Invitation of the Crescent Moon - Chapter 71

Ashika’s maid Marilyn hurried down the corridor, glancing around nervously. Though no one was watching, her face was filled with fear as she walked alone.

“My lady, it’s me.”

The door opened from inside Ashika’s private study, and only after Marilyn entered did she let out a long breath.

“Did you bring it?”

“Yes, my lady.”

Marilyn pulled out two thick ledgers and a letter that she had hidden under her apron. These belonged to the secretary of Duke Igraine’s household.

“No one saw you?”

“No, my lady. But…”

Marilyn hesitated, repeatedly rubbing her chest. Sensing what she couldn’t bring herself to say, Ashika quietly spoke.

“I won’t ask you to do this twice, so don’t worry.”

At those words, Marilyn openly sighed with relief.

‘I made someone with a weak heart do something terrible.’

No matter how much she used her maid like her own hands and feet, it would be difficult to exploit her twice for something like this.

“Marilyn, could you come back in an hour?”

“Yes, if you finish before then, please send someone.”

If she was away from her post too long, others would find it suspicious. Marilyn understood immediately and left the study.

Ashika handed the ledgers to Julma and unfolded the letter. It was the most recent correspondence from House of Perido.

“From when should I start checking?”

“Copy down everything from around the time when a batch of letters were sent all at once within the past two weeks. Both received and sent.”

What Marilyn had brought was a list of official correspondence exchanged with the outside. Since the actual letters would already be classified and well-stored, she would have to settle for checking the list for now.

When she returned from the ball, she had planned to immediately go find Weive and ask what he intended to do about her. However, for Ashika, Weive was like an insurmountable wall. If she went to him unprepared, it was obvious she wouldn’t be able to say more than a few words.

“Will this be enough?”

Jeanne looked worriedly at Julma copying the list.

“We just need to identify which families suddenly began frequent correspondence that weren’t previous trading partners. Once we know which families, including Count Perido’s, became candidates, we can outsource the rest.”

“The places that have exchanged many letters recently are House of Perido, Count Arvantes’ household, Count Majes… Isn’t the House of Majes the deposed empress’s family?”

“They sent letters to the House of Majes too?”

“It’s on the list from around the same time.”

The current empress was from Duke Sincladelt’s household, the second bride the emperor had taken. The first empress was the eldest daughter from the House of Majes, which had no political foundation, but she suffered harsh persecution from the empress dowager and eventually left the palace as if driven out.

“Count Majes was originally a neutral force. Any replies?”

“There are only records of letters sent, no replies apparently.”

This was different from when Ashika’s engagement was first arranged. Back then, she had received marriage proposals mainly from families that were neutral forces but had great influence within the capital.

‘What’s changed? Why Perido of all places after rejecting Marquis Maiheller?’

The House of Perido was a prestigious family but had no power in the capital.

In terms of conditions alone, the House of Perido couldn’t compare to Marquis Maiheller’s. That’s why Talion would have proceeded with the political marriage with Maiheller. Even compared to Marquis Oclein’s household, they were far inferior.

“Is there something about the House of Perido that I don’t know?”

“They’re treated as insignificant in the capital, but it’s different outside the empire.”

Ashika tilted her head at Julma’s answer.

“They’re not exactly a family that does major trade either.”

“Instead, there are rumors that the House of Perido has foreign royal bloodline.”

“Foreign royalty?”

“I don’t know where exactly, but I heard that the previous count’s wife was of royal birth. Because of that, the count stayed abroad for quite a long time. It seems he’s treated as a member of the royal family in foreign countries.”

“Even so, that has nothing to do with our family’s business.”

“That’s true, but I also find it difficult to understand His Grace’s intentions.”

After finishing his answer, Julma quickly copied the rest of the list.

Ashika furrowed her brow in thought.

‘Why is he suddenly concerned about affairs outside the empire?’

Even if they were expanding business overseas, there was no need to borrow another family’s power.

‘This isn’t like grandfather. Too hasty.’

If only he would explain his reasons. As always, Weive only gave orders, and even his only family member was no different in this regard.

While Ashika and Jeanne remained silent, the sound of rapid pen scratching could be heard. After waiting for some time, Julma handed Ashika the paper with the copied list.

“By the way, my lady, have you heard that story?”

Ashika, who had been examining the document, looked up.

“Marquis Oclein’s eldest son was in a carriage accident.”

“What? Oclein?”

The paper in Ashika’s hand fell limply. Even as the thin paper slid off the desk and fell to the floor, Ashika’s face remained blank.

Oclein – a name she was hearing for the first time in three months. No, it had only been three months, but it felt like a name from years ago, distant and remote.

“So, what about it?”

“They’re keeping it quiet, so it’s not certain, but it seems he died.”

The color drained from Ashika’s face.

“Are there… any other direct heirs in Marquis Oclein’s household?”

“There were only two sons. As far as I know, there are no illegitimate children.”

“If the eldest son died in an accident, then the marquis title…”

“Yes. Unless something unexpected happens, the second son will become the young marquis.”

An overwhelming sense of unease struck her, making her head spin. Ashika squeezed her eyes shut and then opened them.

Coral would become the young marquis. That meant Coral, who had left the capital as if driven out, would return.

‘Good God. I have to see Coral again in the capital?’

She remembered Coral breaking into the villa and clinging to her. How terrifying it had been when that man rushed at her with maddened eyes. He was the person who had left her with the worst memories.

“When did this happen? Was there any word about people coming from Oclein territory?”

“That’s all for now. I did ask to be informed if there’s other information, but should I press them if you’re concerned?”

If she was concerned? Was this merely a matter of concern?

“No, that’s not enough.”

She was anxious. The fact that Coral was returning to the capital. The fact that she might encounter him again at close quarters at any time was even frightening.

“Julma, look through the ledgers for anything unusual and pass them to Marilyn. Jeanne, follow me.”

“Are you going out?”

At Jeanne’s question, Ashika nodded and hurriedly left the study.

“Where is Nile?”

“I saw him leave earlier. He said he’d be back before dinner.”

She tried to calculate if it was time for Nile to go to Iben’s art shop.

‘Jeanne’s connections won’t help right now. Maybe it would be better to use Iben.’

Ashika’s mind raced. Her heart was so urgent she didn’t even think to change clothes. She just threw on an overcoat and rushed out of the room.

When they reached the end of the second-floor corridor, Jeanne, who had casually glanced out the window, stopped walking.

“Oh.”

Her expression looked somewhat bewildered and vacant. Ashika also stopped and looked out the window.

“Gasp.”

It was a reflexive reaction. While the two women stood frozen looking out the corridor window, the carriage rapidly approached the main building.

A large four-horse carriage in glossy black, overwhelming in size alone. The family crest carved in antique style was so clear there could be no mistake. It was a family crest she never expected to see here.

“Why… is Duke Talion’s carriage here?”

Jeanne’s bewildered question was directed at Ashika. However, Ashika was equally surprised.

The carriage door opened and the face of the person being received by the butler was familiar.

“It’s Baron Kalf Crowny.”

Of all people, it was Kalf. Someone at the level of the duke’s aide wouldn’t normally run errands to just any family. Unless it was to deliver family matters of great importance or when maximum formality was required.

The servants who came out with the butler saw Duke Talion’s crest and whispered among themselves.

“Goodness, it’s Duke Talion’s aide!”

Someone recognized Kalf. At the words “Duke Talion’s aide,” the servants gasped in surprise.

Kalf, leaving the flustered people behind, was entering the mansion under the butler’s guidance.

‘Good God.’

At this rate, rumors would spread throughout the capital in no time. Drushia wouldn’t be unaware either.

‘Why did Kalf come all the way here?’

Ashika grabbed Jeanne’s sleeve and hurriedly walked away.

“My lady? Why?”

She didn’t have the presence of mind to answer the bewildered question. Leading Jeanne, Ashika headed for the servants’ stairs near Weive’s office. For some reason, she hid behind a pillar near the stairs.

“He’s not my guest. He came to see grandfather.”

When she sensed bustling movement from the direction of the office, Ashika pressed her body closer behind the pillar. She heard the office door open and immediately close again to receive the guest.

Ashika’s heart beat faster than ever. Only the sound of her own heartbeat seemed unusually loud in the surrounding silence.

‘What’s going on? Why?’

All along, it had been Ashika who had irresponsibly stirred up trouble and then let go. She was the one who started it first, and she was the one who had manipulated Drushia this way and that, without even knowing what her own feelings were.

Throughout it all, Drushia had always accommodated Ashika’s wishes. Because she thought he was merely a bedroom partner, she had postponed all decisions. Since he was a man who always put his own interests first, she thought he would suggest ending the relationship when the time was right. But that had been her delusion alone.

[Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can end this however you want just because you started it.]

Hadn’t those been words spoken in anger? She had thought there was nothing he could do in this situation, but perhaps even that wasn’t true.

It was the moment Ashika poked her head out from behind the pillar.

“What kind of insane behavior is this! Is Duke Talion mocking me!”

A thunderous shout erupted from the previously quiet office.