The Jilted Noble Lady's Windfall

Chapter 4

Abigail found Marianne's temperament as unpredictable as the weather in the Witch Forest—ever-changing and elusive.

Just moments ago, she'd declared she'd give the jewelry Odin's Little Emperor had gifted her to the maids and servants who'd cared for her, letting her bask in the good reputation while Odin's Little Emperor bore the servants' complaints.

Yet by the next evening, Marianne had changed her mind. She presented the jewelry she'd received from Odin's Little Emperor back to the giver, demanding he pay her the market value for it. She then planned to gift the cash to her maids and servants in both their names.

“Truthfully, you needn't have done this. I would have given them a generous token of appreciation anyway.” Faced with such a “reasonable” fiancée, Odin's young emperor couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.

Yet this trivial pang of guilt was utterly insufficient to sway his resolve to annul the engagement.

After all, compared to the colossal Obsda Empire, sacrificing personal affection was but a trifling matter.

Marianne, of course, saw right through the young emperor's thoughts. She pushed the jewelry box forward slightly, signaling him not to refuse her proposal.

“If you do not take back the jewelry, and your attendants receive payment from you, then to outsiders, I would appear as a shameless woman who borrows flowers to offer to the gods, while you would be seen as a generous and dignified emperor.”

Now that the engagement was off, Marianne saw no need to put on airs or weigh every word as she once did: “Do you think I'd leave myself open to attack? Or did you send these jewels with such fanfare without a single thought of saving face?”

Odin's young emperor nearly shattered the flawless facade he'd learned from his court tutor. His emerald eyes darkened to a murky, swamp-green hue, making Marianne feel as though she were dealing with a venomous serpent.

“Do not look at me like that,” Marianne said, her false smile vanishing as her expression turned impassive. After all, you wouldn't want Princess Innes to see me wearing your gift at Emperor Odin's wedding or celebrations, would you?"

“Or perhaps... you'd very much like me to do just that.” Marianne leaned forward, chin resting in her hand, her gaze fixed on the young emperor's equally expressionless face. “Because you have a penchant for breaking your wife's heart.”

“Please refrain from such nonsense,” Emperor Odin lowered his eyelids, seemingly reverting to the noble and gentle ruler. “I hold Princess Innes in profound love and respect.”

Though it sounded like a declaration of love, delivered in Odin’s flat, matter-of-fact tone, it left one unsure of his true meaning.

“Just as I once deeply loved and respected you.” Odin leaned forward, mirroring Marianne’s posture. Their faces drew so close their noses nearly touched, each able to feel the other’s breath on their skin.

“I once questioned why Father chose a secondhand bride for me. Now it seems I still fall short of his standards.” Odin's young emperor narrowed his eyes, then teasingly brushed Marianne's nose. “At least in matters of taste, I cannot match him.”

“It seems the former Emperor held me in high regard!” Marianne couldn't fathom what kind of understanding Grand Duchess Archique had reached with Odin's predecessor, but judging by the young emperor's demeanor, Odin's former ruler probably wasn't exactly normal either. “Of course, Father's taste has never been wrong.” Odin's young emperor withdrew his finger, revealing a smile that could have been genuine or feigned. “But this time, I wanted to challenge Father's authority, so...”

Odin's young emperor turned to Marianne, his smile radiating the sanctity of a mural's divine ruler.

“My dear Marianne, would you be my mistress?”

Marianne admired the young emperor's bluntness—then delivered a resounding slap across his face.

“That truly is the most beautiful sound I've heard since arriving in Odin.”

Marianne rubbed her reddened palm as she spoke these words before leaving the young emperor's office.

………………………………

After Marianne signed the annulment agreement and publicly expressed her “gratitude” for Emperor Odin's care over the years, Archique swiftly dispatched a welcoming party.

The knight leading the group sported striking red hair, making him stand out vividly among his golden-haired companions—and sending a wave of sweat over Abigail.

“That damn stinking man.” As a witch, Abigail had never taken kindly to paladins, especially gifted ones like the red-haired leader.

Hearing Abigail's grumbling, Marianne didn't even need to glance out the window to guess who had come for her.

“What? That busybody Lucius actually has time to escort this failure home?” Marianne tugged at her uncombed hair, signaling Abigail to stop gawking and get to work.

“I know... I'll come over right away to do your hair.” The thought of spending the entire journey with Lucius made Abigail's fingers tighten on Marianne's hair, nearly making her think she'd be bald by the end.

“Easy there... or I'll dock your pay,” Marianne grumbled. “Don't take your resentment toward Lucius out on my hair.”

“Tsk! I wouldn't dare confront Lucius, so I'll just take it out on your hair,” Abigail retorted maliciously. “It's your fault for being Lucius's sister.”

Marianne studied Abigail's smug expression through the mirror and added casually, “Half-sister.”

Lucius Archique.

Commander of the Archique Knights and member of the Sacred Knights of Matar.

Yet beyond these awe-inspiring titles, he was most notorious for his disgraceful origins—the illegitimate son of Grand Duchess Archique, conceived before her marriage to Count Calda.

Though Grand Duchess Archique had never favored this eldest illegitimate son, often going years without exchanging more than a few words with him, Marianne could easily deduce the identity of this bastard brother's father based on Lucius's hair color, bearing, and his smooth path to knighthood.

That he could compel Count Calda, a man of royal blood, to grudgingly tolerate this little burden lingering about the Archique court. It was truly... laughable.

Watching Lucius conversing with Emperor Odin through the glass window, Marianne suddenly recalled a famous saying of Archique Grand Duchess.

“One of the charms of power is its ability to legitimize the illegitimate.”

The Archique Grand Duchess, who deeply admired Obsda's former ruler, had once told her: “My dear Marianne, one day you too will understand this truth.”