.”

…Was he seriously commenting on my marriage?

Holm’s sly smile widened as he pressed on, clearly fishing for a reaction.

“I heard you even prepared the exhibition yourself. I was worried the sun might rise in the west! I never imagined a young lady who, until just a month ago, only cared about shopping could do such a thing.”

He shrugged, refusing to stop.

It was obvious—he wanted to provoke me into showing a weakness.

Holm was the perfect example of a bully who bowed to the strong and stomped on the weak.

He’s really underestimating me.

In the original story, his private life was full of scandals—mostly affairs and gambling—but I didn’t plan to humiliate him the way he was trying to humiliate me.

That would be petty.

“I avoid filth not because I’m scared of it, but because it’s disgusting,” I reminded myself.

So instead, I turned to Babel.

“Babel, does my nose seem odd to you?”

“…Why do you ask?”

“There’s a smell here, and I think it’s coming from over there.”

I casually covered my nose and glanced toward Holm.

He pointed to himself, eyes wide, and even sniffed his own clothes.

Babel clapped a hand over his mouth to keep from laughing at the ridiculous sight.

“You… you’re laughing?” Holm snapped irritably.

Babel was too busy trying not to burst out laughing to answer.