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Chapter 15
He had been venting all his complaints at my mother the entire time. Honestly, what a rude guy. Ungrateful, too!
Just as my anger was reaching its breaking point, it began to snow. Most of the nobles who had attended the New Year’s banquet put on their coats and went outside to watch the snowfall.
Seeing snow on the first day of the new year—surely an auspicious sign. Thanks to that, only a few people remained in the hall where the banquet was held. Timothy and I were among them.
I still don’t know why Timothy stayed behind. But I knew exactly why I stayed—I couldn’t leave without saying something to him.
Meanwhile, Timothy continued to vent at his mother.
“I don’t like this bow tie! What is this? It’s a mess!”
“Timothy, I’m really sorry. I should have had a few more made for you.”
His mother kept apologizing to him with a downcast expression.
But each time she hunched over to apologize, Timothy’s face grew more and more smug, and he started acting obstinate.
“It shouldn’t just be this pattern. It should’ve been made with finer fabric. How can you, Mom, have such poor taste? As a noblewoman, it’s really embarrassing! You really…”
That was as far as Timothy got.
Because that was the moment I threw the cherry pie I had been eating.
At Timothy, that is.
“Hahaha! That was so funny!”
Maria hugged the cushion next to her and laughed loudly. I, chewing on a cucumber sandwich, glared at her with a scowl.
“Funny? That’s funny?”
“Of course it’s funny! My goodness, that cherry pie flew so far and hit him perfectly. You’re usually terrible at anything resembling darts, aren’t you? How did it hit so perfectly? Even if it just hit, that wouldn’t be a big deal. But the first thing you said after hitting him—that was hilarious. I still remember your very first words: ‘Stop it already, will you?’ Wasn’t that it?”
“…Maria Morelli, I wish you knew that you’re marrying that ridiculous guy.”
I snorted and shoved the rest of my cucumber sandwich into my mouth.
Maria was right. The pie had flown across several tables and hit Timothy right in the face.
Why I, someone who normally couldn’t hit a target in darts, managed such incredible accuracy that day, I don’t know.
But in any case, Timothy’s face was a complete mess, along with the bow tie he had been criticizing his mother for.
Timothy jumped to his feet, pie-covered.
“What is this?!”
“Stop it already!”
“What?!”
I rose to my feet too, glaring at him. Of course, I didn’t forget to discreetly scan the hall for anyone left inside.
Fortunately, among those remaining, there was no Viscount Horton, nor were my parents present, nor His Highness Rubellus or the Emperor, nor the Salenne family.
In other words, there was no one I had to worry about.
Ignoring the shocked nobles watching us, I crossed my arms.
“Hey, Viscount Horton.”
I lifted my chin as high as I could and glared at him arrogantly.
“How dare you humiliate Madam Horton over such a trivial bow tie in front of everyone here?”
“W-what did you say?”
Timothy looked around awkwardly. Few people were left in the hall, but those who remained were staring at us in shock.
Some of them had already understood the situation as soon as I spoke.
As whispers spread about Timothy, his face contorted, and he hastily tried to defend himself.
“This is none of your business. Lady Wildenbiston has no reason to interfere. I was merely advising my mother out of concern for her duties!”
It didn’t work on me at all. I waited for him to finish speaking, then snorted.
“Ridiculous.”
“What?”
“No, it’s not funny. Viscount Horton! What kind of ‘duties’ are those, that you would humiliate your own mother in front of everyone? That bow tie—why, for the love of all things, would you reduce your mother’s love, her efforts in arranging your clothes with great expense, to some worthless comment about duty? If you were dissatisfied, you should have chosen it yourself! A pumpkin is a pumpkin even if you mark lines on it! Apologize to your mother! Have some shame! Do you even know where you are?!”
It was at that moment someone called my name in a familiar tone.
“Aira, that’s exactly what I wanted to say.”
“What… mother?!”
I turned around, utterly shocked.
At the entrance to the banquet hall stood three people:
The Emperor at that time, Johann Zahard; His Highness Rubellus; and… my father, Duke Wildenbiston, who was covering his face with one hand, looking distressed.
Emperor Zahard chuckled as if very amused. My, my mother. It’s the Emperor.
“When you said ‘Do you even know where you are?’, that’s what I wanted to ask you. This is the royal palace, Aira. Did you know where you were when you yelled like that?”
The Emperor seemed cheerful the entire time, but I knew. Johann Zahard was the kind of ruler who could kill with a smile.
He had expanded the Zahard Empire and consolidated his power at the same time—a true tyrant.
I dropped to my knees, eyes on the floor, trembling.
Even knowing I wouldn’t have an answer, the Emperor made a small sound of acknowledgment and continued.
“The New Year’s banquet should be a pleasant and harmonious event. Humiliating a family is strictly forbidden. Therefore, Aira, no matter the circumstances, you must apologize first for throwing the pie. Guards.”
The Emperor snapped his fingers with a cheerful smile.
“Escort Lady Wildenbiston to a private room. Duke, does Aira enjoy reading? Send her to the library. She shall not be sent to a prison cell.”
…
“Honestly, I’m still mad about this.”
Recalling the day, I bit my lower lip.
That damned Timothy had completely ruined the New Year’s banquet.
Dragged out of the hall, I could not return to the banquet, nor speak a word to His Highness Rubellus.
And that wasn’t all. I was officially charged with “insulting a noble” by the royal guards. There were plenty of witnesses since it had happened in public. I had to pay a fine for insulting a noble.
My parents drew the line—they wouldn’t help pay any fines or penalties. I had to break my own allowance to cover it.
Still, thanks to the Emperor, I wasn’t locked away in a prison-like cell. That was a relief.
However, because the witnesses talked, this incident was splashed across the capital’s newspapers in huge headlines.
Thus, I, Aira Wildenbiston, became known as the little villainess who freely entered the royal palace, wielded the power of a Duke’s family despite having no title, and verbally abused others.
“Hmm, that’s true. I remember it clearly. My first impression of him was really terrible too.”
Not long after I spoke, Maria crossed her hands and rested them on her crossed legs before speaking.
Despite the fiery rant I had just thrown, she looked completely calm and serene.
Seeing Maria so composed, it was I who had lost my composure.
“Why would you marry such a useless man?”
“Hmm, maybe for money?”
“What?”
Of course, it was money!
I clenched my fists and started ranting again.
“I don’t know what situation the Morellis are in, but if it’s really unavoidable, if this is a loveless marriage, then with the allowance I have…”
“Pfft! Just kidding, Aira.”
“What?”
Maria laughed heartily, leaving me dumbfounded. She tilted her head slightly and looked at me with kind, gentle eyes.
Here it was—Maria’s honey-dripping, soft, and warm gaze.
“Aira, you haven’t been out in society for quite a while, so you wouldn’t know. Timothy has changed quite a bit during that time.”
She paused, then smiled gently again.
“Changed… how?”
“He’s become quite impressive.”
…What?
I frowned, crossed my arms again, and asked sharply,
“…More impressive than His Highness Rubellus?”
“What? Of course not. But he’s still quite impressive. He’s grown taller, his skin has improved. He must’ve spent quite a bit acquiring new land while preparing to inherit the viscountcy. And most importantly—”
She smiled.
“He now respects women.”
“How do you know that?”
“You remember Timothy stayed out of society for an entire year, right?”
Oh, right? I had no interest back then, so I don’t even remember.
“Probably embarrassed to come out, like me.”
“Haha, no. During that time, he received education from politicians who were advocating women’s suffrage. Along with Viscount Horton.”
“…What?”
I had never heard that before. Maria nodded at me, as if she understood my confusion.
“Really. Because you know our mother, Mrs. Triana Morelli…”
