It Became a Serious Thing Chapter 5

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R

ose began to spend the time after work in Colette’s room telling her about the influential people in the castle, their interpersonal relations.h.i.+ps and the faction politics. Although, Colette listened, she thought it was irrelevant to her.

‘So Eugene-sama, a Captain of the White Eagle Knights does not like Lionel-sama, doesn’t even want to see his face. This is because if the Black Dragon Knights get called to support a situation that the White Eagles have been overseeing initially, and then the Black Dragons get all the glory. And then the White Eagles have to do the boring post procedures and clean up messes.’

‘I see,’

‘And His Majesty cares a lot about Lionel-sama, he ignores procedure and makes Lionel accompany him wherever he goes whether it is official or not. But his Majesty and Lionel grew up together, and are childhood friends, so they have a deep understanding of each other.’

‘Is that so?’ was Colette’s non-committal reply.

‘On the other side is Eugene-sama, who is the most handsome man. Absolutely beautiful. He is still unmarried, not even betrothed, even though he is a n.o.ble. He is celibate, I hear, which is making the women cry. But his voice is so seductive, and he has a s.e.xy mole…ah…Completely opposite to the granite Lionel-sama.’ (Zuben: Is Eugene gay? Either way, all these characters are s.e.x fiends given the chance)

‘Oh…’

‘There have been marital issues between the King and Queen, but it seems that the Queen has forgiven the King and all seems to be quiet on their side.’

‘Ah…’

‘Have you been listening to me? You’ve been giving such vague replies all this while.’ Rose asked suspiciously,

Colette stared back at her, ‘I’m listening,’ she replied. In truth, the discussion had been long and kind of tedious so she’d been studying Rose’s features. Rose was an aristocratic lady; she had the prerequisite delicate white skin which was unblemished. She had a small face, with eyes that slanted upwards, a small upturned nose and coral pink lips. Beautiful, Colette thought (Zuben: Colette, we aren’t in a yuri s.m.u.t story, are we?)

Rose was drinking tea and eating snacks in Colette’s room. It seemed she had begun to see Colette as a friend of some kind (Zuben: The kind you can mooch off) Colette was very obedient and did not complain, like her other friends. Colette’s nature was very placid, so Rose could talk without interruption.

To be honest, Colette would have very much liked to be alone, but she couldn’t tell Rose to go to her room to her face.

‘What have I said so far?’

Colette gave her a summary. Rose seemed satisfied, ‘It is nice to teach those who are ignorant like you who cannot help it.’

To Colette, what Rose was truly saying was “I want to talk without interruptions, listen quietly.”

Colette understood, it seemed Rose was lonely (Zuben: What about her bully posse?). That was why Rose was so into talking,

‘So the Queen and King were newly married, and she is crazy about wanting to spend time with his Majesty, but he is more interested in going hunting and having parties with his friends. That would not make for a good marriage, right?’

‘That is so,’

Before Rose could continue, there was a gentle knock on the door.

Perhaps, it has finally come.

Colette became tense, but Rose was oblivious,

‘Come in,’ she called out.

But it was not her room,

‘Rose…’

‘I don’t mind,’

Margo entered, ‘Pardon me,’ she said.

Rose’s face stiffened. Rose had told Colette that Margo was a top-ranking spy. It seemed that she was very good at ferreting out information for their side. After all, Margo was friendly enough to find Colette for Lionel.

Maybe Colette was really involved in something…Rose thought. (Zuben: Nosy!) She was aware that he’d kept his distance from Colette so that she was not involved in his issues. She also knew that on the eve of going to war, she accidentally saw Lionel coming out of Colette’s room with his clothes all rumpled. He had given her a look that said, “If you tell anyone, I will kill you,” and Rose was a very perceptive person, with good judgement, she told no one what she saw. (Zuben: But decided to torture the poor girl with your constant presence, eh? Oh so you’ll be there when something happens and you can get the scoop directly from the source. Crafty)

She hadn’t told anyone about Colette and Lionel’s affair, but it made her want to get to know the timid girl better, because somehow, she had entrapped the impregnable Lionel.

Colette seemed cautious of Margo, but she gingerly walked up to her,

‘Margo-san, you returned safely, that is the most important thing-‘

‘Yes. Take this, Colette.’

‘Yes,’

Margo gave her the letter and turned away without waiting for a reply, but as she left she said,

‘That’s it. So then…I really wanted to be friends with you, Colette.’ (Zuben: What is this about?)

Margo went out of the room. (Zuben: Margo, don’t go. We like you)

‘She tried to act sweet and make you believe in her. Don’t be fooled.’ Rose said

‘That may be…’

‘So what’s in the letter?’

She really wanted to see him, but she was afraid to read the letter.

‘I will read it later,’

‘Not later, read it now. I want to know.’ (Zuben: Poke-noser)

Actually if she read it alone, she may not be able to make up her mind. So Colette opened the seal at Rose’s urging,

It was in the familiar scrawl, but only one line. It read: I’d like the return of the item I left in your keeping.

That was it. It seemed that this relations.h.i.+p between them, the unformed thing, was at an end.  Rose looked at Colette who was just staring blankly.

‘What are you keeping for him?’

Colette went to her dresser and retrieved the precious jewellery box. Rose exclaimed when she saw the box,

‘What? This is amazing! Was this a gift?’

‘He said so, but I said I could not keep it. But then he said I should keep it for him, till he returned.’

‘You should keep it, don’t return it.’ Rose said indignant. To her, a man should not take back something he’d given.

But Colette was reluctant to keep it, ‘No…as a maid, it is awkward to have it even if it was a gift. I will return it.’ (Zuben: Someone may find it and think it was stolen, It would be hard to say where she got it from)

‘So? Although it was given to you specially? …such a waste.’

‘If I want jewellery, I can buy it for myself.’ Colette said resignedly.

Rose pinched Colette’s cheek.

‘Okay. But I am upset for you,’

She let go of Colette’s cheek.

Colette was shocked.

‘After I return this, I will feel better. I don’t feel settled as it is now. I will be unhappy if I don’t sort it out properly.’ Colette declared.

‘Well…’

‘And I will be getting married next year.’

Colette pinched Rose’s cheek. ‘It hurts.’ The other girl cried.

‘It’s not nice to have your cheeks pinched, right?’

It seemed that Rose was unsatisfied with Colette’s decision.

But Colette carried on with life as usual.

♘

That night she took a bath, dressed and left her dormitory quietly.

Usually Margo was always waiting for her, and the two of them chatted as they walked to the Black Dragon Barracks, but now she was alone.

She felt lonely. But this was one of the changes that would come with not seeing Lionel anymore. It was good this way.

Lionel and Colette had people they were going to marry and Colette was leaving the castle next year. There was no future for them and their affair.

She walked to the Black Dragon barracks idly while deep in thought when she was stopped by a loud voice,

‘Hold it right there, what are you doing out at this hour?’

‘Eh…'

‘I was asking where you are going.’

Illuminated by the light of the lantern, two knights came up to her surprising Colette. The knights were wearing white cloaks; White Eagle Knights. Rose had told her that there was a bad animosity between them and the Black Dragons.  

‘I am returning what I borrowed to my acquaintance…’ she replied,

‘Who is this acquaintance and what did you borrow?’

‘Well…’

She did not know if mentioning Lionel’s name would be a good idea with the White Eagles.

‘If you ask so harshly, the lady would be scared and would be too nervous to talk,’ a cool voice said from behind her, ‘you should treat ladies kindly.’

‘Salute!’

It must be a senior officer, Colette thought as turned to see a young handsome man who had green eyes and long blonde hair. He really made himself look sweet and almost harmless. He smiled at Colette,

‘For now, we have to know the business of those walking about at night. Would you mind telling us where you’re going?’ he asked with a gentle smile but she knew he did not think anything of her. He had a mole at his eye, he was very attractive.

“A seductive voice and soft eyes, the very opposite of Lionel.” She thought about what Rose had told her of Eugene and Lionel and she wondered what she should say.

‘What you borrowed, may I see it?’

‘Ah yes, here it is.’ She quickly handed him the jewellery box.

‘I only just want to see what it is, I will return it soon…This is…!’

It seemed that he was not expecting her to be holding such a valuable item. He cast a glance at her.

‘How did you come to have this?’

‘I was given…but I decided to return it.’

Eugene frowned, his expression thoughtful.

‘I see…’

‘Huh…’

‘As far as I know, there is only one person who had this item made, and there is only one person with eyes this colour.’ (Zuben: There is only one!)

‘…’

This might be bad. To be able to deduce that much from just the brooch, he really deserved to be the Captain of Knights (Zuben: He is magic, desu).

‘So I know why you are returning it. The marriage between the Lady Karris and Lionel has been decided. It is something His Majesty wants and it is a joyous occasion. But, the lady is not happy.’

‘Um, what…’ She could reply him. Tears filled her eyes at the accusatory tone Eugene used to speak to her.

She may have had fantasies of marrying Lionel, but she would never presume that he would leave his fiancée for her. (Zuben: You had fantasies?!)

Even though she loved the brooch, she could not keep it. She just wanted to return it to him.

But she did not want to talk to a person like Eugene. He seems to be too happy to blame Colette.

‘Even so,’ he continued looking down at her, ‘this person seems stingy to request a return of what had been give. You ought to keep it as a consolation fee.’

‘You’re wrong.’ She replied with sudden pa.s.sion, ‘He did not want me to return it. I just can’t keep it; Lionel-sama is not stingy.’ As soon as she said his name, the expression of the Knights around her turned dark.

Oh no! Did she say something she should not have…? (Zuben: Yes, dear)

Colette unconsciously covered her mouth with her hand.

Eugene cleared his throat and said, ‘This can’t belong to that man. He does not show any weakness, usually honest and full of integrity. He is not the type to play with fire.’

‘Huh…’

Eugene was laughing at Colette,

‘The true nature of trash comes out when a bear rummages through it. (Zuben: Who or what is the bear in this instance?) To be honest, I am quite surprised that he would give such a gem to a woman other than his fiancée. Should we check with him?’

‘Eh?’

‘I can’t be sure that you didn’t steal it, so we have to go and ask him if he really gave it to you.’

Eugene’s smile was gloating. It was the expression of a man who had finally found the weakness of an enemy he despised.

Colette was in despair as she was dragged away.

Thanks for reading. Hope you're well wherever you are.