Though she was completely exhausted from just one night’s banquet, Radilt had to enter the Gate of Summer again the next day. Fortunately, this time it wasn’t as burdensome as yesterday, as she had learned about Pendlore’s tendency to leave banquets early, in addition to Yenica’s kind protection.

And in the carriage returning home, she heard the welcome news that she didn’t have to attend the banquet on the third day.

“From now on, once or twice a week will be sufficient. Let’s set appointments on days when you can close the workshop.”

“……Once or twice a week?”

Radilt asked in surprise. That was still too much. The fact that such extravagant parties were held more than twice a week made Yenica’s family story somewhat clearer even to Radilt, who knew little of the world.

Clearly, relying solely on past glory wouldn’t be enough to handle such enormous expenses.

“There are banquets as grand as the Gate of Summer, but there are also gatherings where people don’t even dance and only converse. So don’t be too frightened, madam. Their interest in you will also gradually diminish.”

“If it’s on days when the workshop is closed, that’s fine. It’s what I agreed to with you, Lord Duston.”

“An admirable attitude. What are your plans for tomorrow?”

Tomorrow was a day off for Langfiel’s workshop. Recently, she had gone to House Duston every holiday to receive lessons in preparation for banquets, but now that she had overcome the biggest hurdle, she could afford some leisure.

It would be fine to spend a relaxed time doing household chores that had piled up, but.

“I’ll visit you with my savings.”

Pendlore smiled with satisfaction at Radilt’s words.

“A pleasing schedule. I will keep the lunch hour free for you, Lady Brill.”

Radilt nodded and turned her gaze out the window. Ripples stirred on the lake where the moon shone white. That breathtaking silver light filled her eyes to the brim, then gathered faintly and trembled.

* * *

“Sister-in-law! Sister-in-law! Tell me about the Gate of Summer!”

Her sister-in-law Erite clung to Radilt from the morning. This was because she hadn’t had a chance to ask yesterday or the day before, as Radilt had returned late at night and was busy at the workshop during the day.

“They say all the prominent nobles attend the Gate of Summer! Ah, if only I could go to such a place, I’d get married tomorrow!”

Radilt looked somewhat pitifully at her immature sister-in-law. Without a noble partner willing to take her hand, Erite not only couldn’t attend banquets, but even if she did go, she would clearly be openly ignored. Those nobles would pretend otherwise but treat her like a maid. They would toy with this noble lady in name only who was closer to a commoner with no knowledge of the world.

“It was a beautiful villa overlooking the lake.”

Erite volunteered to help with housework while listening to the story, and Radilt pretended to give in and began speaking.

“All the servants were dressed in forest and lake-themed costumes, and the ceiling of the hall was bright as if the sun had risen.”

“I once saw a very pretty chandelier in the garden before!”

“Carriages kept arriving. There were even carriages pulled by as many as eight horses.”

“A man who rides in such a carriage must definitely be rich! He must have been handsome too.”

If I could just meet him once, I could make him fall completely for my charm!

Erite, with dreamy eyes, lifted the heavy laundry basket with ease. Her sister-in-law was very strong, which made it really convenient when she occasionally helped with housework like this.

Radilt thought this was perfect timing and suggested moving the sofa to clean underneath it. There was still plenty of time until lunch, so they could thoroughly sweep and clean the living room.

“The band had about thirty members, and they laid real grass on the stage. With all those flowers and trees…… it was like a piece of forest had been moved there.”

“Wooow……”

Erite imagined the scene with admiration and envy.

“Who attended? Were there imperial family members? Did you see any imperial family members, sister-in-law?”

“The women of the imperial family don’t attend the Gate of Summer. Instead, young duke Babloth came.”

“The Babloth ducal family! I know them too!”

Erite made a fuss, saying they were a very, very famous and historical family with immense wealth and power, closely connected to the imperial family. So he was that impressive a person, that beautiful man.

Radilt recalled young duke Babloth’s appearance. The way he didn’t properly meet her gaze and immediately turned his head away painfully stabbed her heart.

‘……He must not have liked me.’

Because he hated the fact that such an unremarkable woman was standing beside his friend. Because her presumptuous appearance displeased him. That must be why he showed such a cold attitude.

“Sister-in-law! So, so?”

“……He was a very beautiful youngest lord Babloth who strongly resembled his mother from the imperial family. However, he didn’t stay in the hall for long. I heard he doesn’t attend banquets often in general.”

“Wow, wow! Then you met a really precious person! How lucky!”

Erite hummed a tune while imagining the most handsome face she could think of.

“What if that Lord Babloth appears at the next Garden? What if he falls for me at first sight and proposes? Even for me, a ducal family would be too burdensome~”

Radilt gave a bitter smile at her excited sister-in-law’s appearance. It’s good to be able to dream freely. Even if the marriage market is a garden where only inexperienced young people gather, it wouldn’t be easy.

For Erite, who had no distinguished family background and not a penny of dowry, and who wasn’t an outstanding beauty either, finding a good match as she wished would be nearly impossible.

‘……Now that I’m connected to Lord Duston, this might be the best opportunity to meet a decent man.’

Even that would end by the next garden party, or at most the one after that. In two months, Radilt would be relegated to being Pendlore’s former lover.

And the position of Countess Duston.

Radilt thought of the lady with silver hair. Yenica Biarne. A woman like her would take that place.

Although Pendlore said he had no intention of marrying, the possibility of leaving the position of the family’s mistress vacant forever was low. Wouldn’t he bring in a contract wife who would agree to fulfill only their mutual obligations?

Yenica Biarne would fit in there very well.

“……”

Radilt imagined Pendlore and Yenica standing side by side and laughed as if about to cry. A noble pair of black and white. The portrait of Count and Countess Duston, looking so natural together as if they were made for each other, filled her mind all too easily.

“Sister-in-law! Are you going to House Duston today too?”

“Yes. We agreed to have lunch together.”

“I’m so envious…… by the way.”

Erite asked with an uncharacteristically cautious voice.

“Could you ask Lord Duston to invite me? Now that you’ve made your social debut, you’ll be frequenting banquets. I heard it’s common for relatives to go together.”

Even as relatives, with her husband dead without children, Radilt and Erite were actually not related at all. In reality, Radilt had no reason to let Erite stay in this house.

So it was an incredibly shameless request, but Radilt answered with a gentle smile.

“Yes. I’ll ask him.”

“Really? Thank you!”

“But don’t get your hopes up.”

Radilt quietly told a lie. She wouldn’t say anything to Pendlore. She would quietly have lunch as if she had forgotten her sister-in-law’s request and return home obediently.

Her conscience stung a little, but soon faded dimly.

Shortly before noon, Radilt secretly took out her hidden savings, away from Erite’s eyes. She wrapped the coins tightly in cloth, put them in a small bag, and prepared to go out.

“Have a good time, sister-in-law! Make sure to ask Lord Duston!”

Radilt left the house with Erite’s hopeful send-off.

The weather, having entered summer, was quite hot, and beads of sweat formed on her way to House Duston. When she used to go to the workshop, it was fine in the early morning and afternoon when the sun had subsided a bit, but near noon, the heat felt sharp.

‘I used to not mind sweating at all before.’

She used to walk silently on two legs under the midsummer sun without a word. Now, her dampening back just felt unpleasant. She also worried whether her thin summer dress might reveal her skin.

She had changed so much in just one month since meeting Pendlore.

Thinking that she should be more careful about scheduling appointment times next time, Radilt entered through the main gate of House Duston.

“Was the way here very hot for you, Lady Brill?”

Assistant butler Rosie greeted Radilt with servants carrying a bowl of ice water, cool drinks, and parasols. Radilt moistened her throat with the drink and cooled herself by dipping her fingertips in the ice water, then smiled.

“It was still fine. But next time I should visit in the early morning or around sunset.”

“I recommend using a carriage, but are you still uncomfortable with that?”

“I enjoy walking with Serena, so I’ll continue riding her for a while. If it gets too hot, Serena might struggle too, so I’ll consider using a carriage then.”

Whether she would still be visiting this mansion by that time was unknown.

“There’s some time left until lunch, so I’ll prepare a bath for you.”

Rosie said after examining Radilt’s condition. Radilt nodded lightly.