🔊 TTS Settings
chapter 32
Ah, for a moment, I forgot that there was no personal color chart here. I gracefully shook my head and explained the situation.
“I asked because I wanted to see which colors match the Marquis’s skin tone and overall image. I’ve heard you particularly enjoy wearing yellow dresses—is that correct? If not, please feel free to correct me.”
After conversing with several nobles today, I realized a life lesson: when nobles are upset, you can handle it as if you were sending an apologetic email to a higher-up.
Years of experience in a blacklisted company, the career of a Korean professional—none of it goes to waste.
“Humph. Well, next time, let’s speak clearly.”
I stumbled a bit, but in the end, I found the right answer.
“I’ll keep that in mind, Marquis.”
“And yes, that’s right. Even at the Wonderful Boutique, they always say they’ve never seen anyone like me who looks so good in a yellow dress.”
I felt relieved. I had checked just in case, and the information matched what I already knew.
After that, Marquis Savior openly showed his displeasure with me, but it didn’t hit hard. Nobles are, after all, a peculiar species.
While I was aimlessly conversing with the nobles, Count Blick stood in the center of the party hall and clapped lightly to draw attention.
“Everyone, it seems the time has come to conclude today’s beautiful party.”
As Count Blick scanned the hall, Whistler walked out slowly. Making eye contact with Whistler, Count Blick raised his voice.
“It has been an immense pleasure and honor to be with all of you today. And as you all know, a certain birthday is coming up soon, isn’t it?”
A coming birthday? Whose birthday was it? At that moment, my eyes were drawn to Whistler’s unstoppable steps.
Count Blick ended the sentence he had been mumbling.
“Marquis Gas has something to say.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Whistler began speaking somewhat urgently. Meanwhile, Herace suddenly left my side and went somewhere else.
“I’d like to apologize for taking up your precious time with our personal matters recently.”
I saw Herace approaching Count Blick. My gaze couldn’t dwell on Whistler, who was suddenly sending a hot, intense stare.
A surprise? Was Herace about to stage her own surprise? My mood lifted slightly.
“I must apologize once more—to clarify my relationship with Lady Light.”
My focus on Herace instantly faltered. Whistler now exuded a dangerous aura, unlike before.
Perhaps truly, like a villain.
“Lady Light and I are not just taking some time apart—”
“Oh, my brother!”
Herace burst out with a broad smile.
“Sorry, but I need to speak first. Can you wait?”
The hall went cold at Herace’s rude interruption of Whistler’s speech. The nobles’ eyes darkened more than ever. Even those of lower rank than Herace might get away with it, but daring to do so to Whistler, of the Grey family, could easily earn reproach.
The nobles seemed ready, all looking at Count Blick. They wanted to confirm that this was not the moment for Herace to speak—not the host, not Whistler, but her.
To settle the situation, Count Blick, with a displeased expression, could have handed the floor back to Whistler.
But strangely, Count Blick smiled instead.
“Humph. Well—actually, the plan was for Duke Grey to speak first, followed by Marquis Gas. But since Marquis Gas usually speaks first, a little mistake occurred—ha ha ha.”
Count Blick glanced at Whistler apologetically.
“Ah, of course! The mistake is neither Marquis Gas’s nor Duke Grey’s—it’s my own. I should have called Duke Grey first from the beginning, but I failed to do so.”
“Right, I understand. I’ve learned a lot from Philena, so now I know how to read the room and observe proper etiquette. Mistakes happen, but fixing them should be done properly, right?”
“Of course! Since there’s a promise, I ask for your understanding.”
Count Blick earnestly looked at Whistler. The ‘angelic’ Whistler took a step back on his own, naturally yielding to Herace.
‘How did Herace manage to win Count Blick over in such a short time and create this situation?’
At that moment, one of Herace’s attendants stepped forward, holding a parchment by its edge. As he lifted it, the paper unfurled smoothly.
It was a land deed. The nobles’ eyes widened in shock.
“Is… that for Lady Light?”
Speculations began among the nobles, as if recalling something read in the newspapers.
“How did Duke Grey…? What of the family’s dignity? There’s history and family ownership here.”
“Isn’t he out of his mind? Though the Grey family is a ducal house, to purchase that land on a whim…? Even if out of love, there are boundaries a duke must maintain. This affects the Grey family’s reputation, and even their choices—”
The usually eloquent nobles were at a loss for words. In a way, it was a relief to see they were no different from me.
‘The land we were just admiring is now Herace’s.’
That magnificent sight—the beautiful mountain stretching widely even in the darkness—had become the property of the Grey family.
More precisely, Herace Grey’s property.
Of course, that mountain alone isn’t the famous attraction of the Blick estate. But it is a frequently mentioned landmark, and imagining the cost to acquire it is almost impossible.
Hence the nobles’ shock. That troublemaker had caused another scandal, and even the respectable Grey ducal couple would not condone such actions.
In the subdued hall, at the edge of my vision, I noticed Whistler. Despite his stern face, his hand behind him trembled slightly.
‘He’s enjoying this.’
Having gathered information about Whistler, I could almost read his mind.
‘At first, he must have been bewildered that Herace stole the spotlight, but seeing everyone’s reactions, he probably assumes he can do nothing.’
A thought of amusement crossed me. Unlike me, these people really had no idea how brilliant—or crazy—Herace truly was.
More importantly, I could assert that Herace’s actions would positively impact our agreement. There was nothing to fear.
“Humph, there seems to be a misunderstanding, so I’ll explain first.”
Count Blick’s voice echoed kindly, an effort to ease the cold atmosphere, though the nobles remained unmoved.
As murmurs grew louder, Herace walked to the center with a bright smile.
“Do I need to repeat what I just said? I told you, thanks to Philena, I am growing as a person—see?”
Still, no response came. Undeterred, Herace tilted slightly.
“Why? Don’t you all believe me?”
In the quietly settling hall, I nodded toward Herace. Not turning away and affirming him was the best I could do.
“Now.”
Herace took the land deed from the attendant and trudged forward. The person he stopped in front of wasn’t me—it was Whistler.
“Philena said,”
Herace gently handed the rolled parchment to Whistler,
“That the bond between siblings is the most precious thing. One that can both give and sacrifice more than anything else.”
