CBH 32

Chapter 32 …

“Anyway, if you want to be respected by me, Mr. Wesley, you should work a bit harder as well.”

“It’s not like I particularly want to be respected.”

“Then don’t be disappointed either!”

“Fine by me.”

“…In any case, my lady was remarkable to come up with this idea, and everything has aligned perfectly—from the timing with the harvest festival to this year’s bumper pumpkin crop. It seems God has finally decided to look after Burwood.”

“Well… if He’s decided to look after us now, I suppose we should be grateful.”

Wesley cast a worried glance toward the main gate.

‘The real question is whether the count will actually attend the banquet.’

The preparations for the banquet were coming along astonishingly well.

The Ischpern castle still looked bleak, but once the fake spider webs and pumpkin lanterns made by the village children were added, it created an atmosphere so convincing that, as Helena had said, no amount of money could have produced something quite like it.

Helena sent invitations not only to the noblewomen staying in Lilo but to every nearby noble house as well.

If she was going to expose everything anyway, it was better to do it openly and thoroughly, leaving no room for repercussions.

And so, step by step, the harvest festival approached.

Countess Bryce seemed determined to crush Helena’s spirit.

Claiming it was in honor of the duchess residing in Lilo, she prepared the most splendid carriage drawn by eight horses.

She wore an expensive silver gown fit for an imperial banquet and adorned her neck with a blue sapphire necklace that matched her dark blue eyes beautifully.

Inside the carriage bound for Ischpern Castle, Countess Bryce spoke confidently.

“Last time, I graciously yielded once for the sake of our unprepared new friend. But not this time. Today, I intend to properly enjoy the banquet.”

“You are absolutely right, Countess.”

“If she dares to shut us out of the castle again, I will not let it pass.”

Viscountess Batch and Selma Roderick eagerly flattered her. They too were dressed in extravagant attire.

Since she had to match them, Meriel had chosen the finest dress she owned.

Wrapped in white fur over an elegant purple velvet gown, Meriel let out a soft sigh.

‘Turn that castle into a proper banquet venue in just ten days? Impossible.’

She imagined herself in Helena’s position.

No matter how she thought about it, there was only one answer.

‘I would have admitted defeat and run.’

Feigning sudden illness would be the safest excuse.

Society gossip was frightening—but it could also be forgiving to someone who admitted defeat and lay low.

If she stayed with her family under the pretense of illness for several months, perhaps even a year, and then quietly returned, her enemies would likely send reconciliation letters as if they had been waiting for her.

Just as there were no eternal friends, there were no eternal enemies.

After enduring a harsh debut in high society, the newcomer who returned would be received with more tolerance.

Even if unwilling at first, after attending a few gatherings, she would naturally become part of southern high society.

Meriel felt exhausted just imagining it. She slightly opened the carriage shutter and looked outside.

The hillside leading up to the castle was still overgrown with tall reeds, and the road remained uneven—no different from ten days ago.

As Ischpern Castle drew nearer, Meriel felt her heart pounding with an ominous premonition.

‘It’s the same.’

When the carriage crossed the moss-covered moat and passed through the castle gates crowded with crows, a bitter smile touched her lips.

‘Of course. Unless the Countess of Ischpern is a magician, it was impossible from the start.’

Countess Bryce already wore the face of someone certain of victory.

“Honestly, I thought so last time too, but the Countess of Ischpern must be out of her mind. You heard she sent invitations to every family in the area, didn’t you?”

“Of course! What on earth was she thinking?”

“Well, we’re only here to watch, after all.”

The noblewomen burst into high-pitched laughter.

Soon the carriage stopped before the wide-open gates of Ischpern Castle.

A servant opened the carriage door for them. The ladies hurried out as if they had been waiting for this moment.

Smiling children greeted them.

“Welcome, madam!”

“Welcome to Burwood!”

Children dressed as ghosts, draped in white sheets, wandered about carrying baskets of sweets.

“Have some monster-repelling cookies!”

Ordinarily, it would be proper to politely decline a child’s offered treat. But monster-repelling cookies?

In a castle this gloomy, they might be exactly what was needed.

Before they knew it, each noblewoman accepted a cookie. The yellow, person-shaped cookie carried the scent of pumpkin and ginger.

“What on earth is this…?”

Looking around, Viscountess Batch clapped her hands.

“Oh my! It must be a Halloween party!”

“Halloween?”

“Look at those pumpkin lanterns.”

Indeed, glowing pumpkin lanterns were placed throughout the garden.

Viscountess Batch burst into laughter.

“And spider webs! Oh my, there’s even a fake spider over there!”

She giggled at the black-cloth spider.

“Oh ho ho ho! The Countess of Ischpern is quite witty—”

Still laughing, she caught sight of Countess Bryce’s face and quickly shut her mouth.

Countess Bryce looked as if she had bitten into something foul before forcing out a remark.

“…She’s put some thought into it.”

“W-Well, on closer inspection it’s rather crude—”

Trying belatedly not to offend Countess Bryce, Viscountess Batch was interrupted by a smiling child dressed as a ghost.

“Madam, thank you for the compliment. I made that spider.”

“…Even with such simple materials, you did very well! You’re quite talented.”

“Thank you, madam!”

After patting the little ghost’s head, Viscountess Batch hurried back to cling to Countess Bryce.

“Oh dear, I had to say something to protect the child’s innocence…”

“That’s enough.”

Countess Bryce snapped coldly, then turned to Meriel.

“Duchess Lucelle, shall we go inside?”

Meriel, who had stepped out of the carriage last, nodded.

“Yes, let’s.”

The exterior of Ischpern Castle had not changed much. The hill leading up to it was barren, and the castle at its summit still looked like an abandoned ruin.

But once they passed through the open doors, an entirely different world unfolded.

The excitable Selma Roderick let out a shriek the moment she entered the banquet hall.

“Oh my—the chandelier!”

The chandelier, which always hung from the ceiling, was now lowered to the center of the hall. The sight was shocking enough.

So stunned that she forgot to stay by Countess Bryce’s side, Selma ran toward it.

“My goodness, it’s beautiful!”

Though old, the Ischpern family’s chandelier had all its metal parts plated in platinum and was adorned with countless crystal pendants. When lit with candles, it shone dazzlingly.

Even hanging from the distant ceiling it had been eye-catching; now, resting in the center of the hall, it was a spectacular sight.

Helena, who had been speaking with others nearby, saw Selma and greeted her with a bright smile.

“Mrs. Roderick, welcome!”

“Countess of Ischpern… what happened to the chandelier?”

At Selma’s question, everyone around Helena burst into laughter.

To the even more bewildered Selma, Eldis Bale said,

“Forgive us, Mrs. Roderick. Everyone who arrived asked the same thing.”

Eldis’s wife, Alexa, added cheerfully,

“And the Countess of Ischpern always gives the same answer.”

Helena promptly continued,

“The pulley broke.”

“Oh ho ho ho!”

“Ha ha ha!”

“Ho ho ho ho!”

For some reason, everyone found it hysterical. Caught in the mood, Selma forced herself to laugh along.

After the somewhat obligatory bout of laughter, Selma felt pressured to say something appropriate in this enforced warmth.

She lifted the corners of her lips and spoke.

“Countess of Ischpern, I’m truly impressed. I’ve never seen such a striking banquet.”

Helena responded politely.

“Thank you. It’s only been arranged as a temporary measure, so I’m rather embarrassed to host you like this. But since even the people of Burwood—who trust and follow the Ischpern family—have rolled up their sleeves to help for today’s banquet, I must do my very best.”

The support of loyal subjects who trusted their lord’s house.

It was nothing less than an invincible shield no one could pierce.