Episode 77
Violet Ludville was a bride of early spring. As fresh shoots began to sprout and flowers, one by one, started to burst open the buds they had hidden all winter, an outdoor wedding was held on a bright morning.
Standing side by side with the man who would become her husband, Violet’s back in her pure white wedding dress was the very image of a beautiful new bride. Seated beside Cedric among the guests, Rowena wished her happiness in that moment, whatever her reasons had been for approaching her.
“Thank you for attending and blessing the marriage of these two, and for gracing us with your presence! I hope that, for today at least, you will want for nothing and enjoy the reception to your hearts’ content.”
As befitted the union of wealthy families, the wedding led into a grand reception. At Owen’s brief speech from the platform, everyone broke into applause.
Exchanging a glance with Cedric, Rowena approached Owen as he stepped down from the platform and was surrounded by guests. She was about to speak to him when Cecilia recognized her first and greeted her.
“Mrs. Godwell?”
“Ah. Miss Cecilia.”
“You came. Thank you for being here. Mr. Godwell. Mrs. Godwell.”
“Not at all.”
“We should be the ones thanking you for inviting us.”
After they exchanged warm greetings, Rowena cast a glance at Owen, who was looking between them.
“Ah. Mrs. Godwell.”
Quick to read the mood, Cecilia gently introduced Rowena.
“This is my father. Father? This is Mrs. Diana Godwell, whom I told you about before, and her husband, Mr. Cedric Godwell.”
“I’ve heard much about you. Have we met before?”
Only then did Owen lift the corners of his mouth and offer Cedric his hand first.
“You invited us to your last banquet as well. We are delighted to have been invited again this time.”
“Ahh. Is that so? My wife handles the invitations, you see.”
His interest lasted only a moment. After looking at the masked Rowena with brief curiosity, Owen soon turned his head and began conversing with another group.
The goal was right before her eyes. She could not let the chance to speak with him slip away like this. As Rowena grew anxious at the sight of Owen’s retreating back and was about to approach him, Cedric caught her arm. Then he lowered his head and whispered so no one else could hear.
“I’ll speak to him. So rest for a while.”
“……
Please do.”
Awkward after what had happened yesterday, Rowena nodded with a short reply. Cedric smiled faintly and walked toward Owen’s group.
Left alone, Rowena suddenly felt thirsty and looked around. Just then, she spotted a waiter a few steps away. She was approaching him when someone beside her shoved into her, making her lose her balance. Just as she thought she might collapse to the ground, someone caught her by the elbow.
“Thank y……”
“Diana Godwell?”
“That’s……
right.”
An inexplicable unease crawled up from the tips of her toes and coiled around the nape of her neck.
As she was helped upright, Rowena turned to check the man’s face. At the same time, she let out the breath that had frozen in her chest.
“How do you know me?”
Contrary to the chill that had run down her spine, he was not the man who appeared in her nightmares. Even so, she could not let down her guard.
“I asked how you knew my name.”
“You’re wearing a mask. And I also just saw you with Mr. Cedric Godwell.”
What came back to her wary question was such a sensible answer that it drained the tension out of her. Embarrassed, Rowena blushed.
“I see. Thank you for catching me earlier.”
“Not at all.”
The man smiled plainly and moved away. Rowena, too, shook off the lingering discomfort and lost interest. When she turned her head, Cedric, who had just struck up conversation with Owen again, was gesturing to her.
With a soft smile, Rowena began walking in that direction. The man from moments ago, watching her from a distance, swiftly left the room.
* * *
The place the man headed to was a four-wheeled carriage set well apart from the reception hall. When he climbed inside, his client was waiting for him. Without preamble, the man gave a detailed account of the women he had encountered at the banquet.
It was a strange commission, the likes of which he had not received in a long while: observe and report on every woman invited to the reception.
Apart from having made such a secretive and odd request, the client had worn an indifferent expression the entire time he listened to the report. The moment he reacted was when the man began speaking about the last woman he had met.
Sitting with his long legs crossed, one elbow propped against the window, Killian turned his head away from the scenery outside.
“……
You said she was wearing not only a mask, but a wig as well?”
“Yes. I didn’t see the hair underneath, but I’m certain.”
“Her name.”
“Diana Godwell. Cedric Godwell’s wife. Recently……”
Before he could even finish speaking, the air turned menacing, and a cold chill settled inside the carriage. At the rapidly dropping temperature, the man hunched his shoulders.
It had been at Owen’s banquet that he had encountered Rowena again. If he were to run into her once more, he had been sure it would be at a banquet hosted by Owen. But there had been nothing certain yet.
“……
Continue.”
“……
Recently, Viscountess Loren Senes, Cedric Godwell’s eldest sister, was hospitalized after showing symptoms of a hereditary illness. Because of that, the couple is said to have come up to the capital.”
His mind moved swiftly. Mask. Wig. A couple who had suddenly appeared. Hereditary illness. Hospital. Owen. Words that seemed to have no connection tangled and mingled together, only to come apart again, over and over. There was undoubtedly a link. And at the end of it—
“Investigate the previous records and Loren Senes’s hereditary illness. Then I’ll give you twice this amount.”
Having finished his thoughts, Killian reached into his coat and handed over the promised check. The man gladly accepted his payment and all but leaped out of the carriage.
As soon as the man left, Genok, who had been waiting on the driver’s seat, filled the empty place. Glancing at Killian, sensing that the atmosphere had somehow changed, he opened his mouth.
“Is there good news?”
“……
There is. Though I don’t know whether it’s good news or bad.”
There was no inflection in his voice. His expression looked both angry and pleased.
“I think it would be best to make a deal with Owen.”
“Your reason?”
“Because he seems likely to become quite useful.”
With those words, Killian closed his eyes and sought a light sleep. With the crack of a whip, the snorting horses began to run, kicking up clouds of dust.
* * *
Rowena and Cedric’s goal proceeded smoothly. It had begun with Rowena befriending people around Owen and being invited to the wedding, and Cedric’s approach to Owen through his hobby, chess, had also been successful.
“I had just been wanting to find a chess tutor, so it seems I’m blessed with good connections. Hahaha.”
“I am the fortunate one to have formed a connection with you, sir.”
“Is that so? Hahaha! I thought you were only good at research, but you’re quite the eloquent speaker as well.”
Owen, speaking playfully, stroked his beard. He moved a chess piece and waited for his opponent to move.
Two days a week. Two hours each.
This meeting had been none other than Cedric’s suggestion. In exchange for teaching him chess, Cedric had asked to be allowed to borrow the rare books in the private library of the Ludville residence. Of course, that was merely a condition on the surface. In order to ask him to procure Loren’s medicine through the underworld business he was secretly running, they first needed to become somewhat closer. Today was their first lesson.
Rowena, who had been listening to the two men talk, greeted him gently.
“Thank you for inviting me as well today.”
“Haha. You are a writer, madam, so of course you must be interested. Cecilia will show you to the library. Cecilia?”
“Of course, Father. This way, madam.”
At Owen’s glance, Cecilia, who had been sitting beside him, rose. Following her out of the drawing room, Rowena exchanged one last look with Cedric.
The library she reached by following Cecilia was larger than she had expected, like a small library in its own right. It was about twice the size of the drawing room they had just been in, and the ceiling was twice as high as an ordinary one. The bookshelves that filled all four walls were packed with books.
“There are many books of every category here. The ladder is over there. The novels are on this side.”
“It really is impressive. I didn’t realize there would be so many.”
“Since Father is in the trading business, he traveled all over the world and collected old books and rare volumes.”
Judging by Cecilia’s eyes, it seemed she did not know that Owen was illegally arranging stowaways and smuggling. Rowena responded suitably and reached for a book. When she opened it and began to read, Cecilia’s eyes widened.
“Ah. How fascinating.”
“Pardon?”
“The honored guest Father is currently entertaining chose the same book.”
“……
Really?”
It was an inconspicuous book tucked away in a corner. Thinking it a strangely odd coincidence, Rowena lifted her head.
“By honored guest, do you mean the person you mentioned last time?”
“Ah. Yes……”
Blushing, Cecilia averted her gaze. At her shy expression, Rowena smiled softly.
“Before, you seemed a bit burdened by him, but your reaction is different today.”
“Well……”
Twisting her body bashfully, Cecilia whispered in a small voice.
“He began staying in the annex not long ago.”
“Oh my.”
Seeing her rosy cheeks, Rowena smiled quietly.
“Since I am not yet married, I don’t actually have any occasion to run into him, but…… we do dine together in the evenings.”
“You have feelings for him, then.”
Instead of answering, Cecilia nodded. Then, after hesitating for a moment, she asked with passionate eyes.
“May I ask you one thing, madam?”
“Of course.”
“How did you fall in love with your husband?”
“Ah. Well……”
As Rowena, flustered by the unexpected question, was trying to wring out an answer, the sound of a book falling cut in. At the sudden noise, Rowena and Cecilia froze almost simultaneously. The sound had come from none other than the small reading room attached to the library. It was a space arranged like a slightly roomy confessional, so they could not see who was inside.
No sooner had Rowena asked with her eyes who it was than Cecilia’s face turned as red as a carrot.