Chapter 132

Chapter 132

“I was born a count’s daughter, you know. Teamir isn’t some house that’s just a name like Highen. And I’ve been educated far more than you. Do you even know how many tutors—each paid more than your academy instructors—are teaching me?!”

Her face crumpled as she forced the words out. The insults she flung my way seemed to stir some emotion in her—but in moments like this, I knew it was better to act unbothered. So I just shrugged, as if I couldn’t care less.

“Hmm… And?”

“You shouldn’t be butting in between us. We’re on completely different levels! Everyone thinks so. I’m just the only one honest enough to say it to your face!”

“Hmm… I see. L-Lady Delmir, was it?”

“It’s Teamir!”

The bird-like woman shrieked. I waved a hand dismissively.

“Fine. Lady Teamir. Let me say this once: I am going to marry His Grace the Duke. No matter what anyone says, my feelings for him are stronger. So I don’t care what you think. You’d better head back—you’ve already stormed off. People are going to feel awkward.”

“……”

She didn’t answer. Her lips pressed tight instead. And then—thick tears were streaming down her face, right there. Good grief. Anyone watching would think I’d bullied her. I glanced around to see if anyone had followed me, thinking I might fake a bit of comfort. But there was no one in sight. Lucky me—I wouldn’t have to pretend.

“What’s there to cry about? I’m the one who got yelled at by a lady, aren’t I?”

I spoke to her as she sobbed openly, my tone dripping with disbelief. She whipped around and burst out in a choked voice.

“No! I only said what was right! I’m in the right! Everyone else is just being cowardly!”

“How about you be a little cowardly too? Gossip behind my back like everyone else. Usually people don’t swear to your face if they care about their dignity. Your friends might be fine with it, but today there were plenty of others around.”

“……”

“…Ha. So you’re not going back to the party?”

Of course, I asked out of politeness. I had no intention of repeating myself, no matter what she said.

“How can I go looking like this?!”

As expected, she pointed at her reddened eyes and nose and threw a tantrum. There was a specific phrase that came to mind when I saw a child like that: ‘Wow, that kid was definitely raised on nothing but love.’ But I wasn’t her parent, and she wasn’t my sister, so I had no need to indulge her spoiledness.

“Sure. Then go tidy yourself up first.”

After tossing out those few short words, I turned around and started walking toward the party hall. Soon, a huffing voice rang out from behind me.

“Why are you so bold? It was never yours to begin with!”

Her tone was unmistakably provocative. I could have just ignored it, but I figured a word or two would do well to put things straight. So I turned my head slightly to look at her.

“What I’ve won is mine.”

That was it—the Duke was mine. To me, it seemed utterly natural. But she clearly didn’t see it that way. Maybe because, as she’d said, I was someone who shouldn’t have been let into their society. She probably wanted to throw me out, the uninvited guest, right this very moment.

Well, whatever the case, I had no intention of letting her have her way. And I needed to make my stance even clearer.

“……Though, seeing what happened today, it seems the price of what I hold in my hands is going to be quite a nuisance. But what can I do? I’ll have to endure it. I’m more than content with how things are now. That alone makes it worth it.”

I added those words without taking my eyes off her. Then, leaving behind her thoroughly sour expression, I turned and went back into the party hall.

Inside, the guests were chatting about this and that. But the moment they spotted me, they immediately shut their mouths. Seemed like they’d been discussing Lady Teamir and me. I didn’t feel like paying it any mind, though. So I just returned to my seat without a word.

“What about Lady Teamir?”

Someone asked me through the hushed atmosphere.

“She’ll be along soon, I imagine.”

I replied with a small smile. And sure enough, not long after, Lady Teamir came shuffling back in. She gave a quiet apology for having suddenly stepped out and joined us, keeping silent afterward. Whether because she’d been scolded by the other noble ladies present, she didn’t pick a fight with me anymore. Instead, she just filled the space in utter silence. Thanks to that, the tea party continued without further incident. Pleasant conversation flowed in the gentle ambiance, and the food was quite delicious too. All in all, it was a fairly enjoyable time.

When the afternoon had grown late, the party finally began to wind down. Guests started to drift away one by one, and I rose from my seat as well. But I didn’t immediately board the carriage back to Covert-Halden. Instead, I waited until everyone else had gone, and when only Lady Auzentes and I remained, I spoke to her.

“Excuse me, Lady Auzentes.”

“Yes, Lady Highen? What is it?”

Truth be told, the party itself wasn’t really the point. Despite the pleasant time I’d spent there, I hadn’t come for that. My real reason for being here was to pry out information about the headless ghost. But I couldn’t just come out and ask her bluntly. Asking whether her House had ever had someone murdered was obviously a terrible affront. So I ran through the script I’d prepared in my head, then slowly opened my mouth.

“Would it be possible for me to see the Auzentes family lineage?”

“Huh? You mean the genealogical record of our House?”

“I’m sorry for the sudden request. I’m not entirely sure, but my grandfather used to mention someone’s name that sounded very similar to ‘Auzentes.’ He said he was deeply indebted to that person.”

“An indebtedness…?”

“He said that when my grandmother was pregnant with my father, she once took a ship for a trip. But her water broke unexpectedly, and a doctor traveling on the same ship helped her. In all the chaos, she couldn’t properly thank him, and he got off the ship as soon as it docked and disappeared. Sadly, my grandmother only caught a glimpse of his name. As I recall, it sounded very close to ‘Auzentes.’ And isn’t the Auzentes House known for producing many doctors? Maybe I can find that benefactor here! I really wanted to repay that kindness.”

Of course, it was all a lie. A story I’d made up to try and get a look at the Auzentes genealogy. Only then could I figure out who the headless ghost had killed about seventy years ago. And while I was at it, I planned to dig into the ghost’s deeds as well.

“Ah. If that’s the case, it shouldn’t be difficult.”

Luckily, Lady Auzentes was completely taken in by my lie. Or maybe she was swayed by my talk of wanting to repay a kindness. Last night, after racking my brains over this and that to craft that script, it was really worth it.

“Then, will you show me the family record?”

“Of course. Follow me.”

She led the way into the mansion. I kept thanking her as I followed. The place we arrived at was a huge library located inside the Auzentes estate.

“Wow, there are so many books. Most of them seem to be about medical knowledge.”

I looked around at the bookshelves as I spoke.

“That would make sense. There are many doctors in our house. My paternal uncle serves as the crown prince’s personal physician, and my great-grandfather even served as the emperor’s. Truth be told, there’s a perception that being a doctor is a commoner’s profession. It’s only prestigious when you’re the imperial family’s physician. My older brother couldn’t work for the imperial house, but still, I’m proud of him. Not because it’s a family tradition, but because I truly believe it’s a worthwhile calling.”

At that, she smiled faintly in reply. Then she walked to a corner of the library, pulled out a book that looked expensive, and laid it open on a nearby table.

“If it’s about the young lady’s grandmother… somewhere around here, perhaps?”

She flipped to a page and pointed at a name. It seemed to be someone from her grandfather’s generation. But the person I was looking for lived nearly seventy years ago. I lifted my gaze and began scanning the pages before that era. Then, at a certain point, my eyes stopped.

Jeymon Aujentes. Second son of Eston Aujentes. And calculating the dates of birth and death, he died young—before thirty.

That was all the brief entry said. Dying at that age meant he was either killed, or it wasn’t an accident or illness.

So, was this the man I was looking for?

“Excuse me… Lady Highen?”

While I sat silently, just furrowing my brow, Lady Aujentes called out to me quietly.

“Ah, sorry.”

Startled, I snapped back to attention and spoke. Then I pointed a finger at the name Jeymon Aujentes.

“Actually, just from the name, this one matches the memory I heard the most. Though my grandmother didn’t know his name exactly, so I can’t be sure.”

“It can’t be him. He passed away early. So there’s no chance he ever encountered your grandmother.”

“Oh, I see that from the year of death. My goodness. How did he die so young?”

I asked, feigning sympathy, though I knew the question could come off as rude. But I had no choice. I had to find out this man’s story by any means.

“Ah. It wasn’t illness or an accident. I heard he was murdered, horribly. By a manservant he treasured.”

And the answer came back, shockingly aligned with what I already knew.