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Chapter 32
“Adele. You shouldn’t read the newspaper at the table.”
I smiled softly and lowered the newspaper onto my lap. But I had already read the large headline: “Loire Development Project.”
“Do you like newspapers that much? There aren’t even any pictures—just text.”
“Yes. Like Camille said, you can see what’s happening in the world at a glance without leaving your seat. The world has really improved.”
At my unchildlike muttering, Mother burst into laughter. Her smile looked like a blooming flower, and it made me feel happy too.
Now that the Loire development project had begun in earnest, I had no intention of just sitting still and waiting for Uncle Guillaume to return.
You never know what might happen.
In case something happened to Bastian or the future changed strangely, I needed to secure my own share in advance.
I glanced sideways at the newspaper again and saw numbers so large they made my head spin—something about loans and budgets.
Instead of ignoring my opinion, Mr. Rivers had actually referred to it and announced a market development plan.
Although the standards he proposed were much stricter than I expected, it was still finally a chance for them.
‘Hmm… should I ask Father to build a shop around here? No… maybe a whole building in my name? This place will definitely… in the future…’
As I searched my memory, Mother’s voice interrupted me.
“Ah, right. You’re starting dance lessons today, aren’t you?”
“Yes. I have to go to the dance hall right after eating.”
“Can I come watch?”
“Me too! Sister, I want to go too!”
I nodded happily and pushed the numbers out of my mind for now.
“Dance is a language of movement, a form of conversation. And when learning a language, you start with spelling and pronunciation.”
Camille demonstrated the five basic foot positions one by one.
Even though she was just moving her feet forward and backward, her movements were so elegant, like a deer walking, that I couldn’t help but admire it.
‘No need to admire. You already know this, right?’
Even if my body didn’t remember, my mind did, so somehow it should…
“Lower your shoulders, straighten your back, lengthen your neck. Don’t stick out your hips.”
It should…
“Straighten your knees. Be careful not to hunch your shoulders. Don’t lower your head.”
It should… work… right?
“Why isn’t it working?”
“No one is good from the beginning.”
But this is my second time…
It turned out I had been mistaken to think I could follow easily. It felt like my head and body were separate.
“So… Sister can’t do something too…”
Antoine, be quiet.
After struggling for quite a while, I finally managed to imitate the most basic waltz steps.
“I want to try too!”
Perhaps watching from afar had become boring, Antoine quickly jumped in. Finally, I could rest a bit.
I wrapped Mother’s shawl around his waist like a skirt, and his bright smile as he waved the cloth made my fatigue fade for a moment.
“Miss Antoinette, would you like to dance with me?”
“Hehe!”
As I held Antoine’s hands and spun in place, a strange feeling wrapped around my body, as if I were floating.
The sensation of flying and the spinning view made me burst into laughter.
‘This is happiness.’
For a moment, I could forget about Bastian and the market development.
“Ugh…”
“Antoine! Oh my, Camille—call someone immediately!”
Though, as a result, Antoine ended up throwing up everything he had eaten.
“Everyone’s here!”
Perhaps the commotion reached Father’s ears.
The door burst open, and Father strode across the dance hall, patting Antoine’s back.
“Tsk, Antoine should rest for now. But I’m a little disappointed. How could you leave me out of something this fun?”
“Oh my, I thought the head of the household was busy with his duties.”
“Ahem. Being with family is also my duty. So… my dear, will you allow me to fulfill my duty?”
Father bowed elegantly like he was at court and kissed Mother’s hand.
Mother, her ears turning red, held his hand.
As they stepped into the center of the hall, Camille sat at the piano.
To the three-beat melody, Mother’s back curved gracefully as she leaned back.
Sunlight streamed through the tall windows like a golden waterfall, flowing over her neck.
Father caught her lightly, lifted her up, and pulled her close again.
In their eyes, only each other existed. I willingly stepped back from their world.
Their dance, trusting each other completely, was so beautiful that it was a shame it couldn’t be captured in photos or videos.
Truly… I was happy.
“Antoine. Shall we go now?”
“Huh?”
Antoine clung to me, wanting to stay or dance more, but I shook my head with a finger on my lips.
Let’s leave them alone for now.
Sebastian woke up clutching his empty stomach. Another miserable day had begun.
Slowly moving his fingers and toes, he carefully unfolded the handkerchief he had been gripping all night.
It had lace along the edges and the owner’s initials embroidered in silk ribbon on one corner. If he sold it, he wouldn’t have to worry about going hungry for a week.
But he didn’t want to sell it.
Even yesterday, he had stood in front of a shop for a long time before turning back.
Even though the owner herself had told him to sell it and buy food.
Whenever he tried, her face appeared in his mind—telling him to live honestly, saying he was better than the others, thanking him.
Once his body started moving properly, Sebastian wrapped the handkerchief around his forearm and hid it under his sleeve.
He absolutely didn’t want a repeat of last time.
If he kept moving despite his blistered feet, he wouldn’t starve today.
If he was lucky, a restaurant worker might even toss him a piece of bread for bringing in customers.
In that sense, he was fairly lucky.
All thanks to the orphanage priest who had taught him how to read and write.
As Sebastian stepped into the streets of Nantes looking for work or customers, he raised his eyebrows at the unusual commotion.
“What’s going on?”
Pushing through the crowd with his small frame, he saw a notice.
“Hm…”
A new market would be built, and street vendors could open shops if they wished.
However, they had to pay a deposit—or take a loan for it.
At first glance, it sounded groundbreaking, but in reality, it just meant the rich would divide everything among themselves.
What kind of crazy bank would lend that much money to unidentified street vendors?
The second notice, posted next to it, was about hiring workers for the market construction.
“Cheap bastards. If you’re not part of a guild, you only get half wages? So people without money or connections are supposed to starve?”
Reading indifferently, Sebastian’s eyes suddenly widened at the last line.
[Meals Provided]
