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Chapter: 13
Duke of Marseille
Iana scoffed. Interest, now? Even if she had truly been the original Iana herself, she would have declined. She didn’t want the position of princess consort—worthless and troublesome—and the prince, measuring women on some scale as if placing one against the other for such a petty seat, was equally obnoxious. She acknowledged, to some extent, that the position of prince had shaped him that way, but now being the victim herself, she could not just accept it.
“Not interest, more like curiosity. The woman who used to shower him with gold and jewels every three days has suddenly gone quiet. It’s annoying. Check if there’s a good shop available on Burgundy Street.”
“What do you intend to do?”
“To buy Colmar, I need money first. In this state, even asking the Duke—no, Father—for money would be lucky if I weren’t thrown out. Ugh, what a mess he’s made!”
Clicking her tongue, Iana called Ruu to bring all the newspapers, rolling up the sleeves of her frilly, lace-heavy dress.
“These dresses are all so cumbersome!”
“They’re in fashion nowadays. Ruu said he ordered a new dress to match your ladyship’s taste.”
“No. Cancel it. Where’s the money to spend on dresses?”
Yvon watched Iana silently, keeping her mouth tightly closed. When no answer came, Iana looked back at Yvon as if confirming. Her expression was hard to read behind her brown hair and large glasses, but one could tell she was frowning.
“Why? Cancel it quickly. That way, the other side loses less!”
“Just deduct it from my salary this month. If you want a shop on Burgundy Street and to get things done, clothes matter. Wearing shabby dresses will get you nowhere.”
Iana, glaring at Yvon without a word, sighed before speaking.
“Fine. Keep the salary. I’m not going to make a flea’s liver out of anyone.”
She then commanded Ruu, who had set down the newspapers.
“Bring all the jewelry except the gifts from the prince and any obviously conspicuous gems.”
“All of it?”
Ruu looked at Yvon worriedly. When Yvon slightly nodded, Ruu went back into the room and returned with boxes delicately crafted from seashells and silver. Upon opening them, most valuable items had already been taken. Iana lowered her head, thinking for a while, and picked out a few gems to hand to Ruu.
“Go sell these. You should get about fifty gold coins. If anyone refuses, just leave. If I were you, I’d get fifty gold coins plus at least one silver coin and keep it separately.”
How had Alis, a noble in name only, achieved such success? Iana taught Ruu a trick as if giving a favor: take one more silver coin for the errand.
“I’ll take fifty gold coins and one silver coin and give it all to you, my lady.”
Yet, at Ruu’s determined promise, Iana could only mutter quietly.
“Is everyone in this house a sucker?”
After thinking for a moment, Iana also ordered that the blue diamond given by Prince Karl be brought.
“But my lady, that won’t work. The blue diamond is too conspicuous. If you sell it, rumors will spread immediately. People are already saying that because Prince Karl gifted it to you, his attention has shifted from Princess Vivienne to you.”
Yvon hurriedly tried to stop her.
“No, this will be used as collateral to borrow money. I’m not completely unconcerned. But I need to secure the money first.”
Finishing her words, Iana began adjusting the hem of her dress in the mirror. Quick-witted Ruu brushed down her messy hair, and the young lady who had half-lain complaining just moments ago had transformed back into the cold, haughty Iana Marseille.
“Nothing to follow me for. Ruu, go sell the jewelry. Yvon, look for a shop.”
Recalling Alis, who relentlessly pursued goals once set, Yvon let out a light sigh and, together with Ruu, headed out toward Burgundy Street.
The Duke’s office was on the exact opposite side of Iana’s room. A junior knight blocked the imposing black door.
“I have no message for you.”
“Then deliver one now. I’d like to see him. I don’t mind waiting.”
The young lady, who had seemed a little wounded each time she was stopped, replied calmly, widening the knight’s eyes.
“Understood.”
The knight who entered and left the room conveyed only that she would have to wait. There was no mention of how long, or the courtesy that a message would be sent if the Duke was resting. Iana tried to stay calm, recalling the amount of gold that had disappeared from the Duke’s vault, even if she hadn’t used it.
‘Right, if it were my child losing that much money, I wouldn’t forgive it. But at least he’s willing to see me.’
Time dragged on. From morning until evening, with the sun beginning to set, Iana could not meet the Duke. Suspecting he might have forgotten, she started to wonder if he was deliberately making her wait as darkness fell outside.
“My lady, I understand you recently rose from your sickbed. If you faint again…”
The knight who had blocked her before glanced at the unyielding door.
“Don’t worry, I won’t blame you.”
“It’s not that.”
The knight fidgeted, repeatedly glancing between the Duke’s office door and Iana. But the door remained firmly shut. Watching the so-called “Witch of Marseille,” a prickly young lady, stand stubbornly in front of the door without shouting or moving, was harder than expected. If only she cried or shouted like usual, it would have been easier to understand, but she only stared at the office door with a calm expression.
As night fell, servants lit lights in the hall one by one and began bringing dinner. Perhaps the Duke planned to dine in his office, as trays of food kept going in and out.
“My lady, it may be difficult today. His Excellency the Duke seems extremely busy. Perhaps another day?”
“I was told if I wait, I would be received. So I’ll be seen eventually.”
Iana answered calmly, staring at the door. When the Duke’s gaze met hers through the slightly open door, she even gave a faint smile.
‘This is nothing compared to restoring the Duke’s broken trust.’
Dinner ended, and Ruu and Yvon, who had gone out, rushed back upon hearing the news.
“My lady, so you’ve been standing here since then?”
Ruu stomped her feet. Iana, not turning her head, asked in return.
“And what of your errands?”
“Handled as you said, my lady. Since you’ve just risen from your sickbed, please wait here. Okay?”
Yvon also pleaded from behind her.
“No, my lady, it’s already late. Come back tomorrow. The Duke will soon retire for the night. I’ll arrange an appointment somehow.”
Iana let out a low laugh.
“Regaining broken trust is always difficult. Yvon, you can certainly make an appointment with Father, but that promise is based on trust in you, not in me. So no matter what I say, he won’t listen to me.”
She turned to Yvon and continued.
“We meet simply because we arranged to, not because I desire it.”
The servants, initially thinking she would just make a fuss and leave, now watched with growing concern as the lady, having skipped dinner, remained at the Duke’s office door.
Even by afternoon, they assumed she would give up. Even while skipping lunch, they only tilted their heads. Some felt sympathy for the guards dealing with her tears.
Yet she stood silently, as if on protest. What’s this? She wasn’t normally like this. She sometimes shouted or cried out loud in grievance, but the “Witch of Marseille” title had always seemed exaggerated. Yet now, she was resolute, stubborn, and unwavering.
‘Didn’t she hurt her head when she fell?’
Someone whispered to a colleague, and all nodded. Without such an injury, no one would endure standing silently for so long, skipping meals.
Iana, oblivious to the surrounding commotion, stared straight ahead. Since breakfast, she had eaten or drunk nothing, stubbornly waiting for the Duke’s summons.
As night deepened, the butler dismissed the servants, and when Ruu and Yvon were sent away, the hall grew quiet. Iana felt her strength waning. As Alis, she had eaten more and trained in swordsmanship, handling such matters with ease, but now, her body was weaker than 87-year-old Alis. Having just risen from her sickbed, she had eaten barely enough, like an ant’s portion.
‘Ugh, this is hard! But this old man is just as stubborn.’
A groan escaped her.
“My lady, please go back and rest. Come again tomorrow. I’ll speak properly. This could be serious otherwise.”
Seeing Iana’s pale face, the butler was frantic.
“Enough. You may go rest. I’m fine.”
Iana, barely managing, answered composedly despite the exhaustion. At that moment, the firmly closed door opened, and the Duke’s aide politely greeted her.
“My lady, His Excellency requests your presence.”
Iana staggered as she stepped forward but quickly regained balance and entered the Duke’s office. Behind her, the door shut with an unusually loud thud.
