BERTINE’S brave facade remained firmly in place throughout their discussion. But the moment Ignacio stepped out of the room, every ounce of strength leached from her frame, leaving her utterly limp against the back of the sofa. She had consumed her entire store of energy in a relatively short amount of time. Dorothée immediately rushed to her side and crouched down, grasping her hands.
“My lady!”
“What a nasty little surprise, hm, Dorothée? It makes me curious if the government of San Luenne knew that His Excellency Cecilio rejected their offer before they dispatched me. At the very least, I strongly suspect the Empire was well aware, considering its people acted as intermediary between the Kingdom and the Federation. Though the question remains if they informed His Majesty.”
“I don’t comprehend any of this, my lady. The only thing I know for certain is that this is all too much!”
“Now I have no one to rely on. I’ve lost every place I can remotely call home.”
Bertine could stave off the worst by trading the gold coins and jewels her father had insisted she take with her. If eating and breathing were all that were required of her, she could even stretch those funds for an indefinite amount of time. But she knew her star had fallen dramatically, her life already gone to the dogs. Sold off by the Empire and her homeland, then rendered unnecessary by the Federation. The people of this country would no doubt be unsparing in their attitudes toward her, a citizen of the enemy.
“What am I supposed to do?” she said aloud.
The manners of nobility had been drilled relentlessly into her since the moment she took her first steps as a babe. As the daughter of a marquess, she had been privileged to learn history, culture, and foreign languages. She could dance any number of dances, their multitude of steps carved indelibly into her memory by way of her aching feet. Her knowledge of business, earned through her own fierce determination. All had come to naught. It felt like her entire life up until now, her very existence itself, had been repudiated.
“How could it have come to this…”
Bertine sensed herself sinking deep into the swamps of despair, unable to bear it any longer.
Then she heard some sort of commotion coming from the hallway outside. An agitated voice. In the next instant, the door banged open violently before a young woman stormed inside, her heels clacking imperiously on the floor.
“Whoever might you be?” Dorothée demanded. “Have you no manners, to not even knock before entering a person’s room?!”
The woman ignored Dorothée’s undaunted rebuke as the maid rushed up in outrage. Attitude militant, she approached Bertine, who refused to stand and raised only her head.
“You! Are you that blasted woman from the Empire?”
“And if I am?”
“You’re a shameless one, aren’t you?! Charging into our country uninvited, despite having yours defeated! And to brazenly propose marriage to Lord Cecilio, no less!”
“Whatever I have come here to do is of no concern to you. Leave. Now.”
Bertine’s voice was flat, her entire demeanor listless as she remained on the sofa. In response, the black-haired woman stomped one foot, planted her hands on her hips, and raised her voice.
“It has everything to do with me. For I am Lord Cecilio’s fiancée. Moreover, we are to be wed very soon. So, while I have every right to reprimand a spinster from the enemy country, you do not have the right to command me to leave!”
Unmoving in her seat, Bertine unabashedly surveyed the other woman from head to toe.
“I see. So you are His Excellency’s fiancée. Goodness, gracious me. Seeing as His Excellency’s tastes run toward vulgar children, it’s quite clear he has no reason to seek my attention,” Bertine said. “Unfortunately for you, my sojourn here has been granted by Ignacio. Accordingly, I suggest you take your complaints to him. Since you are only his betrothed, you are not in fact a member or lady of this house. Now then, you are to take your leave from this room at once.”
So saying, Bertine rose leisurely and stood face to face with her opponent. Only a hairsbreadth separated them. Her posture was impeccably regal. She knew the young woman could be no more than sixteen or seventeen years old. Both her skin and tresses shone with the vitality of youth.
“Well? I will not repeat myself,” Bertine said, her tone firm. “But if you insist on shutting your ears to the simple request, then I shall insist on slapping you again and again until you understand the meaning of the word, ‘leave.’”
“H-How dare you! I-If it’s a fight you want, it’s a fight you’ll get!”
When Bertine picked up the fan she had placed on top of the table, the young girl made to leap at her. Up until that moment, the guards had stood watching the spectacle with their arms folded. But the moment she sprung, they rushed into action, surrounding the girl. Then they promptly escorted her out of the room.
Dorothée hurried to lock the door and Bertine once more collapsed on the sofa. They could still hear the girl’s infuriated shrieks from the other side.
So he was already betrothed. A particularly proud noblewoman in my position would have sliced her own throat and died by her own hand instead of subjecting herself to such indignity. A good thing I’m not so fussed, then.
Exhaustion dug its fingers into her body while Bertine recalled the girl’s words. It was the first time in her life such cruelty had been directed at her. She had been forcefully reminded of her worth in this country. Though a part of her was wounded, another burned with anger. As if I can die after being abused by a child like that. If I perished here, she would undoubtedly dance in victory on my grave.
Lying prone on the sofa, Bertine closed her eyes and brooded fixedly for some time.
✦ ✦ ✦
SHE wondered how much time had passed in her motionless, meditative state. Dorothée watched over Bertine silently, wringing her hands anxiously.
When the light streaming through the window changed angles dramatically, a single door in Bertine’s heart slammed shut. For there was no longer any place for her in the glittering world on its other side.
“I’ve made my decision,” she declared.
“My lady?”
She couldn’t depend on her father or her status. But she would not roll over and die. She would gain the strength to survive in this country on her own. And she would grow so strong, nothing and no one could ever hurt her again. Not the homeland that sold her off. Not that insolent little girl. And certainly not her former fiancé, who could not bring himself to leave her with even a single word of comfort.
Bertine stretched her hand out and picked up the teacup resting on the table. Then she downed the cold liquid in a single swallow.