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Chapter 120
Arcel thought about Count Aradman.
The Aradman family was one of the more historically established noble houses in the Empire.
However, in recent generations, none had made a notable name for themselves, and the current count wasn’t particularly savvy with investments.
Naturally, the family’s wealth had been gradually declining.
Of course, this didn’t mean the Aradman estate was on the verge of collapse. Their lands still remained, and although their influence had waned, their title was secure.
But ever since Izriella caused a commotion at the academy for gifted students, their already diminishing influence had plummeted to rock bottom.
Upon further inquiry, it was found that the Aradman family was no longer invited anywhere in the capital.
And now, to invite Izriella could easily be seen by anyone as an act of defiance against the Emperor.
Though time had passed, the nobles in the capital still remembered when Clois displayed the corpses of nobles who had followed the deposed emperor on the palace walls.
He had promised to do the same to his wife and daughter, letting crows peck at the decaying corpses until only bones remained, without anyone daring to touch them.
The Emperor might be quiet now, but he could repeat such acts at any time.
Count Aradman surely understood this and would likely keep a low profile for at least a few years… or so it seemed.
“Madam Crevel’s shop is frequented often. She says she’s having dresses made for the seasonal festival. She’s also learning the etiquette of the royal court.”
When Arcel first heard from a source planted in the Aradman household, he wondered if the entire family had gone mad.
“She’s going to appear at the seasonal festival? And at an event held inside the palace?”
There wasn’t much time left before the festival.
The schedule for the autumn festival held in the palace had already been decided.
Until last year, the autumn seasonal festival was hosted under the supervision of a state minister.
“But this year, to commemorate the reopening of the academy for gifted students, the festival will be held under Headmistress Seraphina’s supervision.”
In other words, the students of the academy would be the main participants in this year’s largest autumn gathering at the palace.
There was no way Izriella could attend, yet she was having a dress made.
Arcel wanted to gather more information, but Riden’s report ended there.
Count Aradman was very concerned about the security of a child named Eve.
Except for the maid brought by the child and Izriella, no one else could even set foot in the mansion.
“The Aradman family isn’t particularly wealthy, yet they’re spending lavishly,” the maid had exaggerated slightly.
But…
“Didn’t you hear? She’s going to buy it all! The Count said not to worry about money!”
Eve glared fiercely at Izriella, who tried to stop her, shouting.
“That may be, but… it’s not yours to buy, is it, Eve?”
Indeed, as Izriella pointed out, what Eve insisted on buying belonged to adults.
“The governess will be here soon!”
“But…”
“Noma said the governess is important! You need the governess to see His Majesty!”
“Eve, shh!”
At the mention of a governess and His Majesty, Izriella froze and covered Eve’s mouth.
‘Noma.’
Arcel etched the name in his mind.
Eve, annoyed, swatted her hand away and grabbed the scarf draped around her.
“Iz! If you keep acting like this, I won’t let you be my maid!”
Izriella bit her lip at those words.
Though Arcel had only seen her a few times at the academy, it was enough to know that she had an extremely high sense of pride.
Yet, she was tolerating the treatment from a child whose family she might not even know.
Having confirmed that everything he had been told was true, Arcel turned and signaled with his eyes to the man who had been in the room from the beginning.
The well-dressed man gave a slight nod, holding a glass, and stepped outside.
It was wine reserved for special guests at Madam Crevel’s shop.
Pretending to pass by Izriella, he accidentally spilled the wine on her dress.
“What are you doing?!”
Izriella frantically checked, but it was too late—the summer white dress was stained with red.
“Oh my, I’m terribly sorry.”
The man bowed deeply, appearing at a loss.
“Would you allow me to make amends? If you don’t mind, we can quickly provide another dress from here as a replacement.”
Izriella’s eyes widened at his words.
This wasn’t just anywhere—it was the section of Madam Crevel’s shop reserved for distinguished guests.
Moreover, unlike the front of the shop, the dresses here were incredibly expensive.
‘I wasn’t even allowed more than one seasonal festival dress.’
The Count didn’t limit Eve’s purchases, but not so for Izriella.
That only made her more frustrated.
‘Eve buys everything in sight!’
Even the Count’s own daughter hadn’t been able to buy this much in the past.
Feeling the excess of Eve’s shopping, the Count had quietly told Izriella before they left the house today:
“You should help her exercise some restraint.”
Knowing that any objection would likely get her scolded, Izriella stayed quiet, though she was inwardly furious.
To placate Eve, yet told to save money—how was that even possible?
Sure enough, as they arrived at the shop, Eve immediately started ordering things that weren’t hers, making Izriella sweat trying to stop her.
‘The governess will be here within a week… Then I’ll leave all her care to her.’
Izriella was barely calming her irritation when someone spilled wine, ruining a dress she had tried to preserve.
Yet they offered to buy her a new one.
‘Does this mean I can go home in a new dress too?’
Meanwhile, Eve, uninterested in Izriella’s situation, continued happily selecting items.
Even if Eve chose, Izriella had to sign for the purchase.
‘So I’ll just watch for now.’
She wanted to at least escape that annoying child while changing into a new dress.
“Then I gratefully accept your offer. Eve, stay here until I return.”
“Okay!”
Izriella spoke, but Eve was already distracted and barely responded.
Following the staff, Izriella left with the man.
In the hall filled with samples, Eve excitedly grabbed everything she liked.
‘I need to dress her best because she’ll be with me and Father.’
The autumn festival would gather many nobles and wealthy people.
It was the first time she would announce herself as Father’s daughter to others.
Naturally, the governess should be well-dressed too.
‘But Iz was annoyed.’
Eve found Izriella increasingly irritating.
At first, she thought the unfamiliar noble girl seemed like a princess.
But gradually, she realized Izriella was subtly annoying her, and compared to other nobles she secretly observed in the shop, Izriella didn’t even seem particularly pretty.
‘And a bit boring…’
Hearing the same complaints every day, Eve thought it would be fun to have someone new around.
Just then, she noticed a presence behind her and turned her head.
At that moment.
“Hello?”
A boy greeted her with a soft voice and a bright smile, leaving Eve frozen.
‘He’s handsome!’
Not just handsome—Eve had secretly watched the shop’s esteemed young guests before.
Of course, there were many peers, and all looked like princes to her.
But now, the boy before her eclipsed any child she had ever seen.
“Do you come here often?”
His voice was pleasant.
“Not often.”
Suddenly, Eve adopted a polite and quiet demeanor, unlike how she had been toward Izriella.
“I see. I didn’t recognize you at first. There’s no way I could forget a child like you.”
With a bright smile, Eve was captivated.
She thought:
‘If I become a princess… I could play with him too.’
Noma and Izriella always whispered:
If you become a princess, you can do anything.
You can have anything you want.
So…
‘I’m taking him.’
It didn’t matter who he was. She would soon be able to have anything she wanted.
Thump. Thump.
As Eve cut the grapes, the stems snapped loudly. She focused intently, filling the pockets of her apron with grapes.
“Eric, my pockets are full.”
“Alright, let’s transfer them to the basket.”
Eric gently set her down on the ground, supporting her waist.
Ruska quickly brought the basket over.
Eve emptied her pockets into the basket, which soon filled.
“Good. That should fill about one barrel. I’ll mark it with your name.”
“Really?”
“Of course. You picked so many grapes. When you grow up and taste this wine, it will have matured perfectly.”
“Thank you!”
Eve hugged Eric joyfully.
“Alright, shall we stop here for today? We also need to pick summer apples.”
“Yes! I’ll work hard on the apples too!”
Eve responded cheerfully, sweat on her face.
She wasn’t the only one.
“Brother! Can I put this in here too?”
Irene approached, apron full of grapes.
Her usual neatness was slightly relaxed; she wiped sweat from her brow with the back of her hand, wearing a straw hat.
“Also, please include my name on the wine!”
“Of course. I’d be upset if yours were left out.”
Blushing at the kind words, Irene smiled.
Watching both Eve and Irene, Ruska sighed.
“Why are they so happy while working? Won’t someone tell them they’ve been forced to work at the Ragselb estate?”
Eve shook her head.
“No! It’s really fun!”
It was genuine. She had spent three days at the Ragselb estate.
Eve ran around between her “brothers,” enjoying the mansion’s abundance.
People called her cheerfully wherever she went.
From morning till night, she roamed the estate, ate, helped with chores, and visited the training grounds.
With her brothers, Ruska, and Irene, Eve was surrounded by people she liked and was utterly happy.
