Chapter 8
The sender of the letter was Eleanor, the viscountess of the Florence family and Helena’s eldest sister.
[…Father misses you a lot. You’ll be able to come for my birthday, right? I’m looking forward to seeing you attend with the duke.]
Eleanor’s birthday was next week.
Helena, rereading the last line of the letter, let out a small sigh. The fact that the ducal couple’s relationship was strained was known only to the servants of the ducal residence and no one else.
The two only appeared together at imperial events. Because of that, their discord remained hidden, but nobles whispered speculations behind her back upon seeing Helena attend most gatherings alone.
Even to the subtle inquiries from noble ladies probing about her relationship with the duke, Helena dismissed them by saying Kavil was busy.
In truth, he was indeed busy. He had been away from the estate entirely due to subjugating monsters and foreign tribes.
But Kavil was currently staying at the mansion.
‘…I should at least bring it up.’
Her eldest sister, Eleanor, was an important person to Helena. Helena and her sisters were half-sisters. More precisely, Count Florence had remarried Helena’s mother after being widowed.
The public’s view of the count, who remarried so soon after losing his wife, was unfavorable.
Eleanor and Bianca, still young and reeling from the shock of gaining a stepmother without time to grieve their mother’s loss, were overwhelmed.
Yet, strangely, the sharp gazes and rebukes from people were directed not at the count, but at her mother. Helena’s mother was the daughter of a humble baron, and people hurled stones at her, deeming her fair game for criticism.
Through it all, the count merely observed with his hands behind his back. Helena’s mother struggled desperately to protect herself and Helena.
After her mother died, Helena, already isolated, became even more cut off in the count’s residence.
The only one who looked after the lonely child was her eldest sister, Eleanor. Naturally, Eleanor became the person Helena loved and trusted next after her mother.
Lost in thought, Helena folded the letter and said to Marian,
“Marian, could you call the butler for me?”
“Yes, Madam.”
Not long after, the butler entered with a knock.
“Madam, I heard you summoned me.”
“Is His Grace in the study?”
“Yes.”
“What is His Grace’s evening schedule like?”
“Pardon?”
“I’d like to propose dinner to him. It would be troublesome if an urgent prior engagement arises like at lunch, so I’m asking you first.”
The butler stared blankly at the softly smiling Helena before belatedly recalling the lunch incident, his face paling.
“To my knowledge, he has no separate evening appointments. With a backlog of work, he likely plans to have a simple dinner in the study as usual.”
“Then convey to His Grace that I’d like to have dinner together. Oh, and if he seems inclined to refuse, add that I have something very important to say. Understood?”
“Understood, Madam.”
The butler bowed respectfully and left the room. The maids, their eyes wide, cautiously gauged Helena’s mood. Helena checked her reflection in the mirror and let out a small sigh.
The woman in the mirror looked unhappy in her eyes.
* * *
Kavil, roughly shaking his wet hair as he emerged from the bathroom, narrowed his eyes upon spotting Claude standing before the desk.
“What, you haven’t left yet?”
Claude stared intently at Kavil, who leaned back deeply into his chair. His eyes said he had much to say.
After hesitating and watching Kavil’s reaction, Claude finally widened his eyes and spoke.
“Your Grace, are you really not going to tell the madam?”
“Speak clearly.”
“About Count Glendor going completely bankrupt this time—it was for the madam’s sake, wasn’t it? Yet you’re planning to keep it hidden from her forever?”
Claude unfolded the newspaper he held.
[Recently, the jewelry company represented by Count Glendor has filed for bankruptcy. The reason for the company’s collapse is attributed to reckless business expansion. Amid concerns of significant damage to individual investors…]
“I wondered why you handled it in such a bothersome way. Your usual method is to eliminate anything annoying immediately.”
“……”
“You did it thinking of the madam, right? Since you couldn’t touch Lady Bianca directly, you ruined the business she invested in as a way to avenge the madam instead…”
“You’re misunderstanding something.”
Kavil’s eyes creased. He irritably set down the dart pin he had been habitually rolling in his hand.
“Count Glendor is one of the prince’s men. I merely eliminated the prince’s influence in advance to avoid future troubles.”
“In such a bothersome way? And right after hearing the report that Lady Bianca had been tormenting the madam during the year you were away, you invested in Count Glendor’s business!”
Kavil looked at the unusually persistent Claude with weary eyes and sighed.
“What is it you want to say?”
“Can’t you tell the madam about this? She might be surprised, but it could also be a chance to gain her favor!”
“Favor? The moment you breathe a word in front of Helena, you’re fired.”
“…You’re joking, right?”
“Does it sound like a joke?”
“…No.”
How could it be a joke when you’re saying it with such a terrifying face, Claude muttered softly.
Kavil glared disapprovingly at Claude before throwing the dart pin he had been rolling toward the target. The pin flew lightly like a feather and embedded itself in the dead center with a thud, like an arrow.
“…Keep watching.”
“Pardon? Who?”
“Lady Bianca. Keep an eye on her.”
For a moment thinking he’d misheard, Claude’s face soon broke into a bright smile.
“So you are worried about the madam after all.”
Kavil’s brow furrowed sharply, and unable to hold back, he finally stood from his seat. As he rose, his even more imposing frame made Claude flinch and step back.
“Seeing you talk twice as much as usual, the training must have been too lax lately.”
“What? No way, Your Grace. Anyway, my advice is to treat the madam well before you regret it later!”
“I should have aimed for your neck instead of the dart pin.”
“You’re quite the joker, Your Grace.”
Claude laughed haha, but cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
Knock knock.
“Your Grace, it’s Paul.”
At the knock and the butler’s voice, Claude placed a hand on his chest and sighed in relief.
“Come in.”
With permission, the butler entered the study and bowed politely.
“What is it?”
“The madam has requested dinner.”
“…Dinner?”
* * *
The sky had already darkened. After painting for a long while in the annex, Helena returned to her room and removed her paint-splattered apron.
‘I think I can finish it by big sister’s birthday.’
Imagining her sister’s delighted face upon receiving the painting, Helena’s lips curved into a soft arc. Noticing her lifted mood, Marian said,
“You look happy, Madam.”
“Yes, today’s progress wasn’t bad. If it goes well, I can finish it by big sister’s birthday.”
“Big sister… You mean Viscountess Florence?”
“Yes. Her birthday is soon, so I plan to give her a painting as a gift.”
The maids, smiling along with Helena’s bright grin, belatedly brought the earrings they held to her.
“Oh, right, Madam. Which earrings would you like?”
The maids opened luxurious cases, displaying various earrings. This was the first dinner with Kavil at the mansion.
After carefully examining the options, Helena picked up a simple diamond pair.
“I’ll go with these. They seem to match well.”
“I’ll prepare the matching necklace set.”
“Yes.”
The chiffon fabric of her light sky-blue dress rustled softly around her ankles with each movement.
After naturally curling only the ends of her hair and tidying it, a simple diamond necklace was finally placed around her pale neck.
“Goodness… You’re so, so beautiful, Madam.”
Helena covered her mouth and laughed softly at the maids’ praise.
“It’s true—why the skeptical face? Our madam is always beautiful, but today you’re especially so.”
“It’s thanks to your skillful hands. And since it’s the first dinner with His Grace…”
Helena smiled at her reflection in the mirror. Unlike her curved lips, her eyes sank low.
“I need to look pretty.”
Knock knock. The butler entered with the knock and bowed politely.
“Madam, His Grace’s preparations are complete. He should be coming down to the dining room soon.”
Helena and Kavil sat facing each other at opposite ends of the long table. Considering the couple’s contrasting food preferences, different menus were placed before each.
“The main dish prepared for Your Grace is veal steak, and for the madam, salmon steak. Oh, Madam, pairing it with the salad beside will allow you to savor an even deeper flavor.”
“Thank you; I’ll enjoy it.”
“I hope today’s prepared dishes suit your taste, Madam.”
After the chef and all the servants bowed and withdrew, only the clinking of utensils echoed in the dining room where the two remained.
Due to her tension, Helena tasted nothing in the food but deliberately moved her fork busily. In the suffocating atmosphere, the sound of utensils was at least some consolation.
“I heard you had something to say.”
Helena’s hand stopped at the low voice in her ear. Habitually smiling, she slowly set down her utensils and spoke.
“The viscountess’s birthday is soon. Could you perhaps accompany…”
“No.”
“……”
The refusal came quicker than expected. Blinking slowly, Helena continued casually.
“You promised to attend official events together. Moreover, since it’s Viscountess Florence’s birthday, everyone assumes Your Grace will naturally attend. If I go alone, it’ll look strange.”
“…Is your family gathering included in official events?”
“Pardon?”
“I don’t think so.”
“……”
Kavil’s cold golden eyes pierced Helena. Biting her lip, she continued.
“Even if it’s not an official event, you are my husband… and family. So we should go together, since it’s a family occasion.”
Kavil’s hand, indifferently bringing the wine glass to his lips, froze at that moment.
“Family?”
“Yes.”
“You and I…”
Kavil’s eyebrow arched crookedly.
“Are family?”
