North x Northwest

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“The timing worked in our favour and the evidence we found in the cabin made the job much easier. Also, the accusations I initiated turned out most effective, especially when they all stood up and caused a commotion, thereby basically implicating themselves.

Lil nodded to herself.

‘Clearly, things went according to plan. Even in retrospect, everything looked completely natural.’

Rolling her over, Ed now hovered above Lil, his lips skimmed the skin between her knee and thigh before he bit into her flesh.

“But I have a question of my own, how did you know that Mireille was involved in the first place?”

“If the ‘Deer guys’ belong to the association of Count Lazilière, then the ‘guys from Rose’ belong, of course, to Mireille’s Garni Association. I’ve ridiculed him countless times with that rose, so there’s no way I would miss that.”

Ed recalled the report about the Southern League of Pirates that he had seen in the Count of Amiaeng’s residence. It contained a looting certificate from ‘Lil Schweiz’, who mockingly drew the Duke’s rose symbol… However, Ed’s recollection was cut short by a sound from Lil, unsure if it was an exclamation or a sigh.

“The looting certificate… It suddenly feels so far away…”

Ed, who adjusted the hem of her negligee, came up to Lil’s face and lay down on his side to continue their conversation face-to-face.

The exchange of their stories, which was filled with faint whispers, loud laughs, occasional sighs of frustration, and exhilarating descriptions, eventually led to Lil even sharing her last encounter with Mortu.

By that time, the sun was already shining, brightening the room’s interior.

Lil then remembered how strangely bright a room was when she was with Ed, even though she was still suffering from Mortu. She didn’t know why at the time, but she knew it intuitively after that.

She smiled softly and opened her lips.

“I… I’ve always thought that I was locked up in Mortu’s castle…”

Lil finally confided in Ed and told about her life with Mortu. She thought she could speak about it calmly, but at times, her heartbreaking memories were just too much to bear. When that happened, Ed would affectionately wipe away the occasional dripping tears. Annette, the shadow that covered the testimony stand, and the battle with Mireille were all unfolded before Ed… Until it all became distant like a chapter in Lil’s life being shrouded over. The letters that closely recorded the past gradually lost their vividness as the ink dried and aged. Then, a blank page turned over, covering the old and signalling the beginning of the new…

***

Lil had been tied to Sesbron for a while to testify. By not letting her go straight to Obernyu, she could see how much the Emperor abhorred Joseph I. This gave her no choice but to demand a specific date from the Emperor before she provided her detailed testimony and records.

In the meantime, Ed followed Lil everywhere. He did this despite her frequent visits around Sesbron to convey her gratitude to the ladies of the court. Whether she went to a salon, a tea party, or for a walk, he would stay by her side without ever thinking of leaving.

Annette, who was lying on the couch, spoke from behind her fan.

“The Marquess does not know how to stay away from Liloa.”

Ed, who was indeed right next to Lil the entire time at the salon, openly confirmed.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You never came to a single salon I have invited you to.”

Ed merely laughed, but Annette wasn’t about to let him go so easily.

“I sent you several invitations about 10 years ago, and yet it is only now that I am finally seeing your face.”

Ed discreetly begged for Lil’s help. However, despite her forearm being tapped, she simply continued to drink her tea without bothering to face him.

Knowing about the great bond between Annette and Lil, Ed couldn’t treat Annette like he did the Emperor. Annette even appeared to be giving Lil some relationship advice. Of course, Lil would take the advice as it was, as only advice, but Ed didn’t take anything lightly when it came to Lil. Therefore, he had to respond politely to Annette’s questions and try to appear decent in the Empress’ eyes.

Lil, on the other hand, was still shocked by Ed’s impeccably neat manners. Ed didn’t participate in the other gentlemen’s games or discussions, even during the salon. The young ladies constantly eyed him with envious eyes. Well, even to Lil, Ed looked dignified, dressed in fine formal attire with his hair slicked back respectably. With his mouth shut, he looked as perfect as a sculpted statue…

Surprised, Annette collected her fan and raised her upper body.

“…Jeanne?”

Lil followed Annette’s gaze to the entrance of the salon and spotted a young-looking woman, who was pacing reluctantly in the doorway. When she finally dared to emerge from her hiding spot, the commotion that had been laughing and talking here and there subsided in an instant.

Lil immediately rose from her seat and approached Jeanne.

She had sent the younger woman a few letters, but not having heard back from Jeanne made Lil more cautious. Lil knew that any hasty action could hurt Jeanne, so she couldn’t be more proactive than she had been. Annette also advised Lil to wait. In case Jeanne resented her, Lil was asked not to blame Jeanne for her desperation. Jeanne would definitely reply once she had recovered from the shock.

Lil looked down at the face that struggled to hold back tears. Seeing the corners of her eyes still puffy as she has been crying for a while, Lil called her as affectionately as possible.

“Jeanne…”

Jeanne, who had been standing frozen, approached without saying a word and grabbed Lil’s hand. Her hands were undeniably shaking.

“Please forgive me… for not being able to respond…”

“It is okay.”

The water droplets that had barely been held back fell. Jeanne covered her mouth and swallowed a cry. After hesitating for a moment, Lil eventually embraced her and patted her shoulder, allowing Jeanne to sob out her feelings.

“He was… René was… so horrible…”

Jeanne was younger than Lil when she became engaged to Mireille. Despite already having a three-year-old son, she wasn’t even twenty yet. Lil didn’t dare to assume to know everything Jeanne must’ve been through, but she had some idea.

“I only know so little. I just wished he had been a kinder husband to you…”

“Forgive me, even though I knew that René was a terrible man… Sometimes, out of overwhelming despair, I could not help but despise you. I should not have… I now know I should not have done that… I was still too young…”

Annette came over and rested her hand on Jeanne’s back. As Jeanne hastily wiped away her tears and showed her courtesy, Annette simply smiled softly, took her handkerchief, and wiped Jeanne’s tears.

“You must have hated Liloa and you must have hated the world. But shake it all off now. That is the only way to regain happiness.”

Annette spread her fan and whispered in Jeanne’s ear.

“And… if you do not wish to see René’s face ever again, this Annette can help you.”

***

[ Forma, the god of beauty, had six children in the beginning. All six children were as beautiful as Forma, but Belle, the seventh child born between a god and a human, was not. Some said Belle was ugly, others considered her different, while the rest thought she was at least cute. Opinions on Belle were mixed, but no one called her beautiful.

Belle was overcome with frustration as she looked at all six of her beautiful siblings.

One day, Forma came up to her and asked.

“Child, why the long face?”

To which Belle answered.

“I am saddened that I cannot have beauty.”

“Why, what do you think beauty is?”

“I am talking about the appearance of my siblings, praised by everyone they meet.”

“I do not understand, please explain in detail.”

Forma was confused after hearing Belle’s explanation.

“I cannot imagine what that is like. Just because your siblings are praised for their beauty, you are obsessed with appearance?”

‘Since Forma also possesses the beauty of a god, she, of course, will not be able to understand my heart.’

“Would you be happy if you could change your appearance to whatever you want?”

“Yes.”

Forma shared her power with Belle with the help of her eldest child, Bonheur of Happiness, and her secondborn, Amour of Love*. Through that, Belle frequently changed her appearance in front of the mirror.

She pondered for years about what she should do to become the most beautiful in the world. First, Belle wished for her mane to disappear. Next, she wished for her hooves to disappear. Even her horn, she hoped for it to go away*.

Lastly, she wished her feathers would disappear as well.

So when Belle finally came back into the world, people of all ages knelt before her and praised her beauty.

As Belle was born between a god and a human, she aged slowly. Nonetheless, she worried every morning and every night that they might sense her withering. She was concerned that her true self would eventually be revealed. Every day, she wondered if she would be called ugly again. She was a slave to the thoughts of at least one person, who might suddenly act on a whim and refuse to praise her any longer.

The joy of being praised lasted for only a moment, and Belle soon became tormented by hatred. No matter how beautiful she became, someone always found imperfections in her. ]

– – – – –

Footnote:

Bonheur of Happiness, and her secondborn, Amour of Love: Fun fact; Bonheur is actually France for ‘Happiness’ and, of course, Amour translates to ‘Love’.

“…Mane… hooves… horn… feathers…” : Based on this description and the fact that she is a child born between a god and a human, we imagine Belle to be something close to a ‘Pegataur’; half pegasus and half human.

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