### Episode 5
The next day, Charlotte led the Augusta family to visit the Count of Oslo’s mansion. They went to discuss compensation with the Count, who was furious because Charlotte had accidentally broken an expensive statue brought from Greece. The Augusta couple decided to bring all their beautiful daughters—except Jane, who was staying with relatives—hoping that the Count’s anger might soften when he saw them.
“Sorry, but you’ll have to wait in another room.”
The old maid of the mansion spoke with an apologetic face. More than an hour had passed since the Augustas had entered, yet the Count, who had made the appointment, did not appear. Instead, Count Oslo had childish orders for them to be moved again and again to different drawing rooms in the large mansion, showing clearly that he was angry.
For the third time, as they moved from the east end of the mansion to the west, Helena, the second daughter, complained.
“Why did you insist on making an appointment today? You’ve only made the Count angrier.”
The fourth daughter, Bianca, spoke with a nervous face.
“But we are guests here. Didn’t you see? Instead of a servant in uniform, they sent only a maid to guide us. The Count is clearly very angry.”
Then Katie, the youngest, whispered instead of Charlotte, who was unusually silent.
“But still, isn’t this kind of petty revenge beneath a Count?”
Katie, the youngest sister with dark blonde hair, was usually the one who took Charlotte’s side the most at home. As her sisters argued, Lydia turned back with a serious expression.
“Shh, watch your words. Many ears are listening.”
Meanwhile, Charlotte—who would normally chatter the most—looked pale as a sheet.
‘What have I done? To come here to Count Oslo’s mansion, trusting only the words of a ghost, who might not even be real…?’
The night before, Charlotte had met Leopold again. He had taught her a way to deal with the Count. Her family could never afford the enormous compensation, and because it was all caused by her own selfishness to draw gentlemen’s attention, she would do anything not to confess the truth. So, just as Leopold suggested, she had moved up the meeting to today and prepared her speech for the Count.
At that moment, a servant in uniform announced loudly.
“Mr. George Augusta, Mrs. Augusta, and the young ladies of the Augusta family.”
The two servants pushed open the heavy doors, revealing Count Oslo’s grand study. But instead of just the Count and his wife, there were also five or six unfamiliar gentlemen inside.
Surprised like the Augustas, Charlotte froze, until the Count of Oslo spoke.
“Oh, you’ve kept me waiting. Today I have an important meeting with the royal ambassador.”
The Count’s thick gray mustache twitched.
“So, I’d like to ask you to return next week… Is that acceptable?”
The Count glanced around nervously. His face clearly said: *What can you do in front of such high-ranking royal guests?*
“Ah… y-yes, of course…”
Her father, George Augusta, lowered his head, sweat running down his face. At that moment, Charlotte suddenly stepped forward and bent her knees in a lady’s bow.
“Count Oslo, please give me a moment to explain, so that a poor young lady will not have to spend more sleepless nights in sorrow.”
Charlotte spoke with a trembling voice, then slowly raised her head. Behind the Count and the gentlemen, a giant oil painting of a century-old British naval battle filled one wall of the magnificent study.
Just as Lydia gasped, the Count spoke, glancing at the others.
“Ha, I know you’re sorry, but this is not the right time to accept an apology—”
“Unfortunately, the reason I cannot sleep is not because I feel sorry toward you, Count.”
Charlotte’s voice grew a little stronger.
“It is because I regret not smashing those statues into even smaller pieces.”
Everyone in the study stared at her in shock. An elderly gentleman beside the Count spoke.
“Duke of Oslo, isn’t this about the marble statue you bought from Greece a few days ago, which was broken? There may be some misunderstanding. Let’s hear what Miss Augusta has to say.”
The old gentleman wore a bright red deerskin vest, even finer than the Count’s. He was clearly the royal figure Leopold had mentioned.
The Count nodded unwillingly, and the servants shut the doors. Charlotte took a deep breath and continued.
“Last night, when I entered the Duke’s gallery, I saw that the rumors were true. The statues were so beautiful that I forgot my purpose of meeting ladies and gentlemen, and I stared at the statues all evening.”
Helena, standing behind Charlotte, frowned. *Forgot your purpose? Weren’t you practicing shy smiles behind your fan for the gentlemen?*
“But as I looked more closely, I realized I couldn’t forgive myself for giving my heart to them. Since my sister Helena, a talented pianist, had just played the ‘Ode to the Victors’ for the Duke, I felt even more strongly that those statues should not remain in the Count’s residence.”
Charlotte, while flattering Helena, gently shook her head. The Duke of Oslo twirled the quill in his hand.
“And what exactly is wrong with the statues?”
“Because on the pedestals of those statues…”
Everyone leaned forward.
“There was a small engraving of Brigadier General de Ruyter’s signature.”
The Count dropped his quill to the floor. The young gentlemen and even the royal elder were shocked.
“Is… is that true, Miss Augusta?”
The Count’s voice shook.
“Unfortunately, yes. How could I be mistaken? Commodore de Ruyter was the enemy commander who led the ‘Medway Raid,’ the day my great-grandfather died. My aunt, Lady Elysia, told me everything.”
(*The Medway Raid: the most humiliating event in British naval history, when the Dutch navy sailed into the Thames and burned 13 British warships.*)
“So, Miss Augusta’s great-grandfather was a proud sailor of the British Navy? Our family is the same. We received our earldom thanks to my father, the commodore who led us to victory in the last naval battle.”
The Count trembled as though the century-old war had happened yesterday. Truly, Leopold’s words had been right. Encouraged, Charlotte pressed on.
“That is why I could not stand to see those statues. Statues bearing the signature of de Ruyter, standing proudly while the ‘Ode to the Victors’ was played… Even though I knew it was improper for a lady, I thought, ‘If not me—often called a tomboy for my fiery patriotism—then who else would act?’”
Her eyes grew moist, her eyelids trembling. She gazed at the naval paintings filling the study.
The Duke of Oslo followed her gaze to the painting behind him, showing a glorious British naval victory.
*Ah! The pride of Oslo’s family… And I almost displayed the possessions of the enemy commander, de Ruyter, in my own mansion!*
Suddenly, filled with pride as a naval man, the Duke leapt to his feet. He strode across the study and gave a powerful naval salute to George Augusta. His trembling fingers reflected the strong emotion inside him.
“My grandfather treated all sailors like family. So their families are my family too!”
George Augusta, startled, returned a clumsy salute—his first in his life, since he had only ever held a pen. But the Duke didn’t mind.
“Miss Augusta covered up my mistake as if it were her own. Without knowing, I almost caused harm to these ladies.”
Then, turning to the Augusta sisters, the Duke said:
“Please accept my apology by attending the ball next week. Of course, it would be wonderful if Miss Helena could perform the ‘Ode to the Victors’ for the true victors, the Oslo family.”
To play music at a ball attended by the prince of a neighboring country! Helena’s mouth dropped open. Then her eyes met Charlotte’s—who was grinning and winking behind the Duke’s back.
—
