Chapter 35
“Why are you laughing?”
“Because it’s funny that everyone is so interested in such an absurd story.”
“Pardon?”
“Isn’t it? Let’s say it’s true. It’s already been four months since His Highness the Duke brought that woman back. If there really were an illegitimate child, wouldn’t someone of the duke’s temperament have announced his heir long ago?”
“Th-that’s…”
“And.”
Cutting off the viscountess as she tried to argue, the countess delivered the decisive blow.
“More than anything, if I were the duke, and I intended to make an illegitimate child my heir, I would have had Miss Philone killed without a soul knowing, then dressed the child up as my ex-wife’s, however forced it might seem. After that, I could divorce her or whatever else. Since the child would have been born of a formal holy marriage, there would be no religious or social issue, and no trouble later on.”
At the logical argument, one by one, they began to nod. Leaving aside the viscountess, whose face had flushed red and blue with embarrassment, another lady brought the matter to a close.
“Now, now. Let’s stop talking about that woman. We shouldn’t try to understand her in the first place. How could cultured people like us understand the thoughts of such dim-witted women? Talking about it only dirties our mouths.”
“Indeed. You’re quite right. Hohoho.”
At someone’s remark, the women gathered together burst into laughter. Just then, one woman seated facing the door abruptly stopped laughing and lowered her gaze in confusion. The other women, who had been looking at her in puzzlement, realized the reason the next moment when a voice slipped into their ears.
“Hello.”
“……”
“It has been a while, everyone. Have you all been well?”
Having entered the spacious lounge without a sound, Rowena approached them with light, graceful steps. Like a group caught gossiping behind someone’s back, most of the noble ladies were busy coughing awkwardly or averting their eyes. In the stiffened atmosphere, Countess Rachel awkwardly opened her mouth.
“I didn’t realize you had come in, Miss Philone. You might have knocked.”
“Ah. I’m sorry. I wondered what you were all discussing so amusingly, and before I knew it, I…”
As Rowena smiled and answered politely, as if she had heard nothing, everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
“I see. Sit here in this empty seat.”
Countess Rachel, the only one showing her goodwill, pointed to an empty seat. Rowena inclined her head and was about to sit in the vacant chair when Viscountess Estelle, who had been seated beside it, spoke sharply.
“Isn’t this a space for chaste noble ladies?”
“……”
“I worry that if a woman who is not such a person sits here, our reputations may suffer.”
At those words, which revealed blatant hostility, the atmosphere that had barely loosened froze over once more. While the ladies said nothing and merely watched one another, Countess Rachel, unable to stand by, was just about to speak. Yet Rowena, who should have been the most offended and humiliated, merely blinked as though impressed.
“How bold of you, Viscountess Estelle.”
“……
Pardon?”
“What you just said was an insult not only to Countess Rachel, who invited me, but also to His Highness the Duke, who brought me here. Are you prepared to take responsibility for that?”
“Ahem… What are you talking about? I merely pointed out someone unsuitable for this gathering.”
At the unexpected response, Viscountess Estelle cleared her throat, and suddenly recalled what had happened five years ago. The moment she had been caught by the person herself while gossiping with a close lady in the powder room. Though her heart had dropped, wondering whether there would be retaliation, the woman had instead hurried out of the powder room like a sinner. Afterward, when nothing in particular happened despite her anxiety, her fear faded, and other emotions slowly began to rise.
A woman who had neither status nor family to boast of, yet had taken a place beside His Highness the Duke, whom she had secretly loved, using nothing but her face and body.
When she heard that such a woman had been miserably cast aside five years ago, just before the duke’s sudden holy marriage, she had inwardly rejoiced.
But to think she had returned. The moment she heard the news, the inferiority and jealousy rising from deep within her chest reared their heads. It felt as though she would not be able to breathe unless she dragged her down somehow and smeared filth on her. That was why she had tried to quietly shape public opinion, only to be stopped by Countess Rachel, which had angered her. And now, this woman was to sit beside her?
“It seems Miss Philone does not know, having learned so little, but there are things a person must do, and things a person must absolutely never do. That is what determines one’s class and where one belongs.”
Having recovered from her confusion, the viscountess admonished her gently. Even at the openly condescending tone, Rowena obediently listened, then smiled and nodded meekly.
“I see.”
“That’s right. It’s enough that you know now.”
“Yes. Thank you for teaching me. In that case, may I ask you just one thing?”
“What is it?”
The viscountess, now triumphant, lifted her chin. She had intended to look at Rowena’s face and laugh at her to her heart’s content, but the face before her was so cold and frightening that it chilled her to the bone. With a face so chillingly expressionless it was hard to believe she had just been smiling, Rowena asked, enunciating each word clearly.
“Is spreading baseless rumors about the bloodline of the royal family something one must do? Or is it something one must absolutely never do?”
“Wh-what did you say?”
At the statement that burst out like a sudden bomb, everyone held their breath. The viscountess, who had never imagined that Rowena might have heard what was said earlier because of her calm demeanor, turned deathly pale.
“I-it was just… something I said without thinking. It was only light chatter, so to call it baseless rumors and such…”
“Is that so? Then come with me.”
“Pardon?”
“You said it was light chatter. If you can say those words again in front of the duke, I’ll acknowledge it.”
“What…”
Flustered by Rowena’s relentless advance, the viscountess urgently swept her gaze around, seeking help. But everyone only avoided her eyes; not a single person stepped forward.
“Let’s go together, Viscountess.”
“Ah…”
At the force with which Rowena seemed ready to grab her arm and drag her up, the viscountess, tears welling in her eyes, finally threw away her dignity and lowered her head.
“I… I was thoughtless… Miss Philone. I apologize.”
“……”
“I will never say such a thing anywhere again. I swear it. S-so…”
The power of the House of Devonshire spread throughout Ethelwood, encompassing both political and financial circles. According to rumors she had heard, they had even extended their reach into the underworld. Though she had once cherished him in her heart with desperate longing, Killian Devonshire was famous for being so merciless that one wondered if he was truly human. She could not even imagine what would become of her if she incurred the hatred of such a man.
“Miss Philone.”
At the silence that returned, the viscountess was on the verge of bursting into tears. Seeing that, Countess Rachel clicked her tongue softly and pushed back her chair. At the sudden movement, everyone turned their heads toward her. The countess stood and apologized politely to Rowena.
“If this has offended you, I apologize as well. As the one who invited His Highness and Miss Philone, I am sorry for allowing you to experience this.”
“Countess…”
“As Miss Philone said, His Highness is one of the few members of the royal bloodline. Though she committed an unspeakable crime of lèse-majesté against such a person…”
The countess continued.
“The viscountess has had wine, and she has admitted her fault and apologized. Could you not forgive her?”
“Countess…!”
With the face of someone who had seized a lifeline, Viscountess Estelle called out to the countess in gratitude. When their eyes met, the countess coldly fixed her gaze back on Rowena.
“However, it would make no sense for her to receive no punishment at all, so Viscountess Estelle will no longer be invited to any of my gatherings.”
At the firm words, everyone drew in a startled breath. At the same time, the viscountess’s face went beyond pale and turned white as a sheet. The declaration of the countess, who held no small influence in the capital’s social circles, was not a simple severing of ties; it was a clear order of exile from society.
“My lady!”
In the end, Viscountess Estelle burst into tears and hurried toward the countess. The countess, frowning as though looking at a beggar, barked at the viscountess’s maid among the maids standing helplessly against the wall.
“What are you doing! Your mistress is drunk and not in her right mind, yet you are not escorting her to her carriage?”
“Ah…! Yes!”
The maid, who had been fidgeting anxiously, snapped back to her senses and escorted the resisting viscountess out the door. After the commotion had settled to some extent, the countess sat down again and spoke calmly.
“Now there are two empty seats.”
“……”
“As a rule, one seat is to be kept vacant in case an unexpected guest arrives, but I have never left the other seat empty.”
The place the countess pointed to was the chair where the viscountess had just been sitting. While the shocked people exchanged glances, the countess had her maid pull out the viscountess’s chair and offered it.
“If you do not mind, would you sit?”
The proposal was gentle, but unmistakable. Toward Rowena, who was silently looking at her, the countess smiled.