23. The Sons-in-law of House Smirnov

“Please leave now!”

Having run out of things to say, Katya scurried behind him and pushed his back with both hands.

Though her strength was actually useless against him, he played along and let himself be pushed while turning his head to ask,

“What about clothes? Is it alright for me to expose my private parts to other women like this?”

“We’re strangers! What kind of relationship do you think we have, Your Grace? Please go!”

Just then, Duke Smirnov, returning from his outing, spotted them and approached with recognition.

“Your Grace, you’re here? But what happened to your clothes…?”

Startled by her father’s voice, Katya nervously swallowed and peeked her head out from behind him.

“Katya, you’re here too?”

“Haha… Welcome back, Father.”

At that moment, Nikolai suddenly put on the most virtuous expression and crossed his arms over his stomach.

“Well, you see. Someone suddenly tore my clothes apart.”

“What? In our mansion?”

At the Duke’s question, he just quietly nodded while fluttering his long eyelashes.

Katya looked up at him in disbelief at his natural acting.

“How dare they! What scoundrel would commit such an outrageous act in broad daylight? Katya, did you see who it was?”

When her father turned to her, she quickly hid her hands behind her back, still gripping the torn fabric.

It was obvious she would unfairly be pointed out as the culprit in this situation.

“I-I don’t know anything!”

With just those words, the prime suspect fled quickly.

Watching her strawberry-colored hair flutter in the wind, Nikolai secretly giggled.

Thanks to Katya, he truly understood why the expression ‘so cute you could die’ existed.

“Was it her? I apologize, Your Grace.”

“Actually, I was joking. It just got caught on something and tore.”

“I see. If you’d like, I can lend you some clothes. And I apologize on behalf of my daughter for leaving without proper greetings.”

“No need. Though I must say, the Duke’s eldest daughter has quite quick feet.”

Though it was meant as a compliment, the Duke took it differently.

For a lady to run like that was against proper etiquette.

Thinking it was a roundabout criticism like other northerners would make, Duke Smirnov bowed his head apologetically.

“She’s like an unbridled foal — I don’t know who will marry her. She says she wants to live with her father forever. I don’t mind, but taking care of aging parents is the hardest thing for children. She needs to find a good match soon and create a family they can rely on together…”

The father’s love for his daughter was clearly conveyed even to Nikolai.

He had never experienced paternal love in his life.

Moreover, he had to live apart from his mother, who became the deposed grand duchess, when he was young.

“Though I didn’t spend much time with my mother, those memories are precious.”

“My mom carried me in her weak body for ten months and gave birth to me with her life, so I don’t tolerate anyone treating me poorly. If my mom knew I was being treated like that anywhere, she’d be upset.”

Now he understood why Katya had said such things before.

Nikolai felt a bit envious of her growing up showered with parental love.

“Oh my, I’ve been rambling on needlessly. I apologize, Your Grace.”

“You needn’t worry too much.”

“Pardon?”

“A good man suitable for your daughter will appear soon.”

Even then, he didn’t forget to subtly promote himself to his future father-in-law.

***

At that time, Bianca was out at the market, unaware that she might soon have a future brother-in-law.

She had a small hobby of making soap.

The strawberry scent that had entranced Nikolai was Bianca’s handiwork.

Katya, sensitive to fragrances, despised perfume saying it gave her headaches, and would only use soap made by her sister.

When she learned that her sister had washed just fine with different soap at the inn, Bianca, who took pride in being something of a soap artisan, felt threatened.

“I’ll make sure sister can never use any other soap again!”

With that firm goal in mind, she had come out to buy ingredients.

“Welcome, Young Lady.”

The perfumer recognized his regular customer and greeted her first.

“What kind of fragrance are you looking for today?”

“I want to try blending a new scent. Something that makes you keep thinking about it after using it once?”

“Are you tired of the soap you made before? You’ve been consistently buying that combination for a long time.”

“That’s right. That sweet strawberry jam-like scent is perfect for my sister.”

Bianca tapped her finger with a worried expression.

Though she had tried various scented soaps, the strawberry scent she created was the one that suited Katya best.

She had gone through so many trials and errors to create the scent of strawberry desserts.

It felt regrettable to change it now.

“Then just pack the usual please.”

“Yes. Is there anything else you need?”

“Since summer is coming, I need materials to make scent sachets for Father.”

“Yes. Please take your time looking around.”

After the perfumer went inside to package the soap materials, Bianca looked around and smelled various perfumes and fragrances.

While she was happily contemplating the many new scents that had come in, the bell jingled as someone opened the door and entered from outside.

“Is anyone here?”

Bianca turned around at the man’s question.

A handsome man with brown hair and height that seemed to reach the ceiling bowed to her.

“Are you the owner?”

“Ah? Well…”

“I’m in a bit of a hurry — could you quickly help me find the perfume I’m looking for?”

The man seemed to have mistaken her for the shop owner.

It was understandable since she always dressed modestly when coming to the market.

Bianca glanced toward the storage area.

Since she always ordered in bulk, making soap not just for Katya’s strawberry scent but also as gifts for the mansion’s servants, the perfumer would likely be busy packaging for quite a while.

The man kept glancing at his pocket watch and seemed very rushed.

Not wanting the shop to lose a customer because of her, Bianca decided to play along as the owner until the perfumer returned.

“What kind of perfume are you looking for?”

“I can’t quite remember the name…”

“If you don’t know the name, could you describe what it’s like? I’ll help you find it if I know it.”

While listening to the man’s description and letting him sample different scents, Bianca finally found the perfume he was looking for.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I won’t get scolded today.”

The man who quickly completed his purchase finally seemed relieved as he patted his chest.

Bianca winked knowingly as she handed over the wrapped perfume.

“It must be tough.”

“You have no idea. They’re so demanding about getting this no matter what.”

“Seems like your master has quite the difficult personality.”

Bianca whispered, assuming he must be an attendant to some demanding noble.

At those words, the man blinked in surprise.

“Pardon?”

“It must be hard to please them, right? Those nobles act all refined and dignified in public, but behind closed doors they’re so cruel to their servants. Let’s be understanding about it.”

Bianca gossiped while thinking of the rude suitors who had disrespected her sister.

As the man struggled to find a response, the bell jingled again as another man entered.

“There you are, Young Master! I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

At those words, the man rushed to him, making gestures to stop talking.

“How strange. Why do you keep blinking? Is there something in your eye?”

“Haha… Why are you suddenly speaking formally to me, Young Master? No matter how angry you are that I was late, please stop being sarcastic.”

He nudged his attendant’s arm while conscious of Bianca’s presence.

He didn’t want her to feel awkward after criticizing nobles once she learned his identity.

“Our Young Master can be quite mischievous like this. Haha.”

“Please come again!”

Bianca waved with a smile as she watched the man hurriedly leave with his companion.

Once outside, the attendant looked up at his master and said:

“Why are you acting like this suddenly? Did you get amnesia like in a play while we were briefly separated?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Then tell me your name, Young Master.”

“Luka Oblonsky.”

Luka brushed back his brown hair with an annoyed expression.

As the third son of Duke Oblonsky, head of the Senate which served as the Grand Duke’s advisory body, he belonged to the ‘Boyarin’ — the collective term for Hersen’s high nobility.

Perhaps he was exactly the type that the girl in the perfume shop would detest the most.

That’s why he had continued pretending to be an attendant, playing along with her misunderstanding.

He had no idea that Bianca herself was also of the Boyarin class.

“I’ve never seen such a beautiful woman before.”

Luka muttered while clutching his wildly beating heart.

In truth, the moment he had opened the door and met Bianca’s eyes, he had fallen in love at first sight.

Flustered, even his first words had been foolish.

Asking “Is the owner here?” when she was right in front of him.

“She was beautiful enough to catch the eye. But you know you can’t let your heart get involved, right?”

“I know.”

Luka answered in a subdued voice.

Though he had come south briefly on business, he would soon have to return to the capital.

Born as a Boyarin, he was destined to marry someone of the same class chosen by his parents.

“Did you find the perfume His Grace requested? You caused quite a trouble forgetting to bring it when you came down from the north, after he insisted so much.”

“Fortunately, I found it.”

Luka smiled, holding up the wrapped perfume.

The one who had troubled him about this perfume was none other than the Grand Duke of Hersen, Nikolai, who had been his friend since childhood.