Chapter – 12
“It’s strange… this much.”
It was almost unbelievable how often I kept running into the main characters. It felt overwhelming.
How on earth had I avoided them until now? I wished I could continue dodging Ecllet until the ending.
At this rate, I might even run into Ecllet, hiding from Baron Adrian.
No. What if I thought that and then actually ran into her? Meeting Ecllet would definitely be the worst-case scenario.
On top of that, there were still unresolved matters. Like the invitation I hadn’t yet replied to from the administrative palace—otherwise known as the Crown Prince’s residence.
“To get the library built safely… I need to deal with this first…”
Maybe it would have been better to stay in society, watch the main characters’ stage unfold, and openly manage the foundation.
No. Absolutely not. I knew my own personality better than anyone. If I saw the countless incidents happening right before my eyes, I wouldn’t be able to stand by quietly. I’d inevitably intervene and end up being Victim #27.
In the original story, that’s about all a minor character, whose name doesn’t even appear, is good for.
I took a deep breath and exhaled. There’s no point in regretting the past. There’s barely enough time to even think about the future.
Now that I had inevitably gotten involved at least once, I had to carefully consider how to manage the situation and try to salvage whatever I could from the spilled water—
“Milady.”
“Hm?”
“The young mistress requests your presence urgently.”
“My brother?”
“Yes. He said Count Decard sent a letter that he intends to visit tomorrow—”
No time even to think. I sprang from my seat and headed toward Gerard.
“Brother.”
As soon as I entered Gerard’s study, he handed me a letter.
[To Gerard Liotium Fior, Count]
The handwriting was elegant and neat. At the bottom was the signature of Dipin Decard. For a noble letter, it was relatively brief.
Even from this short note—and the fact that the visit date was given with no time to prepare—I could sense urgency.
“…I wonder what the Count’s motive is for visiting so suddenly.”
“Who knows. Count Decard is often busy and sometimes appears without warning at the club—or leaves abruptly.”
“Dragged around by the Crown Prince?”
“…Exactly.”
I tapped the letter lightly, then handed it back to Gerard.
“I told Rodel about the painting to show the Count. Tomorrow he’ll bring it to you.”
“That’s the painting you bought at that shabby gallery? Unknown artist.”
“Yes. Since expert advice is needed, having Decard’s endorsement will increase the painting’s value. Finding the artist is urgent, but it will definitely be displayed in the library.”
“Very well.”
“Also, I’ll be going down to greet him myself tomorrow, so you need to introduce me properly. Discreetly, without arousing suspicion.”
“What?”
I, known as the “ill Miss Liotium,” had never shown my face even once when a guest visited the mansion. Anyone, in fact.
So everyone assumed I was staying at the Liotium estate.
“Is that really necessary, Rose? I’m against it.”
“The Crown Prince already knows.”
“….”
“I even told him I’m well enough to walk around the palace myself.”
Count Decard probably didn’t come solely to appraise a painting. He’d been dragged around by the Crown Prince, after all. There must be another purpose behind this visit. He might have been suspicious of me that day—or, worst-case scenario, discovered something between the Earth Foundation and Liotium.
“Hiding will just look suspicious.”
“…Alright….”
“I’m sorry, Brother.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. The one who’s wrong is the one suspecting a proper charity foundation.”
He smiled and nodded. I couldn’t bring myself to say, well, there is kind of a reason for suspicion…
Normally, even if a guest visited the mansion, I wouldn’t need to show my face. Everyone thought I was gravely ill, so it wasn’t considered rude to avoid guests.
But today was different. I had already shown the Crown Prince that I was fine, and Count Decard would now know my condition.
If I relied on a hasty excuse, it might make him suspicious. Gerard would handle confirming what the Crown Prince ordered, but at the very least, I needed to greet him to prevent gossip.
“Milady, how about this yellow dress?”
“I’d prefer something more subdued. I can’t stand out more than my brother.”
“Then ivory it is…”
I nodded at Amy, who had picked a sufficiently plain dress.
I had bought this dress to play the role of “Marie,” a humble sponsor of the foundation, so it wasn’t suitable for a Countess—but it was perfect for a brief, discreet greeting.
“Like last time at the palace, right, Milady? Keep it as simple as possible?”
“Yes. I’ll just greet him briefly, so no need to fuss.”
Once Amy helped tie the ribbon at the back,
“Rose!”
Gerard’s unusually urgent voice came from the reception room.
“Brother?”
“May I come in? It’s urgent.”
“I’ll go out.”
I opened the door, and Gerard strode toward me from the reception room.
“Something’s come up.”
“Something?”
“The palace just sent a servant. I’m to go immediately under the pretense of mediating with Baron Gagnier.”
“Again?”
The Emperor often summoned Liotium to the palace. Sometimes he pretended to favor me, other times he’d pick trivial fights. It was all childish pressure to side with the throne.
“Baron Gagnier… that’s about the mine he handed over for the debt. That’s hardly something to mediate… No, that probably doesn’t matter.”
“Since my father is at the estate, I need to go immediately, Rose.”
The timing couldn’t be worse. Count Decard was supposed to arrive soon.
“…Did you send someone to Decard?”
“Yes. But if the Count left first, our paths might have crossed. The problem is if he arrives without knowing anything. Having the butler explain he came in vain would be awkward either way… I think you’ll need to handle it yourself.”
It wasn’t difficult… but should I really turn Decard away? I hadn’t asked Gerard because I had no personal connection with him. This was a convenient chance to see if the Count suspected the Crown Prince’s right-hand—and yet…
“…No, I’ll do it, Brother.”
“You?”
I saw Gerard hesitate. This was an opportunity—and I wasn’t letting it slip.
“I’ll show the painting to Count Decard myself.”
After sending Gerard off to the palace, worried he wouldn’t take the first step, the first thing I did was undo the ribbon on the new dress.
“Amy.”
“Yes, Milady?”
“I need to change dresses again.”
“What should I prepare?”
“Lilac. And have my hair pinned up as well.”
“Understood, Milady.”
The debutante ball had already proved I had the rank to represent my family. But I’d never hosted even a small tea party under my own name. Of course, I’d never greeted a guest personally. Experience was limited, but ability was not.
“I can’t remember the last time I did makeup like this.”
“Since the debutante ball, right?”
This was a visit from Count Decard, holding the same rank as my father. I had no personal connection with him, and having the person who requested the visit absent might seem rude.
So I had to represent Liotium properly. That’s why I chose lilac. The color of Liotium. Like the lilac roses and rosemary flowers in the estate garden.
“Milady, Count Decard’s carriage has arrived.”
“Take him to the reception room.”
“Yes, Milady.”
As soon as I pinned a pearl decoration to my pinned-up black hair, I stood.
Through this visit, I needed to confirm whether the Crown Prince had believed me entirely, and whether the Count’s sudden visit had anything to do with the foundation.
“Amy, Rodel.”
“Yes, Milady.”
“Make sure they don’t rush. Bring the refreshments and the painting slowly.”
“Understood, Milady.”
“Milady, the butler has brought the guest.”
I prepared myself, held the dress’s hem, and slightly bowed as I stood.
“Count Decard.”
“…Good day, Miss Liotium.”
The voice was unexpectedly familiar. I immediately lifted my head, breaking etiquette.
Impossible.
“It’s an honor that you greet me personally, Milady.”
“….”
“Is Count Fior absent?”
“…Yes. He had to leave for the palace suddenly.”
“I see… Then could you show me the painting yourself, Milady? I came in such a hurry because I was curious about the work.”
A lie.
I could barely hold my breath and smile. I didn’t even know the Count’s appearance, but his hair seemed brown.
Beneath that brown hair, his emerald eyes shone—a rare sight.
It was the Crown Prince. Prince Edgar, disguised as Count Decard, had entered Liotium’s mansion.
