IDLYITL CH 13

Chapter 13

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Preparations to Attend the Salon

“Honestly, I wonder who you take after, getting so dazzled by a face like that!”

“Oh, so you think Ikali's handsome, too, Anna?”

Psyche's face flushed like an apple. Anna found it both cute and amusing that Psyche how openly Psyche showed her feelings. In the end, Anna burst into laughter.

“My goodness, I have eyes, too. I’m sure plenty of other ladies are eyeing the position of the young lord’s wife. It’s a dangerous situation. You’re surrounded by rivals.”

“Hmph. I don't want to hear that.”

Psyche pouted at Anna's teasing. Anna calculated the remaining time until the party and smiled.

“Well, today should be a good day for you. It's a grand banquet, so Young Master Ikali will be there, right? It's been a while since you've seen him.”

“Yes. It's been months since I've seen him. I'm so happy. So make me look my best today. I want him to notice only me.”

“When have I ever not made you look beautiful?”

Psyche giggled at Anna's playful retort. As she had said, today was the day she would see Ikali again after losing contact with him following his coming-of-age ceremony. A major event was being held in Dawson. Now that they were both of age, would they only be able to see each other at official events? Psyche was starting to get a little gloomy, but she forced a smile as she imagined the face of the boy she liked.

Once Anna finished dressing her up, Psyche hurried down the corridor leading to the banquet hall. She stopped just before opening the door and took a deep breath.  She pulled out a small pocket mirror, checked her appearance one last time, then quickly stepped inside.

There were many people at the royal banquet, but finding a young man her age was easier than she expected. The moment she saw the back of the person she liked, her heart began to race.

“Ikali.”

She called out cheerfully, but he didn't turn around. He didn't react at all, as if he hadn't heard her.

Was my voice too soft?

“Young Master Demiosis!”

Psyche's heart swelled of finally seeing him after months. She bravely walked up to him, called his name, and grabbed his arm.

Thump. Thump.

Her heart was pounding as if it would burst.

“…Huh?”

Psyche's eyes widened in shock. His face was definitely the same as Ikali, but there was an unfamiliar aura about him. His grey-blue eyes, visible under his dark hair, shone with a coldness like snake scales. They were distinctly different from Ikali's eyes, which shines like the morning star.

Psyche’s skin broke out in goosebumps, and the fine hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. He looked exactly like Ikali, but he wasn't him.

“Hmm? Who are you?”

The boy's red lips curved into a soft smile. Only then did Psyche noticed the moles on the boy's cheek. His smile felt eerily like a snake’s.

Then where is the real Ikali?

Psyche was too shocked that she froze and couldn't ask.

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The preparations for attending the salon were proceeding smoothly. Anna quickly got along with the ducal maids, she took the lead and encouraged the maids to work extra hard, as this was their Madam’s official debut into Imperial high society.

The ducal maids chattered lively as they dressed Psyche.

“Madam, how is your skin so flawless? What did you use for face masks in the Kingdom of Dawson? Milk? Or flour?”

“Your hair is amazing too. You wouldn’t even need to brush it for an hour.”

“With your fair complexion, a pearl bracelet would suit you so well, Madam. Or how about this garnet instead?”

With compliments pouring in from every direction, Psyche’s cheeks turned pink.

“Thank you, everyone. You're just saying those to make me feel good, aren’t you?”

“Oh no, we're not simply flattering you. We're being completely honest!”

Anna, who was standing beside her, straightening her dress, spoke confidently.

“This is our Madam’s first outing since getting married, so we have to make her look more beautiful than anyone else.”

“Of course. You can trust us.”

For the maids of the ducal staff, it was the first time in a long time they were dressing up a young lady. Psyche played along with the maids' excited spirits.

Knock. Knock.

“It's Hans.”

“Come in.”

As they were curling her hair, Hans entered and bowed to Psyche.

“The carriage to the Williams manor is ready.”

“Alright. Thank you.”

“And... about that.”

Hans hesitated.

“The duke... has a prior engagement, so he'll probably arrive at the Williams manor later. So, the two of you will have to go separately…”

“I see.”

Psyche narrowed her eyes at him. Hans avoided her gaze, looking embarrassed. He felt like dying from the embarrassment, as her eyes seemed to say, that Ikali won’t attend with her. Hans gave a small, apologetic excuse.

“He did say he would come later, though.”

“Do you expect me to believe that?”

“Um, well…”

Psyche watched him fidget, then suddenly laughed.

“Don't worry, I'm not bothered by such things.”

“…Pardon?”

“I already anticipated he wouldn’t come.”

Hans became confused.

It was as if she was giving an unspoken signal to those around her that no matter what the Duke did, she wouldn't be disappointed. Even if it was just a marriage of convenience, she was only a twenty-year-old girl, wasn’t it natural for her to want affection from her husband?

“And Hans.”

“Yes?”

She had one more thing on her mind besides the salon.

Ikali will probably head to war soon…

At present, the Empire was engaged in a tense standoff with the Kingdom of Omalyte, which bordered the northern territories. Dawson had previously been under the control of the Empire for a long time and had signed a peace treaty, but recently, Omalyte had been aggressively expanding its power and eyeing the Empire's land.

In her past life, Ikali had suddenly announced his departure for war around autumn. He left for the battlefield just a week after informing her.

Does Hans know that war is about to break out?

It wasn't unusual for a lord to go to war to protect his territory and his country. However, other wealthy or nobles from the royal faction would often use tricks to send a substitute in their place or be stationed somewhere far from the front lines.

But Ikali had gone all the way to the front of the battlefield, to the Bluecliff Mountains. No matter how skilled he was, it was an incredibly dangerous thing to do. Hearing the news that he had survived stubbornly for four years on the front lines, people shook their heads, and called him a monster.

It's strange. Why would someone like him be sent to the front lines?

Had Ikali fallen out of the emperor’s favour? Or did he make some kind of deal with the emperor?

The internal affairs of the war were known only to a very small number of people. Psyche wanted to ask Hans, but stopped herself. She couldn't act recklessly just yet.

“Never mind. Just arrange it as if my husband won’t attend the salon.”

“Pardon? May I ask for a reason?”

“It would be a nuisance to the Marchioness if my husband says he'll come and then doesn't, and it would also look bad for me. You don't know exactly when the duke’s work will be finished, right?”

“That's true, but…”

“I don't believe the duke will attend the salon late.”

Hans was flustered, but he couldn't argue further, because as she said, the duke is a very busy person.

He might even forget about the salon entirely while he was working. For him, attending a salon with his wife was not a very important matter. How ridiculous would Psyche look if he said he would come and then cancelled later due to his busy schedule?

“Um, yes, I understand. Then, how about I send someone to accompany you?”

“Someone?”

“Yes, there's someone who said he would go to the salon with you, Madam. You’d feel more at ease with him.”

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“Wow, Madam, I thought one of the three goddesses of the Empire had descended! You're so dazzling!”

Roel Huygens exclaimed with dramatic flair. Psyche's face turned a rosy pink at his flattery.

“I didn't know it would be Baron Huygens who would be coming to the salon with me.”

“I was also invited to the salon, but I thought I couldn't go because I was too busy. It seems things have worked out this way.”

Roel, with his neatly combed flaxen hair, looked like the child of a prestigious family. Although he was now a proper head of his household, his family wasn’t particularly powerful, so he spent most of his time at the ducal estate.

“But is it alright for me to go to a salon with you? I hope you won't be accused of neglecting your duties.”

“Not at all. I'll be going in the duke’s place. I heard the duke is busy again today.”

So, Roel's argument was that he would be representing the Duke at the Williams manor in his stead.

“Even though the Williams household is currently assisting Viscount Warren, they're not a family we can completely cut ties with in high society. I need to do my best to maintain those connections.”

“That makes sense.”

Come to think of it, the Williams household would also be participating in the war that would break out on the northern front a few months later.

Partly because Marquess Williams was a renowned knight.

Maybe I'll be able to hear something about the war at the Williams’s salon.

It would be a lie to say she wasn't worried about the war.

Even though Ikali had stubbornly survived for four years on the front lines, the tragic end he was met with was being accused of treason.

Chapter 13

Chapter List

Chapter 14