Chapter 59
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Chapter 59
A few days later, the final Sabbath arrived—just two weeks before the Eve of Saints' Day.
Charlotte rode in a carriage toward London alongside her Augusta Sisters to participate in a sacrament for Leopold. After learning that Jane and the Holland Prince's disappearance were connected, Philip Oslo had advised George and Lydia Augusta that the sisters' participation in the sacrament would help prove Jane's innocence.
Clatter—
The worn carriage's rough suspension provided ample opportunity for the Augusta Sisters squeezed into the cramped compartment to collide with one another.
"Traveling to and from London in this carriage—I'd almost envy Bianca for being bedridden with the flu."
Jane complained while fanning herself with an ornate fan. Bianca had unfortunately fallen ill with influenza today and was unable to join her sisters on their London outing.
However, the cold-hearted Helena, rather than sympathizing with Jane's complaints, pointed her chin toward Charlotte and spoke.
"Look at Charlotte. She sleeps soundly despite all this commotion."
Where Helena's chin pointed, Charlotte sat curled up beside Jane, sleeping deeply as though she hadn't slept a wink all night, despite the carriage's constant jostling.
Jane gazed at Charlotte and clicked her tongue softly.
"Hmm... Helena, doesn't Charlotte seem more exhausted lately? I already knew she had trouble sleeping at night, but..."
Jane whispered, still firmly convinced that Charlotte had a lover. The way she had gone to Mrs. Smith and wept bitterly last time was telling—Jane believed such emotional turbulence was impossible without being in love.
"Though she does look happier these past few days compared to before when she seemed tired and melancholy... Oh!"
Rather than waiting for Helena's response, Jane let out a small gasp. As the carriage lurched, Charlotte's neck turned toward another direction, revealing the unmistakable mark of a passionate kiss.
'My goodness, my goodness! Look at Charlotte!'
Young Katie gazed at Jane with an innocent expression as she glanced around, while Helena looked out at the familiar London scenery passing by the window.
"Ahem, ahem. Oh, my shawl feels rather cumbersome today..."
Jane muttered to herself, unconcerned with who might overhear, and quickly unwound the shawl draped across her shoulders to drape it around Charlotte's neck. Yet in that very moment, the vivid crimson mark of a kiss that had been plainly visible on Charlotte's neck vanished without a trace.
As the startled Jane blinked her eyes, young Katie, who had been silent until now, interjected.
"Charlotte surely isn't still going on solitary night walks, is she? With October approaching, the spirits in Brentwood Forest have been acting up even more, or so I've heard."
"Still going on about that ghostly lover, Katie?"
Helena, who had been gazing out the window, rolled her eyes and chided Katie. Katie firmly believed the rumor that as the Eve of All Saints' Day drew near, even those who were not necromancers could see spirits or traces of them.
Katie countered with an insistent tone.
"Helena, isn't it romantic? The ghostly lovers appearing in the forest these days are a tall, handsome man and a brown-haired lady, and they say their love transcends death itself. Moreover, Aunt Elicia told us that on the Eve of All Saints' Day, all spirits become more substantial than the living. On that night alone, the ghosts regain their complete forms—both spirit and flesh restored...."
Katie clearly spent considerable time with Aunt Elicia whenever her much older sisters attended balls and social gatherings. Unable to find a way to silence Katie's chatter, Helena shook her head and muttered under her breath.
"I do hope the Eve of All Saints' Day ball passes quickly. These ghost stories have been all the rage throughout October."
As the sisters chatted, the Augusta Family's weathered carriage arrived at the courtyard before the great Cathedral in London.
Charlotte, who had been asleep throughout the journey, suddenly opened her eyes as if she had never been drowsy at all, and was the first among the sisters to step down from the carriage.
'There's something wonderful about this feeling.'
Charlotte gazed up at the Cathedral's towering structure, which stood in stark contrast to the church in Brentwood, and reflected on this thought.
'A sacrament with Prince Frederick, His Highness's own brother, in attendance.... This is surely an opportunity to strengthen Leopold's case.'
Yet before Charlotte's thoughts could fully settle, a voice rang out from afar—something frivolous and urgent in its tone.
"Ah, here! Miss Oriole. You've finally arrived!"
Armand, having apparently forgotten that he should address her as "Miss Charlotte" when others were present, came hurrying toward her and the Augusta Sisters with flustered steps.
"Come now, Miss Oriole. You must meet with Prince Frederick at once."
Despite Helena, Jane, and Katie standing plainly beside Charlotte, Armand did not even offer a greeting and pressed her forward urgently.
"I beg your pardon, Armand? I understood I was merely to attend the service...."
Charlotte started at Armand's sudden change in demeanor. Now that she thought about it, Jane and Helena standing beside her were regarding her with decidedly unfriendly eyes.
'What on earth is happening in front of everyone? And why on earth would I need to meet Prince Frederick?'
Yet Armand drew Charlotte to one corner of the carriage and spoke with an even more urgent tone.
"No, no, Charlotte. I need you to meet Prince Frederick right now and persuade him. If he hears it from you—Leopold's beloved—perhaps he'll listen."
Charlotte whispered to him in a bewildered tone, as if reasoning with a child.
"What? Armand, don't you remember that I'm His Highness's 'secret lover'? That means Prince Frederick doesn't know who I am."
At this, Armand ran both hands through his reddish-brown hair, combing it into disarray, and released a heavy sigh.
"That's... Charlotte, the thing is, I had to reveal to the Prince that you are His Highness's lover. It's truly urgent and important, so please, don't be angry and just listen..."
"Good heavens, Armand!"
Charlotte's voice rose involuntarily as she questioned him. Several noblewomen who were about to enter the cathedral turned to look at them.
"This is not the time for this. Listen, I also revealed to Prince Frederick that I am Leopold's secret knight. If someone whose very survival depends on a false identity does something like this, you understand how serious it is, don't you?"
Armand continued with an earnest voice once more.
"So please, Charlotte. When you meet Prince Frederick, you'll understand why I had to go this far."
"Sigh..."
Charlotte's expression showed exasperation, but on the other hand, she could not help but take his words seriously. Armand had abandoned his usual playful demeanor and was making this request to her with genuine courtesy. If he was speaking like this, then perhaps she truly was needed for something important.
In the end, Charlotte followed Armand, leaving behind the suspicious and curious gazes of Jane and Helena. For some reason, Jane's shoulder shawl, which hung around her own neck, conveniently concealed her trembling body.
After walking through the cathedral's backyard and the corridor that encircled the bishops' tombs for quite some time, Armand finally led Charlotte into the room behind the heavy iron door.
"Your Highness Prince Frederick, I have brought Miss Charlotte Augusta."
Armand announced as he entered the grand chamber that seemed fit for the Prince's guests.
"The one I mentioned—Leopold's beloved."
Charlotte found herself at a loss for how to conduct herself before a member of the royal family she was meeting for the first time—aside from Leopold. Without thinking, I performed the solemn salute of a knight rather than the curtsy expected of a lady.
"Ah yes, so this is the young lady who is my brother's...."
A voice younger than expected reached Charlotte's ears. When she lifted her head slightly, a brown-haired man with pale green eyes came into view. He appeared to be five or six years younger than Leopold, and unlike him, possessed a pallid complexion and transparent eyes that seemed incapable of concealing his emotions.
'Ah, so this is why—he must be Leopold's half-brother.... There's something oddly familiar about him.'
Charlotte found traces of Leopold in Prince Frederick's features and felt a faint sense of relief wash over her. Though she could not be certain whether it was her ability as a medium at work, it seemed almost absurd in retrospect that she had once suspected him of being connected to Leopold's disappearance—he appeared utterly unthreatening.
Prince Frederick observed Charlotte's expression soften, then approached her with heavy, deliberate steps. Though he was considerably taller than Charlotte, he appeared noticeably smaller in stature compared to Leopold.
"Armand, and just how did you intend to win my favor with this young lady?"
Frederick spoke in a harsh, clipped tone that belied his delicate appearance.
"Since my brother left without taking responsibility after tarnishing this young lady's honor...."
Frederick continued, his pale green eyes fixed upon Charlotte.
"You expect me to assume that responsibility?"
In that moment, Charlotte had to doubt her own ears. Responsibility? More than that—how could someone on the eve of a prayer service hoping for Leopold's safe return speak of his brother having "passed away"?
Before Charlotte could utter a word, Frederick turned his back to her and walked toward the large window in the center of the room.
"Miss Augusta, though I already have a wife, I can certainly assume responsibility for my departed brother's lover. Becoming the mistress of a duchy's crown prince is surely preferable to remaining an unmarried lady who has lost her honor."
Frederick's speech, thick with a Holland accent, sounded far cruder compared to Leopold's measured tone. Unable to bear his insolent words, Charlotte straightened her bent waist and opened her mouth to speak.
"Prince Frederick, what on earth do you mean by——!"
But Armand was one step faster. He blocked Charlotte's path and knelt before Frederick's back.
"Your Highness Frederick, that is not what I meant to convey."
Armand's voice, grave in a way Charlotte had never heard before, continued.
"I was not asking you to assume responsibility for His Highness Leopold's abandoned lover. I merely meant that there is still a lover waiting for him with longing, and there is also myself, his friend...."
Armand turned to look at the frozen Charlotte, then made an earnest plea to Frederick once more.
"I meant that we cannot halt His Highness Leopold's investigation."
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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