Chapter 20

Cecile wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief.

On the faded handkerchief, her name and flowers were embroidered.

It was the first handkerchief Elena had ever made for her.

‘This child is miserably shabby even in things like this.’

Cecile grumbled and shoved the handkerchief into her handbag.

Then she took a deep breath and went to find an information clerk.

She had come up blindly without any information.

First, she needed to find Maxim.

All she knew about the man was that he was handsome, that he had a lot of money, that he was connected to Lady Hazel, and finally, just two syllables: ‘Maxim.’

“Do you know a nobleman named Maxim? Hmm, about this tall… a man with black hair and green eyes. I don’t know his surname.”

The clerk stared at Cecile with strange eyes.

“Are you speaking of His Grace Duke Maxim Adeloff?”

“Pardon?”

“The only nobleman named Maxim residing in Andres is that person. If it is not him, then you should go to another region…”

“A-A duke?”

And Adeloff, of all things!

If she had not misheard, that meant Maxim was of the imperial family!

Adeloff was the surname used by the imperial family for generations.

Cecile swallowed hard.

She understood now why those prickly women had refused to say a single word about Maxim.

The only member of the imperial family granted a dukedom—that is, a prince—in this generation was one person.

The Emperor’s second son.

She did not know exactly what had happened, but she understood he had once had a betrothed, broke off the engagement, and now lived alone.

And every business he touched succeeded, so now he held the purse strings of Andres, they said?

“That is correct, madam. Is there a problem?”

“No! No problem at all. Then how should I go about finding His Grace Duke Maxim Adeloff?”

“You ask truly strange questions. Go find a coachman and ask. There is not a single coachman in this capital who does not know the Adeloff ducal house.”

Cecile barely concealed her lips, which were about to split into a grin.

So this girl had properly snagged a decent man after all.

At this level, it was worth running away and following him to the capital.

‘That’s right. My daughter could not possibly be stupid.’

Cecile smiled slyly.

Leaving behind the station clerk who was looking at her oddly, she walked with excited steps to find a carriage.

Having paid the coachman, Cecile spoke in a shrill voice.

“Take me to the Adeloff ducal house!”

A glittering and beautiful life.

That life seemed about to fall right into Cecile’s grasp.

* * *

Maxim stared at his aide with a dumbfounded face.

Delco fidgeted and avoided Maxim’s eyes.

“Say that again. Who has come?”

“Well… Lady Hazel has come. She came with a certain young lady and said she wanted to have dinner together, so…”

“Ha.”

Maxim swept back his hair.

It was just the kind of thing Hazel would do.

Coming without any prior notice like this.

She had done the same when she first came up to Andres after a long while—nothing had changed at all.

Maxim let out a sigh.

It was too transparent.

‘You’re burning pointless hope again, as always.’

Maxim’s expression cooled.

Of course, he acknowledged that Elena was different from other women.

But Maxim had no intention of getting entangled with any woman.

Not even if it was Elena.

“Just tell her to go back. Tell her I have already eaten.”

“I knew you would say that, so I let them in myself.”

Maxim pressed a hand to his head.

Hazel was dragging Elena inside.

“Lady Hazel, Maxim seems busy, so we should just go back… Kyaa!”

Elena, who had nearly tripped over the threshold, was caught tightly by Hazel.

“Look at this. She is staggering because she has not eaten properly. Maxim, are you going to be this cold? And surely Mr. Miles said you must eat on time.”

“Aunt!”

“Yes, Maxim.”

Hazel set Elena upright and crossed her arms.

Behind her glasses, her kind eyes flashed sternly.

“We must eat. I heard you are still taking medicine. Must I really be reduced to grief and refuse all food and drink before you listen?”

Maxim let out a sigh.

Why had his health status become public knowledge?

Of course, he had made it that way himself.

But often… it was still suffocating.

Maxim pulled at the cravat choking his neck.

“Let us go eat.”

Having spoken coldly, Maxim took the lead.

Hazel clicked her tongue and followed behind him.

Elena chewed her lips.

Maxim seemed thoroughly upset.

But Hazel paid it no mind.

What was this strange atmosphere?

Elena could not tell what tune she was supposed to dance to.

Maxim disliked it, yet he did not refuse Hazel’s words.

She sensed there was something she did not know, so she could not bring herself to speak carelessly.

Hazel took the hesitating Elena’s hand.

“Do not worry too much. That boy is only like that with his words.”

Hazel smiled bitterly.

“That is all because…”

She cut off her words and clamped her mouth shut, her expression dark.

Elena carefully studied her face.

Something must have happened between Hazel and Maxim.

‘It is not my place to interfere.’

Elena smiled gently.

“…I think Maxim cares for you a great deal, madam. And I think you care for Maxim a great deal as well.”

“Of course. I raised that boy in place of his parents. Since he was born a year after the elder one, there were not enough hands to care for the children.”

Hazel spoke in a slightly uplifted voice.

Talking about the past is always a joy.

Maxim had been cute and adorable back then.

Fortunately, the clouds seemed to lift from Hazel’s face, and Elena smiled brightly.

Elena walked busily after Hazel.

Her heels were rubbed raw from walking around all day in new shoes, but she pressed down the pain and endured it.

She did not want to ruin Hazel’s enjoyment over a moment’s discomfort.

It was Maxim who noticed the grating sound of her shoes.

An irregular clicking, as if she were uncomfortable somewhere, reached Maxim’s ears.

Maxim glanced back.

Elena, walking busily beside Hazel, was the source of the discomfort.

Maxim observed Elena’s feet for a moment.

‘New shoes.’

Walking for a long time in shoes that had not been broken in was bound to cause trouble.

Maxim let out a sigh.

Hazel was oblivious to such things.

Maxim slowed his pace.

Hazel and Elena slowed accordingly.

Elena caught her breath.

At least with the slower pace, the pain lessened.

Hazel and Maxim, who had been smiling faintly, met eyes.

Hazel grinned.

Maxim furrowed his brow and turned his head.

“Let us go in here. The food is passable.”

“Is that so? Ah, I would also like to look around the department store. When can you make time for that?”

“The department store is a place you can look around without me.”

“That may be so, but it is better to have you there for better service. I could not buy ready-made dresses, so I had them tailored, but I still have not bought shoes, jewelry, or bags.”

“Buy more?”

Elena shrieked, forgetting her dignity.

Startled by her own voice, Elena covered her mouth and looked around.

Fortunately, the passersby were not interested in her.

Elena shook her head.

The amount spent today alone was already more than enough.

“I—I cannot do any more. Madam, what I asked for was not this…”

“A governess position, yes. But Elena, do not interfere with my enjoyment. Besides, as you know, those shoes do not suit those dresses. You need things that match the clothes.”

“Madam…”

What could she say to stop this old lady?

Hazel pushed Elena’s back as she stood there blankly.

“Go and eat. You are so thin you will find it hard to dance. Starting tomorrow, the teachers will begin coming. If you are going to study hard, you should start by eating a lot.”

Elena was pushed along helplessly.

Watching Elena’s retreating figure as she trudged into the restaurant, Hazel smiled.

That child could not say she disliked something even if she wanted to, for fear of hurting Hazel’s feelings.

That was how kind her nature was.

Hazel poked Maxim in the side.

“A good woman is not to be missed.”

“Ha.”

Maxim scratched between his brows.

Truly… he craved a cigarette.

Thanks to Hazel, who summoned a forgotten desire to smoke, Maxim was dumbfounded.

What on earth did she believe to do this?

“Forcing someone to do something everyone does not want is violence, Aunt.”