I Reincarnated into a Single-celled Organism! - Chapter 227

After Master Blanche’s announcement, rather than applaud and excitement, the crowds instead whispered amongst each other. The announcement had clearly caught everyone off guard. Quiet conversations filled the room, and I could pick up snippets here and there.

“Isn’t Erika part of the Academy?”

“Does that mean she can’t get married?”

“Where is the bride? Why would she be absent for her own bridal announcement?”

As the crowd didn’t react the way Master Blanche wanted, his expression darkened. His face was filled with thunderclouds, and it looked like he might even explode any minute. Yet, before that happened, someone yelled out a more reasonable question.

“Who is our lucky groom?”

It’s the young master Boran sitting right next to Lady Stride. His question seemed to visibly ease Master Blanche, who then lifted a hand and made a gesture toward several servants, who then turned and left the room.

“Of course, I apologize. I grew a bit too excited,” Master Blanche stated. “Where are my manners? Allow me to introduce the happy couple!”

The doors at the back of the hall swung open, allowing a finely dressed couple to enter the room. The woman was wearing an elegant gown; her face was hidden behind a veil that obscured all of her features. Her walk was stiff, but that could be excused by nervousness. She clung to the arm of a young man, but his identity was nearly as shocking as her own. It was Huntington Frankford, whom I had already had more encounters with that I cared to remember.

Their appearance immediately gave way to the applause and well-wishes that Master Blanche had clearly been hoping for. He looked quite smug and satisfied. The couple, rather than walk straight to the front of the room, instead made a circuit past each table, showing themselves off. They’d occasionally stop and speak a few words with various others, but would never stay long before heading to the next table.

“I thought he was chasing after Lady Giselle,” I whispered over to Sammuel. “What is with this?”

Sammuel gave a soft chuckle, his face calm. “Perhaps she turned him down? Young men’s hearts can be fickle things. Besides, it wasn’t like the choice was up to him. His parents probably decided on this arrangement without even consulting him. You can see it in the stiffness of his smile. There are always two kinds of women: the ones a man chases, and the ones they settle for.”

When he said that last point, his eyes couldn’t help but drift over to Headmistress Domini, who was clapping with her eyes on the happy couple and distinctly not looking his way. I couldn’t help but wonder what category she fell into for him.

The couple reached our table. Huntington made a show of shunning us. There were a few light chuckles from some of the younger masters. Huntington gave me a hidden sneer before walking away with Erika. Erika hadn’t glanced my way at all in that exchange. I sniffed the air, and my expression grew into a frown.

“What is it?” Sammuel leaned nearby, asked me cautiously.

“The girl in the veil isn’t Erika,” I replied softly as they walked away.

Sammuel’s eyes widened. “How can you be certain?”

“She smells… wrong,” I explained, not sure how else to describe it.

I was familiar with Erika, and my senses were telling me that wasn’t Erika. They had picked a pretty good duplicate. Her hair and body were identical, as were the parts of her face that could be made out through the veil, although I couldn’t help but think that if there wasn’t something off about her face, then she wouldn’t need the veil.

“Smell?” Sammuel gave me a face. “You recognize her by her smell? When did you two get close enough to-“

“I just know,” I cut in.

He stopped immediately, and then his eyes widened. “You and her? Is Abigail not enough for you?”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s not what you think. Erika and I experienced an ordeal in the past. I promised her that if something came up, she could depend on me. I received a warning signal from her, and that’s why I’m here.”

“You’re running in to save a woman like a knight in shining armor then…”

“We’re just acquaintances,” I responded. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Nothing.” He chuckled, looking away. “I just wonder if she’ll see it that way once you run in and save her.”

I shook my head, disagreeing with his sentiment, but I also had to admit that this was something for women that I had little experience with. I had always been the bad boy in a relationship. I wasn’t the guy who saved a girl, but the guy who caused her trouble. In my experience, women didn’t like the good guy. They may appreciate a guy helping them out, but helping them didn’t make you desirable; it made you dependable.

A woman might marry the dependable guy, but the second he left home for work, she’d invite over and fuck the bad boy. I had seen it on the street all the time. A woman would beg for help, her man openly beating her. Then, when a good Samaritan came along and forced him to stop, she’d lie to the police and even send her savior to jail to protect her abusive man.

Fate was another example of this. Although I saved her, if that had been all I had done, she would have thanked me and walked away, never even feeling like she owed me anything. However, I had also taken advantage of her, and at least in her mind, peeked at her in the bath. She believed I was a bad person, and as a result, she couldn’t get me out of her head. It would be the same for Erika. As long as I saved her earnestly, she’d quickly forget and move on with her life.

There was more clinking of cups as Huntington and the fraud reached the front of the room, finishing their circuit. All the talking died down as Master Blanche got their attention once again.

“Although it is customary among paragons to have long-lasting engagements, I must excuse myself. I’m rather new to this.” His words got a few polite chuckles. “I’m someone who prefers to act, and I also know that my daughter is a busy woman who will be returning to the capital soon. That’s why we’ve decided to have the wedding next week!”

His words caused another explosion of shock and discussion, but this one seemed to be one he was expecting.

“Only a week?”

“So soon?”

“Has there ever been so short a period between announcement and wedding? That’s barely enough time to even set anything up.”

Master Blanche listened to the flood of words and seemed to pick up on a few and decide to answer, causing everyone to momentarily stop. “I know it’s sudden, but the capital is calling. They will get married and live here just long enough to grow comfortable in their new roles as husband and wife. Then, they will head to the capital together. As for the wedding, the Frankford family has agreed to hold it at their estate, and both families will contribute to making it a memorable experience. Please expect your invitations in a few days.”

I couldn’t help but think carefully over his words. It seemed like I had a better understanding of Huntington’s goals. Not that he was enamored with Lady Giselle, but that he was looking for a means of joining the capital. His family was fully taking this opportunity to get in with the Academy and form direct connections with the great family main lines. As for why Master Blanche was doing it, his children had gotten him some notoriety by joining the Academy, but it wouldn’t be nearly as helpful as binding his house to a powerful family through marriage.

This was what Erika had wanted to avoid most of all. She had left her house and joined the Academy to avoid being used as a bargaining chip by her father. Even upon returning, she had tried to avoid coming home. She visited only during the day to show she wasn’t completely unfilial, and look what happened. It was clear as day to me she was being forced into this marriage against her will. As I was thinking this, I felt some eyes on me.

I turned to see Headmistress Domini glancing in my direction. She already knew why I was here. She had to have come to a similar conclusion as I had.

“So, what’s the plan?” Sammuel asked quietly.

“After the party, I’m going to break into the Blanche household and discover the truth.”

“How will we do that?” he asked.

I raised an eyebrow. “We?”

“If you’re going to do something risky and stupid, count me in.” He grinned.

I considered for a moment. Bringing Sammuel along would certainly complicate things, but I had an uneasy feeling, and I thought I might need a material witness. Besides, Sammuel’s presence could be useful in ways I hadn’t yet considered.

“Fine,” I agreed. “Tonight.”