Chapter 35
The day of the grand banquet arrived quickly.
The mansion was noisy from dawn, filled with the hurried footsteps of the servants.
I also woke up early and began dressing up. After the maids, who treated this like a battle, had finished their work, I twisted my body in front of the mirror.
I wore an off-shoulder apricot dress with voluminous ruffles. My long, straight hair was curled and tied low, adorned with a diamond hair corsage shaped like lily-of-the-valley.
It wasn’t my usual style, but I liked how it made me look modest and gentle. That was exactly the image I needed today.
I put on my silk gloves and sat in front of the vanity.
When I glanced at the mirror, I saw the maids gathered like little chicks, their faces full of expectation. They looked so cute that I let out a small laugh.
“I like it. You did well. You may leave now.”
“But your earrings…”
“I’ll do it myself.”
Smiling, I took the velvet box from the maid and dismissed them.
Then, I picked up a letter resting on the vanity and read it. It was a personal letter from the Marchioness of Wickley, insisting that we meet at the banquet.
Antra would surely attend tonight’s banquet no matter what. She had to clear up the scandal and restore her reputation. The only way to do that was to act shamelessly confident.
Tonight, I planned to turn Antra against her allies and completely isolate her. She had been neglecting the noblewomen, relying on the influence of the Marchioness. If she was publicly expelled from the Marchioness’s circle, her value would plummet, and nothing could be more humiliating.
I lightly touched my powdered collarbone and smirked.
‘If she’s cast out in front of everyone, it’ll be quite a shock for her.’
Soon, I opened the velvet box left by the maid. Inside were pearl earrings set in black velvet.
I put one on my earlobe and reached for the other…
If only my silk gloves hadn’t made my hands slippery.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
I raised an eyebrow and glanced at the door.
‘A maid?’
Thinking it was perfect timing, I focused on putting on the earring and said,
“Come in.”
The door opened, and someone approached from behind.
My arm was getting sore from trying to fit the earring post into the hole. Finally, I let out a sigh and extended the earring over my shoulder.
With my eyes shut tight, I spoke.
“Sorry, can you help me put this on? My hands keep slipping.”
I felt a slight hesitation. But soon, the person took the earring. Their hands were a little rough, which surprised me, but I figured it was just because maids often had their hands in water.
However, there was no movement for a long time. Thinking it was just a nervous young maid, I reached back and patted their hand encouragingly.
The hand flinched, so I quickly withdrew mine. But then, cold fingertips pressed lightly behind my earlobe, holding it in place. Slowly, the post moved around before finally sliding through the hole.
Once the earring was in place, the maid stepped back.
When I opened my eyes and saw the reflection in the mirror, my heart nearly dropped.
“Count…?”
In the mirror, Edmund stood behind me, his ears burning red, covering his face with his large hands. His tall frame made only the middle of his face visible in the mirror.
“W-what are you doing here?”
“I was putting on your earring.”
“Yes, but why is the Count doing it?”
Who in their right mind would have you serve them…
Oh, right. Me.
Edmund stared at me through the mirror with an incredulous expression. When our eyes met, I awkwardly smiled, suddenly recalling how I had mistaken him for a maid and even patted his hand.
Oh no. I closed my eyes tightly. Acting superior when I was the one who had made the mistake was utterly embarrassing.
“I’m sorry. I should have checked first. I thought you were a maid.”
Clearing his throat, Edmund removed his hand from his face and adjusted his collar for no reason.
“It’s fine. I didn’t say anything either.”
An awkward silence followed. As I stood up to apologize again and face him properly—
‘Huh…?’
I was so shocked that I momentarily lost my train of thought.
He had cut his hair short and brushed it up, revealing his forehead.
His deep-set eyes, his sharp nose that could catch raindrops, his reserved lips. And now, his straight forehead was fully visible. His striking silver hair and the elegant white tailcoat he wore made his handsome features shine even more, as if radiant light was emanating from behind him.
I stared at him in a daze before snapping out of it and asking,
“Count, did you get a haircut—”
“It’s not because of you.”
Edmund firmly denied it, frowning as if he wanted to prevent any misunderstandings.
Denying it so strongly only made me want to tease him.
“Oh, I see. It’s not because of me, right?”
At my playful response, Edmund frowned even more. Then, he let out a weary sigh and pulled out a document from inside his jacket.
“This is the information you requested about Baroness Antra Dien. It’s a statement from an old maid who used to work for her, but since we haven’t located the other servants, its credibility is uncertain.”
I smiled as I accepted the document.
“I asked you for this on short notice, so it can’t be helped. This is more than enough.”
Edmund’s face darkened with concern. Now that his forehead was exposed, I could clearly see his expressions, which had been harder to read before.
“What are you plotting?”
“Oh my, plotting? That’s too much. We’re in this together, aren’t we?”
“……”
Edmund gazed at me for a moment, then turned his head, muttering that I was impossible. Just as I was about to ask what he meant, he headed for the door.
“Wait, I can’t accept this information for free. Is there anything I can do in return?”
“Then please look after my sister. She seems a bit nervous—”
Edmund stopped mid-sentence as he pulled the door open.
Beyond the doorway, Lilien stood frozen, covering her mouth with a look of pure awe.
“What are you doing here, Sister?”
Lilien grabbed Edmund’s sleeve and shook it excitedly.
“Edmund, look! Lady Etricia is so beautiful! Standing next to you, it’s like a divine mural from a temple—”
Before she could finish, Edmund, looking utterly unimpressed, walked past her.
“Wait, Edmund! I wasn’t done talking!”
Lilien pouted at his lack of respect for his elder, but I couldn’t help but laugh, feeling like I had glimpsed a moment from their childhood.
Ha!
Inside the carriage heading toward the Imperial City, I checked the information Edmond gave me and burst into laughter.
Lilien, who had been quietly wetting her dry lips while looking out the window, turned to me in surprise.
“What’s wrong, Lady Etricia?”
“It’s nothing.”
I tore up the papers and put them in a small bag, then looked at Lilien.
A bright light flickered in her pupils before fading.
Phew. I laughed at her as she placed a hand on her chest and took a deep breath.
“Are you nervous?”
Lilien gave a shy smile and nodded.
Well, after the ceremony in the reception room, she would enter together with Edmond, right behind the emperor.
It was the day her brother would officially inherit the title of duke, and it was practically her first public event as a lady of noble birth, so it made sense that she was tense.
“Just act like you always do.”
“But…”
Lilien brushed back her fallen hair and smiled awkwardly.
With soft light flickering on her face, she looked very beautiful.
“It’s a little embarrassing to say, but I never even had a proper debutante ball. I’m worried that I might do something shameful… especially in front of you and Edmond.”
“A debutante ball, huh? Now that I think of it, I cried because I didn’t want to go. In the end, my aunt dragged me there.”
“Really?”
“Of course. I looked like this.”
I pouted and made a crying face. Lilien let out a small laugh.
She seemed more relaxed now.
Guessing what was really bothering her, I reached out and patted her hand that was resting on her lap.
“If you’re worried because of Devon, don’t be. Like I said before, you won’t run into him. He’s going to arrive very, very late.”
Lilien tilted her head cutely.
I had already told your maid Marie to let Devon know, if he came to the mansion, that I had overslept and was very behind in getting ready for the banquet—so he’d have to wait as long as possible.
I could clearly picture him kicking the carriage, shouting, “Why is this taking so long!”
Not knowing any of this, Lilien just smiled and spoke again.
“Thank you for comforting me, Lady Etricia. I feel calm now.”
“That’s good.”
“Actually, I feel a little sorry to the Marchioness of Wickley, but I think of you as my chaperone.”
“Me?”
A proper chaperone should have strong and wide connections.
As the reclusive Countess, I was definitely not qualified.
Her words only sounded like she was trying to make me feel better.
“Thank you for thinking that way.”
“I mean it. Honestly, I don’t need anyone else. As long as you’re with me—”
“Oh my, then was all my effort pointless? I worked hard to ask Lady Wickley to be your chaperone…”
Lilien’s face turned to stone in an instant.
She quickly covered her mouth and tried to fix what she said.
She said she didn’t mean to ignore my efforts, that she had no plans to marry, and that she wasn’t used to balls—many different excuses.
I found her flustered state adorable and had to stifle a laugh.
With a teasing smile, I had to calm her down again.
It seemed I was starting to enjoy teasing this pair of siblings.
