Chapter 84. Your Lovely Her

As the soft lighting filled the dark space with drawn blackout curtains, the orchestra began to play.

The sad and beautiful melody filled the room, but I couldn’t focus on the music. My eyes kept drifting sideways. Felix was seated to the right of Penelope, and I had to steal glances at him without Penelope, who was sitting right next to me, noticing.

A low-saturation, gloomy shadow lay over his face like a veil. His expressionless face, which was already hard to read, seemed even more inscrutable.

The conversation they had about ten minutes ago lingered in my mind.

‘The pension insurance contract you requested has been handled well. Although we applied the benefits for war veterans, it’s difficult to lower the premiums any further.’
‘Well, I understand. Even 35 lupins is a significantly reduced amount. I’ll have to find and help the veterans who can’t afford the monthly premiums.’
‘Yes, and regarding life insurance…….’

It turned out that Penelope had been secretly helping veterans of the Navaroa War, working with Felix to ensure they could take out pension insurance at specially reduced rates.

That part wasn’t too surprising. Helping veterans suffering from war aftereffects or disabilities was something the Bayern Grand Duchy also did.

What concerned me more was their personal conversation.

‘By the way, Mr. Werner. Have you thought about my proposal? We’re both of marriageable age, and if we become a couple, it would greatly help the Werner family obtain a title.’
‘Regarding that, I’m sorry, but I must decline. I’m not presumptuous enough to think I could take you as my wife.’
‘What a shame……. Even though you’re a gentry, I think the Werner family wouldn’t be a bad match.’
‘……’
‘Is there another reason besides the difference in status? Perhaps someone you’re interested in?’
‘……Yes, there is.’
‘What? Really?’
‘……Someone I’ve liked for a very long time. I don’t think these feelings will change easily.’
‘……I’m surprised. I thought Mr. Werner was like a stone. Turns out you have a romantic side?’

Felix had someone he liked…….

I knew that Penelope was looking for a husband—more precisely, a puppet husband who wouldn’t go against her wishes—from our last tearoom conversation.

But I never thought she would propose a contract marriage to Felix. And I certainly didn’t think Felix had someone he loved. ……Thinking about it, it’s entirely possible.

‘He’s at an age where he should be meeting and dating women.’

In my memories, Felix was always the innocent boy who smiled purely, so I must have unconsciously harbored a bias.

Perhaps I wanted Felix to remain a beautiful memory from the past…….

‘……How foolish.’

I chuckled at my own childishness. If I were a true friend, I should support Felix. So he could be with the person he loves.

Felix, whom I glanced at again, was staring straight ahead with an expressionless face. The soprano in the red dress had just begun to sing in the center of the stage.

Oh, kind one.
Answer me.
Is it better to speak?
Or to die?……. ¹A/N: An homage to Marguerite de Navarre’s “Heptameron: The Tenth Story.”

* * *

After the concert, there was a modest party. Though ‘modest’ in name, it was actually the epitome of splendor.

Standing next to me, Penelope whispered, ‘Indeed, even a nouveau riche is still rich.’

“Did you enjoy the concert, Mr. Werner?”

“Yes, Miss Quinton, do you enjoy music?”

“I do enjoy music, but I can’t boast about my skills. I can play the piano a little.”

“You’re very modest. I’ve heard how excellent your piano playing is.”

“Oh, you flatter me.”

Nearby, Felix was chatting with a pretty blonde girl with green eyes. I wondered if this girl, Miss Catherine Quinton, might be Felix’s unrequited love. With such curiosity, their conversation became even more intriguing.

It was hard to know the details of Felix’s personal life, but I hoped things would go well for him, whoever she was.

There’s no falsehood in wishing for your most cherished friend’s happiness. The surprise I felt earlier had now completely vanished, leaving only pure support.

“Oh, I’ll take my leave now, Mr. Werner.”

“Yes, it was a pleasant conversation, Miss Quinton.”

“See you next time.”

Called by her cousin, Miss Quinton smiled and walked away. Felix took a sip of his champagne and then approached Penelope and me with a slightly awkward smile.

“Is Miss Quinton your lovely her, Mr. Werner?”

Penelope, who didn’t put on airs with someone who had seen through her, threw a blunt question. Felix’s eyes widened slightly before he let out a hollow laugh and shook his head.

“No, she isn’t. Though the Quinton family has invested money.”

“So, you were being kind to Miss Quinton because she’s under your management?”

“Not so much management……more like we’re friends with mutual interests.”

His attitude was neat, as if saying it was nothing more than that. For me, who had secretly hoped Miss Quinton was Felix’s ‘her,’ it was a bit disappointing.

……To be honest, I was very curious. Who was the person Felix was in love with?

I usually had little interest in other people’s love lives, but Felix, who had been like a sibling to me, was an exception.

“By the way, didn’t you say you wanted to see the Rayborn family’s garden? Ellen.”

“Ah, yes.”

“I have some business to attend to, so how about escorting Ellen, Mr. Werner? I think you’d be better than leaving her with someone else.”

“I……”

Felix hesitated at Penelope’s suggestion. Just as I was about to say it was okay to help my troubled friend, someone unexpectedly intervened in our conversation.

“May I take on that escort, Your Highness?”

“You are……”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Erich Hameln.”

At that moment, I tensed up. This person……

“Oh my, Mr. Hameln? You want to escort Her Highness? I ask purely out of concern, but it’s not for an interview, is it?”

……Yes. He was the owner and president of the weekly magazine ‘Dramatica,’ who used his position to attend social events where journalists had difficulty entering, conducting direct interviews with celebrities.

His nicknames included ‘Snake Tongue,’ ‘So Vile Even Demons Would Cry,’ and ‘Brazen-faced.’ His eloquence was so remarkable that many people inadvertently revealed their secrets to him.

“Lady Ashwood, how could you say such a thing……. How could I possibly be disrespectful to Her Highness, the Grand Duchess of Bayern? I simply wish to escort Her Highness out of pure intention.”

“I’ll do it.”

Hameln’s smooth words were abruptly cut off as if by scissors. The one holding the scissors was none other than Felix. Standing in front of me as if to shield me from Hameln, Felix wore a polite but chilly smile.

“I’ll do it, so there’s no need for you to go to the trouble, Mr. Hameln.”

“What? But, Mr. Werner……”

“Then, if you’ll excuse us. Lady Ashwood, I’ll see you next time. ……And Your Highness.”

Felix’s gloved hand was cautiously extended.

Blinking in a daze, I slowly moved my hand. When my hand gently rested on his, his much larger hand softly enveloped mine.

……I didn’t realize Felix had such large hands.

“Alright, Mr. Werner. Please take care of our dear Grand Duchess.”

“Don’t worry.”

Responding politely to Penelope’s request, Felix gracefully led me toward the exit. Hameln, who had lost his chance, stood there glaring at us.

On the way to the garden, Felix remained silent with a stiff expression. It was probably because Hameln had made him uncomfortable. Given Hameln’s shamelessness in collecting various scandals, Felix likely found him detestable.

We quietly walked to the entrance of the maze garden. Felix paused and turned to look at me, as if he had something to say.

I waited leisurely, looking around. There were no prying eyes or eavesdropping ears.

Meeting Felix’s gaze again, I smiled and asked.

“Now that it’s just the two of us, will you treat me like you used to?”

“……”

Complicated emotions flickered in Felix’s amber eyes. I didn’t bother pointing out that he had been treating me as the ‘Grand Duchess’ rather than a ‘friend.’ Felix was probably conscious of others’ eyes.

It was understandable. Though it left a slightly bitter taste.

After a long pause, Felix finally spoke, his voice somewhat strained.

“……I’m sorry, Ellen. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“No, I’m not upset. But, don’t doubt that we’re still friends.”

“……Friends……. Yes.”

Was it just my imagination, or did Felix’s voice sound oddly wistful?

With a faint smile, he resumed leading me. We left the splendid ballroom behind and walked into the lush maze garden.