Beneath the Surviving Princess's Joyful Facade - Chapter 59

“Because, well, I thought you two were closer than most couples since you’ve shared such deep secrets with each other. So it’s natural for him to be concerned when your former fiancé shows up,” Gella explained.

“……”

“And you didn’t tell him at all, did you? Of course, it’s hard to talk about such things with your husband. I’m not saying it was wrong not to tell him,” Gella added.

“I’m listening,” Miesa acknowledged with a nod.

“So, seeing the Captain of the Guard last time, he seemed to care a lot about you even without knowing your secret, didn’t he? He kept calling you ‘Lady Cladnier’ and trying not to show his feelings. It looked like he had strong feelings for you.”

“……”

“But he might have unknowingly done things that annoyed our lord. Anyway, it’s understandable that the lord could be upset,” Gella continued.

Hearing this from someone else’s perspective made Miesa realize for the first time that Eirik might indeed have reasons to be displeased. However, from Gella’s tone, it seemed it wasn’t something that should make Eirik so angry at her.

“It’s complicated,” Miesa sighed.

“There’s no perfect answer. But you must explain your situation to avoid misunderstandings,” Gella advised.

“What if I don’t explain?” Miesa asked.

“Didn’t the lord ask you? After that night, didn’t he ask you about it?” Gella questioned, surprised.

“…Yes, I think I didn’t answer him properly that day,” Miesa admitted, sounding uncertain.

At this, Gella jumped up.

“Oh no. That’s a disaster waiting to happen. Not explaining implies there’s something you can’t talk about—”

Exactly. This was the real issue. Miesa realized suddenly that the formal way of speaking wasn’t the key to seeing his smiling face again.

Seeing Miesa’s rigid expression, Gella felt more desperate.

“Why? Why couldn’t you answer him?”

“Because ‘there’s something that cannot be said,'” Miesa admitted.

“No way… young madam, are you saying… you have feelings for him?”

“Do I have feelings for him?” Miesa repeated, confused.

“Yes, I mean, do you think the Captain is handsome and exciting, someone you’d want to marry—”

“No,” Miesa replied firmly.

Gella felt a wave of relief wash over her.

“Okay, that’s good. Now let’s discuss this step by step, young madam,” Gella said, straightening up.

Miesa also adjusted her posture, sitting even more upright and listening intently to Gella.

“From the lord’s perspective, he agreed to an unwanted royal marriage… you know all this. But he has cared for you dearly and even took the risk of dealing with Mrs. Maleca. That was extremely dangerous!” Gella explained, gesticulating to emphasize the peril involved.

“Yet, he did it willingly to protect you. Now, imagine how he feels if you seem to be hiding something. The lord despises dishonesty,” Gella emphasized.

“I see.”

“He might forgive someone for being slow-witted and missing a report. But there was once a knight who made a mistake and tried to cover it up. The lord beheaded him immediately. And now, Mrs. Edil is locked up in the basement, the so-called penance room,” Gella continued, her own voice trembling slightly as she realized how close she herself might have come to serious trouble. She had been lucky to confess overhearing a conversation when she did; otherwise, things could have gone very badly.

“Anyway, let’s properly plan what to say to the lord,” Gella suggested.

***

“I was grateful when Your Grace immediately responded to my request the other day,” Eirik said as he visited the Salachez mansion under the pretense of sharing some newly acquired fine liquor and to say hello.

“Having you come all the way here in person, I am truly honored,” Doid Salachez replied with a broad smile, eager to show his hospitality.

For Duke Salachez, this visit was particularly significant. Not only was it the first visit from another noble house since he had become the head, but the visitor was none other than the heir to the prestigious House of Cladnier. It was a moment of pride he could not conceal from his attendants.

Eirik subtly signaled with a glance, and Cullen, who had accompanied him, handed over the gift box with impeccable precision. The Duke’s face lit up with anticipation.

“So, what exactly is this liquor? I must confess, I’m not very knowledgeable about these things,” the Duke admitted.

“It’s a type of liquor only found in our region. It’s made from frozen tree berries, which gives it a unique balance of sweetness and acidity,” Eirik explained.

“Is that so? Well then, shall we sample it right now?”

“Why not?” Eirik agreed.

“I’ll call for the chef to prepare some dishes that pair well with it. Fortunately, the chef my predecessor favored is still with us,” the Duke said, ringing a bell for his butler, who quickly appeared and then returned with the chef.

When the Duke opened the gift box, both the butler and the chef gasped in admiration.

“Is this Cladate? I haven’t seen this in years!” the butler exclaimed.

“Even the late Duke treasured this and drank it sparingly. I’ll prepare the meal immediately,” the chef said, delighted.

As they left to prepare, Eirik noticed a peculiar expression on the Duke’s face.

“What is it?” Eirik asked.

“It’s just that you make eye contact with your attendants so naturally,” the Duke said, seemingly amazed.

“It’s not something I do consciously, but yes, I do,” Eirik responded.

The Duke seemed intrigued. It wasn’t until they moved to the dining room and several rounds of drinks had been served that the Duke’s curiosity came to light.

“You mentioned this liquor isn’t well known in the capital, yet both the chef and the butler recognized it immediately,” the Duke noted, his face flushed from the alcohol.

“Lord Eirik, you consistently address me as ‘Your Grace,’ making sure I don’t feel out of place. You even described the liquor as obscure when everyone here knew what it was. What was it called again?”

“It’s called Cladate, named after our estate and a type of tree. By the way, could we ask the servants to leave us for a while? I’d like to discuss something privately,” Eirik suggested.

At Eirik’s polite request, the Duke signaled for the servants to leave, allowing them some privacy.

“I just find it hard to enjoy the drink with so many eyes on me,” Eirik explained.

“No, it’s probably because I’m about to make a fool of myself after having a few too many,” the Duke chuckled.

“Other nobles avoid dining with me because of my mixed heritage. It’s refreshing to be treated differently,” he added with a sigh, gripping his fork like a dagger and stabbing at a sausage with childlike glee.

“I hope you don’t mind if I skip a bit of the table manners. It’s been a rough time lately,” the Duke admitted.

“However one eats, it all ends up the same once it’s in your stomach. I’ve often had to roast and eat rabbits or small game with my hands while on the battlefield,” Eirik said with a reassuring smile.

“Haha, you have a way of making even the most practical advice sound noble,” the Duke laughed.

The irritable-looking Duke Salachez laughed as he stuffed a whole grilled sausage into his mouth without cutting it.

“I don’t even make eye contact with my attendants. I’m afraid it will make me seem weak,” he said.

“Your attendants seem to respect you,” Eirik replied.

“Do they? Well, I’ve had to dismiss quite a few to get to this point,” Duke Salachez admitted, draining his glass.

“The last time we spoke, I remember you being very modest about your own accomplishments. I thought perhaps you were just being polite while secretly looking down on me. After all, you called me because you needed something from me at that time.”

Eirik nodded thoughtfully, understanding the challenges the Duke must have faced as an illegitimate child who suddenly found himself leading the family.

“But now, you continue to show this respect, and it’s confusing,” Salachez said with a wide grin, displaying the sausage still in his mouth.

“What is it then? Do you still need my help, or are you here to see if I might be useful to you in the future? Surely, you haven’t come just to build a friendship with me.”

Despite the suspicion in his voice, there was a hint of desperation in the Duke’s expression that Eirik couldn’t ignore.

“I was mostly curious,” Eirik said, smiling. “Becoming the head of the Salachez family despite all your challenges suggests you’re not an ordinary man.”

Duke Salachez seemed pleased with this diplomatic response.

“Well, that’s true. There are things a person like you might find impossible that someone like me can manage with ease,” he said, finishing another glass of liquor.

Eirik realized that one of the bottles he brought was already empty.

“In that case, I should bring out the best from our cellar,” Salachez said, ringing the bell again.

As the servant hurried off to fetch more drinks, Eirik sensed that this visit would last longer than he had initially anticipated.

***