Chapter 4

The dining table at the Vanetti household, which they hadn’t gathered around in a long time, was bustling. At the head sat Franz Vanetti, with his wife Margaret Vanetti on his right. Across from his mother sat the eldest son, Theodore Vanetti, with Olivia Vanetti beside him, and Aaron Vanetti. Harriet’s seat was next to her mother, Margaret Vanetti.

“I’m so ashamed because of my children that I can’t show my face in society. Not one of them doesn’t give me grief.”

The table was lavishly adorned with dishes like a brain dish garnished with seasonal fruits drizzled with olive oil, a dish made from a calf just over three months old, and various fish dishes for Margaret Vanetti, who loved seafood.

At the rebuke that came during the meal, Harriet quietly lowered her eyes. She intended to let it pass, as it was the usual scolding. If only it weren’t for the annoying voice that eagerly chimed in.

“Father, speaking of which, have you heard about what Harriet did this time? There’s a scandal about her breaking up with a man on the street while he was stark n*ked. Is that something an unmarried noble lady should do?”

“Harriet!”

Margaret, shocked, scolded Harriet with her eyes.

“How could you do such a thing? Cough… Cough…”

“Drink some water.”

Margaret’s coughing fit didn’t subside easily. Harriet, who had been gently patting her mother’s back, glared at Theodore, who had caused the situation. He was pretending to be oblivious, adjusting his utensils.

“You should go up now.”

Unable to watch any longer, Franz instructed a maid to help Margaret.

“Tell me, Harriet. How long must I tolerate your reckless behavior?”

“I’m still unmarried, so it’s relatively better, Father.”

Waiting for her mother to leave, Harriet finally spoke.

“Did you see the morning newspaper today? It had a long article about a singer spending a very hot night with a man from the Vanetti family.”

“That’s!”

Theodore, feeling guilty, interrupted Harriet’s words.

“Who cares what those cheap tabloids make up!”

“Well, it was too detailed to be made up. From the decorations inside the villa to the furniture. I wonder who the man from the Vanetti family that the singer mentioned is. I’m so curious. It couldn’t be our elderly father, nor our innocent Aaron…”

The implication was clear. Theodore, whose face turned red and blue, couldn’t refute and merely opened and closed his mouth.

However, the one more disheartened was Olivia, Theodore’s wife, sitting next to him. Franz, who glanced at his eldest daughter-in-law, who couldn’t even shed tears and had her head bowed, intervened in the sibling quarrel.

“Enough! You’re tearing each other apart disgracefully in front of your father.”

The siblings, who had been growling like dogs with their leashes pulled, clamped their mouths shut. Aaron, who had been watching the situation, broke the icy atmosphere.

“By the way, Father, what’s the announcement you mentioned?”

“Ah, Aaron.”

The wise, kind, and filial second son. Franz’s stern eyes softened instantly as he turned to his youngest son. Once, all his hopes as an heir were pinned on him, but he had chosen the path of an artist, a source of pain. Though it had once left Franz bedridden with shock, it was all in the past. It was a relief he hadn’t become a priest with his honest and gentle nature. Smiling kindly as if he’d never been angry, Franz spoke gently to Aaron.

“You just stay as you are. What I have to announce concerns your lacking brother and sister.”

“My brother and sister?”

“Yes.”

Nodding, Franz turned his head towards Theodore.

“Theodore.”

“Yes?”

“Have a child within this year. Whether it’s a son or a daughter doesn’t matter.”

“Suddenly?”

Olivia also looked at her father-in-law with wide eyes.

“Suddenly? It’s been five years since you got married. Why is there no news of children?”

“That’s!”

“It’s because of me, Father. I’m sorry for disappointing you.”

Olivia, who had been patting her husband’s shoulder to calm him, stood up and bowed her head. Harriet glared at Theodore, who acted clueless. Franz, who coldly stared at his son, softened his tone to comfort Olivia.

“Sit down, Olivia. What fault could you have? It’s that debauched son of mine, who sleeps in separate rooms and plays with other women, who’s at fault.”

“Father…”

The sharp words made Theodore stutter. He never imagined his father knew about such personal matters.

“And Harriet.”

Having seated Olivia again, Franz turned his gaze to his next target. Harriet, unconsciously tense, shrank her shoulders. In the next moment, a shocking announcement was dropped on her head.

“You’re to marry within this year. Breaking up with a nearly n*ked man on the street? I’ve watched your antics long enough, but I can’t tolerate it any longer.”

“Father!”

Just as Theodore had done moments before, Harriet screamed in a shrill voice and stood up.

“Please say something reasonable. There’s less than half a year left in this year. You expect me to rush into such an important matter?”

“The groom candidates are already chosen. You just need to meet them and pick one. Your friends already have two or three children. Even starting preparations now, you’re late.”

As her father’s words continued, Harriet’s face turned pale. With no time to recover from the unexpected blow, the butler entered through the tense dining room air and whispered something into Franz’s ear. Whatever the news was, it made him laugh heartily as he stood up.

“A distinguished guest has arrived.”

Harriet barely managed to hold the muscles of her face in check. Her lips, stretched to their limit, were like a balloon about to burst.

***

“I heard you secured an exclusive transport contract for oil tankers with Martin. Congratulations, Young Master.”

“It’s not entirely my achievement. It was possible due to the long-standing friendship between King Martin and my father. And…”

With his long legs elegantly crossed, the man sat comfortably on the couch and slowly placed the teacup on the rosewood table. His unreadable gaze swept over Harriet. An inexplicable current tingled through where his subtle gaze had passed. Harriet, trying to hide the goosebumps rising on her skin, crossed her arms as if she were cold.

“Feel free to speak. I vividly remember coming here with Aaron.”

Lennox, who had turned his gaze away from Harriet, now gave a slight smile to his friend sitting beside him.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Aaron.”

Aaron, who suddenly found himself the focus of all three people’s attention, looked as if he wished he could crawl into a mouse hole. However, the cat with its claws outstretched did not let go.

“Be honest. Did you know that the Young Master was visiting today?”

“Not at all!”

Aaron waved his hands in denial and pleaded with Harriet.

“I really didn’t know, sister. I swear.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Though she smiled brightly, her eyes were cold. Sweat trickled down Aaron’s back.

While the siblings continued their hushed conversation, Franz, who had laughed heartily, looked lovingly at Aaron before focusing again on the guest.

“Haha, but is it alright?”

“It’s fine. I’ve been consistently writing letters since I stayed abroad four years ago. I thought I’d surprise you with a sudden visit, so I apologize for the unexpectedness.”

“Apologize? You’re always welcome here.”

Franz waved his hands exaggeratedly and burst into hearty laughter.

If the Vanetti family was a well-known wealthy family in this country, the Diorne Duke family was on another level entirely. 

Starting with ancestors who were founding contributors to the nation, the Diorne family had maintained its prestige and, since the time it was called the shipping king, boasted immense wealth and power, ranking among the top five in the entire country.

And that power was now inherited by the current heir, Lennox Diorne, who was said to possess such a brilliant mind and insight that he could buy the country if he wished.

For such a person to be the close friend of his youngest son and to visit without prior notice at this late hour, considering them close, was a great fortune for a businessman like Franz.

“I’m getting sleepy. I should be going now.”

While Franz, with shining eyes, pondered how to start a business conversation with the Duke of Diorne, Harriet gathered her things and stood up.

“Already? I thought you’d stay the night.”

“I just feel more comfortable at home. Please tell Mother I enjoyed the meal and thank her.”

“Take care, then.”

On any other day, Franz would have made a grim face at his daughter, who would leave as soon as she showed her face at the main house, but today he was too preoccupied with the distinguished guest to scold her.

What was unexpected was the man who rose to follow her.

“I’ll escort you.”

Harriet concealed her displeased expression and gave Aaron a silent, fierce look.

“No, I’ll see her off. You must be tired from the long journey, so there’s no need.”

“Aaron.”

Interrupting his friend’s words, Lennox took something out from inside his vest. Aaron’s face turned pale upon glancing at it.

“Y-yeah. It’s been a while since you saw sister.”

“Aaron!”

Glaring at her brother, who had quickly backed down, Harriet discreetly stepped on his foot under the table with her shoe. Though he seemed pained enough to scream, Aaron endured it and avoided her gaze. To make matters worse, Franz, who was watching the peculiar standoff, intervened.

“Harriet. What are you doing? Surely you’re not refusing his kindness?”

“Of course not.”

“Then shall we go?”

Lennox offered his arm to Harriet, whose expression momentarily crumpled as if she’d tasted rotten cabbage water. Harriet, biting her lip, placed her hand on his arm as if being led to the slaughterhouse.