Chapter 29: DENSE MARQUIS

Chapter 29: DENSE MARQUISIn a mansion in a certain fief, a woman was staring out of the window at the starless sky.

Even when she heard the sound of a carriage approaching, she sat still and made no movement.

No reaction could be seen from the once cheerful woman except for her occasional blinks, momentarily hiding her despair and sorrow filled eye. She seemed to be in deep thought, but at the same time, thinking of nothing at all.

In another part of the same mansion, a man could be seen coming out of a carriage and heading into the mansion. He frowned as he saw only his Butler outside to welcome him.

He shook his head as the other person who usually welcomed him home with a happy smile didn’t do so anymore. The younger man stopped and turned to the Butler.

"What about the boy and the Marchioness, Butler Richard?" He asked.

"The Young Master retired to bed after having dinner about an hour ago. The Madam has been in her room and is yet to come out." The Butler replied honestly.

"That means he ate alone. Again." The Marquis mumbled. He wasn’t able to return in time to have dinner with his son.

A frown remained on his face. Ever since he brought his son home, his wife who used to greet and welcome him home every time he returned, had stopped. Was she still angry with him?

’But I have apologized to her. We did not love each other anyway,’ he thought as he continued in the direction of his room.

It had been a month since he found out about the child and brought him home.



***

"The Marchioness asked to change rooms?" The Marquis asked in shock.

His wife had been sleeping in a separate room ever since she found out about his son, but her belongings were still in their shared room.

But now...

When they got married, the Marchioness was actually the one who suggested that they sleep in the same room just like other married couples, and now she was actually changing rooms.

The Marquis was perplexed. He had thought that the Marchioness would gradually get over the feelings of humiliation she felt from knowing that the news of her husband’s illegitimate child and infidelity had been known by others, but the Marchioness didn’t even join him for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and she was always in her room.

The Marquis sighed and rubbed his forehead as he headed to his study.

"Inform the Madam that I shall join her for dinner."

The butler hesitated but he finally nodded. "Yes, Master." He left to fulfill the orders.

On reaching the Madam’s room, the butler knocked on the door before speaking, "It is the Butler, Madam."

After some time had passed and he received no response, he was about to knock again when he heard her reply in a low voice.

"What is the matter, Butler?"

He didn’t receive permission to enter the room, so he could only relay the message from the outside. "The Master has asked that he join you for dinner."

"Inform the Marquis that I have already had dinner and that his presence is not wanted." She said curtly, then he heard nothing.

The butler noticed the change in address. Before this incident, the Marchioness would always refer to the Marquis as ’My Husband’ or ’George’, but now it had changed to ’The Marquis’ or ’My Lord’.

Sighing, the old butler shook his head as he left, muttering to himself.

He could only say that this was the Marquis’ fault, as even he could clearly see the Marchioness feelings. But he was only a servant and could not say anything.

Besides, it was their personal matter. The Marquis would have to figure it out himself, and think of ways to win back the Marchioness and return her to her once cheerful self. Otherwise, the butler had a nagging feeling his master might lose her one day.

He relayed the Marchioness’ answer to the Marquis who stared briefly at him before nodding.

"Did she really say that?" He finally asked, only to receive a nod from the butler.



He should have known. She hadn’t eaten at the dinner table ever since this incident.

He remembered that the Marchioness would usually be the one to remind him to have breakfast and dinner, and would always wait for him so that they would eat together.

The change created a sense of dissatisfaction in his heart, but he ignored the feeling.

"Master, when would you like to have dinner?" The Marquis was snapped out of his thoughts and back to reality by the voice of his butler.

"I am not hungry. You can leave, butler Richard." He said in a voice that left no room for discussion.

Strangely, he had no appetite anymore. He focused on his work instead.

Meanwhile, in the Marchioness room.

She continued to stare out of the window at the night sky. Then, she sighed and stood up, walking over to her bed to lie down.

Upon lying down, she sighed again and covered herself with a blanket, closing her eyes and going to sleep.

***

Aristia slept soundly as she did on most nights. Amberale had very good weather. It was still early in the morning and the air was cool in the summer morning.

She woke up the next morning and stretched her arms.

Suddenly, it was like she had a moment of epiphany and she sprang up from the bed.

[I haven’t effected any of my plans. I haven’t even been training. Oh, just look at these hanging fat.] She thought in dismay as she stared at her chubby little arms.

"I have to do something about this, and fast." She said as she got down from the bed and prepared to leave the room.

She was almost at the door when Alaric, who was woken up by her voice, said to her, "Where are you going, Tia? Will you not take a bath before you attend your classes?" He asked curiously.

Aristia who was almost at the door changed direction to the bathroom. "Oh, yeah. Hehe. I’ll do something right after I take my bath."

"But, the servants haven’t prepared the bath." Alaric said, feeling confused.

Aristia paused.

"... I want to wait for them in the bathroom,"

"Oh, I see. Then, wait for me, Tia. I’ll wait with you." Alaric called after her and got down from the bed.



Just then the door opened and Adeline and Cassandra entered the room.

[I need to attend classes first before I effect my plans. Oh. I forgot to get the schedule from the head maid. Now, how do I convince the Grand Duke to let me change my schedule?] Aristia pondered as she rubbed her chin.


Unbeknownst to her, the expression she had on her face as she rubbed her chin was funny in the eyes of their servants.

’What could the princess be thinking about? She looks so adorable!’ That was the thought shared by the two maids as they helped Aristia and Alaric get ready.

They headed to the dining room after their bath to have breakfast, and afterward, Aristia headed to her history class.

She met her history tutor and after the greetings were exchanged between the two of them, the class began.

Towards the end of the class, Aristia asked the Viscountess, "Viscountess Vasily, I would like to know about the Osric caravans." She requested politely.

"You would like to know about Osric Caravans?" Vasily asked, surprised.

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A/N

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