chapter 27
Stella’s only older brother was Harpe.
Because he had been lying in the corner reading a book, one side of his hair was flattened.
Harpe approached, scratching his head while holding the book. Stella bristled at her always-annoying older brother.
“Did I ask you for your opinion? Why are you meddling? And why can’t I have it? That trivial estate isn’t even as valuable as my teddy bear. I can buy it anytime!”
“I don’t want to talk to you either, but you’re so foolish I can’t just ignore it,” Harpe replied.
“No, that’s not true! You’re the foolish one!”
Harpe stared at Stella in disbelief as she lunged at him, clearly frustrated. Then, as if he couldn’t be bothered to deal with her anymore, he sat next to Chloe and drank her cold tea.
“Then why don’t you just ask to buy it?” he said.
“I will ask, even if you don’t tell me to!”
Pouting, Stella glared at Harpe before snuggling back into Chloe’s arms.
“Mother, could you buy me that estate? Something much better than Rosegold, okay? And I want a title too. Something better than Rosegold’s!”
Since Chloe had always bought whatever Stella asked for, Stella assumed she would naturally agree this time too. But for some reason, Chloe only looked troubled and said nothing.
“Mother…?”
Stella called out to her, puzzled.
Harpe chuckled, clearly expecting this reaction.
“You really are an idiot. Think about it logically. If they gave you an estate or a title, would it really stay with you?”
“What do you mean by that?”
Annoyed, Stella demanded he speak plainly. Her frustration grew as Chloe remained silent, and she wanted nothing more than to hit him.
“It’s frustrating. You’re going to leave the family when you marry, right? So whatever estate or title you get will end up with your future husband, won’t it?”
It was typical for women to move to their husband’s household after marriage, regardless of their original status. Therefore, it was rare for women to inherit property or titles. Only when there was no male heir in the family would a woman inherit out of necessity.
“But that blonde girl got Rosegold! Even great-grandmother had it…”
“That’s because it’s ‘Rosegold.’ It doesn’t matter if it exists or not; it’s essentially worthless. That’s why great-grandmother gave it as a joke, and grandfather and father just passed it along.”
If it had been a significant estate, every past record would have been reviewed, and Julia Roselantis’s documents nullified. But they hadn’t bothered, because Rosegold was a meaningless estate.
The same went for the “Junior Baron” title. Even barons without wealth or reputation were looked down upon. A junior baron? That would only earn ridicule, not respect.
“So, you can’t have it. There’s no estate or title for someone who will leave the family anyway. Stop being stubborn and just get another teddy bear.”
“M-Mother…!”
Stella shook Chloe’s arm, as if begging her to say otherwise.
Sighing, Chloe stroked Stella’s silky hair and smiled gently.
“Stella, wouldn’t a villa be better than an estate that would only be troublesome? Imagine having a tea party in a garden full of red roses, something you love. You could enjoy yourself, especially since this time, it’s your turn to host ten of them.”
Chloe hadn’t outright refused, but it was as close to a firm rejection as could be.
Stella was furious and frustrated. Of all people, she couldn’t have what the blonde from that frivolous family had. She had even been insulted, yet she had insisted she would have something better than Rosegold. She felt embarrassed thinking about meeting Serena next. Tears welled up in her eyes.
“Why are you crying?”
Harpe, unable to comfort her and instead teasing, made Stella burst into tears.
Having gone through unnecessary trouble over the past two days, Chloe felt sorry for her daughter. She held Stella in her arms, gently patting her back.
“Let’s have a tea party. A very grand one.”
However, Chloe’s gaze lingered on Harpe.
Sensing trouble instinctively, Harpe tried to get up, but Chloe continued before he could.
“The more attendees, the merrier. You should invite Young Duke Impetok too.”
Stella peeked up, her eyes slowly turning to Harpe.
“I’d be happy if Young Duke Impetok came…but will he…?”
“It’s been a while since he’s been seen. He’ll come if you invite him, right?”
Though the conversation was between mother and daughter, all eyes seemed fixed on Harpe.
He thought, I should’ve just teased and left already. Knowing his mother favored Stella, why had he stubbornly stayed?
Regretting his own actions, Harpe munched on a cookie and said,
“…Okay, I’ll tell him.”
Suddenly, Stella’s eyes lit up as if her gloom had vanished.
Chloe folded her eyes gently.
“That’s good, Stella.”
“Thank you, Mother! I’ll prepare diligently so it can be a wonderful tea party!”
“Oh my, I’m really looking forward to it.”
Cheered up, Stella lightly kissed Chloe’s cheek and hurried out to discuss with the maids.
Harpe was the one who would invite Young Duke Impetok, yet he received no thanks. He marveled at his sister’s boldness in privately thinking she was impossible to beat.
Watching Harpe pout while drinking tea, Chloe spoke.
“Harpe, don’t tease your only sister too much.”
“I want to, but she has to be a bit foolish. It’s just a silly tea party… ridiculous,” Harpe muttered.
His voice echoed in the cozy indoor garden. Chloe’s eyes darkened as she watched her son, whose education had made him smarter than her.
“What can I do? That’s all Stella has. Just like my life revolves around this marriage and you children, for Stella, who can’t inherit an estate or title, this silly tea party is the most important thing in the world.”
Faced with such seriousness, Harpe had no choice but to fall silent.
Chloe wasn’t criticizing Harpe; she was simply more concerned for her daughter, who had the same circumstances as her, rather than her successful son.
“Harpe, supporting a family doesn’t rest on the head of the house alone. Everyone has their role. Don’t you understand?”
Some might see it as foolish, but there were things only Chloe could do. For instance, marrying someone from another family to act as a bridge and benefit her own family.
Thus, Stella trying to get closer to Young Duke Impetok was very helpful to the Roselantis family—something Harpe could never do.
Harpe had learned this in his heir lessons, but at thirteen, he still couldn’t fully grasp it.
The one thing he realized, however, was that he had been reckless in thinking about caring for his family in the future. He also understood that Stella’s foolishness didn’t mean her noble behavior should be criticized.
“I’m sorry, Mother. I was wrong. I’ll apologize to Stella later too.”
When Harpe admitted this without stubbornness, Chloe’s expression softened again.
“That’s thoughtful. I know you’re reluctant, but don’t forget to invite Young Duke Impetok. It’s better than bringing some strange guy he likes, isn’t it?”
It made sense, though he still didn’t want to. The invitation meant forcing someone who didn’t want to come, but in the current atmosphere, he couldn’t refuse. He sighed and nodded.
Even if unlikely, he hoped that through this tea party, Young Duke Impetok might open his heart to Stella, even a little.
