CH 2

“Please take care of me, Delphina.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Merilly.”

“Then, I will be back.” I tried to smile at Delphina, who held Merilly.

Today was the day I went to work after being introduced to a job by my only friend, Selli. It was a job working on Marquis Hamilton’s wedding or something like that. I didn’t care who nobleman married noble lady, but the daily wage Selli offered was too large to refuse.

“Merilly, you should say your goodbye to your mother.”

“Mamma. Mama!” Merilly smiled brightly and waved her hand.

At first glance, a small worry flickered in my eyes. It was the first time I was away from Merilly for a day.

“Don’t worry, Lobelia. I will keep an eye on her.”

“Worry? Delphina, you’re my benefactor.”

Delphina, who decided to take care of Merilly instead of me today, was my benefactor who helped me give birth to Merilly healthily. I smiled awkwardly and kissed my baby gently on the cheek. Only after showing Delphina a light smile did my step move urgently.

Last night, I could see Endrew hurried out, saying he had received a letter. He said he couldn’t return in at least three days. How can there be such a husband who sacrificed himself in this world?

Endrew was a person who didn’t even think about his body and was having a hard time, but he just thought about what would go into the mouths of his wife and child. However, his wife, Lobelia, had no choice but to worry about him. Still, thanks to the wedding of Marquis Hamilton, Endrew will be able to rest for at least a week after this job. As soon as my thoughts reached that point, my body naturally gained strength.

“Selli!”

When I arrived at the market, I could see Selli in the distance. I waved my hand cheerfully, expressing my delight.

“You’re here.”

“Have you been waiting for a long time?”

“No, I just got here too. Let’s go. This way,” Selli answered lightly and led me toward that mana tunnel, which would lead us to the march.

Seeing the neighborhood for the first time, I looked around curiously and opened my mouth. “Thank you for introducing me to a good job, Selli. I was worried because Endrew worked too much.”

“If you’re grateful, come to the market a little more often. You’re not the busiest person in the world, right?” Selli’s lips pouted.

I lowered my eyebrows and talked in an apologetic tone. “I’m sorry.”

“The reason why I asked you to be my fill-in. My trip is next week, and I’m dying because I can’t find anyone to become my fill-in.” She grumbled hatefully, sticking out her lips all the way.

We didn’t see each other often, but every time we met and chatted, Selli would talk about how difficult her situation was. A strange rumor about the noble family she worked for had spread, and no one wanted to be her fill-in. As a result, Selli was in a situation where she had to stamp her feet ahead of her trip scheduled for next week.

“…You know, Endrew has to work, and Merilly is too young. I couldn’t help it today because I needed money.”

“Would you like to work today? If you don’t mind, will you do it for me next week?”

“Okay. I will tell my husband about it. But what kind of rumor makes no one want to work there? Even with that much salary.”

“I don’t know. I only work in the kitchen every other week, so I don’t have time to look at the owners. There’s no way the resident servants would make noise in front of us.”

“Um, I guess so. You’re right.” I tilted my head slightly and smiled awkwardly.

“But where did you say your husband worked?”

“He said he worked for a noble from the South.”

“Hmm, noble from the South.” She swept her chin, tilted her head around, and ended her sentence in a questionable tone.

“Isn’t it a little bit suspicious?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your husband. It’s strange that he appeared in front of you after being injured by a monster three years ago… I’ve never seen him before either.”

Selli continued quickly as if she had a motor in her mouth. “And where can you find a noble family that gives you so many jobs? I heard your husband’s face is handsome. No way, did he live in two houses…”

Live in two houses. At those words, my mouth opened in astonishment. No matter how close friends we were, she went too far. I firmly cut Selli’s words.

“That’s not true, Selli. I know how much he loves me.”

I didn’t want to have ridiculous doubts about my husband, who sacrificed so much for our child and me.

“…Yes, well, let’s say that’s the case! But just by the color of his hair. You said it was silver, right?”

There we go again. Selli kept talking as if she was a member of the Marquis Hamilton family herself.

“How could you think that hair color is common? Only noble blood with the level of Marquis Hamilton could have them…”

“It must be just a coincidence.”

“Oh my gosh, there’s no coincidence in this world, Lobelia!” Selli made a loud noise, blinked slowly, and opened her mouth again. “But then…”

“Yes?”

“You’re the same.”

“What do you mean?”

“The color of your eyes. You know it’s really unique, right?”

“…Huh?”

Selli’s image was reflected in my emerald eyes. Because she was staring at me so hard, I lowered my head for no reason.

“Why are you like that? They look like real jewels. They’re really pretty.”

“What do you mean jewel? I can sell them if they are real jewels. What’s the point of having pretty eyes?”

“Actually, isn’t the blood of the Shinsu clan flowing in your veins?”

At Selli’s words, one of my eyebrows twitched very slightly.

The Shinsu clan were originally sacred beings who protected Tiazen Empire with their strong mana and holy power. Unfortunately, it was known that they left the empire due to an incident that occurred over 20 years ago.

“You talk a lot today, Selli.”

“What’s wrong with that? I heard that the emerald color is the color of the Shinsu clan. I’ve never actually seen it.”

Originally, emerald eyes were a color that only appeared to those with strong mana, which was very rare among the Shinsu clan born with mana.

“That would be nice. Didn’t I say that the Shinsu clan had mana? Mana can move all the heavy things.”

I ignored her words.

“If only they had stayed, the treatment would have been great. In our empire, magicians are no longer born. The Shinsu clan cast a curse on them as they left the empire.”

“Ahaha…”

“Why did the Shinsu clan, which symbolized the empire, suddenly disappear? I’m curious.”

“…Right.”

She smiled helplessly without saying anything else.

“Huh? Come to think of it… You look a little bit like her.” Selli, who was still staring into my eyes, slipped her words.

“Who are you talking about?”

“The one who will become the Marchioness. I’ve seen her from afar.”

“Ah, you can’t compare me with such a lady.”

“Well, you’re prettier.”

“What, really?”

At Selli’s joke, my mouth finally burst into laughter.

While chatting, we walked for a long time, and I saw a large wooden tunnel in the distance. Around the tunnel, a blue mana stone that the Shinsu clan made in ancient times was showing off its mystery. Mana stone imbued with mana was the driving force behind the Mana Tunnel.

“Wow…”

“It’s your first time seeing it, right?” said Selli with a smug smile. “That’s the Mana Tunnel. If it wasn’t for the Shinsu clan, we would have to walk for a whole week.”

“How do you get through the Mana Tunnel?”

“I have this.”

A small piece of crystal, the size of a key chain, glistened in Selli’s hand. Since the Shinsu clan was wiped out and no magicians were born, the magic power charged in the mana stones around the tunnel was limited.

For this reason, only those with permission could use the current Mana Tunnel. Of course, the permitted ones referred to the nobles. Or the people who work under them, just like Selli. Since giving the precious noble’s seal to the servants was impossible, they made a small token like an accessory and gave it to their servants. 

“Is that a token to cross the Mana Tunnel?”

“Yes.”

“…Isn’t it a lily of the valley?”

In Selli’s hand was a piece of crystal in the shape of a lily of the valley. Looking at it, I felt an inexplicable coolness on my back. For some reason, my head tilted slightly as I wondered.

“That’s right. Wasn’t Merilly also named after lily of the valley?”

“Yes. Endrew named her.”

My face grew darker like the sunset sky. Why did I feel this anxiety? Selli said something stupid. That’s probably why I feel like this. I shook my head, trying to shake off the anxiety in my head.

“That’s a great coincidence. Maybe your husband…”

“…What?”

Selli, who had already walked to the Mana Tunnel, naturally held out a piece of crystal in the shape of a lily of the valley toward the knights guarding the tunnel. As the spears of the knights blocking their way were lifted, she whispered softly as if it were a secret.

“Could it be he is the illegitimate son of Marquis Hamilton or something like that?”

“What?”

It was more ridiculous than when she said that Endrew lived in two houses. I involuntarily laughed and raised my voice. “What nonsense, Selli!”

“That’s right. It’s the same goes for being attacked by a monster and collapsing. What’s the point of ordinary people going into a forest deep enough where monsters usually spawn? He’s like a noble who learns swordsmanship.”

“…Aren’t you too imaginative?”

“That’s right. I’m just saying what comes to my mind.” Selli raised the corners of her mouth and smiled mischievously.

“That can’t be true. Uh? We’re almost there. It’s right in front.”

“…Yes.”

Soon a magnificent mansion appeared in front of them. The mansion, made of pure white marble, consisted of several outbuildings, including the main mansion. Selli bowed her head slightly towards the men guarding the mansion.

“Come on, let’s hurry up. For our first pay!”

“Yes.” Despite being led by Selli, I answered helplessly.

Without having time to look inside the splendid mansion, I followed Selli into the main kitchen. The kitchen was huge, as if it were several times as big as the cabin where I lived in. Inside, countless servants were moving busily.

“You and I are in charge of desserts. All you have to do is follow me. It won’t be difficult.”

“Yes, I know, Selli.”

Thanks to Selli, who worked long hours at the march, I was able to work on the relatively easy side. I was responsible for creating a finished product by combining the parts that had already been made. Squeezing whipped cream on the top of cocktail jelly, putting different kinds of berries on cupcakes, etc. My back hurt a little because I had to bend down, but it was very easy compared to other tasks.

After working for a few hours like that, colorful food that was enough to eat began to be served.

“I guess the wedding will start soon,” whispered Selli, stretching her sore back.

I patted her on the back and threw her a sneaky joke. “I know. I wanted to see the Marquis’s face you’re so proud of.”

It was purely a joke. Not even 1% I meant my words.

“Do you want to go see it?”

But Selli was different. She took my joke seriously.

“Huh? How could I—”

“Hold on a second.”

Selli tapped me on the shoulder and said something to the young maid who was moving the trolley. Soon she took over the trolley from the maid and approached me.

“Is this going to be okay?””

“What’s the matter of who does it? We’re done with our work anyway. Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

For a moment, a strange sense of vision wrapped around me. It was a strange feeling I had never felt before. Something heavy, like a rock, was pressing heavily on my shoulders.

At that time, the pendant around my neck glistened darkly. Feeling a sudden dizziness, I blinked slowly.

“What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?”

Selli, who was leading the trolley, felt something strange and examined my complexion.

“N-no. I feel a little—”

“The work is over now. Let’s just look at his face.”

“Yes, okay.” I forcibly raised my lips and let out a reply as if I was okay.

My condition today was really strange. It was the first time in my life that I had felt so ominous and uneasy. I followed Selli, trying to ignore the constant uneasiness that swept through my heart. Clearly, if I went home and rested a little, I would get better soon.

I brushed these feelings lightly. Never could I imagine that a terrible storm would soon come upon my destiny.

“This is the banquet hall.”

Selli straightened her back and opened the door of the banquet hall. The banquet hall, decorated with various flowers such as freesia, roses, and lilies, welcomed us with beautiful singing voices. The wedding was in full swing there. The high priest recited a congratulatory speech to celebrate the bride and groom’s wedding.

“Lobelia, this way!”

“Yes.”

Selli, who led the trolley and squeezed through the nobles, beckoned to me. I walked slowly into the crowd.

“The marriage of Marquis Endimion de Hamilton and Lady Magorit el Deiji.”

For some reason, I thought the time around me seemed to pass slowly.

“Is established.”

With thunderous applause, my eyes turned toward Endimion and Magorit, who turned their back to the guest. And at that moment, I had no choice but to block my mouth.

“Gasp…!”

I couldn’t even blink. All my nerves stopped as if I got frostbite. I had no choice but to become like that. Because the man was smiling while making eye contact with a woman who looked just like me…

“That’s him.”

Until yesterday morning, he whispered that he loved me.

“Isn’t it really cool?”

He held Merilly in his arms and looked at me warmly.

“Lobelia?”

That man was my husband, Endrew.