Chapter 89
I rose from the sofa and took a few steps toward them.
The two women bowed first, greeting me with polite nods.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Marian, and this is Chelsea.”
“I-it’s an honor to serve you!”
Marian, the maid who introduced herself first, looked mature and composed, while Chelsea still had a youthful air about her.
I smiled and greeted them in return.
“Hello, I’m….”
…What was there to hesitate over? I might as well say it all. Loud and proud.
Let people decide for themselves. It wasn’t something I could control anyway.
“I’m Muriel.”
“Lady Muriel! Your name is so beauti—”
“I’m from the Roblet Kingdom. I was adopted into the Tierney ducal house. And I recently divorced the Duke of Winterberg.”
“I-I see…!”
“I don’t plan to use the surname Tierney anymore. I’ve also given up the noble title Duke Tierney granted me, so I’m practically a commoner now.”
“W-we’ll keep that in mind…!”
…That wasn’t quite the reaction I expected.
I frowned slightly in confusion when laughter rang out behind me.
“Ha ha ha…!”
I turned to see Lycian clutching his stomach, shaking with loud, unrestrained laughter.
At the sight of him, both maids’ eyes went wide as saucers. They froze stiff.
“Y-Your Highness is—”
“Shh!”
Just as Chelsea stammered something out, Marian quickly pressed a finger to her lips.
“…?”
I didn’t quite understand.
Was it really that shocking to see Lycian laugh…?
Before I knew it, he had stepped close behind me. His arms slipped around my waist, coiling like a serpent.
Lowering his head, he brushed his lips against my earlobe and whispered,
“Muriel, why only tell them that? You left out the most important part.”
“The important part? …Oh. His Highness the Grand Duke and I are dating.”
At my addition, the maids’ eyes looked ready to pop out of their sockets.
They were so still they might as well have turned to stone. They weren’t fainting with their eyes open, were they?
“And when Lycian said something about me being his wife, that was just a joke, so don’t worry about it….”
“Y-yes, haah—yes….”
As the two maids struggled to breathe, Lycian cut in again.
“We’re not married yet, but she’s that important to me. You understand what that means.”
“O-of course!”
“Absolutely!”
They nodded fervently in unison.
…I had the strange feeling the three of them were exchanging some unspoken understanding I wasn’t privy to.
In any case, Lycian was dragged off to work by Baron Clement, and I was left in the hands of the maids.
Marian and Chelsea attended to me with meticulous care, from drawing my bath to helping me dress.
On top of that, more than ten attendants filed in carrying trays, laying out a lavish meal.
Every servant treated me with impeccable courtesy, as though I were royalty myself. I hadn’t expected such devoted hospitality, and it left me dazed.
“Are the clothes uncomfortable? They seem slightly large on you, Lady Muriel.”
“They’re fine. Actually, they’re comfortable.”
“We’ll prepare garments tailored exactly to your measurements as quickly as possible. Even if these are tolerable, we would be grateful if you could wait just a little.”
“There’s no need to go that far….”
The clothes I was wearing now were already incredibly soft and comfortable. The fabric alone was leagues beyond anything I’d bought at the market.
But the maids were relentless.
“That simply won’t do! You’re His Highness the Grand Duke’s part— I mean, his beloved. It must be the very finest!”
“That’s right, exactly!”
She’d started to say “part—”… Did I mishear?
Before I could dwell on it, Marian presented a large jewelry box in front of me.
“What kind of jewels would you prefer? We have every variety prepared!”
“No, I really don’t need jewels….”
Rubies, sapphires, emeralds, pearls, diamonds… The box looked as though it contained every gemstone in existence.
The dazzling brilliance made me recoil, waving my hands frantically. Please, I’d rather decline this kind of absurd luxury!
“Marian, I’m sorry, but these jewels are far too much for me—”
“Oh my! Absolutely not! If not you, Lady Muriel, then who in Epherne Castle could possibly be worthy of these?”
“That’s right, exactly!”
“And you can just call me Marian, comfortably. Please speak freely as well!”
“Yes, please just call me Chelsea!”
Their eyes sparkled with almost frightening intensity. At this point, I could practically sense a kind of mania radiating off them.
How should I put it? As if they’d been waiting their whole lives for someone they could dress up to their heart’s content….
“Lady Muriel, please try this tiara…! These diamonds have been locked away in a box for decades without seeing the light. Don’t you feel sorry for them?”
“No, a tiara is too much—!”
“If that feels burdensome, what about this hairband? It’s adorned with small pearls—elegant without being excessive, and it suits you beautifully, Lady Muriel!”
“Ha… Fine. That one, then….”
“Kyaa~! Thank you, Lady Muriel!”
Now that I thought about it, Marian was an expert at coaxing people into things.
She would first thrust something outrageously extravagant at me. When I recoiled in horror, she’d smoothly offer a more modest alternative with a bright, “Then how about this?”
And I’d end up thinking, Well, that’s better than the first one! and agree.
…About twenty minutes later, when I finally came to my senses, I was adorned head to toe in a full set of accessories.
The figure in the mirror glittered like some kind of walking chandelier.
…So this is what happens when you cover a person in jewels. Good to know.
“Lady Muriel, would you like to tour Epherne Castle with us? We’ll guide you properly!”
Marian suggested, with Chelsea nodding eagerly beside her.
Looking into their sparkling eyes, it was hard to refuse.
In the end, I surrendered with a resigned sigh.
“Alright. Let’s go….”
“Kyaa~! Thank you!”
“I’m so happy…!”
It’s impossible to be firm with people like them….
“That’s it. Nigel will handle the rest. Gathering information is his specialty.”
Dante tossed the round, marble-like communication artifact into the air and caught it again as he spoke.
It was a rare item—just ten minutes of use required three top-grade magic crystals.
Dante didn’t use it often, but thanks to Lycian casually tossing him top-grade magic crystals worth 800,000 rubels, he could afford to use it freely.
What he had done with the artifact was simple.
He contacted the guild headquarters’ administrator and ordered that news of the Tierney family’s “unjust preemptive strike against the Veratis Guild” be spread throughout the Empire—and beyond, across the continent.
‘Use every connection you have. If necessary, request assistance from the Imperial Family.’
‘Understood for now, but… is it true? About the Purifier? Did you see her yourself, Guild Master?’
‘I’m telling you, it’s true. I’ll introduce you soon enough, so look forward to it.’
‘Gasp….’
In addition, Dante had just dispatched a formal letter of protest bearing his signature to the Tierney family.
Whatever was happening on the Tierney side, Nigel would spy it out and report back.
“Let’s frame it as the Veratis Guild merely defending itself after being attacked first… for now. As for the rumors about Lady Muriel, let them spread naturally.”
At that, Lycian let out a low sigh.
He tapped the edge of his desk with his fingertips, a deep furrow etched between his brows.
Seeing that displeased expression alone was enough for Dante to grasp his thoughts instantly.
“If you hate the idea of Lady Muriel’s existence becoming known to the world, then lock her away forever. If that’s even possible.”
“…It’s because I know it’s impossible that I feel this way. Isn’t it obvious?”
That temper of his.
Dante cursed inwardly, his own face hardening.
Sinking into the cloud-soft leather sofa, he crossed his legs in a deliberately lazy posture and continued.
“It’s inevitable that the world will learn about the Purifier. What matters is what comes next. You’re here. I’m here. The Veratis Guild is here. I don’t think you need to worry so much.”
“…….”
“Honestly, it’s strange. You’re not usually this anxious or restless. So I did a little deductive reasoning….”
Tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling, Dante slowly straightened.
As his gaze settled on him, Lycian’s expression turned vicious, as if he might lunge and tear into him.
As though he already anticipated what Dante was about to say.
And in that moment, Dante was certain.
That reaction. That excessive vigilance. That overblown protective instinct.
He’d thought it was odd from the start.
That spoiled half-dragon would never act gentle with just anyone. The world would collapse before that happened.
Which was why Dante pressed him with conviction.
“You imprinted on Lady Muriel, didn’t you? You.”