CH 19

Time passed quickly, and the day of the imperial banquet arrived.

Terriod, sitting across from Ellen, watched her with longing eyes.

“You look great in your new style of dress. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It’s worth the effort.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“I would have pulled it off no matter what you picked out.”

Ellen replied as if she didn’t know what she was talking about, and the Terriod smirked in affirmation.

“True, but I’m only saying that because this red color looks so good on you.”

He grinned as he spoke, certainly looking more like a nobleman than a knight today.

His neatly coiffed, wheat-colored hair and spring-colored robes seemed to match his eyes.

“Come to think of it, Ted, you haven’t been to a proper banquet in years, have you?”

“Huh? Well, yeah. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Somebody’s got to stand duty.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“I see… I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what?”

“I’m sorry that I’m the reason you can’t enjoy the party. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.You should be enjoying the company of the other young ladies and chatting with them…”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Terriod made an uneasy face, as if he were shy, but then sighed deeply.

“I’m not interested in those things yet, so I don’t mind if you don’t.”

“But…”

When Ellen couldn’t seem to keep the regret out of her voice, Terriod smiled, reaching out a hand.

“Oh no. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It will show up when the time is right. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It’s most important to me that nothing happens to you today.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“…Thanks, Ted. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.I mean it.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Well, then, next time, you might want to welcome me rather than berate me for coming.”

“Well, the imperial knight–”

“Yes, yes. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It’s my fault for being an imperial knight, I’d rather ruin your makeup than that.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Ted chuckled and teased her, and Ellen gave up trying to get another word in and sighed.

For the nobility, May is a month of consumption and revelry.

In May, they gathered in the capital to socialize, and the first banquet of the season was always hosted by the imperial family.

After the imperial party, families with mansions in the capital would begin to organize their own parties and events, and the period was commonly referred to as the ‘social season.’

Today was the day of the imperial banquet to kick off the social season.

One by one, men and women dressed in colorful and refined evening attire began to trickle into the palace.

Terriod, dressed in rare robes, stepped out of the carriage first, smiling.

“Please take my hand and dismount, my lady.”

“Thank you.”

Terriod wrapped his arms around Ellen lightly, making sure she didn’t trip over the hem of her rich dress.

When Ellen batted her eyes at him, wondering if he was treating her too much like a child, he chuckled coolly and led her away.

Today Terriod would be her escort.

It was the appointment of the crown prince to block Gillian’s approach as much as possible at the party, and while it was certainly a good choice for her sake, she couldn’t help but be grateful for what it meant for the event.

Ellen remembered Mrs Cheshire, who always worried about whether the royal knights were working during parties, even though she knew that they were not alone. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.She was grateful for his kindness today, but also felt very sorry.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

‘Come to think of it, Terriod never got married. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.He even suggested bringing in Sweeney’s child as his successor…’read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Was he really that uninterested?

Ellen glanced at Terriod.

As if sensing her gaze, he looked down at her.

“Let’s go inside.”

He laughed softly and led Ellen out.

She wasn’t without concerns, but she felt fine.

The warmth of this moment was almost too much.

Until they walked in.

“…Oh, I see the Duchess of Krembel is not with the Duke of Krembel today.”

“She came alone last time. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Please don’t say things like that to hurt my heart.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“She’s got a separate entrance and Lord Cheshire next to her…”

Familiar malice.

Terriod stiffened immediately.

“…Don’t listen to them.”

Ellen’s head snapped up at the echoing voice overhead.

Their eyes met.

“It’s okay. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.You’re not wrong. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.There’s a use for all that stuff.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

For some reason, Ellen was smiling like she wasn’t really scared.

Still, she was worried. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.When Terriod kept squinting at her, she gave him a quick slap on the forearm.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Ellen!”

A voice called out to her from not too far away.

It belonged to Spaniel Cheshire, the younger sister of Lord Terriod Cheshire.

“Sweeney, it’s been a long time.”

“Oh, please don’t use that candy-ass nickname.”

She grumbled, “I don’t know why I have to see that stupid thing as soon as I come to see you.”

An excited Terriod was about to retort something back, but under the watchful eye of younger sister Spaniel Cheshire’s fiancée, Lord Morris Coenheim, he put on a friendly face and gave his sister a bug-eyed stare as she clung to her friend.

It was quite a raucous scene, but to Ellen, it was all beautiful.

A living, breathing friend, a brother sharing childhood memories, and the warmth of their clasped hands.

For someone who was never much of a social butterfly, they were all very dear to her, people on the other side of the fence, so to speak.

But if Ellen were to summarize their last days in her memory, it would be with one word.

‘Death.’

These were the two men who had stood by the Crown Prince to the very end during Gillian Krembel’s rebellion.

And she had turned a blind eye to those deaths for the love of her life.

Even when she heard the story of her close friend passed out after hearing the news about her, even when she came to her senses afterwards and committed suicide.

Even when the tears flowed with grief, even when she cried out with unbearable pain, even when she finally realized that the loss was eating away at her body, she still turned a blind eye to it all.

Only because of that foolish love.

Maybe the ending of her previous life was the price she paid for all that turning away, Ellen thought.

It was while she was so lost in thought.

“What’s with that dress, anyway?”

“That’s right, with the nape of the neck like that.”

“It’s a real stain on Krembel’s name. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Perhaps the rumor is that she doesn’t get along with the Duke…”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Still, look at that delicate gold leaf and lace. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.How much money did they spend on that?”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Delicate, yes, but did you see the dress Lady Traia wore not too long ago, that dress was…”

Self-serving chatter.

They were like that before.

Those who seek to prove their worth by trampling on others and standing over them.

In that sense, ‘nouveau riche Kryant’ was one of their favorite pieces of gossip.

Gillian, who used to not take care of his wife like other people, was said to be cruel.

She wondered if she could do better, if he would look back on her one day.

She had thought about that once.

Ellen opened her mouth to say the now familiar words with a smile.

“Well, well, Mrs. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Periwinkle. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.What a fascinating conversation. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Would you mind telling me that story?”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Several women turned to look at Ellen, unable to hide their bewilderment.

They hadn’t expected her to speak so boldly.

“Ellen.”

Terriod who was with her, called out to her.

But when Ellen waved a hand to indicate that she was fine and started walking, Spaniel gave him a quick glance and followed at her side.

Ellen walked back and forth to where they were.

Countess Periwinkle opened her mouth with a smile.

“Well, well. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.I’m worried about what you’re doing to the Duke of Krembel’s reputation. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It’s not good manners to eavesdrop on other people’s conversations, Mrs Krembel.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Ah… I thought you enjoyed public debate as you were so vocal. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.I apologize if this was a private conversation between ladies.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Ellen commented on their loud voices, as if they’re begging to be heard.

When it came to discussing ‘lady’s virtues,’ no one here was immune.

For raising one’s voice in private conversation was hardly considered a lady’s virtue.

Knowing this, Countess Periwinkle took offense.

“There was nothing private about it. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.You asked what we were talking about. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.We were discussing a rumor we had heard.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Aha. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Rumors.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Well, since you happen to be here, may I ask? Because if it’s a rumor, I’d like to help put an end to it as soon as possible.”

“Of course, tell me.”

“What I’ve heard is a rumored divorce between you and Lord Krembel.”

They thought the divorce story was ridiculous.

They assumed that something must have happened, that Mrs. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Krembel must have been slapped by the Duke, and that the story must have leaked out from under her.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

But what came out of Ellen’s mouth was a complete reversal of their expectations.

“I see you already know, so I don’t have to explain it to you. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.That’s right, divorce.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“…Yes? What?”

“Oh, why am I like this. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.I should have taken your age into account.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Ellen said, looking genuinely sorry.

“The Duke and I, are, having a divorce.”

Divorce.

They all fell silent at the word, as if struck by lightning.

“All the Duke has to do is sign it and it’s done…”

Why on earth wouldn’t he put his stamp on it.

Ellen sighed in frustration.

“Is this a divorce, or has the subject matter changed? I thought you said you were served with a divorce.”

“Mrs. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Periwinkle!”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Spaniel, who had been keeping his mouth shut because Ellen seemed to be coping at a reasonable level, exclaimed, unable to contain her anger.