Chapter 1.6

Raymond always felt a slight sense of awe toward the woman who persistently visited during every social season. The name of the uninvited guest, who sat comfortably on the sofa in the sitting room, was Charlotte Fraser.

Despite the displeased look of the mansion’s owner, she steadfastly praised the beauty of the ducal townhouse and the diligence of its staff. Raymond stood by the window of the sitting room, half-listening to her introduction.

Charlotte pointed out his uncooperative attitude right after she finished commenting on the butler’s good health.

“Please have a seat, Duke Belsmire. Our conversation might be lengthy, you know. If you keep standing, I’ll feel unwelcome.”

“Duchess Fraser, I’m comfortable here. I can hear you perfectly well from here.”

“That arrogant attitude hasn’t changed. Not when you were young, nor now.”

“In that case, why not cut down on unnecessary visits and devote yourself to your family’s affairs? There’s no longer any need to pursue your grand plan to become the lady of the house of Blainefield. You’re already the lady of another great house.”

Charlotte’s face flushed, but she quickly lifted her chin and returned to her dignified noblewoman’s demeanor.

“Unnecessary visits? That’s rather disappointing.”

When they were young, Charlotte and Raymond had been spoken of as potential fiancés. But after the Duke remarried, Charlotte’s father, the Marquis of Rosewell, cut off contact between them, citing Raymond’s unstable position. At the time, the marquis and his wife’s decision was considered wise.

But when Isabella failed to last even three years before divorcing the Duke, abandoning the Belsmire heir proved to be a painful mistake.

Fortunately, while Raymond was dispatched overseas, Charlotte received a proposal from another Duke, Nicholas Fraser. It was a heaven-sent opportunity, so Charlotte accepted Duke Fraser’s hand without hesitation. When she sent the news, a reply arrived from Raymond overseas.

She would be lying if she said she hadn’t felt a flicker of hope before opening the letter—hope that he might try to stop the marriage. After all, she had been captivated by Raymond from the very beginning. But the contents were exactly what she expected:

<I wish you immeasurable glory and happiness ahead.>

Raymond sincerely blessed the marriage of a woman who might once have been his wife. Only he could write such a refined letter to a long-time companion marrying someone else.

Charlotte knew Raymond had never felt any attraction for her. Yet, had she refused another man’s proposal, Raymond would have married her simply because those around him advised it.

It would have been the same with any other woman. That was the essence of Raymond—a man of profound indifference. Swallowing the bitter memories, Charlotte pulled her lips into a smile.

“We were good friends, weren’t we?”

“That’s the first I’ve heard of it.”

“When you suffered because of Lady Isabella’s arrival, it was my sister Cordelia and I who stayed by your side, even for a short while. Oh, by the way, you must have heard Cordelia is attending the Royal Academy of Arts in the capital? She asked about your well-being.”

“So now the Marquis’s goal is to make Cordelia Roswell the Duchess?”

Charlotte replied with a playful tone.

“Is that so wrong?”

“I have to go to the company. Get to the point.”

At last, Charlotte took out an invitation from her bag. Raymond strode over and received it. His gaze dropped to the invitation.

A small bell and two feathers were beautifully entwined in the emblem.

Recognizing the illustration on the cover, Raymond asked in disbelief,

“Silverbell? Did you come all the way just to give me a ball invitation?”

“I need a definite answer that you’ll attend. If I just send the invitation, you’re the kind of man who’d reply with a refusal without even checking what’s inside.”

“Is there a special guest coming to this year’s Silverbell Ball?”

“You’re quick. In a few days, the youngest Princess of Vasa will arrive in the capital. The Queen of Vasa and our Crown Princess are distant relatives.”

‘Royal blood…’

Raymond swallowed his faint annoyance and read the formal lines of the invitation. Even without hearing what the Crown Princess wanted through Charlotte, he could already imagine it: how tiresome it would be to attend to a young, naïve princess.

However, one piece of information he’d obtained from the princess’s homeland piqued his interest, if only slightly. If he could use a high-ranking princess as a shield, perhaps the pressure from those around him, urging him to marry, would finally ease.

“Vasa’s social scene isn’t nearly as grand or interesting as Rosnair’s, is it? Apparently, the youngest princess wants to spend time here before her marriage. Finding a splendid groom would be ideal, and it would help strengthen relations between the two countries.”

“So you need a high-ranking clown?”

“We can’t entrust the princess’s escort to some insignificant noble. If there’s no dashing prince, then at least a handsome Duke will do. The Crown Princess has high hopes for you.”

“If I don’t attend, I’ll fall out of favor.”

“Can you find comfort in the fact that the princess is beautiful?”

Charlotte watched Raymond’s reaction. It was obvious he wasn’t tempted by the lure of a famously lovely princess. Yet, after a pause, Raymond didn’t discard the invitation but placed it prominently on his desk. That meant he would attend.

“Good decision.”

Raymond spoke indifferently to Charlotte.

“Vasa has started oil drilling. The princes each have a stake.”

“…And?”

Charlotte tilted her head, confused by the sudden change of topic.

“So you’d better pray she’s close to her brothers.”

‘Ah. So, he’s interested in the oil that wells up from the depths, not the princess herself, and that’s why he’s attending the ball.’

Raymond was always the same.

Only the sense of duty to pass down the family’s illustrious name motivated him. Even marriage was just a means to that end. Raymond required a pure-blooded noblewoman and was not a man to stray from the path given to him.

The fact that the man before her hadn’t changed gave Charlotte a sense of relief.

“I’ll pray with you.”

Anyway, with Duke Belsmire on the list of male attendees, her goal was achieved.

* * *

On the morning the curtain was to be lifted from the showcase window, Alexa woke at dawn with messy hair. Preparing for the marriage market was important, but she couldn’t neglect her responsibilities at the department store.

After getting ready, she planned to quietly ride her bicycle out. But the ever-diligent Dominic was waiting for her at the front door.

“I’ll take you. Let’s go together.”

“Are you driving yourself?”

“If you’re planning to lecture me, like Aunt always does, about how gentlemen shouldn’t drive themselves, then I won’t give you a ride.”

“Of course not. I’d be grateful for a lift.”

Dominic drove flawlessly and dropped her off on the main street a little away from the department store.

“My secretaries’ wives know today is the day Everhart’s showcase window is unveiled. There’s a lot of anticipation.”

“So the rumors have spread that far?”

“Who else but you, Alexa Winterbourne, would have placed such a massive advertisement for Everhart in the women’s magazines in the capital?”

Alexa feigned ignorance and shrugged nonchalantly. Dominic, who had once seen Alexa wrestling with a thick dictionary in the study, determined to come up with a better advertising slogan than Botry Department Store, smiled slightly.

“Do well.”

With a simple word of encouragement, her brother left. Alexa waved until the car was completely out of sight, then turned around. Her footsteps through the still-drowsy city center were light and cheerful.

In the chilly air lingered a faint smell of oil and the scent of freshly printed paper. A familiar newspaper delivery boy passed by, tipping his hat in greeting. Alexa returned the gesture with a nod.

A man hauling a large cart full of flowers also greeted her. She responded lightly, but he called her back and pulled a modest bouquet from the cart to offer her.

“If you give the first flower to a beautiful lady, luck will follow you all day. Would you accept it?”

Alexa accepted the gift.

“Thank you. Have a wonderful day.”

Wrapped in damp newspaper, the bouquet gave off a pleasant fragrance. The budding flowers seemed to embody the customers’ anticipation for the showcase window, and Alexa couldn’t help but smile.

Soon, the department store’s main building, with its soft blue domed roof, came into view. Alexa circled the building carefully to check for any dirt on the exterior that needed cleaning. Fortunately, there were no problems.

Today, the blue awnings unfurled all at once along the street looked as elegant as the sashes on an actress’s evening gown. The arched main entrance exuded a sense of classical balance at the center of the blue waves, while the pale sand-colored exterior walls blended all the decorative elements together like paint.

As always, it was the perfect Everhart.