CHAPTER 58……….
Even though it was a hastily prepared party, since it was hosted by the Sergio family, not a single thing was lacking.
As no one ever knew what kind of event might come up throughout the year, everything needed for a banquet was always kept at hand.
Lanterns shaped like the Sergio family’s emblem—a crimson full moon—covered the night sky.
Delicacies from the Empire and beyond, gathered from four continents and five seas, were laid out on the tables, and wine and liquor overflowed from every fountain.
There were ice sculptures, rare treasures one might see only once in a lifetime, and even instruments said to have been used by the ancient gods.
It was the pinnacle of splendor that money could buy.
Even though the banquet was supposedly arranged in time for the Count’s return and his daughter’s engagement, it rivaled the imperial feasts themselves.
And among all of these, the most dazzling thing of all was, of course, the star of this evening’s celebration.
“Father, what is all this?”
“…Adelle.”
In the center of the hall, while conducting a final inspection, Count Sergio turned to look at his daughter.
Her sky-blue gown, with a V-line neckline that revealed the slightest hint of her chest and long fabric flowing from her shoulders, evoked the image of an ancient goddess.
Although it was the Count himself who had chosen the dress, now that Adelle was actually wearing it, his satisfaction was unmistakable.
“Hmph, I didn’t even buy it with this in mind, and yet…”
He lifted his brows, congratulating himself, but Adelle had no energy to scold him for it.
With a figure as elegant as a flower in bloom, her attention was completely taken by the massive ice sculpture behind her father.
“…Father, what on earth is that supposed to be?”
“Ah, that?”
Count Sergio turned. The sculpture, easily three times the size of an adult man, gleamed white with a frosty mist.
Even Adelle immediately recognized the familiar face.
“That’s a statue of the god Enes!”
“My daughter is about to be wed into the temple household. Of course I have to erect something like this. Saves me the trouble of explaining in detail who your husband-to-be is.”
“…Sigh. Wouldn’t it have been better to carve a statue of the Captain instead? No, wait—how is this even possible? In a single day?”
That solemn expression, that divine aura…
Even with magic, it would take days to sculpt something so lifelike.
Adelle could only blink in disbelief, but the Count stroked his chin beside her with pride.
“A day? Our family employs more jewelers and sculptors than you can count.”
“This is wasteful.”
“…Since when have you cared about that?”
The Count gave her a suspicious glance.
It was amusing to see the daughter who once spent money as freely as himself now crossing herself before the statue like a sinner.
“…Merciful Sun God, please forgive my father. If You look carefully with Your wisdom, I’m sure he’s done some good as well.”
“What on earth did you get up to while I was gone?”
Hmph!
He snorted openly just as Adelle finished her prayer, then tilted his head toward the parade of carriages entering the estate.
“Half of them have children of marrying age. They’ll copy what they see here today. This isn’t waste, it’s the start of a trend.”
“…Father.”
Adelle swallowed her complicated feelings and nodded.
Indeed, he had struck precisely at the hearts of parents who wished to spare no expense for their children.
The only troubling thing was that her father, so smug and confident, kept sneaking glances at her stomach.
“I’m sorry, but… it’s not what you think.”
“Hm? What isn’t?”
“There’s nothing like that going on.”
“…Why not?”
The Count frowned, as if baffled. If she truly took after him in every way, he wouldn’t even doubt it—she would have handled things flawlessly.
But when the guests began entering the grand hall, both father and daughter instantly changed their expressions as though by agreement.
“Why not, you ask? Not everyone is as vigorous as you, Father… Oh, Lady Trea! It’s been far too long!”
“Why, if it isn’t the bride-to-be! Count, my heartfelt congratulations.”
“It is an honor that you would grace such a modest gathering.”
“We had intended to keep it a quiet family celebration, but how could we not invite a dear friend of the family such as yourself?”
“Oh, Lady Adelle. With a heart as kind as yours…”
Moved by their polished greetings, the Viscountess kissed Adelle on the cheek.
Being on such close terms with the Sergio family, the most powerful house in the South, was sweeter than honey poured directly into the ear.
Once the Viscountess entered the hall, Adelle—still smiling—glared at her father. His gaze had, as expected, wandered once again to her stomach.
“…I told you. That’s not it. Please stop staring.”
“Oh, come now. I shouldn’t say this, but what’s the rush?”
“Father.”
“Phew. Then things may get complicated.”
The Count tugged uncomfortably at his tie.
Adelle, who had been carefully managing her expression, whispered to him:
“Is there any way things could get more complicated than this?”
“If it were only you, I could manage somehow. But once they find out, they won’t sit still. From what I know, that family is particularly… obsessive in such matters.”
“What do you mean, that family—ah, Brother Mertel!”
So he’s come, the hyena.
No matter how troubling her father’s cryptic words were, the relatives arriving now were even more dangerous.
Every member of the extended family had an unhealthy interest in the inheritance and family hierarchy. Adelle’s engagement set their minds racing with calculations of gain and loss.
“…How astonishing, that you should suddenly be engaged.”
“All thanks to you, Brother.”
Adelle smiled brightly, sincerely grateful.
After all, if Mertel hadn’t been running his mouth about succession, she never would have left for San Fidelio.
Of course, his words had been meant to taunt her, but this was simply karma.
At the very least, perhaps now he had learned not to provoke her so carelessly.
“And where is this fiancé of yours hidden away? For such a grand occasion, it’s odd that only you two stand here.”
“Well, the wedding hasn’t taken place yet, and this is tradition in our family. As for my fiancé—you’ll understand when you meet him yourself.”
“And what exactly does he do…?”
“I’ve been here two days now. Surely you’ve run into my gardener at least ten times—your favorite gardener, no less. Unless, of course, he took your money without doing his job?”
Impossible. He was talkative enough.
“Er… what do you mean by that…?”
“Oh dear. Better replace him, Brother. The world is vast, and spies are many.”
With a sparkle in her eye as though ready to recommend someone new, Adelle left Mertel stammering and coughing awkwardly before slinking away.
The Count burst into laughter, satisfied, but Adelle only felt weary.
Trading barbs, pretending humility while crushing rivals—she was used to it, yet today it felt heavier than ever.
Manual labor at San Fidelio had been easier on the soul.
Seeing the sweat beading on her forehead, the Count offered his handkerchief.
“Don’t overexert yourself. Go rest inside, I’ll handle this.”
“No, I’ve done this more than a few times.”
“…But what if you didn’t have to live like this?”
“…What?”
What nonsense. Adelle dabbed her sweat with his handkerchief.
If anything, his words brought irritation rather than gratitude.
“…I’m already annoyed enough because of Mertel. Why are you saying things like that too, Father?”
“Well… for example, you could grasp even greater power.”
“I thought you always said money is power.”
He gave a sheepish laugh—especially since the very first letters he had taught little Adelle were his own signature on a checkbook.
“…Perhaps someday something even more important will come along…”
“That won’t happen. You know I’ve lived my whole life for this.”
“…And if someone else tried to take your place…?”
“Then they’d better hope I never find out. There are plenty of sharp objects lying around here.”
She lifted her chin toward the sculptures.
Her words carried a chill sharper than the ice itself.
“This place is my everything. Nothing else matters.”
Her gaze swept the Count’s mansion before lingering, almost unwillingly, on the annex.
Though jewels sparkled everywhere, her eyes refused to leave the place where Killian was staying.
Just as she was lost in thought, her head slowly turned.
“…What is she doing here?”
Noella. After what happened with Zerox, Adelle thought she’d sulk in her room, yet here she was, bold as ever.
Wearing a pink dress, looking shyly at Adelle—what choice did she have but to smile back even brighter?
“…Why waste your energy on her too? It can’t be good for the child’s—no, never mind, just let it go.”
“Let it go?”
Adelle let out a hollow laugh.
If he knew what Noella was capable of, her father wouldn’t be so calm. Or perhaps his instincts already suspected.
“You shouldn’t be saying things like that, Father.”
“What did I say?”
Feigning ignorance, he dropped the matter.
Adelle, for her part, still had enough filial piety not to insult her father’s daughter to his face.
The Count, who wasn’t quite so sentimental, found something else to criticize.
“By the way, where’s that brat Cayden? Off sneaking around again?”
“…Father.”
“That insolent wretch! How dare he not show up for his own sister’s engagement!”
That’s exactly why he shouldn’t be here.
Adelle turned away, feigning ignorance. At least with Cayden absent, she could stand here in peace.
Who knew what chaos he might cause? The first thing she had done upon arriving was assign him an impossible task—rebuilding a collapsed bridge.
Ridiculous as it was, Cayden would obey without question.
And yet, despite any orders, he was unpredictable.
If her father lived as he pleased thanks to his wealth, then Cayden lived as he pleased thanks to his madness and obsession.
“…Not a single normal one in this family.”
Adelle swallowed a bitter laugh. Thinking of someone with no family at all, her chest tightened.
“…Father, about Sir Killian.”
“Come, let’s go in. We’ll be joining them shortly—wait, why bring up the Captain all of a sudden?”
The Count, mid-greeting with a guest, turned back. His eldest daughter’s tone was more serious than ever.
“It just seems like the hall is filled only with our guests. The Captain is all alone.”
“…Does he weigh on your mind?”
His smile deepened far more than it ever did with the other guests.
“So now, after saying the company is your whole life…”
“Father.”
“All right, all right. I’ll say no more. But it seems you worry your fiancé might feel overshadowed.”
As he turned his head toward the banquet hall, light caught the white bearskin cap he wore.
It suited perfectly his characteristic expression—confident, arrogant, unshakable.
“Now tell me, what part of that face looks overshadowed?”
“….”
There was no need to look.
He didn’t inspire cheers; he silenced them.
Even to father and daughter who had seen all the world’s splendors, his presence was unparalleled.
As silence spread across the hall, the Count proudly raised his arm to take Adelle’s hand.
“Now that is a statue even I could never replicate.”
