Kay rushed out of the bathroom as if fleeing. Erwell and Krishina, who were sitting in the reception room of Risi's room, jumped up. It seemed Kay looked strange to them as well.
“Count. Are you alright?”
In response to Krishina's question, Kay lightly raised one hand and walked straight out of Risi's room. Only after reaching the hallway did he cover the corner of his mouth with one hand.
This is driving me crazy.
A sound like a moan escaped. Strangely, being with Risi makes him lose his reason. When her pale purple eyes stared silently at Kei, an emotion difficult to name welled up from his lower abdomen and pressed hard against his solar plexus. He had only gone in to drink wine and exchange jokes about the day's events, or just to see Risi's face flustered by Kei's sudden visit.
I'm the one who ended up more flustered.
"colon."
At the sound of Wallace's voice coming from behind, Kay spun around in surprise, as if shot. Wallace and Jamie were standing side by side, looking at him suspiciously.
“Why are you doing that in front of your sister-in-law’s room? So she can’t come in... Huh? Captain, why is your face so red? Are you sick?”
Wallace walked over with heavy strides, looking worried. Kay involuntarily took a step back and stretched out one hand forward.
“Stop, Wallace.”
“Why? Did you catch a contagious disease? Your face is so red. Right, Jamie?”
Jamie was looking at Kay with a meaningful gaze. It was a look that seemed to say he knew why Kay was acting that way. Kay wanted to run away from this spot, but he held back.
“Go. I’m not in the mood to talk.”
“What’s wrong, Captain? Did you catch rabies or something?”
“……Wallas…….”
“That’s a big problem. I heard there’s no cure if you get that. Was it in a village in Eorth the other day? I heard someone went absolutely berserk after being bitten by a rabid dog. Oh, come to think of it, I heard that people with rabies are afraid of water... Shall we splash some water on them, Jaime?”
Kay debated whether to punch Wallace or pretend not to hear and go into the study.
“It’s alright, Wallace. The Captain has simply entered a turbulent period that any adult man goes through.”
As expected, Jamie noticed.
“Turbulence? What turbulence?”
Wallace didn't understand and looked back and forth between Jamie and Kay.
Jamie patted Wallace on the shoulder.
“As for the Captain, Lady Iris.……”
“Jamie. Stop it.”
Kay interrupted Jamie and pointed toward the other side of the hallway. It meant for him to shut up and get lost, and Jamie understood perfectly. Smiling slightly, Jamie whispered to Wallace.
Let's go over there and I'll explain it in detail.
“Jamie…….”
“Ah, Captain. Count Noh contacted you regarding the wedding invitation. He seemed quite displeased... I suppose you should contact him yourself.”
"i get it."
Jamie whispered something as he walked down the hallway with Wallace. He was likely giving details about Kay's condition. Kay had a headache. To his closest aides, known as the 'Shadows,' Kay was a trustworthy colleague rather than a dignified captain. That said, he didn't want to reveal to them all the suspicious feelings he himself was unaware of.
I need to get my act together.
Kay ran his hand through his hair and headed to the communications room. Over a decade ago, wizards and mechanical engineers had invented the communicator. It was a device that allowed one to easily contact anyone from one place to another simply by knowing the number. Because of the potential for misuse, not just anyone could own it; it could only be used at communication stations affiliated with government offices in cities or large towns. However, individuals could possess one if granted permission by the state, but the conditions were so strict that only a few people actually owned one. Naturally, the Green family, the guardians of the Holy Relic, had easily obtained permission and possessed the device. Entering the room, Kay stood before the large communicator and pressed the button connecting to the Old Count Green's mansion. Soon, he was connected to the Old Count's butler, who summoned the Wyvern Old Count Green.
"father."
[Cabrandt Green.]
Wyvern formally murmured Kay's name in a low voice. It meant he was very angry.
I have my reasons.
Your mom and I didn't believe it no matter how much the newspapers talked about it. Why? Because we trust you more than scraps of paper.
“I know. But the circumstances are…”
[They say she is the flower of the Duke of Whitlo. I heard that Duke Whitlo kept his daughter tightly wrapped up, saying he did not want to show her to just anyone.]
[Kay, it's Mom.]
Her mother, Hereina Green, interrupted Wyvern and came in.
"mother……."
[It’s only natural for a man to like pretty women, so I understand. Right, they say heroes like beautiful women. But Kay, Mom really doesn’t feel that way. A grown child choosing his own wife and getting married without telling his parents? That we were the last ones to find out about the marriage? I understand all of that.]
It was a voice that did not understand.
[But Duke Kay Whitlow is a greedy man. Why would such a man debut his eldest daughter, Britney, in society so early, yet keep his second daughter, Iris, who is said to be dazzlingly beautiful, hidden away?]
"that……."
[It’s to sell it. They must have made everyone curious by showing off the pretty Britney. If they’re putting out that beautiful Britney, just how pretty must Iris be that they can’t bring themselves to show her because it’s considered a waste? It must be to create that kind of anticipation.]
Kay shook his head inwardly. He had no idea that his parents, who had given up everything early on to live in a quiet countryside, would be observing the situation so keenly.
"Mother, there are reasons for that as well."
[What did you give to bring that child here?]
Count Noh and his wife did not give Kay a chance to explain. It was unprecedented. Kay could tell just how furious his parents were.
Nothing.
[Now you are even lying to your mother because of a woman. On the day I brought that child, I heard the news that one of Green's mines had been transferred to Whitlo.]“Who on earth is that source? If you have such a good source, please give it to me.”
[I'm not joking with you right now, Caverant Green. I understand that you like beautiful women and want to marry them as you please. But buying a woman by giving her something is wrong. Did Lady Whittle agree with your intentions?]
Kay breathed a sigh of relief. The reason his parents were angry wasn't simply because he had gotten married without permission. His parents were worried that he might have forced Rishi, whom he disliked, into marriage.
“She is not Lady Whitlow, but Countess Green, Mother. Even though we didn't have a wedding…”
I don't think that's what I asked.
“Risi, Iris agreed as well.”
The conversation was interrupted for a moment. However, the communicator, which was in exceptionally good condition, transmitted the conversation between the old Count and his wife from the other side exactly as it was.
[Honey, what should we do? Our Kay has gotten better at lying.]
[It is all my fault for raising you wrong. Don't cry, Hera.]
[But… … my son grew up to be a guy who buys women with money… … .]
Kay swallowed a sigh. Of course, he had brought her over in exchange for a mine. But that was Risi's will. Still, he couldn't exactly pour out every detail to his parents, saying, "Risi told me to buy her with a mine." It was better to just be the bad guy who bought a woman with money. Soon, the Wyvern spoke.
[Cavebrandt Green. I will leave today. I will take the fastest carriage, so I will arrive in two or three days.]
Hereina added.
[If Lady Whitlow married against her will, you will be the first divorcee in our family.]
Britney hosted a tea party in the garden greenhouse. Since a significant amount of gold was coming out of Bennot's gold mine, which Kay had given her in exchange for taking Risi, she had renovated the garden and greenhouse and wanted to show it off to the other young ladies.
“That’s a relief, though. That Countess Green cleared up the misunderstanding. Miss Britney must be able to breathe a sigh of relief.”
The young lady who said those words wore an expression that suggested she didn't find it particularly fortunate. Britney felt the same way, but she forced a smile.
“I know. It’s really a relief. I couldn’t even sleep properly because I was worried Iris might be crying after being framed.”
Oh my. You really do care deeply for your younger sibling.
It was indeed deep. Not in the way the young ladies present knew, but in a different way. As the deeds of a woman named Gillette came to light, the newspapers that had been slandering and mocking Risi hurriedly changed their attitude. They disgraced Iris of the Green family, the flower of the Duke of Whitlo and the guardian of the Holy Relic. Tarnishing the honor of a noblewoman with false accusations deserved severe punishment. It was a situation where the newspapers might even be forced to go out of business. However, Risi did not file any lawsuits against the newspapers, and the newspapers that had once slandered her vied with one another to publish articles praising her great generosity and beauty.
“The reporters have been dying to praise Countess Green lately... but I have a different opinion. To corner Miss Gillette like that in front of others... isn't that basically telling her to hang herself?”
Britney wanted to applaud at a certain young lady's words, but she barely managed to hold back.
“That probably wasn't what she meant. Of course, Iris can't forgive someone who wronged her until the very end, but... still, surely she wouldn't have told him to hang himself, right? She must have forgiven him in her own way.”
Britney defended him, though it wasn't exactly a defense.
“Well, I heard that she was the woman who served the Count at night... Isn't it just jealousy?”
“Of course, they must have been a little jealous. But……”
Britney stopped there and parted her lips, feigning embarrassment. The young lady who had brought up the topic gently fanned herself.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to push Ms. Britney.”
It was then that Britney's maid arrived. The maid stood quietly beside Britney and handed her an envelope.
“What is this?”
In the middle of the white envelope tied with a gold band, the words "[Wedding Invitation]" were written in a beautiful font.
Who is getting married?
She looked around at the young ladies, but they all wore expressions as if they didn't know. Britney took a wedding invitation out of the envelope. It was a luxurious yet elegant invitation, bordered with real gold. Britney's eyes widened as she examined the invitation. [You are invited to the wedding of Cairrant Green and Iris Whitlow.] That was how it began.
Whose wedding is it?
Katrina, who was standing next to her, asked in a low voice.
“Count Green and…… Iris…….”
"Oh my. Looks like that kid is really getting worked up."
As Katrina said that, she looked back at the noble ladies. The noble ladies nodded with mocking smiles.
“It seems he realized what rumors were circulating about him. He must have pestered Count Green to hold the wedding.”
“How could you do such a shameful thing? I don’t think I could ever force marriage on someone who doesn’t want me, no matter what.”
“I know, right. Since she has never been out in high society, would she even know the dignity of a lady?”
Normally, Britney would have listened to them with amusement. But now, not a single word of their voice registered in her ears. It was because of the name written at the very end of the wedding invitation. As if realizing that Britney’s expression was strange, Katrina cautiously flipped through the invitation. Katrina, who had been looking at the invitation with a sullen expression, stopped her eyes right where Britney was reading.
"what's this……?"
"What's wrong?"
What is it?
The young ladies showed interest. Without realizing it, Katrina snatched the wedding invitation from Britney's hand, waved it, and spoke.
“The party host is…… Countess Nelanicus Jenal!”