Duke Earlister really invited Charlotte?

Charles wanted to shout that she should stop saying such absurd things, but he could not.

Because Derek had come to his and Charlotte’s wedding.

If not for that, he would not have believed it in the slightest.

No. Maybe she’s using that fact to lie.

Charles’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

“I won’t believe it until I see it with my own eyes.”

When Charles stubbornly insisted, Marge let out a sigh.

“Then go inside the estate and see whether the young lady is here. Once you look, you’ll understand.”

Charles did not refuse and, in the end, searched the estate from top to bottom.

Charlotte truly was nowhere to be found.

“When on earth did she leave?”

“It’s been quite some time.”

“Then why have you been lying until now? If you had clearly revealed that she’d left, this annoying business wouldn’t have happened, would it?”

He glared at Marge as he spoke.

The bridge of Marge’s nose wrinkled.

“I wanted people to stop whispering about the young lady. People’s attention has finally died down, so what would be the point of giving them another topic to gossip about?”

Charles gnawed at his lip.

Just then, Fiona asked with an anxious face.

“When will she return?”

“I don’t know.”

“There must be some rough date, at least.”

“At least several months. Perhaps even years.”

“What?!”

No!

Fiona’s face turned deathly pale. If Charlotte was not here, her plan would shatter completely.

“I know this is presumptuous of me. Even so, I ask this of you both. Please never come here again. Not even after the young lady returns someday. Until our young lady seeks the two of you out first, she has the right not to meet you. Doesn’t she?”

Marge had used the word ask, but her face did not look as though she was asking at all.

Charles found it terribly awkward and uncomfortable to see resentment and anger mingled on the face of the gentle older woman who had always greeted him with a cheerful smile.

Why did he only feel this way now…?

In the end, Charles left with Fiona without saying that he would do as she asked.

Marge watched the two carriages grow distant and prayed desperately.

That they would be miserable.

That they would be miserable until the day they died.

* * *

Charlotte had stayed up late the night before as well, looking over the ledgers.

Mrs. Spencer had given Charlotte work because she wanted Charlotte’s mind to escape from “that time,” so now she told Charlotte it was all right even if she no longer helped with the work.

But…

“I’m fine. I hate feeling anxious when I’m doing nothing.”

“Why? Do you think I’ll make you feel uncomfortable for not earning your keep?”

“No, that’s not why…”

When Charlotte hesitated, Mrs. Spencer laughed heartily.

“Well, if that is what you think, I won’t stop you. To be honest, I’m glad. You’ve been such an enormous help.”

Although it was a small business, Charlotte had experience running one herself, so the ledgers she organized were perfectly neat. She was also a great help when they exchanged opinions about business matters.

“Ah, there will soon be a party at House Noves. Why don’t you attend as well?”

“There wasn’t an invitation addressed to me.”

“The invitation came to our family, so it is no different from inviting everyone staying here. If it were an invitation from another estate, I wouldn’t suggest it like this, but aren’t you quite close with Ferris?”

“Rather than close… we’re just acquaintances.”

When Charlotte shrugged with an embarrassed smile, Mrs. Spencer shook her head.

“If Ferris heard you say that, he would be hurt. In any case, if you don’t attend either, things will become a little awkward. I have to go to Hebero, so I won’t be able to attend.”

Hebero was a city a little distance from Glasko, where the bank used by the Spencer family was located.

“We owe House Noves quite a bit, so it bothers me to be absent like this.”

“Don’t worry. Elena will be there.”

“If I send only Elena, I’ll be even more worried. I’ll be so anxious I won’t be able to focus on my work.”

“Oh, surely it isn’t that bad…”

“In any case, it’s true that I’ll feel more at ease if you go with her.”

Charlotte’s mind grew complicated.

She wanted to avoid places like parties if possible. But if Ferris was on the host’s side, not attending felt somewhat wrong too.

Wouldn’t it be better to show her face at least once…?

“I’ll attend.”

Charlotte swallowed a sigh and said it with a smile.

Mrs. Spencer smiled in satisfaction.

“Then we’ll have to have a dress made for you to wear that day.”

“Ah, I’ll be sure to pay you back.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Pay me back for what? If anything, considering the work you’ve done for me, it isn’t nearly enough as a gift. Ah, while we’re having one made, it would be good to have one dinner dress and one evening gown made as well. We never know when you might receive another invitation.”

Charlotte’s expression stiffened, and she spoke urgently.

“My goodness. No, I’m fine. Aside from this party, I won’t be attending any other gatherings. No, in the first place, invitations won’t even come addressed to me.”

“I understand how you feel, but there’s no harm in being prepared.”

“Still, unnecessary expenses are…”

“If it’s the dress shop Elena uses, it won’t be that expensive. That girl does make that much calculation before she buys.”

“Even so…”

“My dear. Just accept this much. It’s not as though I’m telling you to have a dress dripping with jewels made.”

When Charlotte moved her lips with an uncomfortable expression, Mrs. Spencer let out a small laugh.

“You may be the only person who dislikes receiving things like this.”

“It isn’t that I dislike it…”

“Then, my dear, why do you find it so difficult?”

“I don’t know. It feels like I’m causing trouble for no reason, and like I’m going into debt.”

“It’s all right. As I said earlier, the work you do for me is worth far more.”

Just then, the familiar sound of humming came from the hallway.

As the song gradually drew closer, Mrs. Spencer shrugged.

“Let’s make a bet. She’ll say she wants to buy a new dress to wear to this party.”

“I’d like to bet on that too.”

“Then the bet won’t work, will it?”

“Still, there’s nothing I can do. I don’t want to lose.”

No sooner had Charlotte finished speaking than there was a knock.

“Mother, it’s me.”

“Come in.”

As soon as Mrs. Spencer answered, Elena appeared with a radiant smile like a lush yellow rose in full bloom.

“Oh my, Charlotte, you were here too! You’re attending the party at House Noves as well, aren’t you?”

“I think I should.”

“That’s wonderful! Mother, may we go have new dresses made to wear to the party?”

Elena clasped her hands together and smiled brightly.

“Haha.”

Mrs. Spencer laughed.

Charlotte covered her mouth to hold back her laughter, but she could not stop her shoulders from trembling.

“Oh my, why are you both suddenly acting like that?”

Elena asked, her eyes wide and innocent.

The two of them never managed to answer.

They were laughing too hard.

Elena did not understand the situation, but since the two of them were laughing, she happily laughed along with them.

* * *

As Charlotte and Elena prepared to go out, Eric asked,

<Where are you going?>

“To have dresses made for the party at House Noves.”

<Again?>

At Eric’s sharp observation, Elena smiled awkwardly.

“Ohoho… Winter is almost here, you know. There will be many parties at the end of the year, so wouldn’t it be better to prepare in advance? If I order late, I’ll have to pay more to have the dresses made…”

When Eric continued looking at her with keen eyes, Elena needlessly stood in front of the mirror and touched her bangs.

Just then, Charlotte bent at the waist to meet Eric’s eyes and smiled.

“Would you like to come with us?”

Eric shook his head without even thinking about it.

<No, I’m fine. Have a safe trip.>

“…All right. I understand. Ah, do you need anything?”

<No.>

Seen off by Eric, the two women climbed into the carriage.

Once seated, Charlotte swallowed a sigh and thought,

It would be nice if Eric could go out with us too.

Eric’s life in seclusion had lasted incomparably longer than Charlotte’s.

Even so, Elena and Mrs. Spencer did not fret anxiously over Eric and left him be because, although the boy did not leave the estate, he still maintained a healthy life in his own way.

He studied, slept, and took walks in the garden…

He’s such a remarkable child.

At the very least, he was more mature and stronger than Charlotte.

So someday, he would surely step out into the world.

Charlotte did not doubt that.

Just as the corners of Charlotte’s lips lifted slightly—

Hm?

The carriage stopped.

They had only just left the estate. What was going on?

As Charlotte and Elena looked out the window in surprise, a familiar voice reached them.

“Who is in the carriage?”

It was Raymond’s voice.

Charlotte and Elena’s mouths fell open.

They were still at the entrance of the estate, and Mrs. Spencer was inside the mansion.

Charlotte hurriedly stepped out of the carriage and looked back at the mansion.

On the second floor, at the window of the study, she could see Mrs. Spencer’s back.

Meanwhile, Raymond, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly, approached her.

“Ah, so you were inside, my lady. If I had been even a little later, we might have missed each other.”

“Good afternoon, Mr. Bayen. But what brings you here…”

Charlotte asked, still unable to take her eyes off Mrs. Spencer.

Finding that a little strange, Raymond turned his head toward where her gaze was directed.

“I came because there was something I wanted to ask you, my lady. But what are you looking at so intently?”

“What? No. I wasn’t looking at anything…”

Just then, Mrs. Spencer rose from her seat and rolled her stiff shoulders around.

Seeing her looking as though she might turn toward the window at any moment, Charlotte hurriedly said, “In any case, you said you had business with me? Then shall we talk in the carriage first?”

“…Pardon?”

Raymond tilted his head slightly as he asked, and Charlotte said, “If that’s all right with you.”

Charlotte invited him with a smile, but inside, she was in no state to be calm.

Please, hurry up and get in!