A Marriage Alliance for Revenge - Chapter 42

“Indeed, as you say.”

 

A brief flicker of disdain crossed Lucas’s face as he watched Eve scurry away from the window.

 

“Well, a woman’s mind is more complicated than I thought. I’ll have to dig deeper into that someday.”

 

Briella smirked and looked up at Lucas.

 

‘Jealousy.’

 

After sending away Eve, who had arrived early in the morning, Briella’s tale was intriguing but filled with incomprehensible elements.

 

Their clasped hands trembled lightly.

 

It was impossible to tell who initiated it.

 

Walking out of the small farmstead, they flaunted their intertwined hands and greeted people as they made their way here.

 

As Lucas neared the inn where Eve was staying, he stopped in his tracks.

 

Looking down at Briella, Lucas swept her hair behind her ear.

 

“This should be sufficient, I believe.”

 

“Yes, that seems adequate.”

 

Catching a glimpse of the shadow flickering behind the curtain, Briella agreed with Lucas’s words.

 

“It’s truly unfathomable. That such actions could sway Lady Eve.”

 

Following Briella’s gaze, Lucas shook his head almost resignedly.

 

While her plans made sense logically, they failed to resonate emotionally.

 

“The human heart changes a dozen times a day, Your Highness, especially for someone like Lady Eve, who is unsettled in her position.”

 

From a distance, they appeared to be a lovely couple, but their conversations were anything but intimate.

 

“It is an honor that my companionship has aided your plans.”

 

“Not at all. Have you forgotten what you said this morning, Your Highness?”

 

“What?”

 

“We are already a pair of deceivers.”

 

At Briella’s words, Lucas let out a deep sigh, shoulders tense.

 

“I long to return to our home in the capital.”

 

From the unexpected variables in their journey away from the capital, it seemed disruptions continued to follow them.

 

Almost as if someone was interfering with their affairs.

 

Or more precisely, with their meeting.

 

From the moment they left the capital, unexpected variables kept following them.

 

It was as if someone was interfering with their work.

 

Or, more precisely, a meeting between two people.

 

“It’s regrettable to consider ourselves deceivers, but I’m afraid there’s no going back for both of us.”

 

Lucas resumed the halted steps.

 

His plans to simply catch Eve’s eye were being re-calibrated in his every step.

 

As they neared the inn, more onlookers gathered, their whispering growing louder.

 

Before they knew it, Lucas and Briella had arrived in front of the inn where Eve stayed, raising their clasped hands.

 

In the shadow of the setting sun, enveloped by Lucas’s elongated shadow, Briella gazed at him pensively.

 

“If we are deceiving, let us do it properly.”

 

“…There is already an abundance of it.”

 

Briella raised only the corners of her mouth, exerting force in the held hand.

 

Soft murmurs filled the air.

 

The intense scrutiny from both sides made their cheeks burn.

 

Though Perta had been quiet, much had already transpired, and to the villagers, the presence of Briella and Lucas was a marvel in itself.

 

Especially thanks to Briella’s immediate presence, the attention directed towards the two was remarkable.

 

Moreover, the love story of Briella and Lucas, quietly spreading from the capital, was the talk of the town among the young people.

 

“This is all a ruse to deceive others.”

 

Lucas lightly shook the hand held aloft.

 

In the chilly winter breeze, hands flushed with warmth caught the eye.

 

“….”

 

“This is deceiving me.”

 

The sensation of moist lips touched Briella’s hand.

 

With lips pressed to her hand, Lucas locked eyes with Briella and closed his eyes.

 

It was Briella who was taken aback as his black pupils vanished from view.

 

‘Deceiving me.’

 

Echoing in her ears like a haunting melody, Lucas’s voice resounded.

 

Instead of pulling away the caught hand, Briella raised a crow’s foot.

 

Then, pressing her lips onto the back of Lucas’s hand, facing towards him.

 

At that moment, a slight twitch in Lucas’s hand was felt.

 

“Oh my!”

 

Onlookers turned their heads, gasping in awe.

 

But the heart of the protagonist, Briella, remained cold.

 

The hand clasped between the two was the line he had drawn.

 

A line never to be crossed.

 

“I never knew I harbored the qualities of such a deceiver.”

 

“Congratulations on discovering yet another talent.”

 

As the lips parted and the hands released, they still gazed at each other.

 

“Until later.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Even after the brief farewell, Lucas did not show his back.

 

“Aren’t you leaving?”

 

“Baron tossed me a book and said never to turn your back on a lady when parting.”

 

Briella chuckled and nodded at Lucas’s words.

 

“If you insist, I’ll go in first.”

 

At Briella’s words, Lucas lightly nodded.

 

Turning her back slowly and taking heavy steps forward.

 

With each step taken, he made a vow.

 

“This is my role now.”

 

Standing at the entrance, Briella took a deep breath.

 

Then she turned around.

 

Lucas still stood in that spot.

 

Briella slowly raised her hand.

 

The hand wrapped in white bandages tingled with pain, yet Briella smiled.

 

In the breaking laughter, Lucas too raised his hand and lightly shook it.

 

It was a farewell more poignant than the one in the capital.

 

“Sigh-“

 

A sense of emptiness, as if something significant had transpired, washed over her belatedly.

 

Briella climbed the wooden stairs before her, trying to shake off the image of Lucas waving to her, but the memory persisted.

 

The parting at the deserted mansion in the capital, with no spectators, was dull and harsh.

 

“Let’s say goodbye here.”

 

In the contemplation of greetings exchanged at the manor in the capital, Briella arrived at the entrance where Eve resided.

 

Barely collecting herself, Briella was on the verge of knocking.

 

A soft tap.

 

“Welcome. Duchess.”

 

Before she could knock, Briella awkwardly lowered the hand she had raised to the already open door.

 

“Hello. Lady Lawrence.”

 

Lady Lawrence, with a strained smile in response to Briella’s greeting, sidestepped.

 

At her gesture, Briella moved closer.

 

“You are here early.”

 

Eve’s greeting carried a hint of impatience.

 

“Compared to Lady Eve’s visiting hours, it is indeed a markedly late hour.”

 

“Truly displeasing.”

 

“I concur.”

 

In a low voice, Eve muttered a curse in response to Briella’s words.

 

No one offered a seat for the Duchess’s visit.

 

Briella wandered around the room before settling at a table near the window.

 

As Briella sat down, Eve promptly took a seat opposite her.

 

There was still a lingering displeasure on their faces.

 

“You spoke of urgent matters and even made a surprise visit at dawn. What is the matter then?”

 

“Duchess Viterpan.”

 

At Eve’s mention, Briella blinked and tilted her head.

 

Eve’s face flushed at the arrogance, closing her eyes momentarily and then opening them.

 

In front of her, Briella was still watching her, her gaze downcast.

 

“It seems to me that the noble Duchess has forgotten why she came to Perta, and is only playing at love.”

 

“‥‥‥.”

 

“Aren’t we the ones who have come to the aid of the peasants of Perta by the Emperor’s generous will, but you seem to think I don’t know anything about this. You yourself, told me to think of the starving peasants.”

 

As the impassioned tone continued, it gradually settled into a calm demeanor.

 

Eve was seemingly pleased with her own arguments, as pride subtly appeared on Eve’s face upon finishing speaking.

 

Instead of replying, Briella extended her bandaged hand towards Eve.

 

Instantly, Eve’s face turned as cold as ice.

 

“I know very well why I came to Perta. The night that Lady Eve collapsed from shock, I still tented with the peasants and boiled soup, all the while having suffered from profuse bleeding.”

 

“‥‥‥.”

 

“After Lady Eve came to her senses, I withdrew myself from the scene, lest there be any misunderstanding. What more was I to do?”

 

Neither Eve nor the Countess of Lawrence opened their mouths to answer Briella’s question.

 

Furthermore, not only the two of them but also the peasants and those who had come with them from the Imperial Court had witnessed the entire ordeal.

 

“You came to assist me, did you not? If so, you should have stood by my side.”

 

At the unreasonable insistence, Briella sighed.

 

“Ha… Did I not guard Lady Eve’s side?”

 

At Briella’s words, Eve vigorously nodded.

 

“Who was the one who stayed by your side all the way up the hill amid battle?”

 

At Briella’s inquiry, Eve pursed her lips and fell silent.

 

“And who was the one who didn’t let go of your hand until the end?”

 

“Whom was that?”

 

“The one who wrapped your shoulders during that chaos and even accompanied you to the summit?”

 

“…”

 

Gracefully, Briella raised her injured arm and placed it on the table.

 

Eve’s gaze fell on the bandaged arm.

 

“That was to be expected of you!”

 

Eve exclaimed in a tone tinged with anger.

 

“I came here to assist you in the name of Viterpan. Isn’t that only natural?”

 

“Are you thinking of defying the Emperor’s command in the name of Viterpan? Ha!”

 

Eve raised one corner of her mouth, smiling maliciously.

 

The sound of Eve’s laughter flowed through her slightly parted lips.

 

Briella pretended not to see the shadow hastily hiding between the open doors.

 

“Are you planning to disgrace the Rhone Empire?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

Briella let out a blatant sigh.

 

Her slightly lowered eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings.

 

“Never in a thousand years of history has a duchess assisted an emperor in his government.”

 

“What, what!”

 

At the new tone, Briella furrowed her brow and closed her eyes.

 

Even in that moment, her demeanor exuded grace.

 

Seated with the sunlight on her back, Briella’s long shadow reached Eve’s feet.

 

“Do you truly wish to become an Empress?”

 

“What!?”

 

Eve, who had been about to retort, swallowed her words at Briella’s cold gaze.

 

“I can tell by the look on your face that you realize you’ve been pushing your luck, how fortunate.”

 

Briella sat calmly, adjusting the hem of her dress.

 

She then looked at Lady Lawrence, who had been fidgeting by her side earlier.

 

“Why did you come looking for me at dawn?”

 

Lady Lawrence, caught in the situation where Lady Eve was thoroughly excluded, seemed at a loss in the midst.

 

“Lady Lawrence. If I take action here, both you and the one you serve will be in even greater trouble.”

 

Briella reached out her hand towards Lady Lawrence.

 

Lady Lawrence bit her lip, looking at Eve.

 

“Well, I… “

 

Lady Lawrence, meeting Eve’s gaze, seemed unsure what to do.

 

“…Bring the documents to the Duchess Viterpan.”

 

Lady Lawrence exhaled the breath she had been holding.

 

Eve, who had been watching Briella intently, took a deep breath.

 

Her chest rose and fell continuously.

 

Her face was filled with discontent.

 

Suppressing the anger she held within, her flushed face had not yet cooled.

 

‘It seems that the Empress position is quite tempting.’

 

Briella smiled faintly.

 

“Shall we go together, Lady Eve?”

 

“Not together, I will be the one doing it.”

 

“Ah! Are you trying to take action?”

 

Briella’s head moved slowly up and down.

 

Eve’s confident stance did not elicit a smile.

 

“Isn’t the Duchess Viterpan here by my side for that very purpose?”

 

“…It seems you’ve finally decided to do something properly.”

 

Eve swiftly turned her head at Briella’s words.

 

Her turned face was as beautiful as a sculpture.

 

The interplay of her tousled red hair and golden irises was enough to even impress Briella, a woman herself.

 

Briella remembered the moment she had held Eve’s hand.

 

‘You must survive until the end. Watch closely how I bring about your downfall.’

 

After gazing at Eve for a while, Briella lowered her eyes.

 

The quill pen in Briella’s hand moved slowly.

 

“Go find a woman named Emma. Make soup with corn and potatoes, send beef jerky to those who went to repair the dyke.”

 

“Lady Lawrence!”

 

“Please do it yourself, Lady Eve.”

 

Upon Briella’s words, Eve glared at her.

 

Her golden irises sparkled as they reflected the sunlight.

 

The slight hint of moisture in her eyes, paired with the dots beneath them, was enchanting.

 

“Am I to do it myself?”

 

As if it were absurd, Lady Eve frowned.

 

“Preparing the bread may be a servant’s task, but distributing it is the duty of a noblewoman or a lady. You are aware of that, aren’t you?”

 

At Briella’s words, Eve’s face contorted.

 

“There is no need to frown like that. I am merely reminding you due to your repeated forgetfulness.”

 

Briella’s face, radiantly smiling, was breathtakingly beautiful.