51. Summer Lake (5)
“Because you said that at the lake earlier!”
The response that came back was such a statement.
Not understanding, furrowing her brow only led to more incomprehensible words.
“You know everything, right? You’re just trying to make fun of me, knowing Father has already found out…!”
In disbelief, a hollow laugh escaped.
Who would know such a thing?
Lucia stared intently at her pitiful stepbrother.
“Louis.”
Her voice rang out like ice.
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Despite the visible servants around, they pretended not to see the current situation.
Of course.
Those above knew better than anyone that meddling in their affairs below would not end well.
Moreover, they were probably used to it.
The discord between Louis and Lucia was not a one or two-day affair.
Since the current Duchess entered the scene, their quarrels were anticipated, and they had been ongoing.
“Don’t have excessive expectations.”
Perhaps it was due to the marble floor, even though she wasn’t wearing high heels.
As Lucia moved, the sound echoed.
Eventually, she stopped just one step away from Louis.
“Why would you think I would be interested in you to that extent?”
Not even a smile adorned Lucia’s beautiful face, making it seem emotionless and paler than winter.
“I am different from you. You may show quite an interest in me, but I am not particularly interested in you.”
Lucia’s hand lightly touched Louis’ forehead.
She pushed without exerting much force, yet Louis remained unresponsive.
Beneath his frozen, crimson eyes, he seemed to have stiffened completely.
“So, I won’t torment you for no good reason. It’s annoying. It might be tiring, you know.”
To a still young boy, these words might seem heartless.
Even if his parents demanded excessive things, he was a child who had received love.
This thorough indifference was probably new.
But then again, he was almost the heir to the Edelte Duke.
There would be no one who would ignore or turn away from a Duke’s heir.
Except her.
“You’ve never called me ‘sister’ once. You’ve never truly thought of me as a sister. There may be other reasons besides that.”
“…”
“Whatever it may be, I don’t care much. I’ve never thought of you as my sibling. But why are you trying to act up.”
Looking at the stubborn child, Lucia withdrew her hand again.
She seemed to have gotten the message across.
Lucia turned around without a trace of regret.
Reluctantly, she had to go see what the Edelte Duke wanted in his study.
“This is unfair.”
As she headed for the stairs, a voice came from behind.
Ignoring it and continuing her steps, a resentful voice followed.
“Why does someone like you get special treatment?”
Ah.
Finally, that had to come out.
The naive and young Louis ended up making a mistake.
“If there were a god, this wouldn’t be happening, right? You don’t even know how to be obedient, and yet why are you like that…!”
Could that child not hear at all?
The sound of the servants’ murmurs began to rise.
It would spread quickly to Count Edelt’s ears; how foolish.
“Being neither obedient nor kind, born into the direct line, do I deserve resentment?”
She stopped on the ascending stairs and turned back.
The anger flickering in her narrowed eyes seemed absurd.
This child was getting upset over such trivial matters.
Resentful, struggling, finally she screamed.
“But what can I do. I was born like this already.”
Her foolish stepbrother considered unnecessary things as complexes.
No one had ever mentioned those eyes in front of her.
Ah, but there might have been one or two.
The Count and Countess Edelt must have been very disappointed.
Perhaps those who regarded her as a thorn in their side.
“Don’t get angry about things you can’t change.”
Lucia resumed her descent down the stairs.
The child still stood there, fuming.
“You’re the only one who’ll lose out. Because pouring emotions into thin air won’t help.”
Living under the Edelt name for nineteen years, she should have known.
Her naive half-brother still didn’t realize it.
“No one will understand. No one will comfort you.”
Count Edelt was not a warm person.
Or was he just incapable of warmth?
He was not fit to be a parent.
“Do you think there’s someone who can empathize with your struggles?”
And if you asked whether Countess Edelt was any different, the answer would be no.
She lived solely for her status and her own benefit.
If the Count loved his wife, he could be considered a bit better.
The problem was that their love was illicit.
“Next year, you’ll be an adult too, Louis. You have to realize that now. It’s not just me who can’t indulge you.”
In this cold and dreadful Edelt estate, there were no humane beings.
If born in such a place, the child should have realized long ago.
Instead of escaping and resenting.
“We’re all the same kind of people. I’m not particularly odd; you are. Within Edelt.”
The final words were whispered.
It was not a story that would be welcomed in the ears of Count Edelt or his wife.
Louis shuddered.
Lucia tapped his shoulder and urged him to return to his room.
“Go back to your room now.”
Turning away, she continued on her way.
Thankfully, there were no more restraining words this time.
Reaching the second floor, Lucia headed towards the Count’s study.
“His Lordship, the Countess, has arrived.”
As they reached the study, a servant waiting there informed her.
“He says you may come in.”
“He says you may come in.”
With the permission given, the study door opened.
Count Edelt, as usual, was engrossed in a pile of documents.
“I have come as summoned.”
“Please, take a seat over there.”
The Count gestured towards the sofa.
Lucia sat there, waiting.
She could anticipate what Count Edelt was going to say, so she wasn’t particularly nervous.
She wasn’t one to get overly tense in general.
“You must have heard about the talks with Count Verdin today.”
“Yes.”
There was no way she couldn’t have heard while being present.
So, there must have been another purpose behind bringing up that topic.
That would probably be…
“What are your thoughts on marriage?” He must be in a rush. Lucia was at the age suitable for marriage. It was too late for an engagement, yet a bit early for marriage. It was that ambiguous age. In noble society, being twenty-one was like that. “…I’ll talk to you about it after the imperial banquet.” Honestly, Lucia didn’t want to rush Owen. While it was inevitable as Owen had mentioned, she no longer wanted to push him. Perhaps it could be called capriciousness. She hadn’t expected someone who had always lived selfishly to feign consideration with such a fickle change. “The imperial banquet is soon, right? Are you going with me?” “Yes, I’ve already got my outfit ready.” “Alright then.” Edelt, the Marquis, nodded in agreement to attending the imperial banquet together. “Then, after the banquet, we can proceed with the engagement.” “…Yes.” This was probably the most delayed action Edelt, the Marquis, could take. With a positive response, Lucia decided that she would bring up this topic the next time she met Owen. *** Owen nodded when he heard that he would be engaged to Lucia after the banquet. “So it’s settled.” Lucia tilted her head in surprise at his response. “The Marquis Edelt is that kind of person, isn’t he?” She seemed to understand the subsequent explanation, nodding in agreement, but then came another question. “Do you know my father well?” “It’s hard to say I know him well.” “Really? You seemed to know more than you let on.” Owen just smiled quietly at her following words. “We had a conversation once before, so maybe that’s why it seemed that way.” In reality, there was a completely different reason, but this was the only plausible excuse. Unable to bring up the story of ‘Flower of the Empire,’ Owen mentioned their past conversation. “When you went to visit him. That day when the Marquis Edelt called you.” “My father?” Lucia’s eyes widened in surprise at the information she had never been told by the Marquis Edelt. Owen nodded at her and added an explanation. “He seemed like a good person outwardly, but he was quite different in reality.” “…Did you notice that right away?” Lucia responded slowly. There was a nuance in her tone as if she had caught on to what he was trying to hide. “His words gave it away.” Owen brushed it off casually. Honestly, with a bit of perception, anyone would have found the story strange. Even with this roundabout way, it probably didn’t seem too odd. However, he hadn’t quite reached the point of realizing that Marquis Edelt was pretending to be a good father. “More importantly, the formal attire will be ready next week.” “Right.” Not wanting to arouse suspicion, Owen changed the subject right away. Fortunately, Lucia simply nodded without saying anything else. “The banquet is approaching.” The banquet, delayed by a month, was right around the corner. The season had ripened, and it was already a hot midsummer. “It’s already mid-July.” Time had swiftly passed, and it was now July. Their first meeting under the blooming cherry blossoms in April was already a few months ago. “I’m looking forward to it.” Recalling the past few months, Lucia smiled and said, “I can’t wait.” Owen’s gaze, which had been directed towards the empty space, now landed on her. As their eyes met, Lucia’s expression softened.
Today, the place where the two people met was the backyard of Verdine Mansion.
In the midst of summer, the backyard was filled with various summer plants.
The blooming flowers of summer were in full bloom, lush like the flowers with green leaves.
Although the gardeners took good care of it and it didn’t look messy, the deep shade and the scent of dampness were as vivid as ever.
“How are you feeling?”
The two people sitting at the table in the mansion’s backyard were having a tea time.
Owen looked at Lucia’s inquiring eyes and quietly replied, “I’m fine too.”
Being in crowded places was actually exhausting, but the fact that he was going with Lucia made it enjoyable.
Lucia, being fond of bustling and glamorous places, would naturally look forward to the banquet.
“You didn’t seem to like banquets. Wasn’t that the case?”
“I’m not particularly fond of them.”
As Owen gave a straightforward answer, Lucia slightly narrowed her eyes.
“Still, you’re looking forward to it? Disliking banquets… because they’re noisy?”
“Probably. Crowded places tire me out.”
Banquets were inevitably spaces filled with many people.
Moreover, this summer’s banquet was expected to be the grandest and biggest due to the setting of the ＜Imperial Flower＞.
Was that all?
Banquets were spaces filled with dancing, music, and alcohol.
The combination of noisy elements was surprisingly colorful.
Even in Korea, clubs, pubs, and bars were places he had never revisited after one visit.
And that one visit was when he was dragged there by his colleagues.
“But because I’m going with you.”
If it had been a banquet he had to attend out of obligation, he would still have disliked it.
But it wasn’t the case.
Because it was a gathering with Lucia.
“And it seems you also enjoy it. I have no choice but to look forward to it from my side.”