Why do Dark Histories Follow Us? (2)

“What?!!!”

Marquis Mirse thought his head was going to explode for a moment, it was so ridiculous. Johanna shouted at the Marquis of Mirse in a squeaky voice.

“I heard that Father had undressed to pay for his wrongdoing to Rosetta with his body! I went out to the salon, and when I heard that, how I…!”

He hadn’t undressed, he’d burst out of his clothes, but that was what was rumored?

‘How cruel!’

“The duke’s servants saw it all!!! They said that when the prince refused in disgust, you tore your own clothes and went on a rampage!”

“No!!! I didn’t….”

“That’s not true! You came back a few days ago with your clothes torn!!!!”

The Marquis of Mirse denied it at the top of his lungs, but his daughter’s voice was louder. It was so loud that it could have rattled the glass windows in the room. It would have been embarrassing enough in a marquis’s mansion, but this was the count’s mansion, where he was staying as a guest.

“You stupid thing! Shut up!”

“I’m going to faint! I can’t hold my face up in shame!”

The shrill voices were being broadcast live to the Count, who was in the bedroom across the hall. When the Count heard about the grotesque rumors, he even asked the Duke of Arden if he could have the Marquis of Mirse removed. The Duke replied that it was unnecessary.

‘Both parent and child….’

The Count shook his head in disbelief and focused on the papers he was studying.

???

‘After the disgusting letter, is it harassment?’

The look of surprise on her face made him think she was an abomination. Rosetta had been insisting that she wasn’t the one bullying Iris.

He didn’t believe her, because there were several younger ladies who saw her pouring juice on Iris. He had witnesses, and she knew she was lying.

Disgusting, iron-faced.

Patrick had thought Rosetta was that kind of woman. But….

‘Those women were lying.’

It wasn’t that he didn’t feel sorry for her. He was sympathetic, but he thought it was overdone in the current situation. Most people felt sorry for Rosetta, not Iris, who was not the real bully.

‘Oh, my God….’

‘That must have been scary.’

‘No young lady could escape a plot like that.’

His mother pitied Rosetta, too, and her sympathy was compounded by the fact that Rosetta had once had a crush on Patrick.

‘Patrick, I hope you have not been unkind to that young lady. There were even rumors that she still liked you….’

‘Mother. The real victim here is Iris. I know the young lady was wronged….’

The Marchioness frowned at Patrick’s words.

‘Yes. I’m sure it must have been hard for her, too, and now that she’s had her ‘leg chopped off’, are you saying that someone who has a ‘broken leg’ shouldn’t even show that it hurts?’

‘That’s… No.’

‘I know it was hard for Lady Leon, but she had someone to support her… Lady Whirsen… I mean, she’s a duchess now, and it must have been even harder for her, with her own family pointing fingers at her.’

‘…….’

‘It’s not all about the physical pain. Where did she keep her mind during those months?’

His mother’s sympathetic gaze bothered him. He still thought Rosetta’s suffering was nothing compared to Iris’. He wondered if Rosetta had been framed in the first place because she had a grudge against Iris.

Moreover….

‘Iris had a crush on Michael.’

The winner was Rosetta, and the loser was Iris. While he was happy to have gotten rid of a formidable rival, Patrick resented the fact.

In the capital, everyone spoke only of Rosetta and pitied her. Even the Duke of Arden, who might have been displeased to see a young lady of less than stellar looks and ability become the Duke’s wife in such a declining family, was unwaveringly favorable toward Rosetta.

Patrick was worried about Iris, as he should be, given that she had just been exonerated.

She was the real victim, and the world seemed to have forgotten about the harassment she has suffered.

‘Iris said she was fine, but….’

Iris.

‘Iris said it was okay, but I thought maybe we could see each other at least once on the way since we had the same destination. But they were traveling slowly by land, and the Emperor’s Knights were using teleportation circles. Same destination, different routes, no chance of meeting.’

‘Damn.’

All the while, Logan would be closing the distance between him and Iris. Patrick didn’t like that.

‘Why did he come here in the first place?’

Even the people on the street knew the Duke favored his wife. Rumor had it that he had bought the entire dress shop in preparation for her arrival.

‘There’s no way that Prince Michael is serious about her…. Is there any reason for such a rumor?’

Rosetta said that she had been falsely accused. Besides, she’s a simple woman, and it’s unlikely that she could have blackmailed him into marriage. That would mean that Prince Michael was behind this whole thing… ….

‘Whatever Prince Michael’s motives, it’s clear that he did marry the young lady! And yet she still has feelings for him….’

Unless Iris had her heart set on Michael, Patrick didn’t care what Michael did; he’d come all this way for her.

To make sure she didn’t get caught up in his plans and get hurt.

‘Who the hell does Prince Michael think he is?’

Patrick was annoyed; he’d been his playmate when he was younger. What a devious and inscrutable man he was.

It was no secret that the other young ladies were infatuated with Prince Michael, but it was different if it was Iris. Why Michael? He’s a married man!

‘If I knew Iris….’

It was right to keep her distance, even if she still had feelings for him in the back of her mind. It was the right thing to do, whether he was an unmarried young man because it was common sense.

‘No, Iris just hasn’t come to terms with reality yet. Because the marriage was so sudden….’

To hear Gerald tell it, it was a very strange marriage indeed. He said it was to avoid the eyes of Carulias, but he wondered why he would go to such lengths to marry Rosetta Whirsen.

What was she?

‘…Though I still remember her childish letter.’

He knew she was embarrassed since she kept to herself at parties. He realized that she was embarrassed, so he avoided her at parties, which made it easier for him. He was aware that he was being harsh when he spoke to her, but he thought that the harsher he spoke, the more harsh he had to be. If he left any room for misunderstanding, they would both get into trouble.

He thought that she would hate him for what he did. That was normal for a normal young love. But the rumors said otherwise.

In fact, the rumors made Patrick feel even worse about Rosetta. There was nothing more annoying than a woman who stuck around even when she was not wanted.

“I hope you’ll be polite since Rosetta is no longer a Count’s lady, but a duchess.”

Gerald said, walking side by side with Patrick. He hadn’t taken his eyes off Patrick since they arrived at the duke’s castle. As if he thought he was a rogue who had come to destroy Rosetta’s happiness.

‘How absurd. It’s obvious she is being used.’

“Are you saying I wasn’t polite before?”

“You should know better than me.”

Gerald said, glaring at him coldly. Patrick snorted. It was true that he had said some harsh things, but not in front of everyone.

“I don’t think that’s something I’d expect to hear from someone who pushed her over in the middle of a party.”

“!!!”

For a moment, Gerald’s face flushed. He regretted it deeply. He had been so angry that he hadn’t been thinking straight.

It was the day Iris fell down the stairs.

Patrick had barely caught her, and Gerald had pushed Rosetta, who had come running in alarm. Later, a maid who said she was at the end of the hall swore it wasn’t her… but Gerald never apologized to Rosetta.

If Iris had fallen down the stairs, she could have broken her neck. If Patrick hadn’t caught her, she would have been seriously injured.

It was a moment when he lost his cool, both out of concern for Iris and anger at his opponent.

“…I’ll spend the rest of my life atoning for that.”

‘A lifetime of penance?’

Patrick thought Gerald was blowing it out of proportion, though he was sorry for what had happened; it must have been traumatic and frightening for Rosetta.

But…. At the time, everyone was fooled. It was hard to know the truth when everyone was pointing fingers at Rosetta.

“You’re so sincere.”

“I’m not going to ask you to be with her, so stay away from her. She’s finally happy.”

“Do you really think Prince Michael is serious? It’s better to be prepared….”

The duke’s chamberlain was five paces ahead of them; they were talking in low voices, only audible to each other, but they were careful not to let him hear them.

Gerald glared angrily at Patrick.

“How rude of you. Will you take responsibility for those mean words?”

“If you are referring to a duel, let me tell you that this is not the place. We’re here at the behest of His Majesty….”

Patrick said though he didn’t mean to be evasive. He could see Gerald clenching his teeth in anger, but Patrick only shook his head lightly.

‘You must have fallen for Prince Michael’s act.’

That’s enough of an act for him, Patrick thought.

The servant paused in front of a door with an elegantly embossed white peacock on it. He cleared his throat and turned to face the door.

“My Duke. Lord Whirsen and Lord Lansfield are here.”

“Let them in.”

Michael’s cold voice came from beyond the door. It was a slight sign, but Patrick had a feeling he didn’t like it.

The door was opened by a servant and Gerald and Patrick stepped inside.

Michael and Rosetta sat side by side on the long sofa. They looked so picturesque together, even though Rosetta had no more flair than Michael, that Patrick paused for a moment.

It was a strange thing. Rosetta should have been a sparrow compared to Michael, but just sitting next to him made her feel as graceful as a swan.

“…It’s been a long time, Lord Whirsen, Patrick.”

“Duke, my lady. Thank you for your hospitality.”

Gerald spoke first, trying to be polite. It was overly formal, considering his relationship with Rosetta, but no one would point it out; they were practically strangers.

“You’ve come a long way.”

“No, I’m glad to see you safe and sound.”

As he spoke, Gerald glanced at Patrick. Patrick glanced at Michael and then at Gerald.