Chapter 18
“Lady Ferris, your stomach must be amazing…! Ah—oh, I didn’t mean it as an insult. I really meant it’s impressive.”
“Don’t worry. I’m fully aware of my own impressive stomach,” I replied with a wink.
Roti gave me the faintest smile in return.
Her small act of courage seemed to set something off. One by one, the other young ladies cautiously began ordering desserts of their own.
In the end, the only person at the table who stubbornly kept her plate empty was Nanael.
To maintain her dignity, she sat perfectly still, sipping only tea. If this weren’t an imperial-sponsored gathering, she probably would have flipped the entire table already.
A short while later, Empress Consort Rosaria finally arrived, putting an end to Nanael’s nitpicking.
“My, my, so this is where all the lovely ladies have gathered,” Rosaria began with an overly sweet smile.
At once, the girls lined up to curtsey, eager to make a good impression. After all, her son—the Second Prince, Cesare Barnard—was still unmarried.
Cesare Barnard.
The very definition of arrogant, spoiled royalty. A shameless womanizer with a pretty face. Popular now, sure—but in the latter half of the original novel, he turned into one of the big villains.
In short, anyone tied to that family was nothing but trouble.
I stepped forward and introduced myself with polite grace.
“Your Highness the Empress Consort, I am Rodelia Ferris, eldest daughter of House Ferris.”
“Ah, so you’re Lady Ferris. I’ve been quite curious about you.”
Not exactly the kind of curiosity I wanted.
“Your Highness is too kind.”
Please, just lose interest in me already. I was already drowning in unwanted attention from her daughter.
I smiled with all the social polish I could muster, though inwardly I cringed.
To be honest, having even the Empress Consort herself pay attention to me was deeply unsettling.
“So, you don’t yet have a fiancé, correct?”
“That’s right, Your Highness. I plan to look for one this season.”
“My son also happens to be without a fiancée.”
…And what exactly do you expect me to do with that?
My composure slipped for a second, and Rosaria pressed further.
“Why? Do you not find my son appealing?”
Wait. Was she seriously considering me as her daughter-in-law?
No—that wasn’t it. More likely, she wanted to secure House Ferris on top of House Ainruck as political allies.
Just imagining being tied into this family made my spine go cold. At best, I’d be dragged into constant schemes. At worst? Poison.
If I said I liked Cesare, she’d latch onto me immediately. But if I said I didn’t, it would be spun as an insult to royalty, ruining my reputation.
Great. First Nanael, now her mother.
Keeping my face neutral, I gave the safest possible answer:
“As a faithful daughter of the Barnard Empire, I believe in the sacredness of marriage. I’m certain that this season, I’ll find the one fate has prepared for me. Of course, my brother is… rather protective.”
Neither yes nor no, but phrased politely enough to let her keep face.
Rosaria nodded as though she understood.
“I heard during your debut ball that your brother filled up your entire dance card. That must have been quite the burden.”
Was she trying to criticize Adrian? Not a chance—I wasn’t letting anyone insult my brother.
“I consider it a blessing to have such a loving family,” I said firmly.
“Well. Too much affection can become poison. Remember that. I do hope we meet again soon.”
Poison, huh? Spoken like the mother of Nanael indeed.
Especially hypocritical, considering she spoiled her own son far worse than Adrian ever did for me.
I forced a flawless smile.
“The honor would be mine, Your Highness.”
Inside, though, I was screaming: Over my dead body. You will never see me again if I can help it.
Down by the Shuri River, sleek racing boats were lined up for practice.
Every social season, the annual rowing competition was one of the highlights. For eligible bachelors, it was the perfect chance to show off their strength and manliness.
The prize? A summer holiday on the imperial family’s private estate.
And nothing boosted a man’s pride like presenting his medal to the lady he admired.
This year, Alperen and Adrian had teamed up to compete in the triple scull. Normally, there would be a third rower, but since he was away traveling, the two practiced together for now.
Adrian rowed with unusual intensity. Alperen noticed and asked,
“Why are you putting so much force into it?”
“Why do you think? We’re going to win.”
“Ah, there’s that competitive streak again.”
Adrian huffed. “That too, but more importantly—what if some random idiot wins and invites our Deli to go on holiday with him?”
“…Most men row because they want to spend time with someone they like.”
“And you? Got a lady you want to share a holiday with?”
Alperen stayed silent, and Adrian glanced back suspiciously mid-stroke.
“…Wait. Do you?!”
“Eyes forward.”
Alperen rapped him on the head with the end of his oar. Adrian squawked.
“Hey! Watch the hair! I worked hard on this. We’re supposed to pick up Deli after this, remember?”
“Deli? Why?”
“She went to the Empress Consort’s gathering. All the debutantes had to attend.”
Normally, it would be enough just to send a carriage. But Adrian would never settle for that.
“No way am I letting our Deli come home alone from something like that.”
Alperen almost said, You’re hopeless, but instead asked quietly,
“You’re sure all the debutantes went?”
“That’s what I said.”
“…I see.”
Later, as they finished practice and pulled the boat in to dock—
“I’ll head ho—whoa!”
Adrian yelped as the boat rocked violently. Alperen had deliberately kicked it.
Splash!
Adrian went tumbling into the river.
He emerged, dripping wet and sputtering.
“Are you insane?! Why would you do that?!”
“There was a bug.”
“A bug?! Damn it, now I can’t even go pick up Deli looking like this!”
His shirt clung wetly to his body, his carefully styled hair now plastered flat.
“True. You can’t go see her looking like that.”
Alperen’s calm tone made Adrian glare daggers at him.
“Fine. I’ll go instead.”
“…What? How did we get to that?!”
Alperen gave him a slow once-over.
“Do you really think Deli would want to be seen with you in that state?”
Adrian froze. He pictured Deli’s disappointed eyes, her frown. And wilted.
“…Ugh. Fine. Go. At least she won’t have to wait alone.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
With that, Alperen strode off toward the café.
Back inside, I was relieved when Rosaria lost interest in me and moved on.
Her words had been nothing but empty pleasantries anyway.
If she were truly serious about marrying me into her family, she’d already have sent a proposal by now.
And besides, Cesare was unmarried all throughout the original story. He never even had a fiancée.
Why? Because his mother’s obsessive love for him was unmatched.
Isn’t there always that type of mother? The kind who treats her son like her lover?
Rosaria Barnard was the queen of that category.
In fact, I remembered multiple scenes in the original novel where she bullied young noble ladies out of jealousy, just for being rumored to marry Cesare.
And Cesare? He shamelessly took advantage of that, using his mother’s protection to ruin countless girls.
Trash. Plain and simple.
Right now, he was away abroad, which explained the lack of gossip.
But once he returned, it would all start again.
I had no intention of getting anywhere near that mother-son duo.
