SWSBG CH8

“It's been good.”

The answer came immediately. She simply smiled.

Agnes' situation was no different than three years ago, but she was grateful to just be here this time around.

“The butler has been taking good care of me, so I'm not lacking anything.”

Zoltan's expression became oddly estranged by Agnes' words. He gave her a doubtful look that said ‘Niall isn't that kind of person?'.

“Is that so?”

“I like it. The castle and the people too.”

It's only been ten days since she arrived in Sutmar and three days since the wedding.

Agnes looked around the garden with longing eyes. She'd heard that Sebastian had, after taking over Eshtar(1), killed everyone who had remained in the castle as a warning. He'd cut the limbs off the Duke of Alpharde(2) and hung them in the north, south, east, and west; the head was put in front of the castle gate.

Regret and pain struck her at the same time.

After all that, this garden must have been stained with blood.

The flowers must have been snapped, the gra.s.s been trampled, and the garden ruined beyond recognition.

Agnes understood the cruel personality of her brother-in-law better than anyone else. He's a man who casually kills even his own comrade in the same boat.

“Is there something wrong?”

“No, it's nothing.”

‘I must have been frowning.'

Agnes forced the corners of her mouth up.

“Ehem, by the way, I'm glad you're adjusting well.”

Zoltan's face was noticeably relieved. One could even spot a fairly friendly smile on his lips.

That surprised her slightly, because over the past three years, she'd been busy snarling at his indifferent att.i.tude whenever they'd met.

“I was actually a little worried before, until the princess came.”

“What do you mean?”

“Sutmar is not really a comfortable place for people from the capital to live.”

“Well…”

To be honest, for a princess who'd lived her whole life in the center of Nirschauge, Sutmar felt like some remote countryside.

There were too many drawbacks and inconveniences.

Since she'd lived in the capital, she'd taken everything she enjoyed for granted. So naturally, she felt miserable when she'd been restricted from them.

“Then…” Zoltan hesitatingly opened his mouth.

“What kind of person is your brother?” Agnes asked first, unsure of what he intended to ask.

“Duke Alpharde?”

“If we're talking about my brother… well, he's, uh, a little dense and insensitive, but he's alright.”

Agnes smiled at the brusque remark.

“I know.”

She nodded in agreement. She knew that better than anyone else. Although funnily enough, not when he'd been alive.

They spent more than three years together as a couple, and yet, only after Laslo had died, did she realize it. The kind of person he is.

She understood too late that he was a person kind enough to be willing to give up his life to protect his wife, who he wasn't even on good terms with.

“Oh, the princess already knew?”

Not expecting that she would be so easy to convince, Zoltan cleared his throat and looked away.

“Sir Zoltan.”

“Uh, yes?”

“I'm fine. I know that both you and Duke Alpharde are good people.”

“Oh, well, uhm.”

Zoltan looked up at the sky with a very awkward face.

“Rather, I am grateful that you even accepted a princess who is without dowry, and was kicked out of the palace.”

“Hmm. No. I …”

Like a wild dog that'd gotten praised for the first time; his face blushed redder and redder.

She decided to change the topic, since he might've not been able to lift his face again if she were to add anything more.

“I heard that there's a small banquet being held tonight, do you know who'll be attending?”

He cleared his throat with a small cough.

“Ehem. They are all reasonable people. Lord Beller also returned yesterday.”

“Lord Beller?”

It was a familiar name that she'd heard before.

“Yes, princess might have met him once before, since he visits the palace fairly often.”

“Right, I think I might have.”

She remembered not only his name, but also his face, the way he spoke, and the day he returned as a stiff corpse.

She remembered Laslo shedding hot tears on his coffin.

Just in time, Ney returned.

Zoltan gulped down the cold water in his shabby cup all at once and rised up from his seat.

“Then, I'll see you at the banquet. Princess.”

“Take care.”

Agnes sat down after seeing him off.

“Milady”

The evening banquet was approaching and Agnes was applying some light makeup when Ney came running with a big smile on her face.

“What is it?”

“I letter has arrived.”

“From who?”

“The Prince!”

There is only one prince she would gladly receive letters from.

Agnes picked up the letter on the silver tray.

Even the first sentence was typical of Chavolti to write.

[When the letter arrives, do write to me that it has arrived. Or is your finger frozen stiff? Is there perhaps no pen or little ink?

I don't know if you know how worried your mother is after you left. If you read this letter, be sure to send a letter to your mother.

How is the climate in the West? I heard from Einte that even the winters in the West are mild with little snow. But I'm not sure if the warm weather is very suitable for you and your temper. I hope Duke Alpharde is understanding towards your moodiness.

If not, let me know. I know dozens of ways to enlarge other people's schemes. (3)

If you need anything, don't hesitate to write to me. You must be upset over being sent to the countryside.

It felt strange not seeing the lamps in your palace lit up, so I decided to write you a few words.

Chavolti Erducci.]

If one used a magnifying gla.s.s, one could also make out the words written in fine letters that said ‘with love'.

Even without seeing him, she knew what kind of face he'd made when he wrote the letter.

Agnes chuckled after reading it.

“Shall I bring paper?”

Ney seemed more merry now than compared to when she'd received more than six thick letters of regards from her mother.

Agnes slowly blinked. She thought of her older brother.

“Do so.”

In the past, she'd ignored this letter. At the time, she'd been overwhelmed with fears she couldn't understand.

Her only wish had been that she wouldn't be seen as an bother in Sebastian's eyes. And so she'd pretended to not notice the letters from Chavolti or her mother, the queen.

She'd thought that that was the only way to live.

“I have returned with the paper. Milady.”

Ney was so excited that she'd immediately brought back paper and pen.

When she grabbed the pen, a sense of longing filled her up.

She can't even remember when she'd last seen him.

[I'll write a letter to mother. I'm doing well, so don't worry.]

However, when she wrote down the unfamiliar words about missing them, the hair rose on her arms. In the end, she settled on writing a couple of words in her usual, indifferent tone.

“Send this tomorrow morning and bring me some clothes to wear to the banquet.”

A handful of maids brought in several dresses hastily and placed them in front of Agnes.

“That's a bad color. Take it out.”

Agnes inspected the clothes carefully.

“Milady? Is this not your favorite dress?”

“It's too childish.”

“Who would dare to say that milady is childish?”

Agnes couldn't say anything in response to the half-amused Ney

She couldn't say that her husband done exactly that.

“Pick out the shoes with high heels and bring them in.”

“Did milady not hate high heels since they were painful?”

Again, Agnes remained silent.

As a total of three maids helped with arraying and dressing the clothes and accessories, the preparations were finished quickly.

Since she'd rarely worn the jewelry she'd brought with her; she handed the majority of them over to Niall. For tonight, she's wearing the pearl necklace and bracelet that she'd inherited from the queen, complementing the look.

“Beautiful.”

Nay grinned and smoothed out the wrinkles on the princess's dress.

Agnes glanced at the woman in the mirror. The makeup was also more elaborate than usual.

However you looked at her, she looked like a mature lady. Agnes looked over herself satisfactorily.

It wasn't long before Laslo knocked on the door.

“Oh.”

As soon as he saw Agnes, he let out a short exclamation.

Agnes straightened her chest and expected a compliment from him.

“You look a little taller than a few days ago, Princess?”

What?

Agnes was speechless. The same was true for the maids who also were there.

“It's must be a growth spurt. After all, you're growing so fast.”

Someone pointed out that it was because of the shoes, not because of that, but swiftly closed their mouth again.

“…… let's just go.”

The dense Laslo kept on giving ridiculous consolations without realising it. Agnes blushed redder as his words lingered in the air.

The banquet hall that was located in the heart of the castle grew noisier as they got closer to its entrance.

There was alcohol, food and the music was already in full swing.

As she stood in front of the door, Agnes calmed her blus.h.i.+ng face and took a deep breath.

“You don't have to be nervous.” Laslo said, glancing down.

“But I'm nervous.” Agnes answered frankly.

It wasn't her first meeting with the va.s.sals, but her heart was pounding. Unfortunately, it was not because of excitement.

“Isn't there half a dozen men in there who hate me?”

“Who?” He asked back.

It really seems like he was unaware.

She could point out every va.s.sal who had looked at her with eyes full of disdain.

– I can't believe a princess like that came here, tch. I'd rather it be an heiress from a wealthy family.

– So, the dowry is a carriage? You're getting married to a duke, and you think that's plausible?

– I thought we were supposed to keep out of Prince Sebastian' sight? Why on earth did the lord accept such a princess?

Lila's notes:

1. (^) I do not know what place Eshtar is.

2. (^) I've decided to change Arpad to Alpharde(p.r.o.nounced with a British accent ofc), cause it sounds so much bett-uh mate. I'm too lazy to change the previous chapter huhu

3. (^) I would guess this means he knows how scheming works. Weird phrasing in english though