CHAPTER 4
“Then shall we talk about the funeral?”
Was that the real purpose behind this invitation?
Julian explained that the memorial would be held in the capital in two days. It would be officiated by a cardinal—one of the highest-ranking clergymen a noble could summon.
“The burial will take place afterward, in the territory. The family will attend, and that’s where the will is going to be read.”
The Duchess had already drafted her will with the Grand Steward before her passing. The only one who knew its full contents was the successor. Julian was the only person who knew what the Duchess had said to Isolette.
“People will probably be looking at me the way you are right now throughout the entire ceremony.”
Isolette flushed, as though he had read her mind. Julian let out a quiet laugh.
“Did I make you uncomfortable?”
“No… It’s not that, I just…”
“You don’t have to apologize. Really.”
“Why?”
It was an answer Isolette had never even considered. In a society where concealing one’s emotions was a form of etiquette, she hadn’t expected Julian to appreciate her lack of restraint.
“Before the will is made public, I’ll see a lot of faces. But I’m sure of one thing—yours will be the most genuine.”
Julian didn’t believe that anyone would come purely to mourn the Duchess’s death.
The people attending would all be there to evaluate. They wanted to know what the will said, whether the new Duke would be useful to them.
And so, Isolette Harper—
The one the Duchess cherished above all would, ironically, be the most honest presence at the funeral. With the heir to the dukedom in front of her, all she could think about was what the will said about herself.
“…Leila will be arriving today.”
Because she was Julian’s younger sister, Isolette remembered her well. Younger than Isolette, Leila was the very image of a capital noble lady. Even after leaving the estate, she’d crossed paths with Isolette occasionally, so her memory of her was relatively recent.
“Do you know anything about Leila’s fiancé?”
“I’ve never met him, but I know of him.”
Leila’s engagement had been the last official event the Duchess attended before her health declined. Even then, people had praised her for making it at all despite her condition.
Of course, more attention had gone to the fact that even as his younger sister was engaged, Julian remained unattached. The young, handsome Duke was always a hot topic.
“Linton’s a good person.”
As far as Isolette could recall, Julian and Leila had a good relationship. If that hadn’t been the case, Leila’s marriage partner might have been an older noble from a foreign country.
Isolette imagined seeing Leila again. She wanted to ask—Leila seemed to be enjoying her engagement, but was she truly satisfied? A “good” person and a “beloved” one were completely different things.
“Forgive the interruption, but…”
A butler approached Julian and whispered something into his ear—so quietly that even Isolette, seated right across from him, couldn’t hear. It was more of a gesture than actual speech.
Julian slowly blinked, then nodded. He turned to Isolette with an apologetic expression.
“A priest came from the temple, saying the cardinal has something to discuss about the memorial. I’ll have to speak with him.”
It was a gentle way of excusing her. Nothing to take offense at. As Isolette stood to leave, Julian added one more thing.
“Would you greet Leila with the butler?”
“Can I do that?”
Isolette asked, surprised. She wasn’t a member of the household—technically, just a guest—so welcoming a family member on her own felt inappropriate. That sort of thing was usually done by…
“She’ll be glad to see you.”
Julian cut off her hesitation. Who could refuse him when he spoke like that?
“Do you really think it’s something I should do?”
As they walked down the hall, Isolette asked again. It was permitted within Julian’s authority as the heir, but permission didn’t always equate to certainty.
“I’m not the one to judge,” the butler replied in his deep, calm voice.
He was someone who had served in the household since Isolette’s childhood. His family had served the dukes for generations. He’d even helped with Isolette’s early education.
“I believe the young lady will be pleased.”
It was only natural to feel a little uncertain. Still, Leila and Isolette had some history together, which might be why Julian had asked her. Thinking of it that way helped ease some of Isolette’s discomfort.
“Were you there, back then?” she asked.
It was a question she couldn’t ask Julian. But the butler seemed to understand what she meant—she was referring to the Duchess’s final moments.
“I stayed with her until the very end.”
He didn’t seem inclined to say anything more. He was always kind but firm, speaking only when necessary. Pressing further would come across as intrusive.
“I see…”
Isolette didn’t want to be greedy with someone who had been so sincere to her as a child. No matter how much the Duchess had cherished her, how many people from the family would’ve treated her with that level of respect?
“Isolette!”
As the two of them arrived at the mansion’s entrance, a bright voice called out. Leila stood there with a cheerful expression, having just handed her yellow hat to a maid.
She had always been dazzling.
Isolette had always thought Leila resembled a fully bloomed rose. There was an aura that only came from someone raised with an abundance of love.
“Hello.”
“It’s been a while. The last time we met was the after-party last autumn, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. You came with close friends.”
After-parties following performances were typically held after the premiere and final show—performances where many nobles would attend. The actors were also expected to join.
Isolette had attended nearly all of them and often saw Leila there. Leila loved many things, and parties were one of them.
“Where’s my brother?”
“He’s speaking with a priest from the temple.”
“Hopefully we can have dinner together, then.”
Leila handed her small luggage to the waiting maids. Her bags were fewer than expected. With a note of regret in her voice, she mentioned that her fiancé would only be arriving on the day of the funeral. He was still tied up with important matters.
“I’ll introduce you next time. His name is Linton—Linton Skylar. He works at the Mage Tower.”
From her tone, Leila seemed content with the engagement.
Saying her room would be too crowded with people organizing it, Leila suggested they go somewhere else. She led the way.
The hem of her dress flowed behind her with every step.
“This play was postponed, wasn’t it?”
“You knew?”
“I know every show you’re in. Our family even has reserved seats.”
As she walked in the opposite direction of her room, Leila looked back and asked, “Shall we go to the garden?”
It wasn’t really a question you could say no to.
“Of course.”
In the center of the garden, a resting area had been set up.
As lilac petals danced in the breeze, Leila asked,
“Do you still like lilacs?”
Isolette nodded. She still did.
“I’m glad. It makes it all worth it.”
“Sorry?”
“Ah, nothing. Just talking to myself.”
Smiling softly, Leila took a seat on the bench in the garden. In the distance, maids rushed over with tea. In no time, a tea table was set.
“When did you arrive at the estate?”
“Early yesterday morning.”
“You must’ve come in a hurry.”
Isolette understood why she asked. She was still wearing Leila’s spare clothes because the tailored outfit hadn’t yet arrived from the atelier.
Leila had so many clothes that she likely didn’t mind, but it still made Isolette feel a bit ashamed. She felt like she was still relying on these people too much.
Seeing Isolette hesitate, Leila smiled. It was a bright, radiant smile—just like a red rose in bloom.
“It’s okay. Blame my brother for bringing you here so suddenly.”
She seemed to know exactly what had happened just by looking at Isolette’s clothes.
“It’s been a while since you saw him, right?”
“Yes.”
“What did you think?”
Isolette wasn’t sure what she meant by that. Julian had always been a mystery to her.
Someone who felt like the farthest person in the world, yet for some reason, when she looked back, he was always there.
“In my opinion… he hasn’t changed at all.”
Leila brushed her long hair back, then leaned in close, as if sharing a secret.
Her eyes met Isolette’s with such clarity that Isolette couldn’t look away.
“Really. Not one bit.”
Leila truly was like a rose.
As if to shift the conversation, she brought up the atelier.
“Did you meet Helen?”
“Yes. She said she’d probably come by tomorrow.”
“Every atelier must be busy today. How was she? She’s always said she wanted to meet you.”
“She was very enthusiastic… I’m not sure what part of me she finds so fascinating.”
It wasn’t that Isolette thought she was a bad actress. But sometimes, when people expressed sincere support, she couldn’t help but wonder—what part of me, exactly, reached you?
“Everyone has their reasons for being moved,” Leila said with a mysterious smile.
Julian had smiled the same way. The siblings really did resemble each other when they smiled. You felt like you could see everything in them, and yet you could see nothing at all.
“Helen’s an excellent designer. You should look forward to it. I’m curious what she’ll bring you. You’re staying in your old room, right? I’ll stop by tomorrow. I haven’t been in there since you left, so I’m a bit curious too.”
“Not even once?”
“Nope. There wasn’t any dust, was there?”
“Of course not.”
It had clearly been maintained, cleaned regularly—Isolette was sure of it.
Leila thought for a moment, then asked,
“I still don’t understand why you had to leave.”
Her voice was serious.
She seemed to remember that time vividly. She spoke to Isolette with a kind of gentle resentment—a frustration with nowhere to go.
“Why did Mother send you away?”
