CHAPTER 32
“Congratulations, Canaria. Madame Montmad is now firmly on your side.”
“Oh! I’m so happy. The Lady never bought me such extravagant dresses. She always chose plain, modest designs… That’s her taste, of course, but honestly, I’ve always wanted to wear something more glamorous.”
“Yes, yes.”
“The fact that Countess Montmad is giving me clothes means she’s treating me like a proper duke’s daughter now, doesn’t it? Just like at the tea party last time.”
“Hm? Did she?”
“Yes! She clearly said that if a girl was like Lady Sirillezé’s daughter, then she was like a daughter to her as well.”
Dité hugged the dress and spun around in circles. She looked absolutely delighted.
“Truly… thank you, Marquis. No one will call me a pet anymore, right? No one will dare to look down on me.”
She was no longer a pet—just a tool worth using. But Marquis Hexion didn’t bother to explain that. He already had the next stage of his plan mapped out.
“Still, it’s surprising.”
“Huh? What is?”
“That tea party. I didn’t expect Lady Sirillezé to jump in and defend you so quickly. I thought she’d only step in after Lady Montmad spilled tea on you or something.”
Hexion muttered as he stroked his chin. Dité puffed up with pride.
“I told you, didn’t I? The Lady cares about me a lot!”
“Yes, yes. The Lady seems to care quite a bit about you, Canaria.”
The Marquis teased her, and Dité glared at him.
“You really are such a strange man, Marquis.”
“What’s new?”
Hexion hid a smile, his eyes narrowing with amusement. Enough with the wordplay.
“But… you’re not already satisfied just because of one dress, are you, Canaria?”
“What?”
“You said you wanted to become a duke’s daughter, and also Cayenne’s mistress. You’ve only achieved half your goal.”
Dité, still holding the dress, blinked in a daze.
Come to think of it, Marquis Hexion had said from the start that turning Countess Montmad to her side was just the beginning. That meant the next phase was still ahead.
“…Do you really think I could become Cayenne’s mistress?”
“Well, that’s up to you.”
“…”
“A man’s heart is best understood by another man. Just do exactly as I tell you—again.”
“But…”
Dité hesitated. She slowly put down the red dress, visibly anxious.
“I’m scared. What if things go wrong? I don’t want Cayenne to hate me. What if he starts to dislike me because I’m being a nuisance?”
“Scared? Then I guess there’s nothing we can do but watch Baroness Etisha win Cayenne’s heart all to herself.”
“That… That can’t happen.”
Dité reluctantly nodded.
“Alright. I’ll do as you say, Marquis. What do I need to do?”
“Heh. Good. Smart decision.”
Hexion gave her a rough outline of the plan. Dité was momentarily shocked, but soon relieved.
“Hm… It doesn’t seem as hard as I feared. I think I can manage this.”
“Not hard? Really?”
“Yes. It actually sounds easy.”
Hexion raised one brow, clearly amused.
“Hah, I see. Then…”
He glanced at the clock hanging in the room. It was time to leave now that business was done.
“I’ll be off. Stay quiet until I contact you again.”
“You’re leaving already? You just got here… You should’ve come earlier.”
Hexion pulled down the hood of his robe. He had to be gone before the Wintel castle patrols began.
“Don’t try to stop me, Canaria. It makes you seem clingy.”
“Ugh. What a thing to say.”
With a faint smile, Hexion left the Tower of Stars. He was thinking about why he’d arrived late to meet Dité.
‘…Etisha.’
He hadn’t expected it—this sudden urge to throw himself in front of a moving carriage.
‘She was the same. Like she remembered nothing.’
Hexion wondered if this, too, was fate.
Back at Wintel Castle, Etisha instructed the head maid to prepare dinner. She wanted to give Cayenne his birthday gift over a nice meal.
Will the Duke be happy?
She imagined Cayenne’s face receiving the gift. She tried to picture him smiling brightly—but it didn’t suit him, so she gave up.
No, he’s only doing this because of my wish.
Resolving to make the most of the one hour Cayenne had granted her, Etisha headed to the dining hall. Dinner preparations were almost complete.
“Marin, go fetch the Duke.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Etisha sat at the dining table, waiting for Cayenne. She fretted over whether to give the gift before or after the meal.
Ugh, why am I always so awkward?
Come to think of it, she had little experience giving birthday gifts. She did give her sister Larienne something every year—but that was more of a joke, like a kiss on the cheek.
Clatter.
The dining room doors opened and Cayenne entered. Etisha greeted him with a gentle smile.
“Welcome, Duke.”
“Lady Etisha. I heard you went outside the castle today. I hope nothing untoward happened.”
The knights must’ve already reported her meeting with Marquis Hexion.
“Oh, yes. Something rather surprising happened. But please, sit. I’ll explain over dinner.”
“Very well.”
Cayenne sat across from her. Canapés were served as appetizers, followed by onion soup. Etisha lifted her silverware and began to speak.
“On the way to the marketplace, someone threw themselves in front of our carriage. A man dressed like a commoner, wearing a robe.”
“Hmm.”
“But it turned out to be Marquis Hexion.”
Next came Danish bread. The rich nutty flavor and fruit jam filled her mouth.
“He asked if I didn’t remember him. But it was my first time seeing him…”
Cayenne cut his tomato lasagna sharply with a knife, revealing the juicy red interior.
“Is that so? Then the Marquis must’ve mistaken you for someone else.”
“Yes, that seems likely. Or maybe he lied.”
“Lied?”
“To flirt, perhaps. Maybe he just pretended to know me.”
“…”
Cayenne crushed the tomato beneath his knife.
“That’s possible.”
“Do you think I’m being too suspicious? Maybe I really did pass him somewhere and just forgot.”
“No. I think your instincts are correct. I’m certain the Marquis lied.”
“Oh… That much? I was still half-doubting. He didn’t seem like a bad person. Mysterious, sure, but…”
Cayenne’s knife was now tearing the lasagna to shreds.
“Don’t worry. You did well. It’s never wrong to be cautious.”
“You think so…? I’m glad to hear that from you.”
“Yes. Especially since you don’t know much about the North, it’s better to be overly cautious.”
Cayenne eventually pushed the lasagna aside without eating it. Etisha wondered if he’d lost his appetite.
Then came the juicy sirloin steak. As Etisha cut her meat into bite-sized pieces, she tried to time her gift presentation.
When should I give him the birthday present?
Just then, Cayenne spoke first.
“How did you find Wintel territory? Was the marketplace worth visiting?”
Etisha’s face lit up. She praised the well-maintained roads, clean buildings, and thoughtful urban planning.
“It was amazing. I wish the capital would adopt policies like these—or better, the whole empire.”
“…”
“Why aren’t such excellent systems implemented more broadly?”
“…I’m honored by your kind words.”
Cayenne set down his knife. There was still milk sherbet left in his golden goblet, but he didn’t touch it.
Ah, he’s finished eating.
Now was the perfect time.
Etisha dismissed the maids attending the table and took the gift she’d left on a nearby chair.
“Duke.”
“…?”
“Please accept this.”
The gift was a round fishbowl. But instead of fish, a single flower floated inside—a white water lily.
A bloom not rooted in solid earth, but one that emerged from murky waters.
“I was thinking about what to get you… I thought if I gave you a plant, you could care for it and enjoy it for a long time.”
Looking closely, there was a small orb nestled in the center of the blossom.
Etisha stepped closer and gently tapped it. The orb lit up, projecting her face and voice.
[Duke Cayenne, happy birthday. I hope you have a joyful year. Thank you, always.]
It was a memory stone—a rare, refined gemstone that could permanently store short recordings.
“…Etisha.”
Cayenne couldn’t possibly misunderstand the meaning behind her gift. This was the last birthday she would be around to celebrate with him. After this year, she hoped the orb could take her place.
“…”
Cayenne quietly studied Etisha’s face.
He had known from the beginning that she was terminally ill, and accepted it when he began this charade.
Marriage, huh…
He’d thought a fake marriage wouldn’t be a big deal.
Everyone dies eventually.
After years of war, he had seen countless sick and dying soldiers. He thought he’d become desensitized to death and pain. But the more time he spent with Etisha, the harder it became to imagine her end.
She’s going to die…
Etisha was going to die.
In just a year.
Cayenne gazed at her serene face, trying to picture what would come next: her twisted in pain, suffering, and finally, her last breath.
Sad day. I’ll have to keep coming back and checking to see when this unlocks.