At a tea party attended by several young ladies, Britney heard the news that Jeresien, having belatedly learned of Kay’s marriage, had been so furious that she stormed off to the Green territory.
“What if Lady Jeresien decides to do something terrible to my brother?”
Though she feigned worry, she found it difficult to hide her smile.
“If something happens, it’s going to be big. Jeresien is truly livid. Once she gets angry, she becomes absolutely terrifying…”
One of the young ladies present remarked, “Anyway, I feel for the Countess of Green, too. Getting married in secret without even telling her family, and without a wedding ceremony… Isn’t that essentially being treated like a mistress?”
“A mistress would be better. At least a mistress receives love. Honestly, regardless of whether it’s a political marriage or not, how can the Count of Green be so heartless to his own wife…”
The Count’s daughter who spoke, despite her sympathetic words, wore an expression of pure delight.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Lady Britney. It’s your brother’s affair, after all…”
“Not at all. I’m worried about my brother, too… Wondering if she’s crying day and night… The child is a bit on the gloomy side. Reticent, too. Is that perhaps why the Count of Green doesn’t find her to his liking?”
“That must be it. They call her the ‘flower of the Witlow Duchy,’ but it would be disappointing if she lacked charm and was dull. Men, after all, prefer a woman who is passionate in bed and sweet and soft in her daily life, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Though, she seems quite sweet and soft to Viscount Alford, doesn’t she?”
The young ladies giggled.
Since most of the women gathered there had been eyeing the Count of Green, Cavebrandt Green, it was inevitable that they would be displeased with Iris, who had suddenly snatched the position of Countess of Green.
“It would have been nice if Countess Nellanicus Jenal were here as well.”
At the young lady’s remark, Britney’s eyes widened.
“Why the Countess of Jenal?”
The goddess of high society, Countess Nellanicus Jenal.
She was the object of envy for every young lady. After becoming a countess at a young age, she had firmly taken hold of high society shortly thereafter. It was rumored that even the Empress herself sought invitations to Nellanicus’s social gatherings.
The young lady who had brought up the Countess of Jenal’s name said, “The Countess of Jenal was incredibly fond of the Count of Green before she married. Not long ago, when the Count attended a party, she kept casting fervent glances his way.”
***
While the young ladies were excitedly gossiping about Iris at the tea party, Countess Nellanicus Jenal was gazing quietly at Jeresien Green, who sat gracefully before her.
“I never dreamed that Lady Jeresien would make such a request of me—asking me to help prepare for Count Cavebrandt Green’s wedding.”
Nellanicus said, her voice cool.
Jen elegantly lifted her teacup. “Well, given the reputation of the Green family, it is only natural to request the goddess of high society, the Countess of Jenal, to host such an important party.”
“Helping with a party for the Green family might be an honor for our Jenal family, but…” Nellanicus lifted her cup as well. “The parties I host are all about prestige, and they wouldn’t suit the Green family, who have a name but no money.”
“My, what a terrible thing to say. You say that because you don’t know, Countess of Jenal. My brother has grandly declared that he is willing to pour his entire fortune into the wedding preparations.”
“Oh my… that stingy, miserly Count of Green?”
“Yes, that stingy, miserly Count of Green.”
The two women, who had simultaneously brought their teacups to their lips, locked eyes and giggled.
Nellanicus set her cup down and said, “Oh, I really can’t do this, Jen. Let’s just act like we did when we were at the Academy.”
“Agreed, Nels. Watching you act all high and mighty while drinking tea isn’t easy.”
Jen and Nels had been peers in the same major during their Academy days, and they had been friends even before entering.
“I’ve been curious ever since I heard the rumors of Kay’s marriage. Did Kay really get married?”
“Apparently so. No wedding, just a quick registration of the marriage at the government office.”
“Good heavens. Your brother really hasn’t changed. He doesn’t know a woman’s heart at all, and his brain…”
“Is just an ornament.”
Jen said what Nels, now a countess, could not bring herself to say.
“Anyway, how did this happen? Of all people, the opponent is Iris, the flower of the Witlow Duchy. Is it true? Did he really marry the flower of Witlow?”
“Yes. Really. Truly.”
“Is she pretty?”
“You’ve seen her portrait, haven’t you?”
“Portraits often embellish things.”
“The portrait doesn’t capture our sister-in-law’s beauty. It doesn’t even capture a quarter of it.”
“No way. Really? Even in the portrait, she looked incredible.”
“She’s even more incredible. She shines. She’s dazzling.”
“My, oh my. Why did someone like that… marry Kay? Could it be… coercion? Kidnapping? Force?”
Contrary to what was known to the public, Nels hated Kay terribly.
Kay, whom she had frequently encountered while visiting the Green estate since childhood, would wrinkle his brow as if he had seen something hideous the moment he saw Nels. It was back when Kay was deeply shocked by the fact that he was a beastman and feared that his secret would be discovered by outsiders. To Nels, who didn’t know the truth, it was inevitable that she would dislike Kay, who would turn away without even greeting her whenever their eyes met.
She had even developed an inferiority complex, wondering if she were so ugly that even looking at her made him wrinkle his nose. Although things had improved as she grew older, she couldn’t help but stare at him with burning eyes every time Kay offered a friendly greeting, as those childhood memories would come flooding back.
“I’ve thought along those lines too, but our sister-in-law is so incredibly kind… She said she married our brother because she was deeply in love with him. She must be trying to boost his confidence.”
“Is that so?”
“With eyes like a cloudy sky, brows that look like they were drawn, a well-chiselled jawline, and…”
“No. Stop.” Nels covered her ears with both hands. “I don’t want to hear it.”
“Fine, I didn’t want to finish either. Regardless, Countess Nellanicus Jenal, I leave it in your hands. Make sure the young ladies and the noblewomen can’t even open their mouths. Make them so intimidated that they wouldn’t dare look our sister-in-law in the eye.”
Nels, who dominated high society, knew exactly what Jen wanted.
Nels opened her flamboyant fan and said, “Tell them to prepare to be surprised, Lady Jeresien.”
***
The drawing-room of the Cavebrandt Green estate.
Kay gazed languidly at the young priest sitting before him.
It was obvious he was a fledgling priest who had just finished his apprenticeship, as he remained seated even as Kay entered the drawing-room. He clearly didn’t know how Kay was treated within the Holy Kingdom.
“His Holiness the Pope has been very displeased with the recent rumors surrounding the Green family,” the priest said, staring straight at Kay. “As the Count of Green knows, the family that guards the holy relics must be upright in their conduct and reputation, as they are under the protection of the Holy Kingdom. I trust you know, Count Green, that the reputation of the Green family affects the Holy Kingdom as well.”
Given that they had sent a rookie priest who didn’t even know how to be respectful to the Green family, it was clear that the Pope had no real interest in this matter. He had likely sent a greenhorn just to get them off his back because the other priests kept whispering in his ear.
“His Holiness is full of concern because you went through with this marriage without his permission, and we cannot simply stand by and watch these unfavorable rumors spread across the entire continent.”
“Marriage is a personal matter; I didn’t know I had to receive His Holiness’s permission for every little thing.”
The priest raised an eyebrow at Kay’s mutterings.
“How can you say that, when you know better! Who do you think allowed the Green family to be treated as they are? It is, of course, because His Holiness favors you. Have you forgotten that His Holiness is like a father to the Green family?”
*Favor, he says.*
This priest clearly must have had terrible grades during his apprenticeship.
The Pope did not favor the Green family. He simply needed them. It was because the holy relic, which would lead to death if handled improperly…
The only bloodline capable of touching artifacts without any side effects.
The only family capable of discovering and safeguarding dangerous holy relics was the House Green, the guardians of the holy relics.
It seemed this insolent priest thought the House Green had become the guardians of the holy relics because they were favored by the Pope.
“Of course, His Holiness the Pope is like a father to me. But what can I do? Even my own father didn’t know about my marriage. Up until just a few days ago, that is.”
Caught off guard by the unexpected words, the priest’s eyes wavered.
“Th-that is… but this is different. It is only right for the Count to show more respect to His Holiness the Pope than to your own father.”
“And? What is it that you wish for me to do in the Holy Kingdom?”
“The judgment is that the Countess Green is not a legitimate wife. Not only did you marry without the permission of His Holiness the Pope, but shortly after your marriage, dirty rumors have begun to shake the honor of not only the House Green but also the Holy Kingdom. Therefore, His Holiness the Pope has commanded that you divorce the Countess Green and remarry a woman from the Holy Kingdom chosen by His Holiness himself.”
“Ho.”
Kay’s eyes narrowed.
“Is that so? And His Holiness the Pope said that himself?”
“That is correct!”
Kay knew there was no way that could be true.
It was likely words that had come out of one of the High Priests’ mouths.
Didn’t this priest know how dangerous it was to pass off his own words as the Pope’s command?
Instead of pointing that out, Kay leaned back, crossed his legs, and said, “What if the rumors circulating about my wife are not the truth?”
“I am well aware of the Count’s heart—a heart that wishes to trust the woman who has bewitched him, the so-called flower of the House Witlow. But Count, you must face the truth. It is not just in third-rate magazines; articles concerning the Countess are being published in reputable newspapers as well.”
“Articles cannot always be considered the truth. The source of those rumors was a third-rate magazine. You surely know that some newspapers will publish stories without verifying the truth if they think it will sell.”
The priest felt frustrated because he couldn’t get through to him.
Whether it was the truth or not, the atrocities of the Countess Green were tarnishing the reputation of the Holy Kingdom.
Why couldn’t this Count see that?
*‘I was curious about the kind of person this “Count Green” was, but he is nothing special. He’s completely, utterly besotted with a woman. If only his younger brother, Sir Eldheart, had inherited the title, none of this would have happened…’*
“I do not believe my wife has done the things currently being rumored. This is a matter of my household, and even His Holiness the Pope cannot lay a hand on my private affairs. Go back, Priest. I will treat today’s visit as if it never happened.”
“Ha!”
The priest was dumbfounded by Kay’s arrogant attitude.
In this situation, instead of trying to appease the priest and have him report good news to the Pope, he was talking about “today’s visit”?
“Look here, Count Green. You seem to be under a misconception; this is the will and command of His Holiness the Pope. It is not something you can simply refuse…”
The priest could not finish his sentence because Kay had slowly risen to his feet.
A black energy surged behind Kay.
That black energy had a physical presence, as if it were cold enough to swallow the priest whole and chew him to bits.
“Marriage is an oath made to God, not to the Holy Kingdom or the Pope, Priest.”
Kay’s low voice resonated so loudly that it felt like it would burst the priest’s eardrums.
“You ask me to break an oath made to God by the command of the Pope? Is it truly the command of His Holiness to break a promise with God for no reason?”
Cruelly gleaming ash-gray eyes pressed down upon the priest.
The priest couldn’t even breathe as he looked up at Kay. He was terrified of meeting Kay’s gaze, but he couldn’t look away. The moment he avoided it, he felt like those terrifying eyes would crush him into pieces. It felt as though he would die without even knowing how.
“Th-th-there is… a-a reason…”
“You are insolent, Priest!”
“Ugh!”
The priest felt like he was about to lose control of his bladder.
Fortunately, at that moment, the black power crushing the priest’s shoulders vanished cleanly, and Kay sat back on the sofa as if nothing had happened.
The priest felt like he had just had a nightmare.
There was no black energy behind Kay, and Kay’s eyes were once again as languid as before.
“Very well, Priest. If that is truly the will of His Holiness the Pope, then I shall divorce her.”