The Camellia Tattoo - Chapter 99
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
this book is completely translated on luna kofi (advanced chapters for the website will follow)
“I figured. So it begins.”
Igmeyer muttered under his breath, causing Amber’s muscles to tense.
Just then.
“Oh, Grand Duke! Oh, oh, Grand Duke…!”
A fragile cry echoed through the air.
From a distance, a woman with brown hair, her voice filled with a sorrow as if she had long-held back tears, approached limping and weeping pitifully.
“It’s Iona, remember me, Grand Duke? That night, you took me.”
The woman cried out as she flung her arms wide, attempting to throw herself into Igmeyer’s embrace.
However, just before she could, Igmeyer swiftly stepped aside towards Amber, dodging her.
Losing her balance, Iona flailed her arms and collapsed to the ground, allowing Amber a clear view of her face for the first time.
Her large eyes and clear, fair features looked gentle, and she appeared frail and thin, except for her visibly pregnant belly.
“How could you treat a pregnant woman so harshly!”
At that moment, the Prince appeared.
It was indeed not a pleasant scene: Iona weeping on the ground, with Igmeyer and Amber looking down at her.
“No, I can’t claim it’s mine. I’ve never even seen her face before.”
Igmeyer showed his bewilderment at the entire situation.
He had wondered what had been prepared, but it turned out to be nothing more than a woman from the back alleys.
No matter how much you dress up and adorn a commoner, it doesn’t change who they are. Having encountered many such women from brothels since his youth, Igmeyer could identify a woman’s background just by her scent.
‘The scent of the brothel’s incense is ingrained deep in the skin and doesn’t fade.’
Most people wouldn’t notice such details solely by smell and could be easily deceived by appearances.
But Iona likely came from Madame Etoile’s marriage fraud ring.
‘What do they take my years as a mercenary for?’
The likelihood that she was indeed pregnant seemed high. Given her expression and acting skills, she might be one of the higher-ranked women in the scheme.
Indeed, that’s why she dared to come to the Grand Duke’s castle and do this distasteful prank.
“Ah, do you not remember me? Try smelling this perfume. Then, you might recall.”
Iona pretended to be sad as she pulled out a small bottle of perfume.
“This is the perfume I wore that night we met.”
Igmeyer looked down at Iona with a skeptical eye. As her slender fingers reached to spray the perfume, he quickly scooped up Amber and retreated several steps back.
Amber, not understanding the situation, just allowed herself to be carried, while Igmeyer went further to cover her nose and mouth with his large hand.
“What are you spraying now?”
“Just, just perfume…!”
“It’s not poison?”
Igmeyer growled softly as he clung tighter to Amber, seemingly to protect her. Then, without another word, he turned away.
“No, Grand Duke. Shouldn’t you at least hear her out?”
The harsh dismissal seemed to unsettle Prince Loki more than anyone.
Protect the vulnerable. Care for those who are marginalized.
Loki grew up constantly hearing these two principles.
Especially towards those who are young or pregnant, he was taught to act kindly and listen attentively. These people are the future of the country.
Given the Emperor’s teachings, he found it difficult to understand the Grand Duke’s reaction.
On the other hand, Igmeyer was highly sensitive to anything that could potentially harm Amber.
“Poison? I… I had no such malicious intentions…!”
Startled, Iona covered her mouth with her hands, tears falling as she began to sob slowly, then bowed her head.
“I….didn’t come here seeking to be treated like the Madam. I just thought… the child needed to be in a place suitable for them.”
“There’s nothing to reconsider. Get her out.”
Igmeyer spoke bluntly as he walked past Iona, still holding Amber.
Relieved by the firm order, the butler, Huvern, nodded subtly, signaling others to follow the master’s command.
If she has nowhere else to go, they can give her some money, but they can’t allow her to stay here as a guest. The master has not given permission.
For Huvern, that was the only thing that mattered.
“Wait! I will take her in as my guest.”
But just as the robust maids grabbed Iona’s arms, the prince, intoxicated with a sense of justice, loudly intervened.
“What…did you just say?”
“I said I will take her as my guest. She’s my guest, so let her go.”
It was absurd. In a castle with its own master, and moreover for an uninvited guest to presume so much.
Igmeyer was about to explode in outrage when a gentle hand restrained him.
Amber slightly shook her head.
“Butler. Prepare a room for this woman next to Prince Loki’s chambers.”
Amber calmly instructed after stepping down from Igmeyer’s arms.
Loki’s face brightened at this.
A very subtle expression crossed Iona’s face, but no one seemed to notice.
