Francis
–
The Duke who had so much love for his daughter could never allow her to live as a shadow for the rest of her life.
In this case, marriage was the only way for the sick lady to maintain her title without appearing in society.
He would show Juliet to society to let them know she was healthy and then he would find a suitable man and marry Iris.
Maribel thought that Raphael was the right man to marry Iris.
He looked very good as he looked like the Count who looked better than his mother who had an ordinary appearance.
It wouldn't be a bad thing for the Duke if Raphael captured Princess Kiellini's heart.
The carriage arrived at its destination, as Maribel was recalling her plans in satisfaction.
The streets were lined with rows of high-end brothel buildings.
The two entered the entrance of the largest and most luxurious building and met Sophie, as instructed.
Maribel pointed to a blonde woman among those who had been mutilated and quarantined for abuse by perverted aristocrats.
“I would like that person.”
Sophie, the manager of 'The Fallen Angel', one of the stores in 'Under the Wings of Angels', waved for the men to bring the woman that Maribel pointed out.
Raphael looked with disgust at those who sold even the sick and frowned when he saw a young woman walking with unsteady steps.
She looked to be only fourteen or so.
“She is very good.
The hair and eye color are not exactly the same, but they are very good.”
The girl, unable to move on her own, moaned constantly, as if her leg was in pain.
“She must be sick.
Didn’t you treat her at all?” No matter how cold Maribel was, she had no choice but to say a word at the sound of the girl's illness.
Sophie spoke blankly in snubbing Maribel.
“Brothel owners cannot give doctors to women who no longer accept guests.
This girl is lucky to be able to leave here like this.
The rest of them can’t leave here until they die.”
Raphael interrupted Sophie's words.
“Do you prefer to leave them like this, because the cost of treating them would be expensive?”
“There are some people who look for these sick women.”
It was Maribel and him she pointed to.
“Some people only indulge in dead bodies.
Some people like people who don't have hands or eyes to see.
Unfortunately, this girl hasn't been able to have any guests over since this happened.
If she had gotten a guest just once, she would have been given some painkillers to last her a few days.”
Maribel frowned at that observation.
“That’s enough.
I understand what you are trying to say.
I have a long way to go, so I need you to call a doctor and ease the pain.”
Maribel had heard about the Fallen Angel from Duke Miguel, the biggest store in the brothels in ‘Under the Wings of the Angels’.
He used to be proud of the history and of having visited several times, saying, “There is no woman who cannot be there.”
She had used The Fallen Angel several times, connecting women they wanted on behalf of the Duke or other nobles, but this was the first time she had visited in person.
Seeing the women sitting there with eyes like dead fish, she couldn't bear to think of herself in the past when she was crushed by her husband and endured the torment.
As Maribel hurried out of the shadowy place, Raphael asked Sophie, “So tell me, is this girl receiving guests too?”
He seemed to be constantly thinking about the girl who was supporting the sick woman.
“Why not?
The girl's appearance is not very good, so she has not received any visitors yet.
So she is serving the sick, but this is a brothel.
Your destiny has already been determined.”
The child responded absolutely nothing to Sophie and the guests' words, just kept his head down.
A child who was born and raised in the brothel area as the daughter of a prostitute, she knew very well how to act.
“Then I’ll take this girl too.
Don’t stop me.”
Maribel shrugged her shoulders at Raphael's aggressive attitude.
“I didn’t want to stop you.
I just needed a suitable child, but it went well.
I'm taking her with you too.
Don't open your eyes like that.
But she must be very expensive since she is young and inexperienced.I would like to tell you to pay the bill yourself, but fortunately the person who sent me here is very generous, so I think we can pay it together.”
Maribel looked at Sophie, after calming the aggressive Raphael.
“I only want one blonde here today.
Even if the child is mutilated, the combination of blonde and green eyes is very rare, and if you charge twice, I can't help but pay for it, right?”
After hearing Maribel's words, Sophie nodded.
“Yes, it is a very expensive combination.”
They were taken to a reception room for the VIPs, while the blonde girl was treated so that she wouldn't die until they returned to Austern.
Maribel drank tea and looked at the brown-haired girl following them without a word.
“How old are you?”
“I’m going to be seventeen soon.”
Raphael couldn't contain his sympathy since she looked so young, and asked in surprise: "Seventeen years old?"
"Yes sir."
“You’re older than I thought.”
Maribel needed the right person to be her ear in Tília.
When Raphael entered Tília's territory as a knight, she was going to send this child as her maid.
She hesitated for a moment at the age older than she thought, but nodded soon after.
“Well, it doesn't matter.
Do you know how lucky you are today?”
The girl nodded at Maribel's question.
“I saved your life from the brothel, where you were going to die of old age or illness, so you have to pay me for that grace, right?”
Maribel looked at the girl with emphasis on her specialty, 'I saved you, and you pay me back for it.' Maribel smiled satisfactorily as the girl nodded slightly more than before at her words.
“You have a sense of duty.
I will tell you what you will do in the future.
What is your name?"
“Dian.”
“Yes, for now all you have to do is wait for that blonde child to return to Austern.
I will slowly inform you on the way what to do after that.”
Maribel put down the cup she was holding on the table, looking happily at the girl who nodded softly.
* * * * *
“Tell me the name of the current emperor and the imperial family tree.”
“It is Claudio Martino Julius Kiellini Austern, and the Empress is Cordelia Lauren Harriott Bertino Austern, the first princess of the Principality of Bertino, who was killed by bandits during her trip to attend Bertino's Foundation Feast thirteen years ago.
The first Queen is Victoria Lauren Diannel Dudley Austern, who is the mother of the first Prince, Francis Raymond Judell Dudley Austern.
The second Queen is Irene Elizabeth Bertino Austern, who is the mother of the fifth Prince, Killian Mikael Hedford Bertino Austern.
Hoo, why are the names so long?”
While Juliet mumbled about the names of the royal family members, Simone watched.
“And again.
Why do you attach these useless words?
Direct members of the royal family place their maternal family names separately, before their surname, to announce which family they are from.”
Simone was a great teacher.
Her tough and cold personality remained the same, but she never allowed herself to give in when it came to Juliet's questions.
As she always said why, Juliet was able to learn and understand quickly.
“So, Kiellini is linked to His Majesty’s Emperor’s surname because it’s his maternal family?”
When Julieta asked, Simone nodded.
“That's right.
At the same time, the relationship between His Majesty and my brother was very strong.”
“Does that mean it’s not now?”
“Thirteen years ago, there was an order from the emperor to find out who was behind the empress’s death.
I don't know exactly, but I think he was convinced that Duke Dudley's family was behind it.
But there was no proof.
His Majesty asked my brother to find evidence that the Dudley family was behind this, even if he pressured them.”
Sa-chan
Sa-chan
Thanks for reading.
^-^