Chapter 6 – At the Crossroads of Choice (1) (Part 11)

The banquet began.

Starting with quiche with pumpkin, tomato, and spinach, followed by beef carpaccio, the plates of truffle paccheri were being cleared away.

Clink-.

After wiping his mouth, Marquis Roben stood up.

“The food is lacking, but I hope you find it satisfactory.”

“…….”

“Unfortunately, the other protagonist of the evening, Young Lord Dunant, couldn’t attend the first-night banquet as he’s handling matters on behalf of his father.”

He raised a champagne glass.

“Once again, I thank you on behalf of the young lord.”

Bubbles continuously rose in the golden champagne in the glass.

“Please bless the future of my daughter and the young lord, who are about to start anew.”

Toast, he raised his champagne glass. Everyone lifted their glasses slightly and clinked them with their neighbors. The sound of thin glass clinking echoed here and there.

Lorraine clinked glasses with Edwin. As if waiting for this, the doors opened.

Attendants began moving in unison, serving lamb steaks marinated with fresh anchovy seasoning. As the meal neared completion, Marquis Roben smiled and stood, holding Juliet’s hand.

“A ballroom has been prepared; I hope you enjoy it.”

As he moved to the ballroom, people began rising one by one.

The ballroom was located on the same floor as the banquet hall. It seemed to have been newly decorated as a library, with shelves full of books and entertainments placed here and there.

Before long, the men gathered with the men, and the women with the women. Some claimed fatigue and went up to their rooms early as soon as the ballroom was mentioned.

Nevertheless, quite a few remained.

The men played poker or billiards or drank while conversing. Their conversations were about mundane topics like how much to raise the tenant fees this year without drawing the country’s attention. The women’s conversations weren’t unexpected either.

The ladies gathered around Juliet shared their outdated thoughts on married life as if they were established truths.

“You should have children as soon as you marry. They say having children after twenty-five lowers their intelligence.”

“It’s not good to be too eager in bed. Leave everything to your husband.”

The contents were exceedingly outdated.

As Lorraine looked around, she noticed the only person not joining the group.

Countess Russell was sitting on a sofa near the balcony, reading a book.

Her demeanor was elegant, as if uninterested in mingling with the ladies. Lorraine slowly made her way over to her.

“…Why aren’t you joining them, Madam?”

At her question, Countess Russell, who had been reading with an indifferent face, glanced at her.

“I don’t want to spend an unproductive time even more unproductively…. And you… were Duke Duncan’s partner?”

Closing her book, she rested her elbow on the sofa armrest, supporting her chin.

“Oh, yes. I’m Lorraine Wiig. I’m the deputy assistant at the Duchy of Duncan.”

Lorraine habitually reached into her pocket to pull out a business card. Then suddenly-.

“Oh.”

– Realized she wasn’t wearing her usual clothes. Countess Russell waved her hand, putting the book into her clutch.

“No need, we didn’t meet for business, after all. And….”

She glanced at the poker table not far away, where a blond man was watching them.

‘The identity is guaranteed by that fellow.’

His bright yellow eyes occasionally watched the lady sitting beside her. Yet, he seemed to be winning the game throughout.

Because-.

“Edwin, focus on the game.”

“Shouldn’t you be the one focusing, Master? You’re the one losing all the time.”

– Because her husband’s indignant voice was heard. She smiled faintly and asked.

“More importantly… why aren’t you joining them?”

Lorraine’s face showed a hint of awkwardness. She hesitated briefly before scratching her cheek and cautiously speaking.

“Oh… I… well, maybe… I’d be cut at the cutoff?”

“Why…? Oh….”

Countess Russell recalled the voices of the ladies chattering in the powder room.

「She’s shameless. How could a noble lady think of working?」

「Indeed. They say that family is all like that, working. The once-honorable Wiig has fallen.」

The reason Lorraine mentioned was also the main reason Countess Russell didn’t join that group.

Tedious rules and customs.

As Countess Russell’s expression became slightly complex, Lorraine quickly added.

“Of course, like you, I had no intention of joining. I came here to work in the first place.”

“…Talking about work even at a resort, you’ve got the wrong boss.”

“Haha, is that so?”

Lorraine was smiling comfortably before she knew it.

Watching Lorraine’s smiling face as she chatted, Edwin sighed softly. He moved his piece and thought.

‘At least that’s a relief.’

If it was Countess Russell, there was nothing for him to worry about. Countess Russell was just like her husband, whom everyone praised for his integrity when they met.

“Don’t worry.”

“What… do you mean?”

Then Count Russell spoke with a mischievous face.

“Why don’t you hide that foolish face and speak up?”

“…Check.”

“You haven’t even confessed yet, and you’re already pining…! This, damned…!”

Excitedly continuing his words, Count Russell cursed as he checked the chessboard. He looked at his student’s clean face and signaled for a move back.

Nevertheless, Edwin crossed his arms with a composed face and replied.

“I can’t let you take it back.”

He shook his head firmly as if to say he wouldn’t give any leeway. Count Russell looked at the chessboard with a vacant expression. Having been checked in an instant, he had no time to review the board.

“You wicked lad.”

He was so well-versed in etiquette that he was nicknamed ‘Mr. Rule,’ but he had one weakness.

It was games.

Count Russell loved games. But unfortunately, the god of games never, under any circumstances, sided with him.

“Did you scatter your manners at the seaside?”

Most people thought there was no one as gentlemanly and polite as him.

“Others can hear you, Master.”

“…Just let me move back once.”

However, his demeanor during games was the exact opposite of usual.

“No.”

“Ugh…!”

He was quick-tempered and freely used rough language like any ordinary person. Noticing all sorts of curses flashing through his eyes, Edwin smiled wryly and said.

“Stop playing games you can’t win, Master.”

Edwin taunted as he placed a pawn where he had moved back.

“You know it’s fortunate you don’t gamble with that temper, right?”

“…You’re the only one in this world who would pay back a prank like this.”

“Unfortunately, I learned everything from you, Master.”

He replied nonchalantly, moving his chess piece. Then Count Russell grumbled.

“You brat, your mischief….”

“These days, if you fuss over things like that, you’ll be called an old man.”

“Yes. I’m an old man, you brat.”

“Even so, I won’t let you off.”

As Edwin pretended to capture his queen, Count Russell’s voice became urgent.

“Alright! I get it, so stop!”

Hmph, Edwin snorted and returned his chess piece to its place.

That didn’t mean he wouldn’t ask again. As the game restarted, Count Russell took a sip of the scotch the attendant had brought and asked.

“I hear she’s a smart lady….”

“…….”

“When will you propose?”

“We’re not… in any kind of relationship yet.”

“But you’re going to confess, aren’t you? You’re not the type to hold that back.”

He spoke as if it were obvious.

“To the average person’s eyes, you know.”

“…….”

“Smart women are always attractive.”

“…So?”

“If you’re going to bring her to your side, do it quickly.”

“I’ve heard that a hundred times.”

Edwin glanced at Lorraine, who was still sitting near the balcony, as if the cold didn’t bother her. At that moment, Count Russell spoke in a slightly lower and smaller voice.

“By the way.”

“Yes.”

“What did the Marquis say?”

Though he generally maintained neutrality, at heart, he was no different from the Emperor’s faction. Therefore, he couldn’t be unaware of the alliance between Roben and Dunant.

“…Like everyone else, he denied it and got angry.”

Edwin muttered as if talking to himself. Count Russell sighed as he looked at Marquis Roben, who was laughing heartily, clearly drunk.

“Right…. They say the young lord’s whereabouts are still unknown…Will the wedding even happen?”

At the Count’s question, Edwin shook his head with a serious face.

“The Marquis is being stubborn, but… it won’t happen.”

Cold-hearted fellow.

All he could do was make a small sign of the cross, shaking his head.