CH 14.5

Sitting on the couch in the parlor, Monaca’s eyes widened when she saw Lila enter.

“Greetings, Lady Arias.”

“… Lady Este, I apologize for dropping by so unexpectedly.”

“That’s okay, I was in a hurry and didn’t get a chance to thank you. I came down here, so you can stop apologizing.”

“That’s very kind of you to say. I’m grateful.”

The two sat down on the couch. Vincent, who had just arrived with a trolley, politely set down the refreshments and tea.

They sipped their tea in silence for a moment. Monaca was shocked that the rumors were true.

She had come here knowing, of course. But it was a different feeling to see it in person.

She heard the rumors faster than anyone else and went to see Baron Este. It was because she expected that even if she went to the duke’s house herself, she would not be able to meet her.

Monaca’s prediction was right, and she couldn’t keep her mouth shut in surprise when she heard the words of Baron Este, who had been to the duchy. She remembered the image of the baron telling her the truth with a blank look on his face.

At the time, she wondered why she was so stupid, but she felt like she could understand it when she saw her in person.

The ugly young lady hadn’t just turned a little prettier, she’d turned into a stunning beauty.

One of the most beautiful woman in the empire. A beauty to be admired. The kind of beauty that, if she didn’t have to wear such grotesque makeup, would have made her a socialite, even surpassing Charlotte.

Monaca opened her mouth slowly, knowing her instincts were right.

“You’re so beautiful.”

Monaca’s words were pure admiration, as opposed to the calculations she was making in her head. Lila smiled brightly at her words.

“Thank you.”

“But why on earth have you been…”

Unable to find the words, Lila answered for her.

“I know this is a bit of a stretch, but I wanted to find true love. I wanted to find someone who would love me on the inside, not just the outside.”

“Ah…”

Monaca didn’t understand, but she nodded in affirmation.

“I see, you’re a romantic.”

Lila smirked at her reaction, and while she was grateful for that day, she hadn’t forgotten everything that had happened before.

She wasn’t sure why she and Charlotte had fallen out, but Monaca and Charlotte had long since despised and mocked Lila.

“I wanted to thank you separately for what happened at the hunting tournament, but that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten the verbal assault you made towards me.”

“Lady Este, I have nothing to say about that, and I am truly sorry.”

Monaca spoke quickly, as if she had been preparing for this. With a nervous twitch, she pleaded.

“I was just an errand girl for Countess Pinatelli. I was merely a follower who ran errands on her behalf, at the request of my father who works for the Count of Pinatelli. I sincerely apologize, but I want to make it clear that it was not my intention.”

Her sunken emerald eyebrows looked sincere as if they were truly expressing her feelings. As she watched her skillfully control her expressions, Lila thought to herself.

‘Being around Charlotte, she must have learned some real social skills.’

She had easily beaten Charlotte in the hunting competition, but Charlotte was not an easy person to get along with. Watching Charlotte skillfully change her facial expressions like a performer gave Lila goosebumps.

Lila was caught off guard by Charlotte’s reaction, which she hadn’t expected, and assumed it was over.

‘Well, at least I didn’t think she’d do something so vicious.’

Remembering Charlotte digging her nails into her arm, Lila frowned.

“I just wanted you to know that I meant it. I apologize from the bottom of my heart.”

Monaca rose from her seat and bowed deeply.

Lila was unimpressed by her appearance. After all, she was probably the one who had seen their backsides the most.

“Do you mind if I ask why you’re doing this?”

Unknowingly, Lila was heavily influenced by Lucas. She reincarnated and avoided social circles. When it comes to social skills and interpersonal relationships that she hasn’t learned properly except for what she has observed on her own, she has learned one thing more from Lucas and Michael.

It was how to be direct.

“What? No, I just wanted to apologize.”

Lila opened her mouth, not believing her in the slightest.

“Lady Arias, if I had hurt someone and wanted to apologize, I would have waited to see if the person I had hurt was ready for an apology. What if they were upset with me, and how could I show them that I meant it without hurting them more?”

After a pause, Lila looked directly at Monaca with a penetrating gaze.

“You would have sent me a heartfelt letter, asking for permission beforehand, if you really meant to come here to apologize to me. Instead of just barging in and looking at me as if you’re prying.”

Monaca’s eyes narrowed at the firmness of her words. There was nothing wrong with what Lila had said.

But she couldn’t back down now.

“Would you understand if I told you why…?”

“I don’t know.”

“I want to help the Lady. You’re more than capable of being a socialite, so why are you hiding with your face in the sand, when you have everything going for you?”

Monaca really didn’t understand Lila. She hid her natural beauty, and even after her beauty became known, she never appeared anywhere.

The aristocracy of the Vassium Empire threw banquets quite often. Tea parties were even more frequent.

Monaca was well aware that Lila had received numerous invitations, and there wasn’t a banquet she hadn’t attended in hopes of meeting her.

“Hmm, a socialite?”

Lila asked, her tone tinged with amusement. Monaca insisted hopefully.

“Yes, Lady Este can rise to the position of queen. You’re even scheduled to be the Duchess, so why are you staying still? If it’s because you’re alone, I can certainly help you.”

Lila was silent for a moment, her eyes downcast. Monaca wasn’t saying this for nothing, nothing was free.

She lived in a capitalist society. Favors were not granted without reason, except for family and lovers. Of course, there were occasional exceptions.

“So what do you think you have to gain?”

Looking into the calm cobalt eyes, Monaca replied in a shaky voice.

“I just want to get revenge on Lady Pinatelli.”

Monaca shuddered at the tears that quickly filled her eyes and reached for her handkerchief. Holding it just below her eyes, she spoke.

“If you are a young lady, you will understand my feelings. Lady Pinatelli is a greedy person. She called me a friend but treated me like a lady-in-waiting and never gave me a seat. Although I was hurt, I still thought of Lady Pinatelli as a friend.”

After a long sigh, Monaca continued.

“But then she started vilifying me and spreading strange rumors about me, as if I were some kind of unintelligent person who had taken her lover away from her. People started pointing fingers at me, and naturally I lost my place in social circles. It happened so suddenly.”

Lila stood still and listened to her. Not out of empathy, but to understand what was going on in the social circle that she didn’t know.

Then she realized it was pointless. She had no intention of entering the social scene anymore.

She hadn’t had enough time to spend with Lucas and Michael, and the wedding preparations were the most pressing priority.

Lila’s sudden loss of interest made Monaca impatient.

“That’s what Lady Pinatelli said, that…”

Lila watched her stutter, unable to form words.

“What?”

She sounded a little bored, not that she was all that interested in Charlotte. Monaca hesitated for a moment, then spoke cautiously.

“I’ve heard that the Duke of Montefeltra is a sodomite, which is why your position is so precarious. And she’s been getting between me and Theobald and asking me questions about him. If she’s the Charlotte I know, she’s doing it for a reason.”

“What, sodomy?”

Lila scrunched up her face in disbelief.

Just then, the door burst open. Whether the two women were surprised or not, Lucas burst into the parlor.

“Greetings to you, Duke.”

Monaca jumped to her feet in surprise. Lila steadied her fluttering heart.

“My wife.”

Lucas walked in a straight line, his eyes only on Lila, as if Monaca hadn’t even been in sight.

He sat down next to her, casually, and his gaze fell on Monaca.

Monaca met his dull mint eyes, and her heart sank at the unexpected appearance of the Duke.

“I heard that a guest had come, so I came here because I was curious. If it’s a guest who sent a letter in advance, I should know… But it wasn’t, so I thought Baron Este and his wife were visiting again. It’s my wife’s family, so of course I had to be here with you, thus I came like this. Are you happy to see me?”

Lila’s eyes widened and then narrowed at the odd finish.

“Haha, it’s always a pleasure to see my husband.”

“I thought you might be, so I came to show you my face.”

Lila hoped he hadn’t heard what she had just spat out. She remembered him talking about this before. How he’d told her about the rumors of sodomy with a scared look on his face.

She glanced over at him, and their eyes met. The corners of his mouth turned up to the sky, but his eyes were cold.

Hmm… He might have heard that.

Lucas returned his gaze to Lila and jerked his head.

“So who is it?”

Monaca froze in place, stunned by the coldness of his expression, a clear difference from the way he looked at Lila.

After a moment’s hesitation, she answered a little too slowly.

“… I am Monaca Ro Arias, Duke.”

“Why don’t you finish what you were talking about?”

Lucas’s words made Monaca’s complexion turn purple. She hadn’t been expecting the Duke to enter the parlor, and she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

Lucas raised one eyebrow.

“Have you finished your story?”

When he didn’t look away, just stared at her, she couldn’t help but affirm.

“Yes, we have.”

“Well, then, I’d better get up. My lady has an appointment with me.”

“Yes, Duke.”

Monaca, who had come to Lila with the intention of getting an answer from her, stood up with a dejected look on her face.

She hadn’t expected a visit from the Duke at all, so as she followed the two as they saw her off, Monaka racked her brain.

She wanted to take this opportunity to make Lila’s acquaintance somehow. If she could get her into the social scene, she could easily take the queen’s place. From Charlotte.

She couldn’t sleep thinking about what had happened to Charlotte.