𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟔: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲
I was at a loss for words, faced with information I’d never heard before.
It appeared that Lord Montyver too was one among those who mourned Irma’s death.
Perhaps his remark yesterday, stating how dying peacefully in one’s sleep was a blessing, came from witnessing his fiancée perish in the lake.
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“It seemed like Grandmother was eager to marry Irma off to Prince Engelbert, but it was Lord Montyver whom Irma had taken a liking to.”
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Lord Montyver’s encounter with Irma dates back seven years.
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It appears that Lord Montyver had been visiting the Marchioness for a decade.
I had previously heard the story that the Marchioness and Lord Montyver’s mother were tea-drinking friends, and he continued to visit in her stead.
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“A few years after Lord Montyver started visiting Grandmother, Irma, who was then fourteen, seemed to have fallen for him at first sight.”
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She wouldn’t listen to anyone calling him a real prince.
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“While it seems that Lord Montyver comes from a royal lineage, he is not a prince. Perhaps that’s why Grandmother spent a long time trying to persuade Irma.”
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But Irma’s love for Lord Montyver was steadfast, and eventually, it appears the Marchioness accepted their engagement.
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“Irma seemed truly happy. However, Lord Montyver, on the other hand. . . . . .gave off a somewhat aloof impression.”
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He apparently showed a kind face to the Marchioness, but towards Irma, his demeanor seemed somewhat distanced, almost business-like.
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“Both Grandmother and Irma seemed to interpret Lord Montyver’s attitude as him being shy, but I couldn’t figure out who he really was.”
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One side of him was the cheerful and bright Lord Montyver.
The other was emotionless and matter-of-fact Lord Montyver.
Having met him only a few times, Rachael apparently couldn’t discern his true nature.
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“There were times when I couldn’t help but think, if only Lord Montyver had been kind to Irma, she wouldn’t have ended up going to the lake in the middle of the night, wrestling with her thoughts.”
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Irma was frail, and it was uncertain if she could bear children, as stated by the doctor.
As the wedding drew near, she seemed to have become more neurotic.
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“But one thing I can say for sure is that the only person Lord Montyver has been consistently kind to was Grandmother. That never changed.”
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After Irma’s death, he apparently started visiting even more.
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“Perhaps he wanted to console Grandmother. Since Lara-san started coming, however, it seemed like he had another purpose.”
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Why was he, who never showed a kind face to his fiancée Irma, being kind to me?
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Upon reflection, one possibility came to mind.
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“Perhaps, he thought I had some value to him.”
“Such as?”
“Well. . . . . .maybe he uses me as an excuse, saying that he loves someone else, but she’s a married woman, when someone approaches him.”
“T, That could be!”
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The image of noblewomen approaching Lord Montyver was very much imaginable.
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“People like him might prefer a mature woman with a nurturing spirit, rather than a young lady.”
“Yes, exactly. He may prefer someone older, like Lara-san.”
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It seems that to Rachael, I appeared older than Lord Montyver.
Lord Montyver is, in fact, twenty-six years old. On the other hand, I’m twenty but have been pretending to be twenty-five.
Even though there should be a six-year gap, the fact that I looked older. . . . . .
I pointed it out to Rachael, my voice trembling.
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“Ah, I am younger than Lord Montyver.”
“Oh, my apologies!! How old are you, Lara-san?”
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Knowing that I am not honest about my age, Rachael comes closer and whispers in my ear.
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“I’m twenty.”
“That’s right! Lara-san, you are so composed and mature, I just. . . . . .”
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On the other hand, Lord Montyver seemed to look younger than his actual age.
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“What am I saying! I am truly sorry!”
“No, don’t worry about it.”
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If I let my hair down and put on a bit of fancy makeup, I might look my age.
When my hair is tied up, it probably makes me look older.
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In any case, after hearing about Lord Montyver’s situation, I felt I understood a little more about him.
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“Still, Lord Montyver was more noble than I expected.”
“Yes, that’s right. I’m not familiar with the royal family tree, but I believe he is a second cousin of Prince Engelbert?”
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Prince Engelbert is the same age as Lord Montyver, twenty-six, and their relationship seems a bit tense.
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“Lord Montyver has been seen cheerfully talking to Prince Engelbert, whom he admires, but Prince Engelbert seems uncomfortable with Lord Montyver.”
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Being relatives of the same age, there might have been a part that they were conscious of.
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“The king intended to appoint Lord Montyver as Prince Engelbert’s knight, but it seems that Prince Engelbert’s side declined.”
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After that, Prince Ghodrove welcomed Lord Montyver as a knight, and that leads to today.
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“The pairing of Prince Engelbert and Lord Montyver was very popular in social circles, and if they hadn’t declined, there would have been a string of fainting people at the evening parties.”
“Prince Engelbert saved the people then.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
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Somehow, I thought I would get along with Prince Engelbert.
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