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Color Gallery

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Cast of Characters

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Copyrights and Credits

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Chapter 1: The Courtesan’s Tale of Twilight

Chapter 1:
The Courtesan’s Tale of Twilight

 

TWILIGHT IS WHEN it is just dark enough it’s difficult to make out the lines of a person’s face.

Overhead, the sky was a stunning canvas of blue and orange. Or at least it was until the sun ducked over the horizon, at which point a dark-navy curtain blotted out all traces of lingering light.

The boy was panicking. He’d been so absorbed in playing with his friends that he hadn’t noticed the time. It would be late when he finally arrived home. His mother always gave him the same stern refrain: Be home before it gets dark out, or else. That “or else” usually meant he’d be getting an earful and, for the foreseeable future, wouldn’t be allowed to go and play with his friends. He should’ve been more careful, but he had thought it looked light enough out still. The darkness had come out of nowhere.

A chilly autumn breeze caressed his cheeks. Each hurried footstep was accompanied by the clap of his shoes against the ground.

There were far fewer streetlights out here in the suburbs than at the heart of the capital. No wonder his mother harped on it until she was blue in the face. Once night fell, it was so dark that he couldn’t even make out the outlines of his surroundings, let alone a person’s face. Still, it wasn’t black as pitch yet. He needed to hurry home while he could at least discern what road he was taking.

He ran as fast as he could, and when exhaustion hit him, he slowed to a walk. Once he’d recovered enough stamina, he pumped his legs as hard as he could until his energy ran out again.

At last, he arrived at a crossroads. There was a shortcut to his home, a road he never normally took. There were no laws in place prohibiting entry. The road cut across land owned by the local monastery—an old stone castle the clergy had repurposed—but there were no walls or fences barring trespassers. People were free to walk there if they wished.

But the boy had a good reason for avoiding this particular stretch of road. There was a deserted watchtower next to the castle that always had a sort of eerie, foreboding aura about it, even in the light of day. There were rumors about the paranormal showing up there too.

Thus, the boy avoided the area entirely. Even though it took extra time, he typically opted for the long way to and from home, avoiding the creepy watchtower altogether.

Today was different. This was an emergency; he needed to get home quickly.

Darkness hung in the air, but there was just enough light that he could make out his surroundings. His mother would be slightly less furious with him if he made it back before night fell completely. And he definitely wanted to avoid as much of her anger as he could.

He had only one choice.

The boy steadied himself. If he ran with all his might, it would be fine. He sucked in a breath, leaned forward, and kicked off. His arms swung at his sides as he propelled himself. He was speeding right past the looming castle and its tower, eager to put them behind him.

This is nothing! he thought. What have I been afraid of all this time? Right then and there, he decided he’d start taking this shortcut more often without letting his unfounded fear get the better of him. That way, he’d have more time to play with his friends.

No sooner had relief washed over him than he saw it out of the corner of his eye—a white silhouette. His feet slowed as his mind struggled to catch up. There was something strange about that silhouette. He couldn’t make out their face, not at twilight and not from such a distance. So why was there something so unsettling about them? He couldn’t put his finger on it, at least not initially.

The figure seemed to glow a pale white, perhaps because of their clothes. Whoever it was, they had long hair. They were walking—or perhaps tottering, given how unsteady they were on their feet. They looked like they might lose their balance at any second.

Should I offer to help them?

Fortunately, they were on the monastery’s grounds, so there had to be some clergy around near the castle. He could call one of them.

He realized then that he’d never seen this person before. They obviously weren’t clergy themselves. The robes of the faithful weren’t pure white like this person’s attire.

Then it hit him. The person’s long hair jostled unnaturally with their movements. That was what had unsettled him so—the way they moved.

Wobble, wobble.

It didn’t look like they were putting one foot in front of the other, as a normal person would. It was more like they were a marionette on strings, their movements so jerky that it was as if someone was controlling them.

Wobble, wobble.

No, it was even creepier than that.

And while his mind was preoccupied analyzing the silhouette, his feet had completely frozen in place. His heart was pounding in his ears, cold beads of sweat trickling down his forehead. The anxiety made his stomach churn.

What the boy hadn’t realized at first was how unnaturally the figure’s neck jutted out from its torso, and how the rest of its body seemed to dangle from its neck. A memory flashed through his mind of another kid holding a stuffed animal by its neck, its limbs dangling limply beneath it. This was the exact same thing. Except this thing right in front of him, whatever it was, was most definitely not a stuffed animal.

Right in front of…?

Yes. Without him realizing it, the figure had approached him. It hung there in the air, close enough that he could reach out and touch it.

A screamed clawed up his throat, but his voice died before it could escape his mouth. He didn’t have the courage to look the figure in the face. His legs—his whole body—trembled uncontrollably. Even his teeth were chattering.

It was freezing. And he was terrified.

His stomach folded in on itself. Heat built behind his eyes as tears welled up within.

The boy should never have taken this shortcut. He had known of the rumors. His regret would do him no good now, but there it was.

The figure had glowed pale in the darkness because it had no blood. It wasn’t human. Or more precisely, it had once been human…but it had died.

The silhouette’s hair jostled from side to side as the phantom loomed closer.

His fear was so overwhelming, he silently wished he would just pass out. But far from being able to escape, all his senses were heightened.

He couldn’t run.

The phantom’s long, damp hair brushed against his cheek. The scream that got caught in his throat seemed to rattle inside his whole body.

 

***

 

A shadow with long hair fell across the plush red velvet rug. Shrill screams rang through the room; it didn’t matter that they knew it was no phantom—fear got the better of them.

The owner of the shadow spoke slowly and with purpose. “Did the scream belong to the boy quaking with fear, or was it an inhuman sound uttered by the phantom? The boy didn’t discover the answer himself until he was standing in front of his house, face wet with tears.” And, as the tale went, the long-haired phantom continued to haunt the monastery grounds, as if there was some message it desperately wished to send.

Thus did the courtesan Mirage wrap up her story.

A chorus of sighs rang out in Flower Bed’s recreation room.

“Thank goodness the boy got home safely,” Marianne mumbled, her hand placed against her cheek. She and the other courtesans were sitting in a semicircle, with Mirage at the center. Marianne had a delicate, slender figure. Her hair, cut at her collarbone, danced around her shoulders as she moved. Her ethereal looks only added to the eerie atmosphere.

The other courtesans offered their own opinions in hushed whispers, rubbing their arms vigorously to chase away the chill that had invaded the room. A few had tears in their eyes, having lost their nerve the very moment the ghost showed up right in front of the boy’s face.

Mirage grinned triumphantly, flipping the long, wavy locks of her green hair back over her shoulder.

“Hey, Mom, don’t you think you could make a living telling ghost stories like this?” said one of the girls.

“That’s ‘Elder Sister’ to you,” Mirage corrected with an angry huff. “And perhaps I could, if there was demand for it.”

Mirage was the eldest of the courtesans at Flower Bed, so the younger generation viewed her as a mother figure. She was always extremely polite and professional with her clients, but much more laid-back in private and always looked after the other girls—which only encouraged them to keep calling her “Mom.” Even her bone-chilling ghost stories were her attempt to provide them with entertainment. Nonetheless, Mirage vehemently insisted that she wasn’t the oldest and that all the girls should continue to refer to her respectfully as an elder sister of sorts. Not that her protests did her much good; they still lovingly called her “Mom.”

“I bet if you gathered up all the ghost stories in the provinces, you’d have a huge collection,” said Marianne. Tilting her head, she added, “You said this one takes place in the capital’s suburbs, right?”

“Yep,” answered Mirage. “There’re a lot of old buildings dotting the suburbs, which equates to plenty of ghostly rumors.”

When Harland was first founded, a powerful family ruled over the land upon which the capital currently stood. It was only by merging with several other powerful families that they finally formed a kingdom together. Many of the ghost stories had been passed down through the generations, stemming from before Harland’s founding.

“Actually, there’s another ghost story from the same place as the one I just shared about a phantom searching for a living sacrifice.”

“How do you hear all these old ghost stories, anyway?”

Mirage shrugged. “They come to me. Most of them I get from my clients.”

“Maybe you’re already possessed by a specter yourself,” Marianne suggested.

The other girls squealed at the very idea.

“Mom, you may find yourself cursed one day, you know? Doesn’t that scare you?”

“Call me ‘Elder Sister,’ I tell you!” Mirage barked back with great emphasis. “And no, I’m not afraid at all. Humans are far more terrifying than the paranormal.”

Mirage’s words hit hard. Even though Flower Bed was under government supervision now, which had improved their conditions immensely, it was still a brothel. Most women who ended up there did so after undergoing immense hardship. Mirage herself was from the slums. For that very reason, although all the girls had been squealing in terror at her horror story, none of them argued the point she made.

Chapter 2: The Villainess Steps into Women’s Society

Chapter 2:
The Villainess Steps into Women’s Society

 

AT LONG LAST, Claudia thought to herself as she sat up straighter, the carriage jostling around her. She had been invited to a tea party attended only by married noblewomen—or more specifically, wives of regional lords or their heirs. Claudia wasn’t exactly qualified to attend as she hadn’t yet tied the knot with Sylvester, but the wife of the queen’s older brother, Lady Sunset, had requested her presence. It would be good practice, she’d said, so she’d invited only her closest friends. This duty was normally performed by one’s own mother. Alas, Claudia’s had already passed on, and her stepmother lacked the influence and renown to fulfill said role.

Lilith is doing everything she can, though.

High society was still unkind to Claudia’s stepmother. Her status as the daughter of a single-generation baron was holding her back. If Lilith had been assertive enough to hold her head high and insist people see her as the duchess she was now that she’d married Claudia’s father, things might have been different. As it stood, Lilith was too meek to pull rank. She’d only married into their family because Claudia’s father had strong-armed her into it.

Claudia’s paternal grandparents had passed away right after Virgil was born. Her grandmother had always possessed a weak constitution. The last thread binding her to life gave way when the heir was born, the relief of the event sending her into a final, peaceful slumber. As if he couldn’t bear to be without her, Claudia’s grandfather had soon followed his wife to the other side.

Claudia’s maternal grandparents were still alive and well, but they blamed her mother for her father’s wandering eye and infidelity. They’d changed their tune when Claudia was selected as future crown princess. Accordingly, she kept contact with them to a minimum.

Perhaps I should just be grateful my father’s hale and hearty. Not that she didn’t have qualms with her father, because she most certainly did, but he was at least a reliable presence in high society. Plus, she would never have been selected as a bridal candidate if not for her status as a duke’s daughter. Her beauty and talents wouldn’t have gotten her anywhere otherwise.

I’m sure Her Majesty was probably behind this tea party.

After all, she and Lady Sunset weren’t particularly close; she had only exchanged brief, formal greetings with her at high-society gatherings. The forty-one-year-old was the queen’s cousin to boot.

Curious as Claudia was about this whole setup, she was grateful for the opportunity. She’d attended more tea parties than she could count with other young noble ladies her age—but they were nothing compared to ones held by married noblewomen, even if they were similar in some respects. They were prime opportunities to gather information, that much was the same; but where young noble ladies tended to use such intel for their own personal advantage, a married woman had her husband and house to consider. Building up their family was their way of solidifying their own position in society. The only way to acclimate oneself to this new environment was to attend and gain experience the old-fashioned way. Even considering her past lifetime, this was still Claudia’s first tea party with married noblewomen.

 

***

 

Claudia arrived at the Marquess Sunset’s estate, where the tea party was being held and where the queen had been raised. Her father still retained his title as head of household, and the queen’s elder brother was the heir. Once he inherited the title, his wife would become Marchioness Sunset, but for the moment, at least, she remained a lady in name only.

After alighting from the carriage, Claudia was guided through a garden colored by autumn flowers. Warm sunlight poured down on her, but the breeze was nippy. It carried with it a sweet note of honey that tickled her nose. This was the perfect season for an outdoor tea party.

“Lady Claudia,” greeted Lady Sunset. “I’m so pleased you could make it. Only my closest friends are in attendance, and it’s a delight to have you with us.”

Lady Sunset had long, dull gray hair pinned behind her head. It was likely a style she’d copied from the queen. Her Majesty was a proactive person, always busy with something, which was why she so often pinned her hair back. The style had since caught on among the married women. Those who wanted to be fashionable opted for a chignon.

Since a tea party was a more casual affair, the women had refrained from any gaudy attire. Lady Sunset was wearing a modest dress the color of powdered snow, with fancy embroidery along the neckline. The décolletage highlighted her exposed clavicles. Her beige eyes curved as she smiled, reminding Claudia of a fox.

“I appreciate your most gracious invitation, Lady Sunset,” said Claudia. “It brings me such joy to be able to join you.”

Claudia was the only one among the guests who hadn’t fully pinned her hair back. Most married women didn’t look too fondly on the younger generation trying to copy their style. Still, Claudia didn’t want to let her hair flow too freely, so she had requested her hair be braided and pinned in a half updo.

She wore an eggshell-colored gown finished with glossy silver embroidery. With its golden accents, it managed to be fashionable without being too ostentatious. The ribbons on the sleeves and collar gave it a girlish touch. All the women present for the tea party were of the same generation as Claudia’s mother or older. She’d chosen her attire with great care to avoid seeming so young that she rubbed them the wrong way.

Not that it seems to have done much good, she noted. She very much doubted any of these women would take a liking to her no matter what she wore. Their gazes were cold and uninviting, which told her all she needed about what was to come. She would find no kindness here.

To an observer, it probably looked like a cozy affair. Lady Sunset had paid great attention to every little detail of the table settings. Everything looked lovely. The seat reserved for Claudia was to the right and diagonal from where the hostess sat at the head of the table. Lady Sunset had probably placed her there to keep a close eye on her.

“Everyone is well aware how much you must have suffered, losing your mother at such a young age,” Lady Sunset said. “I can only imagine how alone you must feel, especially since your father married a lowly commoner incapable of offering you any political backing.” She added, “I hope you’ll turn to us if you need anything at all.”

The woman offered support, pretending to sympathize with Claudia’s plight while disparaging Lilith. They were already on the offensive, attacking Claudia where she was most vulnerable.

Claudia flashed a smile back at them, her head held high. “I’m grateful for the offer. I fear I’m still far from being a perfect daughter, but I’m resolved to overcome whatever challenges come my way with my stepmother by my side.”

Lady Sunset would have probably been satisfied if Claudia had only meekly agreed and let her eyes mist over, playing the part of a frightened, unwitting little girl—but as a member of the Lindsay household, she could not abide insults to her family. Lilith was the rightful duchess, even if she and Claudia weren’t blood relations. Turning her back on Lilith was the same as betraying her own family.

“Duchess Lindsay must be so pleased to have a loyal daughter like you,” Lady Sunset said flatly.

“I’m not so sure about that,” chimed in one of her friends. “I’d feel incredibly pressured if I had such a perfect daughter.”

The looks they gave Claudia were so transparent; they didn’t appreciate her assertiveness. All the women present were part of the royal faction. Claudia had anticipated some pushback, but something struck her as odd. Claudia would eventually be the queen, at which point the Lindsays would be the leading house in society instead of the Sunsets. Naturally, the Sunsets didn’t appreciate their position being usurped; Claudia understood that much. It would be painful to lose the boost in influence they presently enjoyed due to the reigning queen hailing from their household. Consequently, they didn’t have the best impression of Claudia.

Claudia had decided to attend despite everything because it was a chance to practice—an extension of her princess training—and it was an opportunity to see how Lady Sunset reacted to her. Her training had progressed past the basics to diplomatic matters, so she’d started taking her lessons at the castle rather than at home.

I still can’t get a read on Her Majesty’s intentions.

A young noble lady was allowed to live a more sheltered life away from potential enemies, but a crown princess had to go wherever her duty required. No matter how today’s party turned out, it would give her experience she very much needed.

This garden-variety bullying is actually kind of novel. Fermina was still fresh in her mind. Given Claudia’s reputation as the perfect noble lady and her position as the duke’s daughter, no one had been able to go openly toe-to-toe with her.

Claudia glanced down at the cup in her hand. A dark amber liquid rippled within. She could tell exactly which tea leaves had been used from the aroma, but the color was all wrong. When she tipped the cup to her lips and let it wash over her tongue, a sharp bitterness spread through her mouth. This, too, was intentional.

She felt the other women’s curious eyes on her. They fixed her with gentle smiles, but she could tell they were snickering at her on the inside.

And this is all being done with Her Majesty’s knowledge, I’m sure. Considering the queen’s relation to Lady Sunset, the two had to be on the same page. Lady Sunset would never act like this without the queen’s express permission. So whatever this was, the queen had orchestrated it for a reason.

As Claudia finished contemplating, she set her cup down. “It appears there was a mistake with my cup.”

Lady Sunset’s eyes narrowed, as if she had been waiting for this the entire time. “Oh dear! I purchased those leaves expressly for you, Lady Claudia, but I suppose it simply didn’t agree with your palate.”

The other ladies began to admonish Claudia for not better appreciating Lady Sunset’s kindness.

How would they react if a servant had poisoned it instead? They weren’t the least bit concerned over what happened to her, which was precisely why they’d prepared this little trick. Claudia had no friends here. They were collectively lambasting her. A normal noble lady would have caved under their onslaught; most only ever attended tea parties where friends were present. Fortunately, Claudia had already foreseen exactly the sort of tricks they would play. The worst part is, even if I’d kept my silence out of consideration for Lady Sunset, they would still have found fault.

If she hadn’t pointed it out, a maid would have come along to confess her mistake. Then the other ladies would have disparaged her inability to discern the proper flavor of tea. It was the perfect setup because there was no right answer, which was why they’d taken such a cliché approach. Claudia had no way to avoid their censure.

Still, even if they have me cornered, I’m not one to simply back down like a wilting wallflower.

Claudia affected a hurt, melancholic look to appease the other women. She was still new to their circle. Sylvester faced the same in parliament; many members still treated him like an inexperienced greenhorn. Adults liked to pull rank and teach the younger generation the “hard lessons” of society in whatever way made them feel superior.

They probably have the mistaken belief that they’ve put Syl in his place.

And now it was Claudia’s turn to experience the same.

Sheepishly, she said, “I’m grateful for Lady Sunset’s consideration, truly I am. A maid must’ve made a mistake when brewing the tea.”

Lady Sunset frowned. “Are you implying that my maids are incompetent?”

“Not at all. But no matter how proficient the maid, she may still make mistakes—she’s only human. I hope you’ll have it in your heart to forgive whichever maid was responsible.” Claudia shifted the focus of the conversation from herself to the maid, and before Lady Sunset could respond, she added, “I can tell from the hue and the invigorating aroma of the tea that you’ve chosen the buds of the rare tea plant that only sprouts in spring rains.”

Depending on when one harvested a tea plant, its aroma, flavor, and color changed completely. The plant used in this case was a prime example. Ones picked during the early spring growth were referred to as a “first flush.” When steeped and served properly, the resulting tea was a brilliant amber.

“I can’t thank you enough for your kindness, Lady Sunset,” Claudia reiterated. “It brings me so much joy that you would celebrate my engagement to the crown prince.” Her eyes sparkled. “It’s like you’re reassuring me that no matter our distance, he’s always with me in spirit.” She spoke with certainty, as if Lady Sunset hadn’t been trying to bully her from the start.

Lady Sunset was struck speechless by this unforeseen reaction. Once she regained her composure, she cleared her throat. “It seems you’re at least capable of discerning tea leaves, but that strong will of yours will only breed divisiveness.”

That was the point of this whole exercise—to discern Claudia’s personality. Someone with backbone would protest the bitterness, while someone spineless would keep their silence. Claudia had elected to take the former route. She could’ve gone with the latter and tried to look for an opening to turn the tables on Lady Sunset, but all the ladies present already knew of her reputation. And anyway, a weak-willed woman would never become crown princess in the first place. Pretending to be anything other than what she was would’ve tipped them off that she was up to something, and then it would have been for naught.

Besides, I’m sure they’ll report everything I say and do to Her Majesty.

Lady Sunset’s brazenness stemmed from the fact that she had a powerful person backing her. This was an opportunity for Claudia to prove to the queen that she wasn’t one to bow easily to social pressure.

“I will keep your words in mind,” Claudia said meekly, nodding. She didn’t bother to argue the point. No matter what insults the other women flung at her, she was careful to pay her hostess adequate respect. Claudia was nothing if not consistent. And I do genuinely appreciate her giving me this opportunity to gain experience.

Lady Sunset, meanwhile, seemed vexed that her setup hadn’t gone as she’d intended. Her frustration was apparent in the vigorous way she fanned herself.

One of the other ladies picked up on the tension and stepped in, opting to improve Lady Sunset’s mood over needling Claudia any further. “Speaking of partners, I find myself blushing at the way your husband fawns over you, Lady Sunset.”

“Oh my, yes! I’m so envious!” said another. “You two have been married so long, yet it’s as if the spark between you is brand-new. That’s every wife’s dream.”

Lady Sunset’s face brightened as the women cooed at her. She’d looked every bit like a fox before, but there was now a crack in that facade that gave glimpses of a young girl in love.

Claudia blinked, disbelieving. This differs from everything I’ve heard.

Claudia hadn’t come to this party unprepared. She’d done her research well ahead of time, looking into all Lady Sunset’s relationships and which women would likely be invited. This thorough check included intel on her relations with Lord Patrick. I was told he neglects his family entirely, which has left Lady Sunset incredibly anxious. But from the way the other ladies at the table spoke, their dynamic had taken a sudden shift. They had mentioned a renewed spark, which seemed to suggest that Claudia’s information had been accurate until very recently.

“Honestly, that husband of mine…” Lady Sunset shook her head. “He doesn’t even temper his affections when we’re out in public. It’s as if he’s forgotten we’re not young anymore.”

“Oh, nonsense. Love and affection have no age restrictions!”

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“Precisely. Your long years of dedication to your husband must have won him over!”

“Lady Claudia, you’d do well to learn from Lady Sunset’s example.”

With that, their focus turned right back onto her.

Without missing a beat, Claudia smiled and said, “Most definitely. I’d love to hear any advice you might be willing to impart, Lady Sunset.”

“Oh, very well. If you insist,” Lady Sunset relented with feigned reluctance. She was all too happy to share her thoughts on how a wife should treat her husband, and the passion and joy with which she spoke conveyed just how delighted she was about her spouse’s change in attitude.

I wonder if she’d think it rude of me to find her cute. Lady Sunset had initially given Claudia a frosty reception, but when speaking of her husband, her cheeks flushed. It was a jarring, night-and-day difference. Despite her earlier attitude, Claudia couldn’t help but find the lady’s deep love for her husband endearing. It was proof that she was every bit as human as Claudia, and that gave Claudia some much-needed levity. She breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

Lady Sunset did eventually remember her purpose for holding the tea party, at which point she made a few more passive-aggressive digs at Claudia’s expense. Claudia kept her composure until the very end.

 

***

 

On the way back home, Claudia stopped briefly by the Sunsets’ drawing room where Helen had been left to wait. Together, the two boarded their return carriage. High-ranking ladies like Claudia always had an entourage—maids and bodyguards. It was customary for them to wait in a separate room until whatever event their master or mistress was attending ended. Only the royal castle was an exception to this rule.

“How was the tea party?” Helen asked right away.

“It was good practice for the evening party I’ll eventually have to attend.”

“Meaning what, exactly?” Helen prompted eagerly, brows drawn.

Said evening party wouldn’t be happening for some time. Countess Thomas, the earl’s wife, was the one who’d invited Claudia. Even Helen understood the intention behind the countess’s invitation, and she could likely imagine what had transpired at the tea party.

The Thomases were one of the foremost houses aligned against the Lindsays. They had wasted no time in issuing that invitation once her engagement to Sylvester was made public. Their objective was obviously to bring her down a peg. They want to publicly ridicule me, I’m sure. As one of the most prominent families in Harland, they knew she couldn’t refuse their invitation. The only saving grace of this party was that all attendees were required to bring a partner.

“There’s no need to worry. I’ll be fine. This is simply an obstacle I must overcome,” Claudia said primly. It was impossible to please everyone. She would eventually run into opposition. Thankfully, she had time to prepare—both for this tea party and for the upcoming evening party.

“If there is anything I can do to assist you, please don’t hesitate to ask, my lady.”

“Your support is invaluable,” Claudia assured Helen. “Oh, that reminds me. Lady Sunset seems to be incredibly close to her husband now. Seems he’s had a change of heart recently.”

“That’s a surprise. I suppose she must be very happy, then.”

Claudia nodded. “Yes, she really wore her heart on her sleeve.”

“If only she would be more magnanimous with you as well.”

“I can’t blame her. Her personal feelings have no bearing on the position of her house.”

Lady Sunset’s attitude was a product of the stance the Sunsets were taking, especially since her husband was the heir to their household.

“The fact that Lady Thomas wasn’t invited to this tea party shows how complex the relationships between the women in high society are,” Claudia remarked to herself. The Thomases were part of the royal faction too, and they were none too pleased at Claudia’s—and by extension, the Lindsays’—growing influence. Despite this common ground, the Sunsets and Thomases weren’t allies.

“As far as the Thomases are concerned, the Sunsets are no better with the elevated political power they’ve been given thanks to the queen,” said Helen.

“How long are these aristocrats going to dwell on old feuds?”

Much like the Lindsays, the Thomases had been around since the founding of Harland. The Sunsets had been one of the many notable families ruling over neighboring territory at the time.

Harland’s founding began in Glacester’s port city, and it gradually claimed more territory as it gained momentum. The Sunsets were but one of the families who joined the fold. They ruled over the stretch of land that now sat in the middle of Harland, where the capital had been established.

When the Sunsets joined the kingdom, they had offered two-thirds of their land—from the middle stretching out to the east—as tribute to the crown, thereby earning a marquess title. The northern land where the Thomases now staked their claim had, at one point, also belonged to the Sunsets. The crown had awarded the Thomases that land in return for their accomplishments, along with the title of earl.

“The Thomases are proud to have been part of Harland since its founding, while the Sunsets are proud of all the important land they contributed to the kingdom. They’ve always made it known,” Helen said. And in turn, because the Thomases ruled over land once belonging to the Sunsets, the two houses never saw eye to eye. “When Her Majesty married into the royal family, the Sunsets boasted widely that one of their own had finally returned to her rightful place in the capital.”

“Indeed, and the Thomases sneered and mocked them for clinging to the distant past.”

“At least in that regard, the Lindsays have remained as steadfast and unwavering.”

“Yes,” said Claudia, “I have nothing but gratitude for my ancestors and their wise foresight.”

The Lindsays, much like the Saviles (from which Louise hailed), had long reigned over expansive territory and thus contributed greatly to the kingdom’s coffers since its founding. Their ducal title was awarded to them when a princess married into the Lindsay family. Until that point, they had been of the same rank and status as the Saviles. Duke Lindsay and Marquess Savile only held their current positions because their founding fathers had seen promise in Harland and invested in its growth.

The royal faction was a collection of houses interested in maintaining their current positions. That was really all that bound them together, and just beneath it ran long-standing bad blood. With how long our history is, it’s no surprise the ties between all our families are complex.

As Helen had pointed out, the Lindsays had long maintained a neutral stance, and some found that impartiality infuriating. Such was the case for the Thomases, and their enmity for the Lindsays was the reason Claudia hadn’t been able to get help sooner when she was kidnapped and whisked away to a village within their borders. As long as they remained fixated on old grudges, they would continue to be an obstacle for her.

 

***

 

When Claudia returned to her family estate, Lilith was waiting for her. She’d known exactly what would happen at the tea party and that Claudia would’ve suffered because of her own lack of influence and authority.

“You must be exhausted. What did you think of Lady Sunset?” Lilith asked.

“She’s a tough, rigid woman,” answered Claudia. She gave her stepmother a full rundown of everything that transpired; she would’ve done the same with her own mother. But before they got too far down in the details, they moved to sit comfortably in the drawing room. Actually, it wasn’t a drawing room; it wasn’t even a room at all—more of a modest parlor nestled between two walls but otherwise fully open to the connecting corridor.

Several armchairs were lined up beside a window, with three-person sofas pushed back to either wall. Due to the cold season, a brazier had been placed in the middle, its coals glowing red. Its subtle warmth seeped into Claudia’s skin as she planted herself on one of the sofas. Lilith took a seat right beside her. At Claudia’s request, Helen brewed them some tea—the same first flush Claudia hadn’t been able to enjoy at the tea party.

They were quite exposed, making the drawing room ill-suited to private conversations. As long as they didn’t speak too loudly, no one would be able to eavesdrop. And no sooner did they settle in than Helen came with fresh cups of steaming tea.

Claudia took her cup, expression softening as she watched the tea ripple. She savored the aroma before taking a sip. It was every bit as refreshing as it smelled.

Lilith’s face clouded as Claudia wrapped up her account of the tea party. “So they purposefully gave you bitter tea to discern what kind of person you are. I’ve heard of that method, but it’s not usually quite so abrasive.”

One would only perform such a test if they were to be associating with the person for a long time. If they didn’t like that person to begin with or bore a grudge against them, a personality assessment wouldn’t be necessary. Regardless, nothing of note had transpired at the tea party. They had pelted Claudia with barbs, but she’d sensed something other than malice behind their actions.

“Her Majesty must have something to do with this,” Claudia concluded.

“Her Majesty, hmm…?” Lilith muttered under her breath, pressing a hand to her forehead. Claudia could understand why this news troubled Lilith. When the two of them met with Her Majesty just days earlier, the queen had been most accommodating and kind. In fact, she had even complimented the grace with which Lilith comported herself. That praise had been hard-earned through excruciating effort.

Lilith had grown despondent in the immediate aftermath of Fermina’s expulsion from the house and subsequent exile to a monastery, but she’d soon channeled all her energy into atoning for her child’s misdeeds. Most important to her was that she didn’t hold Claudia back.

While Lilith couldn’t change her birth family’s status, she could focus on maintaining the dignity expected of Duchess Lindsay. She hired more tutors and concentrated on mastering every skill necessary for a duchess. In turn, she shared any weaknesses she had with Claudia, offering all the detailed intel she could. The last thing Lilith wanted was to bring shame to her stepdaughter.

When the queen recognized her efforts, Lilith was reduced to tears.

I can see why she’d be moved by acknowledgment from someone of such lofty status.

Claudia had expressed her gratitude when appropriate, but otherwise refrained from interfering. Lilith wanted to atone, and that had given her a much-needed purpose in life. Having a goal seemed to improve her mental health too; she’d been much more animated lately.

“The queen isn’t the type to act rashly,” said Lilith.

“I agree. Surely she has some reason.”

Lilith straightened in her seat. She seemed to realize no answer would be forthcoming, so dwelling on it would do no good. “I know it’s shameless of me, but I hope you won’t push yourself. If you encounter any issues, no matter how trivial, please allow me to support you.”

Although Lilith’s sphere of authority was much more modest compared to Claudia’s mother’s when she’d been alive, the woman was still doing everything she could. It helped that everything she did was to benefit Claudia, and so they were a seamless team. Lilith wasn’t an assertive person, but she was resolute. She was able to share all her shortcomings with Claudia and stay true to herself through it all. This made it easy for Claudia to support her in turn.

“I hear you have my father wrapped around your finger too,” Claudia teased.

Lilith giggled. “Oh, don’t you worry. I’ll do what I must to keep his attentions from wandering.” That was a surprisingly dark quip coming from Lilith, especially since she’d been the duke’s lover after his first unsuccessful political marriage. Still, it reassured Claudia to know she intended to rein in the duke from being unable to keep it in his trousers.

Claudia’s blue eyes shone. “That’s heartening to hear!”

Lilith’s cheeks heated as she replied, “Of course. I’m doing it for you.”

After parting ways with Lilith, Claudia started for her room with Helen in tow.

“Her Grace gives off the same air as I do,” Helen noted as they walked.

“And what’s that?”

“We both regard you as a mistress worth serving.”

Claudia side-eyed Helen. “Please don’t say that. You sound like Lestea.”

Image - 09

Lestea had something of a difficult personality. Claudia didn’t want to think there was any likeness between Helen and Lestea.

“I dedicated myself to you first,” Helen huffed.

“Don’t compete with her.”

“Well, anyway, I’m sure most people would find you a close mother-daughter pair; but as someone on the inside, it feels more like she’s a servant and you’re her mistress.”

Claudia nodded thoughtfully. “That’s probably more accurate from her point of view.”

It would be difficult to call theirs a normal parent-child relationship; Lilith prioritized Claudia completely, and her main objective was to atone for her own daughter. She’d chosen to serve Claudia of her own free will, although Helen didn’t seem to think Lilith was motivated solely by penance.

“She’s done more than fulfill her duty. It seems to me that she finds joy in serving you.” Perhaps Helen could sense this because she felt the same way.

“If that’s true, I’m honestly not sure how to take it.”

“Just think of it as having an ally here at home. You can leave the duke in her capable hands.”

“You’ll find no arguments from me.” Claudia genuinely hoped Lilith would keep her father whipped. It might soften some of the lingering resentment Claudia felt toward him.

Chapter 3: The Wife Focuses on What Lies Ahead

Chapter 3:
The Wife Focuses on What Lies Ahead

 

LADY SUNSET SWEPT A GLANCE over the garden. Satisfied, she nodded to herself. The servants had carried out a long dinner table and a handful of chairs. Their legs were decorated with intricate carvings of ivy, which symbolized prosperity and longevity. It matched the natural ivy growing in the garden perfectly, to say nothing of the pop and vibrance of the autumn flowers. The breeze carried away a handful of petals and diffused their aroma through the air, which was exactly as Lady Sunset had intended.

She spread out her folding fan and, for a moment, lost herself in the scenery. It was nothing short of breathtaking. It would almost be a waste if my only guests were ordinary noblewomen. But her guest today was both the crown prince’s betrothed and a duke’s daughter. None of this would seem that fancy to her; such extravagance was a given for someone of her station. The only difference was that her hostess this time was the future Marchioness Sunset.

Claudia Lindsay was revered as the perfect noble lady in Harland, and she’d earned great support from the young ladies of her generation. I wonder how well she’ll be able to keep her mask on at this party. Everyone kept up a facade in high society to hide their true selves. It was a sort of competition; one had to try to keep their own mask in place while ripping off the others’. This was to be Claudia’s initiation into adult society.

It’s a shame that her mother passed away. And unfortunately for Claudia, her stepmother was of little help. It might have been a different story if Lilith had hailed from a prominent household, but she was hardly better than a commoner. Practically useless. Lady Sunset couldn’t even begin to comprehend why the duke chose someone who’d only damage the dignity of his household.

It was one thing to keep her as a mistress, but then he went and married her. It beggared belief. Lady Sunset thanked her lucky stars that she hadn’t been foolish enough to fall for the duke when she was at the academy. His popularity back then was second only to His Majesty. Lady Sunset had only ever had eyes for her husband, even as a child.

Although Claudia had lost her mother early on and suffered because of her father’s infidelity, she still managed to best the other bridal candidates and claim the crown prince for herself. Lady Sunset was genuinely impressed by her tenacity, though that wasn’t reason enough to cut Claudia any slack.

I must teach her how cruel adult society can be. Lady Sunset’s fan snapped shut. The opening—whether of a book, a stage play, or an event—was always the most important.

“I appreciate your most gracious invitation, Lady Sunset,” said Claudia. “It brings me such joy to be able to join you.”

This wasn’t their first meeting. They’d had occasion to greet each other a few times at evening parties. And yet, for some reason, Lady Sunset was reminded of the first time she met Queen Alesteia.

Alesteia had been beautiful as a young girl, with the Sunsets’ characteristic blonde hair and violet eyes. The adults unanimously praised her, calling her an angel sent by the Capricious God. When Lady Sunset’s—or rather, Elizabeth’s, since she wasn’t yet Lady Sunset back then—parents told her that Alesteia was her cousin, Elizabeth could scarcely believe it.

Alesteia’s beauty had only given the young Elizabeth more of a complex about her own appearance, particularly her dull-gray hair. She’d clutched at it unconsciously and wondered: Why is my hair such a boring, ugly color? It wasn’t dark enough to be considered black, and it was far from the beautiful flaxen shade of Alesteia’s locks. If anything, it was the same shade as a mouse’s fur. Elizabeth had been so unhappy with her appearance that she’d even blamed her parents for it.

With the flood of old memories came an old, familiar pain from all the scars Lady Sunset had carried since her childhood. She shook them off, focusing her attention on the present.

Claudia presented herself as a shrewd but affable young lady, her lustrous raven hair complimenting her pale but beautiful face. The eggshell-colored dress would have looked gaudy and distasteful on anyone else, but Claudia managed to wear it with unmatched grace. Yet what so keenly reminded Lady Sunset of the queen in her younger years was Claudia’s blue eyes, which shone with willpower. She had glimpsed something similar before: The young Alesteia’s violet eyes had possessed such determination that it put even Lady Sunset’s elder brother to shame.

Claudia flashed a smile back at them, her head held high. “I’m grateful for the offer. I fear I’m still far from being a perfect daughter, but I am resolved to overcome whatever challenges come my way with my stepmother by my side.”

Hmph, how unflattering. Lady Sunset narrowed her eyes at Claudia’s clever response. It would make things so much simpler if Claudia had agreed to receive Lady Sunset’s support. Granted, if she were so weak-willed that she had to depend on others, she wouldn’t be fit to become crown princess—but still. It was precisely the right answer for her to give as a duke’s daughter.

Stepmother or not, Lilith was the duchess. If Claudia joined in and disparaged her, she would be disparaging her own house.

But this is only the prelude. They hadn’t even started yet. I will tear off that mask and see who you really are.

All the women present, Lady Sunset included, had undergone the bitter tea test. It was the perfect method for judging a person’s character, frequently employed by mothers-in-law to test the personality of their daughters-in-law. Normally, it was the mother-in-law’s friend who performed the test on her behalf, but today’s assessment was made more difficult for Claudia. Even as dignified as she is, she won’t be able to keep a poker face after this.

Lady Sunset watched quietly as Claudia brought the cup to her lips.

“It appears there was a mistake with my cup,” said Claudia.

“Oh dear!” cried Lady Sunset. “I purchased those leaves expressly for you, Lady Claudia, but I suppose it simply didn’t agree with your palate.” She had anticipated Claudia reacting immediately to the bitter flavor. She was so renowned for her assertiveness that Lady Sunset knew she wouldn’t stay quiet. Especially since she went toe to toe with Lord Thomas before.

It was a hot topic among the high-society women. Though the earl in question was the same age as Claudia’s grandfather, she hadn’t hesitated to confront him directly. That was also why Lady Sunset had no intention of going easy on her.

After Lady Sunset’s indirect admonishment, the other women at the table joined in. It had to feel isolating to have not a single friend present. How one proceeded from this point on was up to their discretion, but provided the daughter-in-law wasn’t too obstinate, most women would come clean about their intentions and reconcile with her, ending the tea party on a positive note. Lady Sunset had instructed her friends to do everything they could to tear Claudia down, though. She knew better than to think that a couple of slights would be enough to crack Claudia’s mask.

And if you think people will bow down to you easily, you are sorely mistaken. Claudia was of higher rank than all of them, being a duke’s daughter—but even assuming she ran home and wept about their mistreatment to her father, he would be powerless to help her. This was women’s society. Men weren’t permitted to intervene in their affairs. And if Claudia wished to decry Lady Sunset for bullying her, it would backfire. It was obvious to anyone with a pinch of sense that Lady Sunset had the queen’s support. Her Majesty had already requested that every little detail of this gathering be conveyed to her. As long as she remained queen, Claudia couldn’t risk making an enemy of her.

As young noble ladies, women needn’t think of anything but how their statuses measured up to others. They weren’t expected to understand the more complex aspects of social hierarchy, and their parents would step in to protect them where necessary. But that only lasted while one was young and unmarried. Once a lady married and left her parents’ household, she had to stand on her own two feet. At which point, she would soon discover that sometimes one’s connections were far more important than their personal status. Anyone who didn’t understand that hard truth would soon lose their place in the world.

Claudia was a clever woman. Lady Sunset was confident she would analyze the situation and understand how powerless she was—and that she had no choice but to let them tear her down.

When Claudia’s face fell, Lady Sunset was certain she’d succeeded. People lionized her as the perfect noble lady, but she was incredibly young. It would be all too easy for a mature woman like Lady Sunset to peel her mask off. She smiled to herself, pleased Claudia was still a child who required guidance.

She fanned herself and drew in a breath, enjoying the aroma of the flowers. Yes, I must put her in her place. Claudia was probably letting her ego get ahead of her since she’d been selected as the crown prince’s partner. Lady Sunset would be pouring the metaphorical bucket of ice water over her head to cool her off. At the end of the day, Claudia’s influence and authority paled in comparison to that of the queen. That would still be true even after she took the crown and became queen herself, as Alesteia would always be Sylvester’s mother.

Poor child. The thought rose to her mind unbidden when she glimpsed Claudia’s pitiful expression. She was an adorable girl, with her long lashes and her misty blue eyes. For a moment, Lady Sunset forgot the words that had hung at the back of her throat. She was gripped by an urge to cup Claudia’s cheeks and comfort her.

Even Lady Sunset’s friends had fallen silent.

“I’m grateful for Lady Sunset’s consideration,” Claudia’s bright, clear voice rang out, “truly I am. A maid must’ve made a mistake when brewing the tea.”

“Are you implying that my maids are incompetent?” Lady Sunset shot back.

“Not at all. But no matter how proficient the maid, she may still make mistakes—she’s only human. I hope you’ll have it in your heart to forgive whichever maid was responsible.”

Lady Sunset hesitated. Should she insist that the maid had made no such mistake? But she couldn’t deny that the tea was bitter.

Since she failed to respond immediately, Claudia capitalized on the opportunity to comment on the rare blend and added, “I can’t thank you enough for your kindness, Lady Sunset. It brings me so much joy that you would celebrate my engagement to the crown prince.” Her cheeks colored as she spoke, her joy so genuine and innocent.

What in the world…? Gooseflesh prickled across the backs of Lady Sunset’s arms. Claudia didn’t sound like she was acting at all. But even assuming she is, how does she have the wherewithal to pull it off? Lady Sunset had intended to tear off her mask and expose her. Any other noble lady would have folded under the pressure by now. That was only natural for a noble lady who had been sheltered her whole life and had never found herself surrounded by such animosity and harsh criticism before. Despite it all, Claudia didn’t seem the least bit flustered.

How is this possible?

“I will keep your words in mind.”

Claudia’s ability to keep her mask firmly in place and seem sincere after all they’d done to her made Lady Sunset shiver. This was exactly how Alesteia had been at her age. It was Claudia’s tidy, regal appearance that had reminded Lady Sunset of the queen at first. I was wrong. She deserves her reputation as a perfect noble lady. Claudia didn’t need the education Lady Sunset had intended to give her. But she only just graduated this year, right? And as far as she knew, Claudia had never participated in any adult-centric high-society affairs besides this one. Her ability to adapt boggled the mind.

While Lady Sunset struggled with the incomprehensibility of Claudia’s response, one of her friends hopped into the conversation to get them back on track. “Speaking of partners, I find myself blushing at the way your husband fawns over you, Lady Sunset.”

The mention of her husband’s changing attitude toward her brought Lady Sunset back to her senses. Remembering his passionate gaze gave her butterflies, as if she were still a girl in the throes of young love.

She’d always hated her dull gray hair. It was her husband, Patrick, who had criticized it as “mouse-gray.” The Sunsets placed great importance on their bloodline, which was why they often kept marriages within the family. Both Patrick and Alesteia had the trademark flaxen hair and violet eyes. Despite being his cousin, Lady Sunset hadn’t been blessed with the same features. Her own inferiority complex fueled her envy toward him. He’d always acted disinterested in her, but since she was the closest in age, their parents had readily agreed to their marriage.

Four years ago, Lady Sunset was blessed with a much-desired heir. She was utterly relieved when her son was born with the same blond hair and violet eyes as his father. It would have made her sick if he’d inherited her own mousy locks. It was bad enough that her husband treated her so coldly.

And then, out of nowhere, everything changed. Whereas Patrick had once acted disgusted whenever she entered his sight, he now took her grayish locks in hand and gave them a kiss.

“I want to apologize for being so disrespectful to you all these years. I’ve finally seen the light,” he’d told her.

At first, she’d suspected him of infidelity, but he wasn’t one to flatter out of guilt—even assuming he was two-timing. She honestly wasn’t sure why his attitude changed. As eager as she’d been for an answer, she feared that voicing her concerns would shatter the dream once and for all. It’s nothing to fret about. The Capricious God simply answered my prayers; that’s all there is to it.

His affection for her was the only thing that changed, as there were still many days when he didn’t return home. It was reassuring that, other than his attitude toward her, everything else about him remained the same. At least he was the same person at his core, no matter how different he seemed. Besides, if he sought to have intimacy with her every night, her stamina wouldn’t be able to hold out. Not at her age, anyway.

I can’t believe how shameless he is, saying he wants to have more children with me still! Her whole face heated as she thought of their nighttime activities.

To distract herself, Lady Sunset took a sip from her cup. As Claudia had mentioned, this first flush tea had a unique, invigorating aroma and flavor. I need to make sure I report every minor detail to Her Majesty. Alesteia might be able to notice things Lady Sunset hadn’t. She could have ideas for how to better counter Claudia too. She’d always been at least a dozen steps ahead of Lady Sunset, even when they were younger. Lady Sunset’s envy of Alesteia was in the distant past by this point.

Lady Sunset studied Claudia. She’d been acting meek since her last statement. She must be taking lessons in secret. A duke had the sway to secretly contract someone to tutor her. They must’ve helped her plan out her responses to any situation. If no such tutor existed, then Claudia was either an unsurpassed ingenue or a villainess. Considering both were capable of charming people easily, perhaps there wasn’t much of a difference.

Chapter 4: The Villainess Attends a Charity Event

Chapter 4:
The Villainess Attends a Charity Event

 

“MY FIANCÉE IS EXCEPTIONALLY beautiful tonight.” Sylvester beamed at Claudia, his smile reaching all the way to his eyes. He was standing in front of their carriage, and for all his praise, he looked no less beautiful himself.

Claudia’s dress had speckles of gold in it, as if inlaid with stars. Sylvester’s suit had a matching color palette. There was a striking contrast been the darkness of his suit, which mirrored the night sky, and his gold eyes and silver hair.

“Thank you,” Claudia said. “If I’ve managed to win your heart with my beauty, then there’s nothing more I could possibly hope for.”

“And just how much do you intend to seduce me?”

There was something embarrassing about the way his heated gaze latched on to hers.

Claudia took his hand and climbed into the carriage. The warmth of his touch made blood pool in her cheeks. She could feel his eyes on her back. Once she was seated, she found the courage to glance at him, as if that might answer his question.

His lips brushed her cheek. “I wish I could devour you here and now,” he whispered huskily.

A shiver ran through her. She refused to meet his eyes, too terrified to face his overwhelming sex appeal head-on lest she lose all self-control. His low, sensual voice is enough to get a woman pregnant. How much worse would it be if she let his charms affect her?

She pressed a hand to his chest and cooed, “Syl…” Her fingers wandered, feeling the taut muscle beneath his suit. Already, she’d lost her resolve. It took every ounce of willpower she possessed to push down her thirst for him. “We’re attending a charity event, if you’ll recall.”

The theater was holding a play, with the proceeds to be donated. Claudia had been invited since she was the crown prince’s betrothed, and it was her duty to attend. This was as much of a date as it was an obligation for them both.

“Hmm, perhaps we’ll be able to enjoy our time together better once we’re in our own private room at the theater.”

“Syl?”

“Our attendance is all they care about. By being there, we’ll already have fulfilled our duty,” he returned playfully.

“How inappropriate.”

“I have every intention of supporting the show and the troupe.” He shifted seats, occupying the space beside her. “But I want to spend this time how I see fit.” After a short pause, he added, “Lady Sunset and her husband will be attending.”

Claudia kept her head lowered, but her eyes flicked upward. He must have already heard about the tea party.

“If we run into them, she’s sure to say something to you,” Sylvester said. “She seems intent on keeping you in check.”

“I’m prepared to respond to whatever route she takes.”

“I only wish I could shield you from it.”

It was considered uncouth for a gentleman to interfere in the psychological warfare between women. His intervention would send the message that Claudia was incapable of doing anything herself. It was tantamount to admitting defeat.

“Your empathy and support give me all the courage I need.” She leaned toward him, pressing her forehead to his. The heat emanating from his body made her giggle. “You were able to enjoy my trials before as a spectator.”

“With your former stepsister? She was always beneath you, yet you still worried about her. You may have forgotten this, but I’m not mature enough to endure other people occupying your thoughts all the time.”

Claudia suddenly recalled what he’d said to her way back when: “I couldn’t bear it if someone else took you from me. Please, save my fragile heart from that potential devastation.”

“I’m aware. I no longer try to face all my problems on my own,” Claudia assured him. She wasn’t the same person she once was; she understood how many people were on her side. It gave her the strength to face whatever came her way.

She smiled at him. “As long as I have you, Syl, I know I have nothing to fear.”

He grinned back at her. “That’s what I wanted to hear.”

 

***

 

As soon as they reached the theater, all the attention immediately focused on them—inevitable, since they’d traveled in one of the royal family’s carriages. It was all too easy for people to guess who was inside.

The theater owner came out to escort them personally, and in no time at all, Claudia found herself face-to-face with Lady Sunset.

“Your Royal Highness, Lady Claudia, good evening,” said Patrick, the lady’s husband. He was Sylvester’s uncle, but as this was a public venue, he observed the necessary etiquette afforded to a crown prince.

Lady Sunset followed suit, not lifting her head until Sylvester gave his permission. Her eyes immediately narrowed on Claudia, taking on that foxlike look from the tea party. “Lady Claudia,” she purred, “I hadn’t expected you to attend as well. Have you read the outline of this play?”

“Indeed, I have,” she answered. “I’m most intrigued to see how the actors portray this tragedy.”

The play in question depicted love between two people of differing status, which became a major hurdle for the pair. In the end, the man—a nobleman—took his own life.

“Yes, of course. Though I wonder how well the ending will sit with you, considering how realistic it is.”

Ah, how transparent. Another passive-aggressive dig. Lady Sunset was subtly suggesting that her father marrying Lilith was unrealistic. Claudia had already accepted their relationship. Any criticism in that respect rang hollow.

I’m not a temperamental child.

Not that Lady Sunset would understand. She tried to smile and ignore it, but an unexpected follow-up remark caught her off guard.

“It’s the way of the world for it to end tragically,” said Patrick. “We aristocrats value lineage for good reason. The only part I find disagreeable is that it’s the nobleman who takes his life and not the commoner he was cavorting with.”

He had the same hair and violet eyes as the queen, but he lacked her refined luster. There were dark circles beneath his eyes, and his long blond hair, tied low at his back, had faded and dulled. Judging by how focused he was on his wife, with his hand in her hair, he was merely voicing his opinion and echoing his wife’s sentiments; he didn’t seem to have any interest whatsoever in Claudia.

Lady Sunset’s face glowed. “You’re absolutely right,” she said to her husband. “Aristocrats should be with their own. Wouldn’t you agree, Lady Claudia?”

“I obey the will of His Majesty. Nothing more, nothing less.”

After all, it was the king who had the final say on any marriage. He’d recognized her father’s marriage to Lilith because of her father’s status. Personally, she saw no need for one’s status to have any bearing on their relationships, but she wasn’t about to express that. It would only lead to a dramatic outcry.

“Goodness, have you no thoughts of your own?”

“Lady Sunset, I genuinely hope you aren’t implying that one’s personal opinion should supersede the decisions of His Majesty.” The king’s word was law in Harland. No one could contradict him. Claudia knew it was unfair to turn Lady Sunset’s words back on her in such a way, using the king’s authority as a shield.

“But that’s—”

“Not the same thing?” Claudia finished for her. “If you merely intend to state that having one’s own views is important, then I completely agree.” With this, she’d smoothly shifted the trajectory of their conversation. She glanced surreptitiously at Sylvester, sending him a silent signal.

“It is pointless to have such discussions until we’ve seen the play for ourselves. Let us take our respective seats and enjoy the show,” said Sylvester, bringing their chat to a close.

Lady Sunset scowled, obviously vexed that she hadn’t managed to elicit the desired reaction from Claudia. Nevertheless, she pushed the matter no further.

 

***

 

The theater comprised multiple floors. The first and second were available for reservation by the public at large, while the third was reserved for royalty and the upper crust. Being on the third floor afforded one a view of both the stage itself and the seats on the first floor, which spread fanlike around the stage. A pleated scarlet curtain hung over the stage.

That Sylvester and I enjoyed a date on that stage feels surreal now. Seeing the stage from above gave her a better perspective of its enormous size. Sylvester always came up with date ideas that far surpassed her imagination.

Orange lights decorated all corners of the theater, illuminating the wooden walls and the spectator seats. She liked the way the light washed over the space; it reminded her of fireflies dancing among the trees of a dense forest. Since the troupe was incredibly popular, they enjoyed amazing sales. Many of the seats were already occupied, which meant they’d have a substantial sum for their donation.

After surveying the scene below, Claudia took a seat on the sofa in their private room. They’d arrived early and had a good amount of time before the show commenced. Some people would take the opportunity to fill their stomachs; fruits were set out on a nearby table. She was contemplating whether to sample them when she heard Sylvester humming under his breath. She looked over at him.

“My uncle’s reaction was rather unexpected,” Sylvester said, having noticed the passionate way his uncle regarded Lady Sunset.

“So you find it odd too? I heard about his sudden change in attitude at the tea party.” If Sylvester was taken aback, that meant most people were unaware of the sudden shift in the couple’s relationship. The tea party attendees only knew because they were Lady Sunset’s closest friends. “What would you say their dynamic was like before?”

“Lady Sunset has always been a devoted wife, but Uncle has never had any interest in her. I heard he often left her home alone.” Everyone knew the man had a free-spirited nature, though it was a mystery what he did with his time; there was no record of him visiting brothels or casinos. “He doesn’t go to any events or gatherings. Most eyewitness accounts are of him showing up at auctions. He’s always been intrigued by bizarre curios.”

As Syl told it, Patrick had shown some of these questionable artifacts to him before, calling them family heirlooms.

“Lady Sunset’s younger brother is probably more qualified to be the next marquess. Some family members have even voiced support for him, but alas, my uncle is the heir and will eventually inherit my grandfather’s lands and titles,” said Sylvester. “The Sunsets are reluctant to lose his talents, however, so they’re considering appointing Lady Sunset’s younger brother to a prominent position to better make use of him.” He glanced at her sidelong and added, “I’m tempted to protest because of Lady Sunset’s attitude.”

His aunt had taken an incredibly condescending tone with Claudia. Sylvester wasn’t one to let such a slight go unpunished. Claudia knew how eager he’d been to intervene, but he would’ve only damaged her reputation by doing so. That was why he’d kept his nose out of their conversation.

“I’m sure my mother has her reasons for doing this, though.” He knew she was the one responsible for Lady Sunset’s attitude. There was no telling how Her Majesty might react if they made a reckless move against Lady Sunset. The more Sylvester let it weigh on him, the more the situation soured his mood.

Claudia reached over and squeezed his hand. “Let’s think of this as a trial Her Majesty has given me and treat it accordingly.” The king had already challenged Sylvester before their engagement ceremony. This time, it was her turn. “Fortunately, Lady Sunset’s motives are transparent enough.”

The issue was straightforward. There was no complex interplay of interests with multiple people involved. It was purely a matter of the Sunsets not wanting to cede the authority they’d seized for themselves. That made it so much simpler to deal with.

“Yes, she may be an open book, but can you really say her words and actions haven’t hurt you at all?” He squeezed her hand back.

Claudia could have reassured him that she was just fine. It wouldn’t be a lie; she really hadn’t been that hurt by anything Lady Sunset had done thus far. But she knew that wasn’t what he wanted to hear, since even the slightest stress or pain inflicted upon her was more than he could bear.

“I won’t lie to you and say it didn’t bother me at all,” she said finally.

The enmity she’d faced wasn’t mere words; their very attitudes had been enough to cow most noble ladies. The last thing one wanted to do was participate in a tea party where every member was against them. Claudia hadn’t let it get to her because she’d understood their intentions from the beginning, but that didn’t mean she was completely above feeling hurt. If she had no support at all, how would she have handled it? What if she didn’t have Helen and Lilith, both of whom empathized with her as if every obstacle she faced was theirs to overcome too? What if she didn’t have a fiancé like Sylvester, who clasped her hand and showed immense compassion? While her hurt feelings were relatively minor, the wounds didn’t disappear overnight.

“That being said,” Claudia went on before he could respond, “having you worry and fuss over me and share my burden is more than enough to fortify my spirits.” And that gave her all the strength she needed. Strength to stand up and take a proactive approach rather than dwelling on the hurt. “I don’t need anything else right now.”

“You have to tell me if it ever becomes more than you can handle.”

Claudia nodded. “Of course. I promise to confide in you if that happens.”

His golden eyes softened, and the next moment, she felt the softness of his lips pressing against her cheek.

“I’d prefer to kiss your lips instead…” Alas, it was nearly time for the show to start. “Since you have so much on your plate already, I don’t want to drown you in desire.” Sylvester gently stroked her head.

In truth, seeing him struggle to restrain himself was enough to turn her on. The silken silver threads of his hair danced across his forehead with each gesture. The skin around his eyes flushed as he tried his utmost to keep his own appetite in check. Claudia craved those plush lips, now pursed and suppressing a smile. He was trying not to overstep her bounds for fear that he’d exasperate her, and that made him even more adorable.

***Image - 10

“I love everything about you, including your strengths and vulnerabilities.”

“I feel exactly the same,” Claudia replied. Her arms instinctively stretched out toward him, embracing the bulge of his muscles and the warmth of his body. But before the atmosphere could grow any more heated, they separated and took their seats at the front of the balcony to watch the show.

 

***

 

The show was spectacular.

The dialogue for all the characters, commoners and aristocrats alike, was packed with emotion. Claudia had prepared herself for the ending to leave a bitter aftertaste, knowing that the male protagonist would take his own life, yet she was surprised to find the overwhelming sadness was somehow bracing in a positive way.

The two leads were star-crossed lovers. The way everything played out really made one think: Why did two people who loved each other so deeply have to be wrenched apart? Even though the curtain had fallen, her eyes were still misty.

Sylvester kissed her temple and said, “I’m glad you’re here with me.” His voice was comforting.

Claudia, too, was glad to have her beloved with her. Neither could bring themselves to get up in the immediate aftermath of the curtain dropping. They only stepped out into the corridor after Claudia regained her composure.

“There’s something I need to confirm regarding tomorrow’s assembly. Wait here for me. I won’t be long,” Sylvester said. Even this late at night after a show, Sylvester still had work to deal with.

“All right.” Claudia watched as he strode down the corridor. She spun around, intending to reenter the room while she waited, but a voice stopped her.

“Did you enjoy the show?”

She froze. Her first thought was that the person had to be one of the actors. It was commonplace for performers to visit nobles after a show.

When Claudia turned toward the source, she was shocked. She was accustomed to seeing handsome men, but even she was startled by the beauty of the man before her.

I don’t recall seeing an actor who looks like this.

Moreover, she could tell at a glance that he was an aristocrat. Yet that didn’t make sense, considering she couldn’t remember meeting him even once. And I most definitely would have remembered someone as striking as he is.

The man in question had long, golden hair tied at his back. He looked quite similar to the queen’s elder brother, Patrick, but this man’s hair was as bright as midday sunlight. It sparkled under the light, and his eyes were such a vivid amethyst color that she found herself drawn in. The man’s skin was pale as porcelain, his cheeks a faint rosy shade. Anyone who saw him would be captivated.

Claudia’s eyes fell to the cuff links on his jacket sleeves. The crest wasn’t one she recognized, and she cocked her head. The aura about him reminded her keenly of Sylvester. Curiously, her bodyguard made no move to stop the man from interacting with her.

The mystery man didn’t seem bothered at all by her lack of a response. Instead, he said, “Even though the man’s love ended in tragedy, the message at the end resonated with me.”

Before the male protagonist breathed his last breath, he’d shouted a line at the audience: “Be free!” His parents had dismissed his devoted love for a commoner. He’d felt suffocated by the position he’d been born into. It was as if he was warning those watching not to suffer the same way he had. One could interpret the line as encouraging people to flout societal norms, but the line was left purposefully vague to avoid such accusations. The exact freedom the protagonist had been advocating for was up to interpretation.

“I may be in the same exact position, in fact, with a lover of a different status,” the man continued.

Her eyes widened. Was that really something he should be divulging to a stranger?

Sheepishly, he averted his gaze from her. “Sorry,” he muttered. “I got the feeling you would be understanding, so I blurted it out. Seeing that show made me want to tell someone my story.” He snuck a peek at her. “May I share it with you?”

Claudia nodded. Sylvester likely wouldn’t return for a bit, so she could at least hear him out until then. Besides, it would cost her nothing to lend the man an ear. If what he was saying was true, then he was in the same position as the man in the play, with no one to confide in. Claudia hoped that by listening, she could ease his burden a little.

The way he smiled at her reminded her of warm spring sunlight. “Thank you so much. I’m glad I decided to reach out to you.” His eyes softened.

Claudia found his expression so endearing that she couldn’t help but smile too.

“It’s rather fantastical if I’m being honest, but it all began with me trying to awaken some ancient prophetical powers.”

It was a legend handed down through the man’s family. One of his ancestors had saved people with his clairvoyance, thereby expanding the power of their house. When the man heard the story as a child, he was so excited that he couldn’t sleep at all that night.

“In hindsight, it’s quite embarrassing. That same childish excitement stuck with me even into adulthood.” He was happy that unlike other aristocrats, his family had special powers—“had” being the operative word, since neither he nor his parents possessed clairvoyance. And when the man found himself at his lowest, he clung to that legend. “I thought I could overcome my issues if only I could see the future. I realize now how shallow that was of me.”

But he’d been so overcome with anxiety that it impaired his judgment. To regain the powers his family had lost, he read all sorts of books on the subject and mimicked black magic.

“There was a book, I remember, with a ritual in it to conjure the spirits of your ancestors. I thought, ‘This is it!’ So I drew a magic circle in our basement and nervously made an offering of animal blood…” He paused and shook his head, a self-derisive smile on his face. “Feel free to laugh at me if you want. I feel disgusted with myself just recalling all this.” He laughed bitterly. “But I guess I’m dragging out the prologue of my story too much.”

He spoke of his own past with such amusement that Claudia wasn’t the least bit bored listening to him.

“I’ll cut to the chase,” he said. “I was preparing to carry out my black magic as usual when I knocked over one of my candles. The fire spread through the room in the blink of an eye, and when I realized the flames had blocked the exit, I was convinced my doom was at hand.” The worst part was that he’d secretly conducted these rituals in the middle of the night in his family’s basement so they wouldn’t find out what he was up to. There was only one exit, and he was trapped. “I knew what I was doing was shady, and a big part of the reason I wanted that power to begin with was to prove myself to my family.”

At such a late hour, all the servants were asleep. Those on night patrol had no idea a secret room existed in the basement, so he couldn’t pin his hopes on them magically finding him.

“I had nearly resigned myself to burning alive when someone suddenly dumped water on me.” He recalled the moment in vivid detail; he’d been standing there dumbfounded, and it had taken him a moment to register the person in front of him—one of the servants holding an enormous bucket. Said servant had jet-black hair, much like Claudia’s. “And they screamed at me, ‘Why’re you doing something so stupid down here?!’”

Fortunately, the flames hadn’t spread as much as he’d thought, and the servant managed to extinguish them all with their bucket of water. The servant had realized what he was up to and had been watching him in secret for some time. The moment they noticed the flames, they had rushed off to retrieve water while the young master they served stood frozen in the middle of the room.

“They asked me, ‘Were you trying to kill yourself?!’ And for some reason I blurted out, ‘That might not be a bad idea.’ As you already know, I wasn’t actually considering suicide at the time, and I must’ve been overcome with fear when the fire started.”

Yet the man was mentally exhausted from it all. If this was an opportunity to throw everything away, then he wanted to take it.

“And when I said as much, they told me, ‘Then give yourself to me.’ They were sobbing as they spoke. ‘If you don’t need your life, give it to me.’” Seeing them dissolve into tears made the man realize that they’d empathized with his suffering. Surely they wouldn’t have taken his words seriously otherwise.

“The crushing weight on my chest lifted, and before I realized it, I’d nodded. I thought it might be worth living if we were together.” However, as the man told it, the two didn’t start dating until six months later. “Once we left the basement and returned to our daily lives, everything that happened felt like a dream. Our relationship remained the same for quite a while.” He was happy, even without any perceptible change. Never again did he feel the impulse to visit the secret room in the basement and draw another magic circle.

There were still many problems in his future, especially given the difference in status with his lover. “‘Be free.’ That’s the message I want to send.” His whole face lit up as he repeated the line from the play.

Claudia studied him and quietly prayed, Please guide this man and his beloved to a happy future. This was their first meeting, but from the way he talked, Claudia could tell he was a good person.

“Thank for you letting me take up so much of your time,” the man told her. “One last thing…”

She tilted her head back, peering into his amethyst eyes as she waited.

“Don’t let yourself be governed by the past.”

Those words echoed in her mind.

Claudia was rooted to the spot for a while after that.

“Dia? You didn’t return to the room?”

“Oh, Syl. Did you finish?”

Image - 11

“Yes, I did. Are you all right? You seem dazed.”

“I’m fine,” Claudia assured him, but when she glanced around, she realized the man from earlier had disappeared. Strange, since he’d been standing there just a second ago. The way he vanished out of nowhere made her feel as if she’d been lost in a daydream the whole time. Oh, that’s right. I never asked his name. That should’ve been the first thing she did, but for some reason, she didn’t feel like she needed to know.

Claudia joined Sylvester to head home, unable to articulate what she had experienced. The past… The man’s words lingered in her mind even after they were seated in their carriage. When he mentioned the past, her first thought was her previous timeline. The experience and knowledge from her first life had been pivotal in this lifetime. That was her real past, as far as she was concerned.

He said not to let myself be governed by it. She had allowed Fermina’s very existence to govern her emotions once before, which made his warning feel even more relevant—not that the man had any way of knowing.

I wonder if we’ll meet again.

If she investigated the house crest she’d glimpsed on his cuffs, she’d be able to find out where he hailed from. Claudia wasn’t sure why, but she didn’t feel like doing so.

Chapter 5: The Villainess Lies Low

Chapter 5:
The Villainess Lies Low

 

CLAUDIA LEFT THE DESIGNATED ROOM provided for her princess training at the royal castle. Since her engagement to the crown prince was made official, her studies had begun to focus more on diplomacy. Claudia was prohibited from taking home many of the materials she was supposed to analyze, which meant she had to visit the castle more and more frequently. Sadly, that didn’t translate into any opportunities to meet Sylvester, so she found herself missing him just as much as before.

She glanced out a window in the corridor and noticed the sky had taken on a dark-red hue, smeared with patchy layers of clouds. A cool breeze swept in from the open window, gently tousling her black hair.

The only new development is that they finally decided which monastery I’ll be spending my two-week stay at. It was customary during one’s princess training to spend a period serving at a monastery. Claudia was no exception, though oddly enough, she was being sent to one on the capital’s outskirts. This despite the monastery at the center of the capital.

The largest, most famous monastery in Harland was the one annexed onto the grand cathedral. From what Claudia heard, that was where the queen had spent her own two weeks. There was no clear stipulation as to which monastery the future crown princess had to serve, but she was typically sent to either the annexed monastery or a monastery within her home region. Claudia didn’t fit that pattern.

It’s obvious that someone has interfered for some reason… Ah, speak of the devil.

There was an open seating area just up ahead. The royal castle was enormous, so small break areas like this were set up all over. It was the perfect spot to sit and rest if one was tired of talking or to settle in for a chat if one ran into an acquaintance in the halls.

Most often, women were the ones who took advantage of the seating. Their increased need for it was understandable, considering how many wore corsets.

Two beige-colored eyes met Claudia’s.

“Good afternoon, Lady Sunset,” said Claudia.

“Good afternoon, Lady Claudia. On your way home from princess training, I assume?”

“Yes, in fact.”

There were three other familiar faces seated with Lady Sunset. Claudia recognized them as attendees from the tea party. It’s obvious they came to sit here on purpose so they could catch me on my way out.

It was technically possible that these ladies were on their way home after attending a tea party with Her Majesty, but if that were the case, they would have used a break area close to the gardens or entrance. Claudia’s training room was far from either, since it was also used as a research room for civil officials. It wasn’t a place ladies such as these would typically enter.

They must have too much free time, Claudia decided. She couldn’t help that thought, as she had so much on her plate on top of princess training.

Her trading firm in Arakaner was sold out of all their goods, which was wonderful news despite meaning an increasing need for supplies. Her renown had only snowballed in recent days, though the biggest driver of their success was her firm providing merchants with guidance on how to resell the goods—mostly the Lindsays’ own regional specialties. All the wines their adjacent restaurant offered were completely sold out as well. As glad as she was for the explosive sales, they couldn’t leave their shelves empty forever.

Whenever Claudia had a spare moment, her mind was occupied with how best to deal with this issue. Claudia envied Lady Sunset for having the free time to heckle her—and for looking so pleased with herself as she did it.

“I assume you’ll find out which monastery you’ll be serving any day now?” said Lady Sunset.

“Indeed. I was just informed of where I’ll be going.” Claudia already anticipated the lady asking her for the precise location, so she volunteered the information herself.

“Oh dear!” Lady Sunset exclaimed with feigned surprise, holding her fully spread folding fan in front of her face. “They decided to send you there, of all places? I hear such horrifying rumors about it!”

Lady Sunset’s minions quickly chimed in as well with their own commentary.

“Oh, I pity you. Isn’t that the monastery where they say a ghost in a white dress appears every night seeking a living sacrifice?”

“Goodness! The ghost I’ve heard about is a woman with long, black hair.”

“How terrifying. According to the rumors, what’s haunted is the castle where the monastery is located.”

The ladies spoke with a mocking, derisive tone, their mouths hidden by folding fans and their eyes narrowed with amusement at her expense. Each one of them wore the same expression, as if playing out an appointed role. The whole act was so transparent that it confirmed Claudia’s suspicions about someone interfering in the choice of monastery.

What I most need to bear in mind is that all this has Her Majesty’s approval. After all, Lady Sunset didn’t have enough authority on her own to meddle in Claudia’s training or service period. The queen was the one with the final say. Perhaps this is her way of challenging me and telling me to figure out how to overcome it myself.

Why was the queen allowing Lady Sunset such free rein? Claudia still didn’t have an answer. Regardless, one thing remained true: She couldn’t be cowed by their bullying. Unfortunately for them, she had never found ghosts terrifying, so sending her to a supposedly haunted place did little to discourage her.

They probably picked an old, dilapidated castle on purpose. Young noblewomen lived sheltered lives in luxury, with fresh sheets and maids to lean everything. A crumbling castle, with all its unkempt corners, would horrify them. Especially if it was infested with insects and mice.

Claudia wasn’t necessarily keen on visiting such a place. It wouldn’t be difficult for her to survive there for two weeks. Still, her own personal feelings were irrelevant at the present.

“I didn’t realize there were such rumors,” Claudia muttered meekly. She saw no need to quarrel with them. Unlike the tea party, where she had no choice but to participate until it ended, she could cut this conversation short. At the same time, she felt the puzzle pieces fitting together. These women seem to be her closest friends. Claudia surreptitiously studied their faces. More women had been present at the tea party, so why was she here with these three specifically? Perhaps this is exactly what I need to solve the supply problems at my trading firm.

It was as if the two burdens she was shouldering had collided and created a chemical reaction. It was all culminating in a fully laid-out plan in her mind.

Now that I know where I want to go, all that’s left is to initiate. Based on the course of the present conversation, acting shocked was the best choice.

Claudia forced herself to picture Sylvester and Helen hating her to affect a look of devastation. How would she feel if they cut ties with her? “If you’ll excuse me,” she burst out, a crack in her voice, and quickly padded away.

 

***

 

“Lady Sunset again?” Helen demanded indignantly once Claudia returned home and relayed everything that had happened.

Touched by Helen’s reaction, Claudia threw her arms around her maid. That painful scenario she’d pictured earlier disappeared from her mind completely.

“Oh, Lady Claudia, it must have been so terrible for you!”

“Not at all. I feel completely fine now.”

Technically, she was holding up, but that didn’t mean it was painless. The longer this continued and the more small cuts she endured, the more hideous the scars would be. The one saving grace was that she had people on her side to heal them—people like Helen.

“Please don’t get in over your head.”

“I think you underestimate the healing effect you have on me,” Claudia quipped.

“Healing effect? Me?”

“Precisely. Whenever you spend time with me or listen to my problems, it takes away all my pain.” Claudia smiled at her. “I’m counting on you to heal me again the next time I feel hurt.”

That, it seemed, was enough to satisfy Helen.

In the past, Claudia had kept Helen at arm’s length because she didn’t want to risk getting her involved. Helen hadn’t forgotten that. She still worried that Claudia was trying to carry everything on her own.

“I would be completely lost in life without you, Helen,” Claudia told her, hoping to assuage Helen’s lingering concerns.

Helen pursed her lips. After a short pause, she said very seriously, “Lady Claudia, you mustn’t say such things in front of other people.”

“Mustn’t I?” She thought she’d chosen her words carefully. Had she messed up? Granted, Sylvester would probably demand an explanation if he’d overheard. “I meant every word, but if you say so, I’ll be more careful.”

“It brought me great joy to hear it regardless.”

The way Helen smiled was strikingly different from the smirking faces of Lady Sunset and her minions; Helen’s gaze was gentle and affectionate. What most warmed Claudia’s heart was how little Helen had changed between this life and their last.

“Is there really nothing we can do about Lady Sunset?” Helen asked. She seemed especially dismayed that Claudia hadn’t fought back today, letting Lady Sunset think she’d claimed victory. “We can’t keep allowing her to get away with this behavior!”

“I came up with just the plan to deal with her. Unfortunately, we need to wait for a better opportunity, so we must bide our time.”

Helen’s face lit up. “I knew you’d think of something! And of course, you’re right. We’ll be heading off to the monastery soon.”

For the two weeks at the monastery, they would have no access to the latest information in high society. If Claudia was to act, she needed to act when she was unrestricted. Its success all depends on my capabilities.

She was still smoothing out the wrinkles of her plan. Claudia intended to use a different method to handle her opposition than Sylvester had against his own enemies ahead of their engagement ceremony. It was impossible to know how smoothly it would work out. And for that reason, she needed to make sure everything was in place. This two-week stay would be the perfect time to work out the finer points.

Claudia smiled at Helen, whose spirits had soared since Claudia declared her intentions. “Let’s keep our heads down until it’s time to strike.”

Chapter 6: The Villainess Heads to the Haunted Castle

Chapter 6:
The Villainess Heads to the Haunted Castle

 

“WAS IT REALLY NECESSARY to depart in the middle of the night?” Helen griped.

Their carriage rumbled down the streets of the capital, toward the dilapidated monastery on its outskirts. Although this was part of Claudia’s princess training, she’d been allowed to bring a single maid for her stay. Nothing could be more reassuring than having Helen at her side, so even though it was a long journey, it didn’t feel as painful as it would have had she been required to make it alone.

“We were ordered to leave after dark, so we have no choice,” Claudia said with a shrug.

“Well, I think this is ridiculously underhanded. It’s bad enough they’re shipping us off to a haunted castle.”

The politely worded order, which demanded they leave at an ungodly hour, was no doubt crafted by Lady Sunset’s own hand.

“She must be desperate to terrify us,” Claudia said.

“She won’t succeed.”

Lady Sunset’s true objective was probably not shipping off Claudia to the haunted castle itself, but rather sending the message that she had the authority to interfere in Claudia’s princess training. Since the woman had ties with the queen as her sister-in-law, Claudia couldn’t escape her influence. Nonetheless, Helen was right. Claudia wouldn’t let this get under her skin.

At the very least, there’s no threat to my life.

Lady Sunset had been engaging in petty bullying. The fact that she had left an obvious trail reinforced the notion that she had no intention of taking Claudia out of the picture. Unsurprising, since she was acting under the queen’s protection.

As eager as the Sunsets probably were to offer up someone from their own family for the prince to marry, they had no lady of appropriate age. Not to mention that other houses would be quick to interfere if they made such a move. Just as some aristocrats disliked the idea of the Lindsays gaining more power, there were also those who didn’t want the Sunsets to reinforce theirs. It was simply human nature. No one liked a person claiming repeated victories. The Sunsets’ only option, then, was to educate whomever the prince chose as his bride.

I put up with bullying in my brothel days too. Helen and Mirage had been incredibly kind to her, being more veteran courtesans in the industry. But for all the allies Claudia had been blessed with, she’d had enemies too. Of all their tricks, I hated it the most when they used insects. Nothing disgusted her more than the sound of bug legs scratching around inside a box. She knew someone might eventually try the same thing on her in this life, but her status afforded her much protection—so if she received dreadful gifts like that, they’d be disposed of before they ever touched her hands.

“Helen, which do you fear more: ghosts or insects?”

Helen considered it. “I think I’d have to say ghosts. No one has ever proven they exist or how to combat them if they do. Not to say I like insects much either, but I at least know how to deal with them.”

“Wonderful. Insects bother me more than ghosts.” Claudia felt the exact opposite way. She feared that which she knew existed far more because it posed real, tangible harm.

Around the time their conversation petered out, the ground beneath them shifted from cobblestone to dirt, jostling the carriage in a decidedly different way. The farther they traveled from the center of the capital, the scarcer the streetlights became until they were gone altogether. Fortunately, the guards escorting them were equipped with lanterns.

“We’re lucky we can travel by carriage at night,” said Claudia.

Although this area was less developed than the heart of the capital, it was still part of it. Even the roads out here were wide enough to allow two carriages to pass each other by. The royal family had also ordered maintenance for this very road ahead of time. Knights were posted along the way to ensure its safety as well. This helped the fact that she was the future crown princess sink in.

At long last, they arrived at the ancient castle housing the monastery. Illuminated by moonlight, it had a rather plain, rustic appearance with its stone exterior. This would be an ideal location for ghosts, zombies, vampires, and the like.

Claudia and Helen climbed out of their carriage and collected their trunks themselves. Helen shrank in on herself, even though they were surrounded by knights who would keep them safe. Her shoulders shook, and she kept flinching away from the shadows as if worried someone would pop out of the darkness. Claudia could empathize; while she knew they were safe, her pulse picked up—especially when someone actually did soundlessly pop out of the darkness.

“Welcome. It must have been a long journey for you. I am Carlo, the priest of this monastery.”

“I’m Claudia Lindsay and this is my maid, Helen. We look forward to my stay with you, and we appreciate you coming out here to welcome us.”

Helen bowed her head.

The priest was a stout man. Not necessarily portly; it was more so that he was all soft, rounded lines, and this softness seemed to match his personality. He was also short—a whole ten centimeters shorter than Claudia. She’d heard he was seventy-four and his hair had gone gray, but he looked young enough to be in his sixties. His appearance, combined with the warm and leisurely way he carried himself, reminded her of a koala.

“It’s late, so I’ll save a more detailed explanation for the morning,” said Carlo. “I’ll hand you your uniforms, then. Follow me, and I shall escort you to your room.”

“Thank you.” Claudia and Helen followed hot on the priest’s heels.

The status one was born with became irrelevant upon entering the clergy.

A carpet had been rolled out across the stone floor, but it was so worn out in spots that the stone beneath cut through the threadbare fabric. Their footsteps echoed loudly through the space.

“As per the materials we sent you in advance, I’m sure you are probably already aware, but I will reiterate the information to be safe. While you are living here as part of the clergy, you must forget your social status.”

Claudia was expected to take care of her own needs, and that included following all rules. If there was anything she didn’t know or understand, she had to ask.

“Embarrassing as this is to admit, my memory isn’t quite what it used to be, so you may find I repeat myself several times. I do hope you’ll understand.” He smiled so warmly at Claudia that she found herself returning the gesture in kind. “Please keep in mind that you probably won’t find the same comforts you did at home in this old castle.”

“Do you say that because the castle’s purpose is completely different from that of a mansion’s?” Claudia asked, curious.

“Precisely. A mansion is built to house people. A castle is built to protect them. This castle has its own living quarters, but ultimately, it wasn’t crafted with comfort in mind.” The castle had only the bare minimum of infrastructure, but it was spacious enough to house many people, hence its suitability as a monastery. “Granted that it’s no longer serving as a fort, as was intended. At any rate, your rooms are marked on your map, so please use that to find your way.”

“We greatly appreciate you preparing a map for us.”

That the monastery’s priest had come out to greet them at all, let alone gone to such lengths for them, was irregular. The monastery’s priest was its leader. Such a revered person didn’t volunteer to orient new members. That he was escorting them meant she and Helen were being treated as proper guests.

“It’s nothing, really,” said Carlo. “It’s an honor to have you stay with us before the monastery closes.”

The old castle had found a second life as a monastery, but that would soon come to an end. It was set to be demolished. After the scandal with Nigel, the church was tightening its administrative oversight and merging some of its monasteries together. The priest and the rest of the clergy here were going to be reassigned. Once the castle was fully abandoned, it would fall into further disrepair—and since it sat on the distant outskirts of the city, it would become prime real estate for vagrants. Those reasons were more than enough for the church to decide to demolish the castle.

A shame, since it would suit our syndicate perfectly. Claudia couldn’t help but entertain the idea of repurposing the place. This monastery had already ceased welcoming new clergy among its ranks. They were on the cusp of the end. Claudia and Helen would be the last visitors they ever entertained.

“I can only pray the demolition goes smoothly. I’m afraid it’s my fault that it hasn’t proceeded as it was supposed to,” said Carlo.

Intrigued, Claudia asked, “Why? Has the demolition been put on hold?”

“Yes, though it shames me to have to share that with you when you’ve only just arrived.” Carlo went on to explain that the delay had been caused by the rumors that had been making the rounds about phantoms. When the construction workers started claiming they’d seen a long-haired ghost wandering about, the foreman had pulled out of their contract. “It seems everyone in the industry has heard the story, which has made it impossible to hire someone else.”

And then suddenly they were contacted about Claudia spending her two weeks here. Carlo said he felt it was the will of the Capricious God, for which he was utterly grateful. Her stay here, he hoped, would help quell the rumors and allow demolition to resume.

“Once you return home after an uneventful stay, I’m sure we’ll be able to find a new foreman,” said Carlo.

Ironic that Lady Sunset’s attempts to terrorize me might be of benefit to someone.

The world was full of surprises. Claudia couldn’t say as much to the priest, who was beaming at her, but she did exchange looks with Helen and nod.

“This is your room.” Carlo motioned to the door they’d arrived at. “Am I correct in understanding that you two will be sharing the same room?”

“Yes, that’s correct,” said Claudia.

They could have requested separate quarters, but after discussing the matter with Helen, Claudia had decided they were better off sharing one—especially because Helen claimed she would have a difficult time sleeping alone.

I shouldn’t be too surprised. She never could stomach Miss Mirage’s ghost stories.

Whenever Helen stumbled into the recreation room after work and caught part of one of those stories, she’d climb into bed with Claudia that same night.

“Whenever you’re hungry, please visit the cafeteria. Someone should be up and working there by this time,” Carlo went on. He warned them not to wait too late for their dinner because the clergy tended to retire early. After ensuring they were satisfied with their room, the priest bade them farewell with promises of meeting again in the morning, then took his leave.

Claudia stepped into the room and plunked her trunk onto the floor. She’d kept a perfect mask on in front of Carlo, but her hands ached from hefting the trunk for so long. “I believe this is the first time I’ve ever walked so far carrying my own luggage.”

“You did splendidly, my lady.”

Claudia groaned. “Meanwhile, you don’t seem the least bit burdened by it.”

“Well, I haven’t served as a maid all these years for nothing. Though I will admit our trunks are heavy, since we packed enough for two whole weeks.”

Although Claudia had been performing regular exercise to maintain her body, her stamina couldn’t compare to that of a maid like Helen. Helen didn’t seem winded or fatigued whatsoever as she set about unloading their trunks.

“At least they appear to have cleaned before we arrived,” Helen noted as she surveyed the room.

The floors were wooden and unsurprisingly bereft of any rugs, but at least there wasn’t a speck of dust. After walking along those corridors with the hard stone floors, the softer wooden ones felt much more comfortable beneath Claudia’s feet. From the entrance, there were two closets on the right, into which Helen was swiftly putting away their clothes. On the opposite side was a large table with two chairs. There was a window on the far wall, where their bed was located. All the furnishings were modest and simple, lacking any decoration. From the looks of things, this monastery embraced asceticism.

After taking a short break to scan their lodgings, Claudia followed Helen’s lead and cracked her closet open. If they worked together, they could wrap this up quickly.

“I was worried we might find cobwebs and spiders in the corners, so it’s a relief to see that’s not the case,” Helen chattered. “Our blankets seem to be nice and thick too. We won’t freeze.”

“You must’ve had a lot of anxiety about this,” Claudia surmised.

“Lord Virgil ordered me to notify him if the conditions here were too poor.”

“Isn’t that our duty to overcome by using our brains to compensate where necessary?” Claudia already knew they wouldn’t have the same level of comfort here. It was an excellent opportunity to show how resourceful she could be.

“I understand, but there’s only so much one can handle. Plus, I’m nervous about what Lady Sunset might pull next,” said Helen.

“She won’t do anything while we’re staying here. The monastery is under the church’s authority. Even with the queen’s backing, she can’t interfere.”

“Nonetheless, this old castle was once the property of the Sunsets, wasn’t it?”

“It was the property of a branch family, not the main house,” Claudia clarified.

When Claudia set about gathering intel on the monastery ahead of time, the most prominent details were the ghost stories surrounding it—but she did also discover the Sunsets’ link to the castle. The branch family who had owned the place had long since died off. This property had then been donated to the church, so it no longer belonged to the Sunsets at all.

That said, she did learn something surprising: After the capital’s land was donated to the royal family, the Sunsets’ branch family was allowed to keep residence at the castle. The royal family hadn’t been able to appoint an administrative official immediately, so the Sunsets’ branch family temporarily occupied the position. There seemed to be more to the story politically, but in the present, a proper official had been dispatched for the area. Having said that, the Sunsets still had a link to the castle, which was probably why Lady Sunset had such an easy time requesting that Claudia be sent here.

“The church doesn’t want to cede any more power in Harland. Even if the queen herself made the request, the church wouldn’t take sides,” said Claudia. If anything were to happen while she stayed at the monastery, the responsibility would fall on the church. Due to the precarity of their political position, they’d balk at any interference. “The fact that the priest came out to greet us and personally escorted us is proof of the church’s stance.”

“Very well,” Helen conceded. “I’ll try not to be so anxious about everything.”

By now, they’d finished putting away their things.

“Lady Claudia, are you hungry?”

“I’m all right. I ate a meal before we left.” Claudia hesitated before adding, “But I would like a pitcher of water.”

“Of course. I was planning to swing by the cafeteria while checking out the rest of the castle.”

“Then I’ll go with you,” Claudia readily volunteered.

Hydration was important, and as she’d been told, it was important for her to look after herself while at the monastery. The two of them set off with the priest’s map in hand, and the bodyguard waiting outside her room fell into step behind them. Even though Claudia was supposed to live like one of the clergy, her safety was paramount. The royal family had sent along guards of their own, so it was more secure than ever before.

The corridor was eerily quiet, with their footsteps and the rhythmic clink of armor the only sounds. It was still nighttime, so it didn’t seem like any of the clergy were moving about yet. Claudia wasn’t sure if it was because the castle was in disrepair or if it was just a natural feature of the building, but a chilling draft seemed to permeate the place. There were too many tiny crevices all over where the outside air crept in.

Claudia peered out a window; it was black as pitch outside. The only reason there were any patches of light at all was that knights were positioned outside for her protection.

I bet it’s usually much darker than this. She tried to picture it in her mind. She could understand why people said the castle was haunted, especially when she’d first arrived and observed its creepy silhouette in the darkness. It’s unnerving enough that they could probably make it a selling point if they wanted to advertise it to sightseers.

The lantern light cast uneven shadows on the rocky surface of the walls around them. The lack of decoration in the corridors—devoid of even a single vase—gave the castle a forlorn air.

There were only three of them, including the bodyguard, and it almost felt as if they were the only people in the castle at this point. While Claudia was preoccupied noticing all these little details, she realized Helen had fallen silent.

“Helen?”

Whatever Helen wanted to say, she gulped it down. She’d frozen in the middle of the corridor, right where one could gaze straight out at the castle’s watchtower. “L-L-Lady Claudia,” Helen stammered in a shrill voice, “Over there!”

She pointed with a trembling finger.

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The circular watchtower jutted out from the rest of the castle wall, connected by an open walkway…and it was there the two women spotted the indistinct, pale silhouette.

Blood drained from Helen’s cheeks. “Y-you see it too, don’t you, my lady? That female phantom with the long hair.”

“I do,” Claudia answered quietly. She doubted her eyes, but there could be no mistaking it. The figure’s outline was hard to discern, but she certainly saw the way its long hair billowed as it moved.

“I’ll investigate it immediately!” the bodyguard behind them declared, hurrying off. Obviously, their eyes weren’t playing tricks on them if he saw it too. And it was his duty to apprehend anyone suspicious in her vicinity. As soon as he informed the guards outside, he sent Claudia and Helen back to their room.

“So this place is haunted!” Helen cried. “Wh-what will we do if it’s come looking for a living sacrifice?!”

“Calm down,” Claudia told her. “Let’s wait for a report first.” She wrapped an arm around Helen’s shoulders, and the two took a seat on the bed. Claudia’s warmth seemed to settle Helen’s nerves, as her trembling soon subsided.

After taking several deep breaths, Helen hung her head. “I apologize for letting my fear get the best of me, especially when I’m the one who needs to keep a cool head at times like this.”

“It’s all right. You already said you can’t handle ghosts, so who could blame you for being shaken after one appeared right in front of you? Anyone would have the same reaction.” If the same had happened to Claudia with bugs, she would have screamed at the top of her lungs. “If any creepy-crawlies come out, you’ll have to handle them.”

“Certainly! I admit I’m not particular about them either, but I can massacre them all if you need me to!”

“That’s reassuring to hear.” Claudia wasn’t too keen on picturing it, though. She changed the subject to distract herself. “Assuming what we saw really was a ghost, it can’t mean any harm, or else the priest and the other clergy members wouldn’t be able to carry out their daily duties unharmed.”

If that specter had been the night terror the rumors made it out to be, then the queen wouldn’t have allowed Lady Sunset to intervene and send Claudia here. The queen would only have permitted this if she was sure Claudia would be safe.

“That’s true. I let myself panic too much.” The rest of Helen’s body had stopped trembling, but there was still a tremor in her hands.

Claudia stroked her back to help chase away the lingering fear. “This is a novel experience. I don’t normally get to console you like this.”

“And I feel all the more pitiful for it.”

Smiling, Claudia shook her head. “I’m quite enjoying myself, you know?” She might have enjoyed it more if Helen let herself grow angry instead. She reached over and wiped away the tears at the corners of Helen’s eyes with the pads of her thumbs. Helen had moist, supple skin, likely because she used the same moisturizer as Claudia. She was much healthier in this lifetime than she had been in their brothel days.

“You’re so adorable,” Claudia blurted out before she could catch herself.

“It’s embarrassing to hear you say that.”

But Claudia couldn’t help it. There was something so endearing about seeing Helen vulnerable when she’d always been a reliable older sister figure to Claudia. She wished this moment could last forever. Alas, Helen regained her nerve too quickly, pinching Claudia’s nose between her fingers.

“I appreciate the compliment. However! You need to keep proper boundaries with people.”

“I do with everyone else but you.”

“I suppose that’s not so bad… Hmm. No, I cannot trust your word on this.”

Claudia pressed a hand to her chest. “Oh dear, I can’t believe my own maid doesn’t have faith in me!” Not that she could argue the point; she knew Helen was absolutely right. Claudia hadn’t been able to shake her habit of letting her guard down completely and cozying up to other women.

“I can only imagine what His Highness must be going through,” said Helen.

“Syl acknowledges how prone he is to jealousy.”

Helen shrugged. “If I’m being honest, I couldn’t care less about how much he suffers.”

“That’s an awfully bold statement to make.”

Helen was an incredibly capable maid. She was always careful not to say anything inappropriate at the wrong time or place, but sometimes she blurted out the most unbelievable things when she thought no one else would hear. It didn’t help that Helen thought Claudia superior to everyone else in the world.

The maid flashed Claudia a grin that made it difficult to scold her, then peered at the door. It was about time Claudia’s bodyguard returned to report. “They’re taking an awfully long time.”

The more time it took, the less promising things looked. The one saving grace was that their banter had helped her recover quickly.

“Lady Claudia,” said Helen, her brow furrowed in thought, “about that figure we spotted…it wasn’t one of the clergy, was it?”

“Not at all. It wasn’t wearing a robe.” All the clergy wore robes provided by the church. Claudia and Helen would be receiving theirs in the morning. The only time they were allowed to remove them was when they were going to bed. Claudia tried to conjure the image of the phantom in her mind again. And when she did, she realized something. “Actually, it wasn’t wearing a white dress either, was it?”

“Now that you mention it, no.”

According to the rumors, there were two ghosts: a hazy figure in a white dress that appeared night after night looking for a sacrifice, and a distinctly female ghost with long hair. It was easy to confuse the two and assume it was a single ghost story, but Claudia was certain they weren’t.

“The rumors suggest they’re both women,” Claudia said, “but the foremost feature I noticed of that phantom was its long locks.”

“Yes, I assumed instantly it was a long-haired woman. It definitely wasn’t wearing a white dress.”

Claudia nodded to herself. “I suppose that means the two aren’t the same ghost, then.”

“Oh, so this isn’t the one who seeks sacrifices?” Helen asked hopefully.

“Correct. Moreover, it didn’t seem to react to us at all.” From what Claudia had seen, it had ignored them as if it was headed toward the watchtower. If it was eager for a sacrifice, then surely it would have shown some reaction if it noticed people in its vicinity. That was, of course, assuming it had been a ghost in the first place.

“It’s possible it was one of the clergy, and they were so groggy that they forgot to don their robe before they left their room,” Claudia suggested.

“Perhaps, but I’m not sure why they would be heading toward the watchtower.”

Many castles had separate watchtowers not built into the castle walls. Some, like this one, had connecting outdoor corridors. This probably made it much easier to transport supplies, though the monastery’s watchtower no longer served its initial purpose. It was entirely abandoned.

“Maybe it wasn’t a phantom at all but a person off to meet their lover for a tryst?” Claudia dismissed the idea almost as soon as it left her lips. “Well, if that were the case, we should’ve heard something by now.”

If the silhouette had been a flesh-and-blood person—whether that be a member of the clergy or otherwise—the guards outside would have located them immediately and her bodyguard would have returned with word.

The more I think about it, the more likely it seems it is a ghost, as impossible as that seems. She was fluctuating between skepticism and a willingness to consider the possibility.

Helen’s brows knitted. She was probably having the same thoughts as Claudia.

A knock fell upon the door, and with it came the long-awaited report. The expression on the knight’s face didn’t look too promising.

“You didn’t find anyone?” Claudia asked.

“We didn’t,” he confirmed. “We investigate the corridor where the figure was spotted all the way into the watchtower, but there was no one.”

“Is it possible you just missed them?”

“The corridor leads straight into the watchtower with no other exits from there. If they’d retraced their steps and come back, we would have run into them.”

The silhouette had disappeared into thin air, which led credence to the idea that it really had been a phantom. Does that mean ghosts actually exist? She couldn’t entirely dismiss the possibility, not when she’d miraculously managed to turn back time after her death in her previous life. At the same time, she couldn’t accept a paranormal explanation.

“I’d like to investigate the watchtower myself.” She didn’t even realize she’d made that demand until the words had already left her lips. It wasn’t because Claudia didn’t trust her bodyguard and knights; she simply couldn’t bring herself to believe it really had been a ghost.

Obediently, her guard led her out to the watchtower.

“Helen, you don’t have to come with me,” Claudia said.

“I appreciate your concern, but I’ve realized something.” Helen was so calm, eyes shining with unyielding determination, that Claudia almost wondered if she’d imagined the maid’s earlier panic. “I’m far more terrified of you coming to harm than I am of ghosts!”

They’d already established that the phantom wouldn’t hurt them, after all.

“Our prior conversation opened my eyes!” Helen said with a laugh.

I’m not sure if I should be happy about this character growth or not. It was good that Helen had conquered her fears. Claudia knew that, but her heart was not so earnest. As long as she insists she’s all right, I should let her do as she wishes. There was no need to take the wind out of Helen’s sails.

Their party followed the same route they had taken earlier. As they did, Claudia realized why she didn’t buy the ghost explanation. The members of Rose Garden sometimes purposefully spread rumors about the paranormal. Rose Garden was the syndicate that Claudia led.

As the priest had hinted when he mentioned demolition, abandoned places were a frequent hideout for unsavory sorts. Gossip about ghosts was the perfect way to dissuade people from coming around. Few would trek to the distant outskirts of the capital to visit a haunted place for thrills. Common citizens were too busy trying to keep up with their own lives. They didn’t have time for such entertainment.

At any rate, Claudia knew of cases where people used ghost stories for their own ends, which fed into her suspicion.

The city that had cropped up around the castle was quite a lively one. People lived fulfilling enough lives that if they caught wind of the rumors, they might be brave enough to check their veracity. Rose Garden wouldn’t bother with spreading ghost stories at a place like this.

The monastery itself is what encourages people to keep their distance. Churches and monasteries were considered holy places. Children knew better than to mess around on such sacred ground; drunks didn’t dare approach for fear of emptying their stomachs where they shouldn’t and incurring the church’s wrath. Claudia knew there were daredevils out there with a penchant for trespassing in haunted buildings to get their thrills, but she hadn’t heard any whispers of them troubling this monastery. That must be because it’s still technically active.

Once the clergy left, all sorts of people would treat it as open real estate. It would be a dangerous place for the local children to play, however. Demolishing the castle would be safest for everyone.

All sorts of thoughts passed through Claudia’s mind as they walked—and soon enough, they reached the corridor leading to the watchtower.

“This is where we saw it earlier, right?” asked Helen, pointing at the spot where they’d first noticed the phantom from the castle window.

“Yes,” Claudia confirmed, “and it looked like it was walking toward the watchtower.”

“It looked more like it was swaying than walking.”

“I suppose you could say that.” Helen wasn’t exactly wrong. The way the phantom had moved wasn’t natural, and that was largely because of the way its hair moved. Its head wobbled dramatically as it went.

The knight who’d led the way cracked open the door to the watchtower.

“There’s nothing here,” Claudia said as she peeked inside. It was wide enough to accommodate twenty knights on its ground floor, but there was nothing inside. There were no decorations or any traces of a rodent infestation. It was a completely empty—and well-cleaned—space. Not even a speck of dust anywhere. The clergy were probably maintaining it to prevent further deterioration.

The tower had a foreboding atmosphere, and the air felt uncomfortably damp and warm against her skin. Claudia rubbed her arms to shake it off. From what I’ve heard, the temperature in the air is supposed to drop if a ghost is near.

It was autumn now, and the nights were chilly. The tower had no fireplace going, so it should have been cold. Why wasn’t it? The lack of any forthcoming answer sent a wave of fear through her.

Maybe I shouldn’t have investigated this place. The guard’s report was accurate. There were no signs of anyone. Claudia had known she wouldn’t find anything, but she’d hoped to put her heart at ease by confirming it herself. She’d thought it might make it easier to accept too. Who knew finding nothing would leave me so uneasy?

She had never experienced something like this before. She had always thought finding nothing meant there was nothing to fear. It should’ve reassured her, but instead she felt restless.

Claudia finally understood why Helen found ghosts so terrifying.

With nothing to show for their investigation, they returned to their quarters. Neither she nor Helen had the energy left to drop by the cafeteria for a pitcher of water.

A silhouette that disappeared into thin air…

Before sleep finally took her, Claudia’s thoughts were mysteriously filled with the beautiful man she had encountered at the theater.

Chapter 7: The Villainess Joins the Clergy

Chapter 7:
The Villainess Joins the Clergy

 

ONCE DAWN ARRIVED, one of the senior clergywomen dropped by with a pitcher to check in on them. “I heard there was some fuss last night,” she said. “I can’t believe you saw a ghost on the very day you arrived! Were you able to sleep at all?”

“Yes,” Claudia assured her, “though I’m glad I opted to stay in the same room with my maid.”

She and Helen were already fatigued from their long journey. They’d climbed into bed together once they returned, and it had helped ease their fears. The whole situation felt so surreal when they awoke that she wondered if it hadn’t been a dream.

“Honestly, that ghost has been giving us a lot of trouble as well. The priest and I have been praying for a resolution—but as you saw, the issue remains. The silver lining is that the ghost doesn’t seem to mean us any harm.” Hence she and the other clergy had grown desensitized to it. “Half of us believe it really is a ghost, the other half are skeptical. But given how many people have witnessed it now, it’s hard to deny that something is going on.”

“I can see how some would still doubt, though. There could be a perfectly logical explanation.”

“Too true,” the woman agreed. “You often hear about people mistaking all sorts of things for the paranormal.” Sometimes people let their paranoia get the best of them and tricked themselves into thinking they’d seen something they hadn’t. People had a habit of seeing what they wanted to see too.

Claudia, Helen, and the bodyguard had all heard about the ghosts haunting the monastery. Perhaps that knowledge had biased their thinking in favor of a ghost. Maybe the saying “forewarned is forearmed” doesn’t always apply.

She had experienced it before, when she’d noticed movement from the curtains and assumed the window was open. When Helen later opened it, she was shocked that it had been closed.

“But as I said, it won’t harm anyone,” continued the senior clergywoman. “So I hope you won’t worry overmuch.”

“Yes, I would prefer to concentrate on my stay here without wasting energy on fearing phantoms,” said Claudia.

The woman chuckled. “I’m sure there’s much you aren’t accustomed to, so you’ll probably be too busy to spend a single thought on that ghost.” She handed them their robes, which they pulled on over their clothes.

Claudia tied her hair back in a simple ponytail. Helen sported her usual hairstyle. Once they finished, they did some light cleaning in the room and then set off to the cafeteria for breakfast.

The cafeteria offered meals twice a day: once in the morning and again in the evening. The clergy took weekly shifts on cooking duty. Claudia and Helen were only required to assist in the kitchen for the first day.

“Once we finish our breakfast, we gather in the main hall to pray together.”

Their main hall was used as a chapel of sorts, with a pulpit for the priest and rows of pews for the rest of the clergy. This was probably a ballroom once. The design of the room was so familiar to her that she could picture lords and ladies dressed in finery, dancing together.

The occasional chirping and singing of birds cut through the tranquil silence. Light poured in through the windows, casting shadows on the stone floors and walls.

When the priest stepped up to the podium, that signaled the start of prayer time. All the clergy took their seats, closed their eyes, and clasped their hands in front of their chests. They stayed frozen in this position until the priest finished reading the day’s verse from the scriptures. From there, the priest began his sermon.

“I’m sure some of you are feeling restless with excitement, having newcomers among us. Meeting new people is always a joyous occasion. However, we mustn’t forget the importance of our daily routines. Though they may feel monotonous, that monotony is a sign of peace. Boring repetition is a privilege.”

One only experienced tedium when they had no other stressors. That was when people grew reckless enough to take risks. But what if the people were poor and starving? Such were the questions Carlo posed, and Claudia tried earnestly to picture it. Being free from stress wasn’t a concept those in the slums were familiar with.

He’s right. We mustn’t take such things for granted.

Claudia was only able to stand back and consider the plights of others because she was so privileged not to have to face those issues herself; she would be doing her people and herself a disservice to forget that.

Once the sermon was over, one of the senior clergywomen called over Claudia and Helen, guiding them out to the church’s courtyard. It had once been a vast garden. There were still some shrubs here and there, remnants of long-gone splendor.

Claudia leaned her head back. Long ropes stood stark against the blue canopy of the sky. The grass rolled out beneath her feet, like a plush carpet that covered every inch of the ground. Her gaze fell on three buckets.

“This is where we do our laundry,” said the senior clergywoman. “We wash the large linens once a week. We try to do all other fabrics every day as long as the weather is clear.” She went on to explain that the rest of the clergy would embroider their names in any personal clothing so they wouldn’t be misplaced, and that most people attended to their undergarments on their own. “We draw water from the well here. Once we finish washing, we try to make sure all it goes into the drain—but I’ll admit, not everyone is diligent about this.”

The gutter in question ran along a hedge, the connecting ditch covered in bars to prevent any solid objects from falling through. The grass around the gutter had worn away; so much water had been allowed to drain there that it had washed away anything that might have taken root. The woman was right about people not being diligent.

“You ladies will help us hang the clothing to dry,” the clergywoman told them.

“Very well.”

Claudia realized that was what the ropes must be for. One end was connected through a castle window, while the other was strung up around a tree in the courtyard. The clergy kept the ropes tied around a tree limb when they weren’t using it and unfurled it to connect to the window when they were ready to dry the laundry.

“They’re being awfully considerate,” Claudia said to Helen.

“They can’t risk your hands getting chapped,” the maid replied.

Claudia had been ordered to watch as the clergy attended to the actual washing themselves. She could tell they were doing their utmost to avoid her getting her hands in the water.

Having overheard their conversation, the senior clergywoman said, “What matters to us is that you know the process of what we go through. Seeing something firsthand should leave a bigger impression in your mind than merely reading about it in a book.”

That much was true. Living as a noble lady, she would never have to consider the process of menial chores like this. Part of her duty in spending two weeks here was to familiarize herself with how the clergy lived and what went into their daily lives. Claudia certainly wouldn’t forget the sight of their cracked, calloused hands anytime soon. When winter came, it would be that much more painful to do laundry.

After drawing enough water from the well to fill the buckets, the clergywoman began tossing clothes inside. She was equipped with soap and a washboard for her work.

“Depending on the fabric, one may have to scrub by hand rather than using the washboard,” Helen supplied helpfully. According to her, their washing process here wasn’t much different from the one employed at the Lindsay household. “I’m actually quite excited because we’re washing sheets today.”

“Oh?” Claudia glanced at her. “Why is that?”

“For one, we must use our feet to wash sheets because it takes too much time trying to clean them by hand. We wring them out before we hang them up, but they’re still so large and heavy when they’re wet. Still, once we have them all hung and the yard is covered in white sheets, I get a real sense of accomplishment. It’s so…invigorating.” Her face broke out in a dazzling smile.

Helen had once been a noble lady too. From what Claudia had heard, Helen had to do housework with her mother after her family lost their status. It was amazing how Helen could find enjoyment in something like this with all she’d lost.

“My mother never had any problems completing chores on her own,” said Helen. “I think the reason I started to enjoy them was because she always looked so happy when I helped out.”

Their days had been monotonous, filled with the same checklist of tasks. Helen’s mother had managed to find small joys in that routine, which she had in turn passed on to her daughter.

“The biggest incentive is having other people to work with. Chores may feel grueling by oneself, but when shared with others, there’s a sense of camaraderie and accomplishment.”

“That’s true. You’re absolutely right,” said Claudia.

One could try to encourage themselves, but that only went so far. As simple as loving oneself sounded, it was much more difficult to do. Having someone else to talk to helped one get out of their own head and get a better perspective, which in turn made it easier to acknowledge their own efforts.

“You know, you always give me the courage I need to face things head-on.” Thank you. Claudia flashed a smile at Helen.

Helen’s eyes squeezed shut.

“Um, Helen?”

“I’m sorry, you were just so breathtaking.” When Helen opened her eyes again, they were wet with tears.

“You’re being silly,” Claudia chastised her, patting her back.

Once the clergywoman finished wringing out the sheets, it was Helen and Claudia’s turn to help.

 

***

 

The wind swept through Claudia’s flowing black hair, lifting it up. The flapping of fabric echoed all around her, the breeze carrying with it the scent of soap.

Once they were finished hanging up all the linens, Claudia nodded to herself, satisfied. “I think I understand what you meant earlier.”

Seeing the lines of white sheets gave her the sense of accomplishment Helen had mentioned. That said, it had taken significant effort to hoist the waterlogged sheets onto the ropes. Before she knew it, sweat was running down her temples.

“It feels good to finish a job, doesn’t it?” said Helen.

“Indeed. It feels like checking a task off a list.”

Granted, it was a small accomplishment in the grand scheme of things, but it still made them satisfied. Claudia and Helen were grinning at one another when the senior clergywoman returned with some hand cream.

“Please make sure you use this whenever you finish working with water,” she told them. It couldn’t completely prevent one’s hands from becoming chapped, but it did make a difference. “The Sunsets support us financially, so we can afford any supplies we need.”

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“This castle itself was donated to the church by the Sunsets, correct?” asked Claudia.

“That’s right, and they’ve always provided financial assistance due to their connection to this place.”

If Claudia had continued down the main road she’d used on her trip to the monastery, she would have eventually arrived at the Sunsets’ residence. It made sense that they had such a connection, especially since the entire capital had once been their land.

“Although this region falls under the royal family’s authority now, they haven’t had the Sunset branch family’s graves moved,” the clergywoman continued. “They’re still in the nearby forest.”

The graveyard there had plots for the common people as well, but one corner of it was reserved for past members of the branch family.

“At any rate, once you two have recovered, we’ll have you do some cleaning next. We have plenty of moisturizer, so if you deal with water again, feel free to take some out of storage.”

The area they were in charge of cleaning was the main hall. As they were heading that way, Claudia spotted a carriage with the Sunsets’ crest rolling up to the castle.

“Oh, that? That’s how they send us supplies,” said the clergywoman, having noticed Claudia’s staring. “Lord Patrick Sunset also comes personally to deliver their check.”

“He comes himself, does he?” Claudia murmured to herself. It was unusual for any aristocrat to go out of their way to visit a monastery far on the outskirts like this. Even though the Sunsets’ region was close by, they had their own monastery there. They would be more likely to visit that one.

“The priest taught Lord Sunset and his father, as I understand it. Years ago, they used to summon him all the way to their estate.”

Aristocrats often hired clergy to serve as tutors for their children. One could learn about philosophy through the church’s teachings. Typically, it was the most highly decorated members of the church whom the aristocrats sought to hire, but that wasn’t the case with the Sunsets. Even though Carlo was the head of this monastery, he was on one of the bottom rungs per the broader church hierarchy.

The Sunsets have more connections here than I realized. The Sunsets’ branch family had served as the local liege lord, so it was somewhat understandable—but they seemed to place an awful lot of importance on this place. If it meant so much to them, why give it up to the royal family?

Claudia was trying to puzzle out the answers when the clergywoman passed her a broom and rag, effectively cutting off her thoughts. “When cleaning, one must begin with the tallest places first, so please start by wiping down the walls and windows. After that, you can sweep.”

The ceiling was much higher in the main hall than anywhere else. A ladder was required for cleaning the walls. To make it easier to move about, they pushed all the pews to the edge of the room. As the clergywoman told it, this was an enormous undertaking since they did it daily.

“We don’t do every room this frequently,” the clergywoman said. “But the main hall serves as a chapel, so it’s normally open to the public—meaning there’s a lot of traffic through here.”

The need for daily cleaning made sense in that context; the clergy weren’t the only ones coming to the chapel to pray. Dirt would accumulate quickly if they had outsiders trudging through. It was important to keep the place pristine so people felt comfortable coming. Though for security reasons, no outsiders were allowed to visit while Claudia was present.

“I’m causing you all extra trouble,” Claudia muttered as the realization hit her.

“Please don’t let it weigh on you, my lady. Even discounting your stay, we’ll soon have to vacate this place anyway. Many people have already started visiting other locations to offer their prayers.”

The castle’s days were numbered, which meant all the clergy who remained—the priest included—would be transferred elsewhere.

“The only issue is that we’re having trouble finding a foreman, but we’re just trying to think of it as an extension of our duty while we stay here and wait.”

If they left before a foreman was secured to tear down the castle, then the place would be left unoccupied for an indefinite period. The clergy would stay until the last possible moment to prevent vagrants from moving in.

“The priest seems reluctant to leave since he’s spent his whole life here,” the clergywoman went on as they worked. She instructed Claudia to secure the ladder while she scaled it to wipe down the wall. Her orders were swift and decisive, leaving Claudia no time to guess what was needed. She only had to do as she was asked.

When they reached the entrance to the main hall, Claudia noticed that there was a bulletin board on the wall. She had never seen it before, as they always used the connecting hallway when coming to the main hall.

After the clergywoman finished wiping down the upper portion of the wall, she clambered back down the ladder. She followed Claudia’s gaze to the bulletin board. “It’s the schedule for the chapel. We post local news here as well.”

There were several pinned flyers, Claudia noted. “A purebred hound has gone missing?”

“Yes. It was a merchant’s pet. There have been several such cases these past few months.” It wasn’t just dogs. Birds, cats, and other animals had gone missing as well. One of the larger ones was a missing sheep. “It’s not that odd, though. Animals always go missing. One family loses a cat, and it turns up living with another family.”

Felines also had a habit of hiding when their lifespan was near its end. It was their natural instinct in the wild, not wanting to appear vulnerable in front of anyone. Their owners often couldn’t give up on them and kept searching, though.

“It’s really nothing to be concerned about. As I hear it, the man left his purebred hound to roam in his yard. Sheep can easily wander away from their flock and get lost.”

One couldn’t always understand what motivated an animal to go off on its own, but that was exactly what they did. Still, for so many to go missing in such a short period of time suggested something was very much amiss.

“I’m not sure why, but those ghost stories keep coming to mind,” the clergywoman muttered under her breath. “But no, that’s silly.”

She was probably referring to one of the local ghosts, specifically the one in the long white dress that searched for sacrifices every night. Claudia and Helen had witnessed the long-haired female phantom last night, but it wasn’t the same ghost.

No one could be faulted for thinking there might be a connection.

Maybe the ghost looking for sacrifices stems from the missing animals. So many were going missing without any apparent explanation; not knowing was a source of anxiety. Perhaps they’d made up the story about the ghost to give themselves an explanation. The long-haired ghost is more difficult to explain away because people have witnessed it.

Normally, any ghost accounts were vague at best, framed as something heard from a friend of a friend. Without any firsthand accounts, such stories were pure rumor. The legend of the phantom in white seeking sacrifices was one such example. There might be gossip about people being attacked, but there was no actual proof. That was why no one took it seriously.

The long-haired female phantom was a different story. There was no doubt it existed; Claudia had seen it herself. Her bodyguard had been there with her, so she knew it wasn’t merely a prank that Lady Sunset had orchestrated. The bodyguard and the knights outside were present by command of the king and crown prince. Not even the queen could interfere with them, especially since Sylvester had handpicked these men for Claudia’s safety. Besides, they’d only agreed to send her here because they were sure she wouldn’t be in danger.

The phantom’s existence or lack thereof is irrelevant. If it meant no harm, then it didn’t matter. Perhaps I’m wasting my time even thinking about it.

Once the clergywoman finished with the upper walls, there was no longer a need to use the ladder. They transitioned into wiping down the lower wall and the windows. Claudia dismissed her stray thoughts and focused on her work.

 

***

 

After sweeping the floors, they had to rearrange the pews into rows. It was nearly lunchtime by the time they finished. Not that it mattered; the monastery didn’t serve lunch. Claudia didn’t mind, though. Being in a new environment had robbed her of her appetite.

The senior members of the clergy took care of the most difficult work, leaving Claudia with only the simplest of tasks. Perhaps the real reason she wasn’t hungry was that she hadn’t really done anything.

While she was waiting for one of the clergywomen to advise her on her next job, the priest popped in. “How are you finding your stay here so far?” he asked her.

“Everyone has been so kind and considerate that I haven’t faced any troubles.”

Helen had been worried that they might be bullied at the monastery, but no such thing had occurred. In fact, it had been just the opposite: The clergy had been most attentive. Claudia worried whether this actually qualified as part of her princess training.

Carlo smiled at her. “It’s important for you to understand the people’s toils, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to experience them all yourself.” He’d practically read her mind.

Knowledge from books was preferable to ignorance, but there were things one could better understand only by seeing it for themselves. That included visiting places, such as the monastery, personally.

“Vicarious experience can help you better relate to other people and their perspectives. It also leaves a more memorable impression. That is your duty: to learn and never forget.” Carlo added, “I don’t expect this experience to stay at the forefront of your mind forever. I only hope that you’ll occasionally remember your time here. That you can draw upon it when you need, and it helps become the foundation of your wisdom.” He motioned for her to follow and said, “Come, I will give you a tour.”

They left the main hall together, navigating through the corridor. Their steps echoed on the stone until they arrived at a hallway on the first floor.

“These are portraits of the past liege lords,” Carlo told her.

“The heads of the Sunsets’ branch family, I assume.”

“Precisely. Even after the Sunsets ceded this land to the crown, their family continued to serve as liege lords for the region.”

In painting after painting, each person had the same characteristics: blond hair and purple eyes. Evidently, these striking features were as strong in the branch family as they were in the main family. Each portrait featured the liege lord of the time from the bust up. They were all hung in order of most recent to oldest.

“I heard you have connections to the main family as well,” Claudia said.

“I do. I have known Lord Patrick Sunset and Her Majesty since they were born,” Carlo replied. “I’ve been acquainted with them ever since they donated this castle. Speaking of which, do you know why they offered it to the church rather than keeping it for themselves?”

“I do not, no, but I do know the branch family who lived here died out. I assume the main family opted to donate the castle out of deference to the royal family.”

It had been a reasonable way to appease the royals, who’d allowed the branch family to rule the land when they were expanding the kingdom due to a lack of manpower. That being the case, they’d probably been eager to appoint their own official as liege lord. It was the perfect opportunity to do so when the branch family died off.

“The land may belong to the royal family, but because the castle was donated to the church, the building at least remains outside of the royal family’s control.”

If nothing else, the Sunsets wanted the castle to remain—a wish that, sadly, would not be fulfilled now that it was slated to be torn down. Still, it had existed for fifty years after the branch family ceased to be, so it hadn’t been completely in vain. Claudia understood why the Sunsets had kept a close relationship with the priest for so many years. With the branch family gone, the priest was the custodian of the castle.

Out of respect for the Sunsets, the monastery used only the essential areas of the castle: the guest rooms, the main hall, and the kitchens. The clergy had left the office and lord’s quarters untouched.

Claudia studied the portraits. Artists wanted to please their clients, so they often sacrificed accuracy for the sake of flattery. This was especially true of portraits exchanged between families when arranging a marriage. She wasn’t surprised that each liege lord depicted was conventionally attractive. She froze when her eyes fell on one of the portraits, specifically the cuff links on one of the men’s suits. Her heart pounded like a drum in her ears.

Impossible.

She recognized the crest. In all her time—in this lifetime and in her last—she had only seen it once, and she was sure she wasn’t mistaken. It was the same one she’d spotted on the cuff links of that beautiful man at the theater. Was he a descendant of the Sunsets’ branch family?

That couldn’t be. The last of them passed away decades ago.

Claudia pointed at the portrait. “Is this crest used by any other family?”

“Hmm? No, it’s fallen out of use entirely.”

Of course Carlo would say that. The branch family was gone; no one would say they’d died off if there was a living descendant today. If their branch family was still active, she would have memorized their crest. The Sunsets—and by extension, their branch family—were too influential for her not to do so.

So who in the world was that man?

Could he have bought his clothes used, and the cuff links were still attached? The possibility was nearly nonexistent. When a family disposed of old belongings, they often sold them to secondhand stores. But they wouldn’t allow anything with the family crest to slip through.

Claudia was a bit of a rarity; most aristocrats didn’t memorize the crests of all noble houses and their branch families. People only paid attention to the crests of their closest associates. That was all the truer for aristocrats in the provinces. They might memorize the crests of important houses, but they certainly didn’t waste time paying attention to branch families. Thus, if an item with a crest on it were to slip through the cracks, what would happen? It was like handing someone the perfect ticket with which to scam people.

This was especially true with cuff links, since they would afford someone the perfect way to masquerade as an aristocrat. Cuff links were custom-made, and any spares were kept tightly locked away. When damaged, they could typically be repaired, but if a situation arose where they needed to be disposed of (such as a family dying off) they had to be destroyed beyond all recognition.

Could that man have managed to get his hands on them somehow? People were prone to mistakes, after all. A matching pair might’ve slipped through, avoiding destruction. Did he use them to dress up and sneak into the theater? But to what end?

Why would he risk infiltrating such a public place to speak with her? What benefit was there in that? All he’d done was share his impressions of the play and how he met his beloved. Claudia had seen neither hide nor hair of him since. Strangest of all, she couldn’t remember what he looked like beyond that she had found him beautiful. She knew that his hair had been bright and gold as sunlight, and that his eyes were like amethysts, but that was it. She thought he had an attractive, well-balanced nose, but the finer details of his face escaped her. It was like a fog spread through her mind when she tried to recall him.

It doesn’t make any sense because I always had a knack for remembering faces. That was a habit she’d picked up during her brothel days. She’d come up with all sorts of tricks for picking out the individual characteristics of each of her clients. None of it helped her when it came to that mystery man.

While she strained her mind to try to conjure his image in her head, Helen took the opportunity to ask, “Father, do you know anything about the ghosts people have been gossiping about?” She probably assumed he would since they kept appearing on the castle grounds.

“I’m afraid I know no more than the rest of you, and I’ve no idea why that long-haired phantom keeps appearing.”

“Oh, I see. I thought maybe we might be able to do something about it if we knew why it’s here.”

“I’m sorry I can’t be of more help. You two must be anxious after you encountered it last night. If you feel uncomfortable staying here, then you may want to—”

“No, we’ll be staying,” Claudia declared firmly. She knew he was going to offer the possibility of leaving.

Helen nodded in agreement. She was no keener on leaving partway through than Claudia was. Running home would be playing right into Lady Sunset’s hand.

“Father, you and the other clergy have managed to continue your daily lives unimpeded. Plus, I put my full faith in the knights,” said Claudia.

They kept themselves hidden and out of sight, but she knew they were close by in case she needed them. Other knights were stationed at various points around the castle as well. They were keeping a careful eye on the watchtower after last night’s incident.

If the phantom in question popped up beside her pillow, Claudia might change her tune, but she hadn’t heard of it doing that to anyone. No one had mentioned seeing it up close, only from afar. She figured she was safe.

Carlo’s lips pressed into a smile. “Your stay gives us all courage. We have only limited time left here. It’s bravado on our part, trying to keep a brave face.”

Claudia suddenly recalled the bulletin board she’d seen at the entrance to the main hall, and the clergywoman who had talked to her about it. At the tail end of their conversation, the clergywoman had mentioned that she thought the ghosts and missing animals were connected.

“What are your thoughts on the paranormal?” Claudia asked the priest.

“I cannot say for certain whether I think they exist. The church’s position is that they are not miraculous creations of the Capricious God.”

If the church had no concrete method of handling ghosts, then presumably its acolytes didn’t believe they existed. The sole reason they didn’t take a hard-line position was that ghosts were part of regional superstition. Being dismissive of them could, in turn, make the locals dismissive of the church itself. The church wanted to avoid such friction; their noncommittal stance was probably why people turned to the church when they wanted help with spirits rather than the local guard.

“Personally,” Carlo went on, “I just pray they can find eternal peace.”

“You aren’t afraid?”

He chuckled. “I already have one foot in the grave. Maybe I would have been terrified as a child, but at my age, I can’t help but wonder if they’ve come to take me away. Incidentally, I’ve never seen the ghost myself.”

“I hope you remain healthy for a long time to come, Father,” Claudia said, and she meant it.

He grinned at her. “I’m pleased to hear you say that.”

Carlo always had such a warm expression. His wrinkled hands were tiny and stubby, which made them look that much smaller. Maybe that was why she found him so affable. The way he’d spoken during his sermon had been so comforting, like a grandfather reading a book to his grandchild while the fireplace crackled in the background. The more she thought about it, his soothing personality resonated more in his voice than his appearance. She could understand why the Sunsets had called upon him as a tutor for several generations.

Chapter 8: The Villainess Learns of the Sunsets’ Connection to the Old Castle

Chapter 8:
The Villainess Learns of the Sunsets’ Connection to the Old Castle

 

SUNLIGHT FILTERED through the trees, drawing shadows on the fallen autumn leaves. A burst of wind grabbed the reddening leaves, scattering them through the air. They danced around Claudia before one landed in her hair.

“Lady Claudia, in your hair,” said a clergywoman as she snatched the leaf.

“Oh dear, thank you for catching that.”

She and Helen were sweeping the courtyard. A forest hemmed in the castle, and there was always a small mountain of leaves from the closest trees when they finished sweeping each day.

Today was the final day of her stay. The two weeks had passed in the blink of an eye. The phantom hadn’t appeared again after that first day, which had made the rest of their time incredibly peaceful. Claudia almost wondered if the silhouette they’d spotted had been a trick of the mind after all. Nothing of note had happened during the rest of her stay. Even now, she was attending to her chores until it was time to head home.

“I’m glad the weather is clear,” Claudia said. She held her broom with one hand, the other shielding her eyes as she glanced up at the sky. The only clouds in sight were pure white, indicating no rain.

Helen followed her gaze and smiled. “We’ll be wearing dresses on our way home. You’re going to let me do your makeup before we leave too.”

Claudia had attended to her daily ablutions on her own since arriving at the monastery, and per church rules, she hadn’t applied any makeup. Helen was excited to finally carry out her duties as a maid again. As for the dress, it was actually very modest and plain.

I figured it would be best to keep everything simple. That included her makeup, but Helen didn’t seem to agree.

As they finished sweeping, a carriage rolled up with the Sunsets’ crest on it. Claudia initially assumed it was carrying supplies like last time, but it didn’t come to a stop until it reached the entrance of the castle. Soon after, Patrick stepped out. It seemed he did often come here personally.

The clergywoman who’d been with Claudia scurried away to summon the priest. Her hurried footsteps appeared to catch Patrick’s attention, for his purple eyes soon landed on Claudia. He started toward her.

“Greetings, Lord Sunset,” she said when he was closer.

“Greetings to you as well, Lady Claudia. Today is your final day, isn’t it?”

Was he here to heckle her? But he didn’t have his wife with him.

While she was busy trying to suss out his motives, Patrick scanned her from top to bottom. “Hmm. It seems those of good breeding cannot hide their status after all.”

Claudia had been careful to keep up her beauty routine even during her stay, and the clergy had avoided assigning her any work that was too difficult. Even windblown, her hair still held a luster absent from that of the rest of the clergy.

“You radiate grace and dignity from your head to your toes. Even your posture is perfect. Your father must be proud.”

“You honor me with your praise, my lord.” She wondered if he was making a subtle dig at her. Did he mean to criticize her for not fitting in with the rest of the clergy? She saw no hint of mockery in his amethyst eyes. In fact, he looked pleased by her response to his praise. Claudia was baffled.

Carlo appeared at the entrance to the castle. As soon as he spotted Patrick, he rushed over. “Lord Sunset, I was so worried when I didn’t spot you immediately!”

“Hello, Father. Apologies for the imposition. I spotted Lady Claudia and came to greet her. You don’t need to panic so much. I’m not so young that I’d get lost on my own.” With a smirk, Patrick added, “And I know my way around this castle.” He still had dark circles beneath his eyes, but Claudia could tell there was a long history between the two men. “Ah, yes. If you’d like, Lady Claudia, why don’t I show you around? No one knows this place better than I do.”

“I would love to.”

“Have you seen the hall with the portraits?” Patrick asked.

“Yes, Father Carlo took me to see them.”

He nodded to himself. “Of course he would. That’s the most symbolic part of this castle. Has he shown you the treasure room as well?”

“I haven’t,” the priest cut in, which effectively established their destination.

Patrick offered his arm to escort Claudia, and she gently took it. He was treating her as a bona fide member of the aristocracy instead of a member of the clergy. In accordance, Helen fell a step behind them and followed at Claudia’s heels. Their party wound around through the front entrance, shoes clapping against the stone.

“When we donated this castle to the church, all the furnishings were sold off,” Patrick said. “I was told there was once a red carpet covering the floors of the hallways. At this point, Father Carlo is probably the only one who remembers what it looked like back then.”

“He was here before the castle became a monastery?” Claudia had assumed he only arrived after it became property of the church.

Carlo answered, “I was sent to serve at this castle as a child. After the family passed away, I entered the church, and I was fortunate enough to be able to return when the castle was donated.” He’d been transferred from his former station to serve at this monastery.

“You have close ties to this place,” said Patrick. “The castle must not have wanted to let you go.”

“A stroke of good fortune, as I wouldn’t have become acquainted with you otherwise. I remember when you were younger, you often snuck into the treasure room.”

“Why, you make it sound so shady. The door was never locked, so there was no sneaking involved.”

The space wasn’t much of a treasure room anymore, not after the castle found new life as a monastery. Still, Patrick seemed to have fond memories of the place.

“You have no idea how many times you scared me to death by disappearing without a word. Though you were always the more predictable one, I’ll give you that.”

Patrick grinned. “Yes, it was my sister who gave you the most trouble.”

That made a certain amount of sense. Even as an adult, the queen was an awfully proactive person. The way they talked about her made her sound like she had been an unruly tomboy in her younger years.

The castle must have been a fun place to play for them. Their parents had likely brought them there to study rather than mess around, though.

Claudia smiled. She hadn’t expected to hear such a heartwarming story, but she was glad for it. She’d been on edge ever since she saw Patrick step out of his carriage. To her relief, it didn’t seem he had any ill intentions.

The same was true at the theater. He’d shared his wife’s sentiments, but he never showed any scorn toward her. It was probably safe to assume he wasn’t in cahoots with his wife.

They reached a staircase and began to descend. At the end of the hallway below was the treasure room, immediately below the castle’s main entrance. Not only was it not locked, but the room didn’t have a door in the first place.

“Humidity often concentrates in the basement, so we leave it open for ventilation,” supplied Carlo.

“Which is precisely why it’s misleading to say I snuck in here,” Patrick cut in, still not over what Carlo had said moments ago.

“I think Lord Sunset has bested you this time, Father,” said Claudia. She could understand where he was coming from; any adult would be troubled by a child suddenly disappearing under their watch.

“It felt so much larger when I was a child,” Patrick mumbled to himself as his gaze swept across the room, eyes filled with emotion.

It looked more like an empty storage area than a treasure room. The floor and walls were all stone. Other than the supporting pillars, there was nothing else in sight. Much like the watchtower, the clergy kept it perfectly clean. It didn’t have that dank, moldy smell that was typical of basements thanks to the ventilation. It was a quiet, desolate space.

“There’s history here,” Patrick murmured. “The history of this castle, and the history of this whole region.” He reached out and stroked the stone wall. “This room has never been touched—it’s been the same since the castle’s construction. Other parts of the castle started to crumble and required repairs, but not this room. It hasn’t changed.”

That was probably because it was built to be the most durable. It wouldn’t serve as a good treasure room if it quickly fell into disrepair. And thanks to that extra attention to detail, it had withstood the test of time.

“Lady Claudia, you’re familiar with the gist of my family’s history, aren’t you?” asked Patrick.

“Anyone who has learned our kingdom’s history would be,” she answered him. Both the Lindsays and the Sunsets came up during history classes at the academy. In the Sunsets’ case, that was because they’d contributed greatly to the royal family by ceding so much land to them.

Pleased, Patrick nodded. “Our family has ruled over these lands long before we were given a title for it, and this castle has been here through it all.” The castle had stood during Harland’s infancy, when the capital was still a port city. It had served as a fortress then, its watchtower no mere decoration. “The land itself has been here through it all as well, but aside from the castle, nothing else here has such a storied history.” The stone walls revealed nothing of the structure’s many years. The uneducated would find nothing impressive about them. “But perhaps it’s impertinent of me to ramble on about history to you, Lady Claudia.”

Claudia shook her head. “Not at all. I admire the respect you show to your family history, my lord. I endeavor to emulate it.”

“Such deep understanding. Your bloodline is noble indeed,” said Patrick. “His Highness has chosen well. My sister must be relieved.”

He was being so amiable with her, which made her wonder why his attitude was so different from his wife’s. The two seemed utterly smitten with one another lately. Had his wife not told him how she’d been treating Claudia?

“I cannot comprehend your father’s foolishness, I must say. But he’s been blessed with a capable heir. Your house will be able to hold its head high again once your elder brother inherits the duchy.” Patrick was indirectly voicing the depth of his disapproval toward her father.

Claudia agreed that her father had been unfaithful. Still, Patrick placed a suspicious level of importance on bloodlines and lineages.

“If he was going to cavort around, he should have at least picked an earl’s daughter,” the man added bitterly.

That said everything. He has no issue with the infidelity. If the woman my father had cheated with were of proper rank, he would have no complaints about it.

Political marriages were commonplace among the aristocracy—and, as a result, cheating was sadly commonplace. Sponsoring a widow was a status symbol for men. Yet regardless of what was “normal,” a parent’s adultery was never easy for their children to accept.

Though I doubt Lord Sunset would understand. He wasn’t the only one; many aristocrats—the royal family especially—placed great emphasis on bloodlines.

After leaving the treasure room, they headed for the main hall so Patrick could pray.

“Lord Sunset often snuck into the treasure room, it’s true, but he has always been very devout. Like most children, he loved the tales of the Capricious God’s miracles and begged me to tell him more.” Carlo spoke of Patrick with an affectionate wistfulness that came with age. Perhaps Patrick was more like a grandchild to him than a former student.

“He mentioned that you served at the castle when you were younger. Do you know why the branch family died off, then?” Claudia asked. The curiosity was eating away at her. With such a long, noble history, why was the branch family no longer around? Judging by the portraits in the hall, the characteristics of the Sunsets ran strong in their bloodline. Even without a male heir, they surely had other options to continue their house.

His brows knitted. “It was a great tragedy. I was a child at the time, but it left a deep, lasting impression.” Carlo was vague about the details, but it all started with the passing of their male heir, which kicked off a series of tragedies that left them with no opportunity to adopt someone to serve as a replacement heir. “Keep in mind this is something I heard after the fact, but after all the deaths in the branch family, the main family was reluctant to send anyone here.” His voice dropped into a whisper as he added, “Please don’t share this with anyone, but there were rumors they were cursed.”

“What?!” Claudia’s voice hitched in surprise.

“Like I said, the deaths were in such quick succession that it aroused suspicion. It was so ominous that, from what I heard, the main family decided to cut off the branch family completely.”

“Is that when that phantom appeared?”

“No,” said Carlo. “I never heard anything about a phantom. The whole curse part was probably an explanation people attached to that series of tragedies after the fact.” People didn’t normally die in rapid succession unless there was an epidemic, so others wanted to come up with some kind of explanation. “People want there to be a reason for such coincidences.”

He was right about that.

Claudia nodded and dropped the subject. She wanted to focus on the rest of her short time left. The mention of a curse and the phantom still lingered in her mind. She wondered if those two things really were mere coincidence.

There’s no smoke without fire, after all.

It nagged at her, like a fish bone stuck in her throat.

 

***

 

“Phew, perfect!”

Since Claudia and Helen had traveled to the monastery in the dead of night, they left at the same hour.

Claudia wore a simple white dress with a thin cape thrown over her shoulders. She let her hair down, wearing only a light layer of makeup to give her a natural look. She’d done only the bare minimum, as they were headed straight back to her family estate. It wasn’t as if they were going to an evening ball. Even with a more modest ensemble, Claudia radiated poise—which had Helen grinning from ear to ear.

“You must be tired after these two weeks here,” said Claudia.

“It was more like a vacation for me.”

Serving as a clergywoman was supposed to be part of Claudia’s princess training, but everyone had been attentive to and protective of her. They had kept her from any difficult work that might chap her hands or labor that might strain her body. They’d been relegated to the easiest tasks possible. As a maid who served diligently at the duke’s estate, Helen hardly deemed it work at all.

Carlo had told Claudia that she only needed to watch, learn, and keep what she’d witnessed in mind. What they wanted wasn’t for her to undergo all the challenges the clergy faced. It was a lesson, an opportunity for her to see how difficult people’s lives were. It wasn’t specific to monasteries either; she was supposed to use what she’d witnessed to find ways to ease her people’s burdens. Those around her would reassure her that she needn’t overtax herself, but she couldn’t shirk her duty. Each person had their role to play. The purpose of her stay was to think hard about what she could contribute to the kingdom as its future crown princess.

“All right, shall we be off?”

“Yes!” Helen chirped eagerly.

They grabbed their respective trunks. It was still Claudia’s duty to look after her own things until she left.

When they arrived at the front entrance, Carlo and the other clergy members were waiting for them. Carlo stepped forward and bowed his head. “We hope your stay wasn’t too exhausting.”

“Not at all. I should thank you and everyone else for making it so pleasant. I promise I won’t forget what I learned here, Father.”

He smiled warmly back at her.

Claudia scanned the other faces around her. “Thank you all for everything.”

Her two-week stay had felt both long and short. The other clergy had tears in their eyes watching her go. They were all regular people. They served the church, yes, but they were no different than anyone else.

Helen ushered Claudia to their carriage. One person clapped, then another, and soon everyone’s applause rang out behind them. Once she was safely seated inside the carriage, she glanced out the window and found all of them smiling at her and still clapping away. Heat built behind her eyes. The tears started to well.

I must think about what I can do for them. No one had asked her for anything. She had no one to guide her, save for what she had seen and experienced in her peaceful days among them. That, she supposed, was her guide.

Helen settled down across from Claudia, and the carriage lurched forward.

“We’ll leave our luggage at the estate and then depart for Flower Bed,” Claudia said.

“You aren’t going to rest?”

“Have we not rested enough?”

Helen gave her a wry smile in lieu of a response.

Claudia had done many things she wasn’t accustomed to, and it had required more muscle and energy than she normally used. But after the third day, she fell into the same monotonous routine and found herself bored. She had completed as much paperwork at home as possible before she set off for the monastery, which had left her with nothing else to do. Several messages had come along—reports from the syndicate—but nothing happened that required her attention. She’d spent the past two weeks at the monastery essentially relaxing.

Chapter 9: The Villainess Turns to Her Elder Sister for Help

Chapter 9:
The Villainess Turns to Her Elder Sister for Help

 

THE BROTHEL FLOWER BED was where Claudia and Helen had worked as courtesans in their previous lives. After returning briefly to her family’s estate and greeting her family, Claudia immediately changed into men’s attire and set off. No one would guess that she was leaving for another place when she’d only just finished her long stay at the monastery. It was still early enough that there were few clients visiting the brothel. It was the perfect opportunity.

Claudia requested Mirage and was led to her quarters. Mirage adored the warmth of wood, so her room had wooden floors with matching furnishings. The bed frame and her vanity were both walnut. The latter could also be used as a writing desk. Clients sometimes asked Mirage which workshop she’d ordered it from.

Mirage was delighted when Claudia arrived, her crimson-painted lips pulling into an enchanting smile. “Lady Rose, I’m honored you’ve chosen to spend your time with me.” She curtsied and motioned to her mattress. “Come, have a seat.”

No sooner did Claudia sit than Mirage took the spot beside her. Mirage pressed her arms into her chest, emphasizing her cleavage—visible thanks to the dipping neckline of her dress.

She’s nothing if not devoted to her work, thought Claudia. Mirage knew that Claudia didn’t desire this sort of service from her, but she—along will the rest of the courtesans at Flower Bed—never missed an opportunity to try to seduce Claudia. However, once she finished speaking with Mirage, she would leave behind the required fee and head home. I hope you understand that no matter how hard you try, I will not be sharing your bed.

None of this dissuaded Mirage from inviting Claudia to sit on her bed and making coquettish overtures at her, though.

“You’re too close,” Helen told Mirage flatly. She had joined them in the room and was firm about keeping some separation between the two.

“Am I? I think this is a fairly normal distance between two people engaged in conversation,” Mirage said innocently.

On Claudia’s behalf, Helen quipped, “We have no need of those services.”

“No?” Mirage flipped her green hair over her shoulder. Her voice lost the high-pitched, wheedling quality of moments before, which brought Claudia great relief. She struggled to combat Mirage’s expert techniques on her own. “You could let me enjoy myself a little more, you know. The night is still young.”

“Lady Rose’s time is precious,” Helen said primly.

“Doesn’t she at least have an hour to spare to get hot and heavy?”

“She does not!”

Mirage pouted. “How stingy.” She was still pressing her cleavage against Claudia as she spoke. And since she didn’t seem to be wearing a bra, Claudia could feel the full volume and softness of Mirage’s breasts.

It’s impressive that her breasts don’t droop more without a bra. She must be keeping her body in excellent shape. Claudia was purposefully being analytical to distract herself.

Incidentally, even without undergarments, dresses were sewed in such a way to give a woman a certain level of support. Even so, Mirage’s breasts were impressively perky.

Claudia cleared her throat. She lowered her voice, as she always did when she was masquerading as Rose. “I informed you ahead of time as to what I wish to discuss.”

“Ghost stories, right? Summer’s more the season for those…” Mirage’s voice trailed off, then caressed Claudia’s cheek. “Shall I raise the temperature in here to set the mood?”

“Miss Mirage!” Helen’s voice cracked like a whip.

Mirage cackled at the maid’s heated interjection; it looked as if Helen might leap forward and throw herself between them. “Ah ha ha, permit me some fun, won’t you? I’m doing my best to resist throwing my legs open right now.”

Helen wrinkled her nose. “Ugh, how obscene.”

“You’re at a brothel, dear. What else do you expect?”

Claudia had intervened to keep Helen from entering the brothel in this lifetime, so the maid wasn’t accustomed to the way things worked here. Even Claudia found her innocent reactions adorable. It was hard to believe how different she was from her previous incarnation, at least in this respect. Mirage seemed to be enjoying antagonizing Helen too; her face had softened and she had an amused grin on her lips.

“All right, enough of that,” Mirage said at last. “Why don’t we get back to the main topic?”

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As far as Claudia knew from this lifetime and her last, no one knew more ghost stories than Mirage. Clients would share the stories with her, and she would, in turn, regale others with them. Ghost stories could be categorized by region, so Claudia hoped Mirage would supply her with additional information. Claudia wanted to dig deeper and find the fact behind the fiction regarding the monastery ghosts and the curse that affected the Sunsets’ branch family. Carlo had passed it off as a coincidence, but after her meeting with that mysterious and beautiful man at the theater, Claudia wasn’t convinced.

“You’re certain what you saw was a phantom with long hair?” Mirage asked. She then shared the story of a boy hurrying home and encountering the same ghost. The way the spirit’s long hair billowed, the spot where it appeared, and its bizarre movements all matched what Claudia and Helen had witnessed.

Helen blew out a sigh when Mirage finished her story. “Thank goodness he made it home.”

“Everyone says that when they hear this story,” Mirage told her. “One thing is for certain: It doesn’t mean anyone any harm.”

There were many ghost stories that involved murder, such as a vengeful spirit dragging its victim into the nearest body of water. There were no such worrisome rumors about the long-haired ghost. It merely showed itself to people, nothing more. Though considering how utterly terrified the boy in the story was, Claudia wasn’t sure he was entirely unharmed by the encounter. Especially after he saw a ghost who looked like it had been hanged.

It made her uneasy.

“The other story from that area is about a ghost who looks for a sacrifice night after night,” said Mirage.

Claudia remembered the worried way the senior clergywoman had spoken of the missing animals and a potential connection. There was something she wanted to make clear. “So it’s not the same ghost as the long-haired one?”

“Nope, it’s different. The sacrifice-hungry ghost has existed for decades and decades. The long-haired ghost is much more recent.”

“Hold on. So there’re two separate ghosts haunting the same location?!” Helen cried.

Mirage shrugged. “That’s how ghost stories go. Why? Did you encounter something involving that ghost too?”

Claudia relayed the bulletin board with flyers of missing pets. Helen was so startled by the revelation from Mirage that she had her hand tightly clamped over her mouth and said nothing.

“Aha, so that’s it. I can see why you’re so shaken after learning about all this, dear.” Mirage coaxed Helen to sit with them, unable to ignore how pale her face had gone. Claudia reached over and stroked Helen’s back.

“Thank you,” Helen said. “I feel a little better now.”

“Some of the girls are more sensitive than others, and scary stories really do a number on them. The best thing to do when you feel unsettled is get a little something in your stomach.”

Mirage pulled out a bottle of wine and some snacks from her bedside table. While Helen had a nibble, Mirage retrieved three glasses and expertly poured the smooth red liquid into them.

“A little won’t hurt anyone, right?” she said with a wink.

“Certainly not,” said Claudia. “I’ll have some.”

The three women clinked their glasses together. Helen couldn’t refuse when Claudia nudged her to accept. Claudia savored the flavor of the full-bodied wine on her tongue before swallowing it. The bitterness and heat helped ground them back in reality.

“Let me give you a bit of wisdom: It’s the living who come up with all these ghost stories.” The dead didn’t speak. No phantom went about telling such myths themselves. “And it’s perfectly normal to be terrified by them. I was being a little wicked, telling it in a way that would get under your skin. That’s what makes it entertaining.”

The problem was that Claudia and Helen had seen a specter firsthand.

“Normally,” Mirage went on, “the stories are secondhand or worse. A friend of a friend, that sort of thing.”

“Yes, but I know what I saw. It was a female ghost with long hair,” said Helen. Claudia and the bodyguard with them had spotted it too.

Claudia cocked her head. “Wait, did you say it was a female ghost?”

“Yes, it…wait, was it?” Helen’s forehead wrinkled.

Claudia tried to conjure the image of the white figure in her mind. What stood out most was the long, billowing hair. The figure had been indistinct, and they had only spotted it from behind as it moved toward the watchtower. In the story Mirage told, there was no mention of the ghost being a woman.

“Now that you mention it, I’m not sure it was a woman,” Helen hedged. “I wonder why I thought it was?”

“Did you perhaps confuse the two ghosts? The one searching for living sacrifices is said to be a female ghost in a white dress, after all. Besides, there’s been no mention that this long-haired ghost was a man. I could understand why you might be inclined to assume the gender.”

Yes, that was part of the issue. They had assumed the long-haired ghost was a woman this entire time. That was what bothered Claudia. That’s right, it’s a long-haired ghost. Not necessarily female. And that’s exactly what we saw: a ghost with long hair.

She and Helen had let their knowledge of the other ghost influence their impressions. There was someone else who hadn’t assumed the gender of the ghost, which Claudia had recalled before listening to Mirage’s story. That didn’t clearly confirm anything for her, though.

“Mirage,” said Claudia, “who told you the story of the long-haired ghost?”

Mirage’s ghost story had been incredibly accurate based on what they’d seen. Perhaps it was a firsthand account rather than one passed through the rumor mill. When Claudia first heard about the ghost at the royal castle, the people had referred to it as a female ghost as well.

“Since it was a client who told me, I can’t divulge my source,” said Mirage. “But I guess I could make a special exception for you, Lady Rose.” And then she blurted out the client’s name.

Helen’s eyes met Claudia’s. Suddenly, everything made sense.

“It seems like we’ll need to dig a little deeper into this,” said Claudia.

As Mirage said, it was the living who told ghost stories. That rang truer now than ever.

Chapter 10: The Villainess Arrives at the Truth

Chapter 10:
The Villainess Arrives at the Truth

 

“IT’S BEEN A WHILE, or so I’d like to say. But I don’t think enough time has passed for that, has it?” said Claudia, cocking her head to the side.

Carlo smiled warmly at her. “It’s been a week already? It feels like yesterday.” He led her into the monastery’s drawing room. Sunlight filtered in through a nearby window, highlighting the table sandwiched between two sofas. Claudia took one, and Carlo the other. “I understand there’s something you wish to discuss with me today?”

“Yes, I couldn’t help but feel curious about the ghost I witnessed while I was here,” Claudia began.

He frowned. “I’m sorry it has weighed on you all this time.”

“I investigated it on my own.”

“And did you discover anything?”

“Yes. I discovered you have no interest in hiring a foreman.”

His silence was telling enough, but his whole face froze. This confirmed her suspicions. He had no intention of demolishing this castle. The one who had peddled the long-haired ghost story to Mirage was none other than the man in front of her. The question was, why? There had to be a reason. There always was when Rose Garden employed the same method.

“You used the ghost story as an excuse for why you couldn’t locate a foreman to hire, but that was a lie, wasn’t it?” Claudia shot him a look. He hadn’t even looked for one at all. Claudia had made inquiries with the local foremen, so she was sure of that. “You must realize that you’re only delaying the inevitable.”

The church had already made its decision regarding this monastery. The clergy members would eventually be forced to transfer.

Carlo leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. He clasped his hands, which trembled uncontrollably. “I know it’s a futile attempt at resistance.”

“Did the Sunsets ask you to do this?”

The Sunsets had donated the castle to the church to ensure it remained intact, after all. It would make sense to Claudia if they were trying to drag that out even now.

Carlo shook his head. “No, absolutely not. They have nothing to do with this. I’ve done this all on my own.” He was insistent on that. He sounded genuine; it didn’t seem like he was trying to cover for them. “I don’t want the world to forget about Lord Christian.”

“Could you tell me more?”

Claudia already knew that he had been sent to serve at the castle in childhood, and that he’d had a link to this place and the Sunsets ever since. She suspected he had a good reason for preventing the castle’s demolition.

Carlo stared off into the distance, slowly recalling the past as he spoke. “Lord Christian was born into the Sunsets’ branch family as their heir. He had no siblings. He was eighteen when I came here. The characteristics of the Sunsets ran strong in him—he was a beautiful young man with golden hair and amethyst eyes.” Carlo was ten at the time, and he was tasked with serving Christian. “I was petite even as a child, so there wasn’t much work I could do. Lord Christian knew that, so he took me under his wing.”

Carlo was tasked with waking the young lord, pouring him tea, and stocking any daily necessities for him.

“He was a caring person, always looking after me. All the servants loved him. This castle may seem cold and desolate, but Lord Christian made it warm and welcoming.” He spoke with the nostalgia of a person who had seen the castle when it was still in its glory days. “Although I was only a child, I was determined to serve him for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, high society was not kind to Lord Christian.”

His lips clamped into a taut, thin line. His clasped hands tightened.

“Lord Christian was…” Carlo hesitated. His voice came out strained and shrill. “He was gay.”

Christian was the heir of his house, with no other siblings. Claudia could only imagine how suffocating the pressure put on him must have been. She knew personally how oppressive high society could be.

“Judging by the way you’re speaking, I assume his family wasn’t very understanding,” Claudia said quietly. If his family had been supportive, he could have adopted a child to inherit his title after him, or he could have agreed to a contract marriage to produce his own heir.

“Lord Christian’s entire family turned on him. They said it was his duty as heir to marry a proper lady. They hurled abuses at him and even forced a naked woman into his bed.”

Day after day, Christian was worn down by his family’s persecution. Claudia’s heart ached terribly for him already, but there was more to come. And what she’d heard thus far paled in comparison to what followed.

“His family discovered the man he was in love with.”

Christian treated one servant noticeably different from the others. That servant was Christian’s one source of strength and support.

“The servant was hit by a carriage and killed.”

Claudia sucked in a breath. The pain in her chest was like a vise. She could already tell it was no mere accident.

“The man was so horribly disfigured by it that Lord Christian couldn’t even bid his lover a proper goodbye.” And worse, the servant wasn’t given a proper grave either. “He was tossed in an unmarked plot in the cemetery as if he were no better than garbage.”

But why did Carlo know all this in such detail?

There was a tremor in the priest’s voice as he added, “They made an example of that servant. They wanted those of us who loved and supported Lord Christian to see what could happen to us.” That was why the branch family made no attempt to hide their misdeeds. Rather, they intentionally spread the news. “Days later, Lord Christian snuck out to exhume his beloved, but his family noticed his absence and stopped him before he could do it.” There was a short pause and then he said, “That night…Lord Christian, he…hanged himself.”

A big tear rolled down Carlo’s cheek.

The person who discovered Christian’s body was none other than the boy tasked with looking after him.

My goodness. The tempest of emotions rendered Claudia speechless. Her hands tightened into trembling fists on her lap. It was all she could do to contain herself. There was more truth to the story of the boy who’d encountered the long-haired ghost than Claudia had anticipated. It was based on reality—on a boy who really had seen a person hang themselves.

“Why?” Carlo cried out. “Why?! Why did such a kind person like Lord Christian have to…” He covered his face with his hands as he wailed.

Why, indeed? Why did such a good person have to meet such a grisly end? What sin had he ever committed?

“He was such a beautiful soul. Everyone who knew him loved him! Why did he have to hang himself?!”

Christian had likely done the deed in the middle of the night, and Carlo had found him the next morning. The weight of his own body had stretched out his neck, his skin dyed purple and black. His eyes had been gruesomely bulging, the amethyst color glazed and clouded over. His once brilliant golden hair had faded, the long locks disheveled and tangled, pasted to his skin like withered vines.

“He was always such a handsome, well-groomed person. How could his own family drive him to end it all in such a ghastly way—his face contorted, feces running down his legs?!” Carlo shrieked out the words, his voice cracking with pain.

Claudia could give him no answers. Oh no. Christian had never found freedom. Claudia had prayed so strongly for that beautiful man she’d encountered at the theater to have a happy future. She vividly remembered how stunning he had been and how happily he had spoken of his first meeting with the man he fell in love with. She hadn’t known his name then, but his brilliant, warm smile had left an impression. The way his eyes crinkled had been so charming too.

That was why she’d prayed for him: Please, light the way for a happy future for this sweet young man and his servant lover.

Now she knew that her hopes had been in vain. Far before she was ever born, Christian’s story had come to a tragic end. Ordinarily, she would never have met him. It was impossible even now to think that she had encountered his ghost, but from the way Carlo spoke of him, she was certain that man had to be Christian.

Carlo pulled his robe tighter around himself and wiped his eyes. “His death is the reason I entered the church. I needed to find salvation from somewhere or I didn’t feel like I could go on anymore.” He later learned that Christian’s parents had met their own bitter ends. Other relatives had soon followed them to the grave, and anyone who knew of the series of tragedies started whispering that Christian had cursed his own family.

“Personally, I think the misfortunes their family faced were a coincidence. No matter how horribly he was treated, Lord Christian was not the type of person to curse others,” said Carlo. But it still bothered him that Christian had suffered so much before his passing.

“When the church decided to have this castle demolished, I worried everyone would forget about him. That it would be as if the tragedy of his life never happened.” That was why he visited Mirage, having heard of her reputation for telling ghost stories. “I couldn’t stand by and let that happen. I wanted to make sure he remained in people’s minds in some form. I never imagined he would appear.”

“You mean to say you weren’t behind that?” Claudia asked, surprised. When she learned that he hadn’t been looking for a foreman, she had assumed the ghost had been his doing. Making the ghost appear would lend credence to his story, after all.

“No, I swear to the Capricious God, I have done no such thing.” He had been genuinely flabbergasted when he heard that she, Helen, and their bodyguard had witnessed the long-haired ghost themselves. If it was Christian, he genuinely hoped that Christian would find peace and move on.

“Then what was that?” Claudia wondered aloud.

“I assume Lord Christian wants to communicate something.” Although Carlo had no idea what that might be. “I have prayed, hoping for an answer, but I have found none. I only wish I knew what he wants.”

The better question was whether the ghost they had witnessed really was Christian. As for what he might want to communicate, Claudia had a feeling she knew. “Did Lord Christian’s beloved have black hair like mine?”

“How did you know?” Carlo blurted out, then cleared his throat. “Yes, he did. Lustrous black hair.”

That settled it, then. Claudia told Carlo about the young man she had encountered at the theater. The more she spoke, the wider his eyes grew.

“How…how could…?” he sputtered, unable to form a coherent sentence.

“I’m sorry, I can’t recall all the details of his face.”

“No, no. From what you’ve told me, there’s no doubt in my mind that was Lord Christian.”

When she had turned back to face the young man at the theater, he’d disappeared. She remembered the words he left her with and said to Carlo, “‘Don’t let yourself be governed by the past.’”

Claudia had thought at first the words were meant for her, but after hearing everything Carlo had to say, she realized Christian had meant them for him. He probably wanted Carlo to let go of him. Carlo didn’t need to shoulder this burden anymore.

“So that’s what he wanted to say…” Carlo slowly drew in a breath. “Ah, what a selfish fool I’ve been.” Once it sank in, he added, “I promise to look for a foreman, and I’ll visit Lord Christian’s grave to deliver the news to him. I haven’t been able to bring myself to visit him all these years.”

Christian’s grave was in the area of the cemetery where all his fellow ancestors were buried. It was tucked inside the forest that hemmed the castle. And while it was close, Carlo hadn’t been able to visit without being haunted by the past. The real reason the monastery hadn’t used the entire castle was because of Carlo’s trauma; he couldn’t bring himself to go anywhere near Christian’s former bedroom.

Completely understandable. Even an adult would have been scarred by what Carlo had witnessed.

“Let’s keep what we talked about today to ourselves,” Claudia suggested.

“I deeply appreciate that. Lady Claudia, no amount of gratitude I can express would ever be enough to communicate how thankful I am.” He looked like he was ready to throw himself at her feet.

“Nothing would make me happier than knowing I have brought your heart some much-needed relief.”

When she left, Carlo again bowed low to convey his gratitude.

Once she was safely in her carriage and riding away from the monastery, she found herself glancing back at it.

Please rest in peace, Lord Christian. She gazed up at the towering castle. May this prayer reach the Capricious God.

Chapter 11: The Villainess Participates in an Embroidery Party

Chapter 11:
The Villainess Participates in an Embroidery Party

 

THE GHOSTLY COMMOTION came to an unexpected end. As for why Christian had approached Claudia at the theater rather than Carlo directly, Claudia couldn’t be sure. Maybe I was on the same wavelength as him, and Father Carlo wasn’t.

Trying to puzzle it out wouldn’t do her any good. Not everything was black-and-white, and it was dangerous to think otherwise. If one deemed something black when it was only dark gray, they’d miss the white hidden within. Worst-case, it could cause long-lasting repercussions. The world wasn’t so simple a place. Ghosts and the Capricious God’s miracles were beyond human understanding, and to feel differently was mere arrogance.

Especially when humans struggle enough to understand one another. But while she could give up on trying to understand ghosts and God, she couldn’t give up on her fellow humans. It would only cause trouble for her and those around her if she did. Even if she couldn’t fully understand some people, she wanted to do her utmost to try. Claudia had learned, during her brothel days, what was most important in life.

At their core, humans were all the same, even if some held different status than others. The only difference was their level of vulgarity. And because they’re all the same, it gives me hope that I can understand them.

“Lady Claudia,” Helen called before they alighted from the carriage, “I wish you luck and pray for your safety.”

“You sound as if you’re sending me off to battle.”

“As I understand it, that’s not far from the truth. If anything happens, I trust you’ll summon me.”

Lady Sunset was the one holding this embroidery party, hence the stern look on Helen’s face. Much like the tea party Claudia attended before, Helen would have to wait with the other ladies’ maids in the drawing room until it was over.

“It pains me that I can’t be at your side,” said Helen.

“You being in the same building gives me strength.”

The two women traded smiles in the privacy of the carriage, then climbed out. They were at the entrance to the Sunset estate. When Claudia lifted her head, she found Lady Sunset standing on the stairs. With that foxlike expression of hers, Lady Sunset beckoned her inside.

Only married women were invited to this event—with Claudia being the sole exception, her presence requested as part of her princess training. She exchanged greetings with the hostess, and then a servant came along to guide her to the venue.

Now that I think about it, why don’t ghosts appear during the daytime? It occurred to her because the room where the party was being held was aglow with dazzling sunlight. She had already resolved that issue and was determined to forget about it, but somehow it still niggled at the back of her mind.

Ghosts always appeared at night in the stories. Claudia’s encounter with Christian’s spirit in the middle of the brightly lit theater had been rather unusual; but it wasn’t like it had been midday outside.

Focus on the embroidery party, she told herself. She didn’t have the luxury of letting her mind wander right now.

Claudia took her assigned seat. The venue was incredibly spacious. This obviously wasn’t a gathering of only Lady Sunset’s closest friends, for there were thirty seats lined up against the wall, with tables pushed together in front of them in a long row. Teacups and embroidery supplies were provided for each participant. There was about two meters between the seats and the wall, allowing space for the Sunsets’ servants to stand in case any of the guests required their services.

Vases with vivid, colorful flowers were scattered around the room, creating a more inviting atmosphere. These vases had a white base with thin, golden decorations painted onto them in the form of enormous, detailed roses. Other colors, such as crystal pink and aqua, were used to add extra flair to the roses; each expert, delicate brushstroke added to the elegance.

That alone would have been enough to impress most guests, but the flowers themselves were equally impressive. Careful time had been poured into making the autumn roses bloom. Their petals were lush, with an eye-catching depth of color. The faint scent of the roses permeated the air. It wasn’t so overpowering that those sensitive to such things would be moved to complain, but a perfect balance.

I suppose I should expect this much from a house of such prominence.

The vases weren’t the only luxurious decorations. The legs of the chairs had perfectly matching engravings. The table and the rug beneath it were more modest than the rest of the room; Lady Sunset had probably made that choice on purpose to avoid seeming too gaudy. The vases were there to please the eye when one got bored and their gaze wandered, but all the guests would be sitting for a prolonged period. They’d be staring at the table and rug for much longer than anything else while they embroidered, so it was better for them not to be distracted.

Every minor detail spoke of careful attention and deliberate curation. Lady Sunset had demonstrated similar skill during the tea party, but this was next level. She’s invited so many more people than last time, that’s why.

Lady Sunset’s seat was at the end of the table, farthest from the door. She hadn’t yet occupied it since she was still busy welcoming her guests. The seats nearest to hers were assigned to her closest friends, with Claudia coming at the tail end. The rest of the seats thereafter were for Lady Sunset’s minions. This, too, was calculated.

She’s essentially asking me which camp I’ll fall into.

Being sandwiched between the two groups came with an implied question: Would Claudia be a friend she could depend on, or would she be a convenient minion?

Lady Sunset was clearly trying to take the reins for herself. Claudia’s assigned spot was ideal for letting her and the rest of her guests observe the future crown princess’s behavior. But given the number of seats, not every attendee was under Lady Sunset’s thumb. Most of them weren’t mere minions. Claudia clocked their faces, recognizing them as neutral parties—opportunists who hung back rather than taking sides. Whereas Lady Sunset’s minions were keen to sidle up to her, the opportunists made no such attempts.

Intimidating Claudia was part of the motive behind the hostess’s meticulousness, but her main objective was to show off to those who hadn’t yet decided where their loyalties lay.

She plans to win them over today.

The venue was perfect; it conveyed the Sunsets’ deep pockets and sweeping influence. Generally, the purpose of these sorts of aristocratic events was to demonstrate one’s authority to their peers. Men showed off their family’s power by participating in parliament, while women held tea parties and the like. Through this, they made friends and sometimes won allies with shrewd strategy. A man’s success could be measured by how many votes he could pull in parliament. A woman’s success was much more nebulous; one couldn’t attribute a clear number to her connections. That said, her efforts could influence votes in parliament too, which was why her husband entrusted her with the family budget and the management of the home.

Embroidery would seem like a solitary activity, but once made into a party, it became a group activity.

Once the guests had gathered, Lady Sunset took her seat. “Thank you all for joining me today.” Her voice boomed through the hall. “As you all have likely realized by now, Lady Claudia is joining us as part of her princess training.”

Everyone’s gaze shifted to Claudia.

“I’m still very much inexperienced,” said Claudia, “but I appreciate the opportunity to join you at this party. If you’ll guide and advise me as necessary, I could ask for nothing more.”

“Our gatherings may be different than the ones you’re accustomed to, but I hope you and my other guests can relax and enjoy yourselves.”

Lady Sunset’s speech was typical for a hostess. Once she was finished, the people’s attention dispersed. But still, Lady Sunset and Claudia were the main focus of many.

“I hear you’re incredibly talented at embroidery,” said Lady Sunset. “I’m looking forward to seeing what you create today.” She was already setting the bar high.

“Goodness, how embarrassing that such talk has reached even your ears, Lady Sunset. I will do my utmost to live up to your expectations,” said Claudia.

She had some level of confidence in her skills, at least. When she’d first offered her embroidery as a gift to her father, she assumed he hadn’t liked it. Later, she discovered he’d bragged about her skills. Lady Sunset probably had a good idea of her skill level and was planning to use Claudia as a tool to win more people over to her side. She wasn’t going to let Claudia be the star of this party for nothing. This was her opportunity to prove to the other guests that she held more power and influence than the Lindsays’ daughter.

Sadly for her, I have no intention of being a pawn. No matter what Lady Sunset had up her sleeve for this party, Claudia would find some way to overcome it. She was here to demonstrate her own authority.

 

***

 

“Hmm, though people have talked you up, your way of embroidering is awfully rudimentary.”

“Indeed, it’s almost as if she doesn’t know what she’s doing.”

Claudia was busy plotting the outline of her project when the ladies closest to her began their needling. Their voices dripped with scorn. Just as Claudia had chosen to stick with the basics as her first step for embroidering, they’d chosen verbal attacks as their first step to terrorizing her. They could have completely ignored her, but since embroidery was mostly done in silence anyway, it wouldn’t produce the results they desired.

“Yes, I’m afraid I lack the experience you ladies possess,” Claudia said evenly, brushing off their barbs.

A few ladies around Claudia’s age had been invited, but they were all older. She was the youngest member of the party. With so many gathered, there would inevitably be some among them that weren’t so skilled at embroidery. Claudia had stuck to the fundamentals and outlined her work before starting to show them respect. She had already demonstrated her ability to consider the people around her; there was no need to say anything more.

“You talked big about meeting Lady Sunset’s expectations, but look at that.”

“The colors you’ve chosen are uninspired too. What are you trying to accomplish?”

They continued to deride her. A more weak-willed lady would have caved under the pressure and changed her design to appease them. A strong-willed lady might get emotional from all their hounding. Claudia fell into the latter category, but unbeknownst to her detractors, she had been through far worse than this. Thus, she paid them no mind and went on with her work.

The ladies had been given cuts of linen as the base and wool to embroider it. The problem with wool was that it was much thicker than linen. It was best suited for simple designs, which made flowers the perfect choice. It was malicious of Lady Sunset to goad Claudia into completing a more intricate work despite the added challenge.

Yet Claudia was doing exactly as the hostess desired, carefully weaving her needle. She’d altered her design to account for materials she was using, flattening the sharper edges to make it smoother. Her mind wandered as she went along.

Lady Sunset must have something else planned for me. The embroidery was just an excuse for ladies to gather and mingle. There would be a break midway through, during which they would all stop for some tea. Lady Sunset wouldn’t pull the same trick twice, so Claudia didn’t have to worry about sabotaged tea again. Still, she couldn’t let her guard down. The disparaging comments are too minor for this to count as princess training.

Before she’d gotten married, the queen had been part of House Sunset. Lady Sunset would someday soon become Marchioness Sunset; as such, she was shouldering the task of overseeing Claudia’s princess training on behalf of the busy queen, and all the guests knew it. This was standard practice, and it wasn’t what mattered to them. What everyone wanted to know was whether the Lindsays or the Sunsets would be the ones holding the reins in the future. That was all they cared about.

To Claudia’s surprise, nothing happened. The other ladies continued to peck at her through their break, but nothing else of significance occurred. Finally, she managed to finish her embroidery. The design was an inoffensive combination of her family’s crest and flowers of red and white. Together, the elements were meant to present a growing friendship and a warm heart. It was a safe choice, but the delicate stitching—from the interplay of threads to the overall balance—demonstrated such an incredibly high level of skill that even an amateur could recognize it.

Completing a project within the time span of a party also spoke to one’s skill. It was only possible if one could accurately predict how long their design would take. Anyone could go for something simple to ensure they finished with time to spare.

With everyone’s attention on her, Claudia had successfully cleared the challenge Lady Sunset had issued. She presented it to Lady Sunset, who loudly declared, “What beautiful work! Lady Claudia, you’re as skilled as I’ve heard.”

“Thank you. You honor with me your praise.”

Lady Sunset smiled warmly at her. The way she spoke and acted matched the message in Claudia’s design perfectly. She handed Claudia’s work back to her.

Claudia returned to her seat and set her project down on the table.

“Oops!” cried a voice from beside her. The lady occupying the neighboring seat tipped over her teacup. The hot liquid splashed across Claudia’s embroidery, staining the work she had spent so many careful hours on. At the end of it all, her effort had been wasted.

“Goodness me, apologies for that.” The woman’s voice was flat and insincere.

So this is what Lady Sunset intended from the beginning. Lady Sunset must have predicted that Claudia would be on edge from start to finish. She had specifically waited until it was all over, at the very moment when Claudia let down her guard thinking she was safe. The point of challenging Claudia to complete something intricate was to wear her down ahead of time.

All the other guests were watching Claudia with bated breath. Anyone would be understandably upset at having their hard work ruined; who could possibly feel good about that? They probably expected her to answer in one of two ways: cry or get angry. Even if she tried to smile through it, she wouldn’t be able to conceal her true feelings completely. No matter how she responded, Lady Sunset would have to step in to resolve the issue and thereby win the battle.

Claudia affected a look of melancholy as she smiled. “It’s inevitable for one’s things to get dirty when one uses them. Lady Ansel, you didn’t do this on purpose, did you?”

“N-no,” stammered the baroness responsible for knocking over the teacup, “of course not.” She swallowed hard.

Perhaps it looked like Claudia was on the verge of tears. In truth, she felt nothing, not even anger. She was calmly analyzing the situation, having finally caught on to Lady Sunset’s scheme.

If I outright accuse the baroness of doing this intentionally, I’ll be criticized for being too sensitive. If I express forgiveness, people will think I lack the backbone to stand up to Lady Sunset.

Claudia had proven at their previous tea party that she wasn’t a doormat. Perhaps Lady Sunset thought she was mentally drained enough from encountering a ghost at the monastery that she wouldn’t fight back. Word would have reached her by now regarding what had happened on Claudia’s first night there. Of course, Lady Sunset had no way of knowing about the tragedy that lay behind it, or that Claudia had uncovered the truth. Her conversation with Carlo was a secret.

Regardless, none of that would influence their respective positions here. This party was to be a launching point for Lady Sunset, solidifying her superiority over Claudia, and Claudia was taking part to turn Lady Sunset’s plans on their heads.

Claudia glanced up at Lady Ansel. Her misty eyes and disheartened demeanor had captured the attention of the other guests, keeping the spotlight on her. “I’m sure it pains you to see tea wasted so, Lady Ansel.”

Surprise registered on the baroness’s face. She must have sensed that Claudia wasn’t referring to the single cup of tea that she had spilled. That could be easily refilled at any time. Most normal people weren’t accustomed to bullying others. If one had allies, that made it easier to gang up on another person, but the majority would hesitate to dirty their hands like this.

According to the information Claudia had gathered ahead of time, Lady Ansel was exactly that: a normal person. She’d married Baron Ansel ten years ago. She had finally grown accustomed to her role, knew her way around high society, and had enough experience under her belt to make proactive choices for the benefit of her house. She was young at only thirty years of age, but she was ambitious. The baroness had a good reputation among her servants. She wasn’t an aggressive woman. The only local product in her small region was tea.

Perhaps spilling the tea was a loyalty test. Lady Sunset still considered the baroness a mere minion. Taking this role was possibly her way of earning Lady Sunset’s trust in hopes of striking a business deal, though Claudia couldn’t be sure whether the tea was brewed using Lady Ansel’s tea leaves. Regardless, tea was wasted for this little prank, and she was the one who did it herself.

Even if the leaves used for this tea weren’t the baroness’s own, it would still affect her. The people in her region worked diligently to produce quality leaves. She would hate to see someone disrespect that effort, surely. Lady Sunset knew that, hence her using this opportunity to put the baroness in her place. Lady Ansel is nothing but a disposable pawn to Lady Sunset.

It wouldn’t impact Lady Sunset at all, not even if the baroness decided to walk away from her now. The woman had already fulfilled her role. And for that very reason, Lady Ansel was desperate to find some kind of compensation for her efforts. That left her perfectly vulnerable.

“Could someone summon my maid for me?” Claudia called out.

Lady Sunset sat up straighter in her seat. She probably thought this spelled victory for her. “Oh dear, you’re going to leave already? It’s a shame about what happened to your embroidery.”

Everyone at the party knew the real culprit behind Claudia’s ruined embroidery was Lady Sunset. The lady affected a look of empathy at Claudia’s meek withdrawal, but she was barely restraining a triumphant smile.

“If there’s anything I can do,” said Lady Sunset, “be sure to let me know.”

When Helen appeared at the doorway, the hostess and her guests stood as if to bid Claudia farewell. Much to Lady Sunset’s surprise, however, Claudia made no move to vacate her chair.

“Helen, remove this stain as quickly as possible,” Claudia ordered.

“Yes, my lady.”

“Lady Sunset, I assume you won’t mind if we borrow your laundry area?”

“Pardon? Oh, um, not at all. You there, show her the way.” Lady Sunset spoke falteringly as she ordered one of her servants to guide Helen. She could barely conceal her confusion.

Claudia smiled brightly at her hostess. “Thank you. Fortunately, tea is a liquid stain—so the sooner you treat it, the easier it’s removed.”

Neither the linen nor the wool thread were suited to being washed. Fortunately, the linen was water-resistant and didn’t stain easily, and not much of the tea had seeped into it anyway. The only real problem was the wool thread. That was why Claudia hadn’t asked Helen to wash it, but rather to remove the stain. She had faith Helen would succeed.

Even if a stain is left behind, I won’t be disappointed. The real person this will affect is the one who supplied that thread to begin with.

“There, no harm done,” Claudia announced. “Please don’t let it weigh on your mind, Lady Ansel. It’s fortunate I’d already shown my work to Lady Sunset before the accident happened.” She’d displayed her skill and met Lady Sunset’s expectations. People could see that she was capable and, if trouble arose, strong enough to face it. Next, she was going to establish her willingness to listen to those around her. “Still, I suppose it won’t work very well as a sample now, will it? The yarn was such incredible quality that I was sure it would be perfect…”

“Sample?” Countess Lawrence perked up immediately. Her region specialized in producing all sorts of threads and yarns for embroidery. She was seated right beside Claudia, at the edge of the seats reserved for Lady Sunset’s friends. Since she’d been the one to supply the yarn and fabric for their craft, she probably wasn’t too pleased to see it wasted, regardless of Lady Sunset’s reasoning. She and Lady Ansel were mere means to an end, as far as Lady Sunset was concerned.

“Yes,” answered Claudia. “As you all surely know, I have my own trading firm in Arakaner. Unfortunately, our shelves have been empty for a while now.”

Since Claudia was the owner of the firm, all their goods were local products from the Lindsays’ territory. Her popularity had boomed after the incident with the church. Orders from Arakaner had been flooding in, the firm’s goods flying off the shelves.

“It would be a waste of our momentum not to secure more goods to sell, so I’ve been considering other possibilities—including expanding our inventory to encompass goods from other regions.”

The dwindling supply meant that all the goods from the Lindsays’ region came at a premium. That would remain true even if they started carrying other regions’ products.

“After seeing the quality of everything here at this party, I’m convinced. The tea, too, was superb. I shouldn’t be surprised, given that Lady Sunset has an impeccable eye for quality. I planned to ask her to introduce me to the ladies who supplied these goods.” She shook her head, frowning in disappointment. “It’s such a shame. Though I suppose if we manage to remove the stain from the yarn, that might vouch for its quality, don’t you think?”

“It most certainly would!” Lady Lawrence cried. “Would you mind letting me examine it once you’ve finished removing the stain? I’d like to see it myself!”

She had jumped in so eagerly. It was probably safe to assume the yarn used today was made in her region.

Lady Ansel fidgeted anxiously in her seat; she likely wanted an opportunity to market her region’s goods too. They weren’t the only ones with such ambitions. Other ladies whose regions were in the north, close to Arakaner, had doubtless heard of Claudia’s success with her trading firm. They were shooting glances at her, hoping to snag a deal for themselves as well.

Most members of the royal faction have their own territories. It went without saying that the Sunsets were part of the royal faction as well. All the people around Lady Sunset had their own domains with their own local specialties. Lady Sunset purchased a large quantity of their goods as a show of friendship and used them at any events she held, such as the tea party and this embroidery party.

If this were a party filled with only Lady Sunset’s closest friends, no one would have displayed any interest in Claudia’s business plan. Thankfully, Lady Sunset had invited not only her minions but also those who had yet to choose their allegiances. In the right circumstances, anyone could seize the spotlight at a gathering like this.

Lady Sunset had planned well. Her whole objective was to put pressure on Claudia, to establish her own authority over the future crown princess. That was why she’d invited so many people loyal to her, from friends to minions. What she hadn’t anticipated was that Claudia would refuse to bow, and that all her careful plans had laid the perfect groundwork for Claudia to push her own agenda.

I’m not going to be your puppet.

Claudia had the advantage now, but she wasn’t going to use it to slight Lady Sunset. She showed proper deference by complimenting Lady Sunset and demonstrating her intention to seek introductions through Lady Sunset.

It’s just a show of courtesy to the hostess, of course.

Lady Sunset’s eyes darted from side to side. She was at a loss for how to handle the situation. It took her a while, but at length she regained her bearings and said, “It’s our duty as wives to protect our families and houses. I question how appropriate it is for those in our position to be so openly discussing business deals.”

It was exactly the sort of statement someone from the royal faction would make. Their distaste for open talk of such transactions stemmed from their animosity toward the aristocratic faction, which welcomed chats about trade.

The guests fell silent.

Has she forgotten? We Lindsays maintain a neutral position between the factions. Thus, Claudia had no reason to stay quiet.

“You are exactly right, Lady Sunset,” she agreed with a solemn nod. “Ladies, you should all protect your houses. That is true for any lady, regardless of age. It’s our duty to establish connections with others and contribute what we can to our houses. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Yes,” replied Lady Sunset. “That’s correct.”

“And as a show of friendship, we often feature specialties from other regions when we hold parties. What I do is the same, except rather than display your goods at a party, I would do so on my firm’s shelves.”

“What we do is not a business!” Lady Sunset snapped.

“You don’t supply goods for direct sale, no. But can you say you don’t advertise the specialties from your own and other ladies’ regions? Is it not natural for a woman who owns a region with a mine to wear the gemstones they produce to parties?”

It was a show of friendship to use other regions’ goods, but it was also advertising. If attendees took a liking to any products at the party, that would inevitably lead to sales. The result was the same, regardless of how Lady Sunset wanted to frame it.

Claudia went on, “Think about this: What would your husbands think if they discovered you’d lost the chance to have your specialties sold at my firm? Oh, I’m certain some men would find no fault with their wives for it, but can you say for certain that none among you have a husband who would question why you bothered attending if you weren’t going to make the most of it?”

Whispers erupted among the crowd.

Setting aside the opportunity to make sales through her firm, Claudia was going to be crown princess soon. The only reason these people were refraining from establishing a connection with her directly was out of consideration for the hostess, who had the queen’s backing. It vexed them to think their husbands might reprimand them when they were only showing basic etiquette.

“Conversely, what husband would be upset with his wife for recommending their regions’ specialty for sale through my firm?” As far as their husbands were concerned, that was precisely what they were here to do. Even if they disapproved of the aristocratic faction’s emphasis on business, members of the royal faction likewise had to secure sales with other houses to keep their coffers full.

But the people here for their own self-interests inevitably become mere minions to Lady Sunset. She glanced at Lady Ansel and Lady Lawrence in turn, smiling at them. It was a silent reassurance that she would take their recommendations into account. Their cheeks heated when they noticed her gaze.

This wasn’t the end. Claudia had shown her determination already; this was just one part of her princess training, a single step on her way forward.

“I’m not proposing temporary sales to use your specialties as a stand-in for my own,” Claudia assured the women. “My end goal is to show our neighbors how superior Harland’s products are—and to that end, I wish to gather as many as possible.” She wanted to make sure they knew she would continue to peddle their goods even if the Lindsay supply chain caught up with demand. “I’m sure you can all understand my motivations. You must have realized yourselves that the more popular your local products are, the more you’re able to leverage influence for your house.”

Claudia’s firm was on foreign soil, in Arakaner. The majority of her customers were citizens of Arakaner. What would they—and by extension, their country—think if so many Harland products gained immense popularity?

“All I’m offering is an opportunity to expand your horizons. I wish to develop our trade network to strengthen Harland’s authority. I should mention that I plan to extend the same offer to Lady Sunset as well.”

“Excuse me?” Lady Sunset shot back in disbelief.

Hers would be one of many on the list of products Claudia was considering promoting at her firm. Lady Sunset’s shock stemmed from the fact that the Sunsets and Lindsays were competitors in the same industry. They weren’t quite enemies necessarily, but the questioning look in Lady Sunset’s eyes said it all: Wouldn’t you rather monopolize the industry instead of sharing it with me?

Claudia met her gaze. “I’m referring to Her Majesty’s favorite wine.”

Said wine was produced in the Sunsets’ region. The mere mention of it had the crowd breaking out into a new wave of whispers. Everyone knew that the Lindsays’ specialty was also wine, and that the two houses were in contention for the most sales. It gave the Sunsets even more motivation not to cede their privileged position to the Lindsays.

“I’ll be the first to admit that if asked, I would recommend our wine over any others,” said Claudia. “Having said that, I don’t see why there’s any reason one must limit their recommendations to a single product. Every person has their own preferences, and the flavors of our wines are completely different.”

Carrying an extra line of wine would show that her firm had quality options, and it would be further proof that Harland’s agricultural techniques were unmatched. That would leave an especially strong impression on Arakaner, which was a collection of islands without a real farming industry. Exceptional products would reinforce the fact that Harland was at the top of numerous trades, which would have a wide-reaching impact.

“I am quite young yet. I realize there’s still much I’m ignorant about, but that’s exactly why I want to keep an open mind.” Thus, Claudia had decided not to focus on her own region and the benefits it could receive, but rather bringing further prosperity to all of Harland. She wasn’t looking to take down her opposition; what she wanted was to join hands with the rest of the aristocracy to pave a better future.

Sylvester had exerted power to pressure his opposition into submission, snuffing out any inclination they might have to put up further resistance. Claudia chose instead to coexist with those who might otherwise stand against her. She’d all but directly stated her desire to cooperate. She knew that one firm could only do so much, especially when it was a small business run by a single person. That didn’t dissuade her from using it to make a difference, however. The firm’s size had its own benefits; she could take risks without fearing the repercussions.

“Talk is cheap,” Lady Sunset said curtly. “Your words may sound promising, but what guarantee do we have that you won’t take advantage of us?”

“I don’t blame anyone for doubting me. All I can say is that I’ll prove my words through my actions.” Claudia would establish her intentions in due course once she drew up a contract with those interested. It wouldn’t behoove her to lie, anyway; she would lose everyone’s trust if she did. “Why don’t I begin with Lady Lawrence’s threads and yarns first?”

“Y-yes, I would very much like that!” Lady Lawrence chirped. The quality of her region’s products was assured, or else Lady Sunset wouldn’t have used them at her party. The contract with Lady Lawrence would serve as a litmus test.

I’m fortunate to have the firm to make this play in the first place. When Duke Lindsay had first given it to her, she’d thought it an unnecessarily lavish gift far beyond her capability to handle. Now she couldn’t be more grateful. Every time she encountered the royal faction’s reluctance to engage in business, she was reminded of how flexible her father was. If only he’d been faithful to his wife, he might have been a perfect parent. Perhaps it’s asking for too much that he be as dedicated to his family as he is to his work.

Claudia cast her gaze across the room. None of them seemed cowed by Lady Sunset’s opposition. Most met her eyes with an open eagerness, anxious for their turn to recommend products for her firm.

Lady Sunset didn’t interject after that. Whether she wanted to observe how this played out or Claudia had already won her over by mentioning her interest in the Sunsets’ wine, Claudia couldn’t be sure.

Whatever the case, I’ve done all that I can. She’d demonstrated her intentions as the prince’s betrothed and as the future crown princess. This would mean more administrative work to come with her firm, but she had a capable on-site manager. If they worked together, they could manage it. They would have to, since she’d continue to run her firm even after her princess training was over.

The only question that remained was how the queen would evaluate her. She had no choice but to wait and see.

Chapter 12: The Countess Meets the Future Crown Princess

Chapter 12:
The Countess Meets the Future Crown Princess

 

EVERY DETAIL OF THE VENUE for their embroidery party was as perfect as it had been during the tea party. One would expect no less of a house as prominent as the Sunsets, of course.

Patrick Sunset had yet to inherit his father’s title, but he’d solidified his position as heir to the house. Everyone had already accepted his wife, Elizabeth Sunset, as the next female head of the estate. Lady Sunset’s position had allowed her to prepare this lavish venue for their party. The current marquess had entrusted her with everything, and she was free to use the Sunsets’ finances, servants, and craftsmen as she wished.

I envy her, Lady Lawrence thought, staring at her seat. She was assigned at the tail end of the section reserved for Lady Sunset’s friends.

Her husband’s house was wealthy, but nowhere near the level of the Sunsets. The Lawrences’ region was full of mountains, several of which fell under their direct ownership. For all their possessions, there was a metaphorical wall they could never surmount when it came to the drastic difference between their coffers and the Sunsets’.

The Lawrences’ main specialty came from the mountain sheep they raised. The characteristics of a sheep’s wool depended on its breed, but the Lawrences relied on different spinning methods to meet a wide range of market demands. Lady Sunset had wanted a uniformly thick yarn for the purposes of this party, so they had used a spinning wheel to accomplish that. Most craftsmen preferred hand-spun yarn. Eyelash yarn, a novelty type of fuzzy variant, was quite popular with people too. All the sheep in their territory were raised the same way for simplicity’s sake, and the breed produced wool readily adaptable to any client’s needs.

In colder regions, yarn is essential. Cotton was often preferred for its wide range of uses and washability, but Lady Lawrence knew that their yarn was warmer and more resistant to moisture. If only we could make some connections with Arakaner.

Located north of Harland, Arakaner was a beloved summer retreat because of its cooler temperatures. The nation was a collection of small islands, which made agriculture and extensive animal husbandry nigh impossible. Therefore, it was an ideal place to market her region’s yarn.

It would be wonderful if her house could sustain themselves on local sales alone, of course. But because their region was so mountainous, their population was limited—which subsequently translated into a low demand for yarn. They maintained their financial standing by selling their products to other regions, and it would be even better if they could make sales abroad. Alas, while the Lawrences’ region was in the northern part of Harland, it didn’t have a coastline. There was no real opportunity for her to reach out to Arakaner directly.

That may change if Lady Sunset succeeds in collaring Lady Claudia. Maybe then Lady Lawrence could use Claudia’s connections.

After their tea party together, Lady Sunset had called Claudia a “peerless villainess.” She just has to frame it as a negative. Even if Lady Sunset did have a positive impression of Claudia, she would never say as much. She couldn’t, not in her position. She was trying to position herself above Claudia, after all.

Lady Lawrence, like Lady Sunset, was in her forties. They had lived through the same things. Still, there was something that bothered the countess. It stumps me how she hasn’t changed a bit since we were in the academy together.

Wherever people gathered, cliques formed to give them a sense of unity. They were old enough now that their hair was streaked with gray, but they were still doing the same old, tired nonsense. What disgusted her the most was she knew she would do the exact same thing if she were in Lady Sunset’s position.

Claudia had no one to back her; she was engaged to the crown prince and her father was a duke, but neither of them could enter women’s society, so they were of no use to her. The queen was the highest-ranking woman in the country. If the former Duchess Lindsay were still alive, she would have come in second—but at present, there were many possible women who could claim that seat. Among the royal faction, there was Lady Sunset, Lady Thomas, and Lady Savile. Lady Thomas was openly hostile toward the Lindsays, so one couldn’t really count her.

The natural choice was Lady Sunset, who acted as the queen’s representative. Lady Savile’s daughter was close friends with Claudia, and she was powerful enough to be a candidate. Yet if Claudia reached out to her and snubbed Lady Sunset, it would look like she was snubbing the queen as well. Choice was an illusion in this situation. That was why Lady Sunset was being so bold.

I thought this standoff would end at the tea party.

Claudia was clever. Regardless of any animosity she might feel, she obeyed Lady Sunset overall, thereby demonstrating her respect for the queen. As a future bride, it was wise not to create unnecessary discord with one’s mother-in-law.

During the tea party, Claudia had toed the line carefully. She hadn’t openly opposed Lady Sunset, but she hadn’t tried to get in Lady Sunset’s good graces either. Claudia had stayed true to herself and responded accordingly. It was impressive how resilient she’d been despite her age. Her attitude had probably seemed impertinent to Lady Sunset, however.

I wonder if I was the only one who found her attitude reassuring. Claudia’s expression had been melancholic, but she hadn’t shrunk under the pressure even once. If anything, Lady Sunset was the one who had dampened the mood. Lady Lawrence could understand her frustration, though. Nothing had gone the way she’d intended.

A villainess, hmm? I can see why Lady Sunset might want to call her that; she does attract male attention.

Lady Lawrence recalled the times she had seen Claudia at evening parties. Her dresses often had dipping necklines that highlighted her cleavage—a cleavage ample enough to have every gentleman drooling. Lady Lawrence had been forced to elbow her own husband in the gut numerous times to draw his attention away.

Claudia wasn’t fully mature yet. How much more bewitching would she be in the years to come? She wasn’t going to age out of her beauty, but into it.

Lady Lawrence was distracted when those at the table with her began turning their heads. The very person she had been thinking about the entire time stood in the doorway.

Claudia was clad in a seafoam-green gown. Her bangs were braided and pinned to the side of her head with a knitted hairpin. Her exposed forehead gave her a tidy, well-groomed look. Her entrance was enough to brighten the atmosphere. She captured people’s attention regardless of their gender; it was especially difficult to ignore her when she came to take her seat beside Lady Lawrence.

“It’s a pleasure to be attending with you, Lady Lawrence,” Claudia said.

“Same to you, Lady Claudia.”

Claudia’s seat was sandwiched between Lady Sunset’s friends and acquaintances, and Lady Lawrence wasn’t sure someone of Claudia’s tender age understood what that meant. It was surprising that she knew Lady Lawrence’s name when she was at the very bottom of Lady Sunset’s list of friends. The countess had been fortunate to attend the tea party the other day, but there was no telling when Lady Sunset would replace her.

I can only hope someone takes an interest in our yarn today. She’d carried out her duty already by providing said yarn for the party. The fact that Lady Sunset saw fit to use it spoke to its quality; a future marchioness would only select the best. Many of those who had yet to make their allegiances clear were in attendance, so this was the perfect place for Lady Lawrence to advertise her region’s yarn.

All that remained was for her to agree with whatever Lady Sunset said and see this party through to the end. Much like with the tea party, she anticipated Lady Sunset would find some way to put pressure on Claudia.

Truth be told, her embroidery is very impressive. Lady Lawrence threw in a barb here and there, but she was blown away by Claudia’s skills. Moreover, Claudia was making the most out of this yarn’s unique characteristics; she’d softened what should have seemed like a rigid, formal design into something feminine and cute by adding white and red roses as decoration. Lady Lawrence almost wanted to applaud Claudia for her cleverness. I wonder how much value that would fetch, especially since she embroidered it herself.

While Lady Lawrence was preoccupied with her own thoughts, the person seated on the other side of Claudia knocked her teacup over. Some of the amber liquid splashed onto Claudia’s finished embroidery. Lady Ansel must have felt guilty about doing it because she’d been careful not to spill too much of her tea—only about a fourth of it. Still, that was enough to ruin Claudia’s work.

Aww, such a waste.

The tea soaked into the yarn. Lady Lawrence couldn’t pull her attention away. A sinking feeling settled in her stomach.

If I’m honest with myself, I’m just as guilty. Lady Lawrence had no right to feel hurt that her beloved yarn had gone to waste. Lady Ansel had probably only agreed to bully Claudia because she wanted to get in Lady Sunset’s good graces. Lady Lawrence couldn’t shake the feeling that the tea-stained embroidery foretold the end that awaited her. Just as this will be tossed away, so too will Lady Sunset do the same to me.

Yarn wasn’t suited for washing. One could at least remove the stain, but a duke’s daughter wouldn’t bother with all that extra trouble.

I knew Lady Sunset wouldn’t show me the same respect, but I went and sidled up to her anyway. This is my own fault.

Lady Sunset had connections. Lady Lawrence had approached her, hoping to use those connections to sell more of her region’s yarn—and Lady Sunset had welcomed her while knowing she had ulterior motives. This was the nature of high society.

Despite that, Lady Lawrence’s heart ached.

“I’m sure it pains you to see tea wasted so, Lady Ansel,” said Claudia.

Lady Lawrence’s head shot up, mouth agape. Only now did she recall that tea was the specialty of Lady Ansel’s region.

Has she memorized all the details of Lady Sunset’s followers?

It was a polite gesture when attending a party like this, but there was no way for Claudia to have known exactly who would be invited. Someone like herself and Lady Ansel should’ve been at the bottom of the priority list for Claudia. Lady Lawrence had, at one point, memorized the other followers’ information, but she had completely forgotten about Lady Ansel’s tea until now.

Claudia’s remark was full of genuine empathy. Her words touched Lady Lawrence too.

That was kind of her, but it must be too difficult for her to stay any longer.

Claudia summoned her maid. Everyone, including Lady Sunset, assumed that meant she was preparing to leave. Anyone would be distraught after spending hours diligently embroidering something only for it to be ruined in the end. Claudia was comporting herself admirably, but her heart was probably in pieces.

It was vexing. Claudia’s words had lifted Lady Lawrence’s spirits, but all she could do was sit there, hands clenched on her lap. She felt pathetic. Her conscience was pleading with her to quit hemming and hawing and stand up for Claudia. Her rational side dismissed the idea. She’d only end up going down with Claudia if she tried. Lady Sunset had acknowledged her as a friend just recently; how could she throw that away so soon? She wouldn’t make it in high society if she got on Lady Sunset’s bad side.

The countess dropped her gaze, painfully aware of her own weakness. Her vision started to go dark even though it was perfectly bright in the room. She was wallowing in self-condemnation.

“Helen, remove this stain as quickly as possible,” Claudia ordered.

At the sound of Claudia’s voice, Lady Lawrence’s head popped back up. Everyone had assumed Claudia was so crestfallen that she was going to leave. They were all caught off guard when they realized she wasn’t going anywhere.

Lady Lawrence stared, wide-eyed. She’s not going to just throw it away?

The countess knew various methods to remove stains, given how much she worked with yarn, but she was shocked that a duke’s daughter like Claudia would be familiar with them at all.

“Though,” said Claudia, “I suppose if we manage to remove the stain from the yarn, that might vouch for its quality, don’t you think?”

“It most certainly would!” Lady Lawrence cried. The words rushed right out of her mouth before she could stop herself, her voice loud enough that it echoed through the room. “Would you mind letting me examine it once you’ve finished removing the stain? I’d like to see it myself!”

She didn’t want to miss an opportunity to strike a deal, but stronger than that was her desire to support Claudia. It’ll be great if this helps her gain momentum! Those who had yet to decide their allegiances were a calculating lot. If Lady Lawrence showed interest, they were likely to follow her lead. She could already see them fidgeting in their seats out of the corner of her eye. This is exactly what Lady Claudia needs.

Yet before Claudia could gain the momentum that Lady Lawrence hoped for, Lady Sunset’s interjection took the wind out of their sails. No one in the royal faction could argue the point with her when she remonstrated them for being preoccupied with business dealings—not even if they, too, were desperate to find vendors for their own regional specialties.

Aristocrats needed justifications for everything they did. A good pretext was a shield for their pride and an indication that the person understood the rules of high society—that they could differentiate between what was acceptable and what wasn’t. Only beasts acted blindly and committed misdeeds with no compunction. The more intelligent one was and the stronger their need to protect their armor, the more important it was to prove one’s actions were just. Hypocrisy was part and parcel of being an aristocrat. There were those who cared about genuine justice and morality, but their peers considered them narrow-minded and annoyingly idealistic, thus giving them the cold shoulder.

The silence stretched on in the room.

Lady Sunset looked triumphant, having retaken the reins. She was slated to be the marchioness for good reason. That was why Lady Lawrence had worked so hard to get in Lady Sunset’s good graces—but in this moment, the countess was overcome with vexation.

What can I do to help Lady Claudia? That was the only thought in her mind.

The other guests were glancing around nervously, unwilling to commit themselves to either side. Lady Lawrence’s head jerked up once more. She had to do something about this. It doesn’t matter what, I just need to say something! She had to let Claudia know that she wasn’t alone.

Lady Lawrence’s gaze landed on Claudia, and she sucked in a breath. Claudia didn’t look the least bit deterred. The young woman’s ocean-blue eyes stared confidently ahead. She held her head high, with grace and dignity. Lady Sunset’s interjection hadn’t ruffled her as the countess had feared.

Oh. Lady Lawrence was the one rattled as an inexplicable emotion overcame her. How could she even begin to describe the beautiful woman before her? It was like all her years of experience were useless grains of sand compared to the sheer brilliance Claudia displayed.

“You are exactly right, Lady Sunset,” Claudia agreed with a solemn nod. “Ladies, you should all protect your houses. That is true for any lady, regardless of age. It’s our duty to establish connections with others and contribute what we can to our houses. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Her voice resounded through the space, clear as a bell.

How could anyone dare presume to put someone like this under their thumb? Absurd, that’s what it was.

Lady Lawrence knew that Claudia was half her age, but she was already internally bowing her head to her.

Lady Sunset must feel the same, surely. She snuck a glance at their hostess. Lady Sunset’s expression had hardened; if she felt any admiration for Claudia, she couldn’t express it because of her social position. What a burden high society’s rules are.

Image - 15

Even though she’d been an aristocrat herself all these years, she couldn’t help wanting to sigh. She felt some measure of compassion for Lady Sunset even as she refocused her attention on Claudia. Regardless of how Lady Sunset felt, Claudia had captured everyone’s attention.

Chapter 13: The Villainess Receives a Visit from the Priest

Chapter 13:
The Villainess Receives a Visit from the Priest

 

CLAUDIA HAD MADE her first stand against Lady Sunset at the embroidery party. She’d sent a clear message: She wouldn’t be anyone’s puppet. Lady Sunset had to understand by now.

“This is a step forward.”

“Indeed,” Helen said, “and you’ve been flooded with even more letters since.”

“I assume that’s a good thing?”

“It certainly is. Now let’s keep our spirits up and do our best to get through them all!”

Claudia knew beforehand that her new business venture would result in more administrative work, but the mountain of letters on her desk was still daunting. The one saving grace was that she had Helen to help her.

I can’t let myself rely on my brother too much. Virgil would be delighted to pitch in if she asked, but she would one day have to leave the household when she married. It was best to establish a boundary and do this herself.

“When is the trading firm manager arriving?” Claudia asked.

“Two days from now,” Helen answered.

Claudia drew in a breath. “Let’s do as much as we can in the meantime.”

“Yes, my lady!”

The manager was a busy man. Aside from all her work with the trading firm, Claudia had Lady Thomas’s evening party looming before her, and that wouldn’t be straightforward. Still, her shoulders were feeling much lighter after her success at the embroidery party. The importance of experience was starting to sink in.

The sound of tearing paper echoed through the room as Helen focused intensely on her work, going through envelope after envelope. Claudia’s own stack was organized by importance. She had an official to assist with all this paperwork, but he worked regular daylight hours. There was too much for him to handle on his own, so she and Helen had no choice but to dedicate their evening hours to address as much as they could.

“I think it’s about time we recruited someone to work in the evening too,” said Claudia.

Helen nodded. “Yes, there’s much more work now than before. I think that would be a good idea.”

The trading firm had only stocked the Lindsays’ own regional specialties up until now, so provided no unseen issues arose, Claudia had never been overwhelmed with paperwork. She was beginning to realize that would no longer be the case. She would need to compile a list of issues to consult the firm’s manager about.

Once they’d worked for a sufficiently long time, Helen rose to brew some tea. Claudia closed her eyes and savored the relaxing aroma, though the moment was short-lived. A maid swept in with urgent news about an unexpected visitor.

“A priest, you say?” Based on the maid’s description, Claudia knew it had to be Father Carlo. She hadn’t anticipated this.

“What would you like me to do, my lady?” asked the maid.

Claudia instructed her to escort him to the drawing room.

“I wonder if something happened,” Helen murmured after the maid left.

“Something must have, or he wouldn’t show up at this hour,” said Claudia. He hadn’t even sought an audience beforehand. Whatever this was, it had to be an emergency.

Claudia hurriedly changed clothes and made her way to the drawing room where Carlo was already waiting, seated on one of the sofas. He looked more haggard than she remembered.

“Long time no see, Father.”

“Thank you so much for agreeing to see me at this hour,” he said.

Claudia decided to skip the pleasantries. “Tell me what’s on your mind.”

The tension left his shoulders as he relaxed in his seat. “I’m sorry, but you’re the only one I felt I could speak to about this matter.”

He went on to explain that he’d intended to go through the proper channels to have an audience with her, but unable to stand waiting, he’d immediately set off to see her.

“As promised, I hired a foreman to demolish the castle. I also finally made my way to Lord Christian’s grave to report the news to him.” Carlo had obeyed the message Christian sent him about not being governed by the past and had acted accordingly. “But…” His voice fell away, hands quaking violently.

Claudia motioned to the steaming cup of tea one of the maids had placed in front of him. “Take your time,” she said soothingly.

“Thank you.” He breathed a small sigh and reached for his teacup, taking a sip. Wetting his throat seemed to calm him. Carlo closed his eyes and composed himself, then told her, “The ghost appeared again.”

“You’re referring to the one we saw heading toward the watchtower? The long-haired ghost?”

“Precisely. I’m certain it’s Lord Christian. He must have something else he wishes to communicate!” Carlo was convinced his solo visit to Christian’s grave hadn’t been enough to appease his spirit. His brows pinched. “I sensed something strange at his grave—it felt as if something had been revived!”

Carlo’s fell to pieces again; the more he spoke, the more heated he became. The color drained from his face, his features growing sharper. Claudia was so taken aback, she couldn’t immediately respond.

“Lord Christian must be furious with me,” Carlo babbled on. “Of course he would be. It was selfish of me to use the details of his death as a basis for my silly ghost story.”

“Father—”

“I should be blamed for this. I sinned, and I need to atone for it! I’ve decided to offer myself up as a sacrifice to this phantom to appease it before it can harm anyone else. That should assuage its fury.”

As much as he wanted to carry out his plan right then and there, the priest said, he felt he should at least let her know of his decision since she was the only one aware of the circumstances. That was why he’d come without any notice.

“Please wait, Father,” Claudia said.

“This is the only way!”

He was acting like a different person, not the priest she thought she knew. Gone was the gentle expression on his face; his own stubborn conviction had consumed him.

Claudia lifted herself from her seat and took a seat beside him, clasping his wrinkled hands in hers. “Father, ask yourself: What kind of person was Lord Christian?”

“Well, he was…” He trailed off.

“He was kind to you, a mere young boy sent to his house to work as a servant, correct? Would someone like that want someone to sacrifice their life?”

“He… But still…”

Maybe it was a mistake to expect logic from a ghost, but Carlo was so obviously disoriented. She had to help him recover his senses. “Besides, the phantom that hunts for sacrifices is a different ghost,” she reminded him.

The story about the woman in a white dress who sought out sacrifices night after night had existed for decades in the region around Carlo’s monastery. It had no connection to the long-haired ghost or to Christian. The only commonality between them was that they originated from the same area.

“When I met Lord Christian at the theater, I found him to be a warm young man with a refreshing smile. Is that not how you remember him?”

“Oh, it is!” Carlo said quickly. “You described him accurately.”

“Then please take a moment and think hard on this: Would Lord Christian be pleased if you sacrificed yourself?”

Christian had lost the love of his life before finally taking his own. In a way, his beloved had been a sacrifice—a victim of aristocratic society.

“Oh, what a fool I am!” Carlo groaned.

“All this has no doubt mentally taxed you without you realizing it,” Claudia said. Nothing else could explain how disoriented and hysterical he’d been, though it wouldn’t be productive to spell it out. The most important thing was to calm him down and make sure he didn’t do anything reckless. “Please stay here at our estate for the night. Have you had dinner yet, Father?”

“I’m embarrassed to say this, but I took a carriage here in such a hurry that I haven’t eaten a thing.”

“My, that won’t do. Starving yourself will only wear you down more! I’ll have something made for you right away.” When one was in a bad place, taking care of basic needs like sleep and hunger were the quickest way to recovery. The best course would be to feed him something delicious and preoccupy him with something he’d enjoy.

“I studied so hard to become a priest in the first place, and now I wonder whether I learned anything at all. I’m ashamed you’ve had to see me at my worst so often.”

She shook her head. “Nonsense. It’s human nature to help those in need. You’re only human, Father. When you’re fatigued, you need to rest.”

“Thank you. I’ll do just that.”

Claudia ordered one of her maids to keep watch over him. She checked on him a little while later and found him in the lounge with Lilith, engaged in pleasant conversation. Claudia was relieved to see that koala-esque expression back on his face.

“He was like a man possessed. Glad to see he’s recovered,” Helen piped up from behind her.

“Agreed. He seems awfully sensitive whenever it comes to Lord Christian.” Claudia had been startled when he brought up being a sacrifice. Perhaps he was so disturbed that he couldn’t think straight and had tried to latch on to any solution, no matter how nonsensical.

“It’s discomforting to hear that the phantom is still appearing, though,” said Helen.

“Yes,” Claudia murmured, “it might be faster to simply demolish the castle instead of investigating the cause of this apparition.” It was a potentially reckless call, but they had witnessed the ghost near the watchtower, after all. “I wonder…if the place it’s haunting vanishes, will it wander about aimlessly instead?”

That would pose its own problems.

She cocked her head. “I wonder why it’s appearing near the watchtower anyway. Lord Christian died in his private chambers.”

“That’s a good question. From what you said, his lover was killed in a carriage accident, so he wasn’t near the watchtower either.”

When Claudia and Helen first spotted the long-haired phantom, it had been standing in the connecting corridor between the watchtower and the castle, as if it weren’t strictly haunting either place.

“I wonder if it’s safe for Father Carlo to return to the monastery.”

“I’m worried too,” Helen put in. “We should ask the other clergy members to keep an eye on him.”

Perhaps Carlo would be better off if he left the monastery ahead of its demolition. Claudia penned a letter to the senior clergy there to keep tabs on him until then. That was the most she could do for him. Even if she wanted to offer more assistance, she had no idea how to handle a ghost. Perhaps she could try to search for someone more familiar with the paranormal, but that was about it.

If Lord Christian has more to say, he should come to me directly, like he did at the theater.

Claudia gazed out the window. She could make out nothing through the darkness. There were no long-haired ghosts outside their estate, that much was certain.

Chapter 14: The Phantom Seeks a Living Sacrifice

Chapter 14:
The Phantom Seeks a Living Sacrifice

 

WIND SWEPT THROUGH THE CRACKS of the aged stone walls. The draft created a chill that made the priest tremble as he sat at his desk. Any remnants of summer’s warmth had disappeared by this point, and Carlo was grateful for his long sleeves. While he was accustomed to the drastic temperatures at the castle, that didn’t mean he could withstand them.

He set his pen aside. Best to retire before his hands went completely numb and forced him to abandon his work anyway. The chill tonight was particularly biting.

“Lord Christian, are you still there?”

Carlo had only recently returned from his abrupt visit to the Lindsay estate, where he’d sworn up and down that Christian held a grudge against him. Thanks to Claudia, he was no longer so disillusioned to think he should offer himself as a sacrifice. Regardless, if there was something keeping Christian here, Carlo prayed Christian would find a way to tell him.

It had been many years since he was Christian’s servant boy, but he’d never forgotten the kindness the young master had shown him. Through Claudia, Christian had urged him not to be beholden to the past—but he hoped he could be forgiven for keeping his beloved young master’s memory close. Carlo was the only one who still remembered what the castle looked like in its glory days. He himself didn’t have many days ahead of him now. He wanted to at least keep those memories so he had something to look back on.

Carlo planned to leave the castle before winter arrived. The foreman had agreed to take care of everything once he was gone, in consideration of his advanced age. Carlo had already informed the Sunsets of the demolition timeline. The grief had hit Patrick particularly hard since he had fond memories of the place. But such was the way of the world.

Carlo crawled into bed and slipped into sleep.

It was black as pitch outside his window.

 

***

 

No one spotted the white figure that night.

The wind howled as it crashed against the stone walls, scattering the dried autumn leaves. The phantom was deep, deep in the darkness, isolated from the weather. An unseasonal warmth permeated the atmosphere around him. His body moved with the same slow momentum as the warm blood that dripped from his fingertips, spattering the ground.

This won’t do. Rather than words, what emerged from his lips was a dry, strangled voice. The phantom was like a child, aimless and lost. He had a wobbling sort of walk as he retraced his steps. Back and forth, back and forth. Only his eyes retained a strong spark of determination as he sought an answer to his question.

Why isn’t this working? Why aren’t my efforts being rewarded? Why?

What had he done wrong? All the phantom wanted was to live without constant criticism.

His grip loosened. A noisy splat resounded as a clump of meat slipped from his fingers. A sickening squelch echoed from beneath his foot. He’d stepped on something. The phantom’s eyes fell to the furry mass amid a puddle of blood. The skin on the back of his arms turned to gooseflesh.

“Is this still not enough?!”

His gaze swiveled, landing on a head. The creature’s eyes were still wide open, but they were devoid of life.

Bile crawled up from the phantom’s stomach, irritating his throat. He was hit with the urge to claw it away. No, better yet, he wanted to jam his whole arm into his mouth so he could reach it.

The phantom wanted to be free, to be at peace. What he wouldn’t give to slip into oblivion.

He reached for the hammer leaning up against the wall.

“If this isn’t enough, then…” He lifted it and brought it down, smashing the head of the creature. Again, and again. Smash, smash, smash. Until he’d bludgeoned it beyond all recognition, until it was mush.

“I’ll need to find another sacrifice.”

The phantom knew at this point that animals weren’t sufficient. He required a sacrifice equivalent in value to what he sought. It was his own morality that had prevented him from doing that to begin with. There wasn’t enough time left for him to let that hold him back anymore, though. He had to make progress—and quickly. He wouldn’t be beyond censure until he did.

“It’s fine. I’ll succeed next time.”

He already had the perfect sacrifice in mind.

Chapter 15: The Villainess Attends an Evening Party

Chapter 15:
The Villainess Attends an Evening Party

 

AS MUCH AS THE REAPPEARANCE of the monastery ghost weighed on Claudia’s mind, she couldn’t let it distract her. Lady Thomas’s evening party was upon her. It would be completely different from Lady Sunset’s gatherings, which had been a part of her princess training. The Thomases were openly hostile toward the Lindsays; their attitude toward Claudia hadn’t changed after she was officially engaged to Sylvester, nor would it change once she became the crown princess.

If the Thomases failed to observe basic etiquette with her, it would give her an opening—but the Thomases weren’t so foolish as that. What made them the most difficult was that they balanced the scales of power among the royal faction. By opposing her family, they prevented the Lindsays from gaining too much power. The royal family was anxious to avoid any one family gaining more power than they presently possessed. For that reason, the royal faction needed the Thomases—and the Thomases’ stance toward the Lindsays was perfectly justified.

The Lindsays recognized the necessity of another family keeping them in check. As a neutral party between the factions, they had no desire for more power or influence. Not that their intentions truly mattered because if they did gain greater authority, their detractors might suspect them of treason.

The aristocratic faction was falling apart without a leader to unify it, and it was challenging enough to keep the rest of the noble houses in check. Claudia—and by extension, her family—was glad for the more transparent social structure in the royal faction. It helped that the queen’s family (the Sunsets) were also at odds with the Thomases. There was no risk of those two allying with each other and opposing the Lindsays together. Nevertheless, Claudia couldn’t allow them to reproach her unchallenged. Such was the way of high society.

“Now the true battle begins,” she said to herself.

Lady Thomas would have something planned for her, much like Lady Sunset had.

The Thomases’ estate glowed in the dark of night. There was enough clamor outside that Sylvester had to lean in so Claudia could hear him. “Even if we’re separated, I promise I’ll never take my eyes off of you.” With a soft smile, he added, “Actually, the bigger challenge would be trying not to look.”

The pair had gone with the same hairstyles as their engagement ceremony. Sylvester had his bangs slicked back, and Claudia’s hair was elegantly pinned behind her head. Her gown was sky blue with a modest design and white accents, her shoulders exposed by the sleeves extending past her elbows. Other than that, her skin was mostly covered up. It was a bit chilly to be out in this dress, but she would feel fine as soon as she was inside. A diamond brooch in the shape of a flower gleamed at her chest. Sylvester’s suit matched the color of his dress, though the main color and accents were flipped; his shirt was sky blue as well, but his jacket was white. It was a clean look, which he pulled off with flair.

I have to be careful not to get too close to him. His sex appeal is strong enough to knock me off my feet. Her eyes met his, which were as golden as honey drizzle tonight. Panicked, she averted her gaze. This was no time to be captivated by his beauty.

Lady Thomas and her husband stood at the entrance to their mansion to greet their guests. When they approached, the earl said, “Your Highness, Lady Claudia, it’s a pleasure to have you join us.” His blond hair curled out at his shoulders. It was the same style the former head of the family always sported.

Lord Thomas’s animosity—as everyone in high society knew—was directed toward Duke Lindsay rather than Claudia herself. He and Claudia’s father had attended the academy together. He seemed to look through her, as if envisioning her father here rather than her. He seemed to have his own issues with her father, who’d exerted his power as head of the Lindsay household for much longer than Lord Thomas had held his title. His expression remained stiff and unwelcoming, but his wife smiled at them.

Lady Thomas’s light emerald-green hair was pinned behind her head in a large bun. Her orange evening gown had a round, dipping neckline. The sleeves had a cape-like design, hanging loose over her shoulders, which flattered her plump figure and gave her an elegant look.

As soon as they finished exchanging pleasantries, Lady Thomas spread open her paper fan and held it over her mouth as she examined Claudia’s chest. “I’m relieved to see you understand basic etiquette, at least.”

“I’m pleased to hear I haven’t made any mistakes with my attire.”

Light reflected off Lady Thomas’s diamond earrings. Diamonds were part of the dress code for this soiree. Although she didn’t specify as much when she sent me my invitation. All she said was to wear my best jewels.

It was a transparent attempt at harassment; Lady Thomas was making a dig at her, pointing out she had no older woman to rely on. That much was true, but it had been easy enough to gather the necessary information to avoid falling into Lady Thomas’s trap. Claudia had also inquired with the local jewelers to find out which jewels were seeing the most sales.

Lady Thomas had probably anticipated that Claudia would overcome this challenge. She didn’t seem the least bit surprised to see Claudia wearing a diamond.

Claudia curtsied since they had finished speaking. She and Sylvester strode off, heading toward the main hall that served as the venue for this event.

“She’s a bold woman. Hides her emotions well,” said Sylvester.

“The same could be said of me, I’m sure.” Claudia’s lips smoothed into an unreadable smile. She was sure Lady Thomas had the same impression of her.

When they reached the end of the corridor and emerged into the main hall, the first thing that captured Claudia’s attention was the enormous chandelier. It was decorated with a shower of diamonds to match the party’s dress code, and they glimmered whenever the light caught them.

Most of the guests were members of the royal faction, but Claudia spotted a few from the aristocratic faction. Lady Thomas would be careful to disparage Claudia in public just enough to get under Claudia’s skin without insulting the royal family. Claudia’s goal was to walk away from this party with her head held high.

The opulence of the decorations, including the chandelier, was for the other guests. Lady Thomas was using this party to demonstrate the power and influence of her family. Likewise, Claudia was going to demonstrate the strength of her character to Lady Thomas. The countess would soon learn Claudia wasn’t to be trifled with. If Claudia could verbally one-up Lady Thomas even once, that would be a victory.

“Time for the customary pleasantries with the rest of the aristocracy,” said Sylvester. As he’d rightly stated, a line soon formed, full of those eager to greet the couple. Claudia wanted to prioritize the Saviles—Louise’s parents—as much as possible.

“I’m relieved to see nothing has happened thus far,” Lady Savile said with a smile. The marchioness looked so much like Louise, or perhaps it was the other way around.

Still, Claudia couldn’t let her guard down. She and her husband would look for any opportunity to put Claudia in their debt, as was the way of the aristocracy. Her friendship was with Louise and Louise alone. That said, the Saviles were more of a neutral party, well known for being hard-line conservatives—but they held no animosity toward the Thomases or Sunsets. In fact, they were typically mediators who intervened when necessary.

“I wouldn’t be able to attend with such confidence if not for your help, Lady Savile,” said Claudia.

“It pleases me to hear you say that. The dress looks so flattering on you.”

The marchioness had decided on Claudia’s gown design. Since she and her husband had shown such support for Claudia’s engagement, Claudia had to make some overtures of friendship in return, lest she seem ungrateful. She didn’t want to lean on the marchioness too much or she would owe her later. Thus, she’d sought both the marchioness’s and Louise’s input to decide on an evening gown. Everyone would be eager to compliment her dress once she casually mentioned that Lady Savile had selected it for her. That, too, would please the marchioness.

The line eventually whittled down to nothing, at which point all the guests split based on gender to form their own groups and chat. The longer one spent chatting away in these groups, the more time they would spend away from their partner.

Claudia moved toward the crowd that had formed around Lady Thomas. All the women present were part of the royal faction, but not all those in the royal faction had joined them; Lady Savile and Lady Sunset had their own cliques.

Actually, now that I think about it, I haven’t seen Lady Sunset at all. Since she had spotted Lady Sunset’s friends, she was certain Lady Sunset had received an invitation too. Given the sheer size of the party, it would be absurd for Lady Sunset not to attend. Perhaps something unavoidable had come up and prevented her from appearing. Enough. I can’t let my mind wander anymore.

Lady Thomas was standing in front of her now.

Here we go. How will this play out?

All the women were smiling. They didn’t stare coldly at her as the women at the tea party had. Instead, they eyed her with curiosity.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” Lady Thomas asked.

“Most definitely,” Claudia said. “Your warm reception has been most touching.”

The countess had intentionally withheld invites for any of Claudia’s friends. Likewise, there was suspiciously no invitation for her parents, even though Lady Thomas had gone out of her way to include some of the aristocrats from the aristocratic faction. Yes, her reception had been most impeccable.

Lady Thomas slowly spread her fan open and smiled. “The other ladies will be happy to set a proper example for you. It’s a shame I couldn’t invite Duchess Lindsay.”

She was referring to Lilith while also implying that the duchess wasn’t an adequate example to Claudia. Why did everyone think insulting Lilith would get under Claudia’s skin? Lady Sunset had tried the same thing.

Oh well. This is the perfect opening.

No one could change the fact that Lilith hailed from a single-generation barony. Lady Sunset and Lady Thomas were born into earls’ houses themselves. Pointing out Lilith’s status at birth into was an easy way to establish their own superiority. Little did they know that Lilith was more bothered by it than anyone else was, and she’d been working diligently to make sure she didn’t become a burden to Claudia. Lady Thomas would probably consider such efforts fruitless.

But I disagree.

Claudia’s lips parted in a look of mock surprise. “Oh dear, I suppose you simply aren’t aware, but my stepmother conducts herself most elegantly and with such dignity. As her daughter, I can only hope to be able to emulate her.”

“Your judgment requires more refinement, if that’s really what you think,” Lady Thomas quipped.

“Of course, you’re right. I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I still have much to learn.”

Lady Thomas froze, taken aback by Claudia’s meek agreement. She’d probably anticipated Claudia would argue the point. It was so obvious by the bemused expression on Lady Thomas’s face that her mind was spinning.

Claudia’s smile spread even wider. “After all,” she continued, “I was only borrowing the same words Her Majesty used to describe my stepmother.”

She was alluding to the meeting between the queen, Lilith, and herself. The queen had praised Lilith’s efforts. Her Majesty probably complimented her so I would be able to defend my stepmother when the need arose.

Many aristocrats had looked down on Lilith even before Claudia’s engagement. It had been shrewd of the queen to preempt them so Claudia would have ammunition with which to protect her position.

Lilith hadn’t bragged to anyone about the queen’s praise after their meeting. She and Claudia had discussed it ahead of time and decided to keep quiet. That way, Claudia could use the queen’s comments as a trump card later. If Lady Thomas was going to use her position to demean Lilith, then Claudia would employ a similar tactic.

The folding fan in Lady Thomas’s hand creaked as her fingers tightened around it. “Oh, Her Majesty! Well, then there can be no doubt. The duchess must have excellent tutors.”

How predictable. Instead of dropping her line of attack, Lady Thomas changed tack by attributing everything to Lilith’s tutors instead of the lady herself.

Claudia stared hard at the older woman. She wasn’t going to let the countess’s comments go unpunished. “Unfortunately, it was my stepmother whom Her Majesty praised, not her tutors. But if you’re so curious about her instructors, I would be happy to introduce you to them.”

More women had crowded around them, interested in seeing how their verbal duel played out. Good. She was close to reaching her goal.

“I appreciate the sentiment, but alas, I have no need for tutors. You’re young. It seems you have much to learn indeed, Lady Claudia,” Lady Thomas returned with a saccharine smile.

“Sadly, as much as I might wish to have the experience you possess at your advanced age, I’m afraid it’s impossible for me to achieve it so soon.”

If the countess wanted to use her age against her, Claudia would do the same. While those comments might’ve come off as petty and childish, but Lady Thomas probably had other cards to play.

The countess smiled behind her fan, and her eyes narrowed to slits. “I’ve heard about what you’re doing to gain such experience. Approaching other aristocrats with business deals, are you?”

She was referring to what happened at the embroidery party. Lady Sunset had invited some aristocrats with no allegiance to her. One of them had probably relayed the details to Lady Thomas.

“Something about you practically slapping other women in the face with a stack of bills,” the countess went on. “Don’t you think Her Majesty is disappointed?”

“If that’s what you were told, it seems you were misinformed. I presented a proposal to the women there. No more, no less.”

“Really?” Lady Thomas shot back, unimpressed. “Regardless of how you spin it, you’re still using money to win people over, aren’t you?”

There was nothing wrong with using one’s influence, finances, or power as leverage in high society, but one needed a good justification for doing so. Justification was what mattered most to aristocrats. Claudia had established good pretext for her proposal at the embroidery party, but Lady Thomas was intentionally disregarding that.

I could take the time to spell it all out for her and everyone else here, but…

Each event had its own atmosphere. Whereas everyone had been willing for her to go on at length to make her point at the embroidery party, the same could not be said for this evening party. Besides, it was the hostess who set the tone for a party, and Lady Thomas was intent on taking Claudia down a peg. Short, succinct verbal sparring was all the people here wanted. If she launched into a prolonged explanation, people would think she couldn’t read the room.

“All those present expressed their approval for my plan,” Claudia said instead.

“Because it will mean more money for them, I’m sure. It must feel good for you, looking down on others and striking advantageous deals for yourself,” Lady Thomas said mockingly. “I wouldn’t know. Unlike commoners, I have no need to concern myself with business dealings.”

It was a bold statement for her to make, considering how many members of the aristocratic faction she had invited to the party.

I’ve lost the advantage, though. Claudia wasn’t necessarily in a bad spot, but she’d lost the momentum to be able to one-up Lady Thomas. She could simply defend herself until the conversation was over. Claudia had already won a round over Lady Thomas when the countess brought up Lilith. Maybe I should content myself with that and not push it any further.

Though Claudia had concocted numerous modes of attack, none of them were powerful enough to weaken Lady Thomas’s fortified position. As much as she wanted to think up something else, she didn’t have the time. All Claudia could do now was get herself through this. She opened her mouth, ready to do so, when two unexpected voices interrupted her.

“Lady Claudia proposed a promising future for all of us.”

“Lady Thomas, I’m positive you would have been interested in Lady Claudia’s proposal there had you been there to hear it.”

Claudia had realized more and more women were clamoring around them, but she hadn’t noticed the women loyal to Lady Sunset crowding in behind her.

There was a crack in Lady Thomas’s mask, a small contortion in her expression that no one would have noticed without looking up close. “Do you have no self-control? I was speaking with Lady Claudia.”

“I spoke out of consideration for her, in fact, since I suspect she’s too humble to say all this herself. I also wanted to give my impressions as someone who was there personally.”

It was considered poor manners for a third party to interrupt a conversation between two people. That didn’t mean it was taboo and never done, though. There were always exceptions.

The first one to speak up was Lady Lawrence, who expertly justified her interjection by turning to the crowd and adding, “Aren’t the rest of you curious as well?”

There had been quite a few ladies at the embroidery party, but nowhere near as many as there were at this party. Those who hadn’t been invited to Lady Sunset’s event eyed Claudia eagerly, undeterred by Lady Thomas’s dismissal. If anything, they were frowning because of how unfair it was that the ladies at Lady Sunset’s party had gotten the jump start on them. Some of them had been whispering about it before Lady Lawrence’s timely interruption, which had given her further justification to do so.

If I recall correctly, Lady Lawrence’s region specializes in wool products. Claudia was reminded of the impressive quality of the yarn at the party. Her quick action and Helen’s expert skills had allowed them to remove the tea stains from her embroidery without issue. It looked as good as new. Lady Lawrence was more pleased than anyone else about it.

The other woman who had joined Lady Lawrence was Lady Ansel, whose region specialized in tea leaves. Claudia hadn’t expected either of them to take her side in front of so many other people. This wasn’t enough to make her indebted to them, so they had nothing to gain. She wouldn’t have held it against them if they’d kept their silence and watched it all play out. Jaded as it was to consider, were they doing this in hopes of securing a contract with her firm?

That’s right. Lady Thomas ridiculed anyone interested in business as commoners. Mercantilism was more of an interest and focus of the aristocratic faction, but what Lady Thomas said had made her an enemy of anyone engaged in trade. Maybe that was why Lady Lawrence had stepped in, to protest Lady Thomas’s stance and establish that she and the other women interested in a contract with Claudia were justified.

Whatever their motivations, it mattered little.

“So you found my proposal promising for the future, did you?” Claudia jumped in. Conveying the merits of her business deals would help people like Lady Lawrence, who’d shown great interest in her firm.

“Yes,” said Lady Lawrence. “The way you talked gave me great hope for our kingdom’s future.”

“And I think everyone else here would like to hear more,” added Lady Ansel.

The public knew that Claudia was involved in the kingdom’s policies due to her substantial donations in the past. When the brothels had been brought under the government, Claudia had donated the proceeds from her firm to the effort. She was continuing her financial contributions even now to make further improvements to the courtesans’ environment. If people wanted to hear her plans for the kingdom, she was more than happy to repeat what she’d said at the embroidery party.

Claudia nodded. “My foremost goal is to exhibit Harland’s power and authority to its neighbors.”

Since Lady Lawrence had given her the spotlight, Claudia launched into the details she hadn’t been able to share during her sparring match with Lady Thomas. She’d already established a solid justification for her actions. The people were primed to hear her out.

“What’s the point? All you care about in the end is making more money!” Lady Thomas snorted derisively.

She’d made a fatal mistake. Claudia had already explained that her plan stood to benefit everyone. The royal faction might hesitate if this was purely business, but they had justification for showing interest. Who wouldn’t want to take part if it stood to benefit the kingdom, on top of serving their individual interests as well?

Loud murmurs broke out all around them. The blood drained from Lady Thomas’s face. It seemed she’d realized her faux pas; she should have changed the topic of the conversation as soon as Claudia justified her firm’s dealings. Now no one cared that Lady Lawrence had interrupted the conversation between her and Claudia.

“From the sounds of it, our regional specialties will exemplify the superiority of our kingdom to other nations,” said Lady Savile. “Why, even those of us in the royal faction can’t pass up that kind of opportunity!”

Her statement was essentially the finishing blow. Lady Savile hadn’t spoken out for her own sake. Rather, she was speaking on behalf of the faction as a whole and defending their interests in selling regional goods. Those at the top of aristocratic society had large enough territories to fill their coffers with local sales alone—but that was an exceptionally limited number of houses.

Lady Thomas’s insensitive barb could have dissuaded those of the royal faction from making a favorable deal with Lady Claudia, and if they missed the opportunity, the aristocratic faction could snag it for themselves instead. Were that to happen, the blame would squarely fall on Lady Thomas’s shoulders. That was why Lady Savile interceded to warn Lady Thomas not to be shortsighted.

Inviting so many to this evening party ended up working against her.

If she hadn’t invited people from the opposing faction, those in the royal faction wouldn’t have felt as conscious of their enmity toward them. Likewise, Lady Savile wouldn’t have felt so pressured to reproach the hostess. Lady Thomas’s malice had motivated her to make such a long guest list. The more people, the more Lady Thomas could undermine Claudia by besting her in front of them. That had been her goal. At the very least, she probably thought having such a huge audience would put extra pressure on Claudia. And even though Lady Thomas knew about Claudia making deals with people in Lady Sunset’s circle, she’d likely assumed it wouldn’t be enough for them to defend Claudia publicly.

Even I’m in disbelief. Claudia had only attended the embroidery party as part of her princess training. She thought it would be a good opportunity to demonstrate her position as future crown princess. She’d never imagined it would boost her influence among the aristocracy. It was only supposed to be a small step forward. Claudia couldn’t blame Lady Thomas for being skeptical. Nonetheless, she’s the one who got herself into this mess.

Lady Thomas had taken her attacks on Claudia too far when she ridiculed the rest of the aristocracy. The women in the crowd were glowering at her. If she was going to go down on this ship, none of them were willing to join her.

“Well,” Lady Thomas hedged, a tremor in her voice, “it sounds like Lady Claudia’s proposal was quite promising after all.” It would have only hurt her position more if she insisted on being dismissive. Lady Savile had voiced the majority opinion already. The countess had to back down.

Claudia beamed. “It pleases me to have your approval, Lady Thomas.”

The countess promptly left afterward, uninterested in continuing their conversation. Her footsteps were heavy with emotion and seemed to echo in Claudia’s ears.

I have Lady Savile to thank for cutting off any further argument from Lady Thomas. It might not have ended so quickly otherwise. The marchioness hadn’t done it to make Claudia indebted to her; she was trying to protect the interests of their faction.

Still… Claudia turned to glance at the ladies behind her. She probably wouldn’t have come out so favorably if not for the support of Lady Lawrence and Lady Ansel. Maybe it was shortsighted of me to assume I could handle this all on my own.

Her eyes met Sylvester’s across the room. This is part of your strength, his gaze seemed to be saying.

Chapter 16: The Crown Prince Invites His Fiancée to Dance

Chapter 16:
The Crown Prince Invites His Fiancée to Dance

 

SYLVESTER WATCHED as women from both the royal and aristocratic factions crowded around Claudia. His eyes narrowed. It reminded him of the way people had clamored around her at the academy. Claudia had the sort of charisma that drew people in regardless of age or political affiliation.

After Lady Thomas stepped away, Claudia looked lost in thought. Sylvester managed to catch her attention and made eye contact with her.

This is part of your strength. He wanted her to have faith in that strength. No one would have stepped in to help her if they hadn’t already held her in high esteem. One could bribe their peers beforehand, but there was no guarantee the person would hold their end of the bargain. Such was the way of high society.

In a world where it was impossible to believe in people’s good intentions, Claudia had the ability to nudge people into action. That alone was incredible. Claudia didn’t seem to realize how incredible it really was, though.

“Isn’t my betrothed beautiful?” Sylvester mused aloud as he stared into her sparkling blue eyes.

“I’m sure everyone would agree,” conceded Lord Thomas. “That’s why I worry—though I know it’s impertinent of me to do so—that you may be led astray by her charms.” His face puckered, as if he’d eaten something sour. Well, no wonder. His wife had lost to someone half her age.

Sylvester quirked a brow. “Are you suggesting she has me wrapped around her finger?”

“Certainly not. You’re far too capable to allow another person to manipulate you like that,” Lord Thomas said quickly. Despite his assurances, Sylvester sensed the man had more complaints to make. He waited, and it didn’t take a beat for the earl to throw in, “But I know that in a man’s youth, he can be susceptible to temptation.”

Sylvester couldn’t entirely deny that. He would wrap his arms around Claudia’s waist in a heartbeat if he could. If she’d let him, he’d strip off her clothes and corset so he could savor the touch of her bare skin.

He knows nothing.

No matter how tempted Sylvester was or how much he desired her, Claudia was the one who drew the boundaries in their relationship. He’d entertained the thought of what he would do if she demanded more power or influence for her family. What would she give him in exchange? How would she seduce him to bend him to her will? It was fun to imagine. What made her so worth pursuing was the fact that he knew she would never do any of that.

Lord Thomas probably thinks she’s no different than any other young aristocratic lady—just another beautiful face. While it was so absurd that it annoyed him, knowing he understood Claudia while others did not filled him with a sense of superiority. But I still don’t know everything about her.

At least Sylvester was a far better judge of character than Lord Thomas, who’d grown too much of an ego from being the foremost representative of the royal faction.

“Do you speak from personal experience?” Sylvester shot back at him. He was essentially asking, Have you ever let your thirst for a lady get the better of you and regretted it later?

The earl gave a noncommittal smile in lieu of an answer. He had some nerve making such commentary and acting as if he understood when he wouldn’t even elaborate on whether he’d been through the same.

“Do I really look so weak to you?” Sylvester stared straight into the count’s eyes, boring a hole through him. He knew his own face well, so he knew exactly the kind of expression to make to drive home the point. “I am the crown prince of this kingdom. I have to be perfect. There is no room for mistakes. Do you honestly think I would abandon reason so easily to indulge in fantasies?” Sylvester wore his trademark bewitching smile as he spoke, his voice calm and even.

“N-no! I was just speaking hypothetically. It’s only a possibility,” stammered Lord Thomas.

“You think it is technically possible, then.” Sylvester’s gaze wandered to the earl’s hair. It was styled in the same fashion as his predecessor’s, curling outward at his shoulders.

The earl was rattled; his eyes kept shifting, looking anywhere but at Sylvester.

The previous earl was arrogant too, but he pulled it off better than this man. Perhaps that had come with age. Whatever the case, the newly titled earl seemed at a loss for how to respond.

Lord Thomas dipped his head in apology. “It was foolish of me to entertain such thoughts.”

“I’m pleased you realize as much.” Sylvester lifted his champagne glass to his lips, signaling he was done discussing the matter. He swallowed the bubbly liquid along with the unpleasant aftertaste from their interaction, then walked toward Claudia.

It was good timing; the music had started, meaning it was time for the lords and ladies to find their partners and dance. Lady Thomas had probably instructed the musicians to play to liven up the atmosphere.

The crowd of women parted as Sylvester approached. The closer he got, the better he could see his beloved. Joy bloomed in his chest. His smile in her presence was completely genuine. “Will you have this dance with me?”

“I would love to,” she said, a healthy blush coloring her cheeks.

It was difficult to resist the temptation to kiss her right then and there, but he tamped it down and escorted her to the center of the floor instead.

The two moved in sync and with such grace in their sky-blue outfits that it left a lasting positive impression on the guests.

Chapter 17: The Villainess Faces the Phantom

Chapter 17:
The Villainess Faces the Phantom

 

ONCE CLAUDIA WRAPPED UP her dance with Sylvester and had a spare moment, she pulled Lady Lawrence aside to inquire about something that had been bothering her since she’d arrived. Lady Lawrence was in Lady Sunset’s friend circle, having been seated at the tail end of that section during the embroidery party. Claudia assumed she would know why Lady Sunset wasn’t in attendance today. Yet to her surprise, the countess was taken aback.

“That’s the thing,” she said. “Lady Sunset planned to be here.” Lady Lawrence shared that Lady Sunset’s other friends were concerned about Lady Sunset’s sudden absence. “She had tea this afternoon with a lady, and she spoke about coming. I checked with Lady Thomas to see if Lady Sunset sent any word, but she said she hadn’t heard anything.”

“So she never dispatched a messenger to let Lady Thomas know she couldn’t come?”

It was common courtesy in high society. One would find some way to contact the host and apologize. Lady Sunset wasn’t one to forsake proper etiquette, least of all with Lady Thomas. It was no wonder Lady Sunset’s friends were worried.

Why do I have this sinking feeling in my stomach? It wasn’t that she was eager to see Lady Sunset again. They weren’t that close.

Sylvester hadn’t been the least bit concerned about his uncle’s absence, but learning that there hadn’t been any attempt to inform the host compelled him to act. “For all his faults, my uncle isn’t one to forget his manners.”

Just the opposite, Claudia would think, based on what she knew of the man. Patrick was proud of his aristocratic status and lineage. What could have happened? Her stomach knotted with inexplicable fear. “Syl, I think I’ll leave early.”

He nodded. “That seems wise. I doubt Lady Thomas will try to stop you.”

Claudia had already one-upped the countess and proven herself. She approached the Thomases and bid them a quick farewell, even though she doubted very much that the countess cared to see her face again. Sylvester had been right, at least. Lady Thomas was happy to send Claudia off early.

Outside, Claudia and Sylvester climbed into one of the royal family’s carriages. Sylvester took the seat beside Claudia and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Are you all right? You look pale.”

“I’m not sure why, but I feel this sense of panic…” She hesitated. “Do you think Lady Sunset is all right?”

“I sent someone to their estate to check. It’s not far from here, so we should receive news soon enough.”

Claudia nodded, though it didn’t reassure her as much as he hoped.

Why am I so worried about Lady Sunset specifically? She wasn’t concerned for Patrick’s safety at all. The only person who’d popped into her mind was the woman with the beige eyes. What was it that unconsciously prevented Claudia from having that concern for the lady’s husband? The answer was almost within her reach; she was sure of it.

Claudia’s heart pounded in her ears.

“Syl…” Her mouth was dry. “Tell me, do you believe in ghosts?” The question probably seemed random, but she thought his answer might help her solve the mystery.

“No, I don’t,” said Sylvester. “Are you thinking about what happened at the monastery? You mentioned that the ghost had appeared again.”

Claudia had previously told him about everything that happened during her stay at the monastery, as well as the recent visit from the priest.

“From an objective standpoint, what do you think?”

“Father Carlo must be mistaken. He may have thought he resolved everything when you two spoke, but I don’t think that was enough to sever his lingering ties to the castle. Once the demolition date was set and he realized how limited his time was, I imagine it got to his head.”

Sylvester made a solid argument. When Carlo came to visit, he hadn’t been in his right mind. The upcoming demolition had probably affected him more than he realized, way before he thought he saw the ghost.

“Limited time,” she muttered to herself, thinking.

Claudia knew it might be imprudent, but she’d thought destroying the place might prevent the ghost from appearing anymore. But what if it was just the opposite?

“Syl, take us to the monastery immediately!” she cried.

Sylvester delivered her instructions to the driver without asking for an explanation. He must have realized now wasn’t the time, based on how frantic Claudia was.

“And send a message to Her Majesty,” Claudia added.

“All right.”

Since they weren’t heading home, they needed to inform their respective families anyway. Once they finished penning the necessary missives, Claudia had his knights deliver them.

“It will take some time for our messages to reach our families,” said Sylvester. “Will you tell me what’s going on in the meantime?”

“Yes. I’d like to discuss my thoughts as well, so I can better organize them.”

Claudia had calmed down a little after sending off the messengers. She was glad that the carriage was equipped with parchment in the first place, and even more fortunate was its stock of baked goods, snacks, and drinks. After hydrating herself, she let out a relieved breath.

“Do you remember the young man I told you about? The one I met at the theater?” she began.

“The beautiful one with blond hair and amethyst eyes, right? I remember.”

Claudia had needed some time to digest everything in the immediate aftermath of her meeting with Christian’s spirit, so she hadn’t told him then. It wasn’t until she relayed the encounter to Carlo that she had enough context to describe to Sylvester what she had experienced.

“There’s no way to explain that phenomenon,” she said.

“That’s true. Even if it was nothing but a daydream, that doesn’t explain how you knew exactly what the branch family’s crest looked like.”

Her memory of Christian’s facial features was so vague that she couldn’t quite describe them. All she could clearly recall were her impressions of him.

It was strange. The message he’d delivered to her had nothing to do with her personally. His words had struck a chord with her, but the man’s existence hadn’t held much relevance to her until after her stay at the monastery. She believed with absolute conviction that the man she met was Christian, thanks to her conversation with Carlo.

“That’s why I thought it might be possible the figure we saw at the monastery was a ghost too,” Claudia continued. That was especially true after the knights’ ensuing investigation turned up nothing. “But the white figure—the long-haired ghost—was something Father Carlo came up with himself.”

Carlo seemed convinced that his foolish actions had somehow summoned the spirit to the castle, but was that true?

“You said that ghost wasn’t a trick of Father Carlo’s, right?”

“Right. Based on how shaken he was when he came to my family’s estate, I don’t think he was lying about having nothing to do with that affair.” Claudia had originally suspected him as well when she first learned he’d manufactured the long-haired ghost story. It would be silly of him to keep pretending after she had exposed him, which was why she didn’t think he was. “Still, it was too early to be sure that what we’d all seen really was a ghost.”

“You think someone other than Father Carlo is responsible for this?” Sylvester probably already knew the answer, but he asked anyway to help her organize her thoughts.

“Plenty of people have heard the story by now. There’s also one other person besides Father Carlo who is reluctant to see the castle demolished.”

“You mean my uncle.”

Patrick had an unmatched affection for the castle. Claudia wouldn’t be surprised if he’d taken advantage of Carlo’s ghost story to help prevent the place’s demolition.

“Not even the Sunsets can overturn the church’s decision,” she said.

Once they donated the castle, it had become the church’s property. It was a stroke of luck that Carlo had been able to protect it for all those decades. Still, assuming that Patrick was responsible, how had he managed to disappear into thin air after Claudia and Helen saw him?

“I realize it would be silly to believe everything the young man at the theater said to me without any proof,” Claudia said, prefacing her thoughts on the matter. Christian had told her how he’d met his beloved, visiting a hidden basement room night after night.

“So that’s why you wanted me to write to my mother,” Sylvester replied as the realization hit him.

“Lord Christian described it as an emergency shelter. I thought perhaps Her Majesty might know of it.” The queen had played there with her older brother as a child. Their parents or someone else in the family might have informed them of the secret shelter in case the need for it ever arose. “Assuming that shelter is in the basement of the watchtower, it would explain why we didn’t see anyone when we tried to locate the figure.”

“True. If it was my uncle, and he hid there, you wouldn’t find him.”

And the phantom only appeared at night. Most people carried a torch or lantern with them when they ventured through the darkness. It would be easy for Patrick to avoid being found if he snuck into the watchtower at night.

“When I went to check the watchtower myself, I noticed the air inside was eerily warm,” said Claudia. It had been so strange, especially given the season, that it had sent a chill down her spine. “In hindsight, I wonder if that was proof someone had been there.”

Patrick would’ve needed something to light his way inside the watchtower. That would explain the lingering warmth in the air.

“Hmm.” Sylvester nodded to himself. “Yes, either someone had been through there with a torch or lantern or, if there is a hidden shelter under the watchtower, any lighting inside there would create heat.”

Warm air rose while cold air sank. Sylvester was right; that could explain the warmth she’d felt.

Nothing they had discussed thus far gave Claudia reason to panic. The bigger question was whether the shelter was his destination rather than a mere hiding place.

“As an adolescent, Lord Christian snuck away to the basement to perform black magic. That was how he met the servant who became his beloved, and he was able to look back at his nightly ventures with good humor. But…” Christian had offered sacrifices for his magic. If that were the case this time too, it would explain a lot. “There’s long been a story of a ghost seeking human sacrifices in the area around the old castle.”

“So someone has been up to something for that story to still be going around,” Sylvester concluded.

There was no smoke without a fire. Even assuming the story about the ghost looking for living sacrifices was made up, there had to be some grain of truth to it.

“I know very little about black magic, but pets have been going missing around the monastery,” said Claudia, thinking back to the flyers on the bulletin board. It wasn’t just one or two either. If these sacrifices were being offered up for some purpose, and the person doing it hadn’t achieved what they wanted, then it made sense that more and more pets were vanishing in the pursuit of their goal. But what if they decided animals weren’t good enough? What then?

Claudia hoped these were all unrelated coincidences.

Perhaps the earl and his wife had gone out on a spontaneous date; they had been much more affectionate lately. She hoped that was the case and her concerns were unfounded. At the same time, she had to consider a much more gruesome explanation for their absence.

She and Sylvester prepared themselves for the worst as they traveled to the monastery.

 

***

 

“What a surprise!” said Carlo, wide-eyed. “We certainly didn’t expect you, Your Highness.”

It was past midnight by the time they reached the monastery. Sylvester and Claudia headed straight for the watchtower, near where the phantom had been spotted. On the way, Claudia asked Carlo several questions. First and foremost: When he found a foreman and set a demolition date, who had he told? Then, to be on the safe side, she asked him more about the Sunset ancestor blessed with clairvoyance. If what Christian’s spirit told her was true, then Claudia needed to be careful not to miss a single detail.

“As I understand it, that’s a story passed down from generation to generation among the Sunsets,” said Carlo.

“And do you know what color this ancestor’s hair was?”

When the priest answered, she wanted to hold her head in her hands. Sylvester’s face pinched. They had both seen how lovingly Patrick had played with Lady Sunset’s hair at the theater.

“The only reason I know that is because Lord Sunset told me recently,” Carlo added.

“So he’s the one who told you,” Claudia mumbled. And how had Patrick discovered that information? A possibility popped into her mind, but now wasn’t the time to pursue that line of inquiry. They needed to search for an entrance to the watchtower’s basement.

Carlo nudged the door open for them, and their group spilled inside.

“You were right,” said Sylvester. “It’s eerily warm in here.” The uncomfortable temperature from Claudia’s last visit remained unchanged.

They split up and started searching for a possible entrance. As far as they could see, the walls were ordinary stone.

Word should have reached the queen by this point. If she knew where the shelter entrance was, a messenger would be on the way.

But we can’t simply wait without doing anything.

Sylvester stepped away from the walls and stood in the center, where he surveyed the space around them. “It wouldn’t be a proper shelter if the entrance was too easy to find.”

Claudia stopped to look around too. She spotted a window high up above them, from which moonlight peeked in.

“‘Its fingers don’t reach from the west window, but fear not and press the wall,’” Sylvester said under his breath. There was a rhythm to his voice that suggested the words belonged to some kind of lullaby.

“Syl?”

“It’s a song my mother taught me a long time ago. Parents often teach their children important information through songs for easy memorization. My mother told me I could forget this one, though, and it’s been so long since I heard it that it’s difficult to remember.” He paused, forehead wrinkling. “I think the next part was… ‘Face the window, count three up from the bottom.’”

The wall was composed of numerous staggered stones, fitted against each other to reinforce the structure. Countless crevices ran between them. Sylvester counted three up from the floor below the window and pressed the stone. It didn’t look like it would move, but it sank back several centimeters beneath the pressure of his hand.

“‘Be brave, for the stones shall protect you. Move to the right and count six up from the bottom. Look to the left and count two up.’” Sylvester continued reciting the lyrics to himself. He followed them and pressed the indicated stones in order. “‘The wall will not bar your path. Go below, look up at the window, and move by one’… Hmm?” He followed the last instruction, but the stone in question didn’t move. Perhaps he’d misremembered the song.

Before Claudia could try to come up with an alternative, Sylvester solved the mystery himself. The floor, too, was composed of stones. When he pressed the stone closest to the wall, a part of the floor popped open.

“So that’s it,” he said. “That’s what the song meant by ‘go below’ and ‘move by one.’”

The lyrics had indicated he should press the wall up until that point, but the final step involved pressing the floor instead. Sylvester grasped the handle of the trapdoor, which was surprisingly lightweight. It had been cleverly disguised but was made of different materials compared to the rest of the floor and walls to ensure that even a child could access the shelter. Beneath the door was a staircase that stretched into the darkness.

Sylvester’s guards took the lead, with Sylvester and Claudia taking up the rear. At about the point that her head disappeared below the floor, a pungent, offensive odor invaded her nose. Claudia reflexively covered her face.

“That’s putrid!” she choked out. If she didn’t distract herself, the nausea might overcome her. She longed to race back up the steps and stumble outside so she could drink in the clean night air.

“Dia, you can wait upstairs,” Sylvester told her.

“I’ve come this far. I’m not going back.” The answers to this mystery were almost within her grasp. Claudia wanted to see it through to the end.

I never realized it until now, but Lord Christian told me everything I needed to know from the start. No wonder he’d never shown up before her again. He’d already said all that needed to be said. It had been an incredible challenge to link the information he gave her to present-day events, but she still considered her failure to solve the mystery sooner a gross failure on her part.

Once they reached the bottom of the stairs, the narrow passage opened into a much larger space. The knights spread out, their lanterns illuminating every inch of what lay before them, ensuring it was safe for Sylvester and Claudia. The knights paused at a door before them and waited for Sylvester’s signal before throwing it open.

The heat trapped inside slammed against Claudia, as if looking desperately for an escape. She held her breath and waited for it to pass.

Inside the room stood a figure in a white robe. The figure froze, taken aback by the knights who flooded the space. He clutched a knife tightly in his stained hand. Candles were placed at intervals on the floor, the flames illuminating the pattern he’d drawn. It was a circle with letters written everywhere, the sort of circle used when engaging in black magic.

And the man—the white-clad figure—was Patrick.

“Uncle, are you out of your mind?!” Sylvester demanded.

“So it’s you, Sylvester. I wondered who’d found their way down here. Perfect timing—you should be here to witness this.”

Claudia squinted anxiously at the remaining shadows in the room. Where is Lady Sunset?! What she spotted instead was an indescribable clump on the floor, surrounded by dark liquid. She didn’t want to think about what it had been before Patrick got to it.

“She’s here!” shouted one of the knights when they located Lady Sunset. She was huddled on the floor in the darkness behind Patrick. Fortunately, she was still breathing.

“Don’t touch my wife!” Patrick howled. He didn’t sound like himself at all.

The knight flinched.

Sylvester opened his mouth to give the knight further orders, but Patrick swung around and cut him off. “I’m going to bring back our powers of clairvoyance. Your reign will be more secure once I do. You need not worry about a thing. I already have the necessary sacrifice! This time, I will succeed!”

“Uncle,” Sylvester said cautiously, “please don’t move.”

“Don’t you understand?! This will be a tremendous accomplishment!” Patrick’s hand clenched around the hilt of his knife.

A knight who’d placed himself between Patrick and Sylvester leapt forward, seizing Patrick.

“Why are you getting in my way?! This is for your sake too!” Patrick cried at Sylvester.

Sylvester scoffed. “You aren’t doing this for me. You’re doing this for your own satisfaction.”

Patrick thrashed and flailed, but he was no match for the knight. The knife fell from Patrick’s hand and clattered to the floor.

“But if I gain clairvoyance, the Sunsets will be even more powerful! We’ll surpass the church itself!” Spittle flew from Patrick’s mouth as he frantically tried to persuade his nephew. There was madness in his eyes. He was unrecognizable to Claudia.

Carlo, who’d followed in behind, was aghast at Patrick’s statements. He’d always thought Patrick pious, but it was clear from the way the man talked that he’d always looked down on the church.

Sylvester furiously raked his hand through his bangs. “There is no special, secret power out there that can magically solve all of our problems. When are you going to wake up and face reality? Those are childish delusions!”

“You would snub our ancestors?!”

“Talking to you is a waste of time.” With that, Sylvester ordered the knights to take him away.

“Wait,” Carlo interjected. “Please use one of our carriages to convey him. No one would be suspicious if they saw a carriage from the church entering the royal castle.”

It was the surest way to keep this under wraps. Whenever a servant passed away at the royal castle, the royal family would summon a priest.

A few of the other knights carried Lady Sunset out.

“Black magic,” Sylvester muttered to himself, his voice heavy with exhaustion. He’d scooped up a tome that Patrick had left on the floor. Claudia padded closer and glanced inside the book as he cracked it open. The wrinkled pages detailed how to offer a sacrifice. “I can’t believe he bought into this nonsense.”

“I have to assume his spirit was so worn down that he wasn’t being rational anymore,” Claudia replied. Patrick had seemed cheerful enough on the outside, but there was no way of knowing what went on in his head. According to Christian’s spirit, he had also turned to black magic when he was at his most vulnerable.

“We’ll need to investigate, including this book and where it came from,” said Sylvester. He snapped the tome shut with a noisy thud.

Clairvoyance, hmm? Claudia had a feeling she knew what he’d been referring to, but that would have to wait until later. Staying even a moment longer would only bring down their spirits more. She and Sylvester hurried up to the surface.

Moonlight washed over Claudia the moment she stepped outside. The chilly night air flooded her lungs, cleansing the pungent odor that had permeated the basement.

Chapter 18: The Villainess Gains Two More Mothers

Chapter 18:
The Villainess Gains Two More Mothers

 

AFTER THE INCIDENT, the queen summoned Claudia to the royal castle. The sunlight was nearly blinding as a servant escorted Claudia to the royal family’s private garden. The queen and Lady Sunset were already there, seated in white garden chairs. While Queen Alesteia remained seated, Lady Sunset shot to her feet and bowed her head the moment she spotted Claudia.

“Thank you for saving me the other day,” she said.

“I’m glad we reached you in time. Please, don’t stand on my behalf. How are you feeling?” asked Claudia.

“Thanks to you, I’m recovering.” Despite her assurances, Lady Sunset was visibly emaciated. Any physical wounds she had sustained may have already healed, but the fact of what her husband had done—had tried to do—remained. It would take some time yet before she mentally recovered from those scars.

Claudia settled in her seat.

“I would like to offer my gratitude as well,” said the queen. “Thank you for saving Elizabeth. And I’m sorry for the trouble my brother caused.”

“I’m undeserving of your gratitude, Your Majesty.”

The queen was possessed of an ageless beauty, but even she showed traces of mental exhaustion. “I also appreciate you keeping all this a secret and allowing Sylvester to handle it. You could have used this as ammunition to attack the Sunsets. Enlighten me: Why didn’t you?” Her violet eyes zeroed in on Claudia.

Claudia could have used the situation to her advantage and weakened the Sunsets so that they couldn’t cause her future trouble. She would have the stronger position if she let the truth leak publicly. But as the queen had indicated, Claudia had chosen not to do that.

“The answer is quite simple,” Claudia told her. “The Sunsets are your family. If I undermined their position despite their being a linchpin of our kingdom’s political power, all of Harland would stand to lose.”

Perhaps she would’ve spoken out if the consequences weren’t so far-reaching, but their neighbors were always looking for a moment of weakness to pounce. It would damage Harland’s position if Claudia pursued her own interests over the well-being of the kingdom. That wouldn’t benefit her in the long run. Thus, she’d kept her silence.

The queen nodded. “I have heard all the details about the tea party and embroidery party. I was especially impressed with your performance at the latter. You always prioritize our kingdom above all else. I am genuinely pleased that Sylvester chose you as his bride.”

“You honor me with your praise. It’s more than I deserve.”

The queen chuckled. “Please, be at ease in front of me. I’d like you to call me Alesteia. You don’t mind if I call you Dee, do you? I would call you Dia, but my son would be furious with me.”

She apparently already knew of how petty—or perhaps possessive—Sylvester could be.

Based on the way Alesteia spoke, it sounded like she approved of Claudia’s performance. That was a relief. Claudia nodded eagerly, happy to be on a nickname basis with her future mother-in-law.

“You did well to withstand Ellie’s bullying,” Alesteia added.

“I apologize,” Lady Sunset said. She seemed like a different person now. Maybe it was because she felt guilty after everything Claudia had done for her. Whatever the case, it made Claudia uncomfortable. It pained her to see such a strong woman rendered so vulnerable. It probably bothered her more since she couldn’t shake the image of Lady Sunset in that basement shelter, collapsed on the floor after her beloved husband had attacked her and dragged her there.

“I understand it was your family’s position and nothing personal against me,” Claudia assured Lady Sunset. “If you’d like, you’re welcome to call me by name without any titles.”

Lady Sunset wrinkled her nose. “How forgiving can a person be? It’s distasteful.”

“Ellie,” Her Majesty said in a scolding tone.

Claudia smiled. “It’s quite all right. Her curt remarks keep me on my toes.”

Lady Sunset blew out an exaggerated sigh. “How do you manage to keep your composure so easily? I realize you’re an adult and not a girl anymore, Claudia, but still. Are you lying about your age? Is that it?”

Claudia was shaken by that comment, but her joy won out because Lady Sunset had dropped the formalities after all.

Lady Sunset narrowed her beige eyes at Claudia. “You may address me as Elizabeth. It seems to me you are a peerless villainess.”

“Dee,” Alesteia interjected, “Ellie has trouble being straightforward with her emotions. Whenever she says something prickly, it’s safe to assume she means the opposite.” She giggled, seemingly pleased that her cousin had taken a liking to her future daughter-in-law.

“I will keep that in mind,” said Claudia.

Elizabeth frowned. “You’re skilled at winning people over, I see.”

“You flatter me.” Claudia’s response earned her a glare from Elizabeth, but Claudia didn’t find her intimidating anymore after Alesteia’s explanation regarding Elizabeth not meaning any of her prickly words.

Elizabeth pressed a hand to her forehead, vexed that Claudia wasn’t reacting the way she’d hoped. “Sylvester is a handful as well. Perhaps, in that sense, you’re perfect for him.”

“Precisely!” Alesteia agreed readily. “She’s already accustomed to how warped my son is, so your attempts to intimidate her won’t have any effect.”

“So that’s it. It all makes sense now.”

Poor Sylvester. His aunt and his mother were tearing him to shreds.

I wonder what kind of expression he would make if he heard all this. Claudia pictured him frowning, his lips curling, and she couldn’t help but snicker. When she looked up, she was startled to find two pairs of eyes staring at her—both full of affection. Claudia wasn’t used to being on the receiving end of fondness from women other than Helen.

“Dee,” Alesteia began, “I can’t always be there to defend you in public. Lean on Ellie when you need help.”

Everything Alesteia did was under intense scrutiny. If they wanted to keep anything under wraps, she couldn’t involve herself, lest she inadvertently shine a spotlight on it. Elizabeth would fill in for her in those instances.

“The duchess won’t be able to do that for you either,” Elizabeth added, referring to Lilith. “You’re already accustomed to having a mother who isn’t blood-related, aren’t you?”

The way Elizabeth spoke of Lilith was unpleasant, but everything afterward was deeply touching. Heat built behind Claudia’s eyes, tears threatening to spill. It might have sounded like Elizabeth was poking fun at her and her family situation to someone else, but she was essentially saying that she would serve as Claudia’s mother in public. Elizabeth and Alesteia were genuinely looking out for her.

Claudia had lost her mother at the tender age of fourteen. Even when she received her second chance at life and awoke as her younger self, her mother had already passed. Lilith had arrived not long after and taken on the role of her stepmother. Claudia had ignored Lilith in her first timeline. In this one, Lilith had been nothing but kind to her. After Fermina was disowned and sent away, Lilith had done everything in her power to support Claudia.

That was enough. She told herself it had to be. Claudia didn’t dare imagine she could have anything more.

“Thank you,” said Claudia. “I won’t disappoint either of you.”

“Good. At the very least, I expect you not to bring me any shame,” Elizabeth said coldly.

“Don’t push yourself, is what she is trying to say,” Alesteia put in.

Image - 16

“Allie,” Elizabeth barked at her, “could you stop interpreting everything I say?!”

Ellie and Allie.

Elizabeth was Alesteia’s sister-in-law through marriage, but the two had been cousins from birth. There were no walls between them.

The initially tense atmosphere had lightened considerably.

“Ahem.” Elizabeth cleared her throat and straightened her posture. “This wasn’t the only reason we summoned you here. Considering you will soon be a part of the royal family, I thought it prudent to inform you of the Sunsets’ decision.”

She spoke vaguely, referring to how they were going to handle Patrick.

Alesteia picked up where Elizabeth left off. “To avoid wide-reaching repercussions, the public-facing story will be that my brother is ill and requires treatment. He will be confined to a remote residence away from the capital, placed under observation and never to return to high society. Since the main house will no longer have its own heir, they will be naming Ellie’s younger brother, who is from one of our branch families, as the heir instead.”

“What will happen to Lady Elizabeth?” Claudia asked, using her first name instead of her surname, per Elizabeth’s request.

“You needn’t worry about me,” said Elizabeth. “I will remain in the capital, and I can maintain my position in society as the future heir’s older sister.” She probably thought Claudia was concerned that Patrick’s removal from high society would mean that Elizabeth lost all influence. “There would be no point in me going with him anyway. He doesn’t need me,” Elizabeth added with a touch of self-derision. “I should stick around those who do.”

This must be difficult for her. She loved Lord Sunset so deeply. But Elizabeth’s love was never returned. Patrick hadn’t reflected on his past coldness toward her and reformed his ways. What he loved wasn’t her but her blood.

“That is the Sunsets’ official stance,” Alesteia concluded. “They have agreed to let Ellie back you.” She smiled warmly.

Alesteia had phrased herself very purposefully, and it gave Claudia a glimpse into the truth: Elizabeth’s father, the marquess, wasn’t pleased about this decision. She had an idea as to why; the marquess likely hadn’t wanted to risk upsetting the precarious power balance between the Sunsets and Lindsays. Still, Alesteia had persuaded him in the end. It wasn’t Claudia’s place to comment on their family affairs.

“While we’re at it, I would like to explain the full story of how this transpired, though I suspect you know most of it already,” said Alesteia.

As Patrick had already admitted, he’d turned to black magic in the hopes of gaining the power of clairvoyance. He was the culprit behind the serial disappearances of animals in the region. They had served as his sacrifices.

“We assume he targeted Ellie because her hair color is the same as that of one of our ancestors.”

Flaxen hair and violet eyes had long been a trademark of the Sunsets. Patrick had secretly dug up one of the graves in the branch family’s cemetery, where he discovered strands of dull gray. This suggested Elizabeth had inherited her hair color from that ancestor. When Carlo mentioned that he had felt like something had been revived, he was probably referring to the traces of disturbed earth in the area.

“We Sunsets have long passed on a story through the generations. To put it simply, one of our ancestors had the gift of foresight, which they used to advance the power of our house,” said Alesteia.

“And the ancestor with the same hair color as Lady Elizabeth was the one who possessed that gift?” Claudia clarified.

“That’s correct,” Alesteia answered with a grave nod. “My brother thought Ellie was the reincarnation of that ancestor. He was trying to use her to take that power for himself.”

The tale she told matched the one Christian’s spirit had shared with Claudia at the theater. He mentioned how much the story had captivated him as a child. Patrick, too, must have been taken by it when he heard the tale.

“I’ve sought information on that ancestor as well,” Alesteia said.

“You have?”

“I promise you, I didn’t do so with the same motives as my brother. It happened when I was still a bridal candidate.”

That meant King Halbert, Sylvester’s father, was crown prince at the time. Among the bridal candidates was a woman who hailed from a house the Sunsets considered a rival. The woman was always looking for an avenue to attack Alesteia. Fortunately, Alesteia was clever enough to predict what the woman would do and thwarted her scheming.

It was during all this that Alesteia encountered a folklorist doing research into the Sunsets’ clairvoyant ancestor. Her rival had discovered the folklorist’s interest and was trying to weaponize it against Alesteia.

Before the Sunsets were given their marquess title, they were simply a large house presiding over a large swath of land. The folklorist had traveled throughout their former domain. Through the traces they found, they arrived at a certain conclusion.

Alesteia continued, “This clairvoyant ancestor did indeed exist. The folklorist had no idea how they managed to look into the future, but there was no doubt that they had. This ancestor was a woman, and she wasn’t born into the Sunset household. She had dull gray hair like Ellie here. The lord of the house married her because of her powers. Regrettably, after she became pregnant with his child, she lost her ability.”

Once she became an ordinary woman, her husband began treating her coldly.

“She was chased out of the main family and wound up living in the area that our family donated to the church, where the old castle is. The woman deeply resented her husband. Understandably so, since he had carelessly abandoned her.”

“There is no mention of her in our family records, and she passed soon after she gave birth to her child. Terrified that she had cursed him, her husband erected a grave to pacify her and took her child in. That is as much as the folklorist deduced from their studies.”

The veracity of the folklorist’s claims was supported by an ancient, unmarked grave in the branch family’s cemetery. The story was believable enough, considering Elizabeth had inherited the same hair color.

“There’s more,” Alesteia went on. “The folklorist believed the stories of a ghost seeking living sacrifices were connected to the woman.”

The ghost story had remained unchanged from the past: a female ghost in white sought a sacrifice night after night. The folklorist claimed that the woman preferred white dresses, though there was no solid proof.

Assuming everything the folklorist said is true, I wonder if she turned to black magic as well. Maybe the woman had sought sacrifices to regain the power she’d lost. It was an eerie coincidence, though. Gooseflesh formed on Claudia’s arms.

“Since she has a grave there, we can surmise that some tragedy befell her in the end. Whether she is the one mentioned in the ghost stories or not, I have no way of knowing,” said Alesteia. And in a way, that woman had come back to haunt her. “When I heard about what my brother did, that story was the first thing to pop into my mind. I was terrified that the woman had come back and possessed him in her quest for vengeance.”

“Fortunately, the ensuing investigation put those fears to rest,” Elizabeth chimed in, having listened quietly for some time. “My husband turned to black magic because of his own shortcomings.”

According to the investigation, Patrick suffered under the scrutiny of their relatives, who constantly compared him to his more capable younger sister. His resentment festered over the years, and he insisted to the guards that his whole family looked down on him.

“I’m relieved that no ghosts are involved,” Claudia said with a smile. “And the long-haired phantom that appeared at the monastery was nothing more than a made-up story.” A thought occurred to her. “Lady Elizabeth, if you ever have the opportunity, would you give your husband a message for me? ‘Don’t let yourself be governed by the past.’”

She nodded. “I will be sure to let him know. I plan to see him off when he leaves.”

“You have too much on your shoulders, Ellie,” Alesteia lamented.

Elizabeth shook her head. “You shoulder far more.”

Being a queen was more than wearing the most extravagant dresses and jewels. That was part of it, but with the regalia came immense responsibility.

Alesteia smiled wanly at her cousin’s words. “Thank you.” Her eyes, full of emotion, fluttered shut. When she next opened them, they glimmered like amethysts, her strength restored. “I would like to crack down on black magic in the wake of this affair, but that would be difficult since the incident is confidential. However, we will be tracking down where my brother got his hands on that black magic tome. We’ll find whatever excuse necessary to keep tabs on whichever individual or business sold it to him.”

That was essentially the end of that conversation. More lighthearted banter followed before the three women wrapped up their private tea party once and for all.

When Claudia was seated in her carriage on her way back to the Lindsay estate, she found herself rubbing her arms as if she had a chill.

I wonder if all this is really coincidence. Alesteia had no idea that Claudia had encountered Christian’s spirit at the theater—or that he, too, had delved into black magic. What if their family has a predisposition for embracing the occult, like their ancestor?

Maybe she was overthinking it.

Claudia slumped in her seat. Assuming such a predisposition did exist, there were still decades between Christian and Patrick, and Christian had only dabbled before eventually abandoning black magic. She wanted to believe there was no reason to worry about it further.

But there’s still no explanation for how Lord Christian appeared before me, and no one has been able to say for sure that the ghost seeking sacrifices doesn’t exist at all. The long-haired ghost was something Carlo had come up with. What about the other one? It was perfectly possible someone had made it up, but perhaps that wasn’t the case.

It’s a waste of time to think about this. There was no forthcoming answer to the question. Better for her to focus her attention on the future.

After sharing her plans at Lady Thomas’s party, Claudia had dozens of fellow aristocrats sending daily inquiries about signing a contract with her firm. She’d already hired more officials to help her with the paperwork. As soon as she arrived home, she’d have to settle in at her desk and sort through as many of the letters as she could.

Chapter 19: The Villainess Visits the Cemetery

Chapter 19:
The Villainess Visits the Cemetery

 

CLAUDIA STOPPED by the cemetery in the woods close to the old castle on the outskirts of the capital. Wind whipped through the trees, rustling the leaves above her as she strode forward. Something had been niggling at the back of Claudia’s mind ever since she spoke with Alesteia. She arrived at the nameless grave Patrick had previously disturbed. The earth had since been smoothed. Sunlight peered through the trees, pouring over her.

“Did you go back in time too?” Claudia asked the woman’s grave.

Everyone had assumed she was clairvoyant, but what if she lost her powers because she’d lived longer in her second timeline than she had in her first? Maybe she really was clairvoyant. But somehow, Claudia found too many similarities between that woman’s life and her own.

She recalled the plan she’d proposed for the school festival. It had originally been Fermina’s in her first timeline. Claudia had changed many of the details this time around, but that was because she had known everything that was supposed to happen beforehand. She’d relied greatly on the knowledge and skills she’d accumulated in her brothel days since waking in this new timeline, but she’d used her own intelligence, too.

If I had chosen poorly, maybe I’d have walked the same path you did. She let out a breath and straightened her back.

“‘Don’t let yourself be governed by the past,’” she said, reciting the words Christian had delivered to her.

Those words had applied to her, to Carlo, and to Patrick as well. Perhaps if this woman had traveled back in time like Claudia, the words could work for her too.

And with this, I think I’ve relayed that message to everyone who needed to hear it.

It was such a simple sentiment. Maybe Christian had chosen her to share those words to make sure they reached more people.

Claudia left the woman’s grave and walked a short ways to a different one. The headstone read Christian Sunset. She tried to conjure the image of the man she’d seen in the theater. “With each day that passes, you fade more and more from my memories.”

She knew she’d seen his face back then, but she couldn’t recall his features or any other distinguishing characteristics. The only thing that remained in her mind was the fact that there once had been an aristocrat whose name was Christian Sunset. It started to sink in that everyone would eventually be forgotten after their death.

“I’m not sure why, but I thought these dried flowers would be the best thing to bring you. Maybe because I know they won’t wither. I hope you like them.” Claudia gently placed the bouquet on his grave.

She had done everything she came to do, so she turned and strode back toward her carriage. Sylvester was standing by it, the light reflecting off his silver hair. When their eyes met, they both smiled.

Behind her, the breeze rustled the blossoms peeking out of the bouquet. Its outer flowers were all white; they resembled a tree covered in a thick layer of snow. Nestled in the middle were light-pink ones. This variety was called an astilbe, and it symbolized freedom.

Bonus Story: The Villainess is Invited to a Private Tea Party

Bonus Story:
The Villainess is Invited to a Private Tea Party

 

A CHILLY WIND BLEW OUTSIDE, but Claudia was comfortably seated inside a warm room with a crackling fireplace and sunlight spilling in through the windows. The lace tablecloth before her was wonderfully smooth and soft. She adored the intricate embroidering.

She always finds the highest-quality items to furnish her surroundings. This was a detached villa on the Sunsets’ estate, where Elizabeth had taken up residence. The decorations in the room spoke to her excellent eye for quality.

Patrick had left for the countryside under the pretext of receiving treatment for his illness. Elizabeth hadn’t divorced him. She was still Lady Sunset as far as society was concerned.

She could have completely cut ties with the Sunsets if she’d wanted to.

Patrick had very nearly taken her life. The Sunsets couldn’t complain, no matter what Elizabeth decided. But ever practical, Elizabeth had decided to remain married to her husband, even if that meant no opportunity to find another life partner.

“Though after what he did, I have no more love left for him,” Elizabeth put in as they discussed the topic. Her eyes were dark with grief. “I have children with him, after all. I’ll see how things go.”

Although she’d been forced to leave the main house and take up residence in this villa, she comported herself with the same old bravado. Claudia could sense Elizabeth’s wounds were still fresh beneath her mask. Claudia hoped time would heal them, though she was grateful for the glimpses of vulnerability Elizabeth showed her.

It’s as good proof as any that she’s opened up to me.

Elizabeth had heckled Claudia extensively during her princess training and acted high-handed, but she was one of Claudia’s guardians now. In fact, that was the reason she and Lilith had been invited to this private tea party today.

“Neither of you are the least bit endearing,” Elizabeth declared. She was no less prickly with Claudia than before. Her comment was in reference to the way Claudia and Lilith perfectly displayed graceful conduct.

Claudia interpreted those words as praise. Alesteia had graciously informed Claudia that Elizabeth often meant the opposite of what she said.

If she takes it too far, I will step in.

She snuck a glance at Lilith, who was beaming joyously. There was no need to intervene, at least not yet.

“Goodness, it’s so flattering that you would put me on the same level as Lady Claudia!” Lilith gushed.

Dumbfounded, Elizabeth frowned. “You’re as indomitable as Claudia, albeit in a different way. This is most unpleasant.”

“I understand where you’re coming from,” Claudia said with a nod.

Elizabeth operated primarily on logic and reason, much like Claudia. Their actions weren’t necessarily similar, but they were both able to compartmentalize their emotions. It was more difficult for them to act in accordance with their emotions. Lilith, meanwhile, was better at expressing her true feelings. That was true even now. There was no facade—Lilith was being straightforward with how she felt.

“If you cannot even pick up on passive-aggressiveness, I’m not sure how I should communicate with you,” Elizabeth grumbled under her breath.

She and Lilith were total opposites, like oil and water. They didn’t mix well. Elizabeth was pulling a face behind her folding fan. Lilith was beaming blithely.

The expressions on their faces say everything.

“When you first invited me here, I was so overjoyed that I had to check with Lady Claudia several times to make sure it wasn’t a mistake!”

“You are an extra. I believe you’re already aware, but this is a private, personal meeting. The Sunsets will never formally invite you to any of their events.”

The Sunsets put great emphasis on bloodline. They would never acknowledge someone like Lilith, whose father was a single-generation baron. Elizabeth, likewise, wouldn’t have invited Lilith if not for the exceptional circumstances she found herself in. Now that her younger brother was the next heir, he had taken up residence at the main house while she was relegated to this villa. Elizabeth had only invited Lilith because she was also one of Claudia’s guardians.

“I understand,” said Lilith. “Honestly, even though I’m Lady Claudia’s stepmother, sitting with you two for tea still feels like a dream!”

Lilith was pleased to have Elizabeth’s approval at all, even if it was purely personal and Elizabeth would never voice such a stance publicly. This was the first time any aristocrat of prominence had shown her any recognition—save, of course, for the queen.

Lilith’s eyes misted over with tears.

Elizabeth sighed at her. “Be grateful to Claudia, not me. I would never have included you if not for her. I would never invite anyone in the first place without personal benefit.” She was indirectly hinting that she hadn’t invited them for small talk and tea. Elizabeth shot a challenging look at Claudia, as if to say, What do you think I summoned you here for?

“I assume you’re trying to appeal to the main house, to the next heir,” said Claudia thoughtfully.

Said heir was Elizabeth’s younger brother, after all. Elizabeth was already close to the reigning queen. If she established strong ties with the future crown princess as well, the Sunsets would have to treat her with due respect, even if her growing influence was a nuisance to them.

“How detestable. But yes, you’re right,” said Elizabeth.

Claudia held back a sigh. “Please compliment me like a normal person.”

“Absolutely not. It would only encourage your impertinence.” Elizabeth fanned herself and turned away, as if she thought Claudia a pest. But it was all too obvious from her expression that she wasn’t the least bit displeased. “The current marquess isn’t keen on letting the Lindsays gain more power. The Sunsets will undoubtedly continue to hold that position for a while to come. They’re not so foolish that they would forsake their own interests, however.”

That was why the marquess ultimately folded under the queen’s insistence. Claudia was officially Sylvester’s betrothed. It would be wise for the Sunsets to have a connection with her.

“The proposal you made regarding selling other regional specialties through your firm was a big factor. That was clever of you. Even the smallest stone will send ripples across the surface of a lake,” said Elizabeth.

Startled, Claudia stammered back, “Th-thank you.” She wasn’t accustomed to Elizabeth praising her so directly.

Elizabeth snickered triumphantly. “If only you were always so well behaved.” She was grinning from ear to ear, proud to have gotten one over on Claudia for once. “My brother is to be the next heir, as you know, and I will be publicly backing you. This has given more weight to my family’s opinions among the Sunsets.”

Hers was one of many branch families, and with both siblings taking positions of prominence, they had gained a considerable advantage.

“I doubt the main house is terribly pleased about this. The current marquess has already named my son as the next in line after my brother.”

That was the natural order of things, since her son was of the main house. Her family couldn’t complain about that decision.

“My family only agreed because my brother and his wife have no children at present,” Elizabeth explained. She hadn’t had her first child until a decade after she and Patrick were wed. There was no guarantee that her brother’s wife would remain child-free. “If they have their own child, it’s only natural for them to want that child to be the next heir. My family especially will see it as a prime chance for them to take power. According to gossip at the main residence, my brother has ordered sexual stimulants.”

It was impressive she was able to gather such intel from the main residence even after she had moved to the villa.

“If they have a daughter, she will marry my son. If they have a son, my brother and family will want him to be the heir. I need to have power and influence of my own before that time ever comes.”

Elizabeth was being surprisingly candid. She’d divulged her biggest weakness.

Claudia glanced at Lilith. When she returned her attention to Elizabeth, the other woman was staring at her solemnly. Claudia flinched.

She’s taking a gamble. Elizabeth was watching to see how she and Lilith reacted. Would they try to take advantage of her weakness? She’s basically testing us. Although since she’s being so vulnerable with us, she’s the one at a disadvantage here.

Claudia rolled her shoulders back and lifted her chin. A smile spread over her lips, the same sort of genuine one Lilith always wore. Claudia hoped it would communicate sincerity; she had no ulterior motives. “We are partners. We share the same fate.”

Elizabeth had already decided that sticking by Claudia would strengthen her own position. That also meant she would do anything to avoid Claudia losing authority. Elizabeth admitting her weakness was tantamount to declaring her allegiance to Claudia.

“You gave me exactly the answer I was hoping for,” said Elizabeth.

“You’re the one who was completely transparent with me. I only responded in kind,” Claudia said primly. “Incidentally, what are your thoughts on the Sunsets’ future heir after your brother’s generation?”

Elizabeth had said herself that it was a parent’s nature to want their child to inherit, but she had only spoken about her family’s position on the matter. Claudia sensed Elizabeth’s opinion differed from theirs.

“If my son so desires that seat, I will see that he sits in it,” said Elizabeth. “He has been educated from birth to follow in his father’s footsteps. He was proud to be his father’s heir, and I am sure he will be proud to be my brother’s heir as well. I will do everything in my power to knock down any obstacles that stand between him and his goal. But that’s not the answer you want to hear, is it?” Elizabeth snapped her folding fan shut and set it down. Now there was nothing obstructing her face. “Personally, I want to stay far away from this potential power struggle. I don’t want to think about lineages and bloodlines anymore.”

She had been jealous of Patrick and Alesteia’s purple eyes and golden hair for as long as she could remember. Even though she wasn’t part of the main family, it had weighed on her for years. Why didn’t she share the same characteristics? Why was her hair a dull gray? Then, just as her life was looking brighter, she discovered that her hair was something she’d inherited from generations back in their family. And that discovery came to her in the worst possible way. She was sick of having her life upturned by her bloodline.

“You’re a detestable child, you really are,” Elizabeth said gruffly. “Will you not be happy until you have stripped me bare and left me completely vulnerable?” She hesitated. “Well, I suppose I was hoping someone would ask.”

Elizabeth had wanted to share her true feelings. If she hadn’t, then she would have stopped after announcing her stance as a mother—and she knew it. She hadn’t been part of high society’s upper crust all these years for nothing; she was skilled at masking her feelings.

“You can take it out on me if it brings you relief. I won’t complain,” Claudia said.

Elizabeth waved her hand dismissively. “Enough. You’ll only make me feel more miserable. Such words are more poison to me than you. I’d only be hurting myself.” Her gaze cut to Lilith. She probably wanted to chase away the emotional atmosphere that had settled over them. “That’s why you shouldn’t pay any mind to what others say about you, Your Grace. Especially those who bring up the status of your birth. It means they have nothing else to criticize.”

Fermina was another potential point of attack, though no one would bring her up to Lilith in public. Claudia’s peers all knew that she and Fermina hadn’t gotten along. Some still gossiped about it behind closed doors, saying Fermina had been undeserving of her status, which was why she’d left high society. Those rumors only happened because Claudia and Fermina had been at the academy when everything transpired.

It was customary for aristocrats to send off troublemaking daughters to a monastery. In general, serving the church was considered an act of devotion—which made it the perfect cover. As far as society was concerned, Fermina was a devout servant of God, regardless of the circumstances that drove her to join the clergy. Elizabeth was telling Lilith to ignore those flimsy criticisms, including the rumors about Fermina.

“Of course. I will take your words to heart,” Lilith said.

Elizabeth frowned at her. “I’d prefer you to say something passive-aggressive about how I should mind my own business.”

“Have mercy,” Claudia said. “This is just the kind of person she is.”

It was probably discomforting for Elizabeth because she was so used to trading verbal blows with other ladies. Lilith was a little too straightforward for her age, or so Elizabeth’s response suggested.

“If there is a saint in our lifetime, I suspect it may be someone like you, Duchess Lindsay,” said Elizabeth.

“Quite possible,” Claudia agreed.

There were times throughout history that the church recognized a woman as a saint. This was a very rare designation, given only once every century, if that. Neither Elizabeth nor Claudia had ever met one before. But if the church were to pick one, it would have to be someone like Lilith, who was disarming and approachable with everyone she met.

As Claudia and Elizabeth stared at her, Lilith vigorously shook her head. “Not at all! You give me too much credit! I am the farthest from being a saint that any person can be. I coveted what wasn’t mine, and I fully realize that.”

It was obvious Lilith was referring to Claudia’s father.

Elizabeth raised a brow. “Oh? So you do know your place.”

“Of course I do.”

“Then you should hold your head high. You’re a duchess,” Elizabeth told Lilith curtly, her voice significantly colder than before.

Lilith didn’t immediately respond. The guilt weighed too heavily on her.

“If you want to make it up to Claudia, you need to work on yourself first.” Elizabeth meant both as a person and as a duchess in society, and she had no shame butting in further. “You should feel bad about what you’ve done. You have some nerve, snatching the heart of a duke when you’re little better than a commoner. That alone was arrogant of you. It’s made worse by the fact that you married him too. It makes my skin crawl.”

Elizabeth’s hostility stemmed from her feelings as a married woman.

“It’s strange you can act so carefree after that. But regardless of all the details, one indisputable fact remains: You are Duchess Lindsay. You are not Lady Lilith, the daughter of a single-generation baron. Not anymore.” Since Lilith was part of the upper crust, she needed to act like it. “I’m not telling you to ignore all criticism. It’s good you recognize your own shortcomings, but you must maintain the dignity of your position as well. As much for yourself as for the late duchess.”

Claudia had never seen anyone mention her mother to Lilith’s face before. Her maternal grandparents probably would have, if given the opportunity, but Claudia’s father had prevented any contact between them to shut that possibility down. His stance on the matter resulted in everyone else treating the topic of the duchess as taboo—such was the extent of his influence.

“For the late duchess too…” Lilith echoed, tears welling in her eyes. “I…I don’t know how I should atone. I’ve already caused Lady Claudia so much trouble.”

“That’s why I’m telling you to hold your head high.”

“I can’t. A sinner like me? There’s no way.”

Lilith was attempting to atone for what she’d done by supporting Claudia, but ultimately, she was running away from her own guilt rather than facing it head-on. If that was what Lilith needed to move forward, Claudia thought that was fine.

However, my brother and I cannot give her the forgiveness she needs.

And her late mother most certainly couldn’t.

When Claudia awoke in this timeline, she’d felt no resentment toward Lilith. That didn’t mean she’d forgiven Lilith for what she’d done. She hadn’t forgiven her father either. Since then, they’d grown much closer, but they both put up walls with each other. Elizabeth must’ve noticed Claudia keeping her stepmother at arm’s length and thought it wouldn’t do, thus sticking her nose in.

“Do you want them to pamper and comfort you? You think you have any right to that?” Elizabeth barked accusingly. “Forgiveness is out of the question. If you really want to redeem yourself, then atone while maintaining the dignity of your station. I’m not saying it’s easy. And while we’re on the topic, you should remember that I invited you here today as a duchess.” Likewise, she was addressing Lilith as a duchess rather than as an individual.

While Elizabeth and Claudia struggled with sentimentality, they excelled when it came to high society and the expectations that came with it. That was something Lilith struggled with.

“Empty words are easy to accept. That’s why con artists wind up believing their own lies,” continued Elizabeth. “Remember, we share the same fate.” She was reprimanding Lilith as much as she was trying to encourage her.

Lilith thumbed away her tears. She sat up in her seat, donning a determined expression. “I hope you’ll continue to be so candid with me in the future, Lady Sunset.”

“Good. I like that look on your face.” Elizabeth abruptly turned toward Claudia. “And you, stop babying other people so much! I can’t believe how casually you’re able to sit here and chat with your stepmother. He cheated on your mother with her. Don’t be so accepting.”

They each had their individual circumstances, feelings, and thoughts. The situation was a complex interplay of factors. It wasn’t black-and-white. Nothing in the world was; it was always some shade of gray. That was Claudia’s position on the matter. Elizabeth, however, didn’t think Claudia should be so understanding.

“You’re allowed to see things in black and white. In fact, you should!”

“I promise you, I’m not sacrificing myself for the sake of my house,” Claudia said. She knew that Elizabeth was saying this all for her sake. Elizabeth wanted her to prioritize her own well-being over Lilith’s feelings. What the lady didn’t know was that Claudia had already resolved her feelings about her father’s infidelity.

“I’m sure that is true,” Elizabeth conceded. “I hear you keep a respectable distance between you and your father. I couldn’t manage that. Honestly speaking, it’s unnatural. Unsettling, really.”

People had complimented Claudia for her maturity before. This was the first time anyone had criticized her for it.

This is…novel.

But there was no crack in Claudia’s flawless mask, not even with those cruel barbs.

Elizabeth sighed. “It mystifies me how you can be so detached. You make the branch family elders look like petty children in comparison.”

“Don’t you think you’re exaggerating a bit?”

Even if she combined this lifetime with her previous one, Claudia wasn’t old enough to be considered an elder. She had seen many other people’s lives play out in her capacity as a courtesan, however. That experience was probably what made her so detached. Regardless…

“I am who I am,” said Claudia with a smile. “That’s all I can say.”

“You hear that?” Elizabeth said, pivoting to Lilith. “That’s the sort of unyielding spirit you should have!”

“Yes, of course!” Lilith responded dutifully. Somehow, her relationship with Elizabeth had transitioned into a master-apprentice dynamic. And if Claudia wasn’t mistaken, Lilith’s eyes were sparkling as she regarded Elizabeth. “Um, Lady Sunset, would you mind terribly if I call you ‘Elder Sister’ when we’re in private?”

Claudia was shocked. Elizabeth froze solid.

Lilith must have been deeply moved by Elizabeth’s harsh critique to make such a request.

Elizabeth cleared her throat, and after a beat, she finally nodded. “Having a duchess refer to me so respectfully might be nice. Very well, you are allowed to do so—but only in private!”

“Thank you!”

She seemed quite pleased despite trying to pretend otherwise, which was a solid indication she’d taken a liking to Lilith as well. Strange to think these two had seemed like oil and water at first.

And this is why things are never black-and-white.

Elizabeth had her way of thinking, and Claudia had hers. Claudia was happy to receive advice, but she would only implement it if she felt it appropriate.

“By the way, Elder Sister, may I say something?” said Lilith.

“What is it?” asked Elizabeth.

“It appears there was a mistake with my cup.”

Claudia paused and glanced at the rippling liquid in Lilith’s cup. It was much darker than Claudia’s tea had been.

Elizabeth looked at them reproachfully. “Did you two coordinate this ahead of time?”

Claudia shook her head. “Of course not. How could I imagine you would pull the same trick on Lady Lilith as you did on me?” The whole situation brought back memories of the tea party she’d attended as part of her princess training. On Elizabeth’s instructions, Claudia was served bitter tea. She had relayed the details of the party to Lilith after returning home, but she hadn’t told Lilith the exact words she’d chosen to point out the mistake to her host.

“I had expected you to keep your silence and say nothing. You took me by surprise, using the same exact line as Claudia,” said Elizabeth.

“I—what?! Oh! Is this the trick mothers-in-law play on new brides?” Lilith was having trouble keeping up, but she shot forward in her seat with unrestrained excitement when the realization hit her. “I never thought I would get the opportunity to experience this! This makes me so happy.”

“Is this really something to be pleased about?” Elizabeth smacked her forehead. “I’m not sure what to think anymore!”

Oblivious to Elizabeth’s anguish, Lilith grinned, eyes crinkling. “Elder Sister, you’ve helped me experience so many new things today!”

Elizabeth didn’t bother responding.

When Claudia first attended Elizabeth’s tea party that day, she’d thought Elizabeth looked like a mischievous vixen. Now the woman looked lost and exhausted.

I guess Lady Lilith never needed my protection.

Elizabeth had been right from the start: Lilith was formidable in her own way.

Side Story: The Assassin Negotiates with His Half-Brother

Side Story:
The Assassin Negotiates with His Half-Brother

 

“I WANNA CHOP my hair off.”

“Please don’t say that. That’s hurtful.”

Ruki’s offhand complaint about his unnecessarily long hair was met with a pout from his handsome half-brother. People always said they looked nearly identical, but it was hard to believe it at times like this.

If a person took in a stray cat, it would come out looking quite different from when it was living on the streets. Similarly, Ruki suspected even twins would look less similar if raised in vastly different environments. That should’ve been especially true for Ruki and his crown prince of a brother; they had different mothers, after all.

Yeah, ain’t no way we should be identical, but even I’ve gotta admit we are.

In the past, Ruki had been given a certain assassination mission. While attempting to see it through, he’d discovered his target was his half-brother. The shock when he found himself staring down a man who looked like his own reflection had been indescribable.

Ruki was born and raised in the slums. He later joined the local syndicate and became an assassin. His half-brother, Seraphim, was born to a queen and raised as the crown prince of their nation. They couldn’t be more different, but because of the uncanny resemblance they shared, Ruki had served as his brother’s double. By talking about cutting his hair, Ruki was hinting at his desire to quit doing so.

“I made some good dough workin’ for you before, but it ain’t feelin’ as lucrative anymore,” said Ruki.

Ruki’s duties in the syndicate hadn’t changed since Claudia took over, but the working conditions were significantly better.

Seraphim glanced at the object piled atop the nearby table. His every motion was graceful, perhaps because of his excellent posture. Ruki had gone to great lengths to memorize the most trivial details of his half-brother’s movements, which came in handy when he had to pose as the prince and infiltrate aristocratic circles.

Everything he does is a reminder that he doesn’t belong here, Ruki thought.

They were currently at Rose Garden’s headquarters, an underground bunker in a pub-heavy district of the capital. There wasn’t much ventilation; the air was thick with the stench of mold, and nothing could chase it away. The space was so dank and dark that they had to use lanterns even during the day. It wasn’t the sort of place for someone who had servants to groom every inch of his body, even down to his fingernails. If the maid in charge of his appearance were to see him here, she’d probably lose her mind.

“I’ve noticed there’re more unusual items sitting around lately,” remarked Seraphim. “What’s this here?”

“Huh. So there’s stuff out there even you’ve never seen before.” Ruki hadn’t expected that. He plucked one of the items from the table and handed it over. The item in question had a boxy shape, with two wooden frames bound together by rope. Seraphim opened it as carefully as if he were opening a treasure chest.

“I’m not omniscient,” said Seraphim. “What is this? Wax?”

“Yep. This thing’s called a wax tablet.” There were other names for the object in question, but Ruki had forgotten them.

Both sides of the tablet were made the same—wooden frames with wax poured in a thick layer on either side. Each resembled a picture frame, except there was no picture and the wax was directly attached to the wood with no easy method of removal. Tablet sizes varied, from being as large as a book to small enough to fit in a child’s palm. Claudia was the one who’d proposed making them.

“If you got something with a bit of a point to it to write with, you can carve letters into the wax. Then you can use a spatula to level it out again. That one in your hand is somethin’ the slum’s brats made as part of a side gig.”

Ruki hadn’t known about wax tablets before Claudia came to them with her idea. Nor had any of the others in the slums. There were very few who could read and write in the first place.

“It’s small enough that it’s convenient to carry around. Pretty handy if you gotta do some math when you’re out and about, yeah? Merchants use this kinda stuff a lot, I hear.”

Aristocrats, particularly those in the upper crust, had plenty of access to paper—but among those who wanted to budget, the wax tablet was incredibly popular. Vastly more expensive materials were used for aristocrats’ wax tablets, though.

“Aha. She came up with work that people in the slums can do,” Seraphim deduced. “Still, isn’t she infringing on someone else’s patent by making and selling these?”

There was such a thing as a merchant guild, where all merchants were required to register before producing or selling any goods.

“Normally, we’d just sell our stuff on the black market to avoid that crap, but the boss lady arranged things so we don’t hafta.”

The products the kids made were obviously inferior to what one typically found on the market. Claudia had used that to her advantage when negotiating with the merchant guild. The guild had agreed that their wax tablets weren’t imitations and thus didn’t violate any patents. They could be sold as defective goods and would be labeled as such when put in shops.

The guild had probably only made those concessions because of the crown prince’s policies. The royal family was experimenting in regions under its direct control to find out how best it could financially support the people in the slums. Claudia had come up with a plan, approached the people, and shared her idea with them. The people of the slums already had great faith in her, hence their willingness to cooperate. Most of them greeted anyone purportedly extending a hand with great apprehension and mistrust.

“So when the merchants sell our stuff, they’re gonna frame any purchases as donations to the slums. Our merch might be labeled as defective, but it’ll boost the reputation of anyone who buys ’em. People who wanna show off will be glad to have something to use as a status symbol.”

Regardless of social class, there were always people out there who wanted to do good deeds; the church emphasized the importance of helping the less fortunate. And while the church allowed donations, there hadn’t been a way to donate directly to the slums before. The best one could do was offer small change or food to local beggars. With the merchant guild’s approval, people could now make donations (albeit small ones) through the purchase of goods.

Seraphim nodded approvingly. “It certainly makes it easier to donate, especially for the average citizen.”

One could make their donation while making regular purchases, and they would have physical proof of their philanthropy. If they didn’t need the wax tablet, they could use it as extra firewood.

“Are these goods actually bringing in a profit?”

“Little by little. Ain’t gonna fly off the shelves and make us rich.”

They had to keep their tablets at a reasonable price. If they were too cheap, they risked destroying the market for the more well-produced tablets. They were bringing in a profit because they used discarded timber for the wooden frames. The Lindsays were donating the beeswax, which was then mixed with cheaper oil.

“Ain’t bad, though,” said Ruki. “The kids enjoy makin’ this stuff more than they do beggin’ on the streets.”

The streets weren’t necessarily a safe place for the children. Most of them were covered in a thin layer of dirt and grime, and passersby often kicked them. It was much better to earn a little without being exposed to the mocking sneers of people better off than they were.

Ruki could never have managed what Claudia did on his own.

I ain’t got the brains for it.

He had no idea what was considered “normal.” How did those who’d never missed a meal in their life think? What did they want? How did they live? Ruki didn’t know. There was no way for him to find out either, since he’d never spoken to such people as an equal.

Maybe if I’d worked smarter instead of harder.

Ruki had known from childhood that he had an attractive face. Perverts had always been after him. He could’ve looked the part if he’d stolen the right clothes and cleaned himself up. Then he could have slipped in among the average citizens and gathered intel.

And yet, the notion wasn’t realistic.

It was difficult for someone with no education whatsoever to think critically and see the bigger picture. Just living day-to-day was hard for those in the slums. There was no time to think about tomorrow or anything after that. Assuming Ruki did gather intel, he still wouldn’t know what was useful and what wasn’t.

Ruki counted himself lucky that he wasn’t struggling to survive anymore. He wouldn’t be able to speculate like this otherwise.

Guess this was never a problem we could solve on our own. What crap. Once a person fell into poverty, there was no climbing out of it. Or rather, there hadn’t been a way before. Instead of trying to eliminate the slums entirely, the kingdom was trying to lift up the people who found themselves there.

Back when the people of the slums didn’t trust Harland’s administration at all, the royal family had tried to send officials to establish contact, but the people of the slums had been unreceptive. If anything, they had attacked and robbed the officials of their valuables. No progress could possibly be made in that situation. Claudia was the one who opened their minds and gave them hope that things could be different.

Can’t thank the boss lady enough, can we? Ruki had never imagined their lives would change this much with an aristocrat’s support. His only goal in the beginning had been to get out from under Nigel’s thumb.

While Ruki was lost in thought, Seraphim was looking through the various sizes of wax tablets.

“Ya like ’em?” Ruki asked.

“Yes, particularly the smallest one. It’s perfect for jotting down memos.”

“Right, but ya can’t use ’em.”

Seraphim paused to look at him. “Why not?”

“’Cause of the cold.”

“Aha, temperature. One of wax’s drawbacks.”

Seraphim came up with the answer on his own. He didn’t even need Ruki to explain it to him. Smart people are such a bore. Ruki was disappointed that Seraphim had stolen his thunder. Seraphim had guessed correctly: Wax hardened at lower temperatures, and that made it difficult to carve letters into, especially those with any curves.

“As long as you warm it up again, you can use it, but that’s kind of a pain, ain’t it?” said Ruki.

One could fit the smallest size they offered snugly in their hand. Body heat softened the wax. The problem was that Seraphim’s homeland was so cold that people typically wore gloves. It was no wonder Seraphim had never heard of wax tablets before, given the challenges Arakaner’s cold climate posed. That seemed so obvious in retrospect, but Ruki was only just realizing it.

“True,” Seraphim allowed, “but I think there’s a way to circumvent that.”

He’d come up with this new idea of his in a less than a minute.

“How?”

“Tuck it in my shirt pocket, like so.” Seraphim selected the smallest wax tablet and slipped it into his shirt pocket. If temperature posed a problem, he could keep it somewhere with plenty of body heat. “It will still freeze instantly if I try to use it when I’m outside, but it can be useful for me and my countrymen as long as we use it indoors.”

“Gonna buy some and take ’em home, then?” Ruki assumed his brother would buy a higher-quality version rather than the defective products from the slums.

Seraphim smiled warmly at Ruki. “Yes, I think I’ll take the opportunity to donate.” He nudged the stacks of tablets on the table as if he intended to scoop them all up.

“What? Just gonna use ’em as firewood?”

“Of course not. We will need to sand down the wood so no one gets any splinters, but I plan to use them as they’re intended.”

Ruki scowled. “These ain’t good enough for you.”

“I will buy some quality ones to take home for my family, but I would rather have one of these for myself. It’s proof of my donation.”

“How calculating.”

It made sense. The aristocrats who were supporting the prince’s policy to assist the poor would be pleased to see Seraphim helping too. While he was obviously doing it for optics, it wouldn’t hurt Ruki or the people in the slums.

The gullible people out there’ll think Seraphim’s genuinely benevolent. Ruki sneered in disgust. Still, this was who his brother had always been. They’d only stayed in contact this long because they both stood to benefit from it.

“Returning to our original topic,” Seraphim said, interrupting Ruki’s thoughts, “you’re saying your life has found some stability, so our previous rate is no longer enough for you. Am I understanding you correctly?”

Right, the part about me cuttin’ my hair. The wax tablets had derailed their conversation for a while, but they were finally back to the real reason for the meeting.

Ruki had been desperate for cash before. No matter how much he earned, it was never enough to feed the mouths of the children and the ill in the slums. Things had changed. Ruki didn’t have to shoulder that burden all on his own anymore.

“Glad you get it. This long hair gets in my way, and it’s a pain to maintain.” Ruki had to groom his hair daily to serve effectively as his brother’s double. Seraphim had a maid to do it all for him, but Ruki didn’t.

“Hmm. I will take it under consideration, but on one condition.”

Ruki narrowed his eyes. “What condition?”

“Just once, come to Arakaner’s royal castle and—”

“No.”

As far as Ruki was concerned, Bezel—the man who served as a proxy leader for Rose Garden on Claudia’s behalf—was his only parent. He’d raised Ruki, after all. The other guys who’d grown up in the slums with Ruki were his siblings. His house and his family were all right here. Ruki didn’t need more blood relations he’d never met before. Seraphim was enough for him.

Seraphim smiled ruefully. “You won’t meet your younger brothers and sister? I promise we won’t tie you down and keep you there.”

Their blood-related siblings already knew about Ruki, and some among them were eager to meet him. Seraphim had brought the matter up before, but Ruki had refused him each and every time.

“Then bring ’em here if they’re so desperate. Why do I gotta go there to see them?” Ruki grumbled.

“So you’ll meet with them if I bring them here?”

“The hell?” Ruki snapped. “What man in his right mind would bring his cute li’l siblings to a cesspool like this?”

“They need to see how the world works.”

“Tell me you ain’t serious.”

Seraphim usually dropped the matter after Ruki insisted he’d never visit the castle, but not this time. “You and their parents are the only ones who seem to think they’re still children, no matter how old they get. They’ve been very stubborn lately about wanting to come with me.”

“Let them throw a fit. You can’t bring ’em here.” Visiting Harland and staying in the high-end district was one thing, but this place wasn’t fit for princes and princesses. Not even for a short visit. “Anyway, I don’t want me or anybody else here gettin’ treated like zoo animals.”

“Of course I don’t mean to make light of you and your people. The slums in Arakaner are probably just as populated as the ones here. Seeing the effectiveness of Prince Sylvester’s policies has encouraged me to study more so I can do the same. Still, I would like to show our siblings that other places do things differently than we do.”

Ruki had never been to any other slums before. He’d heard that the circumstances in the slums differed by region and country. That was partly why Harland was trying so many different experiments; what worked for one place might not for another.

“Fine,” Ruki huffed. “You wanna bring ’em here as part of their studies, I’ll meet ’em. Now, how much are you gonna offer me?”

“Thank you. How about this much?” Seraphim had jotted a number down in one of the tablets.

Ruki quirked a brow at him. “Ain’t ya bein’ a little too cheap with me?”

“As you are surely aware,” said Seraphim, “we’ve begun investing in agriculture through Claudia’s firm. It will be a while before that turns a profit. Our coffers are not so full that I can offer you a significant increase.”

“Yeah, yeah. This is still crap.” Ruki snatched the tablet from Seraphim, leveled the wax with a spatula, and drew a new number. He shoved it back at his brother.

Seraphim glanced at it, then reached for the spatula.

It seemed they would be haggling over this for a while yet.

Side Story: The Boy Detective Gives the Duke’s Son Advice

Side Story:
The Boy Detective Gives the Duke’s Son Advice

 

THE LINDSAYS’ STABLES were roomy and carefully constructed to reduce any possible stress on the horses kept there. Each horse had its own stall, customized to fit the animal’s preferences. Some were made intentionally cramped. Kiel’s father was relieved; he’d come all this way to sell some of their stock to the Lindsays, and the state of the stables assured him that their horses would be well cared for.

Kiel’s grandfather held a deep admiration for the Lindsays. He’d wanted to come along too, but his brittle body couldn’t withstand the journey. Tearfully, he’d resigned himself to staying home.

Kiel had a unique connection to the Lindsays, which was why they had named themselves his guardian. But he wasn’t here in his capacity as a detective today. He was acting as helper for his family’s ranch.

Raising horses was a family business. When the Lindsays learned that Kiel’s family bred stock built for speed, their heir, Virgil, expressed interest in purchasing some. Kiel’s family preferred to have potential clients visit the ranch themselves, but his hometown was extremely far from the capital. His dad had instead ridden out here with a selection of horses. This wasn’t unusual. They had received such summons from aristocratic houses before, and the buyer shouldered all the travel expenses.

Most of their clients were aristocrats, so Kiel’s father was accustomed to handling people above his own status—but a duke’s family was entirely new territory. His father had been understandably nervous. The tension bunching his shoulders subsided after they arrived at the Lindsays’ stable. The familiar smells that filled the air had probably gone a great way to relax his father.

Some people would pinch their noses and say it stinks. That was especially true of people who dropped by to visit a stable out of curiosity. They normally scrunched their faces when they caught a whiff of the horses’ distinct scent. That wasn’t limited to horses; all animals had their own unique smell.

Now that I think about it, shouldn’t that apply to humans too? Or are we not conscious of each other’s smells because we’re the same species? As long as one had good hygiene, others weren’t typically bothered by their smell.

Girls going through puberty often found their fathers’ body odor intolerable. When Kiel learned that was because of the blood relation between them, he was fascinated. It was human instinct kicking in to ensure one didn’t take an interest in those too closely related to them. Once a woman found herself a husband and had a child, that repulsion would vanish because their father (the child’s grandfather) became a necessary presence to help protect the woman’s offspring.

The smell of horse feces was almost impossible to erase, which was probably what bothered most people. Where possible, humans avoided the smell of feces entirely, whether it belonged to fellow humans or animals. Those who were accustomed to it found the stable’s aroma comforting. Kiel was one such person. The smell always brought back fond memories of his family.

Once they had confirmed the quality of the Lindsays’ stable, all that was left was for Virgil to select which horses he wanted. Kiel’s family often dealt with aristocratic clients, but if their stable was in poor condition, then they would refuse to sell. Some clients would try to pressure them into making the sale anyway, but they were the ones who desperately wanted quality horses, which gave Kiel’s family the advantage in negotiation. An unkempt stable would lead the client’s current horses to a swift death, and then they’d be in real trouble if they’d gotten on Kiel’s family’s bad side and weren’t able to buy any new ones. Kiel’s grandfather knew exactly what the aristocrats’ weak points were. Their family also had some solid backers after having been in the business this long.

First, we had a viscount’s support, and we’ve made more connections since then. Their family business had started small, but lately, they had all sorts of aristocrats reaching out to purchase a horse. That spoke to the quality of their stock. Breeding for speed had paid off.

Sturdy horses were preferred during wartime, with only a small demand for swift ones—nowhere near as much demand for them as there was now. Even though there were all sorts of power struggles and conflicts happening behind the scenes, they were living in peaceful times.

We’ll be a lot busier in the future after sealing a deal with a dukedom. There were no guarantees, but Kiel was confident Virgil would take a liking to the stock they had brought. He wasn’t too keen on his family getting busier, though. He would be forced to help out more if that happened.

Kiel was a free spirit who didn’t like to stay in any one place for too long. He wasn’t suited for his family’s business. Acting as a sales agent and going from place to place on their behalf had its own problems too. No matter where he went, his peculiar issue always cropped up.

“These are quality horses,” Virgil mumbled as he stroked the one with a chestnut coat. His hand shot out to yank Kiel back when the boy nearly tripped. Thank goodness he did, or Kiel would have fallen headfirst into a fresh pile of horse dung.

“Thank you so much, Lord Virgil!”

“You’re as unlucky as ever.”

That was Kiel’s peculiar issue: his uncanny misfortune. Virgil was already aware of it. He’d helped Kiel before at Claudia’s engagement ceremony.

Virgil had the same dark hair as his sister, as well as the narrow, perpetually glaring eyes. He always had a cold air about him too. People in high society often referred to him as the Ice Scion because he was so aloof.

Kiel disagreed with those impressions. He’s a surprisingly caring person. Kiel would deserve it if Virgil decided he was fed up with all of Kiel’s bad luck. Most people would probably give him a wide berth from the moment they heard about it. He didn’t understand why Claudia and Virgil were so kind and accommodating to him. Maybe it’s because of what we went through before.

But even that had been because of his bad luck.

That lady—Lestea, I think her name was—glared daggers at me. Kiel had encountered her at Claudia’s engagement ceremony, which she’d attended as an official from Bari Kingdom. Lestea’s otherwise beautiful face had contorted into something menacing and hostile. Remembering it sent a chill down Kiel’s spine. She was icier and more unapproachable than Virgil.

It made sense after I heard how close she is to Claudia.

Lestea’s unfriendly reaction was the norm for him.

As Virgil chatted with Kiel’s father, Kiel studied the future duke’s handsome profile. His expression lacked emotion, but he didn’t have the intimidating air about him that most aristocrats did.

Once Virgil agreed to sign a sales contract for two of their horses, Kiel’s father broke out into a grin. He had also negotiated taking one of the Lindsays’ elderly horses, for which he summoned Igor—Kiel’s self-professed assistant. Igor was a complete meathead who was only good for his brute strength. Kiel had instructed him to stay behind with the carriage to be safe; he didn’t want Igor getting in the way of their negotiations with Virgil.

“Kiel, do you have some free time?” Virgil asked afterward.

“I have no other plans. If there’s something you wish of me, you need only say the word,” Kiel responded politely.

At Virgil’s request, Kiel accompanied the Lindsay heir to the drawing room. Virgil seemed to have something to discuss with him.

 

***

 

Virgil and Kiel sat across each other on a pair of sofas. Tea and cake were served on the table between them. There was a plate of baked goods like cookies provided as well. These were all top-quality sweets Kiel could never enjoy at home. He eagerly dug in.

“I didn’t know your family took in retired horses,” Virgil said.

“Some houses care for their horses until death, but most treat their retired horses poorly. Some of them even let them loose in the wild. If we have room in our stable, we try to offer to take them in.”

Not all horse owners were so callous. There were those who adored their horses as dear pets and tried to look after them until the very end—but aristocrats were busy by nature. The job of caring for elderly equines often fell on the shoulders of the stable hands, and not all stable hands were good people. Some owners kept their retired horses in open pastures rather than stables. Virgil fell squarely into that category. Fortunately, Kiel’s family had an opening, so they were happy to strike a deal and take the horse in question with them.

Anyway, this wasn’t something Virgil really needed to ask Kiel about. Virgil was trying to make small talk before getting to the real reason he’d called Kiel here.

Is it really that hard to talk about that he’s biding his time? Kiel tilted his head as he savored the taste of quality whipped cream on his tongue.

It wasn’t until Kiel had polished off his first slice of cake that Virgil finally said, “Lately, I feel like my value has fallen.”

“Pardon?” Kiel blurted out. Whatever he’d expected to come out of Virgil’s mouth, it wasn’t that. Nothing could possibly diminish the value of a duke’s heir.

“I understand that there are some things women can only speak about with one another. She’s probably trying to be considerate of me, knowing how busy I am. And yet…andyet, I can always make time for Dee.”

“Right…” Virgil had been vague at first, but now Kiel realized he was referring to Claudia and his concern that she didn’t value him as much as she once did. She was relying on him less than she had before, from the sound of it.

I guess he really loves fussing over other people, especially Lady Claudia. Virgil was such a mother hen that he even looked after Kiel despite his terrible luck. Kiel couldn’t even imagine how fussy Virgil must be when it came to his younger sister. Maybe there was good reason for that, though.

“I told her to come to me anytime she needs,” Virgil explained. “If I push the matter with her again, I worry she’ll think I’m sticking my nose in where it’s not wanted. I know all I can do is be there for her and wait patiently, but I can’t shake the feeling she’s leaving me out when I see her having so much fun chatting with our stepmother.”

The Lindsays had a complicated family dynamic. Kiel already knew that Virgil and Claudia’s mother had passed away, and the duke had since married his mistress.

“Yeah, you don’t want to intrude on a conversation between women,” Kiel agreed.

Virgil held his head in his hands. “Glad you agree. I’ve noticed my father waiting impatiently without interfering when he sees our stepmother and Dee together. Nothing chagrins me more than to think I have anything in common with him.”

Wasn’t he being a little too dramatic? Kiel opted not to press Virgil on his feelings toward his father. Kiel knew his own dad was probably over the moon after signing a contract with a ducal house, and it warmed his heart. Not all sons had the same positive relationship with their fathers.

“I think your support is more than enough for Lady Claudia,” said Kiel. “Do you think maybe the reason you’re feeling so anxious is because you two don’t spend as much time together as you used to?”

“Hmm. Good question. I have never been there for her like I should.”

There seemed to be a lot more weighing on Virgil than Kiel realized. If all he wants me to do is listen, I can do that. That part was easy. Virgil had probably selected Kiel for this conversation because he knew Kiel would listen without interfering. But as a detective, Kiel couldn’t help wanting to solve the problem. If Virgil didn’t want to approach Claudia directly with his concerns, there was another option.

“What about Miss Helen?” Kiel suggested.

“What about her?”

“If Miss Helen isn’t part of the conversations Lady Claudia has with Her Grace, you could use that opportunity to ask her about how things are going with your sister.”

A prolonged conversation would be too disruptive with all the duties Helen had on her plate, but she would surely be willing to spare him a few minutes under the pretext of exchanging information.

Virgil hummed in thought. “You’re right. If I want to know about Dee, Helen is the best person to ask. I meet with her on occasion already to exchange information.”

Perfect. Then Virgil could easily slip in a few questions about Claudia without arousing suspicion.

“But,” said Virgil, “I’m aware of how clingy and annoying I must seem. If I’m not careful, she’ll think I’m obsessed with Dee.”

Kiel couldn’t deny that, so instead he said, “If you’re self-aware, then I don’t really think it’s a problem.”

It was for Claudia to decide whether her brother was being considerate or overbearing. That wasn’t something Kiel could judge on her behalf. Knowing what he did about her, Kiel figured she was the sort who would express her displeasure if she felt any. To him, it looked like both siblings were hesitating out of concern for the other person. It wasn’t like they loved each other any less.

“Think about it. You’re keeping your distance from her and trying to resolve your anxieties by speaking to me instead, right?”

It always helped to talk about one’s problems. Virgil could confront Claudia whenever if he so wished it, but he was looking for other ways to resolve the problem. If Virgil was being this logical and objective about the situation, then surely Helen would be willing to answer a few of his questions. Conversely, if Helen expressed discomfort, Virgil would back off. Kiel was certain Virgil could navigate this.

“Lord Virgil, I’m confident you’ll find you have nothing to worry about.” He thumped his chest with a fist.

Virgil’s expression softened, and a smile spread across his face. “Normally, I worry you’ll wind up in trouble if I take my eyes off you—but for some reason, I find your words persuasive.”

“You should! I have good instincts!”

“You have a lot of energy, I’ll give you that. Now go on, there’s still more cake for you to eat,” Virgil said, motioning to it.

“Yay!”

Virgil added that he’d pack up the cookies and other baked goods for Kiel to take with him, which added to Kiel’s excitement.

When he boarded the carriage to head home afterward, his dad said, “I haven’t heard you spout that catchphrase today.”

“It’s not a catchphrase,” Kiel told him.

Although he’s got a point, now that I think about it. Kiel never said his supposed catchphrase when he was with Virgil. Virgil always managed to nip any bad luck in the bud before it befell Kiel. He was quick to help the boy, and nothing escaped his notice. Kiel hoped that Virgil would be able to get across his feelings to Claudia, and that she would reassure her brother he had always been there for her.

“Oh well,” said Kiel. “I’m sure I’ll say it soon enough!”

“It’s not like any of us want to hear it!” his dad barked.

As if on cue, the carriage jolted violently around them. Kiel had a feeling he’d be saying that catchphrase real soon.

Bonus Story: The Villainess and the Amorous Gaze

Bonus Story:
The Villainess and the Amorous Gaze

 

IT WAS A WARM, sunny day. The breeze carried with it a floral scent that captured her attention. Near the art museum’s annex, which housed a gallery, were several vivid flowers with eye-catching blossoms welcoming the guests to the venue.

At the reception area inside, Claudia and Sylvester both wrote down their names. This was an official visit, so they needed to leave a concrete record of their presence here. Behind the small reception desk hung an enormous painting on the wall. It was the masterwork of an up-and-coming artist, whose pieces were famous for their simplicity. Seeing it in person, Claudia realized how expertly the artist had handled light and shadow in their work. It was as if they’d captured the warmth of the sunlight and rendered it perfectly on their canvas.

They had barely arrived, and already she could scarcely peel herself from the first work they saw—but then she remembered their purpose here.

“Today looks promising,” she said.

“If you have taken such a liking, shall I make a winning bid for it?”

Her gaze flicked to Sylvester. “I thought this one wasn’t part of the auction?”

The gallery was hosting an auction for nearly all the art on display, but as far as Claudia knew, the one she was interested in was for viewing only.

“No one could complain if the royal family took ownership of it. We could leave it here for now, on loan to the museum,” said Sylvester.

They hadn’t even started and here he was, trying to break the rules. She smiled at him, mildly exasperated. Sylvester would do anything for her, she knew. This is so like him.

Claudia turned her attention back to the painting. Tall strands of grass were painted there, the sort that would require trimming if it were someone’s yard. Soft sunlight poured over the lush vegetation, softening the sharp tips of the grass below. There were thick shadows here and there, but they didn’t diminish the comforting atmosphere of the scenery. It was so realistic, it pulled the viewer in.

She tried to picture Sylvester standing in such a meadow, the breeze ruffling the silver strands of his hair. Coaxed along by the soft feel of the grass beneath him, he walked forward. He looked so boyish in her mind that it warmed her heart. The fresh smell of grass and earth filled the air with each step he took. Silver eyelashes fluttered in front of her, and eyes like warm, liquid sunlight met hers.

“Dia?”

Claudia was snapped back to reality by his voice. The heat of his body, so close to hers, made her smile widen. “There’s no need for you to go to such lengths to own this painting. I’m satisfied being able to view it with you.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes, although I plan to win a bid for one of this artist’s other works.” Claudia wouldn’t deny herself that pleasure, but she wanted to do so while respecting the rules.

First, I’d like to look around.

Sylvester offered his arm and escorted her deeper inside. The art museum was displaying only its best for the auction, which had attracted immense interest. Many of the museum’s visitors were here purely to offer their patronage.

Out of the corner of her eye, Claudia spotted a familiar face. The other party, a beautiful woman with emerald hair who was hanging off an elderly gentleman’s arm, shot her a flirtatious look.

Sylvester immediately caught on. “When I’m alone, I’m the one being solicited by women.”

“Oh? Are you trying to brag about your own popularity?”

“I would feel silly boasting before someone like you.”

“That’s her way of greeting a friend.”

“That seemed awfully suggestive for a mere greeting, but since she is accompanying someone else, I’ll let it pass.”

Mirage, the woman in question, had consulted Claudia before about the proper etiquette when accompanying a nobleman. Claudia was glad to see her advice was helping.

Still, I’ll have to strongly warn her not to antagonize Syl the next time I see her. Claudia didn’t need any unnecessary conflict between Mirage and Sylvester.

They continued down a carpet so plush, it silenced their footsteps.

“She and her peers are the ones you wanted to save, right?” said Sylvester. He had only glimpsed Mirage briefly, but he’d already deduced she was a courtesan at Flower Bed.

“To be more precise, I want to help society’s most vulnerable—the ones without a choice,” corrected Claudia.

Sylvester expertly caught on to what she was hinting at. “Which wouldn’t include her, then?”

“That line of work is her life’s calling.” Claudia had spoken to Mirage when she was looking into crafting an official policy to put brothels under governmental purview. Mirage claimed that even if she’d been born into a wealthy house, she would have eventually become a courtesan. She considered it philanthropy. She loved being intimate with others and took pride in her work. “People with complex circumstances visit her workplace. She said she finds value in interacting with them and bringing them relief from their outside woes.”

Claudia had thought Mirage had no other choice, since she was born into the slums. It was true that her circumstances left her with few options, but Mirage was the one who ultimately chose to enter the brothel. No one else had forced her into it. She had been there ever since, long enough for the other ladies there to lovingly refer to her as “Mom.”

“Most people can’t put themselves in the shoes of someone doing that work. She has a unique way of thinking, but she’s not the only one,” said Claudia.

“Indeed? Most illuminating. I would never have known that if you hadn’t told me,” Sylvester said honestly.

“It’s not something one can openly discuss, but I’m glad I was able to share her story with you.”

If Claudia had told anyone else, they probably would have scorned Mirage as a sex-crazed harlot. Each time Claudia saw clients in the lobby post-coitus, openly disparaging courtesans, she was tempted to ask them who the real sex-crazed harlot was. Of course, each client had their own unique circumstances. Maybe some who acted like a miserable prick in public were actually genuine and vulnerable with their courtesan of choice. A good number of Claudia’s own clients had been terrible at expressing themselves properly.

Claudia once again felt grateful to Sylvester for reading her intentions and accepting the information she offered without discrimination or judgment. She would be the first to admit he was a bit extreme when it came to her, but as for policy and governance, no one was more reliable. Claudia even loved him for his shortcomings.

She leaned closer to him.

“What is it?” he asked.

“I’m just so happy to be walking beside you.”

“I feel the same. Not that I’m eager to let other people see you, but I can stomach it since it’s an opportunity to show off our relationship.”

Claudia’s brows rose. “That’s what’s been on your mind this whole time?”

Sylvester nodded, unashamed. “I enjoy looking at you more than I do any of these paintings.” His honey-gold eyes met hers, and Claudia was speechless. “Though I wouldn’t mind a few of them if they complemented your beauty.”

His words reminded her of the painting she saw at the entrance. I wonder if he pictured me in some of these settings the way I did with him.

People had different ways of enjoying art. Some were captivated by the works themselves, while others were more interested in the history behind them or the intricacies of artistic techniques. There was no right answer. Or maybe it was better to say every answer was right.

“Have you found any you’re interested in, Syl?”

“Whichever one has captured your interest the most.”

Claudia smiled at that. “Then that would be you. I imagine you in each piece I look at.”

His golden eyes widened a fraction. “I didn’t expect you to say something so romantic.”

She snickered. “Maybe I’ve gotten a little tipsy off all these paintings. Each one whispers to me that you’re the most beautiful thing here.”

“Please don’t steal my lines.”

They were both being uncharacteristically sentimental. Claudia experienced such a sense of euphoria that she genuinely wondered if she was inebriated. She and Sylvester continued whispering sweet nothings until they happened to pass by Mirage a second time. This time, the older courtesan shot her a look that wasn’t at all alluring—merely exasperated.

Afterword

Afterword

 

HI, IT’S ME, BAKUFU NARAYAMA, the author who got carried away and bought the season pass for the Vissel Kobe team. I suck at sports myself, but I love watching them. I haven’t been able to attend any of the events in my local area, but I do cheer for my hometown team, Nara Club.

Unrelated to that, as you may see in my end-of-book author’s note, I absolutely love horror and the occult. What about you, dear reader? I personally prefer watching movies over reading books when it comes to horror. My favorite Japanese horror titles are The Ring and The Inerasable. For Western horror, I love Happy Death Day and The Pope’s Exorcist. As for books, I prefer ones with a creepy vibe; I find the works by Riku Onda-sensei and Midori Tateyama-sensei particularly enjoyable.

Lately I’ve gotten into Gou Watanabe-sensei’s manga adaptations of Lovecraft’s work. At the Mountains of Madness was a particularly good one. I’m a big fan of Cthulhu.

I feel like I’ve gotten to enjoy more occult-type stuff in video games. I really liked Paranormasight. I first discovered Nyarlathotep through Persona 2. You guys should try both Innocent Sin and Eternal Punishment.

I also enjoy watching horror livestreams. I use them as background noise while I’m doing house chores. It’s a shame I can’t do that while I’m writing, but it’s fair game when I’m drawing.

I think I just like the unique atmosphere that the horror genre has. That feeling of unease that slips into your daily life. The fear, the insanity, the thrill. I normally spend most of my time in other genres, which is why it’s sometimes nice to have a change of pace and immerse myself in horror.

The main focus of this volume was Claudia’s princess training, but the reason the occult played such a huge part was because I really love horror as a genre. I mostly read fantasy, isekai romance, mystery, and BL. I’d love to talk more about that if I have an opportunity in the future.

Oh, right! This series has an audiobook now! Aw, man. There’s just not enough space here for me to gush about it. I’ll write more about my impressions on my social media. The voice actor for the book is incredible! I’m so happy my series has been blessed with the opportunity to become an audiobook.

I would like to thank all my readers and family for their support, and my publisher for helping this work make it to print. I hope everyone will continue to support me in the future. I pray we will meet again soon, dear reader.

 

Yours,

BAKUFU NARAYAMA

 

From the Creators

FROM THE AUTHOR

Bakufu Narayama

I love horror and the occult. I especially find novels with dark, spooky vibes to be super cozy. I’m delighted to be able to include similar elements in my work. At the same time, it makes me wanna read more myself. I’ll try to do that!

 

 

 

FROM THE ILLUSTRATOR

Ebisushi

I love these adorable scenes between Claudia and Helen and couldn’t stop myself from grinning as I illustrated them: Claudia comforting a terrified Helen after they witnessed a ghost together, and Helen shouting at Mirage to stop her from going further when she’s clinging to Claudia.