It Turned Out She Wasn't a Favored Concubine - Episode 32

I indulged in sleeping in until a very late hour. It was my own way of relieving mental and physical stress through sleep.

My first encounter with Giscal had an inexplicable sense of discomfort, but I managed to end it without raising suspicion. However, after that, like at Rosadel’s birthday banquet, Erich kept clinging to me, and even at the victory celebration, I became the center of attention among the nobles—though not in a good way. Their uncomfortable gazes were painfully sharp.

True to the rumors that he didn’t enjoy banquets, Giscal didn’t stay until dawn like a party enthusiast. He left at a reasonable time with Erich’s permission, and I was able to slip away around then as well.

Of course, Erich insisted on following me out, causing a bit of a stir, but I was at my limit physically and mentally to stay any longer.

I told Louis not to wake me the next day, and he respected my wishes. Thanks to that, it wasn’t until the sun was high in the sky that I began to twitch my eyes, rubbing my cheek against the white satin blanket. Around that time, the door slowly opened.

“Louis?”

“Your Highness, you’re awake.”

Louis hurried over to the bed as if he’d been waiting. He looked so pleased that I felt a bit embarrassed for having slept so long.

“Sorry, I slept too much, didn’t I? But I feel a bit better now.”

“That’s a relief. Um, by the way, there’s a guest waiting outside.”

“A guest?”

I asked in surprise. No one ever visited Arlin Palace—except for Erich, who dropped by whenever he pleased.

I wondered if it was Erich again, but if so, Louis wouldn’t have referred to him as a “guest.”

“Yes, Lady Marian. Lady Marian Le Sinel is here. The Fourth Concubine, Your Highness.”

I jumped out of bed. The thin satin blanket fell to the floor, but I had no time to care.

Marian Le Sinel came to Arlin Palace?

“When did she arrive?”

“She’s been waiting for about an hour.”

I widened my eyes and looked at Louis. An hour?

“Why didn’t you wake me sooner!”

“I told her Your Highness was asleep, and she insisted on waiting. She specifically asked not to be disturbed.”

“What? Still…”

I rushed to go out but stopped when I saw myself in just a white nightgown.

“Tell her I just woke up and will be out shortly. Ask her to wait a little longer.”

As Louis left, maids entered with washbasins. Feeling pressed for time, I urged them to help me get dressed quickly.

“Lady Marian!”

I called out loudly as I opened the door to the drawing room where Marian was waiting. She slowly stood up from the table where she had been having refreshments.

“Lady Arne, I’m sorry for coming unannounced.”

Marian bowed deeply. Her bright blonde hair flowed down gracefully.

“No, I’m the one who should apologize for keeping you waiting so long. I have no excuse.”

I quickly helped Marian to the sofa. Soon, Louis brought fresh hot tea. As he poured the reddish tea from the pot into the cup, Marian quietly watched the thin stream.

I was the one growing anxious with curiosity.

“So, what brings you to Arlin Palace?”

Marian slowly raised her head from gazing at the teacup. Her slightly drooping eyes looked sorrowful.

“Did I cause trouble by coming so suddenly?”

Her voice sounded like she might burst into tears with the slightest nudge. It was exactly the image I had imagined from hearing about her background.

A delicate princess dragged to a foreign palace after losing a war.

Someone who naturally evoked sympathy.

Apparently, the strange feeling I had at the banquet was just my imagination. I vigorously shook my head to deny it.

“No, no. Of course not. I’m glad to see you. I was just curious why you came.”

“I see. That’s a relief.”

Marian smiled sweetly and then took out a neatly folded white handkerchief from her bosom.

“I came to return this handkerchief.”

“Oh…”

I let out a soft gasp. Honestly, I had completely forgotten about giving her the handkerchief.

I had been so distracted talking to Giscal afterward. I had assumed she was crying and handed it to her, but her face had shown no trace of tears when she rebutted Xenia’s words.

I couldn’t ask her directly if she had cried, so I just glanced around awkwardly. Marian suddenly grabbed my hand.

“I was really grateful when you helped me at the last banquet.”

As I reached for the handkerchief, Marian clasped my hand with both of hers and bowed again in thanks.

“Oh, it was nothing.”

“No, it wasn’t. Everyone else was just watching for entertainment, but you stepped in. If it weren’t for you, I would’ve kept suffering under those ladies’ torment.”

“I’m glad I could help.”

“Yes, truly, you helped me.”

Marian smiled brightly and nodded. But she didn’t let go of my hand. I tried to release it naturally, but her grip was firm. I looked down at our joined hands with a puzzled expression.

“Oh! I’m sorry.”

Marian gasped and slowly let go, as if she had just realized she’d been holding on too long. Then she added playfully:

“I must’ve been so mesmerized by your beauty that I forgot I was holding your hand.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course. A beauty like you is a rare gem among gems.”

I gave a light smile. Compliments about Arne’s appearance always required a bit of mental preparation.

Marian watched my expression closely and picked up her tea.

“It’s true. In the Zaren royal palace, it was hard to find a true beauty. The palace I grew up in was crawling with terrifying monsters.”

Monsters? The sudden, bizarre word made me swallow hard. It was a harsh, biting remark that didn’t match her cheerful tone. I froze, unsure how to respond, holding my teacup.

Why bring up her homeland, the Zaren Kingdom, out of nowhere? And what did she mean by monsters?

“They were so hideously monstrous it was painful to look at them. Living in the palace was unbearable. I felt like vomiting every day. The Zaren palace was truly a gathering place for filthy, disgusting monsters.”

At this point, I felt I had to say something. But I couldn’t just agree thoughtlessly—Zaren was her homeland. I carefully chose my words.

“Um… Surely not everyone was like that. There must’ve been people who weren’t monsters.”

“No, there weren’t. The few good ones were all driven out by the monsters.”

The conversation was becoming more and more confusing. Superficial beauty was rampant in my world too, but Zaren seemed no better.

“Status and appearance are important, sure, but inner character matters too, right? So maybe those who shone with inner goodness remained?”

“By inner character, do you mean the soul?”

“Yes, like personality, virtue, integrity… things like that.”

Marian stared at my face. Then suddenly burst into laughter, gasping for breath.

“Ahahahahaha!”

What? Was what I said that funny?

While I blinked in confusion, Marian clapped her hands and stomped her feet.

It was hard to believe this was the same person who had just politely expressed gratitude and worried about being a burden.

“Ahaha, sorry, sorry. I just remembered something. It’s not that your words were wrong, Lady Arne. It’s just that the monsters of Zaren palace were rotten to the core.”

Marian smirked, clearly recalling someone she had called a monster.

Her mocking tone didn’t seem out of place. No, she wasn’t a delicate princess. Her speech had suddenly become fast and high-pitched, her emotions freely expressed.

I remembered her at the victory banquet. The face that had coolly rebuked Xenia without a trace of tears.

Back then, I couldn’t quite define her expression. But now I understood.

It was brazenness. Or perhaps a calm defiance that dismissed everyone who had mocked her at the banquet.

“Those hideous monsters tried to turn me into one of them. It was horrifying. I was powerless, bound hand and foot, waiting to become a monster. But then he appeared!”

“Who?”

Marian curled her lips into a grin.

“Marquis Edelheit! Thanks to his victory over Zaren, the palace monsters were wiped out. It was truly a miracle. It was the happiest moment of my life. My greatest wish was to rid the world of all monsters. So if any remain…”

Marian looked straight at me, as if studying my reaction.

“I’ll make sure to destroy even their souls.”

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