Chapter 6 – At the Crossroads of Choice (1) (Part 14)

As she left the greenhouse and returned to the guest room, she was stopped by the villa’s butler.

“Ah, guest. A letter has arrived for you.”

Lorraine glanced down to check the sender and smiled.

“Yes… thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

The butler, who had a warm smile, descended the stairs. Lorraine opened the door only after the butler’s figure disappeared below the stairs. She closed the door properly and glanced down to check the sender once more.

<Sender: Jonas of Wednesday.>

It was a letter from Philippa.

With a deep breath, she walked quickly toward the desk. There was no one watching, but just in case.

She adjusted her walking speed, but there was a sense of urgency in her hands as she rummaged through the desk drawer. After searching through two drawers, she finally found the paper knife.

The well-sharpened paper knife neatly slit open the envelope. The two letters inside were filled with reports on past events.

The most important message was this-.

<…I’ve arranged a meeting with Count Salieri. I plan to persuade them as much as possible.>

That was it.

「Convincing Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is important, but persuading the Privy Council members is also crucial.」

Philippa’s voice was full of curiosity, as if it wasn’t what she expected to hear.

「Not the Parliament…?」

Lorraine shook her head firmly. Patricia, who had been sitting quietly, continued the conversation.

「Because the Privy Council makes the decisions.」

No matter how many upper house members composed of nobles and lower house members composed of commoners they met, the final decision rested with the Privy Council.

The Privy Council was the last achievement of the late Emperor Youssef Laftana.

Despite the nobles’ concerns that it would weaken the absolute power given to the Emperor, he pushed forward with the establishment of the Privy Council.

Leaving behind the words, ‘The Emperor’s honor comes from the people’s reverence.’

「The Privy Council consists of 20 members, excluding the head. Half of them are nobles.」

Lorraine brought over the nobility yearbook that was lying with the magazines and began to flip through it. The yearbook usually included the names of the current Privy Council members as an appendix.

It wasn’t long before her hand stopped flipping through the yearbook.

「…The first person we need to win over is Count Salieri.」

Louise frowned and spoke.

「That… eccentric, right?」

It was because all that was known about Count Salieri was that she was the only daughter of the previous count. This was because she always sent her representative to every event.

There was a time when even the regular meetings of the Privy Council were attended by her representative, causing quite a stir. Now, everyone seemed to have given up, but occasionally, someone would bring it up.

Philippa cautiously raised her hand.

「You know that the Count… hasn’t revealed what kind of person she is or where she is, right…?」

Lorraine closed the yearbook with a snap and smiled.

「Yes. I think she’ll be the first hurdle for His Highness.」

“Good news.”

Lorraine scanned the letter once more before burning it neatly. She didn’t know how they found Count Salieri, but it seemed they were working hard.

Knock-knock-.

Just as the white letter with a faintly pleasant scent turned to black ash, someone knocked on the door.

Lorraine, having confirmed that the paper was burning properly, approached the door. She had a rough idea of who it was, but it was still necessary to check. Her guess wasn’t far off.

“…Is there something you need?”

His hair, once neatly slicked back with pomade, now hung over his forehead. It made him look slightly more approachable, but in reality, it was the same.

Edwin’s brows furrowed slightly at the soulless question.

“Let’s eat.”

“…Pardon?”

For a moment, she thought she heard wrong.

Talking about food with such a serious face.

Anyone would think he was fasting. As if reading her thoughts, he pursed his lips for a moment before suddenly shouting.

“Ah, alright! I get it. I’m the bad guy. Okay?”

As she looked at him blankly at his loud voice-.

“…I’m sorry.”

He quickly subsided. When Lorraine didn’t respond, he added one more thing.

“…I’m sorry for getting angry.”

Lorraine suddenly wondered.

Would it seem strange if she found it a bit appealing that this large, arrogant man was humbling himself?

“In the future.”

When she asked with folded arms, showing she wouldn’t let it go easily, Edwin’s face crumpled. He exuded displeasure as he spoke.

“…What do you want?”

“Well… I’m sure you have something in mind.”

At her sly attitude, he finally-.

Damn it.

A harsh word slipped from his mouth. Lorraine’s eyebrows raised slightly, but he quickly shut his mouth. After a while, what he said was a bit unexpected.

“…I’ll watch my mouth.”

It was a simple conclusion considering the thought he put into it, but Lorraine was willing to settle it at that.

“Yes, that should be enough.”

It wasn’t something to get angry about in the first place, but since it became a way to fix a habit, it was good news for her.

“Then let’s go eat now.”

As Lorraine smiled, his face finally relaxed.

***

“…Is that so?”

Lorraine nodded while chewing her food.

“So.”

“I think she’ll take the lead.”

She put down her cutlery, looked around briefly, then continued.

“I’ve lit the fire, so they’ll have to keep it alive themselves.”

“…….”

“You know the most frightening enemy is the one within, right?”

Lorraine picked up her cutlery again.

“She’s not a fool, that girl.”

After focusing on slicing the salmon for a moment, she suddenly looked up.

“By the way, you still haven’t located him?”

“Not yet.”

She thought she could finish early for once, but it was a vain hope, she realized again with a sigh.

“…We’ll just have to wait until he comes.”

And that night. As if in response to her wish, someone sneaked into the mansion under the cover of darkness.

“…Have you arrived, Master?”

At the butler’s greeting, Asiel removed the thick cloak hood and asked.

“Is the meal prepared?”

“…The Marquis ordered it to be stopped. He said he discussed it with you….”

His steps, which had been heading into the mansion without hesitation, faltered. He slowly turned his head to look at the butler.

“Who told you to stop?”

The thin eyes usually hidden behind thin silver-rimmed glasses turned cold. At his sharp, harsh tone, the butler closed his mouth for a moment.

“Did I send you here to listen to the Marquis’s orders?”

Despite the polite tone, the butler felt as if he might be strangled at any moment. His eyes wavered anxiously. Loosening his tie slightly, he nodded.

“I’ll resume it.”

Asiel waved his hand dismissively, as if he didn’t even want to respond, and entered the room.

Meanwhile, at the same time.

Juliet Roben, the owner of the largest room in the west wing on the second floor, was also awake. Given the time, Juliet was perfectly ready for bed, while Lorraine was still in her uncomfortable formal attire.

“How is it? Will that help?”

Despite handing over incriminating evidence, Juliet’s voice was calm, as if she felt no guilt.

Why am I even looking at this?

It was indeed useful evidence, but she wondered if it was appropriate to receive it in such a casual, cheerful atmosphere. Lorraine once again retraced how she ended up here.

Juliet’s maid had come to find her when the cuckoo of the grandfather clock chimed ten times. The maid was an unfamiliar face, probably because the staff on the island and at the villa were different.

「The young lady wishes to speak with you. Please come with me.」

The maid’s tone was slightly grumpy, as if displeased that her mistress was receiving a guest in her pajamas.

Lorraine glanced at Juliet, who sat across from her. Contrary to the maid’s hopes, there was no trace of sleepiness in Juliet.

Why the sudden formality?

As she looked at her with a sour gaze, Juliet’s ears turned red.

“You said you’d ruin the wedding.”

“I didn’t say ruin, I said it wouldn’t happen anyway….”

“Same thing.”

“Yes, well.”

The family will be shaken at the same time. Juliet seemed to hate the marriage more than the family being shaken.

“My father, you see.”

“Yes, yes.”

“He says he cherishes me, but he doesn’t tell me the detailed circumstances of the family.”

The fact that she was telling her this showed that it wasn’t a big secret, but it was still a bit of a family skeleton. It was hard to know how to respond.

Seeing Lorraine’s face, Juliet shrugged, as if she hadn’t expected much.

“So I’m going to take it.”

“…….”

“This family.”

Wasn’t that a bit of a sudden change of heart? It seemed the spark had grown too large.

‘It’s like a full-blown forest fire.’

“If you need more documents, I’ll get them.”

“Just keep the family safe?”

“…And.”

Judging by her lips moving, she seemed to want something. As if to say she was listening, Lorraine nodded, and Juliet spoke.

“Let me be recognized as the head of the family.”

Generally, all administrative authority of a vassal family belonged to the lord.

“I’ll discuss it, but….”

“Not discuss, I need assurance.”

“Lady Roben.”

At her call, Juliet closed her mouth like a horse being reined in. Lorraine, who had been looking at her quietly, spoke.

“You know you can’t decide so hastily. We have priorities.”

It was a voice soothing a child throwing a tantrum. Sitting back in her chair with her arms crossed, she nodded.

“For now, I understand what you want to do.”

She continued, flipping through the documents Juliet handed over.

“This is necessary, but… the rest isn’t.”

“…….”

“Things are proceeding smoothly.”

When she spoke with a shrug, Juliet looked confused. She seemed to have an idea but wasn’t sure, and after moving her lips a few times, she spoke.

“So….”

“We’ve secured some data too.”

They had come down with some information, but thanks to the documents Juliet provided, they could handle the accounts more securely.

“I’ll discuss it with His Grace. Once things unfold, there won’t be time to worry….”

She couldn’t give assurance, but that was probably the case. It was also a way of saying to be satisfied with this for today. Juliet nodded and extended her hand.

“I hope for a good answer.”

“Yes, let’s hope so.”

Lorraine nodded and shook her hand.