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Chapter 83
Book 6. The Hidden Person
It was a warm day at the end of March.
My husband and I were enjoying a picnic in the garden.
Though Michele always said a picnic was nothing more than “sitting on the grass doing some ridiculous nonsense,” I couldn’t help but find it delightful.
“Didn’t Michele go through all that trouble to bring us together? Why does he act so disgusted now that it actually worked?”
“He may have brought us together, but it’s probably an eyesore for him.”
“Honestly. He’ll be the same once he gets a fiancée of his own.”
“Considering the traits of the Betra bloodline, the chances of that are indeed high.”
Michele’s birthday party was now over, and next week he would be heading back to the academy. He wouldn’t have to see us sticking close together for a while. That made it all the easier to enjoy this time.
“How should we celebrate our first wedding anniversary?”
“I heard a famous singer will be performing at the Betra Opera House around that time. How about going to see it together?”
Come to think of it, once our anniversary passed, we’d have to return to the capital. We only had about a month left here, and I intended to spend it as lazily as possible.
After all, I had already done plenty of work. There was no longer a need to move as if being chased.
The people in taverns were always on the lookout for interesting stories.
Those who drank too much would boast and exaggerate, basking for a moment in the attention of others, comforting themselves with the illusion that they were superior as they closed out their day.
And the subject of conversation was usually power—news of power, always the freshest and most important kind.
As usual, rumors piled up one after another, and once the atmosphere ripened, inevitably someone would burst out with a boast.
“I know those people personally!”
It was the most typical of claims. Every once in a while, someone who really was connected would appear and seize the evening’s attention, but most of the time it was nothing more than the drunken babbling of nobodies.
“So what, you lot haven’t been there this summer, have you? Hah! Don’t talk unless you’ve actually been to Betra!”
“I’ve been! The canals were breathtaking!”
Tonight’s subject was the Betra duchy.
They said the Duke and Duchess of Betra were perfectly matched. That they were competent, and sure to lead the duchy well. The talk was filled with such positive remarks.
“Damn. To govern such a land, with a beautiful and handsome wife by your side, acting as the Empire’s second in power, and holding onto such authority…”
Sighs of envy toward the Duke of Betra filled the tavern.
“Hell. The Duke of Betra must be truly happy.”
“Didn’t the late Duke leave behind any hidden children? If only I could have been born into that family.”
It was a half-joking remark tinged with self-mockery.
But among the laughing drunks, there was one man who did not laugh.
“Hmm. The current Duke of Betra… that’s Ezekiel, isn’t it?”
The strangely familiar way he spoke the name made a nearby drunk glance at him.
‘Huh?’
Unlike the others in the tavern, this man looked clean and composed. He didn’t seem drunk at all.
“And who might you be?”
The man had soft black hair, ice-cold eyes, and a slender build. Yet he exuded a presence that made him difficult to approach.
“Who are you to call the Duke by his name so casually?”
Without answering, the man took a drink from his glass. Beneath his white shirt, a small locket necklace peeked out.
One of the drunks squinted, trying to see it more clearly, but the alcohol had the world spinning, and he couldn’t make it out.
“You there.”
“Me?”
“You, and everyone here as well.”
The man suddenly expanded his audience. Though his voice wasn’t loud, it carried such charisma that the entire tavern fell silent and looked at him.
Having seized everyone’s attention, he downed the last of his drink and rose briskly to his feet.
“Soon, you’ll be hearing astonishing news.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just wait and see. Something interesting is about to happen.”
His face looked familiar somehow. Where had they seen it before? A drunk scratched the back of his head in confusion.
The man, having said his piece, turned without hesitation and left the tavern. The people left behind stared at one another.
A drunk hiccupped and snorted.
“What a lunatic.”
Meanwhile, the man who had stepped out of the tavern clenched the locket in his hand.
On its surface, the letters G.V. were engraved.
With the noisy tavern at his back, he lifted his eyes to the dark night sky and let a gentle smile curl his lips.
“Wait for me. I’ll come see you soon.”
At the Betra shipyard, newly built ships were always given names.
“VT Viola.”
“What does VT stand for?”
“It’s Betra’s initials.”
In other words, it meant a ship built in Betra. Even the specific name of this one was Viola.
When I gave him a look of disbelief, he explained that VT Ezekiel and VT Michele already existed.
“It’s a tradition to name ships after famous figures from Betra or their owners.”
I thought I’d read something like that in a book. Back in the days when Betra was a powerful trading nation, pirates would salivate at the sight of the VT initials alone.
Fortunately, Betra’s valiant soldiers had always been skilled at driving pirates away.
“If you won’t name the new children’s hospital Viola Children’s Hospital, then at least let a ship carry your name.”
I nodded immediately. That was much better. I would’ve gotten chills from head to toe every time I walked past a hospital with my name plastered in huge letters.
“Since this ship is named after you, you’ll have to christen it.”
He handed me a champagne bottle. I glanced around nervously.
“Dogaressa! Dogaressa!”
As soon as the brief exchange ended, the crowd began to chant, their voices filling my ears. I hadn’t expected to find out the ship’s name only here, of all places.
“Viola! Viola!”
It sounded suspiciously like they were chanting my name, but surely that was just my imagination.
Regardless, I gazed fondly at the enormous vessel that now shared my name.
May you also leave the place you’ve been anchored, and head toward the wider world. Then, perhaps, fortune will come your way.
I swung my arm with all my strength and hurled the champagne bottle at the hull.
Please break!
The bottle shattered gloriously into dozens of pieces. I finally sighed in relief. Having avoided the ship’s first misfortune, I felt buoyant.
“The Dogaressa has now become this ship’s godmother. Each time the ship enters or leaves port, reports will be delivered to you.”
With no casualties and a smooth launch, the VT Viola was ready for her maiden voyage.
“Safe travels!”
I waved at the ship before heading back to the mansion.
“Valentina sent us more desserts yesterday. Should we have those?”
“You’ve been craving them, haven’t you?”
“Ah… you caught me.”
Chatting about trivial things, we returned home—only to be met by Butler Alfredo, rushing toward us as though he’d been waiting.
At times like this, it usually meant something big had just happened. Oh, please, no.
“You have a visitor.”
So much for my happy dessert time.
“A visitor? Someone unusual?”
Ezekiel’s sharp gaze seemed to conjure an image of whoever was inside the mansion.
“The visitor… claims to be Your Highness’s elder brother.”
Ezekiel faltered for a moment, then quickly bristled with anger.
“Another imposter? Why cause such a fuss when all you need to do is confirm and throw him out?”
“His face resembles Lord Gabriel’s far too closely.”
At those words, one of Ezekiel’s brows shot upward.
“…Can you stand by that claim?”
“Yes. Of course. The man who came today matches my memory perfectly. So much so that even you would be shocked.”
“That fraud went to great lengths.”
Grinding his teeth, Ezekiel nonetheless helped me down from the carriage, holding me firmly by the waist, before striding into the entrance with Alfredo at his side.
I followed after the two of them.
“There have been many impostors before, but this one bears far too many similarities—it worries me.”
“Did he pass the usual tests given to such people?”
“He answered without hesitation.”
“Then that alone places him in the top ten.”
I had a bad feeling. This was going to be trouble.
“And Michele? He’s inside the house?”
