Purple Heart (7)

In the private salon behind Union Atelier—the largest porcelain shop in Baden—there was a room for the Baroness of Kvant.

That was the very site of the Baroness’s affair with Gregory Barker.

Baron Kvant, a senior officer at the Southern Frontier Command, drove his half-naked wife and Gregory Barker out into the main street at swordpoint.

Thanks to that, there was no one in the capital who did not know of the scandal.

After thoroughly humiliating the pair, Baron Kvant handed Gregory Barker clothes and a sword and challenged him to a duel.

A duel demanded by an active-duty officer was tantamount to a death sentence.

The duel took place immediately.

Gregory Barker could barely swing his blade and simply took the baron’s blows.

In the end, he suffered an irreparable injury that left his leg unable to fully straighten.

Among nobles, it was common for husbands and wives to keep separate lovers.

People said Baron Kvant flew into such a rage because he was deeply fond of his wife.

He was a man of action who had legitimized the obscurely born baroness as an adopted daughter of a noble house before marrying her.

The scandal that rocked the capital had once dealt Alicia a severe blow.

It was the event that had shaken her entire life.

Therefore, Alicia knew the before and after of the affair in meticulous detail.

The House of Marquess Rain.

The Barker count family, one of the true powerhouses of the capital.

Baron and Baroness Kvant.

The porcelain collectors.

The scandal clawed at many people as it passed.

In this life, Josephina had a high chance of being drawn in.

Since she was close to the Emperor, her betrothal could be rearranged easily.

Even so, Alicia could not help feeling sorry for those who might be dragged into filthy business because of her actions.

If Josephina wished, she could use what she had just heard to track down the place of trysts with ease.

Uneasy about saying anything that might change things, Alicia nevertheless did not regret it.

“This way, please.”

Just as the mood needed to shift, the reception room door opened.

“Lady Josephina, Lady Alicia.”

The maid first attempted to introduce the arriving guests to those already inside.

“Josephina. Lady Alicia, I am Octavia Given. Thank you, Taya.”

The new guest stepped into the room with a greeting.

Perhaps by nature friendly, Octavia called the maid by name, showing easy warmth.

“An honor to meet you, Lady Octavia.”

Alicia met Octavia’s eyes and acknowledged her.

“Please wait here a short while, ladies.”

The door to the reception room closed.

Octavia, seemingly on familiar terms with Josephina, made light conversation.

Josephina, for whom she was not an unwelcome friend, exchanged a few remarks related to the Zephyr Clan.

Before long, the door opened again.

This time it was not a maid.

It was Countess Istevna.

Her belly had grown in the meantime, and Pauline’s bodice now fit exactly.

“Ladies, thank you for waiting.”

Shy by temperament, Pauline nonetheless spoke with proper formality.

Her voice was far stronger than the last time.

“Countess Istevna.”

The three ladies in the room offered greetings to the countess.

“Your Ladyship and Lady Octavia, please wait here a little longer. Lady Alicia, shall we?”

Looking somewhere into the air as she addressed Josephina and Octavia, Pauline barely met Alicia’s eyes when she spoke to her.

“I will go ahead.”

At Alicia’s bow, Josephina saw her off with a smile.

“See you later. Your dress is lovely today.”

She looked in far better spirits than when she had first entered.

“Until later.”

Turning to follow Pauline, Alicia’s gaze brushed Octavia’s.

Kind by nature, Octavia gave a friendly wave to Alicia, whom she had just met.

Alicia envied her open, universally likable manner.

“Last time we parted in a rush.”

As they left the reception room and stepped into the corridor, Pauline spoke carefully.

“Indeed. Did you get home safely?”

Alicia wanted to be as cordial with Pauline as Octavia had been.

Before, she had been far too timid; now, far too headstrong.

Like Octavia…

Thinking about the sort of personality she admired, Alicia hesitated.

Octavia Given?

Something almost came to mind, then slipped away.

There were too many things—and too many people—to remember in Baden.

What was it?

While Alicia puzzled, maids approached from the other side carrying velvet-lined trays.

Upon the handsome trays sat even handsomer golden candlesticks and candles.

“Countess. Lady Alicia.”

Recognizing Pauline and Alicia, the maids drew aside with proper courtesies.

Ladies and noblewomen with good memories and pleasant manners would sometimes show friendliness by addressing imperial maids by name as they bowed.

Alicia did not remember them all.

There was simply too much else to keep in mind.

Pauline seemed to know the maids but, too bashful to use their names, offered only a nod before passing.

Following Pauline, Alicia returned the gesture in silence and went by.

The maids who had stepped aside moved again.

Alicia recognized the golden candlesticks and candles on the trays.

They were gifts from the Marchioness of Belz.

Among royals and nobles, it was common to display or use gifts from a person when meeting them, as a sign of familiarity and respect.

“Countess, is the Marchioness of Belz here today?”

“Oh. No. The maids must have set them out in case she arrived, then put them away when she didn’t.”

Alicia and Pauline reached the antechamber to the Empress’s audience hall.

Oh no…!

Then Alicia realized it.

At present, the Empress was pregnant with the future crown prince.

Countess Pauline Istevna was also pregnant.

Being separated, even briefly like this, made it difficult to be sure of Josephina’s safety.

The doors of the audience hall opened.

“Let us go in, Alicia.”

“Yes, Countess.”

“Ah, um, Alicia—j-just my name is enough.”

Blushing, Pauline asked to be addressed more comfortably.

Alicia felt shy, but thought that perhaps this was how one made a friend.

“I will, Pauline.”

She answered gladly—and felt a weight of responsibility she could hardly bear.

As they entered, the Empress, seated on the high dais, greeted them with a spreading smile.

“Welcome, Alicia.”

One step below the dais sat the Marchioness of Lennox.

“Your Majesty, I pay respects to the Exalted One. Marchioness, it has been a while.”

“Be seated.”

At the Empress’s command, maids brought Alicia a chair.

Kindness filled the Empress’s eyes as she looked at Alicia.

“I am honored beyond measure.”

Alicia expressed thanks and sat.

Before her, the Empress looked down with a warm gaze; beside her, Pauline wore a shy smile.

There were more and more people Alicia wished to protect.

Yet she could not tell who the enemy was.

Within the palace were countless people who could become enemies at any time, each harboring unknowable hearts.

To distinguish foe from friend and avoid danger, Alicia reviewed everything she knew without omission.

Her head felt as if it would burst.

Two hours before the performance at the Night of Opera.

Grand Theater Grove, by the fountain.

Alicia Rain unleashed a flurry of prophecies.

“You must believe me without question.”

Reichardt, in the midst of official business, received a message through Juan.

Alicia was waiting in the Grand Theater Grove.

After the opera, he was scheduled to escort the lady home.

Wondering if anything had changed about the escort, he headed there at once.

“Please follow exactly what I say.”

Before making her barrage of prophecies, Alicia spoke like a cult leader.

“Do not question me, do not argue—just do exactly as I ask, please.”

Her expression and bearing were earnest, yet no matter how he heard it, it sounded like the speech of a very capable cult leader.

Knowing Alicia Rain, Reichardt nodded obediently.

“Please place discreet attendants to watch over Lady Josephina. She must not notice she is being watched. I may be wrong, but Lady Josephina is in danger of being shoved on the stairs and injured today.”

The once-per-season prophecy flowed smoothly from her pink lips.

Though she said “watch over,” in truth she meant “keep surveillance.”

“I will do so.”

Reichardt agreed without quibbling.

Alicia’s words would almost certainly come to pass.

“Have all the chandeliers in the opera house inspected. Especially those near the staircase that leads up to the stage. It must be done so that no one knows.”

Alicia had not invited questions, but Reichardt asked one anyway.

“Will a chandelier fall?”

“Yes.”

There was iron certainty in her voice.

The prophecy she claimed could happen no more than once a season spilled out readily.

“I will do so.”

Overall responsibility for the opera house fell to the Marchioness of Lennox.

She would be busy currying favor with the Emperor until the performance began, so it should be possible to slip past the chief and inspect thoroughly.

“If Pierre Gique is among those coming to the opera, remove him.”

Though she had asked for watchers on Josephina, Alicia still felt uneasy.

“The son of Count Gique?”

“Yes.”

“Very well.”

Reichardt had asked, but accepted her request without difficulty.

It was only slightly curious that he already knew of Pierre Gique, who was not yet even a knight.

“The royal boxes in the opera house…”

“There is more?”

“Yes. Please have the royal boxes inspected.”

Even as she spoke, Alicia wore a troubled look.

Josephina would be shoved and sprain her ankle, meet Pierre Gique, and form acquaintance.

When the Empress went to step onto the stage, a chandelier near the stairs would nearly fall.

Up to that point she was certain.

As for the disturbance reported to have broken out among the royal boxes ringing the second floor—what exactly had happened there was unclear.

Faced with a vague request, Reichardt voiced his displeasure.

“There is so much.”

When grumbling, he often clipped his words short.

Alicia wanted to insist this was all for the sake of the imperial house, but it felt too much like a cult leader, so she refrained.

“I’m sorry.”

“Would it not be best to cancel tonight’s performance altogether?”

“All the guests are already here. How could we?”

It was not that Alicia had not considered it.

There were too many small incidents, beyond what she could manage alone.

So she was dumping everything she knew on Reichardt and coercing his help.

“What if we report to His Majesty that traces of an assassin’s infiltration were found, and clear the place?”

Checking the time on his pocket watch, Reichardt made an outrageous suggestion.

“That would put Her Majesty in a difficult position.”

“So it would.”

At Alicia’s point, Reichardt replied with a look of real regret—regret at missing a chance to throw out everyone who had come dressed since dawn.

“I know I’m asking too much. But you must do it, Your Highness. If you grant these favors, I will do anything I can…”

“Will you grant a wish, then?”

Cutting across Alicia’s earnest plea, Reichardt interjected.