My Engagement Got Broken, But I Don’t Remember Getting Engaged in the First Place

Chapter 73: The Measure of Value

And Elias managed to stop it? But five years ago, he had yet to make his social debut.

Nora wondered how he was able to approach a prince in line for the succession, and how Thorvard could trust Elias right away. It wouldn’t be surprising to find Elias suspicious then… But why did Elias notice the poison in the first place?

“Did you know of Elias’ poison-tasting hobby?”

“No, but Allan had mentioned that Elias had a penchant for test-tasting poison and that he could recognize various types of poisons. I don’t really know much about it… But I heard that you’re also learning about poisons. I wonder, is it the norm for upper class aristocrats to be that interested in poison?”

Andrea’s chartreuse eyes blinked in surprise, then she immediately burst out laughing.

“Absolutely not. Poisons are dangerous and most people have never even seen one in their lives. I just started learning about it to protect Thorvard… Now, for why Elias is interested in it too, well, you better ask him yourself.”

All the high-ranking aristocrats, including Viola and Duke Lindell, have used poison recently. So, Nora assumed all the upper class nobility were into that, but it was a relief that such was not the case.

“Thorvard had immense trust in Elias as a friend. He was actually quite hesitant to put Nora, his longtime love, in danger. But it was such a great opportunity to take Duke Lindell down and he couldn’t let it pass… It was his judgment as the king and also as a person.”

Andrea then turned to Nora, who had been standing beside her, and gestured to the chair.

Nora understood that she wanted her to sit down, but she was now a lady’s companion, so wouldn’t it be disrespectful to sit beside her?

“We’re the only ones here. Come sit down, Nora.”

Since she insisted, it would be rude of me to decline.

Nora proceeded to sit on the edge of the chair. Seeing that, Andrea’s mouth broke into a slight smile.

“No matter how I apologize to you, it wouldn’t be enough, but let me express my deepest apologies.” As soon as Nora saw Andrea bowing her head, she immediately stood up and the chair almost toppled over.

“Oh no, my lady, please raise your head. There is no need for you to apologize.”

“I knew of His Majesty’s plans and am his soon-to-be wife. His Majesty can’t apologize in public and neither can I, so I’d like to take this opportunity to say it. I’m really sorry, Nora.”

“His Majesty had already apologized and me working here is a way to make up for it. Besides, I was also given the opportunity to serve the Kranz juice at the banquet. Those are enough.” Nora desperately argued until Andrea finally raised her head with a bitter smile.

“Um, Lady Andrea?”

“Oh, pardon me. I was just thinking of how you’re working here as the king’s way of apology. I’ve heard of it before, but I still found it strange.”

She urged Nora to sit down once more and she obliged without arguing this time.

“His Majesty was worried until the last minute. Elias understood his intentions and finally obeyed his orders, but we didn’t expect that Martina would really poison you…”

Elias had prepared an antidote in Andrea’s waiting room just in case, but she didn’t really expect Nora would be poisoned.

If they hadn’t prepared well, she didn’t know what could have happened to Nora. She felt chills down her spine.

“Elias might be skillful in a lot of ways, but he couldn’t control Duke Lindell, much less his sister. His social status frustrated him.”

“I didn’t expect even Elias could feel frustrated by his social status.”

Seeing Nora surprised, Andrea took a sip of tea and smiled. “His Majesty actually wanted to give half of the Lindell duchy to Baron Kranz, you know?”

“What?”

The Lindell duchy was a vast territory with several important roads leading to the royal capital. It was incomparable to the Kranz barony, the scale of which wasn’t even half or a fifth of the duchy.

“But Elias stopped him. He said, ‘First of all, listen to what Nora, the victim, has to say. She’s not the type to take whatever she can and keep everything for herself. She’d definitely say that she doesn’t need anything excessive. Besides, the baron is not greedy, and he is the type of man who’s happy as long as his people and family are happy. If you grant him a huge territory, it’d trigger conflict with the people around him.” …So, you didn’t take the land in the end, did you? What a waste.”

There was an awkward smile on Nora’s face as she felt like she had to return Andrea’s smile.

“Perhaps it was. But I don’t think we should get used to receiving something so grand. Too much can destroy you. I think that’s what the Lindell territory is for our family.”

“I suppose so. If it were me though, I’d surely take it. But I don’t disagree with you either. I just think you should appreciate your value a little better.”

“Value?” Nora didn’t quite get it, so she tilted her head in contemplation.

But my social status nor looks were of no value after all.

“Do you mean my singing voice?”

Singing at the founding ball was a prestigious feat for a singer. In fact, even if she was chosen because of Duke Lindell’s case, that wouldn’t matter in the eyes of the public.

“That’s part of it. Humility may be a virtue, but it is folly if one simply fails to understand one’s own value.”

Her chartreuse eyes turned to Nora, who still couldn’t fully comprehend the meaning behind Andrea’s words.

“Think about it carefully. There is more than one measure of value, you know.”