WRG 26

chapter 26

Uriella came out onto the terrace with Duke Baraota, her lips moving slightly as if there was something she wanted to say.

“…Rei.”
“Speak.”
“May I ask what Lady Erica Medina gave you as a wedding gift?”

Uriella had been entrusted by Victor with full authority as duchess and had reviewed the complete list of wedding gifts they’d received.
Yet, she had never once found the name “Erica Medina” on it, and so she gathered her courage to ask.

“She didn’t send anything. She must have just said that to attract attention.”
“I see.”

But Uriella couldn’t completely believe the duke’s words.

“Could Erica Medina truly have sent nothing at all? Or… is it something I shouldn’t know about?”

The courage she’d mustered to ask now only left her head more tangled.

“But why would she say such a thing?”
“You mean about Lady Medina not being able to forget me?”

At her question, the duke gave a small nod.

“I was reminded of what I saw in the gossip papers yesterday.”
“Gossip papers?”

Duke Baraota had heard that such a paper about him was circulating, but he hadn’t checked the contents, thinking it would vanish like any other rumor.

“Yes. It said not that you married me because I resembled Lady Erica Medina, but rather that she still hasn’t gotten over you and so spreads such rumors herself. That’s why I just mentioned it.”
“Utter nonsense.”

The duke let out a short, dry laugh.

“Why do you say that?”
“Because it’s nonsense, that’s all. Nothing more.”

He spoke so because he knew Erica hadn’t wanted him, but only the title of duke.
Yet, to Uriella’s ears, it sounded different—like he was denying something he still couldn’t let go of.

“…Does Rei still hold feelings for Lady Medina? Well… he is a man full of compassion, so maybe.”

The time Duke Baraota and Erica had once shared only deepened Uriella’s unease.

“They lived almost like family for twenty years. Even if it wasn’t love, there must still be some lingering attachment.”

“Riel.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t get the wrong idea.”

The duke had noticed the change in her expression the moment Erica was mentioned.

“I’m not misunderstanding anything.”

She said it, but her face betrayed her.
Looking into Uriella’s blue eyes, the duke dropped his gaze to her right wrist.

“That bracelet—I don’t recall seeing it before.”
“Oh, it was a gift.”

She said this and, without thinking, hid her arm behind her back.
It was nothing the duke would care about, but instinct made her act that way.

“Even if Rei looks closely, he wouldn’t know this is a magical tool… so why did I hide it?”

Uriella instantly regretted the reaction.

“I see.”

The bracelet, which looked like it was made of intertwined flowers, wasn’t the sort of thing one wore to a formal party unless it had a story behind it.

“If it had been from her family, she wouldn’t have hidden it like that.”

The duke’s brow furrowed.

“The Crown Prince?”

No one else came to mind. Uriella had no close relationships outside her family.

“That should be enough—we should return to the mansion.”
“Yes.”

Uriella agreed readily, not wishing to remain at the party any longer.
Hand in hand, she and the duke left the terrace. Erica glared at them openly, as if waiting for that very moment.

“Just ignore her.”
“I will.”

Uriella looped her arm through the duke’s, showing—perhaps a little childishly—that his side now belonged to her.

“Let’s go.”

Watching them, Erica bit down on her lips.
Between his carefully composed smile, she had glimpsed the duke’s sincerity.

“Ha… don’t tell me that’s real? The Duke Baraota, of all people?”

As a child, Erica had once cherished him deeply.
It was the kind of innocent first love everyone experiences.

“Reitz, would you like to go see a performance with me tomorrow?”
“Sure. I’m not particularly busy.”

Even then, she knew Reitz didn’t feel the same. If he had, he wouldn’t have acted so detached.

But she hadn’t minded—because she believed he would never give his heart to anyone else.
Though his marriage was arranged, he’d grown up in a kind and principled household where loving someone outside of one’s spouse was taboo.
So, she’d thought, in the end, the one to stay by his side would inevitably be her.

“Yet no matter how much I tried, he never once looked back at me…”

Reitz had never opened his heart.
He fulfilled every request she made, but if she asked for nothing, he never offered gifts or his time. It was cruel, dangling hope without substance.

Once she realized that, Erica slowly began to let go.
And still, to this day, she didn’t know that Baraota had once truly loved her.

“Impossible. How could I be inferior to her?”

She was the daughter of Marquis Medina, raised in the Baraota estate, educated as the finest of noble ladies.
To her, Uriella was nothing more than a lucky commoner who had climbed the social ladder.

To acknowledge that she had been surpassed by Uriella was intolerable.

“Lady Medina, what are you thinking about so deeply?”

At a lady’s question, Erica returned a practiced smile.

“Oh, just that seeing Reitz well puts me at ease. We grew up together, after all—it feels almost like family sometimes.”

“Still, society remains in the palm of my hand. First, I need to find out which company published that gossip paper.”

“Milady, you’re back?”

Madel greeted Uriella warmly as she returned from the party.

“Yes, nothing happened while I was gone, right?”
“Of course. But… there was a letter from the Viscount Vitales’ estate.”
“Really? I should check it immediately.”

As if expecting her eagerness, Madel handed it over at once.

“Thank you.”

Uriella quickly opened the letter.

To the Duchess Baraota,

Fortunately, the gossip paper’s response has been a success.

As she had expected.
And judging by the ladies’ reactions at the party, the effect was even greater than she’d hoped.

Countless central nobles have expressed their desire to join as members. The next article will be handled according to your instructions.

Uriella couldn’t hide her satisfaction.

“I did it. But this is only the beginning. The real test starts now.”

Attracting attention was one thing—sustaining it was far more important.

“I’ll need the right balance of truth and enticing curiosity.”

Ah, and Soren says he has something to tell you personally, regarding the matter you entrusted to him. That is all for now. Please write anytime should you have further instructions.

—Geno Vitale

Uriella’s heart raced.

“So Soren found him. I was right to entrust him with this. At last, I’ll meet that man again.”

There were so many questions she longed to ask him.
Why had she returned to the past? Why did only she and the Crown Prince retain their memories? What was his connection to Duke Baraota?

“Oh, and Milady.”
“Yes?”
“Another letter arrived.”

This one bore no sender’s name or family seal—but Uriella knew instantly who it was from.

“The Crown Prince.”

He must have deliberately concealed his identity for her sake.

“This one’s for me. Thank you for bringing it.”

She was grateful Victor or Rei hadn’t seen it first.

“Madel, you may go rest now. I’m tired myself.”

She dismissed Madel so she could read the letter alone.

“Understood, milady. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Once Madel left, Uriella sighed deeply and opened the letter.

My beloved Riel,

Do you remember the place where I invited you last time? I’ll be waiting there. This time, I hope you’ll come on time.

P.S. From now on, I’ll write under the name Count Mendes. And when we meet, I’ll also tell you how that ex-husband of Bliss Longo is being dealt with. So don’t worry—just wait.

Uriella tossed the letter straight into the fireplace, making sure Rei would never find it later.
Watching the flames consume the paper, she bit down hard on her lips.