Chapter: 42
“Welcome.”
As soon as they stepped into the jewelry shop, an employee bowed politely.
Dietrich spoke first.
“I’d like a recommendation for a gift. It’s for a young lady in her early twenties…”
“Ah, of course. This way, please.”
The employee led Dietrich to a glass display case.
Countless jewels glittered brilliantly under the light.
“These are our most popular designs lately.”
The employee took out a bracelet case and presented it to him.
Click.
A bracelet strung with turquoise gemstones shimmered as it reflected the light.
“This piece is designed to resemble the sea using turquoise. Recently, there isn’t a single lady in the viscounty who doesn’t own one—”
“…”
But Dietrich wasn’t listening.
His gaze had settled on a pair of earrings resting in one corner of the display case.
They were simple studs that sat snugly against the ear. They weren’t flashy, but their delicate craftsmanship naturally drew the eye.
Most of all, the translucent pink gemstone at the center felt strangely familiar.
“Your Grace.”
A gentle voice echoed in his ears.
At that moment—
‘Ah.’
Dietrich realized it.
That pink gemstone…
It looked exactly like Larit’s eyes.
“…Sir? Sir!”
“Ah… yes.”
Snapping back to his senses, Dietrich looked up.
“Are you interested in this one?”
The employee smiled and took out the earrings Dietrich had been staring at.
“They’re rose quartz earrings. Aren’t they beautiful?”
“…”
Without realizing it, Dietrich imagined the earrings hanging from Larit’s ears.
They would suit her perfectly.
But…
‘Is there really any need to buy something for Lady Ansi as well?’
Larit was simply Evangeline’s friend.
Granted, she had been having a positive influence on his younger sister, and for that he was grateful…
Even so—
“I’ll take the turquoise bracelet you showed me earlier… and these earrings as well.”
Before he knew it, his mouth had moved on its own.
“Certainly. Would you like them gift-wrapped?”
Why am I doing this?
Even while feeling bewildered by his own impulsive behavior—
“Yes, please.”
Dietrich gave a small nod.
“Thank you very much! Please visit us again!”
With the employee seeing him off, Dietrich left the jewelry store.
‘…Well.’
Only then did he look down at his hands with an awkward expression.
Before he realized it, he was carrying two gifts he’d bought on impulse.
The attendant, who had just awakened from a nap and had been waiting outside, looked puzzled.
“Why are there two gifts?”
“None of your concern.”
Dietrich answered firmly.
‘Well, if you say so.’
The attendant merely shrugged as if to say exactly that.
Then he handed Dietrich an envelope.
“By the way, Your Grace, a letter arrived for you.”
“A letter?”
[Evangeline von Claudius]
The moment he accepted the envelope, he saw his younger sister’s unmistakable signature.
‘…What has she done this time?’
A chill ran down his spine.
With a suspicious look, Dietrich unfolded the letter.
[To Brother Dietrich,
The Ansi Viscount’s house is holding a party on July 5.
So you absolutely have to come.]
She had skipped even the greeting and immediately jumped straight to the point.
Wearing an incredulous expression, Dietrich continued reading.
[I already know your business trip is basically over as of today.
You’re already in Ansi Viscounty anyway, aren’t you?
Since you’ve come all the way here, stop by the party and help my friend save face, okay?
—The prettiest, cutest, coolest, most lovable Evangeline in the whole world]
That alone was absurd enough.
But the letter wasn’t over yet.
[P.S.
As a princess of House Claudius, I decided I’ll be paying for the party.
For now, just put it on credit and send the bill to the ducal house later.]
“…She’s awfully confident.”
Dietrich muttered in disbelief.
Not only had she ended the letter after saying only what she wanted to say…
She was acting as though the party expenses naturally belonged to him.
He stared at the letter for a long moment before letting out a deep sigh and turning to his attendant.
“Find out exactly what’s going on.”
“W-What?!”
His hot bath…
His freshly grilled steak and dessert ice cream…
His early bedtime on a soft bed…
Every bit of the sweet rest he’d been looking forward to had just been utterly destroyed.
The attendant’s face instantly fell into despair.
The following morning.
Dietrich finally heard the full story behind Evangeline’s letter.
“So… Eva suddenly declared she was going to hold a party at the Ansi Viscount’s house?”
Pressing his throbbing temple, Dietrich sighed.
“First, send an apology letter along with a gift. And naturally, we’ll cover all the expenses for the party…”
Just then—
Knock. Knock.
A hotel employee appeared after a brief knock.
“Your Grace, another letter has arrived.”
“…”
Speak of the devil.
It was another letter from Evangeline.
Looking thoroughly exhausted, Dietrich opened it.
At the same time, he could almost hear Evangeline shouting loudly in his head.
[Brother, why haven’t you replied yet?!]
She wasn’t even pretending to write a proper letter anymore…
What was more, she’d only sent yesterday’s letter that evening, yet by the next morning she was already demanding a reply.
Dietrich seriously began questioning his sister’s character.
[You’re coming, right? Right?
I’ve already bragged to Lady Ansi.
I even promised that her first dance at the party would absolutely be with you!]
You already sold me out?
Speechless, Dietrich continued reading.
[So you absolutely have to come.
Got it? You have to!
And send me a reply by lunchtime today!]
With that—
Without even bothering to include the customary closing greeting—
Evangeline’s unreasonable letter came to an end.
“…Sigh.”
A deep sigh escaped from the bottom of Dietrich’s heart.
Honestly, he already knew.
The wisest decision was to return to the capital as quickly as possible.
He had even sacrificed sleep to save time, and it would be far more efficient to use that extra time to deal with other matters.
Naturally, he should write back refusing the invitation…
“…”
Dietrich glanced toward the table.
The two gift boxes he’d bought for Evangeline and Larit sat side by side.
“Y-Your Grace… what should I write in the reply?”
His attendant cautiously asked.
Dietrich slowly frowned.
‘Well… I do need to give Lady Ansi her gift.’
In truth, there was no reason he had to deliver it personally.
He could just as easily give it to her after returning to the capital.
Or send it through Evangeline.
Or simply have someone deliver it directly to the Ansi family’s townhouse.
Even knowing all that…
In the end, Dietrich still—
“Tell her I’ll attend.”
Couldn’t stop the words that left his lips of their own accord.
The southern social circle was thrown into complete uproar.
It was shocking enough that the Ansi Viscount’s family and Count Gusto’s family had scheduled their parties on the same day.
But what truly stunned everyone was that the person who had proposed that date was none other than Princess Claudius herself.
The princess had personally declared that she would attend the Ansi family’s party.
“I’d heard rumors recently that Her Highness had become quite close to Lady Ansi…”
“But I never imagined she’d actually attend a party hosted by the Ansi family.”
“To be fair, Her Highness isn’t someone who frequently participates in social gatherings, is she?”
Up until now, Princess Claudius had only occasionally attended parties hosted by the highest-ranking nobles in the capital.
This would be the first time she appeared at a provincial social event.
“Count Gusto’s family must be in quite a predicament.”
“They certainly are. No matter how influential the Gusto family may be in the South, can they really compare to House Claudius?”
The entire southern aristocratic society fixed its attention on the Ansi Viscount’s family.
And at that very moment…
At the Ansi estate…
