C13
After his marriage, Zachary developed a habit of bathing the moment he returned home from his campaigns. Blood, grime, and the lingering smell of sweat clung to his body after battles. But that was natural. The only thing one could afford to do in terms of washing on the battlefield was to scrub one's neck. Instead of submerging their entire body in water, they were more desperate to sleep for a few more moments so that they could kill at least one more opponent.
Of course, there was no chance that a young noblewoman could understand what the battlefield was like. How did Bianca react the first time she saw Zachary return from a campaign? She had backed away as her pretty little face scrunched up, looking like she was going to throw up at any moment. After that incident, Zachary started going straight to the bathroom every time he came back instead of checking on her. A husband who nauseates his wife? How ridiculous.
However, Zachary himself knew very well that even if he took a bath and freshened up, it didn't mean that Bianca would welcome him. She hated it. She despised him and found him obnoxious. Although he could read that just by looking at her face, even she herself had said it before.
It was another reason why Zachary couldn't understand what had just happened earlier. Unfurling and leaning against the edge of the tub, he recalled the events that unfolded moments ago. A sudden visit and an unexpected proposal that he never thought would leave Bianca's own lips.
What the hell could have happened to him while he was on the battlefield? The Bianca he saw today was certainly not familiar to him.
However, having said that, she was still the same as ever, she never changed...
“What do you mean 'an heir' when you're standing there shaking, afraid he might touch you. Zachary muttered to himself.
Her repulsion towards him. Her visible body trembling, shuddering before her hand could even get close to it. Her trembling green eyes filled with fear at the possibility that he might do something to her. Bianca tried to hide it, but Zachary had been able to see it as easily as looking at her palm. They were all the things that she exhibited when she was in front of him, in the past and in the present.
Zachary scoffed. He had no intention of taking her suggestion of an heir seriously.
After all, she was still the same as ever.
* * *
a wounded palm
The next day, around noon, there was a commotion in a corner of Arno Castle. It was not unusual for there to be a ruckus since whenever the knights returned after each campaign, it was common for the castle to be noisy the next day. Single ladies who were at risk of being over the age of marriage, as well as boys who admired men in armor, gathered around the knights.
The stories the knights told were as exciting as hearing a legend about a hero who defeated a dragon. Although the women were more interested in pursuing their own interests, the stories the gentlemen shared were the only source of amusement in this quiet and peaceful place. As a result, it was always a good day when the knights stopped by to share their battle tales.
However, today's commotion did not fall into that category. It involved a woman's cries of pain and the sound of a resounding slap.
Castle Arno was normally calm and quiet, like a calm lake, but that was disturbed by a noise that was as sharp as nails.
It was a place where people lived, so there were little problems and fights that arose over the years. It was just that this time, it was none other than the lady of the house, Bianca, who had initiated it.
Bianca could be described as, to put it nicely, quiet and someone who frankly had no interest in those around her, preferring to stay locked in her room. She was so impassive to the extent that people questioned whether or not she was capable of having emotions to show others.
However, as the daughter of an earl, she was thorough in distinguishing between those of high and low status, paying close attention to how promptly her orders were followed. Furthermore, even Vincent, the butler in charge of supervising her estate, prioritized her demands above all else and trained her servants not to babble nonsense in front of her.
Thanks to that, there was little to no trouble between Bianca and the servants. And that would still be true even if Bianca heard the servants talking behind her back. Even if she heard him clearly, she Bianca wouldn't cast a glance in her direction, her chin up and pretending to be indifferent, taking him as nothing more than inferior flippantly speaking with her mouth.
Although the servants found Bianca to be self-centered and finicky, she was quite an easy person to serve. As such, the maids were unable to understand Bianca's sudden behavior in the current situation. One maiden was visibly trembling, her mesmerizing blond hair messed up under her hat, her cheek puffy and red, and yet her face seemed completely stunned, not having fully understood what had just happened. The other maids were restless in her place, not knowing what to do.
Bianca looked at the blonde maid with an icy gaze. Although she was noticeably shorter than the other maids, the icy aura and searing anger in the air made Bianca appear more imposing.
Bianca spoke heartlessly.
“Whether cursing me or not, I have no interest in what you speak. I couldn't care less.
And that had certainly been the case so far.
“The lady is so insensitive that she didn't even say a word after receiving a gift from the earl.
"It bothers me so much that she makes us dust the tapestries almost every day."
"Why the devil does the earl still have a wife like her?"
Many of these comments had reached Bianca's ears tirelessly.
Even so, she had never shown them an answer since the things the servants would say were not a complete lie. There were even some comments that Bianca agreed with.
However, there was a limit to what he could ignore.
There was something even she, someone who tended to have zero interest in what others said, couldn't ignore. It was when the lower ones were unaware of her place and coveted what was beyond her reach.
"But compare you to me, your teacher?" That is unacceptable.
Bianca's pale hand sliced through the air, striking the blond maid's cheek with a smack. Her hand turned red and swollen as much as the maid's cheek, and despite how much she hurt and burned, Bianca continued without even looking at her.
"Bring me the cane." Looks like I need to punish her.
Quickly scanning the room, one of the maids hurried off to find one.
The blonde-haired maid's screams grew louder, as if in protest, when she heard Bianca's words, which only caused the latter to narrow her eyes at the sight. What right do you think you have to be crying? The maiden's face, with tear-filled eyes, was pretty and her figure was glamorous. She must have made her cheeky comments about her while she shamelessly believed her pretty face.
Just thinking about it again left Bianca speechless and distraught. Recalling the insults she had heard moments before, she wondered how the hell it ended up like this.
The fact that Bianca went looking for Zachary had spread throughout the castle. Of course, that was to be expected since she had stepped out into the entrance hall where all the knights were gathered.
Everyone was curious as to why Bianca had gone looking for Zachary. After all, she was "that" countess, the only one in Arno castle who avoided and ignored the count.
The maids were particularly interested in the earl and countess's relationship. Count Arno was not only young and handsome, he was also prudent, rich and powerful. He even had a nice body. He was like a prince that maidens always dreamed of.
There were a considerable number of maidens who wished to catch the earl's eye at least once and become his mistress. The fact that he already had a wife did little to deter them. It would be another story if he loved his wife very much, but everyone knew that the earl and his wife were a couple in name only. As such, there were many who clung to misconceptions.
And Bianca was certainly aware of the fact that they clung to such illusions. The current situation would never have arisen if they had continued to have those thoughts only in their minds.
The maids had been gossiping about the events of the night before, about how Bianca went looking for Zachary, only to be kicked out of her room. Bianca had been casually passing by when the maids raised their voices, completely unaware of her presence.
"So you're telling me no one heard what happened inside?"
"Do you really think someone could have done it when the butler was on duty at the door?"+
-Hmm.
"Still, isn't that a good thing?" Hearing that the lady went looking for the earl could be a sign that they can become closer.
“The lady is probably just acting on a whim.
“Still, it's something that hasn't happened in the last decade. Perhaps the lady changed her mind?
The maid who spoke first pouted when the other maid didn't seem to agree. The problem was the blonde maid who complained and refuted the other maid's claims.
—Hmph. Changed your mind, you say? But do you think the earl will accept her? Frankly, she's a shady woman, don't you think?
-In view of.
"That's what everyone thinks, isn't it?" The knights and the servants.
Despite the other maid's warning, the blonde maid, Ante, only tilted her chin up and raised her voice.
No comments:
Post a Comment