When My Enemies Began to Regret

“…”

“A few days ago, he came back with serious wounds from the sword match. The doctor didn’t know that his organ had ruptured, but he seemed to have died because of the problem that occurred later…” 

“I’ve heard stories of knights dying from the sword match. But I never knew it actually happened.”

“Yes, however…”

Cecil laid down her meal for today and continued speaking quietly. “He was not trained by the knights of the same age. His opponent in the match used excessive violence even though there was no need for it, so Count Celsius will hold the responsibility for his injuries.”

“…”

“That’s the end of the story I know, Lady.”

Of course, she already predicted this. It was nothing but a man’s death. However, Shuteri was a commoner who had not yet been knighted. The opponent was coming from the Marquis Andras family. The weight of someone’s life was never equal in this world, so the trial outcome was obvious even if Count Celsius would take responsibility for that.

Carl would have been free or fined a paltry fine. But Fanora was sure Carl would take care of this. If that was why they were being noisy, that’s it. Fanora glanced at the sandwich in the middle of the table to hide her smile.

It was common for a person to suddenly die from an abdominal injury caused by a fight. Moreover, if the body was torn and broken like that, even if someone hit their injured abdomen again, it was impossible to know the truth of their wound again except if their wound opened.

Again, Fanora wasn’t on the list of suspects this time. With that, she easily got rid of the lump in her chest. 

“Today’s meal is delicious too. Cecil, you can go rest now. Just clean up the dishes in the evening.”

“Yes, Lady.”

Fanora wanted to laugh, so she chased her maid out of her room. With a sweet excuse, she made Cecil leave her room. Then she became happy as if it was a lie that she had been in a bad mood until now.

Fanora had a breakfast like that and made plans for the day. In the middle, she gently rolled up her pajama sleeves to confirm the mysterious bruises.

Fortunately, she received minimal help to change her clothes from the beginning because she was too shy to show her naked body to Cecil, so she hadn’t been caught yet. But how long would Cecil remain unsuspicious of her? It would always be considered strange that the young lady had bruises on her body from quarreling with someone.

Then Fanora  recalled Carl Andras in her mind for a moment.

After eating the soup, she put down the empty bowl on a silver tray and fell into her thoughts.

The conclusion of her thought was that she should meet Carl. Then she decided to put it off for a while.

Wasn’t the butler with a worsening condition, looking for her? 

Being able to speed up his illness with a basket of fruits was more enjoyable than the sweetness of the juice. In addition, once his condition worsened, he would quit eating popira, which was the reason his illness worsened. 

Fanora decided to spend her time diligently. She immediately got up from her seat, changed her clothes, and finally called Cecil to help her when she opened the back of her pajamas. 

“I will go out. Isn’t Sir Ronwe still sick? I was so worried about him that I couldn’t enjoy the banquet even when I went to the palace.”

“Ah, then I will prepare the carriage as Lady said.”

Cecil seems to be getting more and more conscious of her these days. She was quick enough to take care of everything she needed to go out now.

“Thank you.”

From Fanora’s point of view, who had only experienced being abused and lazy servants, it was natural for her to feel grateful. Cecil didn’t respond to her words and went out to prepare the carriage.

* * *

7.

About five minutes after that, her long-black hair had improved from Cecil’s combing, but it still looked disheveled when she went out the door. Fanora was 15 years old now, but she would soon enter the social world after her birthday. As she recently rehearsed, she walked with how the nobles should walk.

As she walked so gracefully, she could see a red-carpet staircase leading down from the second floor to the first. She also saw the chandelier that consumed Seir’s life had been replaced with something else. 

Fanora took a leisurely look at the scenery of the mansion and walked forward, but…

“Lady, Lady Fanora.”

“?”

It was just about the time she saw the main door of the mansion. The door slid open, and a maid in a uniform approached her at a quick pace. She looked in a hurry that she almost ran.

“Cecil?”

Fanora found her and walked a few steps closer, then Cecil gave her an envelope.

“That, the visitor… I haven’t heard about the visitor, but they’re waiting for Lady Vanora at the door.”

“Me? Who?”

“…the esteemed son of the Duke!”

The seal used on the letter was somehow familiar. This coat of arms with an insignia and a sword hanging from a part of the fortress wall drawn in a square shape. It was the coat of arms that every noble could recognize.

“Lord Aloken Jalier!”

“He asked me to deliver the letter to the Count. I already told Lady, so I will go up now.”

Fanora was sure she was going to meet him someday, but she couldn’t believe he came to visit without saying anything.

Fanora walked out hurriedly like Cecil did before. When she opened the door, what she saw was a carriage made of ebony wood, which was large enough to believe that it had come from the royal family.

“Ah, I’m here for the Lady. You don’t have to prepare the tea.”

“Yes?!”

The next thing she saw was the Count’s aide, who was at loss in front of that person. The last thing that caught her eyes was a man. He was two spans taller than her, and his vivid black hair contrasted the blue robe he wore even in the warm weather. Aloken Jalier bent his slender eyes and smiled while greeting her.

“Lady Celsius, I have come to pick you up.”

“…to pick me up?

“Would you excuse us for a moment? I have a long word with Lady Celsus. As I said, you don’t have to prepare the tea.” With those words, the crowd of servants disappeared. In front of the quiet mansion’s door, Aloken finally began a proper conversation.

“Why are you so surprised? I’m here to tell you the result you’ve been waiting for. Thanks to your treatment, the unconscious Duke really came to his senses.”

“That means…”

“I put the proposal together in the letter I just sent.”

The way he handled this was so straightforward. To be honest, she couldn’t believe it worked out so well that it almost Fanora danced. Fortunately, her joy was only expressed by a small smile.

But as Fanora began to plan new revenge in her head, Aloken suddenly spoke.

“Then I will invite you to the banquet as promised, so get on the carriage.”

“To the… banquet? Wait, are we going to the Sangtepul today?… Right now?”

“You’re not even wearing pajamas, so is there any problem?”

Now Fanora realized why the society had consistently raised questions about his personality. Aside from the rumors that he got the title by killing his younger brother, who on earth made such a sudden invitation?

“There is still time left for the banquet, but the problem is the state of the Duke’s body. He was barely awake with a little consciousness. So I want you to help me as the main point of our deal right now.”

“…”

“Anyway, you promised me the successor’s position, so our talented astronomer will definitely help me, right?”

Fanora couldn’t answer the sarcastic remarks that followed.

The first official meeting between Fanora and Aloken ended in an instant. She complied with the request to treat the Duke immediately. When heard the news that Fanora was headed to the Sangtepul, her father remained silent.

The carriage was so quiet that only the clatter sound rang. Their destination was quite close to the royal capital.

At this time of year, geraniums bloomed everywhere in the Sangtepul, creating a magnificent view that all the nobles wanted a villa there.

When the carriage stopped, Fanora naturally got off and looked around a bit. But after a while, Aloken, who had already got off first, was bewildered when he saw her get off by herself.

“Did you get out of the carriage by yourself?”

Fanora noticed it belatedly. Being used to being alone, she didn’t really care about it. Still, it was common for nobles to get off the carriage under the escort of a servant or someone.

“Uh, my feet already stepped on the ground. What can I do about it?”

If it had been the timid Fanora in the past, she would have been trembling at the thought that she had made a big mistake now. However, her new life was blinded by wrath, so she didn’t make a fuss about it.

“…”

Aloken looked at her behavior for a moment. Maybe it was the first time he had seen someone with behavior like her, so Fanora thought that she got his attention.

“Now I will tell the Lord the medicine that will cure your father.”

When Fanora stood in front of the villa, she began to discuss the main topic.

“I brought Lady Fanora from the Celsius family. Prepare the tea. I’m thinking of having a political discussion with just the two of us.”

She said that it would be difficult if other people heard about it, so Aloken prepared a seat for her. In that way, she could enter the villa in no time, and the interior of the building she encountered upon entering was even more surprising.

Since their mansion is located in the northern land where it snows, Fanora thought the villa used for recuperation would be somewhat insufficient, but it seemed she had been mistaken. 

It was dazzling luxury from the end to end of the hallway for a mere place to recuperate Duke Jalier. Even the beautifully coated jewels were used between the mirrors when she looked closely. A thief might be able to play and eat for the rest of their life by stealing that mirror.

The dazzling works of art made her rather alerted.

The young man who sat calmly in front of her was no better than a black panther. He was the son of Duke Jalier, who was called a powerful man just below the royal family. She didn’t even want to imagine him becoming her enemy.