Chapter 2
It was the first time since the mother and daughter had come to live in the mansion that the Marquis of Blanche had sought out the girl.
It was also a time of upheaval, just a week before the marriage agreement between the Blanche Marquisate and the Archducal House of Acliff—arranged by the Imperial Family—was to be finalized.
Erica Blanche, who had not suffered any serious illness for a long while, suddenly fell gravely ill.
Her mother, who was usually always by her side, was now hardly seen, always tending to Erica Blanche’s condition.
The situation seemed dire enough that Erica Blanche hadn’t left her room at all.
“M-My Lord, I—”
Erica instinctively almost said her real name but quickly shut her mouth when she was met with the marquis’s sharp gaze.
Swallowing dryly, she managed to speak the alias used within the mansion in a trembling, awkward voice.
“R-Ri, my name is Ri.”
“I see.”
Erica bowed low before him.
“I came because I heard you summoned me.”
“I need your help.”
Erica gasped faintly.
Meanwhile, the marquis sighed deeply and rubbed his jaw repeatedly with his impatient hand.
His already sharp features looked even more pointed today.
It seemed the marquis was not pleased with the fact that he had to ask something of a nanny’s daughter.
Erica held her breath, tense.
“You want my help…?”
“Yes.”
He was a man who lacked for nothing. A major figure in the empire, counted among the most powerful.
And I’m supposed to help someone like him?
She couldn’t believe it—nor understand it.
The Marquis of Blanche studied Erica with a piercing gaze, as if he could shatter her into pieces.
Erica dropped her gaze, shrinking away from that stare that felt like it could cut her.
After a long silence, he finally spoke again.
“You’re roughly the same height and build as Erica.”
At the time, she didn’t understand what he meant.
But she didn’t ask.
Someone of her station wasn’t permitted to ask such things.
After a pause, the marquis’s voice, laced with displeasure, continued.
“You may already know this, but my daughter is gravely ill.”
“Yes, I heard… and I know it’s caused you great sorrow…”
“But I can’t delay the marriage with the Acliff House because of it. If word spreads that my daughter is ill, they may use it as an excuse to find fault with our family.”
And so, what the marquis proposed to the girl was to act as Erica Blanche’s stand-in.
Same age as Erica Blanche.
And someone the marquis had observed for a long time, someone reliable.
No—someone whose weaknesses he knew well enough to keep in check.
That was Erica, the nanny’s daughter.
“M-Me? How could I possibly…”
“If you want your mother to live, you’ll do exactly as I say.”
What had started as a request instantly turned into a threat.
Erica’s golden eyes trembled violently.
The Marquis of Blanche knew very well how deep the affection was between Erica and her mother, Julia.
So it hadn’t been difficult for him to choose the perfect noose to bind the girl’s ankles.
“W-What do you mean…?”
It was only then that Erica realized—her mother Julia wasn’t tending to Erica Blanche in her room.
She was being held somewhere in this mansion.
“My mother…! Is my mother safe?”
“That depends on your answer. What will you do? Will you do as I say?”
Erica had no choice.
“…I’ll do it. I’ll do what you ask. So please… spare my mother.”
From that day on, the nanny’s daughter Erica did everything in her power to become the noble lady Erica Blanche.
Even her silver hair that once shone like sunlight was dyed red, the symbol of the Blanche family.
Of course, from that day forward, she wasn’t allowed to see her mother again.
The marquis had ordered it himself—if the two of them were ever to scheme and run away, everything would collapse.
Erica clenched her fists tight. Her nails dug painfully into her palms.
Ten years… no, just nine more until the coming-of-age ceremony. Then I can escape with Mother.
“Tsk.”
A quiet clicking of the tongue sounded from behind her, and Erica flinched. Her awareness snapped back to the present.
She wanted to turn and see how angry Bonfijou looked, but she held herself back.
Such behavior wouldn’t befit the esteemed daughter of the Marquis of Blanche.
Even though it was already March, the weather still felt bitterly like winter.
A harsh wind blew again, stealing the warmth from Erica’s cheeks until they stung.
So cold…
She hunched her shoulders slightly.
Though nervous, no reprimand came from Bonfijou.
Good. There must be too many eyes watching, so she’s holding back.
After stepping down from the carriage, Erica had been standing in front of the grand temple this whole time.
It’s been at least an hour.
But since none of the Acliff Archduke’s party had yet arrived, she had no choice but to wait outside.
Normally, she wouldn’t have to stand around like this. She would have gone straight inside.
But today was her wedding day.
The two marrying parties had to enter the temple together and offer greetings to the goddess. According to a long-standing custom of the Angelica Empire, neither could go in first.
If only one of them entered the sanctuary early, not only would they forfeit the goddess’s blessing, there was also a superstition that their future marriage would be cursed.
Though… it’s already looking cursed enough as it is.
More than anyone, Erica knew this wedding was merely a transaction between the two houses.
I don’t know what they’re exchanging, but…
With a quiet sigh, Erica lowered her gaze slightly.
Just then, something slid into view in front of her.
It was a cup of steaming tea.
“Please, take this.”
A young priest with a baby face held out a worn cup in one hand and smiled warmly.
Judging by the tray full of cups in his other hand, he must have brought tea from the temple for the Blanche family attendants.
Golden hair, green eyes, and white priest robes—the boy looked as though he had been crafted from the softest lines of spring sunshine.
He doesn’t look like a novice priest…
He seemed older than Erica, but not quite an adult.
Still, he wore the robes of a full priest, not a trainee. That meant his divine power was considerable.
Caught off guard by the boy’s sudden appearance, Erica simply stared at the teacup without taking it.
The young priest leaned in slightly and whispered, just loud enough for her to hear.
“I added honey. It shouldn’t taste bad.”
He offered the teacup again.
After glancing around briefly, Erica gave a small nod and quietly replied.
“…Thank you.”
She wasn’t in the mood to drink anything, but she held the warm cup in both hands. The heat at her fingertips helped relax her stiffened body just a bit.
The boy smiled again, then turned to serve the rest of the attendants.
At that moment, someone else finally approached Erica.
It was the elder priest who would officiate today’s ceremony.
He had once held a high post in the Holy Kingdom, but had retired and returned to his homeland in the Angelica Empire.
The only reason someone of such stature would preside over this wedding was thanks to the immense power of both families.
“The Archduke of Acliff is running a bit late, I see. It must be difficult for you to wait like this.”
Erica answered with a tense expression.
“I’m alright. I just hope nothing’s happened on their way here…”
Murmuring softly, her consideration earned her a gentle smile from the elder priest.
“You are very kind, my lady.”
“O-Oh no, not at all…”
Unused to praise, Erica’s cheeks turned red in an instant.
Unable to find a place to rest her gaze, she looked down. The elder priest’s laughter fell lightly over her like a gentle blessing.
“But don’t worry. This is the House of Acliff we’re talking about. The idea of anyone daring to harm them is unthinkable.”
“…I hope you’re right.”
Just as Erica softly murmured in reply—
“This is outrageous, no matter how you look at it, Priest.”
It was Bonfijou.
Having lost all patience, she no longer tried to hide her displeasure.
Considering her status, it was inappropriate to raise her voice toward a priest—who in some cases held more authority than nobles.
But Bonfijou had come to the temple today on behalf of the Marquis of Blanche.
She believed that gave her enough right to speak up, and the temple seemed to silently agree. No one reprimanded her.
After all, it was the Blanche side that had been kept waiting long past the appointed time.
“How long exactly are we supposed to wait?”
