Chapter 54: Interlude – Marie’s Melancholy
[space_man][space_man]One week had passed since the confrontation with the Goddess of Curses. Marie awoke in Eld’s room, feeling a slight chill in the air.
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[space_man][space_man]As she sat up, her naked body shivered. She stroked Eld’s black hair as he slept beside her. She had envied his hair color more than once or twice. Marie, born to parents with low magic power, had inherited high magic power through a generational skip. She didn’t think her father particularly cared. But her mother had an inferiority complex towards her own mother, Marie’s grandmother. Her grandmother had red hair and red eyes. So, she thought her mother might have hated Marie, who also had red hair and red eyes, to some extent. Still, she was grateful that her mother had raised her until she was five years old. Marie didn’t know how she felt about her parents.
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[space_man][space_man]She gently touched her lower abdomen, using magic perception, but she could only feel her own magic. If she were pregnant, she would be able to tell. She knew this because she had asked friends and acquaintances to confirm it in the past. Of course, this was a common method, so Eld knew it too. But he had never done it to Marie. She didn’t know if he was being considerate or if he intended to wait until Marie said something.
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[space_man][space_man]Marie sighed and got out of bed. She grabbed her clothes from the sofa and got dressed. Faniaal territory was getting quite cold. It would soon be the season for snow. She thought it might be snowing when she returned to Linus territory.
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[space_man][space_man]Leaving Eld’s room, she headed for the dining room. When she stayed at Faniaal House, she would wake up early due to her habit from when she was a maid. She could have slept a little longer, but Eld was also an early riser when he was here. It wouldn’t be a problem if she woke up first.
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[space_man][space_man]When she arrived at the dining room, the servants were bustling about, preparing breakfast. The food hadn’t been served yet, but it would be soon.
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[space_man][space_man]Marie sat down at her usual seat. The servants bustling around her were the same ones she had worked with. She felt a little uncomfortable.
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[space_man][space_man]”Good morning, Marie-sama.”
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[space_man][space_man]One of the servants called out to her.
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[space_man][space_man]”Good morning, Esmeda. You don’t have to be so formal with me.”
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[space_man][space_man]”Oh, but you’re Eld-sama’s fiancée, so you’re our employer too. We have to be respectful.”
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[space_man][space_man]Esmeda started speaking in a casual tone despite her words. She was the same age as Marie, but she was a veteran who had been working there for nearly ten years. She had actually quit to get married when Marie left, but she was rehired on a six-month contract until they could find a replacement.
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[space_man][space_man]Marie had learned her job from Esmeda. Since they were the same age, Esmeda treated her more like a colleague than a Senpai-Kouhai, speaking to her casually.
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[space_man][space_man]”Breakfast will be ready soon, so please wait. Is the party in the central capital tomorrow?”
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[space_man][space_man]”Yes, it’s the Saintess’s debut party. I was actually invited to the succession ceremony too, but I couldn’t go because of the recent incident, so they insisted I come to this one.”
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[space_man][space_man]The servants working at Faniaal House were aware of the incident with the Goddess of Curses. Of course, Esmeda, who was hired after the incident, was also aware. However, a gag order had been issued to prevent the information from spreading to the territory’s residents. They were also instructed not to tell any newly hired servants.
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[space_man][space_man]”What are you going to do after that? Are you coming back here?”
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[space_man][space_man]”Hmm…… I have a house in Linus territory, and since this is technically the lord’s property, I’d be a freeloader if I stayed here. Eld seems to want to go back too.”
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[space_man][space_man]”I see. It’s sad that we have to say goodbye so soon after reuniting.”
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[space_man][space_man]Esmeda looked sad.
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[space_man][space_man]”If you say that, do you want to come to Linus territory with me? My house there is small, but I can afford to hire you and your husband as servants.”
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[space_man][space_man]Marie said with a mischievous grin.
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[space_man][space_man]”Fufu. That sounds nice, but I’m planning to actively try for a baby once my contract here expires, so I’ll have to decline.”
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[space_man][space_man]”Oh my. Thank you for the offer.”
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[space_man][space_man]Marie smiled.
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[space_man][space_man]”Marie, what are you going to do? Eld-sama seems like he’d be quite doting and spoil his children.”
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[space_man][space_man]Marie’s smile faltered for a moment. But she quickly recovered, not letting Esmeda notice. Esmeda didn’t know that it was difficult to have children if there was a large difference in magic power.
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[space_man][space_man]”Maybe. He seems like he would spoil them, judging by how he treats Millenia and Jaylot……I don’t know. You know, I didn’t have a good relationship with my parents……”
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[space_man][space_man]Marie’s expression darkened. Esmeda took Marie’s hand.
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[space_man][space_man]”It’s okay. You’ll be able to interact with your children properly because you have Eld-sama. Don’t be pessimistic just because you had a difficult experience.”
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[space_man][space_man]Marie usually didn’t show her vulnerable side. But Esmeda would occasionally notice such moments and speak to her gently, as if embracing her.
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[space_man][space_man]”You’re right. I have Eld……But Eld is quite childish himself, so it feels like we’ll just have a bunch of kids running around.”
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[space_man][space_man]Marie said, regaining her smile.
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[space_man][space_man]”Oh really? He’s not exactly reliable, but I feel like he gets things done when he needs to.”
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[space_man][space_man]”That’s not true at all. He’s selfish, self-centered, irresponsible, and coldhearted. Honestly, I wonder how he manages to be a lord.”
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[space_man][space_man]”Oh my. Your future sounds bleak if you’re engaged to someone like that.”
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[space_man][space_man]Esmeda said, chuckling.
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[space_man][space_man]”Morning……”
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[space_man][space_man]Eld entered the dining room, sleepily rubbing his eyes.
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[space_man][space_man]”Good morning, Eld-sama.”
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[space_man][space_man]Esmeda instantly switched to her servant persona and greeted Eld. Marie couldn’t help but laugh at the sight. She was still amazed by how quickly Esmeda could change her demeanor.
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[space_man][space_man]”Morning, Eld. Did you wash your face properly?”
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[space_man][space_man]”The water’s getting cold, you know~. My face almost froze.”
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[space_man][space_man]Marie smiled wryly, thinking that he still gave answers that weren’t really answers.
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[space_man][space_man]”We’ll be heading to the central capital around noon, but is that okay? Do you have any sudden plans or anything?”
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[space_man][space_man]”It’s fine. I’ve been forced to do work that I could have put off for another week, so I’m tired and want to go to the central capital and relax.”
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[space_man][space_man]For the past week, Eld and Marie had been busy handling the acting lord duties and matters related to Landred.
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[space_man][space_man]”Haha. Sandrea will be back before noon, so we can take turns going once she’s here. I feel bad for Sandrea. She has to deal with the cunning old men of the Five Great Houses.”
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[space_man][space_man]”Are they that difficult to deal with? I’ve accompanied them to meetings before, but I’ve mostly just waited outside because only those involved were allowed in the room, so I don’t really know them.”
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[space_man][space_man]”Well, for some reason, our house was hated. I don’t think we did anything wrong, though.”
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[space_man][space_man]”I can see you provoking them, but the previous lord and the one before him don’t seem like they would.”
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[space_man][space_man]”Ahaha. You don’t trust me~.
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[space_man][space_man]Eld chuckled awkwardly.
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[space_man][space_man]”Oh, didn’t you make Al angry and cause a huge fight because of something you said back in the academy? That almost caused the academy building to be destroyed.”
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[space_man][space_man]”Ah, that happened, didn’t it~. What did I say again?”
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[space_man][space_man]”Who knows? The initial trigger was, as usual, me being harassed by other male students, and you and Al came to my rescue, but you said something that made Al angry, didn’t you?”
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[space_man][space_man]”Wow, that’s bad~. I don’t remember what I said. Maybe I’ll ask Al tomorrow when I see him.”
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[space_man][space_man]”Don’t do that. If you make him angry and they fight again, it’ll be a disaster. With their current strength, they might destroy the central capital.”
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[space_man][space_man]Eld said with a laugh, admitting that she was right. As they were talking, Millenia and Jaylot entered the dining room. As if on cue, the food was brought in.
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[space_man][space_man]Past noon, Sandrea and Rufus returned from the central capital. They were both in a daze and couldn’t even greet them properly.
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[space_man][space_man]”It must have been really tough.”
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[space_man][space_man]”It seems so. They’ll probably have a lot of trouble from now on, but oh well.”
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[space_man][space_man]Eld’s smile was somehow cheerful.
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[space_man][space_man]They then headed for the central capital.