Chapter 71

 9 – Marianne’s Truth – 10

 

We were about to welcome my stepmother (aunt) and stepbrother (cousin) into our home, but there were quite a few obstacles, and things didn't go smoothly at all.

Given the circumstances, this was to be expected, but it's quite strange that, despite how similar they look, some people have begun to doubt the blood relationship between my father and Wilheim.

 

It might simply be that he wanted to stop my father from taking a second wife, but when I heard that an Earl from another important family had pointed out, "Isn't he just a look-alike?" I was utterly astonished. That person really has bad eyesight.

It's rare for two people to look this much alike.

However, it seems that in high society, there are few people who consider Wilheim to be my father's real son, so it can't be helped. (In reality, that's the case, so perhaps he actually does have a good eye.)

 

There are other things that are bothering me.

 

It seems the servants in our household have complicated feelings about Cynthia and Wilheim, and they are somewhat distant towards them. Of course, no one shows it openly; they understand their position.

Nevertheless, there was an atmosphere that was more than enough to suggest they found it difficult to accept the two of them.

 

Cynthia was seeking instruction from a teacher to learn the ways of a noblewoman, but innate qualities are difficult to acquire later in life. From what I could see, she was struggling.

I wanted to stay as close as possible and teach her what I understood.

I myself am not the type to learn and memorize things; I tend to do things intuitively, so I struggled to guide her in situations where logic was required.

Regarding manners and conduct, in particular, is difficult to explain verbally.

 

Meanwhile, Wilheim is currently learning from father as his successor. His constant following of the head of the family is endearing, but he's far too young to venture into the adult world. I pointed this out, but my opinion was ignored. It seems my father is teaching him everything step by step.

Or maybe, I wonder if he's simply happy to have a son.

Indeed, Wilheim is adorable.

My younger brother, who hasn't even started school yet, is incredibly busy, and we haven't had time to talk properly.

 

I knew the steward seemed to be quite concerned about him, and I wanted to confirm that, but I haven't even had a chance to see him.

 

Everything was at a standstill.

 

It was around that time that I met Ilya in town.

 

It all started when I wanted to get a gift for Cynthia.

She'd been a bit down lately, perhaps because something unpleasant had happened in her etiquette class, so I wanted to find something to cheer her up.

I also considered that she, being from the city, might actually miss the town. Therefore, I thought something that would evoke nostalgia for her former surroundings might be a good idea, and decided to stop by a shop on my way home from the academy.

 

I stepped out of the carriage and walked with my guards.

I looked around at the various shops lining the wide street, glancing at them through the glass windows.

Normally, merchants who frequent the house bring their goods to the mansion. They line up in the reception room, so it's rare for us to go out to the shops like this.

Even so...

When I was a child, my mother often took me out for study.

On those days, when we returned to the mansion, my father would usually ask, “Did you have fun?” But I think deep down he didn't approve of us going out. I remember him looking a little stern.

It wasn't because he wanted to confine his spouse to the mansion or had any other biased views.

 

Simply put, it was dangerous for a noblewoman to walk alone. He was also apparently worried about having a young child like me with her. My father is the type of person who wants to wrap my mother and me in soft cotton and keep us locked away in a treasure chest.

He is extremely cautious and completely protective when it comes to his family. It was quite amusing to see such a different side of him compared to when he makes ruthless decisions as the head of the household.

 

---That bonnet is lovely.

 

I came to find something for Cynthia, but I couldn't help but let out a sigh of admiration.

The merchants who frequent our home know my and my parents' tastes well, so they select and bring items that are likely to please us from the start. And indeed, I generally like them. However, conversely, there's nothing particularly surprising, so I felt a little underwhelmed.

They rarely bring any real bargains.

Of course, they only bring things they know have value. But that's a little less interesting.

Walking around town is much more enjoyable because you can see trendy items regardless of your personal preferences.

 

I was excited and thrilled all by myself. I walked with a calm expression, trying to suppress those feelings.

Although my escort knight was by my side, he only spoke when necessary. He was quiet, and if he judged there was no danger, he would move a little distance away, so I didn't have to draw attention to myself.

 

It was almost as if I were walking alone.

 

Being completely alone is surprisingly rare.

At the academy, friends are always by my side, and at the mansion, maids follow me around. There's always a servant in the corner of my eye, so opportunities to be completely alone are rare.

 

As I walked along, lost in thought, I saw a familiar figure a few meters ahead.

 

---It was Ilya.

 

Unlike me, she seems to have returned to her mansion before going out, as she's dressed more formally than when she's at the academy. Her dress is a little brighter than usual. It's almost dazzling.

She's wearing a wide-brimmed bonnet, so it was hard to recognize her as Ilya.

But it is Ilya.

Her back is straight, and her waist is slender. She walks silently and quietly. Her dress is not flashy, but elegant.

The person nearby is probably her guard. He is watching over her from a distance that is neither too close nor too far.

 

I breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that she was being cherished.

 

I can't help but remember Ilya and her mother from those days when I was little. Her mother's stern tone and harsh gaze.

Ilya must have played her heart out, yet there wasn't a single word of praise.

If only there had been even one word of compliment, I wouldn't be so bothered.

Having grown up feeling loved, I found it strange that her mother treated her so coldly. I wondered if maybe she was always like that.

 

She seems to be allowed to walk around town, and she even has a proper escort.

 

For some reason, I thought of Ruby, who had no choice but to marry and move far away.

You can't judge other people's family relationships from the outside. Only the person themselves knows the depth of their relationships and the inner workings of their family.

Perhaps Ilya is more cherished than I realize. Surely, that's it.

 

And then, at that moment...

Perhaps I had been staring too much, because she suddenly turned around.

Our eyes met, as if there was a snapping sound.

It was difficult to tell because the brim of her hat cast a shadow over her eyes, but I'm sure our eyes met. Her lips formed a small, yet clear, “ah” shape.

 

“Lady Marianne.”

 

I hoped she wouldn't notice me because if our eyes met, I'd be overjoyed. And if that happened, I'd be irresistibly drawn to her.

---My father's strict orders not to get too close to Ilya were still in effect.

But this time, it couldn't be helped.

We hadn't planned this, we hadn't arranged to meet; we'd just happened to run into each other, so there was no way to avoid it. Therefore, I couldn't help but say hello. ...I rationalized to myself.

 

“Greetings, Lady Ilya,” I said, and she curtsied in response, looking somewhat bewildered.

This was the first time we'd had a proper conversation like this since that argument involving Soleil.

 

Even during the time I was keeping my distance from Ilya, I certainly never forgot about her. I tried to talk to her several times, but then I remembered what Ruby had warned me.

“Even if you apologize, it won't get through to Lady Ilya,” she said.

That doesn't mean that anything I do is useless because Ilya is angry. I understand that much.

What Ruby had told me was that no matter how carefully and thoroughly I explained why I did what I did, Ilya wouldn't believe me.

As long as she mistakenly believes that I approached Soleil with ulterior motives, nothing I say will be accepted.

 

Because I completely trusted Ruby, I thought it best to keep my distance from Ilya and had been restraining myself. It's also true that I hoped we could talk someday.

However...

Ruby, my friend who gave me such sound advice, suddenly left. And then, the sudden tragedy that befell my family broke my heart.

In short, Ilya was pushed to the back of my mind.

 

It's incredibly selfish, and I'm ashamed of myself.

That's how profound the impact of my mother's death had.

 

“Are you shopping?” I asked casually, approaching her, and she nodded.

Our reflections in the shop window made my heart flutter a little.

 

“I came out thinking I'd give my little sister some sweets... but I'm not really up to the latest trends, so I'm not sure what to get...”

I hadn't expected to be able to have a conversation, so I was surprised at how naturally she turned to me.

It would be a shame for the conversation to end like this.

“Your sister...? You have a little sister?”

This was the first I'd heard of it.

Well, maybe there had been some rumor about it at the academy.

But I don't think it was anything particularly noteworthy to talk about.

 

“... ...Yes.”

 

She answered clearly, but there seemed to be an awkward pause.

“?” I took a step forward to get a better look at Ilya's face, but she subtly distanced herself.

It was sad to feel like she was avoiding me. Considering what I'd done, I had no choice but to force myself to accept it.

 

From now on, we probably wouldn't get any closer.

The feeling of exhilaration I'd felt just moments before, like floating in the air, was now fading away.

 

“Is there something you need, Lady Marianne?”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

I nodded repeatedly, relieved that the distance between us hadn't widened.

 

“Lady Ilya, you may not know this, but my father has remarried.”

“No, I know.”

 

She seems uninterested in other people, yet she's apparently well-informed about current events. Impressive.

This meant she must have heard about the embarrassing news concerning my family, and I felt both ashamed and awkward.

 

Cynthia is my uncle's wife, and Wilheim is not an illegitimate child. Yet, in the eyes of the world, Cynthia is merely a stepmother who entered our household after my mother's death, and Wilheim is an illegitimate child.

Their situation was far more difficult than I had imagined.

However,

 

“I came all this way because I wanted to bring a gift for my stepmother.”

 

I realize there's nothing to be ashamed of. Cynthia is truly a good person.

I felt that way when we first met, but since we started living together, I've been even more impressed by her honesty and dedication.

 

On her deathbed, my mother spoke of the gardener she had brought in.

I can't even begin to imagine what it was like for him to work as a servant in the upper class, but at the very least, life at the Earl's household must have been difficult.

Enough to run away.

The friction with the other servants could easily be dismissed as mere harassment, but strictly speaking, there was indeed a hierarchy among them. Not in terms of their roles, but in terms of the rank of the household they served.

Working for an Earl's household was prestigious in itself, so it was understandable that he, coming from a lower-ranking household, was viewed with suspicion.

 

That’s why it's understandable that the servants, who judge people by their social class, couldn't get along with Cynthia, who came from the common people to become their mistress.

 

...It's understandable, but... I couldn't just leave it alone, so I intervened.

But they didn't compromise... of course. The more I sided with her, the deeper the conflict became.

Here again, I was reminded of the limitations of my own influence.

It wasn't as simple as saying everything would be solved if I sided with Cynthia and Wilheim.

 

“...For your stepmother...? Is that so?’

Ilya, clearly surprised, gently covered her mouth.

She immediately uttered an apology, but I shook my head.

“That's right. It's strange, isn't it, since there's no blood relation,” I replied, realizing how rumors can easily be exaggerated.

Cynthia had, before I knew it, become the wicked woman who was trying to take over my household.

 

“...Since Lady Marianne is so concerned about her, she must be a wonderful person.”

 

Ilya's kind words lifted my spirits.

My heavy, sinking heart suddenly felt lighter.

 

 

 Chapter 70