A Change of Husband - Chapter 113

Lydia came to see her just when Asilie had finished lunch and was beginning to wonder how to spend her rare free afternoon.

 

“This.”

 

Asilie looked down at the metal ring in surprise, offered without any explanation.

 

Ever since returning to this world, she already knew Lydia was alive, so she hadn’t given much thought to the ring.

 

She had assumed it was still at Count Bonaparte’s estate—but how did Lydia come to have it?

 

“I couldn’t bring it at the time…”

 

“You probably weren’t in the right mind to pack. This is something important to me, so I went and got it myself.”

 

“Wasn’t it dangerous?”

 

“This belongs to me. So it wasn’t difficult. Just like how the favor you asked me wasn’t such a big deal. Anyway, take it. My arm is getting tired.”

 

Only then did Asilie realize she had kept Lydia waiting too long and took the ring, slipping it onto her finger.

 

“It will protect you in a dangerous situation. Though it’s best if nothing like that ever happens.”

 

“…Thank you. You may think it’s nothing, but it always helps me a lot, Lydia.”

 

“It’s only natural.”

 

Asilie quietly looked at Lydia’s face as she smiled back.

 

She looked healthier, with more color in her face than when she had seen her at the Grandier estate.

 

Asilie thought life in the palace might not be so bad for Lydia, but then she remembered a conversation she had with Esperad.

 

“I’m curious about everything. But what I’m most curious about… is Lydia and Sir Villian. You two didn’t seem like just acquaintances. And you entrusted Lydia’s protection to Sir Villian here too, so I thought something must be going on.”

 

“They were a happy and healthy couple. Edgar followed his sister-in-law around a lot.”

 

“I figured as much. Lydia is charming, after all.”

 

“Maybe it’s fate or destiny, but it seems like Edgar still cares about her in this world too.”

 

It was up to them, but as her sister, she couldn’t help but worry a little.

 

Wanting to hear more, Asilie brought up the subject carefully.

 

“By the way, don’t you feel stifled living in the palace?”

 

“I’m fine. When the late king was alive, I was watched all day long. Compared to that, this is nothing.”

 

“I’m glad to hear that. Oh, and how’s it going with Sir Villian? Is it uncomfortable?”

 

“Sir Villian?”

 

Asilie noticed Lydia flinch slightly at the name but acted as if she hadn’t and continued casually.

 

“Esperad told me. You two are always together.”

 

“Well, yeah. I guess so.”

 

Lydia responded casually, but her reaction was different from how she usually talked about other people.

 

She especially couldn’t meet Asilie’s eyes properly.

 

“…Is that so?”

 

“Why?”

 

“It’s just… a grown man and woman staying close all the time isn’t always easy. It can be stressful, or maybe…”

 

Asilie finished with a light tone,

 

“Maybe strange feelings start to develop.”

 

“I don’t think there’s any sign of that.”

 

Lydia’s reply came a bit faster than usual.

 

“He’s just… my knight protecting me, and I’m just someone being watched and guarded by him.”

 

“Is that so? If you say so, then that’s how it is.”

 

Asilie didn’t push further.

 

If Lydia didn’t answer when she first asked, pressing again wouldn’t get a truthful answer. Besides, Asilie already sensed that Lydia was thinking about Edgar.

 

Still, it felt strange. Even though Edgar and Lydia had met under different circumstances in a different world, they were still drawn to each other.

 

Is it common for things from before to repeat?

 

“…It’s so strange.”

 

“What is?”

 

“There’s too much that feels strange, I don’t even know where to begin, but… it feels like events from the previous world are repeating here.”

 

“Exactly the same?”

 

“Not exactly, but similar. This is a different world, a different time, a different place… but somehow, similar things keep happening and probably will continue to happen. Even though things that happened in the previous world are now things that haven’t happened here.”

 

Lydia listened quietly and nodded.

 

“It makes sense you’d feel that way.”

 

“What is the right answer? Really… it’s all so confusing. I don’t know anymore.”

 

“I think you already know the answer, Asilie.”

 

“I already know?”

 

“You said it yourself. It’s a different world. That means it is different. And you need to see it differently and live differently too.”

 

Knowing something in your head and actually feeling it are very different.

 

Logically, Asilie knew she should see and live differently in this world, but when things actually happened, she found herself reacting the same way as before.

 

“I know it’s confusing. Living through two different worlds isn’t a blessing or a miracle. It’s just like dragging along a connection you couldn’t let go of by chance.”

 

Lydia seemed to want to say something more, her lips parting slightly, but she just looked at Asilie with a frustrated expression.

 

Asilie remembered Lydia once told her that people with supernatural powers like hers could face consequences from the world if they shared too much information.

 

Maybe now was that moment for her.

 

But in the end, Lydia seemed to make up her mind and continued speaking.

 

“His Majesty and you will probably try to interpret things here based on your experiences from the previous world. That might be the only penalty for those who’ve broken the rules of the world.”

 

Asilie felt a dull ache in her head as if she almost understood but not quite.

 

She didn’t want to burden Lydia, but she desperately needed advice to ease this confusion.

 

“I learned that two worlds split from a single event. But we don’t know what that event was or when it happened.”

 

“…That’s true.”

 

“Then we can’t tell what’s the same and what’s different. But people believe what they see. If something looks the same, they believe it is. And I think that might keep holding you back.”

 

“I… I don’t really know.”

 

Asilie could understand what Lydia was saying.

 

But even so, she couldn’t clearly tell where she had gone wrong, or what exactly the mistake was.

 

Maybe she hadn’t even realized she was mistaken at all until now.

 

“This is all I can say for today. I don’t think I can go further.”

 

Asilie nodded silently.

 

Even if Lydia had said more, it likely wouldn’t have cleared up all her strange feelings anyway.

 

“You helped me a lot already. Go get some rest, Lydia.”

 

Lydia’s face was quite pale, perhaps because she had said more than she should have.

 

After Asilie sent her off, the maids came in to clear the tea.

 

Asilie, who hadn’t found a place to fix her gaze, quietly watched the maids cleaning up the tea and wiping the table—including that maid.

 

Then she suddenly called out to Lady Marce.

 

“Lady Marce.”

 

“Yes, my lady? Do you need something?”

 

“No, it’s not that exactly…”

 

Asilie had already been thinking she needed to address this issue soon, so she looked at the maids and spoke in her usual gentle tone.

 

“Come to think of it, since I entered the palace, I haven’t even learned the names or family backgrounds of the maids who serve me so diligently.”

 

“Oh my, I must have forgotten to introduce them because I’ve been so busy. That was my mistake, my lady.”

 

It was a normal procedure, but Asilie had been in such a hurry that she hadn’t even realized Lady Marce had skipped it.

 

Asilie shook her head at Lady Marce’s apology.

 

“No, madam. I know you’ve had many responsibilities since my sudden entry into the palace. I wasn’t blaming you.”

 

“Even so, it’s clearly my fault, my lady. I apologize.”

 

“Please don’t. But if it’s not too much trouble, may I learn their names and family origins now? Oh, and before that… will these maids continue to serve me even after the royal wedding?”

 

“Yes, my lady.”

 

“Then it’s even more important that I know.”

 

At her words, Lady Marce instructed the maids to introduce themselves.

 

About ten maids began introducing themselves in turn.

 

“I’m Elena of Baron Portoros’ house.”

 

“I’m Mirabella of Viscount Obern’s house.”

 

“I’m Seneor of Baron Dellaweust’s house.”

 

Then came the turn of the maid in question, the one Sophia had warned her about.

 

She, like the others, introduced herself plainly.

 

“I’m Eva of Baron Febene’s house.”

 

Febene was a region in the south, so it must be a small noble house from there.

 

Asilie had learned that southern nobles, who dealt more with foreign countries, tended to have progressive political views.

 

Eva was probably adopted into the Febene house, or pretending to be from there with the help of someone willing to cover for her.

 

Benjamin came to Asilie’s mind—Benjamin, who had helped Count Mirk and was killed by him, was now at Esperad’s side.

 

Could it be him?

 

Then, Asilie’s eyes suddenly turned to Madam Marce.
At that moment, the introductions of the maids had just ended.

 

“You are all wonderful. I’m curious how such excellent ladies came to serve me in the palace.”

 

“They were chosen through a strict selection process, as they are to serve Her Majesty the Queen,”
Madam Marce answered on behalf of the maids.

 

“I see. Was there still a lot of competition, even though the engagement with His Majesty was arranged so quickly?”

 

“Of course. Even so, in the end, I personally interviewed each applicant and carefully chose only those who seemed like they could truly help the young lady who will become the mother of this country. Each one has a special talent and is nearly perfect in every way.”

 

“…I see.”

 

Since Asilie didn’t seem very pleased, Madam Marce asked with a worried look.

 

“Is there someone you don’t like?”

 

Seeing her face, Asilie couldn’t help but give a bitter smile.
Unless Madam Marce had switched sides, the fact that a conservative noble’s spy had made it through even her personal interviews meant that serious attempts had been made.

 

Asilie suddenly felt dizzy at the thought that Eva might not be the only one planted by the conservatives.
But for now, she simply shook her head.

 

“Of course not. But I do think we need to reduce the number of maids.”

 

“Excuse me?”

 

This was exactly the reason she had asked to be introduced to the maids in the first place.
Madam Marce’s face stiffened at the unexpected comment.

 

“The atmosphere inside and outside the palace isn’t good right now, and His Majesty has only recently taken the throne. The palace isn’t fully stable yet. I don’t like the idea that such talented people are moving only to serve me, even though I haven’t even had the royal wedding yet.”

 

“But eventually, they will be your personal maids.”

 

“I know that, Madam. That’s why I’m refusing for now. I hope you don’t misunderstand me. What I mean is that since I have no real duties right now, having so many talented people around me is just a waste of resources. It will be different after the royal wedding.”

 

Madam Marce still didn’t look pleased.
But Asilie could Asilie guess that her opinion would eventually be accepted.

 

 

It was very early in the morning, when no one else was awake, that Joseph quietly got out of bed and slipped out from under his blanket.

 

‘There’s no one here, right?’

 

Yesterday, he had made a huge fuss, complaining about the noise from the knights moving around at dawn, and had called the knight commander.
In the end, the commander had promised to reduce the number of guards during the night as much as possible.

 

Still, Joseph had ordered that no guards be placed around his room or in the hallway for just this one day, so he could sleep well.
The knight commander didn’t want to waste energy fighting with Joseph, who was known to be furious and dangerous before battles.

 

Thanks to that, Joseph could now walk down the empty hallway toward the stables.

 

‘Hmm.’
Joseph checked his surroundings in the flickering torchlight and, after confirming the light he saw was coming from far away, quickly entered the stables.

 

‘Let’s get this over with.’
He quickly lit the torch inside.
The sudden light startled the horses, and they neighed loudly, but Joseph didn’t care and moved quickly.

 

At this time of night, no one would notice the noise quickly enough.

 

“There!”
Joseph found Geoffrey’s horse, Troy, and hurried over.
Yesterday, he had watched Count Bonaparte and Geoffrey doing final maintenance on the equipment for the battle.

 

From how detailed they were, it had to be the last check before setting out.

 

‘They’ll never suspect a thing.’
Joseph took a knife and cut the strap connecting Troy’s body to the saddle, almost all the way through.

 

After running a few times, the strap would snap completely, and Geoffrey would fall off.
Falling off a horse in battle meant certain death.

 

‘Did you think you could live after turning me into this? Don’t be ridiculous.’

 

Whether Geoffrey died or ended up crippled for life, Joseph would gladly welcome either outcome.
If Joseph couldn’t have something, then Geoffrey shouldn’t have it either. Geoffrey should’ve known that before crossing him.

 

“Heh heh…”

 

Bang!

 

Suddenly, a loud noise rang out. Joseph quickly put out the torch and threw himself flat on the ground.

 

The horses, also frightened, neighed and jumped around wildly.

 

“What’s that noise?”
“What is it? Go check!”
“Fire!”
“It’s not the mansion! Over there!”

 

Hearing people’s voices, Joseph finally hid his body and pretended he had just come out of the mansion as he looked around.

 

Most people, including Count Bonaparte and his wife, were already outside.

 

“There it is!”
Joseph quickly ran up to Count Bonaparte and his wife.
From the shocked look on the count’s face, he clearly knew what was burning in the distance.

 

“Father, Father?”
“J-Joseph…”
His voice trembled with unease.

 

“What’s wrong? Where is that?”
“T-That’s, that’s…”

 

When Count Bonaparte couldn’t finish, Geoffrey answered instead.

 

“It’s where the weapons factory is.”

 

“…What?!”