Looking for My Fiancé's Lover

The subject of conversation now changed to her fiancé. Caron furrowed her brows for the first time at the mention of Philfrontz.

“There is nothing different. It’s just that, he often invites me, but…”

“That sounds like you refused.”

“I did.”

Caron shook the ashes from her cigarette off into the ashtray, her face was more placid than ever. Pancion, downing the water, opened his mouth with a smirk.

“You know what? When you’re with him, you seem slightly different than usual. It feels like you’re more emotionally alive and actually breathing.”

“You are mistaken.”

It was a straightforward answer without hesitation, and Pancion slightly raised the corner of his mouth.

“You are frighteningly adamant.”

“Other than that, I don’t have anything else to say.”

“I thought it was a bittersweet relationship that brings out another side of yours.”

“It could be, but in my case, it is wrong. That person provokes me in a negative way.”

He was a sly and dark-hearted man, the kind of person that could easily be seen in the political world where cunning schemes were rampant. However, Philfrontz Audrine was a particularly sly one that stood out among the serpentine figures, as he was the type that one would have a hard time figuring out what was on his mind. That was something Caron never forgot whenever she came into contact with him.

(Thud).

Pancion placed the empty glass on the table, grabbing his forehead with the opposite hand as if he had a headache.

“If he makes you behave differently than usual…”

Caron quietly closed her lips. Unlike before, his voice was faint. His face was hidden by the back of his hand, but his expression would not have changed much.

“That indeed doesn’t sound very good.”

Pancion looked exhausted when he said that. Caron cautiously opened her mouth at the completely different atmosphere.

“Did something happen out there?”

He returned home much later than usual, and it seemed that there was something she didn’t know about when he went to the capital.

However, there was no answer from Pancion. He smiled softly as always, and after a few more short talks, he told Caron to return. What on earth happened? Caron couldn’t get rid of her doubts even until the moment she fell asleep.

❇❇❇

The second day on the capital had come. The sunlight casting like threads through the blackout curtains was bright, and just right for the spring weather. But, of all places, it had to land on my eyelids. Thanks to that, I had to wake up much earlier than planned.

As soon as I opened my eyes, I swallowed the prepared tea and salad in minutes and rushed out. It was right after the festival, so the streets were quiet enough to contradict the previous evening. However, not wanting to encounter any more misfortune, I chose to go by carriage from beginning to end.

To sum it up, after two hours of going around the capital, I couldn’t find anything worth giving to Nezar. Though I did not lose hope and searched for renowned jewelers, fountain pen shops, watch stores…The results were disastrous. Nothing pleased me.

The brooch said to be the most expensive in the capital, would look as plain as any used item could be found on the street whenever I imagined Nezar wearing it. The same went for the watches, the fountain pens, and even the flower bouquets.

In the end, there was only one way left. It was for me to meet Nezar in person and ask him directly, or secretly observe him. I should be able to find the right answer that way.

I no longer wandered outside but headed straight for the imperial castle to meet Nezar.

“Oh, isn’t it lady Katrina? I never thought I would meet the young lady at the imperial castle. How lucky I am today.”

Of course, it was never a part of my plan to run into Philfrontz Audrine in the process.

“What are you doing in the imperial castle? … Oh, I’ve asked something too obvious. I suppose you came to see His Highness Nezar?”

As I had always felt, Marquis Philfrontz really seemed like the type to run a one-man band (asked and answered himself :)). Thanks to his cheerful disposition, there was no awkwardness whenever the two of us met. But on the other side, excessive sociality was more burdensome than necessary.

I forcibly raised the corners of my mouth into a smile.

“Yes. How have you been, Marquis? What brought you to the imperial castle…?”

“I’m here to see His (Her) Majesty. Since he has been mentally exhausted lately, he seems to need comfort.”

T/n: His and Her Majesty are the same in korean. He’s talking about the emperor but Kate thought it was about the empress.

The Marquis of Philfrontz went on about what I didn’t even ask or was curious about. Exhausted and in need of comfort? Anyone who heard it would mistake it as the Marquis acting as the empress’ secret lover or something.

However, the Marquis of Audrine was the Empress’s paternal family, and Marquis Philfrontz was the Empress’ cousin with a ten-year age gap. It was an adult circumstance that I dare not know and also hoped for it to pass quickly.

“The Empress must be very sick. I hope she gets better soon.”

In response, he burst out laughing.

“It would be better for you to convey your regards to His Majesty the Emperor, not to the Empress.”

“Pardon?”

Marquis Philfrontz, who slightly bent down at my question, spoke in a whisper.

“Did you not know? Lately, His Majesty the Emperor has been very ill. Within the late fall of this year…”

Marquis Philfrontz slurred his words and slowly straightened his back. The curve of his eyes and the height of the corners of his mouth were quite mysterious.

“I think it would be better to stop spilling the grim details here. The atmosphere in the imperial castle is not very good, so lady Katrina, please brace yourself.”

After a quick bow, he soon turned away from me. Given that His Majesty’s health was not in a good state, should he really be revealing such an important matter to me? As expected, Marquis Philfrontz was a strange man.

After he left, I stayed there for a while before turning around and continued walking away. Fortunately, Nezar’s castle was not too far from the place where I met Marquis Philfrontz, so I was able to arrive there quickly.

The maid of the castle recognised me at once and guided me to the parlor with a welcoming expression.

“What kind of tea would you like? Rosemary, hibiscus, lavender and chamomile are all available.”

“I want to drink something sweet. Can you just add honey to the water?”

“Yes, I will be right back.”

When your mouth’s dry, sweet drinks are better than bitter and sour drinks. I took a deep breath after tidying up my hair and clothes for our first reunion in two weeks.

Even though we had known each other for years, meeting Nezar still made my heart tremble and my will to stay strong and composed soared. When he visited Ezelot in person, it was less than this, but whenever I visited the imperial castle like now, I felt nervous, perhaps because it was not a comfortable space.

How many times have I visited him in person? Is this the fourth time? According to my previous experience, Nezar would open the door less than three minutes after I settled down in the drawing room. And this time too…

(Swung open).

“Kate, you came? I can’t believe you came in person so suddenly…”

…like now.