Chapter 18: 18

Chapter 18 – Nobles Are Like That

When Emilia entered the salon, Countess Lüen’s lecture was almost over.
She moved as quietly as a mouse and took a seat in the corner. She tried not to glance at Nathan Malvin, who was leaning languidly on the sofa.

By the end of the boring lecture, the Countess said something that would open the heavy eyes of the young people.

“Unfortunately, it seems my relationship with you will end this month. I must return to Nowak. There’s no way to soothe my regret, so I’m inviting everyone to the castle in Delloui…”

There were exclamation sounds everywhere. The countess’ invitation was something worth bragging about to anyone.

“I plan to open up the ballroom and hold a ball. You can think of it as a rehearsal ahead of your social debut.”

Wow…
Cheerful squeals filled the salon.

Just for a second, Emilia had a strange thought.

Did Hadius perhaps set this up?

It is possible since Odelia Lüen is famous in Nowak’s social circle for being a party fanatic.

Is he worried she would make a mistake at the graduation party? Maybe he set this up in case he would be humiliated by her not being able to dance properly.

Emilia narrowed her eyes and stared at the Countess for a moment.

Of course, nothing could be found out by doing so. She thought deeply and drooped her shoulders soon after.

Whatever, what if he set it up? Just don’t be humiliated.

Since their meeting in Sitmer, she has been losing the will to fight Hadius. Thinking about it, he really did nothing to cause her harm.
The carriage, Beppy, and Brave are becoming indispensable, and it is also true that thanks to this, the secluded forest has become much safer.

There’s no need to be aggressive about every single thing. Do not forget. What everyone wants is a peaceful breakup.

When her daily lessons were over, she stopped by the study. Today too, she was surely leaving the mansion with a borrowed book; but Nathan blocked her path once again.

“I heard from Haspel. That you received the money and gave it back again.”

If it weren’t for the incident in the morning, perhaps she would have been on the alert, like an antelope surrounded by a herd of lions.
But now she knew for sure. Nathan Malvin isn’t waiting to set up a trap. The turquoise eyes facing her were filled with pure kindness, without any deception or hostility.

“Yes, I returned it.”

“For what reason?”
“… Back then, I couldn’t trust the person that is in front of me right now.”

Understanding what she meant, Nathan burst into laughter. The moment the boredom that had filled his face was lifted, Emilia felt better for some reason.

“Indeed, for you, I’m no different than Shayla. Well, frankly speaking, we’re not much different.”

Nathan gave a crooked smile and shrugged.

“I swear on Malvin’s name, I don’t intend on playing tricks with this money. Do not refuse the price of fair labor because of me. Take it.”

Surprisingly, Nathan had an envelope in his hand. It was an envelope with the money she had returned to Haspel.

In a short time, countless thoughts and emotions ran through her head. Contemplating, she decided to take the risk just this once.

“… If you say so, I will trust you and accept it.”

The moment she received the envelope with trembling hands, Nathan’s face changed again, as if it had been covered in layers of masks.

“I was a little expectant this time.”

His mischievous tone tickled her ears.

“What were you expecting?”
“A thank you.”
“Ah! Thank y…”
“Of course, it would be better if it were something else. Like going to Mrs. Lüen’s party together.”

Emilia suddenly lifted her head. There was surprise and cold alertness in the eyes that faced the man.

“Of course, I am not forcing you. If you feel that way, I will be just like Shayla Cavendish.”

At that moment, she had a strange feeling.
The sincerity she had never expected from a nobleman was shaking her heart. However, Emilia was too rational to be overwhelmed by emotions.

“… Maybe I would have accepted the partner request. If I were a free person.”
“What do you mean?”
“As you know, I am the fiancée of the Meyer family.”

Nathan’s smile faltered for a moment.

“I don’t want to be misunderstood.”

She promised Hadius. That she would fulfill her duties as a fiancée until the breakup. Emilia wanted to do her best.

“Well then, I will go first. Thank you so much for this money.”

For some reason, it was difficult to keep eye contact with Nathan, so Emilia turned around without looking back.

***

When she came out of the mansion and reached the warehouse, she saw Beppy’s carriage in the distance. As expected, he wasn’t alone.

“Mitch!”

Emilia ran towards her younger brother without stopping. The child, wearing a ruffled shirt and a school uniform jacket, greeted his sister with a bright smile, as usual.

“If you hadn’t told me in advance in the letter, I would have set this on fire.”

His small hand tapped on the carriage.

“Maybe I would have punched that Mister too. Of course, I would have been knocked out first.”

Mitch gave Beppy a crooked smile, and Beppy also smiled. Emilia felt relieved at that moment. As Mitch said, she explained everything in advance; but she was worried because he was a short-tempered child.

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“… I’m hungry. Let’s go home quickly, Emilia.”

As soon as the carriage set out, Emilia leaned back and silently looked at her brother.

Is his face injured? Isn’t his school uniform ripped?

“Don’t worry.”

Mitch raised both arms, proudly.

“I don’t even go to a noble school, why are you so worried? I’m treated as a country bumpkin since I’m from Erndorf, but it’s fine. I’m not being bullied or anything.”

She was a little relieved by the lively answer.

“What about you? Hm… You look a lot happier? I think you have been ostracized enough by those scumbags.”

Mitch nodded at the Cavendish mansion outside the window. Emilia glanced at her brother, shaking her head.

“I can’t stop them anyway.”
“I mean you shouldn’t hide your troubles and let it out. You’re too tolerant. if you keep being like that, eventually you won’t be able to endure it and explode…”

Emilia’s eyes became smaller.

“Do not forget, Mitch. Be careful with what you say when we get home. You can’t talk about what I go through here in front of Charlotte again. Do you understand?”
“… I understand.”

She couldn’t trust her brother, who reluctantly nodded his head, at all.

“Because you made a slip of the tongue in front of Charlotte, she couldn’t sleep every time I came here, you blabbing rascal.”

As Emilia pulled his ears, he pretended to ask for forgiveness, saying “Alright, alright.”

“But there’s something you shouldn’t forget either. The truth is like an awl, and it’s bound to pierce through someday.”
“Wow, you’re all bark and no bite…!

She complained, but Emilia’s face was full of happiness.

That night, the red brick house was noisy and lively for the first time in a while.

Mrs. Bern roasted meat for her son, who came home after three months, and the warmth coming from the oven filled up the whole house. With a goose stuffed with vegetables placed in the middle of them, the five family members talked about this and that.

“Really?”

Charlotte was the most excited one. Charlotte was completely absorbed in the news from the outside that her brother, who was the same age as her, was telling.

“Will there really be a new road to Erndorf? And a stop and a stagecoach too?”

Mitch blew on the hot potatoes, nodding.

“Of course, the bill must be passed before that. If the Royalists hadn’t opposed it, it would have been done already.”
“… Why… Did they oppose it?”
“There’s one thing they don’t want to see on their way here. The Rondio slums.”
“What? What are you talking about?”

Mitch put down the fork. He took a sip of water, said, “Listen, Charlotte.”, and started explaining earnestly.

“Let’s say that you are a very wealthy aristocrat. You took your whole family to a beautiful holiday destination. But the streets are swarmed with beggars. Would you like that?”

The mood was strangely tense due to the intense sarcasm.

“Also, you looked out the window, expecting to see the green forest and the open sea. But the slums are filled with trash and filth. Would you like that?”

Since she didn’t even know what the slums were, Charlotte still looked like she didn’t understand.

“Nobles are like that. They talk about philosophy and ideas, saying all men are equal, but it’s like they’re building a huge wall that you wouldn’t dare cross while pretending to be innocent.”

Mitch picked up the potatoes with his fork again. The potatoes crumbled onto the plate.

Mitch babbled a “Damn it.”, looking annoyed. The smiles slowly disappeared from Emilia and her stepmother’s faces.

Liberty Boarding School was a school founded by the revolutionary party. They were worried that Mitch might have been influenced by its unique radicality.

“Remember, everyone. You can’t jump at the breadcrumbs they throw.”

Mitch frowned as if something unpleasant came to his mind when he said ‘breadcrumbs’.

“By the way Emilia, I heard that bastard is graduating soon? Hadius Meyer.”

Mitch has called his sister’s fiancé ‘that bastard’ since a long time ago. Her stepmother, who was surprised at first, also let it go at some point.

“He left his home and is living alone now. There is an extremely fancy townhouse overlooking the Rivier River, and that is Hadius Meyer’s new home. From now on, it will be the center of society. Sooner or later, he will hold a big party.”
“Really?”
“Where did you hear that?”

Charlotte and her stepmother asked at the same time. 5 years ago, they ran away to this cabin as if they were being chased, in order to avoid the people’s harsh eyes.

Unlike Emilia, who visits the Cavendish mansion downtown every week, her stepmother and Charlotte have been living completely cut off from news from the outside. They couldn’t help but be surprised at what Mitch just told them.

“At school. My classmates talk a lot, especially when I am around. About Hadius Meyer.”

Mitch replied as if it wasn’t a big deal, but it was obvious how the ‘classmates’ would talk. Afraid that she would be caught blushing, Emilia quietly got up, holding the ladle and a bowl. The heartwarming mood cooled down.

“That bastard is seriously taking over the family business. Soon, he will become ‘Duke Meyer’. And then…”
“… Who wants more stew?”

Emilia interrupted, but it was a fruitless effort.

“That bastard will probably break up with Emilia first, right? And…”
“Mitch…”
“He will marry the mining tycoon’s daughter.”

Silence fell.

She had told them about the breakup, but she didn’t tell anyone about Bianca. The family members’ faces stiffened.

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