Momo The Matchmaking of Marielle Clarac

1. Auflage 2021
ISBN: 978-1-7183-2236-3
Verlag: J-Novel Heart
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 250 Seiten

Reihe: The Tales of Marielle Clarac

Newlywed Marielle is settling into life as a married woman. Now that she's moved in with Simeon, the gorgeous military officer who happens to be her ideal man in every way, she wants to spend every moment she can with him.

However, it's not long before their lives take another turn as Prince Severin's troubled love life comes to the fore. Will Marielle's friend Julianne return Severin's affections, and will the royal family accept her? To help out, Marielle is brought to the palace under the guise of being a personal attendant to the queen. As a romance author, amour is Marielle's specialty, so she'll do what she can to bring the crown prince and the lowly baron's daughter together.

Her task is tricky enough-but then an assassination plot throws everything into chaos!

The sixth volume in the adventures of the now happily married fangirl who obsesses over her husband and everyone around him!

Autoren/Hrsg.

Momo, Haruka

Weitere Mitwirkende

Maro

Reuben, Philip

Leseproben

Chapter One

I, Marielle Flaubert née Clarac, aged nineteen, had officially made my debut in society as the newest member of the esteemed House Flaubert!

As a result, however, I found myself in grave danger, the likes of which I had never faced before.

“Oh, how lovely! That white dress has such a polished air about it. It suits you perfectly!”

“Is it an original from Madame Pelagie? It’s delightful!”

“Truly it is! The design is rather elaborate, but you wear it to perfection.”

The gaggle of fabulously dressed ladies all came from houses of great renown. They surrounded me, fixed smiles on their faces, and were showering me with praise. No doubt they had scoffed at me in the past, whether behind their fans or openly in public. When my engagement was first announced, I had been the victim of more than my fair share of malicious gossip, and even snide comments spoken directly to my face.

“What a mismatched couple!” they had said. “How comical! What sort of game is he playing, proposing to a girl so lacking in the looks department? Her family doesn’t even have money or land, so there’s no value to the connection. Why have the earl and countess allowed it?”

The very same people who had laughed at me were now presenting a diametrically opposed attitude. The reversal was so thorough that it was nothing short of impressive.

“You’re so calm and collected for such a young lady! So mature! I couldn’t imagine anyone more suitable to marry into the illustrious House Flaubert.”

“The earl and countess must be so glad to have such a charming new daughter-in-law!”

Their opinions hadn’t undergone such a dramatic change, of course. I was quite certain they were still making the same spiteful comments behind my back. However, they made sure to do it in secret, where it wouldn’t reach my ears. On the surface they treated me with kindness, while their true thoughts remained hidden.

The reason was that House Flaubert was far more important than House Clarac. Making an enemy of my own family would be of no consequence to these ladies at all, but inciting the ire of House Flaubert was a far riskier proposition. I’d now become someone whose good favor they had to win with carefully chosen words.

As an author, I adored having the chance to observe this up close. It was an excellent means of gathering reference material.

There was only one problem.

“How vexing,” said one of the ladies as their fawning continued ceaselessly. “If my son had been just a tad more astute, he’d have proposed to you before the lad from House Flaubert.”

“Indeed!” said another. “I’m terribly jealous!”

Without ever letting their smiles drop, they continued to spout these empty compliments. It was most impressive. Their strength of will mesmerized me. The hidden irony buried in every sentence was so wonderfully inspiring.

However, I was struggling.

With an awkward laugh, I forced myself to give a polite reply. “Your generous words leave me more grateful than I can express. I can scarcely begin to know how to thank you.”

Just standing out in the open, being noticed, made me feel as though my odds of survival were dropping. As a creature that had endured by blending into the background and not allowing anyone to sense my presence, the situation was nothing short of terrifying.

this

“Marielle, sorry to have left you alone.”

Suddenly, a cool, refreshing wind blew across the parched landscape I was lost in. The tall figure that now stood beside me blocked the excessively strong rays of sunlight, protecting me with his shade.

“You must be rather worn out. Why don’t we go elsewhere and take a moment to rest?”

His gentle voice in my ear, full of consideration for my needs, stopped the ingratiating ladies in their tracks. Nestling close to me now was the one who could chase away the hyenas and vultures, the cheetahs and jackals: the king of all animals.

His pale golden mane—admittedly cut into rather too short and neat a style to be described as such—shone beautifully as it reflected the light. The eyes that looked at me from behind those glasses were as clear as ice, though sometimes they burned with fiery intensity, while other times they were as gentle as the spring sky. His dashingly handsome face was perfectly refined, with firm dignity and delicate softness mixed in just the right proportions, while his trained body moved with effortless energy.

Even knowing about the fearsome fangs he kept hidden, it was impossible to avoid being drawn to his beauty.

“Marielle?”

The voice that spoke my name brought me back to reality. The illusion of a vast savannah disappeared and the elegant ball stood before me once more. Beneath the shining chandeliers, the sounds of convivial laughter and clinking glasses rang out.

“Why is your head in the clouds? Are you truly that exhausted? I hope you’re not feeling unwell.”

My husband drew closer still, stooping down to peer at me. I stared intently at his beautiful face beset by a look of worry, and I pondered whether he was more a lion or a gorilla.

“No, I’m quite all right. I was merely thinking about the king of the forest and the king of the savannah. Which environment do you prefer, Lord Simeon?”

“What? Why those two choices, exactly? Wait, no, I’d rather not know. It seems better to avoid asking about either your reasons or your conclusions.”

Without me having realized, we had changed locations. He’d brought me to some chairs by a wall, with the group of ladies from a moment ago nowhere to be seen. Becoming aware that my ever-dependable husband had saved me from them, I heaved a sigh of relief.

“I have to escape from reality or I won’t be able to cope. My word, didn’t I tell you this dress was too extravagant? If I stand out so much, it will surely be the death of me! I must wear camouflage, I simply must!”

He sat me down and got me a drink from a passing member of the serving staff. After gulping down the carbonated fruit wine, I calmed down somewhat.

He replied, “I’m quite sure you won’t die. Personally I’d love for you to wear whatever you’d prefer, but my mother sees dressing to impress as a . I doubt she’d allow you to wear the sort of plain and functional clothes that would let you disappear. One might argue that society is all about making an impression, after all. Hiding away rather defeats the purpose.”

I groaned. “My chances of survival are slipping by the second.”

Lord Simeon was high society’s very own Prince Charming—the knight in shining armor who everyone dreamed of. After marrying a man like this, I would never be able to return to my previous way of life. My existence had been one of blending in and secretly observing people as a reference for my writing, but from now on I would have to gather material in a different manner. As the wife of a future earl, it was incumbent upon me to form connections in society and broaden my social sphere.

Of course, I married him knowing this, so I had no regrets, but it was exhausting nonetheless. Society was all about the survival of the fittest, and I was an insect, relegated to the very bottom of the food chain. The bitter fight for survival left me shuddering in fear. Still, I had no choice but to fight on and learn to manage this. It was a requirement for being with the one I loved.

It was around the end of summer. My father brought a suitor home to meet me—one who fit perfectly within my tastes. This dashing young man was an archetype known as the brutal, blackhearted military officer.

His title, Vice Captain of...