Chapter 17. A Fuse Called Impulse

The fancy dress I wore for the first time in my life felt awkward. The shoes adorned with jewels, the weight of the luxurious jewelry on my earlobes and neck. Everything felt too much for me, and I was incredibly uncomfortable.

“Ellen, can’t you stay still? Why are you so fidgety!”

“…I’m sorry.”

It was only after my stepmother scolded me that I stopped fiddling with my dress hem and jewelry. I swallowed the sigh that was about to escape and looked out the window, seeing the bustling cityscape passing by.

We were on our way to a social party this afternoon. For some reason, even the carriage we rode was different from the one we usually used. Our family only had old carriages… Could it be that we had changed the carriage too? I glanced at my stepmother and, after some hesitation, finally asked cautiously.

“Did you also change this carriage with my birth mother’s inheritance?”

“…Yes. They say your mother came from a wealthy merchant family in Katar, and the inheritance she left was quite substantial.”

“Is that so…”

Though my stepmother didn’t seem to be hiding anything, a part of me remained suspicious. Margot Lopez was skilled in acting, so what appeared on the surface might not be the whole truth.

‘From the beginning, it’s strange that they saved the money my mother left for me instead of spending it. Both Father and Stepmother are the type to use up everything…’

So, where did the money used this time come from? My proud father wouldn’t have taken out a loan, and my stepmother, who shunned debt, wouldn’t have borrowed money either.

Was it money that fell from the sky? Unless it was a favor from someone, it didn’t make sense to have such a large sum. The question was, who was that someone?

“We’ve arrived.”

Before I knew it, the carriage stopped, and I heard the coachman’s voice.

I still felt somewhat uneasy and followed behind her, feeling emotionally unstable due to my awkward appearance. The voluminous dress fluttered like petals with every movement. The earrings dangling from my earlobes were large and ornate, almost brushing against my cheeks.

“What are you doing? Hurry up.”

“Yes…”

I let out a small sigh and took in the view of the enormous mansion spread out before me. The location of today’s party was here, at the mansion of Count Lakers, and I heard they were using the entire hall of the annex, which was as large as the main building.

A family far wealthier than ours. I wondered if this party would really help my social activities… I just hoped I wouldn’t be laughed at or humiliated.

“This way, please.”

Following the direction indicated by the servant of Count Lakers, we arrived at the large door of the hall where the party was in full swing.

The doorman, who confirmed the invitation my stepmother presented, nodded and opened the door, and soon the voice of the doorman echoed loudly.

“Baroness Margot Lopez and Lady Ellenore Lopez have arrived!”

For a moment, the murmuring of people ceased, then it became noisy again. Most of the guests glanced our way briefly and then quickly lost interest. It clearly showed the position of the Lopez family in the noble social circle.

My stepmother clicked her tongue in displeasure and skillfully hid her annoyed expression behind her fan. She scanned the party hall and her gaze stopped at a certain point.

With a peculiar smile on her face, she grabbed my wrist and spoke.

“Let’s go over there, Ellen. There’s someone I want to introduce you to.”

“To me?”

“Yes, someone you know well.”

…Someone I know well?

An ominous feeling crept up from the wrist held by my stepmother. The suspiciously large amount of money she had spent on me, the sudden talk of finding a marriage match…

‘No way…’

As always, the worst expectations never fail to come true.

“Your Grace, Marquis Anderson!”

At the place where my stepmother led me, there stood the Marquis Anderson. When he saw me, he grinned widely, showing his yellow teeth. His wrinkled face glistened unpleasantly, and his hair, which had turned gray, was sparsely dotted with white.

“Baroness Lopez, and Lady Ellenore Lopez. Or should I call you Ellenore?”

“……”

It felt like I could see the whole story clearly in my mind. It seemed almost certain that the source of the money my stepmother had wasted was not my birth mother’s inheritance, but rather this old man’s, Marquis Anderson.

Sure enough, as if to confirm my suspicion, Marquis Anderson laughed heartily and spoke.

“Such a beautiful appearance! Ha ha, it was worth spending the money! Don’t you think so, Baroness Lopez?”

He openly revealed that he was the one who had spent money on me.

“Yes, of course. Our Ellen is quite the beauty… Ellen, what are you doing? Hurry up and greet His Grace, the Marquis.”

Despite seeing my cold expression, my stepmother urged me without batting an eye. I felt a violent impulse to push her to the ground and loudly confront her. Yes, it did seem strange. It wasn’t like the greedy Margot Lopez to spend money on me.

Clenching my fists, I glared at her, and Margot gave me a look urging me to greet him. When I remained motionless, she snapped her fan shut with a loud sound and scolded me in a pretentious stern manner.

“Ellen, are you going to keep being rude? Marquis Anderson has been so kind to you. He bought you all those new dresses, shoes, and jewelry you wanted. You should thank him.”

“……”

…Margot was truly a cunning person. Knowing that I would refuse if she directly presented me to Marquis Anderson, she had cleverly used the money from the Marquis to buy things for me, making me feel indebted.

She had seen through my stubbornness and pride, wanting to maintain dignity as a noble lady despite living like a maid.

“Ellen.”

Margot urged again. I silently looked at her and then faintly smiled. The anger that I had buried deep in my heart while enduring all this time began to boil over. It didn’t take long for the flames to spread and ignite the fuse called impulse.

“Really…”

I looked at Margot and then turned my gaze to Marquis Anderson, speaking softly.

“You’ve done something unnecessary, Your Grace.”

“…What?”

My heart pounded, and I felt like I had done something irreversible, but I couldn’t stop. Feeling my eyes welling up, I continued.

“If I had known that everything I am wearing today was thanks to Your Grace, I would have come to this party in rags instead.”

Marquis Anderson’s face, which had been blank, gradually turned red until it resembled a beet. It seemed he wasn’t a fool. I smiled sweetly at him and continued.

“Unfortunately, I cannot accept your kindness. I’m sorry. If you want to get back the money you spent on me, please charge it to Baroness Lopez. I had no idea about the source of the money.”
`
“E-Ellen, you…!”

My stepmother, shocked, pointed at me with disbelief, her mouth agape. It was understandable… I had always reminded myself, ‘I am still a member of the Lopez family.’ or ‘I must maintain my dignity as a noble lady.’ and tried not to cause any trouble in any situation.

I wanted to ask Margot how it felt to be bitten by a dog that had always been obedient. …Well, I could guess from her expression.

“Ellen…!”

“Baroness Lopez, what is the meaning of this? I was under the impression that everything was settled with Lady Ellenore! Didn’t she also say she had feelings for me?”

As Marquis Anderson loudly demanded an explanation, the curious eyes of the onlookers gathered around. The social hyenas, quick to catch the scent of gossip, seemed to have already picked up on the situation.

The unwelcoming stares from the unspecified crowd made me feel dizzy again. But it was clear that collapsing here would be even more ridiculous.

I tried to stand firm, taking a few steps back from Anderson and Margot. Anderson loudly berated Margot, and she desperately tried to appease him. It didn’t seem very effective.

“I never imagined that Baroness Lopez would humiliate me like this!”

“No, Your Grace. This is a misunderstanding… There must have been some mistake.”

Margot, whose face had turned pale, poured out excuses and then suddenly turned to me. Her eyes were filled with a madness that could be mistaken for confusion.

“You, Ellen.”

She approached me with large strides and grabbed my shoulders with both hands. The grip was so strong that it hurt.

“Why, why are you lying… You said you had feelings for Marquis Anderson. Hurry up and say so!”

I sighed softly and opened my mouth.

“…You should come to your senses, Baroness.”

“W-What… What did you just say…?”

“You look disgraceful. You’re embarrassing the family.”

“……!”

Only then did Margot seem to realize her surroundings, slowly moving her head to survey the area. The contemptuous and mocking gazes, the whispers filled with disdain, made her face, which had been pale, flush red in an instant.

Among the many murmurs passing through the crowd, one phrase stood out clearly.

“That lowly woman from a commoner background finally caused trouble. Calling herself a baroness… she’s just the second wife.”

***

Why is it so noisy?

Enoch frowned as he entered the party hall. Such places were usually bustling, but now there was an odd atmosphere.

He thought he might have missed an interesting spectacle while he was lounging in the break room, but then he saw Warren Norbert running towards him like a chihuahua that had found its owner.

For some reason, Warren’s face was flushed, and his eyes were disturbingly bright. Enoch frowned deeply and spat out harsh words.

“Why are your eyes so wide?”

“No, you bastard, the moment you see someone… No, that’s not important. Isn’t that the woman you danced with?”

“……?”

Why is she here?

Enoch, who had been looking at Warren with disdain as if he were spouting nonsense, turned his gaze to where Warren was enthusiastically pointing.

Soon, surprise spread across his face.

It wasn’t nonsense; the woman was really there. Dressed in an unusually glamorous manner.