Chapter 9

Clementine borrowed a carriage from her neighbor, Miss Jacob.

Miss Jacob gladly lent it to her on one condition:

“You have to tell me everything when you get back.”

It was an unnecessary condition.

Hilde would surely boast about the party to the whole village anyway.

The sisters climbed into the borrowed carriage and set off, the wheels rattling along the road.

When Clementine stepped out of the carriage…

She could hardly believe what she saw.

Bellefontaine Castle was enormous and breathtakingly beautiful.

Its white marble walls gleamed in the sunlight, and rare flowers bloomed everywhere.

A mysterious sweet fragrance even drifted through the air.

“I think that’s the smell of chocolate!”

Hilde poked Clementine in the side.

“Father and Mother used to drink it when we were little.”

“I’m sure it smells just like that.”

“Chocolate…”

It had once been a luxurious drink enjoyed only by the upper class.

Although mass production had recently made it easier to obtain than before.

Soon, a servant approached and led the sisters inside.

They were shown to a perfectly prepared guest room.

“Where is His Grace?”

Hilde asked as she tossed her bag onto the bed.

“His Grace is in the garden with Mr. Olivier Rochemont.”

The moment she heard that, Hilde’s eyes sparkled.

“I’d like to greet him!”

“Normally, His Grace welcomes guests after the party begins.”

The servant explained.

“But he specifically said that if the young ladies of the House of Montauban arrived…”

“He wished to greet them immediately.”

“…How thoughtful.”

The warm reception caught Clementine completely by surprise.

After all…

Damien Lambert had shown her anything but kindness during their last meeting.

Especially when she had appeared before him in shabby clothes, without even a servant to receive her guests.

Something clearly didn’t add up.

“Please follow me.”

The servant led the way.

Clementine and Hilde walked through endless marble corridors.

The castle was elegant and spotless.

Even the beautifully maintained gardens didn’t have a single patch of mud out of place.

“The Duke must be incredibly rich!”

Hilde gasped as she looked around.

“Back when he was just an illegitimate child…”

“I bet he never imagined he’d live like this.”

She continued chatting excitedly.

“His Grace is over there.”

Just as Clementine’s ears were beginning to ache from Hilde’s endless chatter, the servant pointed ahead.

Sure enough…

Two men were playing tennis.

Olivier Rochemont, dressed in a white shirt and short trousers, struck the ball.

On the opposite side of the court…

Damien Lambert effortlessly returned the powerful shot before swinging his racket with incredible force.

Unfortunately…

Olivier couldn’t return it.

“Well…”

“I can’t beat you.”

Accepting defeat, Olivier tossed down his racket.

“At least next match we’ll be partners.”

“What can I say?”

Damien replied arrogantly.

“Spring is perfect weather for tennis.”

“I’ve been feeling stiff all winter.”

“That’s the spirit.”

Olivier laughed.

“If we win again this year…”

“It’ll be our sixth consecutive championship.”

“What do we gain from winning?”

Damien asked indifferently.

“Hah!”

“You love winning more than anyone.”

“Stop pretending you don’t.”

Apparently Olivier had hit the mark.

Damien looked slightly embarrassed.

But only for a moment.

“Is there any man in this world who enjoys losing?”

he replied proudly.

Just as Damien was handing his racket to a servant…

He noticed Clementine and Hilde first.

Their eyes met.

Without realizing it…

Clementine hesitated.

She felt nervous.

Not simply because he was so handsome…

But because his gaze clung to her with unsettling intensity.

Damien adjusted the collar of his shirt.

Yet he made no move to greet her.

He simply stood there…

Silently watching Clementine.

“What a pleasure to see you again, Miss Clementine.”

Instead, it was Olivier, not even the master of the house, who stepped forward naturally.

“I hope your journey wasn’t too tiring.”

“Ah…”

“N-not at all…”

Clementine stammered in surprise.

“I hardly know what to say.”

“Thank you for inviting us to such a wonderful place.”

She quickly gathered herself.

“…Oh!”

“This is my younger sister, Hilde Cornille.”

As if she had been waiting for the opportunity, Hilde stepped forward immediately.

Her curly golden hair shimmered around her face, and her gray eyes sparkled brightly.

Hilde often boasted that any man who looked directly into her captivating eyes would instantly fall under her spell.

“You’re…”

“Very different from Miss Clementine.”

Unfortunately…

Perhaps that charm didn’t work on men outside their village.

Olivier merely muttered the observation without much interest.

“Olivier.”

“Don’t we have work to finish before the party begins?”

Damien interrupted calmly.

His expression didn’t change in the slightest.

In fact…

He had already turned his attention elsewhere.

“My mother sent another letter.”

As the host of the party…

He wasn’t even showing the most basic courtesy toward his guests.

His attitude wasn’t merely lacking in warmth.

It was openly indifferent.

Clementine’s face burned with embarrassment.

She felt less like an invited guest…

And more like an unwelcome burden.

If he didn’t want us here…

Then why invite us at all?

Was it only because his fiancée insisted?

“Ah, yes.”

“Your Grace.”

“We still have that mountain of paperwork waiting.”

Olivier nodded cheerfully.

Damien finally gave Clementine and Hilde a brief greeting.

Then he turned and walked away without another word.

“I’ll see you both at the party, beautiful ladies!”

At least Olivier offered a friendly farewell before following after him.

Clementine worried that Hilde might have been offended.

After all…

Her sister was always saying that men showered her with attention and treated her like a princess.

Perhaps Damien and Olivier’s behavior would be the first cold reception she had ever experienced.

“…This is even better than I expected!”

To Clementine’s surprise…

Hilde looked happier than ever.

“So that gentleman was the lawyer?”

“Mr. Olivier Rochemont?”

“Hm?”

“Yes…”

“That’s right.”

“He’s much kinder and more handsome than I imagined.”

“Uh…”

“Is he?”

“He called me a beautiful lady!”

“And said he couldn’t wait to see me again at the party!”

Somehow…

That was quite different from what Olivier had actually said.

Clementine blinked in confusion.

“The Duke too!”

Hilde continued excitedly.

“He stared at me for such a long time.”

“He looked too shy to come over and speak to me.”

The single second Damien had glanced in Hilde’s direction…

Had somehow become an eternity in her imagination.

“What should I do?”

“They’re both handsome…”

“And they both seem wealthy…”

Hilde murmured dreamily.

“But Mr. Rochemont is only a lawyer.”

“So technically he’s beneath my social rank.”

“On the other hand…”

“The Duke is still a Duke, even if he was born illegitimate.”

“What exactly are you thinking about?”

Clementine asked, completely lost.

“I’m obviously deciding which of the two excellent husbands I should choose!”

Hilde declared confidently.

“…Hilde.”

Clementine couldn’t help thinking that her younger sister had completely lost touch with reality.

“Aren’t we fallen nobles?”

“You were the one saying we should know our place because we’re poor.”

Whatever happened to her long speech about money being everything in the industrial age?

“Oh.”

“That was advice for you.”

Hilde shamelessly contradicted herself.

“Just wait and see.”

She proudly lifted her chin.

“I’ll overcome all of that with love.”

“…What?”

“They’ll fall madly in love with me.”

“They’ll ignore the differences in wealth and status and propose to me anyway.”

“…Who will?”

“Whichever handsome gentleman I choose!”

The claim was so absurd…

Clementine was left completely speechless.

Seeing her older sister’s stunned expression…

Hilde seemed convinced she had won the argument.