Capitulo 45
Episode 45
I was fascinated by Tatiana, whose face color changes every moment.
Those next to me didn’t notice, but I from the other side could see how angry she was.
The habit of biting her lip until it bleeds must not have been lost yet.
I deliberately pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to her.
«You still haven’t corrected that habit.»
His face, which had been pale, warmed like a ripe apple.
Even the wives, oblivious to my words, noticed Tatiana’s plantation.
It was a brief moment, but both exchanged glances.
Neither I nor Tatiana knew it was not a favorable look.
«Thank you.
«We’ve known each other since we were young, so this is natural.
Now that I’m alive, there are days when I feed Tatiana candy and hear her say thank you.
I held back the urge to burst out laughing and took back the reins of the conversation.
«By the way, what were you talking about before I came over?»
«This time we were talking about the hunting festival organized by the imperial family.»
«Ah, the hunt.»
The women exchanged glances without sparing words.
No matter how powerful the nobles are, they will be wary of talking about Aster in front of me, the emperor’s mistress.
«Are you planning to participate in the hunting festival?»
Naturally, I moved on to the next topic. With a sigh of relief, everyone responded with animated voices.
«I will.
«My back hurts, so I’m going to rest. What about the princess?»
«I want to participate.»
Saying this, he turned his gaze to Tatiana.
«Do you have a vision?»
«I … … I want to rest this time.»
It wasn’t like Tatiana to look down.
I put my arms on the table and emitted a deliberately exaggerated surprise.
«Does Your Excellency, by any chance, not like Your Excellency going to the hunting festival?»
Tatiana’s face hardened at the sudden appearance of the Grand Duke’s name.
I felt like I was about to laugh.
I couldn’t help but laugh at the realization that I was trapped in the past that was made to torment me.
I remembered.
The wives next to her were also looking at her with rather interesting faces.
Before she married, Tatiana was the crème de la crème of high society.
The clothes she wears attract attention all year round, and the jewelry she wears sells like hot cakes.
Everyone was busy planting Tatiana’s favorite marigolds in the garden.
After getting married, she cut back on her social activities and went out of her way.
There was a lot of talk about her reclusion, but it was only a silent rumor.
Unfortunately, even before he got married, Andrew’s image in the social world was not good.
But if I, his former lover, ask you if you don’t like the Grand Duke coming out?
Moreover, this world was in a state where the strength of the original work had weakened.
«Uh, no.»
The blood slowly disappeared from Tatiana’s face.
I smiled deliberately.
«Oh, no. Andy wants me to come out. »
«Does he? Of course, I thought Her Highness the Grand Duchess would attend, but it’s a shame.»
Now she almost looked like she was about to cry.
Tatiana jumped up from her seat.
«I’m coming back. Have a good time everyone.»
I couldn’t even laugh when I saw her forget her face and run back.
I didn’t expect her to win this because she would be accompanied by her doctor when she attended the hunting festival.
I was feeling well enough to respond adequately to the words of those who were clinging to me to coax a little more out of me.
Watching her back as she walked away, I remembered what happened to me when I was young.
* * *
When I met Andrew, the son of a viscount who had nothing, I had to suffer tremendous gossip.
I kept as quiet as possible because there were also bad words about Andrew.
Therefore, I did not attend any academy functions.
If I had any desire, it was to be happy in silence with Andrew.
«Why isn’t Karina attending the academic festival?»
What caused a stir in my life was that word Tatiana threw out in front of everyone.
«Simply put. I really don’t want to attend.»
«Is it because of your lover, isn’t that too much of a waste?»
Until then, I didn’t understand why Tatiana brought up Andrew’s story.
It was something I had decided not to attend, and Andrew had absolutely nothing to do with it.
«No. It’s because I don’t want to attend.»
«Andrew purposely doesn’t go out because he’s jealous that Karina is so cool? Isn’t that too much for you? Why did you hang up on the man?»
It was absurd.
Andrew wasn’t a man to be jealous of, and that didn’t bother me either.
«It’s not like that. Don’t take it lightly.»
At my words, Tatiana shrugged and apologized.
At that moment, I felt the eyes of the people around me turn cold.
I thought my reputation would fall again.
It wasn’t until much later that I learned how his words affected Andrew.
Andrew was branded a loser jealous of a woman’s success.
Maybe that’s when our relationship started to fall apart.
* * *
Rumors spread like wildfire.
It was worth going to the place where the wives and Tatiana talked too much.
«It’s not crazy these days.»
«Okay, what’s the latest rumor?»
«The Grand Duke was stabbed in the back of the head while having his liver and gall bladder removed to shake it out.»
«Back of the head?»
I stretched out on the couch, flipping through the papers, enjoying Lily’s story.
The story she told was as follows.
The Grand Duke was tricked by Tatiana, posing as innocent (Lily stressed this point over and over again), and appointed the man she recommended to the rank of knight commander.
However, it turned out that the knight commander was having an affair with Tatiana.
«The grand duke, struggling with a feeling of betrayal, began to become more obsessed with the woman. They do not let me go anywhere, and I force them to stay at home. Rumor has it that he even ignored the tearful plea to participate in the hunting festival.»
If you analyze what Lily has said so far, you probably wouldn’t know much about the first part, which is mostly gossip about Tatiana, because it’s such a small rumor.
But the back part was different.
Since the Archduke is not protected by the world, at this point the seeds of doubt I have planted will grow and cover the whole social world.
He handed it back to her as Tatiana had done earlier.
«But will you really attend the hunting festival with this?»
«I will attend.»
«You can ignore it and move on.»
«No, never.»
In Tatiana’s case, it could happen.
But not in Andrew’s case.
His position was now very vague.
At first, the nobles deliberately pressured him to keep the emperor at bay.
Aster purposely granted Andrew the right to have a soldier enlisted to create a wedge between the two.
And he allowed a small number of soldiers to stay in the capital.
As if he could always be his closest aide.
‘At that time, many nobles turned.’
Thanks to this, Andréw received attention and checks from both the aristocratic and imperial factions.
In a close situation, a little scandal gives both sides something to attack.
So Tatiana can ignore the scandal, but the Grand Duke of Gloucester will not be able to let this go unnoticed.
* * *
Aster was surprised because there are so many interesting things going on today.
The political world, quiet for the last few years, began to fluctuate at some point.
«Let’s see, Archduke, do you suffer from strange rumors these days?».
Aster smiled and asked Andrew.
The Grand Duke, who had just arrived to report, stiffened slightly.
«It’s not important enough for His Majesty to care.»
«Ah, what should I do?»
The rumors are so foul that it’s a problem.
Aster tapped the table with her fingertips and continued speaking.
«So, will the Grand Duchess attend this hunting festival?»
Andrew’s thick eyebrows twitched.
But Aster didn’t worry about him. As he handed over the documents for verification, he began to speak normally.
«If possible, please attend. If your scandal grows, it will affect the imperial family.»
«Yes.»
It was practically an obligation to participate.
After that, Aster said nothing, and Andrew got his approval and left the office.
The gentlemen he gave were a great resource. However, Aster often called Andrew to the imperial palace using that as an excuse.
At first, I thought he was torturing me with something insignificant.
However, as their time together grew longer, I could feel the growing suspicion in the nobles’ gaze towards him.
‘A man like a snake.’
Andrew hated Aster.