Chapter 9. Finding a Chaperone

“You don’t have to cry to be sad.”

I frowned at the sudden mention of Aster’s biological mother.

I disliked her attitude of exploiting someone else’s sorrow. Helen crossed her arms and continued.

“You don’t know Aster Blanche. When he heard about his mother’s death, he immediately left to study abroad and never returned, no matter how much he was called. His father was so heartbroken.”

“You must have instigated it.”

“Anyway, all the medals he earned in the war were due to luck. He was so weak as a child and even stuttered.”

This was unexpected. He didn’t seem weak or to have a speech impediment.

The tragic story made me rethink Aster. Helen’s intention was to make me dislike him, but it made me more curious about him.

I briefly imagined Aster stuttering. It seemed cute in its own way, and I quickly snapped out of it.

‘I’m bewitched.’

With that face and personality, it was hard not to be swayed.

Helen continued.

“And I think he has another woman. The Blanche bloodline is known for their affairs.”

“Another woman?”

My face hardened at the mention of another woman, especially after he talked about purity.

Helen looked around and gestured for me to come closer. When I leaned in, she whispered in my ear.

“Apparently, he stayed out overnight as soon as he arrived in the capital a few days ago. And there was a lipstick mark on his shirt.”

“A few days ago….”

“The maid said there were bite marks on his shoulder. How rough must the night have been?”

Oh my god. I bit him. I actually bit him!

I felt my mind go blank. I was undoubtedly the woman she was talking about. I was relieved that his face was fine, but it seemed I had bitten his shoulder hard.

‘Camilla, you really turned into a beast after drinking. Why the shoulder….’

My face burned with embarrassment.

I seriously considered throwing myself into the artificial lake.

The thought of what I had done played out endlessly in my mind like popping popcorn. I couldn’t focus on what Helen was saying.

“Alright. I’ll prepare accordingly.”

“Huh, what?”

“I’m leaving!”

I belatedly asked what she was talking about, but Helen left without answering.

“What is she planning to prepare?”

I had a bad feeling. Helen never did anything right, which made it worse.

Left alone, I stood there feeling uneasy for a while.

Realizing I was running late for the meeting, I hurriedly walked away. As I got busy with the schedule, I forgot about Helen’s matter.

I had no idea what Helen was planning.

* * *

Early in the morning, I headed to the villa of the former Marchioness of Letia outside the capital. I was going to ask her to be my chaperone for the upcoming debutante.

The debutante was not only an event to be recognized as an adult but also a place to be evaluated by other nobles. For an heir like me, it was also an opportunity to find good business partners.

It was a place to showcase the etiquette, manners, and dance skills I had cultivated all my life, so thorough preparation was necessary. The noblewoman who assisted with these preparations was called a chaperone.

Finding a well-known and well-connected noblewoman as a chaperone was crucial for the success of the debutante.

My goal for this debutante was not just to impress the nobles.

I aimed to become the Flower of the Year.

The Flower of the Year was a title given by the emperor to a woman of intelligence and beauty. The family that received this honor was given priority in future imperial projects.

I desperately wanted to secure this opportunity, as imperial projects were unparalleled in their profitability.

“Miss, we have arrived.”

With the coachman’s announcement, the carriage came to a stop.

I took a deep breath to calm my nerves and stepped out of the carriage. As soon as I got out, I saw a neat and antique mansion.

Ayla Letia was the wife of the former Marquis of Letia, known for his integrity.

After the Marquis’s death, she spent her remaining years alone at a villa on the outskirts of the capital.

She had been the Flower of the Year and received numerous requests to be a chaperone each year. All the women she guided were selected as the Flower of the Year that year.

Because of her popularity, I had to send a message months in advance to finally get a meeting.

It was said that the former Marchioness of Letia could accurately judge if someone could become the Flower of the Year just by meeting them once. She would never agree to be a chaperone unless she saw potential.

As I entered the mansion, the head maid greeted me first.

“Are you Camilla Francis?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry, but the lady has unexpectedly received an important guest. It seems it will be difficult to have the interview today.”

“What? But….”

Who could be so important that she would cancel a prior appointment?

I couldn’t leave without meeting her after finally getting this time.

“How long will it take? If it’s okay, I’d like to wait and see her.”

“Ah, the guest has just arrived. Are you sure you don’t mind waiting?”

The head maid looked at her watch with a troubled expression. It seemed the guest had just arrived. But I couldn’t give up so easily, so I smiled.

“I can wait as long as needed. Just give me some tea and a book.”

“Then I’ll guide you to the reception room and prepare some tea and books.”

“Thank you.”

Following the maid’s guidance, I arrived at the reception room and looked out the window while she left. I noticed another carriage besides the one I came in.

Oddly enough, it was a pitch-black carriage with no family crest. Its raven-like appearance made me tilt my head in curiosity.

‘Who could this important guest be?’

It seemed like a significant person if the former Marchioness of Letia was willing to make such an effort.

The head maid returned with tea and a book, setting up a neat tea set on the table. I turned to her and asked,

“May I ask what kind of relationship the guest has with the former Marchioness of Letia?”

“He is the life savior of the current young Marquis of Letia. Their connection began during the recent Colt War.”

The Colt War was a border war that happened five years ago. Many prominent families’ children participated and died in that war.

It seemed the young Marquis of Letia had also participated. Given the ongoing relationship, it was clear the guest had saved his life multiple times in dire situations.

‘Who could it be?’

As a benefactor, he had a strong card to influence Ayla Letia.

I probed the maid with the intention of gaining some leverage.

“Could you tell me the name of this guest?”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t disclose that.”

The maid skillfully avoided answering and left the reception room. It was already kind enough of her to give me this much information.

I obediently sat on the sofa and started reading the book. I hadn’t read many pages when I heard a tapping sound.

I looked around, thinking I had misheard, but someone was throwing crab apples at the window.

‘What’s this?’

It seemed too strange to be a bird, so I approached the window out of curiosity. Just as I opened the window,

“Move aside!”

With a shout, a man hanging from a tree jumped into the room, his cloak fluttering like a bird’s wings.

“Eek!”

Startled, I instinctively stepped back. My heart pounded.

Is this guy crazy?

This was the third floor. I hadn’t expected anyone to be outside. He had climbed a large tree to get here.

Is he an assassin? A robber?

But he was too small and wasn’t wearing a mask. He looked like a well-raised young man. Golden hair, fair skin. His green eyes were as clear as fresh leaves.

While I was thinking all sorts of things, trying to calm my racing heart, the man nonchalantly dusted off his clothes. After a moment, he smiled brightly and said,

“Thanks for opening the window! I was wondering if I’d have to break in.”

“Who are you to enter through the window when there’s a perfectly good door?”

“Ah, I’m….”

Just as he was about to answer, the head maid entered, probably having heard the commotion outside. She was shocked to see the man.

“Christopher! You came in through the window again?!”