Chapter 19
The elegant melody from the imperial palace banquet hall drifted all the way to the garden. The rustling of leaves swaying in the summer breeze seemed to add to the excitement of the performance. The high moon shone more brightly than usual, as if celebrating the occasion.
*‘What on earth is he thinking?’*
Turning her head, the one who stood out even from outside the banquet hall was, without a doubt, Wynster. Unlike at the temple, he wasn’t wearing a mask. It looked as if the light from the chandeliers was shining on him alone.
Wasn’t Wynster the kind of man who hated being the center of attention more than anyone? Even in the original story, it was rare for him to show his face at imperial palace banquets and various festivals.
*‘Even now, he has that incredibly annoyed look in his eyes, but is he secretly enjoying the attention? What is this?’*
Adeline slowly shifted her steps, her eyes fixed on the banquet hall. No one inside could take their eyes off Wynster.
*”It would be more advantageous to take it off.”*
Was there a connection between what the Grand Duke had said about it being more advantageous to remove the mask at the victory celebration and the fact that he wasn’t wearing one today? Of course, whether to wear the mask or not was entirely up to Wynster.
*‘Whatever that man does is none of my business.’*
Adeline stared at Wynster for a long time, only managing to tear her gaze away when she finally heard Count Hamel calling her.
“Miss Adeline. We should have met sooner, but I’m a busy man, so it’s only now that I get to greet you properly.”
“I was busy too.”
“Capable men are supposed to be busy.”
“I’m capable too, that’s why I’m busy.”
“To think our first date is at an imperial palace banquet. I find this rather romantic, you know.”
A date? For goodness’ sake. Adeline snorted quietly at Count Hamel, who wasn’t listening to a word she said.
“Men are supposed to devote all their energy to outside affairs.”
“So are women.”
Adeline spat out a short, sullen reply. The Count pretended to listen to her answer while rambling on about things she hadn’t asked about, then smiled meaninglessly.
“I heard my precious daughters run a rather small, but popular shop.”
“It’s not that small; you must have heard wrong.”
The Bluesiel Atelier was in the best location in the capital. Though it was two stories, it also functioned as a coffee house and had a spacious yard, so it was neither small nor cramped.
“When you’re young, anyone can try their hand at such trivial things. Doing that kind of work for a while will be a good memory.”
“I have no intention of leaving it as just a memory.”
“Then I’ll buy all the goods for you so it can remain a good memory. It’s nothing much anyway.”
“Oh my. If you would do that, thank you… *customer*.”
Adeline replied with a formal smile.
“Even though the items are a bit crude, seeing that my precious daughters like them, they must be decent enough.”
*As if it costs that much.* He sounded exactly like that. Though Count Hamel spoke in a kind tone, his words and gaze held a subtle disregard.
Adeline straightened the frown on the bridge of her nose and resolutely stopped walking.
“Count Hamel, don’t you think we’ve been exchanging unnecessary words since earlier?”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t that what a date is? Exchanging even some unnecessary words? My daughters told me so. It seems Miss Adeline doesn’t know much because she hasn’t properly dated a man yet.”
“What I want to discuss with you, Count Hamel, is that my parents seem to be seriously mistaken about something.”
“Ah, yes. My future father-in-law said he would be coming to the capital soon.”
Father-in-law? Did he really have no conscience? To anyone looking, Count Hamel seemed older than the Marquis and Marchioness of Primrose.
Adeline felt like she was about to burst, holding back what she wanted to say.
“Miss Adeline, you seem to be quite shy, just as your future mother-in-law said.”
“My mother doesn’t know much about me.”
“I heard the bond between mother and daughter is very strong.”
“Hardly. You certainly know how to say things my mother would dislike.”
Count Hamel, who kept moving closer, was a burden in himself. But he was a regular customer responsible for her purse.
“Count Hamel.”
“Don’t be shy, speak up. I’m a man with that much patience.”
*Okay, just bear it a little longer, bear it, bear it. I can’t lose four big-spending regular customers at once.* Just as Adeline was calming her indignation, a thick hand tightly grabbed her and pulled her.
“Don’t be so stiff. Why don’t we dance? Don’t you know dance is essential when a man and woman fall in love?”
*Acting all manly.* Adeline pushed Count Hamel away, but was grabbed again. The Count was having fun on his own until Adeline, forced to match his steps, pretended to stumble and stomped hard on his foot.
“Count Hamel, being shy and being uncomfortable are different, you know.”
*Crunch!* As soon as the words ended, Adeline stomped on the Count’s foot once more.
“What could be uncomfortable between us?”
“Yes, of course there is.”
“Even though we’ve just met, we’re about to be married. Overlooking a cute bride’s little mistake is only natural for a man. Don’t worry about it too much.”
Count Hamel rubbed his foot, then soon straightened his back with a smile on his unfazed face.
“Count Hamel, it’s uncomfortable precisely because you talk about marriage and such when we’ve just met.”
“You must have received the letter from your parents, so that should be enough for an *internal sense of intimacy*.”
“Not at all. You and I are perfect strangers.”
“To be honest, since I’m in no hurry, I hoped to marry around next year, but my future father-in-law wants it right away this autumn.”
“Then you should marry that father who desires it so earnestly.”
“I didn’t know my bride would be so good at joking, Miss Adeline.”
“Can you see my eyes? This is the look I have when I’m serious.”
“Perfectly fitting for the bride I wanted. I have a great sense of humor like young people these days, so I find this situation amusing.”
Adeline felt a strange sensation, as if a bug had started crawling on the back of her hand.
“I wish your personality was a bit softer, like this smooth back of your hand.”
His rising smirk and the cheek rubbing against the back of her hand were beginning to test the limits of her patience. Adeline channeled mana into her hand to shake off the Count.
“My, you’re really strong.”
Adeline thought Count Hamel hadn’t noticed she used magic at all. A cloud passed over the moon, darkening the Count’s figure.
“The only thing I can say is that I will not marry.”
“Even that rude side is cute.”
“Let’s not waste each other’s time. You’re always welcome to come to our shop as a customer, though.”
“Businesswomen can be a bit rough, but at my age, even that looks cute.”
*Couldn’t I just shut him up right now?* The conversation hadn’t been getting through at all since earlier. Frustrated, Adeline clenched her fist tightly.
She was lost in her own thoughts when, at some point, the Count had gotten close and tightly grabbed Adeline’s hand again.
“Miss Adeline, let’s not be rude any further. Cute, cute—keep saying that and even that gets tiresome someday.”
Just as Adeline was about to use magic again… her strength began to slip away.
“…!”
A thin, circular bracelet-like chain was wrapped around Adeline’s arm. It was a restraint that suppressed mana.
“I already heard you know how to use magic. I’m a man who prepares thoroughly. A businesswoman like you must understand the importance of preparation, of course?”
“Excuse me, Count Hamel!”
“A truly excellent man is always thoroughly prepared for anything. I am an excellent man.”
“Isn’t it illegal to use such restraints in the imperial palace without permission?”
“If I claim I was attacked by magic first, it becomes self-defense.”
“When did I ever attack you? You wouldn’t even be able to provide evidence, would you?”
“When have people ever been interested in the truth? They’re more interested in who tells the story.”
It wasn’t a wrong statement. No matter how terrible Count Hamel’s reputation was, having lived in the capital since birth, he inevitably had overwhelmingly more close acquaintances.
“A woman is always better the more docile she is.”
“Let’s stop the unnecessary talk.”
“Since it’s already been decided that you’ll marry me, it would be good for you to become a bit more docile. That is, if you want to keep receiving such good treatment.”
Count Hamel wasn’t listening to Adeline at all. He kept holding her hand, rubbing the back of it.
“My future father-in-law will be coming to the capital soon, and we’ll sign the marriage pledge first.”
“Count Hamel.”
“How about moving into our house beforehand? Coincidentally, the mistress’s room is empty—”
*Thump!* At that moment, with a dull sound, Count Hamel fell flat on his back. She said she couldn’t use mana, but she never said she couldn’t use her fists. Count Hamel, hit by Adeline’s punch, lay face down, clutching his nose.
“Y-you dare lay a hand on me!”
“You laid hands first.”
“I heard you grew up without manners, and it’s true! You’re impudent!”
“If you knew I was impudent, you should have been careful.”
Count Hamel got up, raising his right hand high. He looked like a hyena about to pounce.
Then, a dark shadow fell near Adeline, and Count Hamel let out a squealing sound.
“Eeeek!”
