Episode 29
The topic was about Count Icarus. It wasn’t something I was interested in. I shrugged like it didn’t matter.
“If that’s the case, then I really don’t have anything to hear.”
There was nothing good about hearing stories of that ugly man. It would either rot my ears, ruin my mood, or, in the worst case, make me feel sick.
Just imagining him made me feel nauseous. I called over a servant and took a glass of wine.
“Oh my, do you still love him?”
Even though I frowned openly, she kept mocking me.
“Or are you just clueless?”
“Either way, I don’t see any reason to keep talking with you, Baroness.”
“We’re friends, aren’t we?”
My heart dropped. Friends? I wondered if she was also a lady-in-waiting like Carla. But Carla’s diary never mentioned the Baroness. Maybe they weren’t that close or had a falling out.
I tilted my head and asked boldly, “We are?”
The Baroness replied just as shamelessly, “Yes, we are.”
My stomach burned, and I finished my wine in one go. It was stronger than I expected. As I made a sour face, she started talking faster.
“I’m friends with His Majesty, and so are you. A friend of a friend is also a friend.”
I wanted to slap her. She tilted her head playfully and smiled annoyingly.
“Right? We’re friends, right?”
If someone else had done that, it might’ve been cute. But when she did it, it just felt like she was mocking me.
“Unfortunately, no.”
“You say that, but I know you don’t really mean it. That’s part of your charm.”
She winked. Honestly, I would rather deal with Liza. She was foolish and annoying, but not as irritating as this woman. My stomach felt uneasy.
‘What is she really thinking?’
I tried to sip more wine but the glass was empty. Seeing that, the Baroness waved to a servant to refill it.
“Drink more. There’s plenty. Oh, right. Do you like whiskey?”
“I can drink it.”
That was a lie. It was the second lie I told today. I didn’t want her to look down on me, so I pretended. Strangely, she believed it.
“What about Glenda?”
I’d heard that name before. I remembered it was written on a bottle Liza had stolen.
“It’s not bad.”
“Then let’s drink it together. I have some in my room.”
So we were back to the Baroness wanting a private chat again. I was tired of hearing about Icarus.
“Do you really want to talk about my husband that badly?”
“And other things too.”
She tilted her head like a child and gave a sweet smile. She looked much younger when she smiled like that.
I nodded without thinking. She stood up right away. Everyone around still ignored her like she wasn’t there.
“But don’t you have guests waiting?”
“People who come to my parties are gamblers or bet addicts. They wouldn’t care if I spilled wine on myself.”
I brought up her guests, but she didn’t care.
“I thought you knew. Everyone came to play cards. Don’t worry about it.”
“If they’re gamblers, shouldn’t you be more careful? What if something goes wrong? Who handles the money?”
As I followed her out, I asked. She walked so fast it was hard to keep up. Even while giving orders to maids, she kept talking to me.
“No one brings real money here. My servants keep records of who wins, and later I send gifts to them pretending they’re from me. Of course, the losers pay for it.”
She kept talking as we climbed the stairs. I was amazed she didn’t even pause for breath.
“Since no money is exchanged directly, it’s not considered gambling. That’s why His Majesty ignores it.”
“You do a lot of troublesome things.”
“But I get things in return.”
She stopped in front of a fancy yellow door with a golden bird painted on it. There was no nameplate, but I could tell it was her room. She opened the door wide and waved her arm like a show-off.
“Come in! You’re my first female guest here!”
She looked excited, so I checked the ceiling just in case it was a trap.
Her room was as fancy as the hall. The only difference was the size. It wasn’t small, but it was packed with so many flashy items I couldn’t imagine sleeping there.
She showed me her vanity and table. The vanity was made of light brown wood—maybe the only non-yellow thing in the room. But the mirror frame and handles were gold, so it still looked yellowish.
“Pretty, right? I won it from a bet.”
I ignored her story about how she won it from a marquis’ wife and looked around the room.
The furniture didn’t match. Some pieces were old and scratched, while others looked brand new.
‘Don’t tell me she won everything in here through bets?’
If that’s true, she’s really scary. The Baroness reached into the back of a drawer in the vanity.
She pulled out a heavy glass bottle. It was narrow at the top and wide at the bottom. I’d seen it before.
<Glenda, aged 21 years>
Behind the pretty label, the dark amber liquid shimmered.
“Did you win that in a game too?”
“No, it was a gift. Even I’m not bold enough to bet this kind of drink. That’s why I hid it under the vanity.”
She grabbed my arm and brought me to the table. The chair and table were different colors—another hint she got them separately.
The Baroness poured the drink into random glasses. No ice, no snacks—strange service.
“Here, drink.”
I said I could drink, so it would be weird to refuse. I took a sip with my eyes closed. The liquid was smooth, and my mouth filled with a floral smell. When I exhaled, I thought I smelled fruit.
“Do you like it?”
I couldn’t even speak and just nodded. It was strong. My throat burned.
“Want more?”
I shook my head.
“If you brought me here to talk seriously, I think it’s better to stay sober.”
“I can’t talk seriously when I’m sober.”
She poured herself a drink and chugged it. A strong flower scent filled the air.
“Want some chewing tobacco?”
“No.”
“Aw. It makes you feel good when you chew it.”
I glared at her. Tobacco doesn’t make you feel better—only drugs do.
“Your husband gave this.”
“What?”
“This drink. I figured you’d be curious. Count Icarus gave it to me. Your husband.”
I blinked, confused. The Baroness finished her drink in one gulp. Just like she did with wine. She really drank boldly.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. We only played cards together. At least, until that coward tricked me. I don’t talk to him anymore.”
She seemed to talk more when drunk. She began rambling without me even asking.
“He dared send me expensive gifts, thinking I’d forgive him. But it’s strange. Everyone knows he’s broke, so how did he get such a luxury drink…?”
I swallowed hard. My throat was dry. I kept touching the glass she gave me. My fingers traced its patterns.
She poured herself another drink but didn’t drink it.
“Everyone thinks daughters get the daughter’s share, and sons get the son’s share. No one imagined he’d steal his wife’s money. No one knew.”
“……”
I listened quietly. In this world, a woman’s dowry becomes her property. Taking it is like stealing. But her words were so unclear, it was hard to follow.
‘What is she really trying to say?’
The Baroness finally brought the long talk to an end.
“Were you scared?”
“What?”
“I know you were. He shouted when he was angry, raised his fist… Maybe sometimes brought flowers. When he was nice, you thought, ‘He’s not all bad,’ right? But men like that never change.”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking abou—”
“It’s a shameful thing, I know. But you don’t have kids yet. A bodyguard can protect you only for a while. He can’t follow you into the bedroom… One day, if someone asks, he’ll say, ‘It’s between husband and wife.’ You won’t be able to tell your parents or…”
“……”
“Or even your friends. But it helps to have one friend who understands. Don’t be ashamed. You can stay at my house if you want.”
Her words were getting too real, too specific. Like she had experienced it herself. So instead of answering, I asked:
“Baroness, whose story is that?”
“……”
At that moment, she froze. I quickly grabbed her sleeve and pulled it up.
She tried to stop me, but she was too drunk. Her arm was covered in bruises, some turning yellow as they faded.
I was speechless. She pulled down her sleeve and smiled brightly, like nothing happened.
“I’m okay.”
But her hands were trembling.
She was not okay at all.
