MHLM 24

Chapter : 24

It was not so difficult to notice that Adeline Alvinith had feelings for Theodore.

She often visited the Valentino residence to meet Theodore, and each time she was here, she would purposefully act affectionate to Theodore in front of me.

She intentionally did such things despite how immature she seemed, yet seeing this made it clear just how anxious Adeline Alvinith was.

He’s also… Well, it didn’t seem like Theodore was interested in her at all.

It’s plain to see how Theodore regarded Adeline as only a childhood friend at best, or just a mere acquaintance.

No, frankly, it almost seemed like he found her annoying.

Even an outsider to their relationship such as I noticed it, so there’s no way Adeline didn’t know this. Maybe that’s why she’s being quite persistent.

This visit alone was a testament to that.

‘I’m curious. What kind of expression will you make after finding out the truth to that rumor?’

It would be misleading to say that our relationship as husband and wife had gotten better lately, but it’s still true that Theodore started being more kind to me since he lost his memories.

But Adeline wouldn’t know about Theodore’s partial amnesia.

The only thing she’d see here was how Theodore had changed.

I quite find this to be a little fun. I knew about the sweet, lovely mask that Adeline often wore.

Someone who’d wear a mask like this was usually the kind of person who would thoroughly hide and distort their true self beneath that mask.

I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of distortion there’ll be today.

“Charlotte, bring me that opal necklace.”

“Ah, the one His Grace gifted you before, Madam?”

“Yes.”

If you’re being nasty towards me like this, then you should know that I don’t have much of a good personality either.

But since I’d been patient with Adeline all this time despite the many instances that she crossed the line before, this much should be fine.

“Here it is, Madam. Would you like me to style your hair?”

“Thank you. Yes, please do.”

I happened to be wearing a green dress, so the blue opal necklace would go well with my outfit.

Charlotte braided my hair and pinned it up, and without any other jewelry adorning me, I wore only that necklace and silver heels as my accessories.

It’s been a long time since I dressed up, but oh, how ironic it was that I’m doing this just to mock someone else. It couldn’t be helped since I rarely ever want to dress up in the first place.

I exited the room and went out the hallway with Charlotte.

As we headed towards the drawing room on the ground floor, Charlotte approached and asked in a whisper so that only I could hear.

“Um, Madam… Should I go to the knight commander’s office? I can go and tell him that you’d like to talk to him…”

I stopped walking and looked at Charlotte. After a moment, my lips opened and imparted my answer.

“…You’re really quick-witted, aren’t you, Charlotte?”

Charlotte bashfully scratched her cheek. It’s not something obvious, but she seemed to have caught on to the fact that I wanted to look at the military records. And from there, she volunteered to talk to the knight commander on my behalf since I was reluctant to do this myself.

…This was really admirable of her, and for this, I was grateful.

Facing Charlotte, I smiled slightly and said,

“Thank you very much for this. Then, can you go and deliver this message to the knight commander now? After he finishes up his work, tell him to come straight to the drawing room.”

“Yes, I’ll relay your message, Madam!”

Missus Seymour had also gone out right now, so there’s no one watching me at the moment.

Missus Seymour was persistent when it came to keeping an eye on me, perhaps wanting to catch me in the act if I ever did anything untoward to the family.

Though I’ll be acting while she’s not here, I’m sure she’d eventually hear a report about it later.

After leaving this task to Charlotte, I headed towards the drawing room.

The attendant stationed outside the door then announced my presence as I entered.

When I went inside, a floral scent hit my senses as strongly as the usual. This was the fragrance of Adeline’s favorite perfume.

It was quite the nice scent, really, but it’s a polarizing scent that could be liked by one person, but disliked by another.

Refraining from pinching my nose, I smiled.

Adeline, who was sitting on the sofa, smiled broadly back at me as she got up from her seat.

“Lily! It’s been so long! It’s so good to see you again.”

“Greetings, Lady Alvinith.”

“Oh, don’t be so stiff with me, gosh. Just call me Adeline.”

Still as ever, she’s the same brazen woman.

Inwardly right now, she must be sharpening her knife, but her acting skills were truly no joke whenever she smiled like this. This was the reason why she continued to reign as the ‘queen’ of high society.

Then, Adeline’s gaze lingered for a long time on my neck.

To be precise, she stared intently at the blue opal necklace.

After a while however, she naturally looked away. She maintained her smile as she spoke.

“I came here because I wanted to know how you’ve been doing, you know, theeese days. I heard that Missus Seymour and Theo went out though, but I can’t wait to see them again.”

‘So you’re just going to pretend not to know about the opal necklace, huh.’

“You look the same as usual these days, too. Until the other two people come back, I’ll talk to you so that you don’t feel lonely, Lady Alvinith.”

Sitting face to face with Adeline, we exchanged stories that didn’t have much substance. A maid approached and poured some tea for us.

The light red tea had a unique scent that I never smelled before.

Perplexed by this as I tasted it, I realized that it really was a new type of tea that I’m tasting for the first time.

Adeline was watching my reaction carefully. It looked like she wanted to say something.

Sure enough, as soon as her lips left the cup and she raised her head, she smiled and spoke.

“It’s tea from the eastern continent. Do you like it? I brought this as a gift today.”

“Mm, yes. The scent is lovely. Thank you for the gift.”

“No, this is nothing. Theo likes tea more than liquor, you know. That’s why I brought it here. Once he’s back, I can’t wait to hear his appreciation for it, too. I hope he likes it.”

With a subdued smile, I nodded. Without a doubt, Adeline had a knack for touching a nerve.

What a woman she was, to slyly flaunt how close she was to a certain man right in front of his wife’s face.

Anyone who had less control over their emotions would have been unable to resist not saying anything.

However, if you say anything back at her like this, people would think that you’re a strange person for getting angry over nothing.

Since it’s Adeline we’re talking about here, she would respond with either tears or with the classic line, ‘Did I do something wrong? I’m so sorry’, and somehow paint the other person as the one in the wrong.

At first, I also got choked up whenever Adeline pulled that stunt with me, but after I had given up completely, I took it all in stride.

Rather, now I feel a little sorry for her.

It’s not at all easy to be as persistent as her.

“It seems like trade with the East is very active these days.”

And so, as usual, I changed the subject instead of taking the bait like she wanted.

Still with a sweet smile on her face, Adeline replied.

“It’s all thanks to House Delacroix. It’s because of them that we finally have access to the shortest trading routes between the eastern and western continents.”

“Truly? That’s amazing.”

House Delacroix was a ducal household with a lot of wealth and riches to their name. They were of course based in the Kingdom of Fraunces, but their businesses also dominated the entire Europa Continent.

Delacroix’s territory, Dornach, was located at the southernmost region of Europa, where crops grew abundantly due to its agreeable climate and fertile land. It also continues to be the major trading hub where the southern and eastern continents often did business.

And, above all, the ‘rifts’ were rare in the southern region of Europa.

That’s why Delacroix didn’t have to invest heavily in their military, unlike other households.

Perhaps that might be why, there’s a rumor going around that House Delacroix’s elemental power was weak, unlike the other noble households. However, it’s unknown whether this rumor was true or not.

In any case, outside the few countries in the southern and eastern continents that were hostile towards the Fraunces Kingdom which would launch attacks to invade, the Delacroix territory was very peaceful.

It’s a widely accepted truth in the world that it was much better to fight political battles rather than going out to battle monstrous beasts that come out of the rifts, which no one knew when or where would appear next.

It was for this reason that Delacroix’s territory, Dornach, was always so eye-catching. Of course, that was also the case for my father, Duke Everett.

I’m sure that if House Valentino were to form a secret alliance with another noble household, the first choice would be House Delacroix.

Valentino had already taken a hit from Everett, and it was only a matter of time until Delacroix was next.

The one thing these two households had in common was that they’re in the same boat in this regard.

Adeline’s family, Alvinith, was out of the question. Of course, Adeline’s personal feelings were another matter.

For generations, House Alvinith trained in magic rather than their elemental spirits, and they continued to be reluctant to engage in convoluted political battles.

In a good way, you could call them neutral.

In a bad way, you could say they’re fence sitters.

Didn’t they say that the most blistering seat in hell was reserved for those who remained neutral during the times of moral crises? Alvinith might one day pay the price if they continue to remain gray.

‘Well, maybe the Royal Family would take that seat instead of House Alvinith, but…’

King Roderick, the current reigning, was being played like a fiddle by Duke Everett, and he was just leaving state affairs aside without properly doing his job.

If Kazef Everett was the source of all evil, then King Roderick himself was a servant of evil.

After Queen Ellemiel had killed all ten of the royal concubines, King Roderick instead called many high-end courtesans from outside the palace, indulged in them, and then sent them back out.

Of course, it was a matter of fact that the supplier of these courtesans was none other than Duke Everett. This kind of work was nothing short of ridicule.

“As for House Delacroix, I recently met Miss Rozenne Delacroix at a garden party along Cowen Street. You’ve met her before, haven’t you, Lily?”

“Yes. I’ve met her at least once.”

We just greeted each other briefly. Ducal Lady Delacroix was much too energetic that it didn’t seem like we’d get along well. She seems so tiring to be around…

“But you know, His Highness the Crown Prince also attended that party.”

“Aha, I see.”

I now have a rough idea of how she’s trying to usher in the next topic. I answered moderately enough, hiding my annoyance.

“His Highness announced that he’ll be holding a hunting party soon, but he also mentioned that the Duke and Duchess of Valentino will be joining us. Is that true?”

There it is.

It’s clear that she’s sneakily trying to ask, ‘Have you really started getting along better with Theo, or do you just have some formal reason to attend the event together?’

Perhaps with pity in my eyes as I looked at Adeline, who was trying so hard, I opened my lips to speak.

“It’s just as His Highness said. At the hunting party—”

But at that moment.

Knock, knock—

Someone knocked on the door, and a familiar voice called from the other side.

“Madam, it is Jenna. There’s something urgent I must tell you.”

A slight wave of apprehension came over me. I glanced at Adeline for a moment, then turned towards the door.

“What is it?”

Without any delay, an answer came back.

“Your presence is needed at the Avoridge Hall right now, Madam. Missus Seymour returned about ten minutes ago, but Charlotte… She is being interrogated by the Missus right now.”

“……?”

At the unexpected turn of events, my eyes grew wide. I asked Adeline for her understanding and quickly scrambled to my feet.