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Chapter 23
Danaé sat in the lavish parlor, scooping up a small bite of the strawberry crepe and placing it in her mouth.
The sweet cream melted smoothly on her tongue.
“Our daughters would love this.”
She felt an urge to pack up everything here and take it home.
But soon, she felt embarrassed at having such a shameless thought.
“What kind of thoughts are you having, Danaé Obelia? How silly.”
“How… do you like the refreshments?”
Julian asked, occasionally glancing at Danaé’s expression even as he read the letter Rebecca had sent.
“Oh, yes. Everything is delicious. I don’t know how to properly thank you for treating me so kindly.”
“What are you saying? You are Rebecca’s mother, so that makes you my mother too. Please feel at ease and speak freely.”
“Ah? I… how can I speak so to the Duke…”
“It’s more comfortable for me that way.”
“Then… understood.”
Julian smiled contentedly, then returned his sharp focus to the letter.
Danaé watched him, almost entranced.
“He is handsome… not less so than our Rebecca. But looks aren’t everything. Just look at Zephlin. I can’t let him do that again.”
Snapping back to attention, Danaé watched even the smallest gesture of his hands with caution.
If she sensed anything unusual, she would tell Rebecca to reconsider.
“Pretend to be in love?”
Most of the letter Rebecca sent to Julian concerned the business she planned to pursue.
But at the end, she requested that he pretend to be in love with her so that her mother would not worry and think they were marrying for love.
Julian found it difficult.
There was nothing particularly hard in the tasks Rebecca had asked of him.
The moment she mentioned needing a greenhouse-attached lab in Monfort, he immediately ordered the construction.
He arranged for the trade guild and even hired someone to oversee it.
Whatever he said, it happened. He was more confident than anyone when it came to spending money.
Even when Rebecca’s mother said she would visit, he was slightly taken aback but it was nothing he couldn’t handle.
He knew basic etiquette well enough. He only dropped formalities when he deemed them unnecessary.
But Rebecca’s mother was different. She was someone who required utmost respect.
That was hardly a difficult task.
But pretending to be in love?
Julian had never once experienced love in his life—not even unrequited love.
His parents were too busy belittling each other to teach him what marital affection was.
The only thing he vaguely knew about romantic relationships was the intense intimacy shared in bed.
So Rebecca’s request for him to act as a man in love was the hardest task she could give.
Yet he could not admit he couldn’t do it—his pride would not allow it.
Even asking Croa for help would only make him a lifelong joke.
“Better just to change the subject.”
In the end, Julian resolved to talk only about business, ensuring that the word “love” never came up.
“I understand the matter roughly. Your mother will be taking on a new business venture?”
“Ah? Yes, Rebecca asked me to do it. I’m not sure if I can manage it well…”
“I’m certain you’ll do well. You’ve been leading the Obelia family all this time.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
Danaé blushed slightly.
Seeing this, Julian recalled a conversation with Rebecca at the relief house.
“Why does she insist on running a business? If there are debts, I could just pay them off.”
“Paying off the debts is only a temporary solution. Father might turn to the Count again. I intend to pass the headship to my mother. For that, she needs financial resources.”
Despite tight finances, Danaé had preserved the Obelia family. Without her, the family would have long been ruined.
Rebecca highly valued this.
Danaé was not the type to merely manage a household; she had a natural talent for reading people and handling money.
Before divorcing Zephlin, she had to eliminate all factors that could threaten her.
At present, only two things could be used to shake her: her natal family and the Libertà relief house.
Rebecca planned to first secure her mother from Zephlin’s grasp.
Julian smiled and asked,
“By the way, could you explain the business in detail? The letter said the mother should hear the specifics herself.”
“Oh, I’ll explain. It’s a type of rental salon.”
Danaé’s eyes, previously gentle, sharpened instantly when she spoke about business.
Julian, noticing her seriousness, straightened his posture without realizing it.
“A rental salon…?”
“As you know, all the noblewomen of the Empire run salons in their homes.”
“Right, they are also heads of their factions.”
“But that comes with burdens. They have to decorate according to the seasons and trends. And the servants could relay personal matters to their husbands, making it difficult to speak freely.”
“That’s true.”
“So, we rent out the salon space. Rooms or gardens as a whole. We decorate them to the client’s taste. It’s cheaper than decorating themselves, and only our staff enter, so husbands won’t overhear confidential matters.”
“But doesn’t that show they’re incompetent at decorating? Nobles dislike off-the-shelf products. They custom-order everything—even penholders. Will nobles really like this?”
“They will.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I wanted something like this myself.”
Clearing her throat, Danaé continued,
“Not all nobles have time or money. Trends can be set by us. They dislike being behind, so if we create trends, the business will flourish. We also plan private salons for special clients. That should suffice.”
It was Rebecca who had introduced Danaé to the concept of rental salons.
When Rebecca had just fled the Count’s mansion, rental salons were explosively popular.
Even the Lavonne Salon where she had worked for Margaret had been a rental salon.
Rebecca’s most urgent need now was information. Robert alone could manage information inside the mansion.
But gathering intel on the staff and knights was too much for him alone.
Rebecca recalled her work at Lavonne Salon before her reincarnation.
She mainly assisted in the kitchen, so she wasn’t aware of the outside affairs—but she still caught snippets of gossip.
Since Margaret, a commoner, ran the salon, mostly wealthy commoners frequented it, leaving little useful information.
But a salon run by Duke Johannes himself would attract tremendous attention in high society.
The problem was that Rebecca had never been well-acquainted with the social scene in her previous life.
Hence, Danaé was summoned. In her youth, Danaé had been one of the prominent noblewomen of high society.
Moreover, she had a business acumen.
She was the perfect person for the task.
As soon as Rebecca mentioned the rental salon, Danaé began drafting the business plan.
Seeing Danaé’s enthusiasm, Rebecca sent her to Julian.
She thought Danaé would be more persuasive than she could.
And she was right.
Julian, silently listening to Danaé’s business proposal, unconsciously nodded, paying close attention.
Danaé was more meticulous and proactive than any businessman he had ever seen.
Julian was impressed with Rebecca’s insight.
Indeed, Danaé could be head of a family, perhaps even the matriarch of one.
Julian gazed into Danaé’s sparkling eyes.
He suddenly realized how much Rebecca resembled her mother.
At the same time, he thought of her.
He wondered what would have happened if the head of the Johannes family had been the mother instead of the father.
Perhaps the curse would have been lifted long ago.
His brilliant mother had discovered the family curse shortly after his birth and tried everything to lift it.
His father, however, only tried to hide the truth, confining her.
He could do nothing, meet no one.
That was why he had always been concerned about Rebecca. Seeing her in Zephlin’s hands, like a decoration, reminded him of his mother.
But Julian increasingly realized that Rebecca was different.
Rebecca was someone who broke through doors herself.
“Then I suppose we’ll proceed with the business. I should take my leave.”
Checking her watch, Danaé hurriedly rose. They had spent more time than expected.
Julian stood and saw her out.
Before leaving the castle, Danaé asked him,
“By the way, what do you like about our Rebecca?”
Here it comes.
Julian tightened his gaze, trying not to show any sign of embarrassment. Danaé was not someone easily fooled.
After running through all the romantic phrases in his mind, he decided to be honest.
Rather than giving an awkward answer, he thought honesty would appear less suspicious.
“I like that she’s remarkable.”
“Remarkable?”
“Yes. Rebecca had the most remarkable eyes of any woman I’ve ever seen.”
Danaé, expecting him to praise Rebecca’s appearance like other suitors, widened her eyes.
But then she saw the truth in Julian’s eyes and smiled brightly.
“Then, I’ll see you again, Mother.”
Julian escorted Danaé with utmost care until her carriage departed.
As when she entered the Duke’s mansion, a maid accompanied her in the small carriage.
“This is a gift.”
The maid handed a basket filled with the desserts Danaé had often touched in the parlor.
She quickly added,
“The Duke’s family never lets guests leave empty-handed.”
Julian likely anticipated that Danaé would feel burdened if he gave it himself, so he had the maid deliver it instead.
Danaé smiled quietly.
Somehow, she felt that with him, Rebecca could also be happy.
