* * *
After dinner, Dahlia and the other maids came rushing in, carrying all sorts of things.
“Phew, it’s a good thing we filled the room with furniture in advance.”
“We’ve prepared rose petal bath salts, premium oils, and rose-scented perfume.”
“Which nightgown would you like to wear from the ones the Dowager Duchess and Princesses gave you last time?”
My head was spinning from all the fuss they were making. I looked at everyone with a bewildered expression.
“Um, I already took a bath though.”
The maids sat me down at the vanity and started brushing my hair and getting me ready.
“Then we’ll use the bath salts later, and we’ll get you dressed up now.”
“A silk slip would be good for the nightgown, right?”
As I was being pulled this way and that by the maids’ hands, I asked:
“Why? Suddenly? Why are you dressing me up in the middle of the night?”
Dahlia, who was lighting scented candles with a sweet fragrance, looked at me with a solemn expression.
“Because it’s your wedding night.”
“Huh.”
How did it end up like this?
I wanted to say I was just planning to have a meeting, but Dahlia and the other maids’ faces looked too enthusiastic.
“A lighter color would be better for the lips!”
“I don’t think we need any hair accessories.”
“No, tying it with a ribbon and then untying it would set the mood much better…”
Why aren’t they asking me?
After a whirlwind of time like that, they left me with my hair in a half-up braid and wearing a slip.
They had even carefully set up desserts, wine, and mood-setting candles on the table.
“…”
I stood up abruptly, intending to change clothes. I looked like someone expecting a passionate wedding night to anyone who saw me.
Just as I was hurriedly lowering the strap of the slip, there was a knock and the door opened with a click.
“Oh.”
“Ah.”
I ended up making eye contact with Masera, who had come in his uniform and coat.
His face instantly stiffened, then he slowly turned around.
“Such a half-dressed state is disconcerting.”
He said very seriously while turned away.
“And I didn’t wear my uniform with that intention either.”
Perhaps because of what I said last time about preferring uniforms, he added an excuse.
“Well, Dahlia had a huge misunderstanding… Okay, I’m dressed now.”
I answered while hurriedly putting on an overcoat.
“…”
Masera approached me and slowly lowered his eyelids.
“There’s something we shouldn’t forget.”
“What? That we had a political marriage solely for mutual benefit?”
I asked cheerfully, but his expression remained dark.
“No.”
He slowly shook his head. As he buttoned up the buttons I hadn’t managed to fasten, he continued:
“That we are still husband and wife, and a man and woman.”
My shoulders tensed at his low voice, which seemed to settle like fog. For some reason, my cheeks felt hot. It was more of an awkward feeling than embarrassment.
I couldn’t tell what his intention was in saying such a thing, so I didn’t know how to respond.
“Well then, shall we work on the guest list together?”
I quickly sat down on the sofa, reminding him of our original purpose.
Masera nodded and sat down across from me.
As if to push away the subtle atmosphere that had passed between us, we discussed the people we would invite in the future.
“There’s a World’s Fair coming up soon, so many people from abroad will be coming…”
From what I’d observed so far, Masera tended to respect others’ opinions. The fact that he accepted my words, even though we were practically enemies, was evidence of that.
“Let’s wrap it up here and add to it later.”
As we were nearing the end, Masera looked around the room decorated with antique furniture and ornaments and asked:
“Did you furnish this? It was completely empty until recently.”
“Yes, is it alright?”
“It’s fine. I was worried it might have an unusual concept.”
He looked relieved. I wonder what he had imagined…
It was worth the effort to try to make it look luxurious by consulting with Dahlia and Viego.
“Did you learn to play the piano?”
He nodded towards the piano placed to one side.
“Yes. Though I’m not very good at it.”
“Would you play a piece for me?”
Masera made an unexpected request. Is he a man with some sensitivity after all?
I stood up with a confident expression and headed towards the piano.
As I placed my hands on the keys, I turned to look at him.
“Do you remember the song that was played at our wedding?”
Masera nodded silently.
I cleared my throat and sat up straight on the piano bench.
“This is a piece called ‘Liebestraum’. I should practice hard so I can play it without sheet music.”
Suddenly, I was reminded of the gentle voice of my piano academy director from my past life. I hadn’t finished learning everything before the director left for conscription.
Ding-
I struggled to recall my old memories as I clumsily continued playing.
The war had started quietly beneath ordinary daily life.
The everyday life we believed would be the same tomorrow suddenly collapsed one day. I only wished that the tragedy I experienced would never happen again.
Diring-
In the end, I couldn’t finish playing and took my hands off the keys.
It was because I couldn’t handle the feeling of something welling up inside me.
“Um… It’s been too long since I played.”
I gave an awkward smile along with an excuse as I tried to stand up.
But Masera, who had already approached the piano, sat down next to me and placed his hands on the keys.
“Although music education is the privilege of nobles, I also learned to play the piano.”
“Who taught you?”
“When I was a child soldier, I was once taken prisoner. I learned from an enemy colonel at that time.”
Masera pressed the keys with his slender fingers.
“That colonel was known to be a madman, cruel, and a devil worshipper. But…”
He looked down at me sitting next to him and added:
“When I saw him up close, he was just like any other person. He even released me, even though I had annihilated several of their units at the time.”
He began to elegantly play the piano.
The piece with such a serious narrative was…
The Chopsticks March.
“So you’re saying that a very cruel, mad, devil-worshipping colonel took the esteemed Brigadier General prisoner, taught him the Chopsticks March, and then let him go?”
“Yes.”
“I see.”
He looked so serious and solemn that I couldn’t even bring myself to laugh.
I played the Chopsticks March along with him in a dignified manner.
“Pfft.”
But I ended up bursting into laughter.
He asked with his still expressionless face:
“Is it funny?”
“Just imagining it made me laugh. Sorry.”
“I said it to make you laugh. You looked like you were about to cry.”
His eyes, which had been staring intently at me, narrowed elegantly.
“And it seems I’ll have to sleep in this room tonight. Everyone thinks it’s our wedding night.”
* * *
Count Queensguard had a face full of smiles.
Who would have thought that right after an article came out saying the Nox region was a useless wasteland, it would be elevated to a land of opportunity with Queen Medea’s investment.
“I think I know what my eldest son-in-law is thinking.”
The Count was well aware of Duke Rukanosa’s inferiority complex towards Masera. It was obvious that Helene, who didn’t want to be outdone by a mere maid, would have agreed.
Anyway, those short-sighted people who prioritize their own feelings.
How much better it would have been if Cynthia were my daughter instead of Helene, who only has a strong pride like her mother.
Suddenly, he was reminded of Princess Margarita, who had fled to the north in a miserable state.
“Grant Queensguard, you are the knight I trust the most.”
The Count’s brow furrowed sharply, startled by the chain of thoughts that had occurred to him without realizing it.
“…Useless thoughts.”
He fell into contemplation as he picked up a calendar to gauge the dates.
“She’s an adopted daughter who faithfully fulfills the contract, so this adoptive father should help her.”
If only to prevent Helene and the Duke from interfering as they please.
Count Queensguard made plans to stay in the capital, ostensibly to find brides for his two sons, but in reality to keep Helene in check and to benefit through Cynthia.
* * *
Meanwhile, Carlos had also heard the news of the Queen’s investment.
His father, the Count, was also convinced that Nox held truly tremendous value.
However, Helene’s reply stated that ‘it is certain there is nothing in Nox, and this is a ploy to attract investment funds for an illusory development.’
‘Whatever the outcome, it will end up in my hands. I have her weaknesses in my grasp. Impersonating royalty, murder…’
There was no way he could lose out.
In the unlikely event that Masera learned all the truth and still accepted Cynthia, there was a high possibility he would pay a large sum to keep him quiet, knowing her weaknesses.
‘But then I won’t be able to use Cynthia anymore, will I?’
「Do you think she’ll only look to you forever? From what I see, that’s not the case. People’s hearts change quickly. What will you do if the rope you’ve tied her with comes loose?」
This was what Helene had added in her letter.
He recalled Cynthia’s cold eyes and emotionless voice, unlike in the past.
It seemed better to keep her shackled for life. Wasn’t an opportunity to stay in the capital coming up?
That’s when it happened.
“I wonder how Cynthia will react when she finds out I’ve come to the capital to find a marriage partner.”
Carlos was startled to hear his thoughts spoken aloud and turned his head.
At the doorway stood his younger brother, Edford, with his shoulders squared in an arrogant posture.
“Unlike you, brother, I could give up everything if Cynthia chose me.”
All talk and no action.
Carlos sighed.
The two brothers were unaware that the Count was planning to dispose of Cynthia.
