A Change of Husband - Chapter 20

“The Empress and the Beast” was a wonderful play.

 

Anyone who saw the play today would agree with that assessment.

 

Most of the audience was completely immersed in the actors’ performances.

 

However, while Asilie and Esperad might agree that it was a good play, they were not among those who were fully drawn into the acting.

 

After returning from the theater, the two sat down wearily—one on the sofa, the other on the bed.

 

A silence passed between them, but unlike usual, they didn’t find the silence awkward or uncomfortable.

 

That was because both of their minds were tangled with different thoughts.

 

“…About earlier.”

 

Asilie was the one to break the silence first.

 

“You didn’t do anything wrong. I truly believe that.”

 

At the theater, she had justified her pushy behavior by insisting they were on the same team and needed to share things, but she wasn’t sure if that logic would still hold now.

 

Still, she couldn’t just say nothing.

 

Even if his reaction was cold, she wanted to try to comfort him.

 

“You’re a victim too, Esperad.”

 

“Haha…”

 

Esperad gave a hollow laugh.

 

Asilie had never seen him force a smile like that before.

 

Her heart ached painfully at the sight of his twisted expression full of grief.

 

Her chest hurt, deeply.

 

“No, I knew there was a chance Violeta might be in danger when I got engaged to her.”

 

“The same goes for the Count of Gariburn’s family. You don’t have to carry all the blame alone.”

 

“I’m not carrying it alone, Asilie. I’m not even brave enough to do that. Albert—he may look like he’s blaming me, but I know. He probably hates himself the most…”

 

His eyes welled up.

 

Esperad turned his head away, not wanting her to see him like this.

 

That made Asilie feel even more sorrowful.

 

Surely, losing a sister or a lover would be unbearably painful either way.

 

But she worried more about this man, who looked like he had been slashed repeatedly by a sharpened blade.

 

When Joseph had ignored her, she had suffered deeply. Her heart had felt like it was being torn apart.

 

But just being able to stay by his side had helped her endure that time.

 

Even if it was a foolish and pathetic past, it was still real.

 

Esperad, however, couldn’t even look at the person he loved. Because that person was already gone from this world.

 

“…Sorry. I must look pathetic.”

 

After a while, Esperad managed to calm down and looked at her apologetically.

 

Asilie quickly shook her head.

 

“It’s okay, I—”

 

“The necklace. It’s pretty.”

 

“…What?”

 

Her eyes widened at the sudden change of topic.

 

Looking down at the necklace she was wearing, Asilie realized what Esperad was talking about.

 

And at the same time, she noticed he was trying to change the heavy mood by bringing up something new.

 

But—did he know what this necklace was?

 

“It looks like the one that was sent as an engagement gift… Am I right?”

 

His question cleared up her doubt.

 

She hadn’t even remembered to mention it, but it seemed Esperad had figured it out long ago.

 

“You’re right.”

 

“You usually don’t wear it, so I assumed you didn’t like jewelry because it felt uncomfortable. But seeing you wear it today—it looks beautiful. It suits you well.”

 

Even if he was just saying it to be polite, it didn’t feel bad. No, it felt nice.

 

Asilie gave a faint smile.

 

“Thank you. For saying that.”

 

“Anyone else would’ve said the same—that it looks pretty and suits you well.”

 

“It’s different.”

 

“…Sorry?”

 

“When you say it suits me, it really feels like I’m the one it suits best. It doesn’t feel the same as when others say it.”

 

Esperad didn’t reply immediately. He stared at her for a moment.

 

Then he said quietly,

 

“It’s the same for me.”

 

“…”

 

“When others talk, I don’t feel much. But when you say something is okay, it really feels okay. Maybe… that’s why I accepted your ridiculous proposal when we first met.”

 

Esperad gave a small, bitter smile.

 

“Your ability to persuade me—it’s comforting, but also a little scary. You’re strange, Asilie.”

 

 

The Bonaparte household was in chaos.

 

“What kind of nonsense is this!”

 

The Count’s anger was beyond imagination.

 

Joseph—whom he had always seen as the family’s dependable eldest son and the obvious successor—was now being investigated by the Nobles’ Council after being accused by Duke Camédici. This news made his blood pressure shoot up.

 

“Explain yourself! What kind of absurd situation is this!”

 

“I-It’s unfair, Father. This is all that woman’s fault. If that rude girl hadn’t rejected our engagement proposal—!”

 

Joseph stammered as he made excuses, but his words only made the Count even angrier.

 

“You embarrassed the entire family for something so petty?!”

 

“F-Father…”

 

“She wasn’t even the Duke of Grandier’s real daughter, just his adopted one! I didn’t like the idea of the engagement from the start since she wasn’t on our level, so I was fine with it being called off. But why did you go and act on your own!”

 

“We were rejected! It hurt my pride.”

 

The Count clutched his neck in frustration.

 

He couldn’t believe these idiotic words were coming from the son he had trusted so deeply.

 

“You ‘re a worthless piece of trash! Worse than a dog! Engagements fall through all the time, and you threw a tantrum like this and shamed the family?!”

 

“Please calm down, Father. This incident just got bigger than usual. You know this isn’t the first time Joseph has done something reckless.”

 

Geoffrey supported the Count and tried to calm him.

 

The Count’s eyelids trembled, and he muttered sadly.

 

“Haa… If only that fool were half as calm as you…”

 

“You’re mistaken, Father. I’m really innocent in all this. And Geoffrey—how dare you open your mouth like you know everything when you didn’t even see what happened!”

 

“Shut your mouth! And you—what makes you think you’re in any position to talk like that right now?”

 

Joseph had briefly looked confident when his brother was scolded, but he quickly shrank again, lowering his head.

 

The Count’s chest tightened even more.

 

If he’d had a stick nearby, he might have beaten this useless son who had disgraced their family—but sadly, there was nothing within reach.

 

“What are we supposed to do about this? How could you harass a woman and insult two noble houses?”

 

“What’s done is done. All we can do now is try to reduce the punishment.”

 

“And how exactly do you plan to do that?”

 

“W-Well, maybe we can ask some friendly nobles to—”

 

“This is a place where people swear on their honor. There are those who’d rather die than lose their honor—do you really think they’ll lie for you in front of the Council? You idiot! Can you say anything that isn’t completely stupid?!”

 

Was there anyone more hopeless?

 

The Count felt ashamed he had ever introduced Joseph as his successor.

 

“I have an idea, Father.”

 

At first, he thought he misheard.

 

But when he realized it was Geoffrey who had spoken, the Count looked at him with hope.

 

Geoffrey often came up with useful solutions at unexpected times.

 

“An idea?”

 

“It might not completely fix the problem, but I think it’s the best move for the family right now.”

 

“Let me hear it. Speak.”

 

Geoffrey nodded with a calm smile.

 

“We expel my brother from the family.”

 

“What?! Have you gone mad?! Are you trying to steal my place with such schemes?!”

 

Joseph shouted so loudly it could’ve burst eardrums, but Geoffrey completely ignored him.

 

“If we expel him due to the scandal, then even if he’s punished later, people won’t associate it with our family. Even if they secretly do.”

 

“…That’s true.”

 

“Father!”

 

“You stay quiet! Geoffrey, go on.”

 

“If Joseph does volunteer work later and rebuilds a good image, we can restore his name to the family record. By then, people might sympathize with him, and it won’t be such a big scandal anymore.”

 

The plan wasn’t entirely free of personal motives.

 

The Count knew that—but the more he listened, the more he felt there was no better plan.

 

“…It’s not a bad idea.”

 

“How could you, Father?! Are you abandoning me now?!”

 

“Shut up! If you have a better plan, say it!”

 

Joseph had nothing to say, which made him even angrier.

 

He ground his teeth.

 

He had always thought his smirking little brother was hiding something behind that polite mask.

 

But he never imagined that what he was hiding was a knife aimed at him.

 

Geoffrey had always bowed his head and flattered him, so Joseph had even considered giving him a position as a loyal vassal when he inherited the title of Count…

 

Was this guy aiming for my place all along?

 

Whenever Joseph had looked him in the eye, Geoffrey had always looked down, saying he couldn’t dare meet his elder brother’s gaze—but now, he was looking straight at him, smirking coldly.

 

That’s why Joseph had never noticed the poison behind those eyes.

 

I can’t let it end like this.

 

Joseph clenched his fists tightly.

 

He hadn’t bothered building a support base within the family because he thought the title would fall to him anyway—and because he worried that doing so might make his father feel threatened.

 

Mostly, though, he’d just been too lazy.

 

But all those choices were now holding him back.

 

“Joseph, you’ll stay under house arrest for now. I’ll look for other solutions.”

 

The Count spoke like he was doing Joseph a favor, but Joseph knew the crisis had already come.

 

His biggest mistake was letting his guard down—never realizing the enemy was right beside him.

 

The conservative nobles occasionally held unofficial social gatherings to strengthen their unity.

 

Joseph had considered staying home, following Count Bonaparte’s order to reflect quietly, but he could no longer endure Geoffrey’s mocking words and ended up storming out of the mansion.

 

Today’s gathering was being held at the Bellucci family’s villa, located by a lakeside on the outskirts of the capital.

 

“Oh my.”

 

“Even Prince Bonaparte has come.”

 

“I didn’t expect to see him this early.”

 

“What a thick skin he has.”

 

Hearing voices from all around, Joseph twisted his face in discomfort.

 

It seemed this was not the right place for him to breathe freely.

 

He quickly changed direction and left the hall.

 

His chest felt tight. Maybe if he rode a horse until he was exhausted, it would feel a bit better.

 

“It’s been a while, Prince.”

 

At that moment, a gentle voice came from behind his shoulder.

 

“…Lady Bellucci?”

 

The woman who called him was none other than Monica Bellucci, known as the Rose of Astel, who enjoyed greater power than a princess of the realm.

 

Recognizing Joseph, she brushed her red hair back and gave him a captivating smile.

 

“Yes, it’s me. I’ve been dying to see you, but… are you leaving already?”

 

“Well. If the young lady wishes to see me, I can spare some time. But I wonder why the Count’s daughter would want to see me.”

 

Joseph might not have had a graceful personality, but he had long since mastered how to charm women through countless experiences.

 

Monica found it amusing how the man who had just stormed out of the hall in anger was now answering so smoothly.

 

‘Men really are fools.’

 

She hid the thorn in her heart behind a sweet smile. Then she spoke in a soft tone.

 

“Maybe you would know that better than I do, since you see yourself in the mirror every day.”

 

“You tell amusing jokes, my lady.”

 

“If you take it as a joke, that’s unfortunate, but my feelings have always remained the same. Anyway, I heard you’re in some trouble.”

 

Joseph’s face hardened.

 

So, this woman had also come here just to mock him?

 

“Trouble? There’s no such thing. That must be a false rumor.”

 

“I heard it’s not entirely baseless.”

 

As Monica glanced sideways at Joseph and their eyes met, she turned her head with a sorrowful look, as if holding back tears.

 

“So, my heart feels like it’s breaking. What should I do, when I’ve been secretly in love with you all this time?”

 

At the unexpected sweet confession, Joseph’s eyes widened.

 

He couldn’t believe it. Monica, of all women, was confessing love to him?

 

“You… had feelings for me, my lady?”

 

“I was too nervous to express them before… but now, I thought I couldn’t just pretend not to notice when you’re in such a difficult situation.”

 

Monica trembled slightly as she approached and embraced him.

 

Without realizing it, Joseph wrapped his arms around her slender waist and gently stroked her back.

 

“M-My lady…”

 

“Prince, I want to help you!”

 

“But how could you help me? If you get involved too, I’d feel guilty.”

 

It was a formal reply, but he also meant it—at least halfway.

 

Monica noticed the emotion in Joseph’s voice and quietly sneered.

 

“I was also at the royal banquet that day, Prince. I had a minor issue with Duchess Camédici.”

 

“What? Is that true?”

 

Joseph hadn’t heard about that part. It was partly because Geoffrey had deliberately kept that information from him.

 

But right now, it didn’t matter whether he had known or not.

 

“That wicked girl dared to offend even you…!”

 

His hatred toward Asilie flared up again.

 

“She insulted me. And she insulted you too. A girl who just debuted in society, in one day, insulted both of us—people who had never caused problems in the social world before. Do you think that’s just coincidence?”

 

“That girl was scheming.”

 

Completely enchanted by Monica’s whisper, Joseph forgot he had been the one to pick a fight with Asilie in the first place.

 

“Of course. I believe you’re not someone who would harass a lady. You’re a gentleman and a noble prince.”

 

Any man who looked into her sparkling green eyes would be unable to disagree with her.

 

As Joseph nodded absentmindedly, she whispered in a low voice.

 

“You believe in me too, don’t you, Prince?”

 

“I’ve heard much about your noble character, my lady. It can’t even be compared to that wicked girl.”

 

“Oh my, I’m truly happy.”

 

Monica wrapped her white, slender arm around Joseph’s shoulder.

 

At the intimate touch, his body flinched and trembled slightly.

 

She smiled faintly as she saw his ears turn red.

 

“We can help each other, can’t we?”