Chapter 86
After bloody practice, the long-awaited family spring outing ended without incident.
I had worried I might be embarrassed for failing to recite poetry, or mocked for my pathetic drawing skills. But nothing of the sort happened.
The reason was…
“We heard that Mother went to the lake with her reading club, so we changed the picnic location!”
That thoughtful consideration came from Mikhail, who didn’t want me to suffer through two identical boat rides.
And…
“Because of my duties organizing the spring festival, I had to shorten our outing time. I’m sorry, I’ll make it up to you later…”
That unexpected stroke of fortune came from Helene’s schedule.
I assured Helene there was no need for apologies, and with a much lighter heart, I was able to enjoy the outing.
We ended up strolling through vast fields of flowers stretching out to the horizon, and admiring incomprehensible works of nameless painters. That’s how my second spring outing concluded.
Of course, the meeting with Minerva and Jeonil, the two grandchildren, didn’t go so well.
“G–Grandmother?”
Jeonil only looked confused, but Minerva’s eyes quickly filled with anger.
She was a clever child, so I could roughly guess how she judged me.
“A step-grandmother who once hid her identity and disrupted family order…”
Perhaps it would’ve been better to reveal myself as their grandmother at our very first meeting.
If I had been Minerva, I would have been suspicious too.
From that moment on, Minerva deliberately avoided me throughout the outing—but strangely, I wasn’t upset.
It only meant her love for Helene was deep, and that the family bond was healthy.
I didn’t want my unwelcome presence to crack their harmonious family.
Of course, I was a little hurt when she didn’t make me a flower crown.
When her tiny hands wove a crown and she placed it on Helene’s head, I felt a pang of jealousy.
But I forced myself to ignore it. Even Mikhail hadn’t received one, so for me as a grandmother to wish for it was rather ridiculous.
Thus the outing ended swiftly, and just as I thought I might finally get some rest, life became even busier.
All thanks to Helene’s plans.
“Spring is the season of socializing. It’ll be a good experience for you too, Mother.”
As if determined to make full use of my inevitable entry into society, she compiled a list of gatherings that would benefit the family.
Amusingly, the list overlapped almost entirely with the families I had already resolved to meet.
The problem was that all these visits had to be made within a short time.
“This feels more like breaking through a gauntlet than attending parties…”
Her suggested schedule was unbearably tight for me: wedding banquets, coming-of-age ceremonies, charity balls, fashion house openings, and more—an entire month crammed with events.
Overwhelmed, I cast Mikhail a pleading look.
But he only gave a bitter smile and trailed off.
“Actually, Mother, this is already considered light.”
“So it really was more comfortable when the household used to decline invitations.”
Only then did I truly understand why Mikhail and Helene were often absent from home.
“Madam, we’ve arrived.”
“Hm? Ah, yes.”
Lost in thought, I lifted my head at Anna’s call and looked outside the carriage.
Though it was night, the brightly lit hall gleamed as if the sun were shining.
This was today’s destination: the mansion of Viscount Metokan.
“The third event this week already…”
Watching Anna briskly prepare with enthusiasm, I let out a quiet sigh, making sure she didn’t hear.
I buried my face in the fluffy shawl Anna had chosen for me, then stepped out of the carriage.
There was no time for more complaints—the party was about to begin.
“If I recall, tonight is Viscount Metokan’s ‘creative’ presentation?”
I cast a glance at the strangely shaped laboratory visible behind the hall and walked on.
While politely acknowledging the servants’ welcome, I recalled what I knew.
Viscount Metokan was nicknamed “the Creative” thanks to her extraordinary inventions.
In her family, regardless of gender, only the most talented inventor could inherit the title.
The current head, though eccentric, had earned vast fortunes with her groundbreaking inventions—one of the wealthiest in the land.
Remarkable for the usually conservative western nobility. But still…
“Will the viscount host the evening alone again?”
“Well, what can you expect? Her husband left two years ago and hasn’t returned—”
Such was the constant gossip surrounding her.
I ignored the whispers of those hiding behind their fans and went toward the center.
“They want to slander her, but can’t because of her wealth. And yet they still want her recognition… tiresome.”
Still, this was preferable to the previous gatherings I’d endured.
Better this than watching ridiculous plays meant to glorify nobility, or listening to ladies mock their children’s tutors over tea.
I approached Viscount Metokan, who was greeting each guest in turn.
She appeared a little over forty.
More than the faint wrinkles, her intelligent eyes stood out.
With her disheveled hair and a monocle smudged from constant use, she looked like a scholar from a storybook.
“Thank you for inviting me, Viscount Metokan.”
“Ah—so you’re the Duchess of Leighton!”
We exchanged the customary pleasantries.
I remarked that I looked forward to her presentation; she flattered me on my youthful beauty.
“Such transparent acting.”
Her expression was too awkward to disguise.
Her strained smile and forced tone betrayed how much she disliked this.
And not just with me—she wore the same pained smile even with those greedy for favors swarming her.
“A rough life.”
Satisfied enough with having shown my face, I withdrew, thinking I might relax with some refreshments.
Just then Anna whispered carefully to me.
“Madam.”
“Yes?”
“Over there…”
Following her gaze, I spotted someone familiar.
Standing in a shadowy corner where the lights barely reached, a woman had her head bowed.
Her hair fell like a curtain over her face, but I recognized her instantly.
“Chloe?”
It was Chloe, a member of the reading club.
“But why is she standing there like that?”
She looked as if she were trying to disappear into the wall.
Hardly fitting for the mistress of a count’s household.
Uneasy, I picked up a plate of sweets and approached her.
“Lady Chloe.”
“…Huh? Duchess?”
She didn’t notice me even when I stood beside her, so I had to call her name.
Startled, Chloe hurriedly composed herself, her eyes still hazy.
“No major injuries, at least.”
With girls like her, I couldn’t help but glance at their hands and necks, checking for bruises or signs of weight loss.
Thankfully, there was no change—only her complexion looked poor.
“It’s been a while. Since the outing, right?”
“Ah, I—I’m sorry. I couldn’t attend the reading club… house matters kept me busy.”
“That’s fine. Meeting you here is enough.”
“It’s not that other gatherings are more important than yours, Duchess! The schedule just overlapped by chance. Truly, it wasn’t on purpose, so—”
Though I hadn’t blamed her, she rushed to defend herself.
“I really wanted to attend the reading club. But my mother suddenly insisted—”
“Lady Chloe.”
“I didn’t mean to disrespect you. Honestly, it was so sudden, I—”
“Chloe.”
“…Yes.”
“It’s alright.”
I pressed the plate of pastries into her hands.
“Come back whenever you feel like it.”
“….”
“No one attends my reading club out of obligation. That includes you.”
The reading club had no clear purpose, nor any political benefit from regular attendance.
In fact, showing your face once at Helene’s tea parties brought more advantage.
So why cause stress over it?
As far as I was concerned, it was enough if people dropped by whenever they had time to relax.
“Here, you like strawberries. Try one.”
“But…”
“Go on. You haven’t eaten dinner, have you?”
“H–How did you know?”
“Just a look at your face.”
(A lie, of course, but correct nonetheless.)
When nerves are taut, nothing helps like something sweet.
Rather than interrogating why she was alone here, it was better to settle her first.
Her eyes glistened as she nodded and lifted her fork.
As Chloe took a bite of strawberry, I patted her gently, about to ask what was wrong—
“Hmm? And who might you be?”
A gratingly arrogant voice cut in.
I turned and saw a man with garishly dyed golden hair staring at me.
“Honey…”
Honey?
Ignoring Chloe’s timid call, the man smiled brightly at me.
“Ah, the Duchess of Leighton! I never imagined you’d be so young. A pleasure to meet you—I am Count Edwin Tillim.”
Though his greeting was cheerful, I immediately saw Chloe’s face drain of color as she stuffed a strawberry into her mouth.
Her nervous eyes, her uneasy expression, and the man’s unpleasant gaze sweeping over me…
“This bastard’s a scoundrel, isn’t he?”
