HSYR 34

At Helena’s words, Meriel smiled softly and downed her champagne in one long drink.
At the sight of a woman so impeccably modest and delicate, emptying a glass of champagne with such composure on her demure face, Helena was left momentarily speechless and could only stare at her.

Accepting a second glass of champagne from a passing attendant, Meriel spoke.

“Still, if the Count doesn’t appear soon, people will start talking again.”

The moment Meriel said that, the voice of Countess Bryce was heard from not far away.

“—But why hasn’t Count Ishfern shown himself?”

Baroness Batch, her loyal confidante, raised her voice.

“Could it be that the newlyweds have already had a quarrel? Oh ho ho ho!”

At Baroness Batch’s exaggerated remark, a rather cruel smile appeared on Countess Bryce’s pretty lips.

“Or perhaps their relationship is poor. To the point that they don’t even want to face each other at an event like this…!”

Hearing that, Helena’s complexion hardened.

‘Is she a genius? How did she know?’

Admiring Countess Bryce’s sharpness, Helena cast a quick glance toward the entrance of the banquet hall.

‘That damn man. Why isn’t he coming? He’s not seriously planning not to come, is he?’

She had already sent Aaron to tell Benjamin that he absolutely had to come today.
Aaron had confidently promised he would bring Benjamin with him, but still—

Seeing Helena’s troubled expression, Meriel shook her head slightly, as if in understanding.

“Men are just like that… Completely unreliable.”

“That’s so true.”

“They don’t help even a little, yet they demand so much.”

“They’re the very definition of unpleasant.”

Perhaps she was a little drunk.

Without realizing it, Meriel began chattering animatedly.

“My husband, Linus, isn’t a particularly dependable man either. Hehe, but he does have a cute side. Our relationship isn’t that bad. Still, I’ve seen some couples whose relationship is truly terrible.”

Lowering her voice as much as possible, Meriel whispered,

“That man has a very beautiful wife, yet he keeps two mistresses in his castle. He’s quite ruthless even toward men.”

Helena responded in a tone that suggested she wasn’t surprised at all.

“Oh my goodness! How absolutely shocking.”

“Oh.”

Snapping back to her senses at Helena’s voice, Meriel blinked in surprise.
She looked as though she couldn’t believe she had been gossiping like that.

Blushing, Meriel whispered,

“This isn’t something to talk about here. Please come visit Loire sometime. It doesn’t compare to the capital, but there are surprisingly many things to see.”

“I’m looking forward to it. I’ll be sure to visit.”

After her conversation with Meriel Roussel, Helena felt her impatience growing.

‘Is that man really not coming?’

It wasn’t a banquet she particularly enjoyed, but this was the occasion where she was making her debut in southern high society as the Countess of Ishfern.

For Count Ishfern to be absent from such a banquet was unthinkable.

With Countess Bryce and Baroness Batch loudly gossiping, others would surely begin wondering why Count Ishfern hadn’t appeared. At this point, Benjamin needed to show up.

‘If he really doesn’t come, I’ll make him regret being alive.’

Helena hurried out into the corridor to check the mansion’s entrance.

Then she collided hard with someone.

Lying atop a pile of lumber, snapping small branches in his hands one after another, Benjamin said,

“I’m not going.”

Aaron stared at his superior with an awkward expression.

The Benjamin he knew might lack some talent in financial matters, but he was a man with heroic qualities more than sufficient to make up for it—someone worthy of respect.

Yet whenever Helena was involved, he seemed to stubbornly dig in his heels over things he didn’t need to.

Aaron grabbed Benjamin’s leg, which was draped over the lumber pile.

Benjamin narrowed his eyes and looked at him.

“What is it? Are you planning to drag me there or something?”

After pushing Benjamin’s leg aside, Aaron sat down in its place.

“With what ability could I possibly drag Your Excellency anywhere? I’m just here to deliver Her Ladyship’s words.”

“Go on.”

“She said that if you don’t come home today, you should never think about setting foot in her house again.”

At that, Benjamin let out a scoff.

“Ha! My house? Since when is the count’s castle that woman’s house?”

“……”

Aaron thought to himself,

‘Then why can’t you go home and are instead loitering around here…?’

But he had enough sense not to say it aloud. Saying that would mean a permanent farewell to his position as aide-de-camp.

Clearing his throat, Aaron added,

“She also said this: if Your Excellency doesn’t show up at the banquet, she’ll use the ugly chunks of wood in the corner room on the first floor to start a campfire.”

“Ugly chunks of wood? What on earth—”

Muttering Aaron’s words absentmindedly, Benjamin suddenly sprang to his feet.

‘My carvings!’

Carving was Benjamin’s only hobby.
Since the only things that ever caught his eye were monsters, he had taken to carving monster sculptures, and among them were several pieces he was quite fond of.

To think she’d use them as firewood.

“Damn it!”

Grumbling, Benjamin climbed down from the pile of lumber.

Though he had claimed the castle was his, he’d believed there was nothing inside it he’d regret losing. Apparently, even he had things he didn’t want to give up.

That Helena had found that room in such a vast castle—and immediately recognized how important those carvings were to him, using them as leverage—was impressive, to say the least.

As Benjamin trudged along with the expression of an ox being led to slaughter, Aaron walked close beside him.

“Your Excellency, I know this may be presumptuous, but—”

“If you know that, then don’t say it.”

“…Can’t you try to get along with Her Ladyship?”

At Aaron’s words, Benjamin snorted as if he’d just heard a ridiculous joke.

“I’m not sure there’s anyone in this world who could get along with that woman.”

“Well, for now, the new young head page, the returned butler, the manor’s workers, and even the people of Burwood’s territory seem to have completely sided with Her Ladyship.”

Benjamin stopped walking and stared straight at him.

“Are you saying that everyone except me is getting along with that woman?”

Aaron shrugged.

“Honestly, I was moved. She hasn’t rested a single day, trying to rebuild the count’s household with those slender arms of hers.”

Aaron added silently,

‘And she even took care of the expenses incurred under your command quite generously.’

But that didn’t seem necessary to say out loud.

“……”

Before the silent Benjamin, Aaron continued subtly defending Helena.

“Of course, there may be parts where she doesn’t suit you. But you swore before God and both families, didn’t you? Shouldn’t Your Excellency try just a little harder as well?”

After scrutinizing Aaron’s face from every angle, Benjamin shook his head.

“That noblewoman has even bewitched you.”

Grinning, Aaron replied,

“If you had seen how splendidly Her Ladyship sent those noble ladies on their way that day, Your Excellency would have fallen for her too.”

Letting out a deep sigh, Benjamin reluctantly mounted his saddle.

On the road back to the count’s castle, Benjamin sensed that the atmosphere had subtly changed.

It wasn’t a major change. The stone bridge once buried beneath old fallen leaves had been cleaned, and the enormous weeds—ugly and left uncut, having grown tall like scarecrows—had been reduced somewhat.

“Your Excellency the Count!”

A farmer who had been cutting those weeds with a sickle by the roadside removed his hat and bowed toward Benjamin.

Looking down at him with a displeased expression, Benjamin asked from atop his horse,

“The harvest shouldn’t be finished yet. Are you doing this as well? Was it the Countess’s order?”

The farmer waved his hands.

“Oh no, sir! My field is right here, so I just tidied things up a bit after finishing my work.”

The farmer smiled broadly, his sunburnt face glowing red.

“Seeing how hard Her Ladyship works, I thought I should do a little more myself.”

Benjamin let out a quiet sigh.

It hadn’t even been a month since that woman arrived in Burwood, yet everywhere he went people were singing Helena, Helena.

With skill at winning hearts like this, she wouldn’t even need a conquest.

“Then carry on.”

As Benjamin rode away, the farmer called after him,

“Your Excellency, Her Ladyship is truly a wonderful person. Everyone is proud of our new lady.”

He’d probably said it thinking Benjamin would be pleased to hear praise of his wife, but Benjamin felt no particular joy.

As he climbed the hill overlooking the count’s castle, Benjamin thought,

‘Just where does that woman draw all that strength from, with such a small body?’