Chapter 17
“An appraiser you just happened to meet?”
“Why did he call you ‘Baroness’? And who is this Baron Wijess?”
At that, Estelle’s eyes went wide.
“Wait… don’t tell me—you’re actually married, sister?”
“What? Of course not!”
I jumped at her unexpected question.
“If I were, I wouldn’t be staying at the duke’s estate, would I?”
Estelle opened and closed her mouth, looking like she wanted to say something but couldn’t quite figure out what.
I took her by the hand and led her toward the carriage. With the help of the coachman, we both climbed inside one after the other.
Once the door was closed and the heavy curtains drawn, I could finally breathe again.
Only then did I start explaining myself.
“‘Baron Wijess’—I made him up.”
“You made him up?”
“Yep.”
I could’ve told her that it was actually Damian who came up with the story, but I didn’t want to interfere with his work. I took off my robe, folded it neatly, and placed it beside me. Estelle blinked.
“But why make something up at all… and why a baron?”
“I went to Madam Loren’s salon. Showing up there as a duke’s daughter is just… inconvenient.”
That much should be fine to say. She already knew almost everything, and even if she didn’t, Estelle wasn’t the type to gossip.
“A baron’s wife is just the right level of nobility to act freely,” I added.
Estelle’s eyes widened again.
“Then the appraiser we met earlier—did you meet him there too?”
“Yeah. He seemed interesting, so we exchanged a few words, that’s all.”
Estelle nodded thoughtfully.
“No wonder his eyes were so sharp. If he’s visiting a salon like that, he must be quite a skilled appraiser.”
Sharp eyes, huh? Mikhail’s eyes didn’t strike me as particularly sharp. Observant, yes—but not intimidatingly so. Still, I nodded.
Well, she was a Saint—maybe she had some instinct for people’s qualities.
“Apparently, he’s so skilled that even a countess commissions him personally.”
“How does appraisal even work, I wonder? I’m not very observant, so I always find people like that amazing.”
“That’s true. You really aren’t observant. You didn’t even notice when Theo shaved off half his eyebrow as a prank.”
“Hey! Why bring that up now?”
Estelle puffed up her cheeks, and I couldn’t help but laugh as I pressed a finger to one of them.
“You know you look exactly like a pouting goldfish, right?”
“You’re so mean! So rude! Honestly, sister, I really worry about your future sometimes.”
Estelle grumbled.
“That appraiser seemed way too interested in you. You should find someone to play the role of your baron soon.”
“What?”
“You’re a noblewoman. Even if you pretend to be married, men like that might still try to flirt with you.”
Her eyes lit up suddenly as if struck by an idea.
“What if you asked His Highness the Crown Prince to play the part? Then everyone would know you already have someone.”
I pressed a weary hand to my forehead.
So that was it. Estelle wasn’t blessed with holy insight—she was just still obsessed with Damian’s first-love story and now suspicious of poor Mikhail because of it.
The one whose true feelings are impossible to read isn’t Mikhail, who doesn’t even appear in the original novel—it’s Damian himself.
“And who’s worrying about whom here?”
“You, obviously.”
“Yes, yes. I’m so lucky to have a little sister who worries about me,” I said dryly.
While we chatted and laughed, the carriage rolled through the gates and stopped in front of the mansion.
Theo, standing near the guards, spotted us and walked over.
“Estelle!”
He called out with heartfelt emotion. Estelle smiled brightly.
“It’s been a while, Theo.”
“Not that long.”
“A week and three days,” I added.
Theo sighed. “You always say that, even though you missed her too.”
“Well, teasing you is the only fun I get these days.”
“You make it sound like there’ll come a day when you can’t tease me anymore,” Estelle murmured.
I gave an awkward smile and handed my robe to a nearby maid.
“Please prepare tea and the tea set in the parlor,” I said, remembering to have desserts prepared as well.
Estelle raised her hand timidly.
“Um, may I help choose the tea?”
“Why?”
“There’s a blend the shopkeeper recommended—I want you to try it. And… I’d like to learn how to brew tea properly.”
Her fingers fidgeted nervously. I nodded.
“Of course. Go ahead.”
Estelle followed the maid toward the kitchen.
As I headed for the parlor, Theo asked,
“So, what’s this about? You kept saying it’d be dangerous if Estelle came here.”
“Didn’t you say you were dying to see her?”
“Well, yeah—but that’s not why you brought her, is it?”
I nodded.
“Once she’s married, I won’t get to see her much. I wanted to give her a dress as a gift, personally.”
The butler opened the parlor door. Sunlight streamed through tall glass windows, filling the room with warm air and the scent of flowers.
“Besides, the Duke of Lethe is hosting a charity ball soon. Perfect timing, don’t you think?”
Theo looked doubtful.
“Sis… are you sure she actually wants this marriage?”
“Of course.”
I sank back into the soft cushions, feeling the tension drain from my shoulders.
‘Now then… what should I do next?’
First of all, I had to get Theo out of the way soon. I glanced at the clock.
“You’re not training today?”
“I have to go…” he groaned.
I pounced on it immediately.
“When?”
“Why do I get the feeling you’re trying to kick me out?”
“I’m just asking—when?”
“I’ve got time for tea at least.”
Good enough. I waved him off, satisfied to know when he’d be gone.
Before long, Estelle returned with a maid pushing a tea trolley.
The sweet desserts and delicate lavender tea went together perfectly—just as the shopkeeper had promised.
Listening to Estelle talk about her wedding preparations made the time pass quickly.
“Sir Theo, it’s time for your training,” one of the knights announced at the door.
Theo stood reluctantly, his face twisted in regret.
“I’ll get going…”
“If you hate it that much, why not skip just this once?” I teased.
He shook his head. “If I skip even a day, I’ll get rusty.”
Then why complain so much? I squinted at him suspiciously. Estelle quickly stood as well.
“I’ll go with you.”
Theo’s face flushed instantly.
“There’s really nothing to see…”
“Theo’s right. Just see him off and come to my room. You can finish your story there.”
Theo shot me a look, but I ignored it completely.
“Alright,” Estelle said cheerfully.
We left the parlor together, then parted ways once I reached my room. I called in the maids to tidy up the dressing room and lay out the dress I’d chosen as a gift.
That should do. I gave the room a final glance before dismissing the maids.
“When Father returns, let me know right away. And everyone, please stay nearby this evening.”
They bowed and left, and silence settled once again.
I sat at my desk, tapping the surface with a fingertip before pulling out my diary.
“Estelle’s scar…”
If the scar wasn’t real, I could ignore it. But if it was—then I needed to investigate more about that diary.
Mikhail’s naive face came to mind again. Charlotte, being one of Damian’s subordinates, could ask him directly.
‘If Charlotte was the one who introduced him to Damian, then he’s definitely competent.’
And since neither the novel nor the diary ever mentioned him, that worked in my favor. A commoner appraiser like him wouldn’t play a big role in the story anyway.
While my thoughts ran on, there was a knock at the door. I rose to open it.
Estelle entered, a little out of breath as if she’d run. Her eyes sparkled, and her cheeks were flushed.
“I didn’t keep you waiting too long, did I?”
“No, you’re fine. You didn’t run into any trouble, right?”
“None. Thanks to you checking in so often, I’ve nearly finished unpacking.”
She smiled warmly.
The house Estelle was staying in now was a small home in the residential district—one Theo and I had found for her after she came of age and left the orphanage.
“What’s going to happen to that house now?”
“I’m not sure. I heard they might tear it down and build a park there.”
“Really? That’s a shame.”
Though honestly, a park there would be lovely. The land had always seemed too good for a mere residence.
Estelle went on chatting about trivial things, and time slipped by easily.
Then, outside the door, I heard hurried footsteps and a knock.
“My lady, the master is on his way back.”
It was one of the maids who had gone out earlier. I made a show of being startled.
“Already? Is it that late?”
I frowned slightly, pretending to be troubled. Estelle grew anxious at once.
“What’s wrong?”
