Chapter 102: Leila's Rumors
"Yes, and that is how I won another game for myself. Not to brag, but it was pretty ingenious of me, do you guys not think so?"
"Wow, Agnes, you're really amazing!" The youthful girls around me clamored. They hid their mouths behind fans, indicating their gracefulness, I suppose. As one would expect from ladies of the highest order; The socialites of nobility were nothing to scoff at. They each donned intriguing dresses, all uniquely designed only for them to wear. They had beautiful ornaments, almost making me wish to slip some of it from their grasps and donate them to the less fortunate—for example, me.
Some time had passed since I was last at the brothel. No, it still was the same day. Only now, the sun had found its apex, watching over all creation—a far cry from the first lights shone upon me while I was with the moth lady.
Right after, I had gone shopping for clothing with Raya. She always complained about the lack of choices in her wardrobe, seeing how she wore the same thing every day, except of course, at the evening party on the Day of the Lord. Apparently it was frowned upon to wear the same fancy dress twice. A show of strength, according to nobility. Wasteful, if you asked me. We had gone to the same dresser again, though this time I felt a lot more welcome there. As we spent lavishly, especially Raya, the attitude of the employees gradually improved.
'What do you plan to do with this?' Raya asked me. She pointed at the fluffy white dress in my hand. I said white, but it resembled more a lurid bright yellow nearing close to a tainted beige, yet unsure of what it wished to be. The ribbons were a sin, the fabric irritated my nerves, and—God forbid—the frills, they looked an amalgam of distortions which miraculously managed to turn the wrong way every single time. It was repulsive to the eye, not fitting me the slightest. This was a piece designed for the innocent (Estella, maybe). And if they'd worn it, it may just turn into an angelic dress, silken to the touch with a unique color and design. But anyone that knew me would liken the wearing of this dress akin to a clown wearing a suit. It did not fit in the slightest.
'It's fashion, my dear,' I gave to her as an answer, much to her chagrin. It was the only thing I bought; it was the most expensive.
Returning to the matter at hand, one of the ladies coyly asked, "Uhm, excuse me Agnes if this may seem rude, but I wanted to know, how was it like to be engaged to His Highness, the Third Prince?"
"A ᴄʜᴏʀᴇ," Agnes answered for me. "Hᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇʀᴀᴛᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴍᴀʟʟᴇsᴛ ᴛʜɪɴɢs, ᴛᴇʟʟɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴡʀᴏɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ʀɪɢʜᴛ. Iᴛ ᴡᴀs ʜɪs ᴡᴀʏ, ᴏʀ ɴᴏɴᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴀʟʟ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜɪs ғᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴅᴏɴᴇ. Iɴ ʜɪs ᴇʏᴇs, I ᴍᴀʏ ᴡᴇʟʟ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴀ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ᴡʜᴏ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴛᴀᴜɢʜᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ. I sᴇᴇ ʜᴇ ᴍᴇᴀɴᴛ ᴡᴇʟʟ. Hᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, I ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴀɢʀᴇᴇ." She remarked casually, but I felt her annoyance radiate toward me.
I gave everyone a fake smile. That forced one which revealed no teeth, pulling only the corners of one's mouth up. "He was unique. The boy was kind and had a strong sense of justice. We both decided that he had higher ambitions and should not be shackled by something like marriage," I lamented the fickleness of fate, "Someone unimportant like me would only bind him down."
"That isn't true at all!" one of the girls shouted. She had blonde hair with freckles. "I think Agnes is a wonderful person who is trying her best!" Her words quietened the surroundings and she gathered all the attention. She looked around, and realizing the eyes on her, she shrank back, embarrassed by her little outburst.
The girls giggled silently while they stared at each other. I took a sip of tea. The taste was smooth. Underneath the gazebo, basked in sunlight and marinated in the aromatic flowers, everything felt fresh. The only one who did not laugh was Raya. She remained seated and since the beginning, had not lifted her cup even once. If I had to guess, it was probably because of what happened in the brothel.
'What do you want me to do now? Not to brag but a dame like me can reel some good money in,' the Butterfly Lady had told me right after I won. I remembered her utmost indignant face as she forced her words out.
I stood from my seat and stretched my body. I started from my little toes, curling them into little balls. The stretch continued upward, through my sore legs, touching every single bone of my spine, then creeping up my armpits, into my neck, and lastly into the tips of my fingers. Turbid air left my mouth. 'No worries, I have already gotten what I came for. But I will be coming to visit you though, so I hope you won't mind.'
The lady did not know how to react. At last, she only sighed. 'I cannot believe I lost to some runt like you.' She also rose off her seat and gathered the broken pipe. 'Man, you got my pipe all messed. Where'll I get my fix now?' she complained, even though she was the one who threw it. 'Well, I don't mind. No, it's good that you did not expect the unreasonable. As for your visits . . . we are an open establishment, so why don't ya clear off for today. Your face is irritating me.'
'Well, the reason you lost was because you broke the rules. I suppose due to your circumstances, it was an outcome inevitable. Maybe this could rekindle your old spirit of the past? You know, the one as a judges' daughter. And next time we play, you can—just like me—stay with the truth.' Those were the words I had left her with. A nugget of wisdom. I glanced at Raya. 'And only the truth.'
"Wʜᴀᴛ ᴀ ʟᴏᴀᴅ ᴏғ ʙᴜʟʟ," floating Agnes interjected my flashback. "Aɴ ʜᴏɴᴇsᴛ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ? A ʟᴀᴡ-ᴀʙɪᴅɪɴɢ ᴄɪᴛɪᴢᴇɴ? Yᴏᴜ? Sᴜʀᴇʟʏ ɴᴏᴛ. Rᴀᴛʜᴇʀ, ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴘᴇʀʜᴀᴘs, ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴅ ᴘʟᴀɴɴᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴘʟᴀʏ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴀʏ? O, ᴍᴇʀᴄɪғᴜʟ Aɢɴᴇs, ʜᴏᴡ ᴡɪsᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ. Aɴᴅ ᴛʜᴜs, Rᴀʏᴀ, ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴀᴍᴇ, ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴇs ʏᴏᴜʀ sɪɴᴄᴇʀɪᴛʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴏᴏᴅɴᴇss ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ sʜᴇ ᴅʀᴏᴘs ʜᴇʀ ɪʟʟ-ᴡɪʟʟ. Wᴀs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘʟᴀɴ? Bᴜᴛ ғᴏʀɢᴇᴛ ɴᴏᴛ, ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ's ɴᴏ ᴡᴀʏ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛʜɪs ᴅɪsɢᴜsᴛɪɴɢ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ sᴜɪᴛ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴜs. Iғ I ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ, ɪᴛ ɪs ᴄᴇʀᴛᴀɪɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴏᴍʙʀᴇ ɢɪʀʟ ʜᴀs ᴛᴏᴏ. Tʜᴇ ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴍᴀʏ ʙᴇ ɪɴɴᴏᴄᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴛ ᴄᴇʀᴛᴀɪɴ ᴘᴀʀᴛs ɴᴀɪᴠᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ sʜᴇ ɪs ɴᴏᴛ sᴛᴜᴘɪᴅ."
"Oh, you know me too well." I silently shook my head.
Well, that was besides the point. What mattered was that after I delivered my quote, the Butterfly Lady had some unsolicited advice herself: 'It is the truth that my father was a judge, but that's not mean he had anything to do with truth. What? There ain't no point hiding that anymore is there? But anyway, I dunno if this is what that little mink (She addressed Raya, whose attention was immediately captured) needs to hear, but when it comes to dilemmas, a judge—some real judge—is the best to clear it. That goes for problems with cousin and father alike. How I could tell? Well, mostly it is because we seem the same.' I remember she grinned at that point. It remained in my mind because of the complex emotions she displayed. Regret, melancholy, but also satisfaction. 'That's why the moment we met, I felt us connect. So I tell you this, even though I hate this profession, I cannot deny, if it is about weighing a human's heart, a judge is unrivaled. Seek them out, and hear them out, lest you end up the same shit road as me.'
Ever since then, Raya has been moodily brooding, exchanging only the bare minimum of words with me. Not even the mischief I caused on her lifted her spirits. At present, she continued to stir her cold tea, creating a tiny whirlpool within. Ever so often, she'd glance at the mansion before us.
I had brought her to a familiar place. The castle I was kicked out of the moment I arrived—Agnes' mainstay while she remained engaged. As a matter of fact, I knew that there just happened to be free space in this mansion, so I decidedly decided to settle here with Raya. Permission? Who cares; An Archduke like me could in no way live at a shack. Think about my status! Some may find that humiliating (and others might not even have thought of it, seeing as they still knew shame), but it's free rent. And free information too, as right now I chatted with fellow residents (a group of curious girls) of this estate. This little piece of land was the heart of nobility.
"Surely you must have some other stories. For example, I heard he has many admirers. Were there any rivals that left a deep impression on you?" one of the girls, Leila, asked. That girl was a little older than me. She wore a green dress that complemented her green eyes and blonde hair. She had a soothing smile, one that calmed her surroundings. I kept her name in mind because she seemed the most comfortable with me. The others were a little too mushy, indecisive on how to deal with me. I could not blame them though, seeing I was a controversial figure.
"None of the sort; What are you imagining?" I continued the interview in jest.
The youngest dame began to talk, "Or the other way around, did any man ever fight for your hand? Oh, I always wanted to experience the life of a maiden in these old tales stuck in that dilemma of love, having to choose between your soulmate and true love." The dame crossed her fingers and longingly stared at the sky. "I don't like newer stories, they all end so sad."
"Oh, yes, yes!" her friend said in excitement. "There must be something. I hear one of His Highness' knights is quite the catch. Though his status leaves much to be desired, his toned figure and serious personality is a dream for many. Madra was his name?" The girl held her cheeks and wriggled around, blushing.
When it came to that topic, many had comments to give. A tanned lady muttered, "Then what about the fifth prince? Don't you find him adorable?"
"Uhm, he's a little too young for me," most girls dissented; One of the girls continued talking. "Oh, but I'd like a slice of the first son from the Clerebald family. Great status, bright future, gorgeous looks, and gentle personality. That's the most orthodox choice I believe."
Everyone agreed with a nod. I also did, though in all honesty, this conversation was a little too much for me to handle.
"What about Pate, son of the archbishop? He has that listless look that makes you fall for him," another voice said. I could not quite pinpoint its source, but the mere mention of him turned the mood queer. Everyone was suddenly silent, leaving me unsure of what happened.
". . . He is already engaged with Her Highness, Irene," Leila said and glanced at me. "Excuse us, Agnes, for turning the atmosphere sour."
So it was about that. The mere mention of that princess was sure to curate awkwardness in my presence. And I imagine the same thing went vice-versa. "It is all a big misunderstanding," I said in a gentle tone, diffusing any tension. "One of the reasons I came back was to clear any false animosity between us. I would never wish her harm in reality."
They all audibly relaxed. Leila breathed out. "With all due respect, you are so intriguing! I can understand why you were chosen to be with the Philosophizing Prince."
"Who?"
"The Third Prince, His Highness Edward, of course," Leila mused. "Surely you know, as a gifted genius among geniuses, he was chosen by an ancient organization as an apprentice. They even send another member just to watch him. Is there a future brighter than this?" She suddenly held her mouth. "Eh, you being an exception, naturally."
"Oh well, must have been another Edward, 'cause the one I know is a moron." And just like Leila, I also quickly held my mouth. "I mean, uh, yes, of course. Great future. Awesome boy."
Agnes hovered around me. "Oʜ, ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴀᴛᴛᴇᴍᴘᴛs ᴛᴏ sᴘᴇɴᴅ ʟᴇss ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍᴇ. Iᴛ's ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ ᴍᴀɪɴ ᴘʜɪʟᴏsᴏᴘʜɪᴇs ɪɴ ᴛʜɪs ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʀʏ. I ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ ᴍʏ ɢʀᴀɴᴅғᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜɪs."
Oh, was it the one that sounded like alchemy? How surprising. I always thought he'd follow his father when it came to his way of life.
"You really know a lot," I said to Leila, and she smiled coquettishly.
She asked me, "Do you have any preferences in men?"
I acted like I was in deep thought. "Well, if I had to choose, isn't the crown prince always the best choice? I've met him once before actually. I wonder, what is he like?"
Out of the blue, the mood turned queer once more—no, rather than weird, it was suffocating. The air turned stuffy as all eyes fell on my question. They stared blankly, with their lips slightly part and hair swaying in the breeze. Even Agnes gave me an awkward look.
"Well." Leila had a complicated expression. " I hear he murdered his own brother."
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