Chapter 2 – Something That Comes To Everyone (Part 3)

After finishing two fittings a week, the party preparations were almost in the final stages.

Even though it had been a long time since a party was held, the skilled employees completed all the preparations in a short time.

“It’s turned upside down.”

Lorraine said as she walked through the corridor where all the curtains had been removed, allowing the sunlight to pour in. Philip, walking beside her, nodded in agreement.

“It’s quite a mess.”

He had lived as a member of the House of Duncan for quite a long time, but even he had never experienced such chaos.

Now, less than a week remained until the party.

Barrels aged for at least 20 years were brought in daily. The employees who liked alcohol smacked their lips at the sight of the barrels.

Following that, carts loaded with fresh ingredients headed to the townhouse kitchen every day. The kitchen had been in an uproar for the past few days.

Lorraine counted the completed tasks on her fingers and asked.

“What’s left now? The wine has arrived, and the ingredients are coming in as planned….”

As she put on the glasses she had taken off and looked at Philip, he nonchalantly pointed to the common table.

“We just need to finalize the guest list.”

On the table was a silver tray piled high with letter envelopes. Lorraine, momentarily speechless at the sheer volume, nodded in response.

“…It’s overwhelming.”

“…Indeed.”

Lorraine rolled up her shirt sleeves and stood up.

Meanwhile, Edwin had to stop all his work due to his mother’s sudden intrusion. He tapped the documents next to him and said.

“…If you have something to say, say it quickly. I’m busy.”

Monica twisted her lips into a smile, as if mocking his efforts.

“I know your father took some of it, but if you’re still busy, it means you’re lacking in ability.”

‘What are you trying to say?’

Feeling a sudden wave of fatigue, Edwin pressed his temples.

“…I don’t know what you’re trying to say, but I’ll listen to the main point.”

Then Monica spoke as if she had been waiting.

“Do you like her?”

‘What is she talking about now?’

When he looked up, Monica unfolded the fan she was holding and added.

“Lorraine, I mean.”

She fanned herself gently and looked at him with a subtle gaze.

Edwin, staring blankly at Monica’s actions, moved his lips for a while before answering.

“…Are you talking about the Lorraine Wiig I know? My secretary, Lorraine Wiig?”

‘No, it can’t be.’

Edwin thought as he looked at Monica. But she shattered his expectations lightly.

With a prim face, she nodded.

“Yes. That Lorraine Wiig.”

‘Where do these rumors keep coming from?’

Just when he was about to forget, they popped up again to torment him. Edwin, wiping his face with a dry hand, mumbled.

“Where on earth do you hear such things?”

“Isn’t it true?”

“No, it’s not.”

Just as he was about to add more, Monica folded her fan with a snap and stood up.

“If you don’t know, there’s no point in talking further.”

She shook her head with a disappointed look and left the study.

As the door closed, Edwin covered his face with his palm again and sighed deeply.

“Seriously….”

Everything was incomprehensible, from the news that party preparations were going smoothly to his mother’s mysterious attitude.

Knock knock.

Just then, there were two knocks, and the door cautiously opened.

“…Who is it?”

“Oh, you’re here? I thought you weren’t because there was no answer.”

Philip, placing the documents he had brought on the lowest stack of the surrounding document piles, glanced at Edwin’s face.

Then he frowned and said.

“Did something happen? Your face looks….”

“Looks…?”

Bending down to meet his gaze, Philip smiled and whispered in a smaller voice.

“Doesn’t look good.”

Then Edwin, who had been staring at him, smiled.

Until Edwin spoke, Philip thought his joke had worked. But Edwin, turning his gaze back to the documents as if he had never smiled, said in an indifferent voice.

“It’s unfortunate that you think your salary is too high. Tell Paul to adjust it.”

“What? No, that’s not what I meant.”

Despite his firm denial, Edwin continued flipping through the documents and issued a dismissal order.

“Get out.”

“Your Grace….”

“Get out.”

With the firm dismissal, Philip had no choice but to turn and walk away.

But after a few steps, he glanced back and cautiously asked.

“You’re not serious about that, right? If you are, Hilde will kill me….”

“That might be a good way to wake you up.”

“Oh, Your Grace.”

Philip almost cried for real.

***

In the southern part of the continent, in the Empire of Moses, there was another unmarried man comparable to Edwin.

It was the young emperor of Moses, Jamie Laftana. Jamie wiped away the tears gathering at the corners of his eyes and spoke.

“Aunt is still as lively as ever.”

He teased, watching Edwin’s face crumple.

“That’s why I told you not to run away, Duke.”

After signing the document he was looking at, he handed it to Edwin.

Just as Edwin was about to take the document silently, Jamie smiled and took it back, asking.

“Tell me more details.”

“…….”

As Edwin frowned, Jamie continued in a playful tone.

“No, I was so curious that I wanted to call you… but then, Aunt Monica replied that she couldn’t accept the invitation politely, you know?”

Receiving the letter, Jamie struggled to calm his startled heart.

That was because Aunt Monica Laftana Duncan preferred face-to-face meetings over writing letters.

Although he complained, his sparkling eyes couldn’t be hidden.

The two cousins, who were the same age, had grown up like friends, sometimes ignoring formal titles.

Watching him quietly, Edwin chuckled and asked.

“…Are you still afraid of my mother?”

His question had a mocking tone.

However, Jamie’s mood remained unscathed. Instead, he chuckled as if finding Edwin’s question absurd.

“Aren’t you here because you just got scolded by the Duchess yourself, Duke?”

“…….”

He pulled the documents closer to himself and said.

“Anyway, tell me more. You can’t leave until you do.”

“…About what?”

Edwin gave in.

To leave the Emperor’s private office, Edwin answered obediently. When Jamie was stubborn, even his mother, Empress Dowager Eleanor, couldn’t win.

Unfortunately, Jamie was his lord.

Jamie’s blood-red eyes sparkled. It was the first time those royal red eyes looked so menacing.

“First, about the mysterious woman who stole your heart?”

“What are you talking about….”

“Isn’t it? Everyone’s talking about it, so I thought it was true.”

Frustrated by Jamie’s nonchalant attitude, Edwin loosened his tightly tied cravat and shook his head.

“No, it’s not like that.”

“Then why are there such rumors? And Philip… No.”

Jamie, who had been excitedly chattering, suddenly closed his mouth and shifted his eyes. Edwin’s sharp gaze immediately turned to him.

As Edwin’s golden eyes, which resembled those of a beast, flashed yellow, Jamie handed over the documents he was holding and said.

“You may leave now, Duke.”

Edwin, staring blankly at the file Jamie handed over, let out a long sigh, loud enough for Jamie to hear.

“I’ll take my leave.”

As if granting him a favor this time, Edwin accepted the documents and bowed.

He’s angry.

His voice was tense, with his teeth clenched. Jamie nodded, trying to maintain a calm demeanor.

As soon as the door closed, Jamie asked his aide, Zero, who had been standing behind him.

“It’s a big deal, right?”

“Yes.”

Zero, his most loyal servant, spoke nothing but the exact truth.

“I can already hear Sir Lloyd’s resentment.”

“Oh….”

‘Oh dear.’ 

Jamie crossed himself and silently offered deep condolences for his friend’s predicament.

Then, a thought suddenly occurred to him, and he turned around to ask.

“But what do you think about the fact that the Duke denied it twice?”

‘Gotcha.’

Seeing Jamie’s blood-red eyes filled with interest in gossip, Zero was certain.

Edwin had given Jamie an opening.

“He denied it twice. That cold-hearted guy, who could freeze people with just a word.”

“…….”

“I thought he’d spend his whole life on the battlefield, but he has this side too.”

Jamie’s face was proud, as if he had raised Edwin himself.

Zero, who had always quietly supported him, shook his head slightly.

***

Every Friday evening at eight o’clock, something secretive and mysterious happened in the attic of the Count Wiig’s house.

“Hurry up, Victoria.”

“Oh, wait a bit… Thanks.”

Lorraine scolded her sister while deftly accepting the tray handed over by the maid.

After the maid, who had bowed, left, she turned to her sister with a completely different face.

“Tone it down. How do you manage in society with that temper….”

Victoria half-listened to Lorraine’s nagging and gently pushed her back.

“Yes, yes. Just get inside quickly.”

Even in their bickering, the dishes on the tray didn’t make a single sharp sound.

They had given this gathering the grand name of a meeting, but—.

“Pass me the sugar.”

“Use it moderately.”

In reality, it was a time to sit around with their favorite tea and sweet snacks, chatting all night.