Apparently, I’m a Poisonous Woman Who Sells One-Night Dreams, but I Ended Up Awakening a Hero’s Devoted Love - Chapter 2.13

Mariadoll had been worried about the interview between Jerf and Prince Dennis as an outsider—this event being another highlight of the visit.

Yes, that is, until she was having tea with Melfi.

Just as the tea party was nearing its end, Jerf appeared in a rare state of fluster, clutching a white envelope in his hand.

“What’s wrong, Jerf? You’re so flustered.”

“Princess Melfi, my apologies, but I must ask for Mariadoll back.”

“Oh my, to think you’d make such a desperate face. Of course, it’s fine.”

In contrast to Melfi’s light chuckle, Jerf’s expression was stiff, and as he shifted his gaze to Mariadoll with a sense of urgency, he said something unexpected.

“Mariadoll, change your clothes right away. Prince Dennis says he wants to meet you too.”

“Huh? Me!?”

“Yes. It seems he heard about the knight’s rudeness from somewhere yesterday and wants to apologize to you in person.”

“No way! The prince himself apologizing? That’s impossible. It’s fine. I’ve already forgiven it—or rather, forgotten it. Let’s just pretend it never happened.”

Mariadoll shook her head vigorously, but once Jerf grabbed her hand, she couldn’t escape.

“I’d like to refuse too, but…”

“…Shall we pretend I have a stomachache?”

“Aria is right there.”

When Mariadoll turned her head like a mechanical doll, Aria, who had made eye contact, gave a cheerful smile.

(This is one of those things I can’t refuse.)

Even though she’s a maid. Even though she came here as a maid, no brilliant idea to decline the invitation came to mind.

Melfi called a maid she had brought from Dunbargas and ordered her to help Mariadoll get ready.

And so, Mariadoll ended up meeting Dennis together with Jerf.

The room prepared for the interview was an opulent one in a corner of the castle.

Beneath the large chandelier hanging in the center was a dark brown leather sofa. From the paintings adorning the walls to the furnishings, everything was the height of luxury. A room seemingly created to showcase Cortaus’s power to foreign dignitaries.

Lined up along the walls of the room were knights and civil officials.

They were likely all influential nobles, gathered to witness this interview, and Mariadoll’s heart grew even heavier.

In contrast, Jerf and Dennis remained composed, extending their hands to each other and shaking firmly.

“We couldn’t speak leisurely last night, so I was looking forward to this interview. I’ve heard tales of your valor since my study abroad days in Dunbargas.”

“You honor me. I’ve seen you walking in the castle a few times. With exchanges between our two nations likely to increase, I look forward to working with you.”

After exchanging flawless conversation and smiles, Dennis then turned his gaze to Mariadoll.

“My apologies for summoning you so suddenly. Please, don’t be so tense—relax.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Screaming inwardly, “As if I can relax!”, Mariadoll smiled sweetly.

After being invited by Dennis to sit on the sofa, the two chose bright topics for both nations’ futures—such as specialty products and effective use of the newly built highway—and the interview concluded peacefully.

It lasted about an hour. Above all, creating the established fact that “an interview took place” was the primary goal, so honestly, the content was thin. Still, the tension was real, and when it ended, Mariadoll unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.

“Haha, my apologies for all the dull talk.”

“N-No, not at all. It was very enlightening.”

Promptly addressed by Dennis, Mariadoll hurriedly shook her head.

She worried she might have offended him, but that wasn’t the case—Dennis’s face remained calm.

“With this, the interview is concluded, so everyone may return to your posts. Duke Stanley, it’s a bit early, but how about joining me for a drink at dusk?”

A stir ran through the knights and officials waiting along the wall. However, when Dennis signaled for them to leave quickly, they reluctantly exited the room, leaving only Dennis, Jerf, and Mariadoll behind.

“There’s fine liquor on that shelf over there.”

As Dennis stood and reached for the shelf himself, Mariadoll hurriedly offered to serve.

“In that case, please fetch the glasses. Choose any you like from the neighboring shelf. Are you able to drink?”

“Yes. Ah, no.”

“Haha, no need to be so stiff. The formal interview is finally over. Duke Stanley, is she alright with alcohol?”

“Yes, she’s more of a drinker than I am.”

“Lord Jerf!”

“I see,” Dennis laughed, picking up a bottle of amber liquid, so Mariadoll took three glasses and carried them to the table.

With trembling hands, she poured the drinks, and Jerf and Dennis took them, raised them to eye level, and then took a sip.

(Not saying “cheers” makes it feel less fake. No matter how much they say they want to get along now, men who once risked their lives in battle against each other can’t just open up right away.)

Though the atmosphere wasn’t strained, the two had stopped the faintly chilly, forced smiles from earlier.

Setting his glass down with a soft clink, Dennis clasped his hands and leaned slightly forward, fixing his gaze on Jerf.

“It’s unreasonable to expect us to become close friends immediately, but we both carry unresolved feelings. It’s certain that holding grudges won’t help. I hope that from here, a new relationship can be built bit by bit, so that generations from now, young people can share a drink like this.”

“I agree. I think it’s only natural it would take that much time.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that. Though we can’t put down what we carry, you have a beautiful wife, Duke Stanley, so you’ll be fine. And about last night, my apologies for the rudeness of my country’s knight.”

At the sudden apology, Mariadoll, who had already been sitting up straight, stiffened even further. Beads of sweat formed as she wondered how to respond.

“…It was nothing serious, so please don’t worry. With Lord Jerf by my side, I have no fears.”

“I see. By the way, actually, I’ve heard rumors about you, Mariadoll.”

(Here we go again, she thought.) But becoming the fiancée of the hero Jerf naturally made her the subject of gossip, and if knights and commoners knew, it wasn’t strange for tales of a wicked woman to reach royal ears.

As far as Mariadoll was concerned, she’d long been called a poisonous woman and had no intention of defending herself now, but Jerf seemed different—his eyes sharpened.

“What kind of rumors are they?”

“One is that you’re a bewitching, poisonous woman. But recently, a merchant I’m acquainted with said something strange. Something about you being able to show dreams of deceased wives.”

(That story has already reached Cortaus?)

This, first of all, surprised Mariadoll.

Even though the painters’ guild had been established and publicly announced, not much time had passed.

Wondering how it had reached the ears of Cortaus royalty, one possibility came to mind.

Dennis had lost his wife.

So that merchant must have told Dennis about Mariadoll.

If so, then Dennis’s reason for summoning Mariadoll to the interview wasn’t solely for an apology.

When Mariadoll glanced subtly at Jerf, she met his crimson eyes looking back at her. They shared an understanding with just a blink, they were thinking the same thing. Watching the two of them, Dennis continued.

“My late wife, Carnah, is also called a wicked woman. Did you know about that?”

Mariadoll shook her head, while Jerf answered with silence. Though Mariadoll had thought she’d been taught everything about the royals, she was surprised but also understood—this wasn’t a topic to be discussed lightly. It was just like Jerf not to mention something that could become vulgar gossip.

“To put it simply, she committed a lovers’ suicide with her guard knight. There was a note that seemed to suggest it, and I confirmed it was in Carnah’s handwriting, but I don’t believe it’s possible.”

“You must have loved her very much.”

For just a moment, a gold bracelet was visible under Dennis’s right sleeve. As royalty, it couldn’t be something bought at a souvenir shop. But in response to Mariadoll’s question, Dennis smiled somewhat awkwardly.

“If you ask if I loved her, I’d be at a loss. I had an unforgettable love, and so did Carnah. We were childhood friends and fully understood our marriage was political. On that basis, we talked and decided to build a marital bond on a foundation of trust as friends, without forcing ourselves to forget our hidden feelings.”

“So, her relationship with the guard knight was permitted?”

“No, that’s not it. I don’t know who her love was, but we both decided to remain faithful. Feelings were kept in the heart alone; we wouldn’t become deeply involved with others. In that sense, we were a proper married couple.”

Though there was only friendship between them, the promise Dennis and Carnah made was to cherish each other as husband and wife, remain faithful, and fulfill their roles as the prince and his consort.

That’s precisely why Dennis believed a lovers’ suicide with a guard knight was impossible.

“Even though Carnah married me regardless of her own will, she always made efforts to be a proper princess consort. Whenever she had time, she went to the library to study politics, history, and even the various territories. But the fact that we were a couple bound by friendship, each with a secret love—that’s not something we could tell others. So, I couldn’t clear the bad reputation spread about her after her death, and that pains me.”

Mariadoll recalled that Ben’s wife Natalia had been Carnah’s wet nurse.

Though Ben hadn’t said anything about Carnah’s death, considering Natalia worked as a maid, he couldn’t not have known.

(But even if he knew about the suicide, it would be hard to talk about.)

Dennis, wishing to clear his late wife’s bad name, seemed like a sincere husband.

Though she was curious about who Dennis’s love was, given the flow of the conversation, it was clear what Dennis was going to ask of Mariadoll.

So when Dennis called her name, Mariadoll had already decided to show the dream.

“After Carnah died, there were signs someone broke into her room. Things were moved, and it looked like they searched the drawers and closets, but I don’t know what was taken. Or perhaps they didn’t find what they were looking for. Mariadoll, would you lend me your power to find clues leading to the truth of Carnah’s death?”

“Understood. I don’t know how much I can help, but I’ll try.”

She informed him that her dream-showing ability would return in a few days, and with that, the day’s interview concluded.

As an apology for taking so long, Dennis gave them a bottle of Western liquor, and when the two left the castle, the sun had fully set, and only the moon shone faintly through the clouds in the pitch-black sky.