𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟒𝟎: 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
I’ve never seen a woman so beautiful. It’s not surprising that the king is captivated.
Her commanding smile seems to pierce through me.
I was waiting for her to speak, but all I got was her smile.
At some point, a maid whispered something to the concubine. The concubine seemed surprised and her eyebrows dropped.
“Ah, I apologize. Please, come this way.”
ㅤ
The maid touched her forehead, her face saying, “I’ve messed up.”
The concubine, with uncharacteristic speed for a noble, walked over to the couch and urged me to sit down, looking somewhat flustered.
ㅤ
“Pleased to meet you, I am Karina・Von・Glaunorn.”
“I am Lara Dosa. It is an honor to meet you.”
“Yes, me too!”
ㅤ
Being brightly responded to, I became a bit flustered.
This encounter was quite different from what I had anticipated.
The concubine, after suggesting that I sit, takes her own seat. Her manner is far from graceful, resembling a child plopping down with enthusiasm.
At that moment, the maid’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
The concubine, chastised in a small voice, drooped her shoulders.
ㅤ
“I’m sorry for being unfamiliar. I rarely invite anyone over and I’m not used to it.”
“I, I see.”
ㅤ
How can I put it? The concubine may look like a powerful beauty, but her essence is like an innocent girl.
The impression I had of her at the queen’s birthday party was that of a wicked woman who could manipulate the king at will.
But the impression I got when I met her was drastically different.
ㅤ
“Um, what was today’s matter again?”
ㅤ
The concubine looked up at the maid for help. It appeared that the maid was whispering something to her as if offering aid.
ㅤ
“Ah, that’s it! I was thinking of learning about Vulcano’s culture!”
ㅤ
It seems she does whatever the maid whispers in her ear.
Even her words are controlled by the maid.
Was it this kind of guileless behavior that resonated with the king? I don’t quite understand.
The only thing certain is that the queen probably didn’t like her because she lacked manners.
After lightly touching upon the history and culture of Vulcano, the concubine, who seemed uninterested, was inattentive.
How can I put it? She’s probably an honest woman.
At a lull in the conversation, the concubine initiated a new topic.
ㅤ
“Right! I’ve been curious, which faction would you choose?”
ㅤ
At such a direct question, I felt like my eyes were popping out just like her maid’s.
I didn’t expect her to ask me directly whether I supported the queen or the concubine faction.
ㅤ
“If Mrs. Dosa doesn’t mind, I’d like you to be on my side.”
ㅤ
I noticed the maid pleading with her eyes, saying “no, that’s not it.”
Presumably, the plan was to ask indirectly.
Unfortunately, the maid stood behind the concubine, so there was no way her message could get across.
ㅤ
“I think I can help you if something happens when you’re with me.”
“What do you mean by ‘if something happens?’”
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I reflexively asked back.
The concubine leaned forward as if she was about to explain.
ㅤ
“Mrs. Dosa, you are in a dangerous environment right now!”
ㅤ
At the concubine’s words, even the maid nodded in agreement.
What does she mean by a dangerous environment?
ㅤ
“Do you know of the knight Leon・Von・Montyver, who frequents the Marquis residence?”
“Eh, yes. Did something happen with him?”
“Yes! That knight is a pawn of a secret organization trying to bring down the Marquis family!”
ㅤ
The concubine looked satisfied, as if she had made her point.
ㅤ
“So, Lord Montyver is not just a knight, he has another face?”
“Yes, he’s a bad man.”
ㅤ
In a sense, he seems like a bad man, but I can’t imagine him working covertly in the underworld.
ㅤ
“Do you know about the accident three years ago where the Marquis’ daughter, Miss Irma, died?”
“Eh, yes.”
“It is whispered that Leo・Von・Montyver caused that accident. He had Miss Irma, who knew his secret, disappear into the darkness.”
“No way, really!”
ㅤ
Unintentionally, I forgot that she was the concubine and raised my voice.
There’s no way Lord Montyver would kill Irma.
ㅤ
“He seemed to be troubled by Irma’s persistent advances. In the midst of all this, Irma happened to stumble upon some information, so he took the opportunity to kill her.”
ㅤ
There were too many mysteries surrounding Irma’s death.
However, if she was called by Lord Montyver in the middle of the night, Irma would even step foot in the scary backyard.
And then――she was murdered by Lord Montyver.
ㅤ
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Yes, I understand. I was shocked when I first heard it too.”
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The concubine insists that if I continue to stay with the Marquis family, I myself may be in danger.
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“Lord Montyver’s way is to initially show a sweet face to the woman. Once she falls for him, he suddenly becomes cold. Now, isn’t he in the phase of being kind to you?”
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Indeed, Lord Montyver is kind to me.
It was a mystery why he was, but if there was a hidden purpose, I could understand.
ㅤ
“If you show him affection, he’ll flip his hand quickly.”
ㅤ
My heart was beating heavily.
While I found the concubine’s words unbelievable, a part of me thought they might be true.
ㅤ
“But Lord Montyver is of royal birth. Why would he behave in such a manner?”
“Umm. . . . . .”
ㅤ
The moment the concubine tilted her head, a maid whispered in her ear.
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“Oh, yes! The name Montyver didn’t exist until recently. Someone created it and thrust it among the royal family.”
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The more I heard, the more the suspiciousness of Lord Montyver was highlighted.
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“Do you now understand the danger you are in?”
“. . . . . .”
ㅤ
If I were to join the Concubine Faction, she said she would welcome Florenci as a schoolmate of the prince.
Being a friend of the prince is not something you can achieve even if you aspire to it.
ㅤ
“And you will also be welcomed as the chief maid. How about it? It’s not a bad deal, is it?”
ㅤ
My mind was a mess, and I was not in a state to think calmly.
For now, I decided to refrain from answering here and take some time to consider.
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