Chapter 12
'In any case, if I can involve the Marchioness of Celestine in this matter, it won't be a bad deal even if I hand that woman over to her later.'
To do that, he needed to know how deep the bond was between the two women.
Laszlo ordered his servant to summon Edel to the reception room on the first floor. This seemed preferable to inviting her to his office, because although the reception room wasn't open to everyone, it was still a public place.
* * *
"What? The Count is calling me? Where to?"
“The reception room is on the first floor. You must follow me now.”
"Oh, I understand."
Edel was surprised by Laszlo's sudden summons, but she was relieved to learn that the location was the reception room.
'Since there are people around us, nothing dangerous should happen. But why are they inviting me?'
Idil asked Celia for permission, wiped her hands with her apron, and followed the maid.
Laszlo was already sitting in the reception room.
'Every time I see that man, I feel exhausted for some reason.'
Idil had seen many knights during her time as the Count's daughter and later as a Duchess, but Laszlo exuded an unrepeatable aura that she had not felt from the others.
It seemed wild and dangerous, but it was somewhat attractive.
That's what made him special.
“I’m Edel. I heard you called me.”
“Come, sit down.”
Laszlo was looking at the letter, pointing with his chin towards the sofa opposite him.
However, he did not speak for a long time, even after Idil sat down, took off her veil, and folded it neatly between her hands.
Finally, he opened his mouth when he heard her swallow nervously.
“Any chance.”
Edel became nervous at the sudden start of the conversation.
“Do you know the Marchesa Celestine, Barbara?”
“Pardon? Barbara, I mean Marchioness of Celestine?”
"Why? Are you unaware?"
Laszlo sensed from Idel's reaction upon hearing Barbara's name that they were very close.
However, Edel had no idea why she had been summoned and her lips felt dry. She couldn't speak easily, knowing that her answer might cause trouble for Barbara.
'It wouldn't be good for Barbara if she knew she was close to me. It wouldn't hurt to be careful.'
Idil replied with an embarrassed smile.
“Ah, we know each other, but we’ve had tea together several times…”
“This tea must have been something you still have to remember.”
Idil's heart sank once again.
'This man knows everything.'
She could barely resist closing her eyes tightly.
Edel, biting her lip nervously, decided to be bold. After all, neither she nor Barbara had done anything wrong.
“Well, if you remember me, I would be grateful, but I don’t quite understand what you mean, Count.”
It was a polite and vague reply.
Laszlo stared at Edel for a while with an unreadable expression before handing her the letter he was carrying.
“Isn’t it interesting that this stubborn old woman is earnestly begging a humble mercenary? It’s only natural to be curious about their relationship, isn’t it?”
"Is this a letter from the Marchioness of Celestine?"
Edel took the letter with trembling hands and began to read.
Although her interaction with Barbara lasted for only about seven years, their friendship was deeper than that of many people who have known each other for decades.
Their friendship, which began with a small favor that Idell did for Barbara, was anything but trivial.
Once again, Barbara, her respected teacher and dear friend, had a profound influence on Idyll.
"Yes…!"
'Please, don't push her into further despair. I'm begging you earnestly.' At this point, Idil closed her eyes tightly.
She tried to keep her composure in front of Laszlo, but knowing her friend's genuine concern and interest made it difficult to breathe due to the overwhelming emotions.
'I thought everyone had abandoned me…'
When she was the daughter of Count Canyon and Duchess of Lancaster, many people approached her as friends.
But when the Lancaster House fell, Edel expected her former friends to turn their backs on her.
It was natural. After all, she was accused of treason.
Even her family objected, fearing that their involvement would lead to their downfall as well. She held no grudge against her former friends for pretending not to know her.
But Barbara's letter made Idell realize her true feelings.
I've been longing for this feeling. I wanted to feel so relaxed.
Her status had changed drastically; she was now a commoner and a criminal. She was given as a war trophy to a man she'd never spoken to, and now worked as a maid in a grueling laundry room. Yet, this single message made everything seem alright.
At least someone believed in her innocence and demanded that she be treated well.
'But what will Count Crisis think? Could he misunderstand and believe that Barbara was part of the Lancaster faction?'
As the wave of intense emotions subsided, fear crept into her.
Idil hesitated, carefully choosing her words, before finally speaking.
“The Marchioness Celestine is a very kind person. Just as the Celestine family has no connection whatsoever with the Lancaster family, my friendship with her is purely personal. I hope she will not misunderstand the intent of this letter.”
At her request, Laszlo furrowed his brows slightly.
“Do you really think I would upset an old lady over something like that? Why do people seem to think I’m a heartless man?”
“No, no, absolutely not! If my words offended you, I apologize.”
“I look at you, you’re trembling like I’m about to execute someone at any moment.”
Then he stopped.
“…This is not something I should say in front of you.”
He avoided Edel's gaze, appearing unsure of what expression to use. It was a look Edel had never seen before from the usually sharp and intense Laszlo.
She wondered why, but then it became clear to her that Laszlo was the one who had executed the Lancaster family.
'Could he feel guilty towards me? That's unexpected.'
But there was no need for Edel to receive an apology.
"Count, you were simply following the Emperor's orders and achieving victory. The strange thing is that I am still alive, not that you have difficulty speaking."
Laszlo's expression changed again upon hearing her words.
'Did this seem too cold?'
Edel felt a pang of guilt, as she had never felt any affection for the Lancaster family. She didn't want to appear to rejoice in their deaths.
After thinking for a moment, Laszlo nodded slightly and replied as if nothing had happened.
“That’s right. In any case, I would like you to write a reply to the Marchioness yourself. She won’t trust anything that comes from me.”
"Me? Write the reply?"
Edel was surprised but also delighted by the idea of writing to Barbara.
"What should I write?"
"whatever you want."
Then Laszlo added, as if he had just remembered.
“Just so you know, I have no intention of treating you as society expects.”
At that moment, Edel felt a surge of relief. She quickly tried to hide it, but Laszlo seemed to have noticed.
I felt a little embarrassed, so I awkwardly changed the subject.
“Sorry, but I don’t have any stationery or pens. Could you lend me some?”
"Don't worry about it."
"Thank you. When should the response be ready?"
"Whenever you are comfortable."
Laszlo's tone was almost dismissive, but he did not appear angry.
While Idell was idling through Barbara's letter, she shyly expressed her gratitude.
"Really... thank you."
She was genuinely grateful to Laszlo for not misinterpreting Barbara's letter, for showing it to her, and for allowing her to reply to Barbara.
Thanks to Laszlo and Barbara, Edel felt a renewed desire to live today.
* *
“I feel strangely shrinking.”
Upon returning to his room, Laszlo took off his jacket and sat down on a chair.
He contacted Idyll to gauge her reaction to Barbara's letter, and he needed to understand whether the Marchioness of Celestine was anti-emperor.
But Edel showed no signs of hiding anything; she was simply surprised, moved, and struggling to contain her grief.
"She's like a wounded bird."
Her trembling lips and her attempt to hold back her tears made her look like a small bird with a badly broken wing, unable even to flap.
Laszlo was not so cold-hearted as to torture a dying bird.