Quentin was speechless, staring at Marcella, whose face was flushed, either because she had a fever or because she said such an embarrassing question.
Silence was created between them. Only the sunshine interrupted them, as it was quite warm that morning.
Quentin sighed, and his arms that had been crossed began to lower with his eyes closed.
"I can't possibly marry you both. It wouldn't benefit Helferich either," Quentin explained firmly.
"Hehe, you're right. What a silly question," expressed Marcella, smiling a fake smile.
"Don't worry. Geoffrey is a good man; you'll definitely find love with him," stated Quentin.
"My love is only for you," Marcella whispered, her voice so low that Quentin had trouble hearing her.
"Did you say something?" asked Quentin.
The door to Marcella's room opened, revealing Arabelle arriving with Mary. Both of them appeared to be carrying a plastic bag with food in it, not groceries, but ready-made meals.
Seeing Arabelle coming, Marcella immediately pulled the blanket and immersed herself in the blanket. A strange behaviour, according to Arabelle and Quentin.
"Did something happen?" asked Arabelle, walking over.
Quentin shook his head, crossing his arms again, "Just a normal morning chat."
Arabelle nodded a few times, agreeing with Quentin. The woman began to take out the food she had bought one by one and put it away on the wooden table.
"I bought more in case you want to eat with us," Arabelle suggested, taking out a loaf of bread and a drink bottle.
"I will eat it at the construction site," Quentin explained.
The man approached Arabelle with both hands stretched forward, accepting the food and drink.
"Aren't the workers already supervised by your soldiers?" asked Arabelle.
"Yes, but it doesn't hurt to see their work, does it?" asked Quentin, looking at Arabelle.
"You're right," replied Arabelle flatly.
Quentin turned his eyes back, watching Marcella, who was still surrounded by the blanket. In the end, Quentin began to walk away from the inn while eating the warm bread that Arabelle had given him.
Arabelle pulled Marcella's blanket and was surprised to see her sister crying bitterly. Arabelle spontaneously asked about Marcella's condition.
"What happened? Did Quentin scold you?!" asked Arabelle, her eyebrows dipping sharply.
Marcella shook her head, sitting back on the bed with her right hand raised, wiping away her tears.
"No, I'm not. I'm fine."
Arabelle sensed something was different about Marcella but couldn't put her finger on it. In Arabelle's mind, there were only two possibilities for her sister's crying; her marriage to Geoffrey or something to do with her heart.
She knew that Marcella harboured feelings for Quentin, especially Marcella's admiration for Quentin's ability to control Helferich and the other Houses so well.
If it wasn't for her marriage to Geoffrey, it was probably related to Marcella's feelings for Quentin.
"Forget what made you cry. You must recover soon," Arabelle stated.
Marcella's sister sat on a wooden chair near Marcella's bed, gently rubbing her sister's head while trying to guide Marcella to eat the bread she bought.
Mary did the same, not spoon-feeding Marcella but hugging her from the side. Just as Mary hugged Marcella, Marcella's crying stopped and was replaced with a genuine smile.
"I will try to accept Lord Geoffrey. This is for the sake of House Helferich," Marcella stated.
Arabelle smiled sadly. She had not expected to part with her sister after years of living together. She put down the bread and hugged Marcella tightly.
"That's right. This is for Helferich."
***
Around the river Hallen.
Lanercoast.
The workers began to do their work. The soldiers became foremen for their work building the bridge.
After establishing the agreement with Archibald, Quentin did not want to waste time. He immediately ordered the workers who had previously been prepared to show their skills.
Because of the close distance of the river with a depth that is not so deep, it is easy for them to make the bridge. One of the soldiers supervising the workers revealed that the work of building a bridge on the Hallen River would be completed in two weeks.
"Make sure the raw materials are available. Don't run short," Quentin explained, stepping from the front camp after dismounting.
"We've calculated everything. We deliberately overestimated the construction materials so that we can be prepared if the raw materials start to run out," said the foreman of the workers and soldier Helferich.
Quentin cleared his throat and nodded his head. The man continued walking through the encampment, a path in a small forest area, until he reached the riverbank where workers built a bridge.
Although Quentin came to the construction site, the workers' attention was not distracted, and they remained focused. Naturally, they did that. They would be given 15 pieces of gold for each worker.
That's why they will work hard to complete the work quickly. The faster the work was done, the faster they would get their salary.
Quentin raised his head, looking straight ahead. He saw Archibald's encampment still standing on the other side of the river, but the soldiers were also starting to pack up.
Although the bridge was completed, according to the agreement between the two parties. The trading process will take place next month once everything is ready.
"Make sure they work properly. I want this bridge ready in the next two weeks!" emphasized Quentin.
"What if the bridge fails to be ready in two weeks?" asked the foreman, which caught Quentin's attention until the sharp look in Quentin's eyes frightened the foreman.
"F-Fine. We will try hard," The foreman said.
"In order for them to work well, you need to prepare everything they need."
A familiar female voice in Quentin's ear argued so. The voice came from behind the man, and Quentin immediately looked back.
Arabelle came accompanied by a soldier. This was the first time for Arabelle to arrive at the Hallen River.
"I have prepared everything," Quentin explained.
"What about food? And shelter? Adequate equipment? You didn't provide any of that," Arabelle insisted.
"Why would I provide that? They can use their own equipment. I'll pay for everything after the bridge is completed," Quentin replied.
"With rusted hammers and axes? Then the absence of carts carrying stones for building materials means they must carry those heavy stones by themselves," Arabelle snapped.
Quentin turned his head to the side, looking at the construction foreman who had overheard Quentin and Arabelle's conversation.
"Leave me with her!" ordered Quentin.
"Yes, My Lord."
The foreman strode away, unlike Quentin, who pulled Arabelle away from the construction site.
"Do you want to make a fool out of me before them?!" asked Quentin, whispering but annoyed.
"You're indeed a fool in this matter!" complained Arabelle.
"Then why don't you become their foreman?" asked Quentin.
"I'm the Lady of Helferich, First Daughter of Edgar Helferich, and your wife, Lord Quentin. How could I be their foreman?!" snapped Arabelle, asking while pointing at Quentin.
"My decision is final! No one can argue with it, including you," Quentin explained.
"Stubborn man. You will realize the bridge's construction will be completed in one month," Arabelle threatened.
"If that happens, I will make sure they don't get paid as agreed," revealed Quentin.
Arabelle sighed and shook her head. Arabelle had to admit Quentin was foolish in matters like this, but the man was good at exploiting political opportunities.
Unlike Arabelle, who understood the smallest details but was not so familiar with the political turmoil of Athalaris and how to take advantage of it. She thought the two complimented each other.
"As you wish," Arabelle complained, crossing her arms.
Quentin glanced softly at Arabelle, then stepped away from the small forest area. Arabelle walked after Quentin from behind.
"I saw Marcella crying this morning. What did you do to her?" asked Arabelle.
"Nothing that matters," Quentin replied coldly.
"Is that so, huh? Even though I'm your wife, I don't have any right to ask about anything," Arabelle snapped.
"Should I just accept Geoffrey's offer of marriage?" asked Arabelle threateningly.
Quentin halted his steps, sighing softly as his hands clasped around his waist. He turned his body back around to look at Arabelle closely.
"If you do, the people of Wintercrest will know you had an affair. The baby born will have black hair like me," Quentin replied.
"You will be regarded as a Lady of Whores by the people. Geoffrey will bear the shame of that," Quentin explained.
"Then I will just abort this baby and marry Geoffrey with a clean belly!" snapped Arabelle.
Quentin was furious. He stretched both hands forward, grasping Arabelle's shoulders tightly as their eyes met in seriousness.
"What do you want, dammit?!" complained Quentin, annoyed.
"What did you do to my sister that made her cry?" asked Arabelle, wearing a cold expression.
"Do you really want to know about that?" asked Quentin, ensuring.
"I need to know what made my sister cry."
Quentin was silent. He slowly released his hold on Arabelle's shoulders while his eyes were still staring intently at Arabelle.
The man before Arabelle sighed, stepping back a few steps while still looking at Arabelle's strongly expressed face.
"Marcella asked me to marry her," Quentin replied softly.
"So I was right. She was crying because she was expressing her heart," revealed Arabelle.
"What do you mean?" asked Quentin.
Arabelle narrowed her eyes when Quentin looked at her, "Don't you know? My sister loves you."