Chapter 67
Eluana Vita Spes.
If one were to name the person most talked about in the Empire over the past month, everyone would immediately think of her.
The noblewomen lamented that she was still a young lady who had not yet held her debutante ball. Officially, there was no way to invite her.
Sometimes, before a child made her debut, parents would take their daughters to small-scale tea parties. But the Duchess’s seat remained empty, and Duke Spes was a man who loathed parties. Even at major imperial events that required attendance, he would just show his face briefly and then leave.
Then one day, a letter arrived at Countess Lavia’s residence. Duke Spes had expressed his intention to attend a tea party with Miss Spes.
The Countess, who had sent the invitation out of courtesy, suspected a forgery. But after feeling the seal and realizing it was genuine, she fell into a panic.
“Why… why me?”
She didn’t have much time to ponder the question.
Nobles who had heard the rumors rushed to request invitations. It took less than three days for a tea party for 30 guests to swell into one for 100.
The attention of the capital’s nobility was now focused on Countess Lavia’s tea party. She cried out again:
“Why!!”
On the day of the tea party, Countess Lavia positioned herself at the entrance of the banquet hall with the Count. He had canceled all his scheduled plans to greet the guests personally.
“I don’t understand what’s going on all of a sudden,” the Countess lamented.
Her husband clasped her hands and said, “It’s a good thing for our family, so let’s just get through today smoothly.”
“Yes, we must.”
The tea party invitations had brought both small and significant benefits—from families who sent extravagant gifts to those offering advantageous business arrangements. Countess Lavia felt increasingly uneasy.
“It’s been about three years since I last spoke to the Duke. Why is it our family?”
“Perhaps it’s because of that rumor…” Count Lavia trailed off.
“What rumor?”
“Have you not heard that Miss Spes is said to resemble Princess Stella?”
“Ah, yes, they say she does. Honestly, I was a little curious myself.”
“She might want to introduce her to someone and ask you to be her godmother.”
“How would I know how to react? Of course, Duke Spes has no tea party suitable for introducing his daughter. I might be the only one she encounters to exchange greetings.”
“In fact, we’ve received a lot of help, knowingly or not, even during the drought.”
“I am grateful for that.”
The two hurried to greet the guests who had arrived earlier than expected.
The tea party’s guest list had already reached its maximum capacity. Each arriving lady brought a child of around fifteen years old. At this rate, 100 seats would be insufficient, and the party might require 200.
Countess Lavia declared gravely, “We’ll need to prepare more food.”
“Isn’t the kitchen already at its limit?”
“We may need to borrow a chef from a nearby restaurant.”
Despite the increase in guests, they could not appear unprepared. As Countess Lavia gave various instructions to her head maid, a hush fell over the lively hall like a creeping fog.
‘They’ve arrived.’
Turning to welcome the day’s real guest, her eyes fell on the girl holding Duke Spes’s hand.
Green-tinted eyes, lively lips, flawless skin, and golden hair shimmering brilliantly in the light.
“Stella?”
Countess Lavia unconsciously called the name of her old friend. The girl so closely resembled Stella in her childhood.
It wasn’t just her appearance. Her aura, even her clothing, evoked Stella.
Stella often wore deep green dresses delicately embroidered with gold thread, her hair draped to one side with simple ornaments. If Duke Spes had orchestrated this, it was in poor taste.
“Welcome…”
“Welcome. I hope you have an enjoyable time,” the Count finished her sentence, choked up. Some noblewomen who remembered Stella’s face covered their own with fans while observing Miss Spes. Some sighed; others wiped away tears.
“I was looking for a tea party to attend with my daughter. Thank you for the invitation.”
With my daughter. With my daughter. With my daughter.
The guests were taken aback by the phrasing, expecting the child to be “adopted” rather than “my daughter.” They assumed Duke Spes would consider an assigned child a nuisance. The nobles began plotting how to navigate this situation.
“May we have a tour of your residence?”
“Of course, Your Excellency.”
As Countess Lavia answered, Duke Spes inclined his head toward the girl.
“Will you be alright alone?”
“Yes, Father.”
The girl, who looked exactly like Stella, spoke in a voice that reminded Lavia of her.
Countess Lavia steadied herself and walked inside. Duke Spes had no reason to be curious about his own grand residence, so this must mean he had something urgent to discuss.
She was led to the Count’s study, equipped with soundproofing magic. Duke Spes followed as if it were natural.
Closing the door, Countess Lavia exhaled deeply.
“Your Excellency, please speak first if you have something to say.”
“I needed a tea party suitable to introduce my daughter, and you were the only one who came to mind.”
“Indeed. I suspected as much. Had you not rambled about the house tour, I might have believed otherwise until the end.”
When Countess Lavia glared, urging him to reveal the truth, Duke Spes chuckled.
“I thought you would notice.”
Those words carried much meaning. Countess Lavia swallowed hard, recalling the girl who had looked up at her so brightly.
“What about Stella?”
“She is with God now.”
Ah… I see. Stella… you…
Countess Lavia grasped the armrest of a chair and sank into it. It was improper, as Duke Spes stood, but neither seemed to care.
After a sigh, wiping her eyes, and glancing at the ceiling, she turned her gaze back to Duke Spes, her composure restored.
“Can I leave her alone?”
“I’ve told her in advance. Soon, uninvited guests will arrive; please just let it pass. It’s not a bad thing for you either.”
“There will be a guest even more surprising than Your Excellency and the girl.”
“When the guest arrives, I hope the four of us can talk.”
“Understood.”
Countess Lavia took a deep breath. The corset seemed tighter than usual. Stella’s face and the face of the girl she had just seen flashed through her mind.
‘That wicked Stella… leaving without telling me.’
Deciding to loosen her corset slightly, she said, “Your Excellency, please tell me. What should I do for her?”
“I want you to widely spread the fact that my child resembles Stella.”
She was surprised—he wasn’t asking her to hide it but to publicize it.
“Weren’t you trying to hide that she’s your child? I heard the father’s funeral was recently held… so that was a disguise. And you went through the trouble of saying she was adopted?”
“That’s why your role is important. You have to choose one of two approaches: either act as if you’re annoyed she looks like Stella, or act as if you’re fond of her for that reason.”
“You intend to push the strategy of ‘she looks alike’?”
“Exactly.”
Duke Spes smiled lazily.
“You intend to smooth over your fondness for her by saying ‘she looks alike,’ right?”
“Exactly.”
Countess Lavia realized she was dealing with someone who understood subtle reasoning. Had he been a man of state, he would occupy a top post. The Lavia household was known to largely move according to her decisions.
“To some extent, it’s fine to use the ‘she looks alike’ excuse. Anyone can see the resemblance. But if you go too far, suspicion will arise. You must pretend to hold back—just enough to make it seem like you care because she looks alike.”
“That’s also right.”
“For the child, it’s better if I act as if I’m annoyed, pushing her away.”
“Actually, I prefer that approach a little more.”
Countess Lavia, ever astute, knew what role would help Eluana most. Yet she felt apprehensive.
“But the latter is better. I couldn’t bear to push her away while looking at her sweet face.”
How could one ignore that adorable face? Turning away would mean seeing her less and being unable to greet her warmly.
Duke Spes nodded understandingly.
“That will suffice. Just show occasional boundaries, implying your care is only because she resembles Stella.”
“Won’t it hurt the child?”
“That’s her own perspective.”
Countess Lavia groaned again.
“She really does resemble Stella a lot.”
“And would you become Eluana’s godmother?”
Countess Lavia bit her lip. Compared to the Duke’s family, the Count’s was weaker, but in any case, all were inferior to the Spes family.
‘I should be the one to care for her.’
“I will. I’ll pretend to refuse once or twice first.”
“Thank you, Countess.”
“It’s best to return now.”
Escorted by Duke Spes back to the banquet hall, Countess Lavia pondered how to behave.
‘Her name is Eluana, right?’
She pressed a hand to her pounding chest. Their first meeting had been brief; she hadn’t even properly greeted the child.
Should she ask if she could hug her because she felt nostalgic seeing someone resembling her old friend? Or would that seem too kind? Holding hands might suffice.
Seeing Countess Lavia’s tense shoulders, Duke Spes smiled lazily.
“You should relax.”
“Indeed. I’ve never been this nervous since the wedding.”
