EURL CH 15

Chapter 15

He had been pouring out complaints at his mother the entire time. The nerve of him. No manners, no gratitude!

Just as my anger was reaching its limit, it began to snow. Most of the nobles attending the New Year’s banquet put on their coats and stepped outside to admire it.

Snow on the first day of the year—what an auspicious sign.

Thanks to that, only a few people remained inside the banquet hall. Timothy and I were among them.

I still don’t know why Timothy stayed behind. But I stayed for one reason only—I couldn’t let him off without saying something.

And even then, he kept venting at his mother.

“I don’t like this bow tie! What is this? It’s a mess!”

“Timothy, I’m so sorry. I should have had a few more made for you.”

His mother apologized over and over, her shoulders hunched.

But the more she bowed and apologized, the more arrogant he became.

“You should have used better fabric instead of this cheap pattern. Mother, your taste is so outdated! It’s embarrassing for a noblewoman. Honestly, you’re—”

That was as far as he got.

Because I threw my cherry pie at him.

“Yes! That was so funny!” Maria burst into laughter, hugging a cushion beside her.

I glared at her while chewing on a cucumber sandwich.

“Funny? You think that was funny?”

“Of course! The way that pie flew across the tables! You’re terrible at darts—how did you hit him so perfectly? And not just that. What you said afterward was even better. I still remember your first words. Wasn’t it ‘Cut it out already’?”

“…”

Maria Morelli, I’d appreciate it if you realized you’re marrying that fool.

I huffed and shoved the rest of the sandwich into my mouth.

She was right. The pie sailed over several tables and landed squarely on Timothy’s face.

I, who never once hit a dartboard properly, somehow displayed miraculous accuracy that day.

In any case, Timothy’s face was a disaster—along with the bow tie he had been complaining about.

He jumped up, covered in pie.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

“Cut it out already!”

“What?!”

I stood as well, glaring at him.

At the same time, I quickly scanned the hall from the corner of my eye.

Fortunately, Viscount Horton wasn’t there. Neither were my parents. Nor Crown Prince Rubellus or His Majesty. Not even Lady Sallenne.

Which meant I had no one to be cautious of.

Ignoring the stunned nobles watching, I crossed my arms.

“Viscount Horton’s heir.”

I lifted my chin deliberately, speaking with disdain.

“What is so important about that bow tie that you humiliate your mother in public?”

“W-What?”

Timothy glanced around nervously.

Though only a few nobles remained, all were staring at us in shock.

Some had already grasped the situation.

As murmurs began, Timothy’s face twisted.

“This is a private family matter! Lady Wildenbiston has no reason to interfere. I was merely advising my mother to fulfill her duties!”

That argument did not work on me.

I waited until he finished and snorted.

“Don’t make me laugh.”

“What?”

“No, it’s not even funny. What exactly is a mother’s duty that you can disgrace her like this in front of everyone? That bow tie—what is it worth compared to the love she showed in preparing your clothes with her own money? If you didn’t like it, you should have chosen it yourself! Why blame your poor taste on her? A pumpkin is still a pumpkin even if you draw lines on it! Apologize to your mother! Have some shame—this is the Imperial Palace!”

I was in the middle of my fiery speech when—

“Aira, that is precisely what I wanted to say.”

“What do you—Mother of—!”

Someone called my name warmly.

I turned around and froze.

Three people stood at the entrance of the hall.

Emperor Johann Zahard.

Rubellus.

And my father, the Duke of Wildenbiston, covered his face with one hand.

His Majesty was chuckling.

Good heavens. The Emperor.

“‘Have some shame—this is the Imperial Palace.’ That is what I wished to ask you, Aira. This is the Palace. Do you know where you are, shouting like that?”

He looked cheerful.

But I knew better.

Emperor Johann Zahard was the type who could execute someone while smiling.

He had expanded and solidified the Empire with ruthless authority.

I dropped to my knees immediately, trembling, eyes fixed on the floor.

After a moment, he spoke again.

“The New Year’s banquet is meant to be joyful and harmonious. Insulting a noble house is strictly forbidden. Therefore, Aira, regardless of your reasons, you must apologize first for throwing that pie. Guards.”

He snapped his fingers lightly.

“Escort Lady Wildenbiston to a private room. Duke, does Aira enjoy reading? Let us send her to the library. I cannot very well send her to prison.”

…

“Every time I think about it, I still get mad.”

Returning from my memory, I bit my lower lip.

Because of that wretched Timothy, I ruined the entire banquet.

I was dragged away and never returned. I didn’t even get to say a word to Crown Prince Rubellus.

Worse, I was charged with insulting a noble and fined ten thousand baht.

My parents refused to cover the fine—penalties for crimes were my responsibility.

So I had to break into my trust fund to pay it.

At least I wasn’t jailed.

But thanks to witnesses talking, the incident was splashed across the capital’s newspapers.

I became “Aira Wildenbiston,” the unruly girl who roamed the Palace freely and insulted nobles while hiding behind her family name.

“Mm, yes. I remember. My first impression of you wasn’t great either.”

Maria folded her hands neatly over her crossed leg and spoke calmly.

Even after listening to my blazing rant, she looked peaceful.

Which made me even more agitated.

“Why would you marry someone like that?”

“Hmm. Maybe money?”

“What?!”

I clenched my fists.

“If the Morelli family is in trouble, and you’re marrying without love, I could use my trust fund to—”

“Pfft! I’m joking, Aira.”

“What?”

She laughed brightly, tilting her head and looking at me gently.

There it was—Maria’s honey-sweet gaze.

“Aira, you haven’t been in society for quite some time, so you wouldn’t know. Timothy has changed a lot.”

She paused before smiling softly.

“…Changed how?”

“He’s become quite handsome.”

…What?

I crossed my arms again.

“More handsome than Crown Prince Rubellus?”

“What? Of course not. But still handsome. He’s grown taller. His skin improved. He bought land while preparing to inherit the title. And most importantly…”

She smiled again.

“He respects women now.”

“How would you know?”

“You remember how he didn’t appear in society for a year?”

Did he? I hadn’t paid attention.

“Probably too embarrassed to show his face. Like me.”

“No. He was being educated by politicians advocating women’s suffrage. Along with his father.”

“…What?”

That was news to me.

Maria nodded.

“It’s true. You know my mother, Triana Morelli.”