You feel so cold

"I would like to speak privately with Viscountess Tierney if permitted, Your Majesty."

Mariette gave a slight nod to King Vallotton. It's okay, Mariette will be fine. Mariette could face Marquess Gauthier alone. After all, this was her fault.

Mariette's heart which had been beating only lasted for a day. But she didn't expect that at almost the same time Elroy fell. Nosebleed and coughing up blood from what she heard from Linda. Shortly after that, she was informed by Anatole of the actual incident.

"All his vital organs are fine. There is no indication Sir Elroy ingested poison or engaged in any previous dangerous activity. Mariette, I think… this is the effect of the curse. You said Sir Elroy liked you, didn't you?"

Mariette never thought that what she experienced would affect other people. At first, she and the others didn't want to believe it. But after two days of Elroy showing no signs of waking up, they couldn't help but start to believe it.

Then, this morning, after nearly two weeks, Elroy finally woke up. King Vallotton summons Marquess Gauthier and decides to tell him the Palace's secrets. Watched by Mariette, Duke Valent, and Count Lavaud, Marquess Gauthier showed no reaction.

Not yet.

"My wife always says, if you are a little different from most women." Finally Marquess Gauthier opened his mouth after being silent for so long. "My wife also once told me that you are not interested in a relationship with anyone. Now… I think I understand the reason."

Mariette was silent, waiting to see what Marquess Gauthier would say next.

"Tell me, Viscountess Tierney, what do you think of my son Elroy?"

"Sir Elroy is a good man. He is very expressive and very… sensitive," Mariette answered.

Marquess Gauthier smiled faintly. "It's a trait passed down from my wife," he said. "He is the sweetest child present in my family. The sun that was born in the middle of a winter storm. His birth brings happiness and sorrow at the same time."

Winter storm. According to history, there had been 3 three times that the Lamamont Kingdom and the surrounding kingdoms had been hit by violent snowstorms. The prolonged cold, the sun that rarely showed its rays, hunger and death were everywhere. Mariette had no idea that Elroy was one of the few babies born safely and survived one of those famous violent snowstorms.

"Viscountess Tierney, we love our Elroy very much."

"Yes, of course."

"I am not unsympathetic to your plight. But if I had to choose, I would prefer my own son."

Mariette took a deep breath. It was obvious what Marquess Gauthier meant.

"Of course, Your Grace. I can understand that."

***

Does this mean I can't visit him too? thought Mariette that evening. She was crossing a corner of the Palace where he usually bumped into Elroy. Almost two weeks without his presence was its own setback.

Mariette had heard from Ferdinand that Elroy would soon be back at work. He said Elroy was fine, he just needed to recover a little from his stiff muscles. The rest, he still talks and laughs a lot.

That's a good thing to hear. Elroy is fine and still the same as always. His heart was beating and he could still feel all the great feelings in this world.

Indeed, only Mariette is not allowed to feel it.

[Even now the only way to kiss love has been taken. That is your punishment.]

"Viscountess Tierney." Someone call her. A gentle pat on Mariette's shoulder made her turn her head. "You have been sitting here long enough. I am watching you from afar."

Mariette looked at Anatole. "I didn't notice."

"Is there something on your mind?"

"Yes. The talk with Marquis Gauthier just now."

Anatole was silent for a long time. "Are you disappointed and sad?"

"You know I don't have the ability to feel things like that, Sir Anatole," said Mariette. "It's just... I must admit that later I will find something blocking my daily life."

"You have become very used to his presence in less than a month. Then you say you're going to miss him after this," muttered Anatole. He drew closer and looked down at Mariette. "Don't you think you're in love with Sir Elroy?"

"What do you mean?"

"Mariette." Anatole whispered in her ear. His hand crept up to her chest as if searching for something. "Despite leaving you for a long time, is there a time when your heart beats for me?"

"Before meeting Sir Elroy, there are times when my heart had beats two or three times," Mariette told him, whispering back. Her hand followed Anatole's. "Is it because of you?"

Anatole breathed deeply on Mariette's neck. "Never once did I think I liked you. For me, you are just one of the sins for the Valent family that must be redeemed immediately," he said. "But after seeing you and Sir Elroy together… after seeing how you secretly worried about him… I have to admit I felt something was wrong. Is it jealous? Is this Love?"

Mariette and Anatole looked at each other. Those sapphire blue eyes seemed to glow with desire in the dim light. Those sapphire blue eyes that Mariette had not seen in a long time. Sapphire blue eyes that once promised a charm, but failed.

"Can I replace Sir Elroy's position in your heart even though it may be too late?"

It was not the first time Anatole had kissed Mariette. But this time, Mariette could feel the rush in Anatole's kiss.

Anatole gripped her arm tightly as they kissed. It felt like Mariette was not allowed to leave. Honestly, it felt like she was being forced. Mariette felt she had no right to refuse.

"Sir Anatole…" Mariette said with difficulty. "Please remember the place…"

Then in no time at all, they had moved into Anatole's room. The room was dark and quiet, but somehow it felt a little hot. Maybe because Mariette couldn't breathe properly. Maybe it was the drops of sweat on Anatole that Mariette saw.

"Why don't you reject me?" Anatole's whispers could be heard clearly in the silence of his room.

"I just want to know... Did something happen to you?" Mariette squeezed Anatole's jet-black hair, burying her pale fingers in it. Her other hand gripped Anatole's shoulder. "You look… angry."

"Angry, huh?" Anatole kissed Mariette and bit her lip. His eyes stared at Mariette then. "Yeah, maybe I'm angry. I'm sorry, Mariette."

Why?

Mariette did not voice her question. Instead, she rubbed Anatole's bare head and back, trying to calm down his rudeness.

"You feel so cold, Mariette."