6 Chapter 6

'Why was such a man determined to be the emperor! I can't believe that. After all, were his desperate efforts to obtain his father's title and territories even by changing his last name no more than a means to bring about a rebellion against him?'

Pondering over the shocking revelation of Ober's dirty trick, she said, "Oh my god! I didn't know he was so crazy about it."

She suddenly had goosebumps on her neck as she felt so cold at the moment. She pulled the blanket over her head.

Rebellion?

She saw such a fearful word in history books only, but she never felt like it was a big deal. Ober's dirty trick made her shameful about the fact that she had fallen in love with him, was carried away with that swindler's sweet talk of love, and was later betrayed by him.

"I wish it had been a dream."

Lamenting her fate, she was consumed by another agony.

"…Can I deceive such a swindler and stay safe?"

In fact, that was the biggest problem. With a deep sigh, she pulled the blanket over her head. She felt like she could not go to sleep.

* * *

April 21, 593 by the Imperial Calendar

Duke Kling's only daughter, Marianne's birthday party, was grandly held in the Lennox Mansion.

It was the biggest party of all the social gatherings in the northern area this year. In addition, it was a place where she, whose face was seen at most three or four times per year, officially showed herself before lots of celebrities.

There were lots of guests, including from lowly noblemen in remote areas, which took them more than three days by wagon, to higher noblemen with choice territories near Lennox who passed through the main gate. It was a great opportunity for those eager to open connections with the aristocratic family to deepen their friendship.

Kling opened the main gate of his mansion and turned the entire garden into a party area.

In addition, there were makeshift stands installed throughout the streets leading to the gate that provided food and gifts. Residents of the duke's territories and those who did not receive formal invitations could enjoy the party outside the mansion, while those invited could enjoy it inside the mansion.

'Wow, so many came! I feel sleepy now.'

Marianne, who slept fitfully last night, rubbed her eyes, standing on the balcony overlooking the party area. Cordelli woke her up in time so she was not late for the party, but she felt too tired. She didn't even know which dress she chose and how she fixed her hair.

"Marie!"

Somebody called her cheerfully as if to wake her up.

Trying to smile and turning her head, she was suddenly hugged warmly by someone before she knew.

"Evelyn!"

"Hi, sister Marie!"

"Hi, Angelica! I'm glad to see you here too."

"Because you sent me an invitation," Angelica replied in a fresh voice. Evelyn heartily laughed as she let go of Marianne.

"Oh, how cute! You are telling me as if you came here because of the invitation. I know you came here to see someone you missed very much," Evelyn said.

"Nope!"

"Are you kidding? I know you've been looking at the place where the Astorp Knights have gathered." "Who? Me? Nope."

When Angelica, 18, was getting upset about her joke, Evelyn chuckled at her.

Marianne watched both of them and smiled lightly. Just like she remembered them before her death, they were as cheerful as ever. They were also the type of friends whom she was allowed to mingle with casually.

"Thank you for coming!"

Marianne reached out and hugged Evelyn and Angelica one by one.

"Congratulations, Marie!"

"Congratulations, sister!"

Whenever they touched her cheeks, they offered kind greetings.

"By the way, you know what, Marie?"

"Huh?"

Marianne momentarily staggered while adjusting her loose lapel. Her face turned white.

'I was sleepy, but not sleepy enough to fall?'

While fumbling here and there, she realized that something had been placed on her eyes.

It looked like a soft handkerchief. Subsequently, she felt like her hands were tied up from behind by somebody.

"What the heck is this…"

"Shush!"

Evelyn kissed her ear gently even before she asked. Her unique laughter traveled into her ears, along with the weird whispering.

"There is a place you have to go now secretly."

* * *

"Evelyn, what the heck is this trick?"

Marianne sighed, following her slowly step by step.

Evelyn, the youngest daughter of Marquis Balua, was one of her few friends that she spent time with her as a child. Unlike Marquis Balua who was a faithful deputy of Duke Kling, Evelyn was very good at causing trouble by drawing her with her tricks, so much so that Marquis Balua had to spend about a quarter of his official working hours apologizing on behalf of his daughter.

"Trick? Do you think I am stupid enough to kidnap you, the hero of today's birthday party?"

"Kidnap? Is this kind of kidnapping?"

"Marie. If you don't keep quiet, I'm going to call any knight here, so he can carry you on his back."

"Eve!"

Calling her by the nickname, Marianne was angry with Evelyn. Of course, Evelyn pretended to not have heard it.

"This is my last warning. Just keep walking. We're almost there now."

Marianne began to walk again, pushed by her from behind.

Tip-tap, tip-tap!

There were sounds of shoes in the quiet hallway.

"Angel, why didn't you stop Eve?" Marianne asked.

"Well, I know that most of Evelyn's tricks are crazy stuff, but this time it's a bit different," Angelica said, slightly changing Marianne's direction.

"Angelica, remember you are an accomplice! " Marianne said.

"Accomplice? Well, this is my temporary alliance with Eve, and I was forced to cooperate because she was doing this for you. I would never have helped Evelyn if she had taken the initiative."

"Wait a minute, Angel. Isn't Eve responsible for having instigated this kidnapping trick?" Marianne asked in an embarrassed voice.

But for her, which nobleman dared to play this kind of crazy trick?

Even before she answered the question for herself, the sounds of their shoes in the corridor suddenly stopped.

Click!

There was the sound of a door opening somewhere.

Marianne was slowly pushed by someone who looked like Angelica.

When Marianne stepped forward naturally, a cheerful voice came from behind.

"Marie, it's only seven steps from there. Come seven steps to the front. Untie the handkerchief after that."

'Seven steps? Walk seven steps from here?'

When Marianne looked back, she heard Angelica's excited voice this time.

"Happy birthday, sister. Have a good time and see you again later."

"You guys kidnapped me all of a sudden like this. How can I have a good time…"

Bang!

Even before Marianne finished her words, the door was closed with a bang.

It looked like Evelyn made a hearty laugh outside.

"Haaaa…"

Marianne let out a deep sigh mixed with embarrassment.

On her birthday, they used her best friends to lead her to a secret place. Obviously, it resembled a surprise party. Seven steps, and there would probably be a birthday present or something to put her through trouble.

After all, what Marianne found most ridiculous at the moment was that she was counting her steps one by one while moving forward.

Asking herself what the heck this was, she walked slowly.

One, two, three, four, five, six and seven.

The rustling sound of her dress when she dragged it across the carpet stopped.

And then she untied the handkerchief that covered her eyes.

She momentarily frowned at the strong light coming into her eyes.

Her emerald eyes soon twinkled, with her clear pupils growing big with surprise.

"Pretty…"

On the glass table was a jewelry box. The large silver box covered with red satin was filled with all-natural emerald ornaments that closely resembled her eyes.

Grass-shaped and polka-dot earrings, a necklace with two pendants, a colorful brooch looking like the layers of laurel leaves, a minimally carved gemstone, a bracelet imprinted with a twig with buds, and a mini tiara embodying snowflakes sitting on winter grass, and so on.

There was nothing really missing in the box. Gold, silver, and other gemstones combined with them boasted of a unique crafting method. Most of all, the emerald was dark in color and transparent inside, which indicated that they were of the highest quality. It was perhaps more expensive than diamond.

Mariane slowly touched the sparkling jewelry with her fingertips. The unique texture of the cool jewels satisfied her sense of touch.

Since she was born, she chose only the finest jewelry. Presented by people who valued clear eyes as a gift, emeralds were not as valuable to her. Typical colors, crystals, patterns, and craftsmanship could not satisfy her taste.

But these jewels were more than satisfactory to her who had a discerning eye for jewelry.

She felt like she could generously forgive the man who took the pains to prepare this gift, even though he orchestrated this childish trick.

"Do you like it?"