24. Bianca is Not Easy to Deal With

When Bianca came out of the store with an armful of bags, Luka had already left.

“Did you get everything?”

Alyona, who was at the bakery next door, approached her carrying bags full of bread.

“Yes.”

“Let me take those.”

Alyona took the bags from Bianca’s hands and handed them to the Duke’s attendants standing nearby.

“Are you looking for someone?”

Alyona asked, seeing her mistress still craning her neck and looking around the street.

“No, nothing.”

Bianca said in a deflated voice.

She hurried out hoping to greet him one more time if he was still on the street.

She had taken a liking to him in that brief time.

Not just because he was an unusually handsome man, but because he seemed somehow familiar.

“He looks like him.”

“Pardon? Who looks like whom?”

“I saw someone who looks like my first love.”

“Oh my!”

Alyona clapped her hands excitedly.

She knew well about Bianca’s first love, as the young lady had chattered about him endlessly when she was little.

“If it’s your first love, could it be that person from when you were young?”

“Yes, that person. But it couldn’t be. The person I just met was a commoner.”

“Don’t be too disappointed. I’m sure you’ll meet him again.”

“I’ve been searching for over ten years but he never appeared.”

Bianca said with a deep sigh.

In truth, she had indirectly declined numerous marriage proposals from men because of the hope that she might someday meet her first love again.

“You’ve only been searching in the South until now. You didn’t know his name, and your memories have faded as you grew up, so there were hardly any clues.”

Of course, she had sent people to look in the North too, but there were limitations to not searching in person.

Bianca, taking after her deceased mother, had been weak since childhood, so a long journey to the North was too much for her.

That’s why she had never been to the North before.

“Now that you’re much healthier, I’m sure His Grace will allow it. How about going to the North together during this year’s social season?”

“Should we?”

Beaming briefly at Alyona’s enticing suggestion, Bianca’s face soon fell again.

“What if he’s already married?”

“If you and he are truly destined, he’ll still be single.”

“How do you always know just what to say to make me feel better, Alyona?”

“How many years have I been a noble lady’s maid? I’ve served since the Duchess was unmarried and followed you here.”

After Duchess Smirnov passed away, she didn’t return to her family but stayed with the two young ladies who were still children.

She had been their nanny when they were young, and now she was the lady’s maid to the grown ladies.

“When sister and I get married, who will you follow?”

To this playful question, Alyona looked around and whispered just loud enough for her to hear.

“Lady Katarina, of course.”

“I’m hurt! But why are you whispering that here? I’m the one being rejected by you, Alyona?”

“Well, I’ll naturally have to gossip about Lady Katarina, you see. You’ll do well wherever you go, but I’m always worried about Lady Katarina.”

“Sister’s an adult now, what’s there to worry about?”

“I’m worried she might lose her temper during a marital dispute and start wielding weapons. It’s not just swords — she knows fists, guns, oh my…”

Alyona shuddered as if just imagining it was frightening.

She was already worried that if Katia ever faced mistreatment from in-laws, she might lose her temper and turn the whole household upside down.

Not only would it bring shame to the House of Smirnov, but she could be brought to trial for the crime of disobeying her husband.

While it wasn’t illegal for a husband to hit his wife, it was considered a sin for a wife to hit her husband.

“Even though sister said she won’t marry, if she does, wouldn’t the man she chooses be someone who won’t make her angry? Sister doesn’t get angry without reason.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Alyona nodded, seeming to agree with Bianca’s logic.

As the two waited for their carriage, the perfumer rushed out from the perfume shop behind them.

“Young lady, you haven’t left yet?”

“What’s the matter?”

“About the perfume you sold to that customer earlier…”

“Ah, that. I left the money on the counter as discussed.”

“Well, about that…”

The perfumer scratched the back of his head with a troubled expression.

“It seems you sold him something different.”

In his hand was the perfume that Bianca had found for Luka earlier.

“Oh, why is this here? I’m sure I packed it in the box…”

“It seems you accidentally packed a different perfume that was on the counter instead. This was left on the counter instead.”

Bianca, her hands trembling from thoughts of her first love, had mistakenly grabbed and packed a different perfume instead of the one she had found, and given it to Luka.

“The one that was originally on the counter was a cheap product we leave out for customers to take freely, so that customer probably got quite shortchanged.”

The perfumer showed her the change.

It was almost the full amount that Luka had paid.

Bianca had charged him for the most expensive perfume but given him a cheap one instead.

“Oh no… I’ve damaged the shop’s reputation.”

“That’s alright. If that customer comes back here, we can explain the mistake and give him this perfume instead. I came out to tell you in advance in case you run into him and he complains to you.”

“Thank you for letting me know. If I see him on the way, I’ll explain properly.”

After sending the perfumer back, Bianca slapped her own cheeks.

“I must be crazy. Where was my mind?”

“Young lady! Across the street, across the street!”

Alyona suddenly grabbed the self-reproaching lady’s hand and urgently whispered in ventriloquism.

When Bianca looked across the street as directed, she saw Gregory waving at her, his bald head gleaming.

He was the man who, while liking Bianca, had tried courting Katia as a backup option, got taught a lesson with a crossbow, and then sent another marriage proposal to Bianca.

That’s why she always made excuses to avoid meeting him when he sent letters asking to meet.

Moreover, beside him was Olen, another of Bianca’s suitors, holding a bouquet of flowers.

“Were those two acquainted? What was his name again?”

“Olen Menshikov. The youngest son of Marquis Menshikov. You had an appointment with him this afternoon, but with Count Gregory…”

“I told him I was sick and couldn’t meet, right?”

Bianca said, squeezing her eyes shut.

Gregory, who had accidentally met Olen on the street, had been arguing with him when he said he was going to meet Bianca, accusing him of lying.

Then, upon spotting her across the street, they both intended to approach her to clarify the truth.

“Lady Bianca!”

“We’ll come over there!”

As they eagerly greeted her and looked for a chance to cross the street, Bianca smiled brightly as the Duke’s carriage arrived in front of her.

“Would it be wrong to just get in and leave now?”

“You’ve already made eye contact. Besides, they’ll probably follow us to the Duke’s residence.”

“Do you think sister would chase them away with her crossbow again?”

“Are you suggesting we cause trouble at the peaceful Duke’s residence again?”

“Ah, I should’ve just declined to meet Olen too. If only Marquis Menshikov and father weren’t academy classmates…”

Bianca sighed and muttered.

By then, the two suitors had crossed the street.

“Oh, hello? Have you all been well?”

“Of course. Have you been well?”

“I was just about to buy these flowers and head to the Duke’s residence, and here we meet again. Perhaps this is fate.”

At Olen’s words, Gregory glared at him sharply before turning back to Bianca with a light laugh.

“Actually, I was just scolding this guy for trying to visit the Duke’s residence without an appointment.”

“How many times must I tell you? I clearly had an appointment with Lady Bianca–”

“What’s with this male pride, telling lies right in front of her? Lady Bianca, are you feeling alright?”

“Yes, thanks for your concern. Though I’m still feeling dizzy. Ah–”

Bianca put her hand to her forehead and staggered sideways as if experiencing vertigo.

Alyona rushed to support her before the two men could reach her.

“Young Lady, the doctor specifically said not to go out in the sun since you faint so easily. He insisted you stay in bed for now, yet you’re ‘pushing yourself’ to make appointments.”

“How could I refuse those who come to see me?”

Bianca turned to her suitors with a pitiful look.

“I’m sorry. I was so thoughtless that I should have sent another reply to the Count about coming today…”

“Oh no, not at all! It was already too much strain meeting this guy, how could I add to that burden?”

Gregory responded while subtly blaming Olen.

Suddenly cast as the insensitive man pressuring a sick woman for a meeting, Olen’s face turned red as a beet and he lowered his head.

“I apologize. I had no idea you were this unwell… It would be best to cancel today’s appointment.”

“How could I do that when you’ve come all this way? The ducal residence is close by, let’s go together.”

“Oh my, Young Lady! You need to rest as soon as you get to the ducal residence, what are you saying? Mr. Olen will understand!”

“Of course! Please go quickly. We can reschedule the appointment for later.”

Putting on an apologetic expression, Bianca accepted Olen’s escort and got into the carriage headed for the ducal residence.

Though overshadowed by her sister’s fame, Bianca Smirnov was actually quite a formidable woman.

The southern men’s fantasy and misconception that her quiet and gentle nature meant she was docile and submissive was just that — a fantasy.

As Alyona tried to follow into the carriage, Gregory suddenly asked her a question.

“What brought Lady Bianca out here when she can barely stand?”