"Kaian set fire to that village, right?"
"...Yes?"
"Have you been to that village too? It's nothing special, but the northern-style meat pie I ate on the way was quite tasty."
Until now, she'd only had superficial conversations and formal remarks with Claudel, but Bianque, who'd been acting as if she didn't want to talk to her, suddenly looked interested.
"Now that I think about it, that village is located in the corner of Valmonde's estate."
"Now, wait a minute."
Claudel gently asked Bianque.
"...He started a fire... you said?"
Bianque frowned when she saw Claudel asking back without being able to control her expression.
"What? You didn't ask because you knew?"
Her face, which had been showing a slightly sociable expression for the first time, suddenly became cold.
"Are you even thinking about me right now?"
As the stern woman rose from her seat, Claudel grabbed the hem of her dress.
"Princess, please speak properly. It's important to me."
Bianque pressed her lips together and puffed out her cheeks with a "Hoo."
"It's because of Kaian that the village became like that."
"Hey, Duchess—why are you asking me that? You can ask Kaian, right?"
The moment the name "Kaian" was mentioned, Bianque got angry and heated up, as if something about him made her even more furious.
"What Her Majesty the Queen has told him never to reveal."
"Do you know how difficult my position will be if Valquiterre and Kaian find out?"
"Please."
"Get out of my way."
Bianque hurried to the bedroom door, opened it, and looked through the crack. When she saw the maids brought from the royal castle and the maids from Rowan Castle standing idly a few steps away, she quietly closed the door and looked back at Claudel.
"Don't try to find out about this."
"No, I really need to know."
"Is that so?"
Bianque raised her eyebrows forcefully.
"Would you give up your life?"
Claudel's eyes widened.
"Some truths require a price. How about it? I will tell you if you risk your life."
Bianque looked exactly like Valquiterre. But could her sweet and comforting blue eyes be this cruel?
"Take your pick. Which one? Either die knowing or live without knowing."
When Bianque asked if Claudel was willing to risk her life, her eyes were innocent like a curious child cutting a crawling ant in half with her fingernails.
"Ah."
When Claudel stepped back, a small sound escaping her face in disgust, Bianque laughed at her as if she'd known she would.
"If you said you would do that, you must have been brave enough, so I tried to praise you."
Bianque spoke forcefully.
"If what I said today gets out, I won't leave you alone. Please control people's mouths."
She opened the door and walked out as if her business was done.
"Oh, Princess."
"Where is His Majesty the King? I need to see him now."
"I will take you this way."
As Bianque disappeared, dragging her maids behind her, Madame Marcel, who had her assistants carrying loads of lace and fabrics, walked diligently and looked at Claudel with a vacant expression.
Hannah, who'd been away helping Madame Marcel, startled when she saw Claudel.
"Why are you standing? You're sweating so much."
Hannah took her handkerchief from her pocket under her apron and wiped the sweat from Claudel's forehead.
"I can't believe you're sweating this much."
"The Princess arrived so suddenly, it's no wonder she's tired."
Madame Marcel was next to her.
"You should also see the ball dress. I think it's too much for today."
"I know, it seems difficult. What should I do?"
When Claudel gave her helpless reply, Madame Marcel clenched her fist.
"I will try my best. You need to rest."
"Thank you."
Madame Marcel's assistants took the materials out of the bedroom. Now that Hannah and she were alone, Claudel finally got the time to rest that she'd longed for.
However, smoke of suspicion was rising in Claudel's heart due to the embers thrown by Bianque.
*...Risk my life?*
Until now, I hadn't known what caused the village of Plogne to become like that.
*Kaian said he made a mistake.*
In the meantime, I'd been able to guess what he meant by just looking at my husband's eyes. Even when Kaian was working with a cold expression, there were many times when his eyes were anything but cold.
Even if he was dissatisfied or spoke coldly, if I secretly held out my hand or took his arm, the man would hold me or put his hand on the back of my folded hand to cover it—he was opposite on the outside and the inside.
*When I saw my father's nameplate, I never thought I'd hear something like this.*
Nothing could be saved from the village that was on fire. If someone was alive, they might have taken refuge along the only narrow mountain path.
The village I'd seen over my father's shoulder as he ran along the lonely forest road with me and Hannah—running without stopping—was like a demonic beast that had escaped from hell, screaming with its whole body.
I was just very shocked that an item that should have disappeared was placed on Kaian's desk.
Without knowing it, I'd said it as if I was asking a question, but Kaian had answered like someone who knew something.
"Hannah."
"Yes, my Lady."
Hannah, who was getting out my clothes to change into and preparing a place to lie down, raised her head.
*Can I tell Hannah this?*
When I thought of Bianque, who'd mockingly asked me to risk my life, I thought I shouldn't tell Hannah, but my mind was in a difficult place these days.
*Claudel, you're really impatient.*
I felt like I couldn't bear it any longer if I couldn't immediately release my trembling heart. If I couldn't even tell Hannah, who should I tell?
"I think something happened in the village."
"Yes?"
"I've talked about that before. What the Queen told Kaian to keep quiet about—it was so strange."
I actually went against Bianque's warning to keep my mouth shut, and the words that came out of my mouth stuttered as if I couldn't even choose the right words to say.
"My Lady, that's because having a child makes you sensitive..."
"Kaian said that."
"...My Lord? Because of what my Lord did?"
I had goosebumps all over my body as I spoke.
"They said it was Kaian who started the fire in our village."
"Who said that?!"
Hannah, who was surprised, spoke as if threatening, but lowered her voice without realizing it. I muttered softly, feeling as if I was about to shed tears at any moment.
"Princess Bianque."
"No—what did Princess Bianque say? Instead of that, try talking again slowly."
Hannah pulled me over and sat me on the bed.
"I am his wife. Kaian's eyes and tone of voice were definitely strange."
"..."
"It seemed like he was hiding something from me. I was flustered. I'm changing my words."
I caught my breath. Even though I spoke slowly, I felt like I couldn't breathe.
"It's true that I'm on edge. I was in a bad mood the entire time I had morning sickness."
I hoped that at least one person would understand my feelings. I was a little more desperate because Hannah had said "Be sensitive," and I'd brushed off her words.
"But not this. It's hard to put into words."
"My Lord—there's no way he did that."
"...What?"
"Probably not. My Lord, he is not that type of person."
Hannah shook her head.
"He saved my Lady's life. He acknowledged the bride he married from Vermont as his wife."
"So you're saying that Princess Bianque lied?"
My emotions became more and more intense.
"She told me to risk my life. I heard there are such secrets in the world."
"In the end, you didn't hear it."
"Hannah, why are you so calm?"
"You should ask my Lord. That would be better."
"Princess Bianque told me not to let this secret out of my mouth."
"But now that you know, it's no longer a secret. Where is the secret that so many people know?"
Hannah wrapped her arms around me and stroked my back as if to comfort me.
"Try to calm down a little."
"Hannah, are you... are you doing this because of Rohan?"
"What?"
The more I spoke, the more confused I became. She wasn't doing this for no reason. But when I thought that Hannah didn't believe me, I felt sick to my stomach.
"Because Rohan is Kaian's person."
"What do you mean?"
Hannah shook her head vigorously.
"But why are you doing this? You should be on my side. You should listen to me."
"I prayed to my Lord even when you were unconscious. Please save my Lady."
"I know."
"I said that if he saved my Lady, even my soul would become a servant of Temnes."
Hannah's voice quieted down.
"But if you don't trust me, why should I stay in Temnes?"
She hugged me tightly.
"Ask my Lord. Princess Bianque may wish to drive a wedge between you and my Lord."
That was true. That's why I was so upset when I saw Bianque clinging to Kaian during the Holderley Round hunt.
"I will. Sorry, Hannah."
My friend's sigh passed over my shoulder.
"I did it because I was so frustrated and had no place to talk."
But my heart became even heavier at my lightly offered apology. It couldn't be good that I felt I was increasingly unable to communicate with my best friend.
"I'm not feeling well today, so I'll just change my clothes and go to bed."
"That's right. I will change your clothes."
As I obediently accepted Hannah's help, my mind gradually became more organized.
*I have no choice but to ask Kaian.*
It didn't matter whether Bianque was scolded or embarrassed. If it was my fault for leaking something I shouldn't have said, the Princess would have to take that responsibility as well.
I waited with open eyes for Kaian to return, but it was well after midnight when he entered the bedroom.
"I heard you were resting early?"
"I waited."
At those words, Kaian's expression softened as he looked forward to something.
"Hmm, if I had known you'd be waiting, I would have rushed."
"Kaian, did you set fire to the village of Plogne?"
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