North x Northwest

Chapter 273

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Side Story 4 Liloas Chapter 2: Mortus Castle

Piercing her silver needle through the white cloth, Liloa reached behind the embroidery frame and pulled the needle out. The gold thread slithered through the fabric like a snake.

The silence was suffocating. The six ladies gathered in the drawing room of Venuas wife, Marguerite, pretended to concentrate on their respective embroidery frames. But Liloa and Venua had an argument just a while ago in which he hit her cheek, so the ladies tried to avoid looking at Liloas face to the best of their abilities.

Liloa looked up at the sky behind the window and adjusted her posture.

It feels like half a day has already passed, but it isnt even noon yet.

Eyes observing her posture were drawn to the side of her dress. If her posture was found to be incorrect, even slightly, it would be passed on to Venua.

All the court ladies had been replaced by Venuas people after Liloas return to Obernyu following Henriettas death. Even the nanny who sided with Liloa left the palace despite being strict about etiquette. Archduke Joseph I didnt care at all whether his son slapped his daughter or if his daughter talked back to his son. Although he would occasionally take Venua hunting or oversee his sons lessons, the rest of their education was left to the new Archduchess, who, as expected, appeared to have no interest in Henriettas children.

Consequently, Venua tried to use his wife to control his sister. This was to dilute the impression that a nobleman like himself was too involved in womens education.

As if trying to break the ice, Marguerite opened her mouth.

I have something to discuss with Liloa. Could you please give us the room?

She then gave a picturesque smile. Liloa and Marguerites court ladies got up and left the room. It was only after they were all gone that Liloa turned to face Marguerite, who had already put her needle down. She was a woman with dark blonde hair cascading down one shoulder while wearing an Obernyu-style headdress.

She was the princess of Sassel, one of the empires vassal states, and the wife of Venua. Although she was only two or three years older than Liloa, her small stature made her look younger than her age. Regardless, she always had a nobleness to her bearing, with her lips tightly shut and her chin resolute but motionless.

Venua had openly neglected Marguerite after their marriage. People at the Obernyu court speculated it was because of Marguerite looking too young that she lacked charm. Rumours abounded, Marguerite remained calm, even after Venua gave her court chambers to two of his mistresses.

Whenever Liloa saw Marguerite, whom she knew as an upright woman, withering away, she couldnt help but be reminded of her mother Henrietta, who similarly began to lose her health as she indulged in drinking, gambling, and fortune-telling. And despite Henriettas vitality deteriorating like that, the people at the Obernyu court only blamed her personality.

Marguerite, glancing at Liloas face, sighed. Even her sighs were faint yet concise.

Please, stop it. Thanks to you, the library was almost closed down.

But more than anything, it is painful to see my dear friends face swollen so badly.

Liloa turned her head towards the window so that Marguerite couldnt see her swollen cheek.

Stop being stubborn and listen to Venua.

I just wanted to read a book, was that so wrong?

Marguerite shook her head.

How could that be wrong? But Liloa, that is not the problem.

Then what?

Why do you think Venua is so harsh on you?

Perhaps he is afraid I will grow to become an arrogant woman who does not know the subject?

Marguerite shook her head again.

Whenever Venua is drunk No, it is more accurate to say he only comes to me when he is drunk anyway. But when he does, he would mumble things, things so incoherent that I often wonder if he was actually talking in his sleep instead of slurring his words due to his drinking habits. Do you want to know what it was about?

Marguerite sat upright and muttered with her eyes fixed on the fireplace.

Father, I do not want it. I like these rabbits. I raised them Please do not tell me to kill them. I do not want to kill them Father, I am having a hard time. I cannot breathe Mother, please hug me as well. Why are you only hugging Liloa? I have seen it all. If I behave well, will you hug me, too?

..?!

Marguerites brown eyes turned towards the surprised Liloa.

Can you imagine? Venua also had a childhood where he just cared about rabbits.

Liloa, who had never imagined it, shook her head roughly. The fact that Henrietta hugged her, was only for a very brief period, so she had no idea what Venua claimed to have seen.

On the inside, he is a weak and timid person. He is also not in good health, so whenever he goes out hunting with the Archduke, he comes back half-fazed. The Archduke finds Venua pathetic and has never asked if he is okay. Of all of Venuas chronic illnesses, it seems the harshest one he is fighting right now is the one in his mind.

He never learned love from anyone. He does not even know how to love himself. That is why he indulges in alcohol and pleasures, and even I, his wife, have no intention of teaching him. He will never know love. A truly pitiful person. The Archduke will not change either. Now that the late Archduchess has passed away, no one else can fix him.

But my father thinks everybody is pathetic. It is not just my brother.

It must be so for you who are used to the conservative Obernyu ways. But to me, coming from a foreign country, I see that the treatment has been cruel.

Then, are you telling me to just bear it all for my poor brother?

It is better to be patient with someone who is already broken. This is all I can do as a friend. I have exposed my husbands secrets and his shameful side so that you will understand how much I care for you. Venua does not know how to fill the void. I know you, on the other hand, are full of something extraordinary. So, do not try to stand out because he is too weak to tolerate you. Please, do not provoke Venua further

Liloa shook her head, unable to understand. The more Marguerite spoke, the more questions she had.

Until then, Liloa could only half-heartedly comprehend what Marguerite was saying.

People say to me that once I get married, I will become an adult. But now that Im looking at Marguerite, those people seem to be right.

Even though their age difference wasnt that much, Marguerite, as a person, seemed to be filled with love and solemnity, an insight that Liloa couldnt match.

What am I full of?

I do not know exactly, but you do not look as fragile as Venua.

Marguerite, do you know much about love?

Not much, but I do know that the feeling I will never be able to share with Venua is love.

How can you be so sure? Is it because your marriage is borne out of duty?

Marguerite pulled her chin and lowered her head. Her hands, neatly placed on her lap, trembled.

Because I fear the nights enough that I would rather wish for Venua to go to his mistresses. I do not even know how they hold up.

Those words were also too difficult for Liloa to comprehend.

Why are you afraid of the night? Can it be that Marguerite also sees Mortu?

But her questions didnt last long. As the days she spent with Marguerite increased, Liloa came to understand her words. She found out, to be precise, when she saw Marguerite with another man.

Hello, Miss Liloa. My name is Ricard.

The man casually brushed his long blond hair down to the back of his neck.

Marguerite introduced him to Liloa.

Hes a diplomat from Sassel. Hes staying at the Obernyu court.

I see.

He is also the teacher who taught me etiquette.

Ricard was too young to be Marguerites teacher. However, both Ricard and Marguerite had flawless and beautiful demeanours, so Liloa agreed without question.

Ricard will watch over your conduct for the time being. I have already informed Venua about it.

Based on dignity and elegance, no one could match Marguerite, so it seemed natural for her to personally tutor Liloa along with Ricard.

One day, while the three of them were taking a walk together, they were joined by another companion.

A man with his back to the sun introduced himself to her.

I am Maxwell Farin.

Liloa lifted her parasol and looked up at the huge man standing in front of her.

Why?

By the order of the Archduke, I have been entrusted with escorting the young lady.

She asked back with her eyebrows furrowed as if she had heard something strange.

Why do I need an escort?

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January 25, 2024NxNW

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