Moonlight Like Water (Part Seven)

Moonlight Like Water (Part Seven)

The candle had gone out. Silver moonlight slowly spread across the thin layer of dust on the table.

Lorist sat quietly, watching the moonlight wash over him and the floor, coating the room in silver. The moon was so bright tonight...

The rattle of a carriage approached from afar. It soon stopped downstairs, followed by a horse's whinny, the driver's low rebuke, and the sound of a door opening. Footsteps he knew so well hurried up the stairs, then stopped outside the room.

The door opened. Candlelight spilled in, breaking the room's silver moonlight into scattered patches of light and shadow.

Miss Windsor stood in the doorway, wearing an off-the-shoulder white princess gown. She must have altered it herself. With so much gold embroidery, a dress meant to evoke innocence had become alluring in an entirely different way. Perhaps she had rushed over from a party after hearing Rina's news. The climb upstairs had left her breathless.

It seemed they both understood: if they missed this chance, they might never see each other again.

Lorist's voice was calm. "Could you put out the candle? I like the silver moonlight in here."

Miss Windsor silently blew it out and set the candlestick aside. She walked into the moonlight and stopped, standing motionless, just as she had on that night when moonlight flowed like water.

Neither spoke. Lorist looked at the girl before him, lovely as a lily, his feelings tangled. The woman he had once loved most was about to leave and marry another. When he first heard the news, he had wanted to grow wings and fly to her side. Now that they stood face to face, his heart still ached, but the desperate need to hold on was gone.

"Perhaps I should call you Marchioness now," Lorist said softly, breaking the silence.

"You know?" She raised her head.

"Three months ago, in the Ruins Archipelago, I met a band of mercenaries from the Kingdom of Chigda. They said Marquis Rophie was holding a grand wedding banquet in the royal capital at year's end to marry a second wife. The Lofei Family had hired them to gather rare materials for the feast. They wondered which noblewoman of the kingdom she might be. I knew it had to be you."

Lorist chuckled. "You kept it quiet. I doubt anyone in Molent City knows you accepted the marquis's proposal over three months ago. Even your maid doesn't know. When I arrived, Rina begged me not to break up with you. Heh..."

"I had no choice, Locke. I know you hate me. You think I fell for someone else, that I'm fickle, that I'm hungry for power. But I had no choice. I had to do it for my family." She sat down on the floor, tears streaming down her cheeks. "After you left, he had his family force the four new lords to return the lands they'd taken from the Windsor Family. But once we got them back, those lords kept harassing us. Knight Hurd was badly wounded, and Knight Som couldn't be everywhere at once. The lords sent men disguised as bandits to burn our fields and homes, abduct our people, and sell them into slavery. They stopped at nothing. There was no way to develop the territory."

"Then he made me an offer. If I married him, he could openly send his family's troops to help the Windsor Family through the crisis. I agreed. Once I return to the royal capital, the Lofei Family will announce at the wedding that our marriage makes those four lords their enemies. From then on, the Windsor Family's enemies will be theirs. By then, his troops will already be positioned around all four territories. They'll strike at once and uproot those lords for good, giving our lands time to recover and grow."

"How could I turn down a chance like that? For the Windsor Family's future, I had to accept his proposal even if I didn't love him. He also promised that once the four lords were gone, two territories would revert to the royal family, one would go to the Lofei Family, and one would go to the Windsor Family as compensation. I'll grant that land to Knight Som and make him a baron to reward him for leading the resistance and serving our family."

She sat on the floor and kept talking, as though she needed to say everything at once. "Rina doesn't know about the proposal because he insisted on secrecy. Only Susie and I know. He didn't want the four lords to suspect anything. He says surprise is the key. As soon as the wedding begins, the Lofei Family will declare war. The nobles of Qigda won't have time to react. Once we've occupied the four territories, the royal family will strip those lords of their titles and reclaim their lands. By then, no one will have anything to say. And with the Lofei Family behind us, what happened to my father will never happen to the Windsor Family again."

Lorist's gaze sharpened. What ruthless calculation. What meticulous planning. His own strategy had required the resistance to fight for at least another six months, until the four new lords had suffered enough military losses that they could neither crush the resistance nor threaten the Windsor Family's old lands. Only then would he find someone to broker a settlement. Once the family recovered its territory, it would have a period of peace in which to develop. If the Windsor Family used that chance to build a capable guard force, it would no longer have to fear attack.

But the marquis had interfered and wrecked the original plan. First, he forced the four new lords to return the Windsor lands, leaving the family deeply indebted to him. To defend the territory, the Windsor Family had no choice but to turn the resistance into its garrison. The four lords plainly resented surrendering the land. Their forces had suffered no serious losses, and the resistance, once impossible to find, was now out in the open. Of course they took revenge with everything they had.

Everything had changed half a year too soon. The resistance had become the lord's garrison, while the new lords and their men had become the insurgents. The two sides had traded places. Now the Windsor Family was taking the blows. Unable to cope with the unexpected reversal, it could only watch its lands be ravaged. Then its savior appeared again. He proposed to Miss Windsor and offered, in return, to send his family's troops against her enemies and eliminate the four lords. Two territories would then go to the royal family, which would take the blame and become the target of the kingdom's nobles. He and the Windsor Family would divide the remaining two territories. He would gain land, a reputation for righteousness, and a staunch ally in the Windsor Family.

Was that five birds with one stone, or six? Lorist drew a sharp breath. From the outside, it was clear: perhaps someone had watched everything unfold from the moment the resistance was founded in the Windsor Family's old territory and calculated every move. Stir up trouble, ride the momentum, profit from the chaos, hide the truth, strike by stealth, seize control, conjure a pretext from nothing. After that entire chain of maneuvers, the Lofei Family, which had originally been watching from the sidelines, stood to gain the most. Marquis Rophie was no ordinary man.

As he watched her speak with such certainty about the benefits the Windsor Family would enjoy with the Lofei Family behind it, Lorist felt a sudden weariness. Was this the girl I once loved most? The angel I held in my heart? Vain, ignorant, and stubborn—moved around like a pawn without even knowing it. Poor Miss Windsor. Take away your beauty, and what do you have left?

You talk as if marrying into the Lofei Family is some great sacrifice. Isn't this what you wanted? To become a marchioness, attend court and exclusive gatherings, mingle with the Queen and noblewomen, and have everyone look up to you and flatter you—isn't that the life you dreamed of? Naive, thoughtless girl. A family's strength isn't measured by that, and its honor isn't won at banquets. If you treat the Lofei Family as your greatest support, one day they might sell the Windsor Family out while you help count the money. You're better off relying on yourself. When will you understand that?

But what does any of it have to do with me? Lorist shook his head, all interest gone. Suddenly, the heartbreak he had felt over their separation seemed absurd. Once he let go, his whole body felt lighter, as if a burden had fallen away.

"What's wrong, Locke?" she asked when she saw him shake his head.

"Nothing. I spent over a month at sea coming back from the Ruins Archipelago. I've only just reached land, and sometimes I still feel like I'm on a ship." Lorist seized on the excuse. "Anyway, does he treat you well?"

"Yes. Very well." She nodded. "When I'm with him, I feel cherished. He arranges everything perfectly. Not like you—you always made me think things through and figure them out for myself. Honestly, Locke, being with you was exhausting. I was busy all day, while you seemed so carefree. Any problem that came your way was settled in a few words. I really envied you back then."

"Heh. That's because you're foolish." Lorist laughed softly. "I'm curious. Why would his wife support his proposal to you?"

"You mean Sister Rafina? Her health is poor. She miscarried after falling from a horse, and the royal physician said she might never be able to conceive. Besides, she likes peace and quiet and hates parties and social obligations. So she wanted Rophie to propose to me. She hopes I'll attend those gatherings in her place and give the Lofei Family an heir soon." Her cheeks reddened as she spoke.

Wonderful. You're their stand-in for social events and their means of producing an heir. Once you have a child, I'd wager his first wife will say you're too busy with social engagements and offer to raise the child herself. You'll be grateful, too. A few years later, when your own child no longer recognizes you as his mother, perhaps you'll understand. Lorist's thoughts turned spiteful.

Lorist asked, "Why are you closing your business in Molent City? Why sell the house and shop?"

"The family lands have been badly damaged. Knight Som wrote that there isn't an intact house left in the whole territory. Rebuilding and restoring people's livelihoods will take a great deal of supplies and money. He sent me a list—more than ten thousand gold coins' worth. And I still have to prepare a dowry, so I don't have that much cash on hand. Rophie advised me to sell everything here and start over in the royal capital. It's his home ground. He'll arrange everything for me." Satisfaction filled her face as she spoke.

Lorist almost wanted to applaud Marquis Rophie. His admiration could have flooded a river. The man had won the beauty and, while he was at it, carried off the goose that laid her golden eggs. Once they reached the royal capital and the marquis had arranged everything, Miss Windsor would go from owner to well-paid employee. The profits from the women's fashion boutique would flow steadily into his purse. Lorist could only hope the marquis would leave her a little something.

"Then why come here tonight? Just to see me one last time? Is that necessary? I'll move my books and things out tomorrow morning. You've sold the house. Nothing will remain here but memories." Lorist found he couldn't even be angry with her anymore. He was sure that if he explained everything, she wouldn't believe him. She would think he was jealous and trying to drive them apart. Forget it. Everyone has their own fate. She and I were just two shooting stars crossing paths, leaving each other with one dazzling memory.

"What's wrong with wanting to see you? I loved you for four years. You disappointed me, but I still can't forget you. You're always like this—once you've made up your mind, you turn cold and heartless. Don't you miss me at all? Couldn't you have said just once, 'Don't leave me'? When I said we should break up, you left without a word. I know you hate me and won't forgive me. I brought this on myself. But I still wanted to see you again, even if it was for the last time..." Her voice rose. His blunt words had finally set her off.

Her willingness to love and hate wholeheartedly was one of her strengths.

"Ah..." Lorist sighed and stood. "Better to remember each other than meet again. Why do this? Can't we let what we had remain a beautiful memory for both of us...?"

"No. I want to look at you again, hold you again, kiss you again. I know I wronged you. You did so much for me and my family and never asked for anything. I know offering you gold coins would insult you, so I bought these manuals for you. I hope they'll help you advance beyond black-iron Battle Qi." She went to the desk and opened a drawer. Inside lay five high-level Battle Qi Manuals, each of a different attribute. Then she turned, wrapped her arms around Lorist, and rested her head against his chest.

"Hold me once more. Kiss me once more, please," she murmured, closing her eyes.

Lorist gave a wry smile. She was still preoccupied with his black-iron Battle Qi, unaware that these high-level manuals were useless to him. Gold coins would have been more practical.

"Don't forget you're a marchioness now," Lorist reminded her.

"Until the wedding, I'm still free," she replied.

That's how she sees it?

"No. I'm not in the habit of kissing another man's fiancée," Lorist said.

"Locke, can I stay with you tonight...?" She held his waist tightly and refused to let go.

"Will the marquis downstairs wait until morning? I don't mind, but he looks a little impatient." Now that Lorist was standing, he could see the carriage parked outside the front door. For some reason, the marquis had chosen not to wait in the hall. He was pacing around the carriage and glancing up at the third-floor window now and then.

She burst out laughing. Rising on tiptoe, she gave Lorist a quick kiss on the lips and let go. "There. I've seen you, held you, and kissed you. I'm satisfied. Goodbye, Locke."

Her footsteps sounded on the stairs. Soon the carriage rattled away, its noise fading into the distance.

Lorist sat back down. After a long while, he suddenly spoke. "How long are you going to stand there, El?"