Chapter 76

Chapter 76

I already know that during the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet, people were gossiping about me behind my back. According to Hereis, it was because I was the Duke’s partner, which drew the jealousy of the noble ladies. But seeing this situation now, it didn’t seem like that simple a problem. If that were all it was, their actions wouldn’t have been so simple and one-sided.

“You bring nothing to the table yourself, but you didn’t want to learn any manners, did you? You could have learned as much as you wanted if you’d just tried, but you’re downright lazy. And yet you shamelessly trail behind His Grace all the way out here? Aren’t you embarrassed? Oh, I did a little digging, and I heard you’re from a ruined House.”

These bastards… They even did a background check on me? No, what the hell is this, acting like stalkers?!

Their emotions were completely transparent. They were written all over their faces. And they were raising their voices loudly and proudly, even in this busy crossroads where plenty of people were passing. It was as though they were shouting that bullying me was perfectly justified.

Seriously, just because I’m from a ruined House, that makes this treatment okay?

I narrowed my eyes at them. In response, they only raised their voices even louder.

“Listen here, Secretary. Let me give you some advice. Know your place. Be satisfied that you’ve set foot in a world like this once. Don’t get so carried away.”

From their perspective, I was the one in the wrong. They acted with such certainty, as if they had the right to judge me…

Unbelievable…

Back when I lived with my family at Highen Mansion, my lineage was never an issue. We lacked plenty, sure, but I was happy in my own way. That was why I never fought to reclaim the family name. But now, being dragged into this quarrel over my station — it stoked a grinding irritation I couldn’t shake.

“Hmm…”

I rubbed my chin, mulling over how to answer. Eventually, I decided to correct their misjudgment first.

“I’m not excited just because I’m here. I came to work as a secretary.”

“I’m sure that’s true. Your family wouldn’t qualify for an invitation anyway.”

“Then why say that? I’m only doing my job.”

Truth was, I understood exactly what they meant. It reminded me of the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet. Hadn’t they warned me not to aim for social climbing back then? They insisted the Duke’s side belonged to someone of proper rank. In their eyes, I must have looked like some lowlife trying to steal a slice of their pie — that pie of privilege the highborn kept to themselves.

“Well…”

The brown-haired woman started to speak, then stopped and shut her mouth. The bird-like woman stepped forward, blocking her friend.

“This is all for your own good. Don’t fool yourself into thinking the Duke treats you kindly. He’s not swayed by petty emotions, and he’d never make a foolish choice.”

Ah. Is that so?

I’d expected words like this. But facing them head-on was hardly pleasant. I even questioned whether I had any reason to endure all this.

I decided I ought to offer a proper rebuttal. I could just ignore it, but I didn’t want to. So I searched my mind for the right words and opened my mouth again.

“Listen…”

But then it happened. A chill washed over my entire body. I flinched and froze solid. The words on my lips were swallowed back down.

What is this…?

Something was wrong. The sun was still bright overhead — not the time for ghosts. That meant there might be a tremendously powerful soul lingering nearby.

“Hey? What was that? Why’d you stop talking?”

Their voices stabbed sharply into my ears. They seemed annoyed I’d cut myself off mid-sentence. But I ignored them and focused on the intense aura pressing in, even in broad daylight.

Where is it? The soul behind this dread has to be somewhere near…

“Laura!”

In that moment, a familiar voice reached me from somewhere. I turned toward the sound, and the Young Marquis appeared in my field of vision. His face was set in a cold, sinking expression as he scanned his surroundings. His gaze brushed past me, shifted to the Three Musketeers, then swung back to me.

“There you are, Laura. And these young ladies are…”

“Yes, I’m here! But I have something to tell you!”

I grabbed him by the arm and bolted from the spot. Behind us, the women’s voices rose in shouts. It must have looked like we were running away, but I had no choice. The intense, chilling aura was coming from him.

“Laura?”

“Later! I’ll explain everything!”

“Hmm… those women are glaring at you.”

“Ah… that… just ignore them! Follow me for now!”

“They’re stomping their heels hard…”

“Ignore it! That’s not what matters!”

And so we walked side by side along the fortress wall, a line of two. When we reached a spot where no one else was in sight, I stopped and turned, grabbing both his arms firmly.

“La-Laura?”

The Young Marquis flinched, trying to step back as if startled. I paid him no mind and began inspecting him—circling, peering, searching. But I saw no ghost, nor even a trace of anything resembling one.

“…What’s wrong?”

“Listen, Young Marquis. Is your body feeling heavy, or anything like that?”

“Hm… not at all?”

“Did you have a nightmare last night? Nothing like that?”

“I slept like a log.”

“Then why…”

I was about to ask why an eerie energy lingered around him, but my sentence died on my lips.

“…Huh?”

Something was wrong. I couldn’t sense any aura from him anymore. It was as if it had never been there—clean, wiped clean. I froze for a moment in shock, then snatched my hands back from him.

“What is it, Laura?”

“No, it’s just… I felt a soul’s energy off you, or something like it. But now it’s gone… I’m sorry. I guess I was mistaken.”

“Haha, is that so?”

The Young Marquis looked down at me with a faint smile. A pang of embarrassment crept through me. Looking back, maybe I was worrying over nothing. It’s not like being haunted by a ghost is a common occurrence. More likely, I’d just sensed a passing spirit.

“I must have felt a lingering soul from that spot. Ugh… I’m really sorry.”

It was a relief, at least, that it wasn’t some terrible ghost clinging to him. I scratched one cheek and mumbled on. The young Marquis shrugged as if it were nothing at all. Then he lowered his gaze and met my eyes.

“More to the point, you dropped your hair ribbon. I was just following you earlier to give it back. Here…”

He reached inside his jacket, pulled out a yellow hair ribbon, and handed it to me. I’d tied it up with a decorative bow to keep my hair in place, but it must have come loose without my noticing.

“Sorry for putting you to the trouble. Thank you for bringing it to me.”

“Not at all… And, well… it might be meddling, but, Laura—about those women… You can act however you want. You’re Illiaje’s person, the Duke’s. So there’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“Ah…”

Even without asking, I understood what he meant instantly. It was because he’d caught me getting harassed by the Three Musketeers, of all people. That seemed to have made the young Marquis worry about me.

“…Yes. I understand what you mean. The Duke said the same thing at the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet. But hearing what they said, it didn’t seem exactly wrong either. I really am the daughter of a fallen House, after all. It’s hard to act without any reservations in that situation. Well… can’t be helped.”

“…That’s not what I meant.”

“Oh, yes. I know… I… I’m just saying silly things.”

I waved both hands dismissively. The words had come out almost without thinking. But once I’d said them, they sounded like self-pity. What’s more, feelings I hadn’t even acknowledged to myself had leaked out, and I was inwardly flustered.

“Laura…”

“Ah, no. I was just talking out loud. Don’t mind me.”

“…”

He wore an expression that was part awkward, part apologetic, and I couldn’t find any excuse to offer. So I could only roll my eyes in embarrassment. Just then, the trumpet call I’d heard earlier rang out again. It was the signal that the gates were about to open.

“Young Marquis. The hunt is about to start. I really should go in now.”

I bowed my head to him curtly, then turned and dashed straight for the detached palace. Embarrassment flooded in right after, and my face burned. Maybe I’d gotten too familiar with the young Marquis. Because of that, I’d spilled thoughts I didn’t even want him to know.

Letting out a deep sigh, I stepped into the detached palace. That’s when I realized I’d left the hair ribbon behind.

Good heavens…

A headache was starting to bloom behind my eyes, but I shoved the thought aside for later and trudged up the central staircase.

“Lady Highen!”

I was just turning toward my room when a middle-aged married couple suddenly called my name and approached me. Their faces stirred something familiar, yet I couldn’t for the life of me place who they were.

“You came to visit us before, remember? With His Excellency the Duke.”

The lady must have noticed my fluster, for she spoke up first. And only then did I manage to dredge her image up from the edges of my memory.

“Ah—the Marchioness!”

She was the mother of the young marquis: the Marchioness herself.