Chapter 13
“Do you have a close relationship with Madame de Châteauroux?”
At the man’s words, I tilted my head. I exaggeratedly blinked my eyes and pretended not to understand what he was saying. I was curious why he suddenly asked me about ‘Marianne de Châteauroux,’ but I couldn’t readily answer.
Marianne de Châteauroux is a prostitute. Her real name is ‘Marianne Bonteju,’ and before Count Déportés Felicity took her as his adopted daughter and brought her into the palace, she sold her body to nobles in the back alleys of the prostitute village located on Filiene Street.
If one mentions the red flower of Filiene’s night, they refer to ‘Marianne Bonteju’; she was that famous a courtesan.
Bonteju entered the prostitute village at the rather old age of 18 and seized the position of top courtesan in just a week of receiving customers. It was because her bedroom arts were innate, making every man desperate to sleep with Marianne Bonteju.
Perhaps that’s why? When the twilight of evening fell with darkness, the shop would be very bustling with people carrying all sorts of treasures and loitering in front of Mari Bonteju’s room.
Among them was Count Déportés Felicity. The previous generation of the count was content with tending to the local estate, but being ambitious, he aimed to enter politics and seize power.
The count realized that the emperor was a man of great stamina and a lowly person who lusted after women, so he sought a beautiful yet empty-headed woman who could manipulate him to make himself a noble among nobles. And the person he thus discovered was the courtesan ‘Marianne Bonteju.’
The emperor was completely captivated by the charm of the young woman brought by Count Déportés Felicity. The bedroom arts she had mastered for her debut in the pleasure world were incomparable to other women.
Marianne Bonteju’s beautiful face, voluptuous figure, and coquettish behavior were a fresh pleasure that could not be tasted from the empress or other stodgy noble ladies.
Therefore, the emperor wanted Marianne Bonteju to become his mistress and entertain him indefinitely, and to that end, he made efforts to erase her gloomy past.
So, he gifted her the castle in the ‘Châteauroux’ region and showed enthusiasm in making her ‘Madame Marianne de Châteauroux, Marquise’ and debuting her in society.
Even as the emperor, the ruler above all, he didn’t have the guts to make a woman bearing the name of ‘courtesan’ his mistress.
In any case, because of that, people came to call the courtesan Marianne Bonteju ‘Madame Marianne de Châteauroux, Marquise.’ It was a very shameful thing in the noble society famous for its high pride.
“Was that a rude question?”
“Yes. It’s a rude and even bewildering question. I don’t understand why Your Grace is asking me about my acquaintance with the Marquise de Châteauroux.”
The man responds to my words. His voice was impassive, with no emotion to be found. It was as ordinary as asking the name of a passing bird.
“I happened to overhear the young lady mentioning her while passing by. So, should I say it piqued my great interest? That’s why I’m boldly asking despite the rudeness.”
“Why?”
At my words, the man twists his lips and smiles in an oddly dark way. It looked vile and evil, like a hyena tearing into its prey. It was a chilling smile that was hard to believe came from that handsome face.
“There are beasts everywhere that covet bones with flesh still on them.”
He demeaned himself by calling himself a ‘beast,’ as if he had become a lecher craving power. But I didn’t take his words at face value.
He was far superior ‘something’ rather than a fly swarming around the corpse called power.
His elegant posture and speech, his ingrained habit of considering women, were far too refined to call him a ‘beast.’
Above all, the ‘contempt’ and ‘disgust’ flashing in his blue eyes were emotions difficult to overlook easily.
So, I deliberately whispered cheerfully like singing and countered his words.
“What shall we do? I have no relationship with the marquise at all. I just used a little trick.”
“A trick?”
“The owner of this shop is so arrogant that he doesn’t even look at ordinary people. It’s said he only brings out good items when a prominent powerful person visits. So, I just pretended. To get the level of item I wanted.”
“Just to get one stationery? Does that mean it’s okay even if your honor is stained with disgrace?”
I shook my head to deny his words.
“No. He and I did something mutually beneficial. I got the item I wanted, and he can sell new stationery by introducing it as something Madame de Châteauroux favors, so he’ll see considerable financial gain.”
“Such a vile! Are you aware that you’re engaging in behavior fit for a fraudster, young lady?”
“It doesn’t seem like words from Your Grace, who not only eavesdropped on my words without shame but also begged to be connected to Madame de Châteauroux. Yes. I won’t deny it. What I did is behavior fit for a fraudster. So, is there any problem? Not just me, but everyone is engaging in behavior that sells the name of ‘Madame de Châteauroux.’ Should I give a suitable example?”
Since Marianne de Châteauroux’s lewd conduct was so famous in the world, poetry collections and literature mocking her were being sold covertly.
From renowned poets to lechers who enjoy lifting women’s skirts, and even to commoners of low birth, there was no one who hadn’t mentioned her name and defiled it.
At my words, the man fell silent. He too must have heard mocking remarks related to Marianne de Châteauroux at some point in his life, so he would well understand the meaning of what I was saying. That’s why he became like a mute who had eaten honey.
So, I was very curious. Why he approached me and asked about my acquaintance with ‘Marianne de Châteauroux.’
I was already thinking that even the incident of bumping into him was by that guy’s ‘plan.’ Otherwise, he couldn’t have separated me from Mari and the knight so easily.
Having thought this far, the fondness I had for the man’s enchanting voice seemed to cool off completely. So, I looked at him with wary eyes and prayed for Marie and the knight to quickly come out of the shop.
“I must have been rude to the young lady. I don’t know how to apologize for this.”
The man says. Though he utters the word ‘sin’ with his mouth, his expression was utterly peaceful. That sight was irritating, so I forgot my dignity and snapped back like a child.
“How can you erase the rudeness already committed? Let’s just say it’s offset by the consideration Your Grace showed me.”
Then he grabs my hand and lightly kisses the back of it. And with a captivating smile that could enchant everyone, he introduces himself.
“I am Theodore of the Vitraice family.”
“I’m Sisse of the Wischwaltz family.”
At my words, a gleam appears in his eyes. Whether surprised that the woman he held was an unexpected person, he speaks politely without erasing the smile on his lips.
“So, you’re that rumored young lady.”
I countered his words in a prim tone.
“Whereas Your Grace is someone I’ve never even heard rumors about.”
“It can’t be helped. The shadow hidden behind the curtain is even darker. People always fear something lurking behind the darkness. That’s why they don’t try to find out what truth awaits beyond it. So, inevitably, no one knows.”
“Are you confessing that you’re a dangerous person?”
“If so, would you shake off this hand you’re holding?”
“No. I’d pull it closer. Because I don’t fear danger or anything. What I shake off are things that don’t benefit me.”
At my words, the man laughs out loud. It was the first ‘sincere’ smile he showed me. After laughing heartily for a while, he soon stops laughing, bows, and kisses my cheek.
And to my ear, frozen in surprise at the sudden skinship, he whispered in a soft voice.
“Your scent is like neroli (orange scent). You’re the first woman to make me as joyful as the young lady. But our connection today ends here. The flowing time is so cruel and heartless that my heart aches. So, I look forward to meeting again sometime, Miss Wischwaltz.”
It was like the movements of a theater actor. If I hadn’t glimpsed the elegance in every one of his actions and the arrogant pride in his unconscious behavior, I would have mistaken the man for a renowned theater actor.
Having finished speaking, he greeted me with astonishingly exaggerated actions. It was so excessively overdone and ridiculous that passersby glanced at me once each.
As if wondering who this great woman is to receive such an extravagant event.
And as if this were a signal, Mari and the knight, whom I hadn’t seen even a shadow of until the man and I finished talking, finally emerged from the shop entrance and approached me.
Perhaps the experience of being swept up in the crowd was very horrific, as their faces were drooping like boiled cabbage.
“Miss! I was really worried.”
“Are you alright?”
I barely acknowledged their greetings and tried hard to find Theodore Vitraice, who was now obscured by them.
But like a mirage in the desert, he had disappeared. It was a swift movement that could be thought of as magic. Truly in the blink of an eye.
Though it was a meeting that could have been easily overlooked, somehow feeling toyed with, I bit my lips tightly in bad mood.
Spewing questions as he pleased, then disappearing once his curiosity was satisfied—such rude behavior was a first, leaving me dumbfounded.
Meanwhile, in my mind, I slowly recalled the conversation I had with him, fearing if I had made any slip of the tongue that could be used against me.
As I am still a young girl who hasn’t debuted in society, I need to prevent any rumors that could harm the family in advance.
Though already overlaid with a bad reputation due to the mother who seduced my foster father. Still, I decline any further labels.
What I need is not the vulgar seductress quality that everyone thinks, but a chameleon-like personality that is lovable yet somehow dangerous, with an unconsciously ingrained aloof attitude that’s attractive.
Therefore, flaunting acquaintance with Madame de Châteauroux also needs to happen gradually, like dress hems getting wet with dew.
There’s no reason to instill caution in everyone about the existence called ‘Sisse Wischwaltz.’ Just a doubtful, ‘They say she has considerable acquaintance with Madame de Châteauroux? Is it true?’—such cautious behavior where they can’t act recklessly because they can’t be sure.
What I worry about is that Theodore Vitraice has an appearance fit for debuting in society, and perhaps he might gossip about me to curry favor with other ladies participating in salons.
Men in love, men desperate to steal a woman’s heart, are fraudsters who create stories that don’t exist, tougher and more resilient than iron hammered.
So, there’s no rule that he won’t spew such words to make ridiculous talk to draw everyone’s attention!
‘I went to the Breath of Angels gathering, and guess what, I met that rumored young lady. She was, oh my, truly a girl just as the rumors say. There, with a gentleman who had an ambiguous smile and eyes like someone trapped in a maze, the possibility that what I’m thinking matches is high. Anyway, she had a vulgar taste that’s hard to mention. So, everyone, let’s respect her in imagination at least with dignity and courtesy. Isn’t that the compassionate and honorable heart we can have?’
Just thinking about it makes me dizzy.
