I Know Everything

"Don't feel regretful. I am already married, and Le Mans will receive assistance," Bree asserted.

"It's not about that, Bree. It's about something else. More than that," Trey shook his head.

"What do you mean?" Bree turned to look at her father, who now looked genuinely remorseful.

"I made you marry someone I didn't really know."

"Oh? This is about you saying you already knew..."

"Yes. When I honestly said I didn't know who Radford was or how old he was, she rejected him," Trey interjected. Hurriedly releasing the burden of guilt from his heart.

Bree's lips tightened when her father mentioned Amber. For Trey, he had just told Bree this, but it was the second time Bree had heard it. The situation when her father told her was slightly different, but the essence was the same. Her father had told her when Bree visited Le Mans that he was ill. Now Bree heard it sooner.

The marriage proposal, along with assistance, came from Valois for Amber, not Bree. However, Amber rejected it. And anyone knows if Amber could not be persuaded after saying no. Trey had to turn to Bree, forced because he really needed that assistance.

"So, you didn't know Radford beforehand?" Bree asked, pretending not to know what her father was about to say.

Trey shook his head. "Do you know about the three families in Frankia? Donovan, Valois, and Bourbon."

Bree nodded. "I know."

"Among the three, the most secretive is Valois. I have no idea about their lives. Bourbon is quite close to them, but we're not."

"Do you also not know Rad's father?" Bree asked flatly, because this was a repetition. She asked at the right time, and her father answered with almost identical sentences.

"I knew him. Just not closely. I don't even know when he died. Forget it; I don't know how old his child is. I remember that the age gap between Rad's father and me was quite large. I thought his child was at least forty or fifty years old."

Bree nodded politely, just as a reaction to let her father know she was still listening.

"Valois rarely attends any events at the Frankia Palace, and Radford is the same. I've never seen him. I only know he is close to Benjamin, but it is Benjamin who comes here often, not Radford going to Frankia."

This was not new to Bree, either. She had memorized who Benjamin was. Benjamin Bourbon, or Ben, is the Prince of Frankia. The one who told her about Blanche's secret was Rad's friend, and indeed, Bree met Ben when she visited Marseilles.

"I was desperate when I received the proposal from Radford, considering the situation in Le Mans. I didn't expect much when Amber rejected it, but you accepted," Trey continued.

"You don't need to feel guilty about it, Dad," Bree said slowly.

"I lied to you, Bree."

"But I knew about that lie a long time ago, even before my wedding day."

Trey turned very quickly this time. "How..."

"I knew you didn't know Rad at all. I know everything."

"From where?"

"Amber."

"She told you this?" Trey was surprised again.

"Yes, Amber told me everything two days before the wedding. So you don't have to feel guilty about the lie. Because I know, and I still decided to go through with this marriage. I could have canceled it, but I still went through with it."

Trey couldn't speak. He just stared at her with a surprised face. He didn't expect Amber to tell Bree about it.

Trey didn't know much about Bree and Amber's strained relationship because Amber wasn't foolish enough to show a cruel attitude in front of her father, and Bree never complained. Now Trey might have a little understanding.

Of course, Amber wasn't being kind. She just wanted to torment Bree at that time. Intimidate her by saying that Bree's prospective husband was an old man, even though Amber didn't really know Rad's face. The reality ended up being funny because Rad wasn't an old man, and in terms of appearance, he was not lacking.

"I understand, and I'm not angry." Bree patted her father's thigh gently to calm him down.

"You've been through a long journey today; I think it's better for you to rest," Bree said, standing up and pulling her father's hand.

"No more wandering for today," Bree added.

Trey stood up, then hugged Bree tightly.

"Thank you for understanding me so easily and forgiving me. I know you've made sacrifices that aren't easy. Thank you, Bree," Trey whispered.

"You're going to make me cry." Bree responded to the hug even tighter, and indeed, she cried a little, releasing some of the frustration and complexity in her mind. This time, Trey didn't ask. He just hugged Bree until her tears subsided.

"After this, I hope you'll be more careful," Bree said slowly.

"Careful about what?" Trey looked at Bree with a puzzled face.

"Just be careful about everything. About the people around you. There might be someone who wants to harm you, and so on." The stakes for honesty were so high that Bree resisted the temptation once again. Bree wasn't ready to bear the risks. She had no idea how time would turn if she spilled everything. What if everything becomes much worse?

Trey smiled warmly and nodded. "All right, I'll be careful. I don't understand what you mean, but I'll be careful because it's good advice." Trey stroked Bree's head once again.

"It seems like it's not just me who's tired; you're tired too. Your words are strange." Trey then held Bree's hand and led her inside.

Bree could only smile. That warning was the best thing she could say to her father. Bree hoped her father could help prevent things a little.

***

"Close the window," Rad told Campy, who immediately complied.

Campy nodded, then pulled the wooden window shut. He noticed that the two people who were sitting in the garden were no longer there.

Campy couldn't see who they were due to the minimal light, but it didn't matter to Rad. He knew exactly who was sitting there and intentionally overheard their conversation.

That's why he forbade Campy from closing the window earlier. He wanted to hear their conversation more clearly.

"Should I replace my wife?" Rad suddenly asked. Campy, who had just turned around, was undoubtedly surprised.

"What do you mean, My Lord?"

"I mean, this marriage only requires me to be with a girl from Donovan; it doesn't matter which one. The goal of this marriage will be easier and faster to achieve if my wife isn't too smart. And again, initially, I offered the marriage to her sister."

Rad got this assignment with Amber as the candidate. He even got a detailed report about Amber before the wedding as an overview of her attitude and personality. But it turned out that Bree was the one he married.

Rad didn't mind because Bree was still a Donovan, so he continued with the plan. Bree's presence still ensured the successful completion of his task.

"I don't understand," Campy said, shaking his head in confusion.

"You know I hate this task and want to finish it quickly without too much effort. It will take a long time with Bree because she's clearly intelligent and not easily subdued. But her sister seems stupid. Should I target her again?"

Campy frowned. "It might be true, but what I feel... hmm, it won't be that easy."

That was Campy's polite way of saying he disagreed.

"It will be easy, Camp. Her sister is dumber than her. I can conquer her more easily."

"Will you betray the Duchess?"

Rad fell silent, staring at the candle flame on his table. "According to Bree, I have already betrayed her. I think she won't care even if I betray her again."

"I still think it's not a good idea." Campy held firmly to his opinion.

Rad remained silent, thinking while raising his hand above the candle flame.

Slowly, Rad lowered his hand, getting closer to the flame. Without showing any sign of pain, Rad's palm now touched the flame. Until finally, that hand perfectly covered the candle, extinguishing the flame.

And just like before, Rad's face remained flat. There are no signs of pain, as there should be.