A Marriage Alliance for Revenge - Chapter 23

“They’re departing.”

 

Before Briella, who was sitting in front of the thick-curtained window, a cup of warm tea was placed.

 

Despite more than half of the mansion’s guards having disappeared, not a hint of their absence could be felt.

 

Superficially, it was a journey to suppress the rebellious forces that threatened the safety of the empire.

 

But there was no usual farewell or expected departure ceremony.

 

Like any other time, this affair was supposed to end quietly, to be off the books.

 

Briella clenched her fist in rising anger, causing the fabric of her dress to crumple mercilessly in her hand.

 

“Madam.”

 

Vinter cautiously called out to Briella.

 

Although it was worth taking one last glance at Lucas leaving through the window, Briella stubbornly refused to draw the curtains.

As Lucas had said, their parting ended with Lucas leaving the room.

 

But to say there was no regret would be a lie.

 

Briella oddly couldn’t bring herself to step outside the door, as if Lucas had drawn a line at that point, as if a boundary was set.

 

Barely steadying herself at Vinter’s summons, Briella replied in a subdued voice.

 

“Thank you.”

 

The voice corroded by anger was distinctly different from her usual tone. Vinter carefully observed this change in Briella’s demeanor.

 

Before leaving.

 

Lucas’s words of advice echoed in her ears.

 

‘Do not forget that you are a duchess.’

 

‘Your Highness?’

 

‘Give me time to prove myself before you start doubting. It’s only been a few months.’

 

Meow-

 

A white cat emerged from behind the thick curtain, pushing its way through. It had gained some weight and its coat was pristinely white.

 

It was Rica, having hidden behind the curtain for quite some time.

 

It was as if Rica was watching Lucas leave in place of Briella.

 

“Rica.”

 

Meow-

 

Rica responded to Briella’s call with a meow.

 

Briella stroked the silky fur. The plump white cat rested its head on Briella’s palm.

 

Meow-

 

“Yes. Now I must prepare as well.

Her grip tightened as she petted Rica.

 

It was an utterly incomprehensible situation where the husband was leaving to exterminate the rebels in the early morning, while the wife was going to meet the emperor.

 

But as Lucas had said, there are times when the obvious is not so obvious.

 

“Rica, you should rest more too.”

 

Briella embraced Rica and placed her back down before rising from her seat.

 

Rica flicked her head and licked Briella’s hand. Seeing this, Briella turned around and looked at Vinter.

 

“I must prepare for the visit to the palace.”

 

“Please wait a moment.”

 

Vinter slightly bowed his head and stepped back.

 

In the silence of the solitary room, Briella closed her eyes. The familiar darkness enveloped her.

 

In the familiar darkness, Briella felt a sense of comfort.

 

With thoughts of Lucas, the only man left, Briella took a deep breath. His scent, lingering in the air, permeated her nostrils.

 

It was the moment when Briella, tracing Lucas’s footsteps, reaffirmed her determination.

 

“Madam.”

 

At the call of the steward, Briella rose from her seat.

 

Meow-

 

Rica, who had slipped out of the house, followed Briella with a long meow. The swaying white tail filled Lucas’s vacant spot.

 

****

 

“Welcome, Duchess Viterpan.”

 

As the carriage came to a stop, the butler greeted Briella with an umbrella. Briella glanced at him briefly, noting his markedly, different formal demeanor from when she first saw him at the funeral.

 

The butler, holding a black umbrella, extended his hand.

 

“…”

 

Briella, looking down at the palace butler, elegantly placed her gloved hand on his.

 

“It is an honor to see you again.”

 

“You should hold the umbrella more properly.”

 

Briella frowned at the butler, who bowed his head. It had been raining harder since they got off the carriage for some reason.

 

Raindrops hit the ground and splashed back up, staining the hem of Briella’s dress.

 

“I apologize.”

 

If it hadn’t been a direct order from Emperor Gusto, the palace butler would not have intervened in such a trivial welcoming.

 

‘Arrogant woman.’

 

The butler bowed his head and bit his lip. Although he said “Duchess,” she might as well be just another lady of the emperor, no different from the emperor’s lady.

 

Wasn’t she here now, to run errands for the emperor?

 

It was absurd for her to command him without realizing the situation. But he couldn’t be disgruntled in front of her face.

 

Anyway, she was the guest who came with the emperor’s invitation in her hand.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

Briella arrogantly raised her chin and spoke naturally.

 

In response to her arrogance, the butler’s jaw stiffened, but he tilted the umbrella towards Briella without a word and started walking.

 

The pouring rain completely drenched one of the butler’s shoulders. Feeling his body getting wet in the cold rain, the butler silently chuckled to himself.

 

Now it was quite amusing to think about how the face of the arrogant little duchess, who raised her chin so proudly, would change in a little while.

 

As they entered the palace, a puddle formed beneath their feet in no time.

 

Brushing off the wet hem of her dress in irritation, Briella gestured disapprovingly at the butler.

 

“Yes?”

 

“Can’t you see that my dress is wet? Surely, you’re not suggesting that I meet His Majesty like this?”

 

“Ah, please wait a moment.”

 

With a composed tone, slightly lowered eyes, and graceful gestures, even the experienced butler was flustered. He quickly gestured to the maids by his side.

 

The unexpected situation had equally taken the maids by surprise.

 

In the gaze of the unbelievable Duchess from the northern countryside, the handmaids exchanged glances.

 

“How much longer must we wait?”

 

The butler’s face turned pale at the subtle urging.

 

Merely escorting Duchess Viterpan and placing her before the emperor was the priority.

 

They had never anticipated such a variable to arise halfway through.

 

“Please come inside for now.”

 

At the butler’s gesture, two handmaids followed behind Briella. The steward headed for the nearest antechamber.

 

“Please have a seat here for a moment.”

 

As Briella sat down on the indicated chair, the handmaids rushed over eagerly.

 

Briella clicked her tongue as she watched the handmaids press towels against the muddy hem of her dress.

 

It was futile to try and remove the stains from the ivory lace dress.

 

Inwardly, Briella sneered at such handmaids. It was a deliberately chosen dress to match the dark storm clouds.

 

The expressions of the handmaids, who were fussing over the dress, grew increasingly serious.

 

Briella, too, revealed her restlessness by purposefully glancing at the clock on the wall.

 

“It seems we can no longer keep His Majesty waiting.”

 

“I apologize.”

 

The butler bowed his head.

 

In the meantime, the whereabouts of the butler, who seemed to have disappeared, remained unseen.

 

Briella rose from her seat and elegantly surveyed the people gathered around her.

 

“I, I shall attend to her.”

 

In place of the butler, a vigilant figure—a steward stepped forward with a smirk.

 

They soon arrived at the emperor’s reception room after passing through a long corridor.

 

It was a space belonging solely to the emperor, unlike the times when Briella had visited during Olivia’s reign.

 

The steward who had escorted Briella had hoped to meet with the butler throughout the journey, but such an event did not take place.

 

He raised his trembling hand and lightly knocked on the reception room door.

 

Tap, tap.

 

The door opened slightly as if it had heard the soft knocking sound.

 

“I have brought Duchess Viterpan with me.”

 

“Oh dear.”

 

The face of the steward, upon seeing Briella’s expression, contorted.

 

He displayed a nervous countenance in response to the consecutive unforeseen events.

 

He was an ill-suited person for the position of the palace steward.

 

The presence of an ill-suited person in an ill-suited position was due to Gusto’s whims rather than the steward’s qualifications.

 

Briella responded with a cold smile towards the steward who furrowed his brow and glared at her.

 

In the midst of the confrontation between the two, Briella stood awkwardly as the mediator.

 

“Who is it?”

 

The confrontation between the steward and Briella did not last long.

 

The steward closed his eyes tightly and opened them at the sound of Gusto’s voice from within.

 

Soon, the sound of conversation could be heard from inside, and the door swung wide open.

 

“Please come in.”

 

A faint anger was evident in the steward’s voice as he conveyed the message.

 

Briella gathered her dress slightly and walked into the reception room.

 

“The Duchess has arrived.”

 

“I am honored to meet His Imperial Majesty, the radiant sun of the Empire. May the blessings of the goddess be with you.”

 

Eve, who had been nestled in Gusto’s arms, pursed her lips upon seeing Briella, who bowed her head.

 

“You are late, my lady.”

 

Eve’s melodious voice resounded in the office. However, Briella remained silent, still bowing her head and waiting for Gusto’s permission.

 

“Oh, the Duchess is as dignified as the Duke. Please rise.”

 

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

 

Eve’s face contorted with anger, but Briella stood tall, pretending not to notice, and looked at the Emperor.

 

“Please escort the Duchess to her seat.”

 

Upon Gusto’s command, the steward approached Briella. His designated position was opposite to where Gusto and Eve were sitting.

 

The two still had a good relationship. Especially Eve, who was snugly attached to Gusto’s side, caressing his arm.

 

As if displaying it.

 

While observing Gusto and Eve in front of her, Briella noticed the arrival of a teacup. As the golden tea filled the cup, the scent of roses filled the air.

 

The sudden strong scent of roses was nauseating.

 

“Please drink.”

 

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

 

Briella leisurely lifted the teacup, trying not to wrinkle her face from the overpowering scent of roses that tickled her nostrils.

 

Gusto’s sharp gaze followed Briella’s relaxed demeanor.

 

His eyes, sharp as a snake eyeing its prey, made her breath catch.

 

In the end, the rose tea did not pass through Briella’s throat.

 

She managed to moisten her lips and set the teacup down, and Gusto smiled at her.

 

“The more I see the Duchess, the more remarkable she becomes.”

 

“What are you saying?”

 

Briella’s eyelashes fluttered like butterflies. Gusto, who had been lounging on the sofa, immediately straightened up at the subtle movement.

 

“Your Majesty?”

 

Eve, who was nestled halfway in Gusto’s arms, reacted differently to his change with a different complexion.

 

“I’d believe it if you were a noble lady of high rank in the capital, rather than a northern village girl.”

 

“This is thanks to the guidance of my fine teacher, Your Majesty.”

 

The emerald green irises beneath slightly lowered eyebrows darkened as if swallowing the light.

 

“By fine teacher, do you mean Duke Viterpan?”

 

“Yes, indeed, Your Majesty.”

 

A rose-colored flush appeared on Briella’s answering face, revealing an upward curve of her lips and the hues of early spring in her eyes.

 

‘The color of her eyes…’

 

Gusto’s eyes narrowed slightly at Briella’s irises, which changed color depending on the light.

 

It was a familiar gaze, as if seen somewhere before.

 

“I see.”

 

“…”

 

Gusto nodded slowly.

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

Eve grabbed Gusto’s arm and shook it, her gaze constantly directed towards Briella.

 

The sight overlapped with the image of Rica waiting for her in the mansion.

 

‘She’s like a mischievous cat.’

 

With a smile on his face, Gusto lightly pinched Eve’s nose before releasing it.

 

In response, Eve playfully rubbed her face against Gusto’s hand as if she were a cat.

 

If the onlooker hadn’t been Briella, they might have smiled at the lovely sight of two lovers.

 

However, in front of Briella, they were an adulterous couple.

 

It was Gusto who had arranged for Eve to be seated there, even changing the law for her.

 

As someone who knew every detail from start to finish, Briella found their actions amusing.

 

“Ah, to display such behavior in front of a guest.”

 

Briella lowered her gaze at Gusto’s words.

 

‘Look at this.’

 

Gusto wore a peculiar smile at Briella’s indifferent expression, which neither denied nor affirmed.

 

Briella’s appearance kept overlapping with a strangely familiar figure.

 

Feeling inexplicably restless, Gusto pulled Eve closer and embraced her.

 

“Oops!”

 

Startled by the sudden movement, Eve let out a scream, then burst into hearty laughter.

 

It was a laughter reminiscent of a child who had received abundant love.

 

“There’s simply no unattractive place on you, so what can I do about it?”

 

Watching Gusto press his lips against Eve’s forehead, Briella smiled slyly.

 

The two of them seemed to have forgotten that Briella was in front of them.

 

Especially Eve, who had her arm around Gusto’s neck, was looking at him with an intense gaze.

 

She seemed ready to crawl onto his lap at any moment.

 

Thud!

 

Briella deliberately made a noise as she lifted the teacup. She had no desire to drink the rose-scented tea that resembled Eve.

 

But what she disliked even more was witnessing the scene unfolding before her eyes, the sight of the two people.

 

At present, Briella’s status was that of a duchess.

 

No matter how powerful an emperor may be, he would not engage in the scandalous act of caressing a mistress’s body in the presence of a duchess.

 

If Briella were an ordinary noblewoman of the Rhone Empire, Gusto could merely disregard her. Yet Gusto was now dealing with Duke Viterpan’s lady.

 

At the sound of the clinking teacup, Gusto released Eve from his embrace.

 

Eve, who had been freed from his arms, glared at Briella as if she were ready to kill her, disapproving of the situation.