<CHAPTER 16>

That same night.

Belf held onto Vivia and chatted with her for quite a while.

“What kind of place is Broten?”

“I’ll go catch those fellows from the Pernolain viscount family who stayed there starting now.”

“I’ll tell grandmother and sleep in the room next door starting today so I can protect you.”

Veronica Rodrigo drove out the overly fussy Belf and forced him to go to sleep.

Vivia, too, was drained by Belf’s liveliness and went to bed early.

“……Something like that happened.”

“Honestly, that Belf fellow is truly impossible to handle.”

“He’s your sibling, yet how can he be so different from you?”

Veronica Rodrigo sighed and shook her head.

“Haha.”

“I can already imagine how much of a fuss Belf made without even seeing it.”

“He does tend to overdo things.”

Achero Rodrigo said with a smile as he visited Veronica Rodrigo’s bedroom to greet her.

“But grandmother, there’s a good side too.”

“Thanks to Vivia’s sacrifice, we’ve gained freedom from Belf.”

“Vivia doesn’t have time to deal with Belf right now.”

“If she is to debut in high society in spring, the remaining preparations are extremely tight.”

“Fortunately, it seems the Rodrigo bloodline cannot be ignored, as Madame Rubella’s evaluation is very good.”

“They say she understands ten things before even being taught one.”

“Vivia was like that when I met her in Broten as well.”

“There was no way she could escape my notice.”

“That’s why I’m saying this.”

Veronica Rodrigo closed the book she was reading with a thud and placed it along with her glasses on the bedside table.

“How do you plan to deal with Marquess Monsdoter, Count Serestine, and Viscount Andres, the three collateral families?”

These were also the three representative collateral families Achero Rodrigo had mentioned to Vivia on the way to the capital.

Aside from the young Viscount Andres newly rising after the previous duke couple passed away, there had been no major changes.

Whenever the ducal house showed even a slight weakness, the three families would cooperate to bite and drag it down.

“For now, since we have made the first move, I plan to observe their response.”

“Given his overly lively personality and inability to sit still, I suspect Cal Andres will move first.”

“Last time as well, he heard rumors, got excited, and came to the ducal residence first.”

“And you opened the gates but didn’t let him into the mansion.”

“You are truly a malicious one.”

“Hahaha, it’s just that Cal is too naive.”

“Who would let in someone with ill intentions?”

“He’s always overflowing with passion, so Marquess Monsdoter and Count Serestine use him to test us.”

“It’s not solely my fault.”

“They don’t even expect Cal to succeed.”

“Next, Serestine will move.”

“Tsk tsk, Serestine’s sense for timing and judgment is top-tier even in the capital.”

“He executes plans suddenly at unexpected moments to catch opponents off guard, but that also makes him full of flaws.”

“If Vivia handles it well, it will pass as if nothing happened.”

“Don’t worry about Vivia.”

“I’ve observed her since Broten, and she is naturally gifted at handling things like this.”

“Where do you think the Rodrigo blood would go?”

“What concerns me is that sly old man, Henrik Monsdoter.”

“He always clouds the situation using other collateral families before making his move.”

“You don’t need to worry about that part.”

“Viscount Andres and Count Serestine are unpredictable due to their eccentric thinking, but Marquess Monsdoter is someone whose mindset is similar to mine.”

“I can predict how he will act in the end.”

Achero Rodrigo smiled faintly.

“This time, we might finally hear that Marquess Monsdoter has gone senile.”

A harsh cold wave struck the capital for a while.

The nobles locked their mansion gates and temporarily ceased social interactions.

Nevertheless, carried by the cold wind, a certain rumor quietly spread.

It was about the great noble Rodrigo ducal house.

“Madam, there is a rumor in the streets that the youngest sibling of the Rodrigo Duke has returned.”

“That young lady? Wasn’t she said to be missing?”

“People say they saw her walking arm in arm with the Rodrigo Duke.”

“They also say the number of dresses and jewels he bought for her that day is beyond counting…”

“Apparently, aside from the eye color, she doesn’t resemble the Duke much, but she is said to be a breathtaking beauty.”

“Even Madame Rubella, who refused to teach noble ladies’ etiquette anymore, is now helping with her education.”

“That Madame refused my request!”

Vivia’s existence was successfully spreading among the nobles.

The Rodrigo Duke personally accompanied Vivia on her first outing.

By showing their close bond alongside her return, he expressed his intent to actively support her within the family.

Among the nobles, some felt curiosity, some suspicion, and others greed upon hearing this rumor.

It was a day when sleet fell steadily.

The streets were damp from the melting snow, and there were few people around.

An old gentleman, hunched over, looked around for a café to warm himself.

Unfortunately, all the cafés on the street were closed, so he reluctantly entered an alley.

Deep within the alley, a small café was open, lit by a faint candle.

A faint smile appeared on the old gentleman’s stiff face.

The café door opened quietly.

Inside, dark and distant, the only customers were a stubborn-looking old lady and a young man.

The space was so small that their backs were nearly touching.

“Hoo, it’s snowing quite heavily…”

The old gentleman muttered as he removed his coat.

“With rain mixed in, it’s truly annoying weather.”

“Damn it, I’m sick of it—when will this blasted winter end?”

The young man said roughly while sipping mulled wine.

“If it hadn’t suddenly started snowing, I wouldn’t have had to enter a café in an alley like this.”

The old lady responded irritably.

Their sighs blended into the air, and silence fell.

At some point during the brief exchange, the café owner had disappeared.

Once each of their coded phrases was complete, he hid himself for his true masters.

“It’s not like we’ve committed any crime, so why do we have to meet in secret like this every time?”

The young man revealed his true nature with annoyance.

“The agents Veronica Rodrigo planted in our families long ago are exerting influence.”

“Their hands and feet are spread everywhere.”

“Frightening.”

“And what about that sly grandson of hers?”

“That brat is not a snake but a fox.”

“Though still wet behind the ears, he’s even worse than his grandmother.”

“For all we know, he might already be listening to this conversation.”

The old lady scolded him with disdain.

“Ha.”

“What’s so great about that pretty-faced guy?”

“Isn’t it because you’re scared first that old Rosen could never beat Veronica?”

“What? You insolent brat…”

The three who gathered secretly at the café were the heads of the three major collateral families of the Rodrigo house.

Henrik Monsdoter, Rosen Serestine, and Cal Andres.

And the one leading this meeting among them was…

“Hehe, stop bickering.”

“Isn’t time too precious to waste?”

The old gentleman spoke with a gentle smile.

Despite his soft voice, the café fell silent instantly.

“We are all busy, so let us conclude quickly.”

“You’ve already heard the rumors, haven’t you?”

“The Rodrigo Duke has found Vivia Rodrigo.”

There was not a trace of laughter in Henrik Monsdoter’s eyes.