The mansion, visited after such a long time, still carried the fragrant scent of gold everywhere. If Oscar’s residence could be called opulent and splendid, then this one could be described as delicate and graceful.
The furnishings, subtly placed, the flowers that adorned the rooms—they didn’t overtly flaunt luxury, yet upon closer inspection, their value gradually revealed itself.
It was a sophisticated elegance akin to savoring a piece of dried squid that grew more flavorful the more you chewed. This, in its own way, was pleasing.
Led by Kai, they were escorted into the dining room, where Emilia and the others were already seated.
The grand dining table, draped in intricate cloth with fresh flowers arranged here and there, was illuminated by a chandelier that shone with a daytime brilliance.
It seemed as though all the servants of the mansion were gathered along the wide walls, dressed in maid uniforms and tailcoats, standing in rows.
“Oh, how dazzling!” thought Leo.
More than anything, what caught Leo’s eye was the sight of a voluptuous woman draped in golden fabric—no, a golden dress—resembling a pig in human form. There was a man next to her, but the gold-draped woman was so blinding that he couldn’t see clearly.
“Ah, Leonora! Thank you for coming,” Emilia said with a full smile, standing up. The woman in the golden dress glared at them sharply but then stood up with a smile, making Leo wonder if the earlier glare was just his imagination.
“Mother-in-law, please introduce her to us,” said the woman in gold.
“Oh, right, Adela. This is Leonora, our beloved granddaughter. Leonora, this is Adela. And next to her is Dietrich. Adela married into the family from a count’s house three years ago.”
Listening to Emilia’s explanation, Leo carefully observed Adela and Dietrich. It was their first meeting since they often stayed away from the mansion.
“It’s like ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ but more like ‘The Pig and the Shepherd,'” Leo thought.
No, calling a woman a pig is too rude.
However, her white skin, small round eyes, nose as if pinched by fingers, and cheeks obedient to gravity—no matter how one described it, she looked like a pig. Apparently, her generosity extended not just to her finances but also physically.
On the other hand, Dietrich, who sat somewhat hidden by Adela’s large figure, was tall but lanky. His slender build and hunched shoulders gave off an impression of frailty. His face, though gentle, had sleepy light green eyes and a slack mouth, which appeared somewhat unreliable.
However, Leo believed that a person’s worth was determined more by their generosity than their appearance. Without forming a particular opinion, he greeted them with a neutral “Nice to meet you.” Dietrich responded leisurely, while Adela’s reply was in a high-pitched voice before they sat down again.
At the marquis’s signal, the servants began to prepare champagne for a toast, and Leo couldn’t help but be amazed at their synchronized movement. It was the start of Emilia’s birthday party. Leo was seated next to Lady Emilia, who engaged him in pleasant conversation throughout the meal.
“Thank you for coming today. Adela was worried you’d oversleep since it’s a rest day, but I’m glad you arrived on time,” Emilia said.
“Of course. It’s only proper,” Leo replied.
Leo’s rule was never to stay late but always to arrive early and get a head start on work. He realized Adela had not only tested his business manners but also explained the possibility of his tardiness to Emilia. Glancing at Adela, Leo smiled, but Adela turned away with a snort.
“Is she shy?” Leo wondered. He had come to regard Adela as a kind person for arranging comfortable clothes and a carriage, completely trusting the “Adela is a good person” notion.
The event progressed peacefully, with Emilia talking animatedly. While idle chatter wasn’t as enjoyable as money-making discussions, seeing Emilia, who Leo had come to regard almost like a real grandmother, so happy was pleasant.
The most intriguing topic for Leo was Dietrich’s job. He was often sent to dangerous frontier areas, where he supposedly engaged in music and art appreciation—a position perhaps more akin to banishment, living as a layabout rather than working diligently. However, his lack of the aristocratic airs common in the capital made Leo favor him more.
“If you ask whether I prefer a sharp aristocrat or a laid-back commoner, it’s definitely the latter,” Leo thought, feeling a certain kinship with Dietrich. Perhaps, if he loved music, he might support Leo’s operatic ambitions. Leo schemed, determined to get closer to Dietrich.
Dietrich explained in his lazy tone that Adela’s brother, Count Tennyson’s heir, was his close friend. At one of his birthday parties, he saw Adela perform and was so smitten he proposed marriage. It seemed Dietrich, despite his sluggish demeanor, was adept at wooing women.
While surprised by Dietrich’s capability, Leo was equally impressed by Adela’s artistic skills. After all, she had planned Emilia’s birthday party, chosen clothes to suit Leo’s tastes—her ability to discern people’s needs likely elevated her artistic quality.
A down-to-earth husband who might become a patron, and a wife who understood the commoner’s heart—Leo found them both quite agreeable. Thus, Leo tried to get closer to Dietrich and Adela.
But Adela was growing increasingly irritated.
“What is with this girl…!”
Adela was confused. The girl’s behavior consistently defied her expectations.
“I intended to embarrass her, but she avoided every trap and kept smiling effortlessly!”
Adela was surprised that Leo had arrived on time, evading the lateness trap. Even more shocking was that the girl smiled and greeted her cheerfully despite receiving shabby old clothes and a carriage.
“What’s wrong with this girl?” Adela thought, watching Leo’s genuinely friendly behavior.
From beside her, Dietrich, who she hadn’t seen in a while, whispered, “She’s quite a lovely girl, isn’t she? It’s the first time I’ve seen such pure affection directed at me.”
Dietrich was often scorned as a “leftover” or a “layabout,” yet he seemed touched by Leo’s respectful attitude, as if treating him like an important business partner.
Adela’s irritation grew.
Despite their infrequent meetings, it annoyed her to hear her husband praise another woman.
“Oh, my dear. Don’t be fooled. She’s a lowly girl from the slums. Who knows what kind of vulgar calculations she’s making behind that smiling face?”
Her intended whisper carried farther than expected. As soon as she spoke, Emilia, Leo, and even Klaus looked up sharply.
“Adela! How could you say such a thing!”
“Adela, apologize to Leonora.”
The marquis couple scolded her, faces stern. The girl, too, looked shocked, staring at her.
“Did she read my mind?”
No, Leo was merely worried that her ulterior motives had been seen through. The taste in clothes and her earlier comment made Leo think Adela could see through her nature too well.
“Is she a mind reader?” Leo wondered, quickly composing her expression. Adela, however, raised her finely shaped eyebrow, looking smug.
“Oh my, scary face. Did I hit the mark? Everyone, don’t be so harsh. I was merely speaking the truth.”
“Adela—”
“Isn’t it true? No matter how nicely dressed, ingrained slum manners don’t wash away easily. Giving her such a high-quality dress is a waste. She’d probably be happier with patched shirts and pants. Why not throw a silver coin at her? She’d probably drool and chase after it like a dog! Ha ha ha—”
Adela’s laughter rang out, probably the most accurate depiction of Leonora von Harkenberg ever uttered. But as she laughed, a sharp voice cut through the dining room.
“Stop it, Adela!”
It was Klaus. His hoarse voice tinged with anger, it carried enough force to make anyone cower. Even Adela was taken aback, retracting her scornful smile.
“An insult to Leonora will not be tolerated. If you insist on saying more, I will ask you to leave,” Klaus declared in a low voice, his tone brooking no argument.
“I would say the same,” Emilia added quietly, her voice steady and composed.
Klaus’s fierce declaration was echoed by Emilia as she gently took the hand of her granddaughter, who sat beside her, eyes wide and filled with bewilderment. Emilia’s heart ached as she whispered to her, “Leonora, I apologize for Adela’s words. Please, don’t take them to heart.”
“……”
Leonora said nothing, only staring at Adela with her large, violet eyes, now brimming with unshed tears. The sight of those tears caused a palpable shift in the room’s atmosphere. The marquis and his wife, their servant Kai, and all the household staff felt a growing anger towards Adela, turning the once festive air of the birthday celebration into one of tension.
But unbeknownst to them:
(Amazing! This person really understands me!)
Leonora’s tears were not of sorrow but of overwhelming gratitude. She had been swept into noble society about two months ago and found herself frequently misunderstood, often moved to tears or unexpected emotional responses for reasons she couldn’t quite grasp.
To her, Adela’s blunt words and sharp observations were a breath of fresh air, bringing a sense of clarity and exhilaration.
Leonora felt a deep agreement with Adela’s remark about the wastefulness of dress expenses and her unabashed love for money. It wasn’t shameful but rather a truth to embrace.
Perhaps Adela possessed the keen insight that Natalia and the prince occasionally spoke of — the “Eyes of Harkenberg that see through to the truth” — something Leonora never believed she had. But now, she wondered if Adela did.
(Eyes that see the truth! How incredible! I want to be friends with her!)
If she could secure Adela as a business advisor who was always right, Leonora felt she could conquer any new venture fearlessly.
With this goal in mind, she was determined to become closer to Adela. However, sensing the sudden hostility in the room, Adela began to rise from her seat with a snort, intending to leave.
Not wanting to miss this opportunity, Leonora leapt up, nearly knocking over her chair, and called out desperately, “Adela-sama! Please wait! I want to talk with you more! I want us to be friends!”
“What…?” Adela turned back, surprised by Leonora’s fervent plea.
Clutching the necklace at her chest unconsciously, Leonora pressed on, “Everything you said, Adela-sama, it’s all true. I feel the same way. Adela-sama, you are right. I like you, Adela-sama. I want to be friends with you!”
Her words, filled with genuine acceptance and a desire for friendship, made her appear pitiable, like a wounded dog seeking the slightest bit of affection despite being kicked and beaten. The surrounding onlookers, including Emilia, felt their hearts ache as they watched Leonora, their eyes softening.
Leonora, unaware of the deep sympathy she was eliciting, was focused solely on stopping Adela.
(I can’t let Adela-sama leave. There must be something to keep her here!)
Racking her brain for a topic, she finally shouted, “P-Presents! How about we start the gift-giving now? Emilia-sama would surely be pleased. Adela-sama, why don’t you go first?”
She had noticed Adela frequently touching a small box under the table, clearly intended as a gift for Emilia. By having Adela present her gift, Leonora hoped to buy some time and lighten the mood.
Seeing Leonora’s earnest face, Adela frowned.
(What is this girl thinking…?)
Adela couldn’t read Leonora’s intentions. Normally, a child subjected to such harsh words would either cower in fear or burst into anger. Yet, Leonora accepted them as truth and still expressed a desire for friendship.
Even Adela felt a pang of compassion for her. Moreover, Leonora had deflected attention to protect Adela, changing the topic to presents.
(No, I mustn’t be fooled. This must be her tactic.)
Adela quickly reinforced her emotional defenses, shaking her head vigorously. This girl’s strategy was to gain everyone’s affection by pretending to be a sweet, innocent child.
Determined to expose Leonora’s plan, Adela smiled inwardly. (I’ll cut through this pretense of yours.)
The true purpose of this gathering was to showcase her superiority over Leonora. Adela had prepared an extravagant gift to prove her generosity and status, and she wouldn’t let this opportunity slip away.
“…Alright, that’s a good idea. I would also hate to leave without apologizing properly and seeing Mother-in-law’s happy face,” Adela said, adopting a contrite demeanor. She offered a half-hearted apology to ease the tension in the room, setting the stage for her grand display.
“I apologize for my harsh words earlier. I truly wish to get along with everyone and am filled with gratitude. So, I prepared a special gift for Mother-in-law to express my feelings. I would be happy to present it now,” Adela said, her tone humble.
“Of course! Right, Emilia-sama?” Leonora looked to Emilia with hopeful eyes. Emilia, though suspicious of Adela’s sudden change, couldn’t resist her granddaughter’s pleading gaze and smiled, “Yes, I suppose so. If Adela is truly remorseful, then there’s no greater joy than celebrating this day with family.”
Leonora clasped her hands in delight, while everyone around her gazed at her with adoration. Adela felt a brief, dull pain in her chest but quickly replaced it with irritation.
(Enjoy your moment while it lasts.)
With the intention of solidifying her place as the family’s next matriarch, Adela produced a box, offering it to Emilia with a flourish. “Mother-in-law, happy birthday.”
“Oh my, thank you, Adela,” Emilia said, her face softening as she accepted the box.
Carefully unwrapping it, Emilia’s eyes widened in astonishment. “What a magnificent brooch…!”
The brooch, centered with a green gemstone matching Emilia’s eyes, was surrounded by intricate gold filigree, a testament to Adela’s exquisite taste.
(This must have cost at least five silver coins!)
Adela’s confidence soared as she noticed everyone’s captivated reactions. Even Leonora was mesmerized by the dazzling brooch.
“Adela, this is such an extravagant gift…”
“It’s nothing, Mother-in-law. I believe one cannot measure gratitude with price alone, but since it’s for the Marchioness of Harkenberg, it should be something worthy,” Adela replied, feigning modesty while raising the bar for Leonora’s gift.
She had ensured Leonora couldn’t leave the academy to buy a present by timing her letters strategically, knowing the young girl wouldn’t have access to external vendors.
(I’m curious to see what she managed to get.)
Leonora, having initiated the topic, must have something prepared, though Adela was ready to mock her if it turned out to be trivial.
Then, Leonora, blushing slightly, produced a bundle of fabric. “Emilia-sama…”
“Oh my, Leonora. You have a gift for me as well?”
“Yes, but it’s not as grand as Adela-sama’s…” Leonora stammered.
Emilia laughed warmly, “Your thoughtfulness is more than enough to make me happy.”
Adela smirked at Emilia’s kind words.
(Let’s see how this goes.)
But when Leonora unfolded the fabric, revealing its contents, the room fell silent.
“…!”