HPCM 09

Chapter : 09

It wasn’t particularly unusual to see young ladies moving around the banquet hall in pairs or small groups of two or three.

Whether they were heading to the lounge or taking a stroll in the garden, it looked far more sociable than wandering around alone with a maid in tow, so it was only natural.

So at first glance, it certainly wasn’t a suspicious sight at all…

“…Ludvik.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Stay here for a moment. I have somewhere to go.”

Alfonso simply couldn’t ignore what he had just seen.

* * *

“This should be far enough that no one is nearby.”

Charlotte turned lightly on her heel when they reached a secluded corner deep within the garden behind the Marquess Mabel’s residence.

Her dress swayed gracefully with the motion, bending softly before settling in a delicate rustle.

If it had been anyone else, they might have forgotten who Charlotte Noha was—and even her infamous reputation—and simply admired her elegance.

But the woman standing before Charlotte, Vivian Mabel, could not bring herself to do that.

Clutching her trembling hands tightly against her chest, she spoke with a stiff, hardened face.

“You brought me all the way here, so stop wasting time and tell me your purpose. Why did you say that to me?”

“…Isn’t that a bit hostile just because we changed locations? Weren’t we chatting quite amicably just a moment ago, Vivian Mabel? I thought we were having a rather pleasant conversation.”

“It would have been pleasant enough if my conversation partner had been anyone other than you, Lady Noha.”

“Ah, because I’m that infamous villainess of the Noha family, you mean you couldn’t fully enjoy yourself?”

At Charlotte’s question, Vivian squeezed her eyes shut.

It was both an affirmation and a denial.

As Charlotte had said, Vivian had been thoroughly enjoying the banquet earlier that evening.

When the notorious villainess of the Noha family appeared, she had been somewhat tense at first.

‘But she was more entertaining than I expected.’

Charlotte was an exceptional conversationalist. She had joined a group of people who were wary of her and spoke as if nothing were wrong—eventually even steering the atmosphere into something cheerful.

It was obvious that the gazes directed at Charlotte were gradually becoming more favorable.

“Lady Noha, you’re truly delightful. I’d love to learn your conversational skills.”

“You flatter me. I’m not particularly talented. Perhaps the poetry collections I usually read have helped.”

“Poetry collections? Now I’m curious about your recommendations, Lady Noha.”

“It’s nothing special, but if you’re curious, there’s no reason not to tell you.”

Charlotte then listed several well-known poetry collections.

“And Rhetoric of the Seasons. I like that one too.”

“I’ve never heard of that title before. Is it by a new writer?”

“Ah, yes. It isn’t famous. But I’m sure you’d like it.”

Yes. Up until that moment, there had been nothing strange at all.

The problem came afterward.

In the middle of their lively conversation, Charlotte had bent down to pick up a handkerchief she had dropped.

And then—

“If you don’t want everyone to learn your secret, follow me.”

The voice had been so quiet that only Vivian, sitting right beside her, could hear it.

If anyone else had said those words, Vivian would have ignored them.

She would have asked what nonsense they were talking about and denied it outright.

But…

‘The person saying it is Charlotte Noha.’

Vivian had heard countless stories about the atrocities committed by Charlotte and the Noha family.

There were even people who had tried to oppose Charlotte and ended up beaten so badly their cheeks were swollen and their hair was a mess—only to surrender in the end.

‘There’s no way she could have discovered that secret.’

I just need to deny it and go back.

Vivian finally calmed herself and slowly opened her eyes.

“…I have no desire to oppose you, Lady Noha. I don’t know what you think you know, but it’s a misunderstanding—”

“A misunderstanding?”

Charlotte laughed lightly and continued in a cynical tone.

“What exactly is the misunderstanding? That you’re not the real Vivian? Or that the one pretending to be your maid is the real Vivian?”

“Wh-What are you talking about? There’s no way I’m not Vivian Mabel. My maid—”

“Melia Luhen. The maid who grew up alongside Lady Mabel like a twin since childhood. I saw her earlier. Her build and features are almost identical to yours.”

Both had brown hair, the only difference being that one carried a slightly more orange tint.

As Charlotte continued speaking, the color visibly drained from the other woman’s face.

“Are you really accusing me of not being Vivian just because of that?”

“Of course not. I confirmed it.”

Rhetoric of the Seasons.

It was not actually the title of a poetry collection.

“You claim to be Vivian, yet you don’t even know the title of the poem Vivian presented at the salon five years ago.”

“…!”

“I remember it. I was there. I even remember how the first line begins. Can you recite it?”

“I—I…”

“The fading winter, snow scattering over the prayer of magnolias. Frozen white foam turning into food for butterflies.”

Charlotte recited the verse as if singing, then raised her eyebrows slightly.

“Can you continue the next line?”

“Th-That…”

“Of course you can’t remember it, Melia. You’re not Vivian herself, after all.”

“H-How…?”

Vivian—no, Melia—had gone completely pale.

She had intended to deny everything no matter what.

She never imagined she would be caught so completely.

‘…Her thoughts are obvious.’

Charlotte looked at Melia with an indifferent gaze.

‘She probably assumed she wouldn’t be discovered since Vivian rarely appeared in public.’

Charlotte herself was actually rather surprised, though she hid it.

After all, what she had originally wanted to confirm wasn’t their identities.

When Charlotte had investigated Vivian Mabel…

“Vivian’s maid is named Melia Luhen? That great writer?”

She had discovered a name that would burst onto the literary scene three years later like a comet.

She had also noticed something else.

The poem Vivian presented at the salon five years ago was strikingly similar to writing Charlotte remembered from Melia Luhen.

‘So I wondered if Melia might have written Vivian’s poems and decided to test it.’

She had never imagined that Melia and Vivian had actually switched identities.

Vivian was the future great writer—Melia Luhen.

It was a catch far greater than she had expected.

“I did think it was strange. According to my investigation, Vivian Mabel is extremely introverted and rarely participates in social activities. Yet the Vivian I met was lively and sociable.”

“…”

“The real Vivian probably didn’t want this marriage. Becoming a duchess… that would be too much for someone who spent her entire life reading quietly at home.”

So she must have handed over the noble life—nothing but a set of chains to her—to the maid who had grown up like a sister, while she herself wished to live as a commoner and write.

“Am I right?”

“…Yes.”

Melia finally admitted it through tears.

“My lady… she never wanted the life of a noble. I admired her life instead. And the Marquess Mabel treated me like a daughter…”

“So that’s why you staged this ridiculous fraud. If it’s discovered, not only you but also the Marquess who helped you won’t escape severe punishment. And considering the groom is Duke Eduart…”

Charlotte murmured indifferently.

Melia suddenly grabbed Charlotte’s hand in panic.

“I—I’ll do anything! Please keep it a secret. It’s all my fault. The Marquess and my lady did nothing wrong…”

“How could they have done nothing wrong? You didn’t commit the fraud alone.”

“It’s true! Please, just once, look the other way. You must want something, right? That’s why you brought me here.”

Melia clung to her desperately, tears pouring down her face.

To her, it felt like everything was over.

‘And of all people, it had to be Charlotte Noha.’

She was certain Charlotte would use this weakness to demand something terrible.

She knew it.

But she couldn’t allow the Mabel family’s deception to be exposed.

“Anything… I’ll do anything. You can even beat me until you’re satisfied. Just… please…”

Just please spare us this once.

At last, Charlotte—who had been cold and indifferent—spoke.

“There’s only one thing I want in exchange for keeping quiet.”

What could it possibly be?

The entire wealth of the Mabel family?

Or perhaps forcing them to take responsibility for crimes committed by the Noha family?

Whatever it was, Melia had already prepared herself.

Finally, Charlotte’s demand left her lips.

“Cancel the engagement with Duke Eduart. That’s all.”

“…That’s it? B-But this…”

This secret was serious enough to destroy the entire Mabel family.

And yet the infamous villainess of the Noha family—who was said to fabricate weaknesses just to crush people—only wanted that?

‘Of course, breaking off an engagement isn’t simple…’

But compared to the possibility of the family’s ruin, resolving the crisis with just a broken engagement would almost be a bargain.

Melia even stopped crying as she stared at Charlotte.

The notorious villainess simply looked at her with cold eyes.

“I’m not interested in your circumstances. Swap identities or don’t—it’s none of my business.”

Under the tear-blurred night sky, Charlotte’s red hair fluttered lightly.

And in that moment, the woman’s merciless contempt felt gentler than any smile.