IDLYITL CH 14
- Apr 3
- 7 min read
Chapter 14
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Like A Magnet
Since the Demiosis household wasn't entirely a pro-imperial faction, but neither had it ever fallen out of the emperor’s favour, him being drafted to the front lines and then charged with treason were both extremely suspicious.
Why was the Demiosis household accused of treason, when he was on the battlefield for four years?
If, in this life as well, and Ikali were to go to war and then returned, the emperor might have him arrested and imprison him. Psyche frowned. Even if he was a husband she resented, him being unjustly executed for a crime he didn’t commit was unavoidably unsettling.
“Madam, are you alright? You look unwell.”
“Oh, I was just lost in thought for a moment.”
Psyche collected herself and accepted Roel Huygens’s escort as she stepped into the carriage. She tried to calm her unsettled mind.
It’s not like I’m worried about him. Ikali and I are worse than strangers now. I'm just curious about what happened between the Demiosis household and the emperor…
Having been terribly betrayed once before, she wanted to keep a great distance from Ikali. Still, the idea that he might lose his life unjustly did not sit well with her.
In my past life, Ikali killed me, and then probably climbed the execution scaffold alone…
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The carriage carrying Psyche and Roel headed toward the Williams Estate.
In the Empire, it had become a trend for noblewomen to host their own salons, inviting artists rather than holding simple tea parties. Being able to invite rare tea leaves and artists from the capital was a sign of a different kind of power.
And since the Marchioness had put months of effort into the salon, one could easily imagine how grand it would be.
“Honestly, this is my first time going to a noblewoman’s salon.”
“You, Baron? Why?”
“I’m the kind of person who gets hives when I attend artistic and political events like these. But today is practically an exception because I came here instead of the duke.”
Salons were usually hosted by noblewomen, but the guests were diverse, ranging from politicians like chancellors to artists and wealthy merchants.
“Oh, dear. I hope I’m not putting you through unnecessary trouble. I could have just come by myself.”
“Not at all. I couldn't possibly do that, especially since I know who will be in attendance.”
Roel looked out through the window as the Williams estate draws near.
“It’s surprising that Lord Warren, now a viscount, has already returned to the capital. I didn’t expect him to restore that remote viscountcy tied to the ducal house so quickly.”
“Mhmm. And Madam Tilly will come as well, even if she wasn't officially invited.”
After being kicked out of the Demiosis household, Warren had reclaimed the viscounty that once belonged under the ducal house and made it his own. But neither Lady Tilly nor Warren were the kind of people to be satisfied with such a small territory.
“That’s why I have to be by your side, Madam. As long as I'm here, you don't have to exchange a single word with that mother and son!”
“It’s reassuring to hear the Baron say that.”
Roel’s over-the-top antics somewhat helped calm down Psyche’s nerves. In her past life, too, Roel had been a truly warm-hearted man.
As the carriage stopped, Roel stepped out first and extended his hand to escort her.
“Please take my hand, Madam.”
Roel gave her a kind smile, and Psyche took his hand. As she held his hand and stepped down, she was suddenly reminded of her past life. Specifically, the memories from after he was accused of treason.
…Come to think of it, what happened to Roel when the Dukedom was accused of treason?
For some reason, she couldn't remember his final moments.
• ───────── ☽༓☾ ───────── •
Psyche was guided into a large reception room with wine-coloured wallpaper. The salon was quite elaborate, with a small orchestra on one side, a table full of trendy desserts from the capital, and a poet ready for a reading.
A noblewoman in a velvet dress approached Psyche. It was the host of the salon, Marchioness Williams.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Duchess Demiosis. I am Mia Williams.”
“Thank you for the invitation, Marchioness. I’m Psyche.”
“The pleasure is all mine. I’m so honoured to be able to meet you in person. I can’t tell you how happy I was when you accepted my invitation.”
Even if it was just polite flattery, it was pleasant to hear. In the past, Psyche had been too afraid of encountering Madam Tilly in high society to befriend any other noblewomen.
She worried they would gossip about the princess who was sold off, and she would freeze whenever Madam Tilly looked at her with her malicious glare. She had even tried asking Ikali to accompany her to social events, thinking it would be better with her husband, but he was always too busy.
Although Warren will be here… this isn't so bad.
The fragrant scent of tea and sweet desserts, and listening to a poetry reading in a room with a gentle breeze, was the kind of social event she had once dreamed of. To her, who had never hosted a tea party for fear of being ridiculed or Madam Tilly unexpectedly showing up, this place was almost incredibly romantic.
“This salon is so beautiful. I can feel the love you put into it, Marchioness.”
“Oh, really? I put a lot of effort into everything, from the artists to the interior design. I’m glad you noticed.”
The Marchioness’s blunt way of speaking instead of being pretentious, made her more likeable. Roel, taking a look around the salon, quickly came to her side.
“Viscount Warren isn’t here yet, Madam.”
“You don’t have to be so wary. There are plenty of people here.”
But of course, Madam Tilly wasn’t someone who cared about appearances. In fact, she would be delighted to humiliate Psyche in front of a large crowd.
But no one cares about their reputation more than Warren…
Psyche was no longer afraid of Madam Tilly’ causing a scene, but she was still very uneasy about how Warren would approach her.
“Oh, look who it is.”
As Psyche and Roel turned their heads, Warren was pushing his wheelchair toward them. His neatly combed hair made his striking features stand out even more. Psyche found this man, whose face was the same as her husband’s, more unsettling than Madam Tilly. It stirred an instinctive revulsion in her, but she quickly smoothed over her expression.
“Hello, Viscount.”
“Is this is your first time meeting me after seeing you at Lacon Square? I’m glad you really came to the salon.”
Warren spoke with a proud expression, as if he were the host of the salon. Even though he was just trying to build a temporary friendship with Marquess Williams…
Psyche simply nodded, with a blank expression.
“Yes, it would have been a shame to miss such a beautiful salon. I plan on having a good time and then heading back home.”
Her calm reply made him a bit surprised, but Warren returned the favour with a soft smile. A boyish smile that many women liked.
“Then let’s talk later, after the poetry reading is over. We have plenty to discuss, don’t we?”
I wonder. What could he and I possibly have to talk about?
Psyche silently watched Warren return to his place without responding.
• ───────── ☽༓☾ ───────── •
The short concert and poetry reading featuring well-known poets finally ended, now followed by a tea session for the noblewomen. Roel, who had come to look after Psyche, stood with the other attendants against the wall. The other men in the salon left the room to smoke cigars and Warren was one of them.
Seated with the other ladies, Psyche took a sip of her tea.
“Did you say the poet was from the South? It’s been so long since I’ve heard such an enchanting poetry.”
“Right? I specially invited my favourite poet. Artists from the south can be quite proud, so it wasn’t easy to bring him here.”
The poetry reading was refined and cultured, clearly reflecting the host’s taste. Psyche nodded, still lost in the afterglow.
“I’m going to buy all his poetry collections as soon as I return home.”
“Oh, my. I can just give them to you, since you liked them so much.”
“No, need. I believe one has to pay for all sorts of art works.”
The Marchioness laughed, as if she found Psyche’s enthusiasm endearing. Mia Williams then leaned in and whispered to her.
“Honestly, I didn’t want to invite Baron Warren to the salon. But my husband was so insistent that I had no choice but to invite only him.”
Psyche’s eyes widened.
“May I ask why you’re telling me this, Marchioness?”
“I just want to clear up the misunderstanding that I invited you both to make a spectacle out of you. In fact, when you responded that you might not be able to come to the salon, I understood.”
“I see.”
Psyche looked at the Marchioness in surprise, and the Marchioness winked at her.
“But don’t worry, I didn’t invite Madam Tilly. I’m not that inconsiderate.”
“Ah.”
Psyche smiled awkwardly. She knew that Madam Tilly would follow Warren wherever he went, like a magnet. She felt sorry for the Marchioness, who had tried to be considerate.
• ───────── ☽༓☾ ───────── •
Engrossed in the poetry reading, the memories of her past life and her wounds from Ikali didn’t bother her. As she immersed herself and engaged with the others, time flew by. The sun, which had been high in the sky, was now starting to set. While everyone was drinking tea together, the reception door opened.
“Oh, dear. I hope I’m not too late?”
A pair of emerald green eyes gleamed. Madam Tilly took a bold step into the reception room.
Sigh. I guess there’s no one in the Empire more brazen than her.
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