EURL CH 14

Chapter 14

In front of a mansion with a green roof at the far end of the capital’s main avenue.

A sturdy black cargo carriage stopped before the estate.

The moment it halted, I flung the door open and jumped down.

I thought I was going to suffocate in there!

Swallowing a sigh of relief, I turned back and forced a friendly smile.

“Dale, thank you so much for bringing me.”

“…I will return to escort you at four in the afternoon.”

“Alright.”

Old Man Dale barked the words in his hoarse voice and turned the horses around. Soon the carriage rolled away.

The instant it disappeared from sight, I dropped my expression and let out a long breath.

“Whew, that was painfully awkward.”

It truly had been suffocating.

For some reason, it was hard to chat casually with Old Man Dale. I always ended up feeling self-conscious.

Normally, I would have refused Samara’s condition rather than ride in Dale’s cart, but—

“No. I had to.”

I shook my head and turned toward the mansion again.

Even if it was awkward, I absolutely had to come here today.

Clutching the wedding invitation tightly in my hand, I stood before the gate with a solemn expression.

The crest engraved on the gate handle was identical to the one printed on the invitation.

After taking a deep breath, I firmly pressed the doorbell.

***

“This is black tea scented with lavender and orange zest.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s my pleasure.”

Dressed like this and carrying nothing but my identification token, I had still been allowed inside the Morelli estate.

Thanks to their capable butler.

Caroline—renowned throughout the capital as an exceptionally competent butler.

Despite my suspicious appearance, the moment she saw my face, she greeted me properly as Lady Wildenbiston.

Then she promptly led me to the drawing room and served tea and refreshments.

Truly impressive.

I had assumed I would at least avoid being turned away because of my identification, but I hadn’t expected to be received so smoothly.

It’s hard to believe that before I was born, people had insisted women could not be butlers.

Just as I lifted my teacup for a sip—

“Well, look who it is.”

A soft voice sounded from behind me.

I hurriedly set the cup down and jumped to my feet.

“Maria!”

“Good heavens, what are you wearing?”

Maria came toward me with a bright smile, her short brown curls bouncing with each quick step.

She wore a green indoor dress with a black robe embroidered in gold over it.

“It’s been three years, and you’re still the same. Still running around in these sloppy disguises!”

She opened her arms and hugged me tightly before stepping back.

Her gentle green eyes carefully examined my face.

It really had been a long time.

Three years ago, after my one-sided love ended, I rejected all visits and letters. I cut off every social connection.

I didn’t want to see anyone.

Not even Maria.

She had been my closest childhood friend. We even debuted at the same debutante ball.

Yet I stopped contacting her too.

I forced a playful glare.

“What’s wrong with my disguise?”

“You really don’t know?”

Maria laughed awkwardly, eyebrows knitting.

Wait. She wasn’t joking?

Feeling unfairly attacked, I adjusted my clothes and pouted.

“Still, nothing’s happened to me so far.”

“That’s not because your disguise is brilliant. It’s because your luck is absurd. The world is dangerous these days. What if you got into trouble with some hooligans dressed like that?”

“Is it? I always thought our country wasn’t that unsafe.”

I muttered, thinking back on all my outings.

I’d left without telling anyone dozens of times. No chaperone. Nothing.

Yet nothing ever happened.

I’d never even seen a drunk collapsed on the road, nor a gang lurking in a dark alley.

I’d always thought, “Wow, the Capitol Police must be doing a great job.”

But Maria shook her head.

“If someone hasn’t been secretly following you and protecting you every time you’re in danger, then your luck is invincible.”

Who would secretly follow me around? What, is there an army tailing me?

I frowned slightly.

Maria gently cupped my cheek and whispered silently with her lips.

‘Lovely Aira.’

Her soft smile made me feel oddly shy.

“Whether someone’s protecting me or I’m just lucky doesn’t matter. What matters is I finally saw you.”

I blinked at her.

Maria’s smile was as powerful as ever.

She spoke gently and softly, yet when she smiled like that, no one dared argue.

When Maria presented her opinion with that smile, everyone listened.

Perhaps only Reni could debate her rationally.

She smiled again at my words.

“And judging by that outfit, you’re definitely grounded. If you get caught, it’ll be another ‘Aira Record.’”

“You still remember the ‘Aira Record’?”

“How could I forget?”

The “Aira Record” was a nickname Bianca had given me before she married.

In short, it was a list of all the trouble I’d ever caused.

Youngest ever to be grounded. Most times grounded. Longest allowance suspension. First and youngest person ever detained by the Imperial Guard and fined…

I rolled my eyes around and grinned sheepishly.

“If you keep it a secret, I’ll be fine.”

She nodded with a smile.

“Of course. You came to see me knowing you’d be punished. I’m really happy you came. It’s been too long, Aira.”

“I had to come—ah! Right!”

I suddenly remembered why I had truly come and jumped up.

I wasn’t here just for a reunion.

Waving the invitation in front of her face, I exclaimed,

“Maria Morelli! You—you’re getting married!”

“Haha. I am.”

“To… to Timothy!”

I shouted.

“This Timothy—he’s that Timothy, isn’t he?!”

“Hahaha, yes! The same Timothy we met at the Palace when we were fifteen. The one you scolded!”

Maria burst into laughter.

But I couldn’t laugh.

Timothy Horton.

Only son of Viscount Horton. That insufferable brat.

The reason I was first detained by the Imperial Guard and fined!

“I object!”

I shouted.

Absolutely not.

I would never hand over our sweet, kind Maria to that arrogant, horse-faced idiot.

To explain my outrage, I need to tell you about my terrible history with Timothy Horton.

Timothy Horton.

The only son of the Horton family—a perfect example of a terrible upbringing.

Originally, the Hortons had no land of their own. They survived on a viscount title granted for assisting another count in his territory.

But after the current Viscount Horton made a fortune through a business venture in that territory, everything changed.

Flush with money, they proudly moved to the capital, following the typical path of newly rich provincial nobles.

That alone wasn’t the issue.

The problem was their outdated views.

They strongly preferred sons and emphasized a woman’s total devotion and service to the household.

The entire family revolved around their son.

“Our son this, our son that”—as if he were some idol to worship.

And while some might argue their family business wasn’t my concern—

It became my concern the moment I witnessed it firsthand.

I was fifteen.

The palace held an annual New Year’s banquet for nobles.

I was in a particularly good mood that year.

Because my seat was at the table right next to Crown Prince Rubellus.

This was after the hunting hat incident, but my infatuation remained strong.

Determined to impress him, I joined the event preparation committee again and secured that prime seat beside him.

I had new dresses tailored, wanting to look as elegant as possible.

But all my careful preparations were rendered meaningless—

The moment I saw Timothy Horton’s behavior toward his own mother at a corner table.

It was a spectacle.

Though his table was far from mine, it was directly in my line of sight.