The Invitation With A Birch Tree-shaped Seal
The city of Swan, located in Swanton Kingdom, was filled with the scent of May flowers. Although Aunt Tabatha’s house, where Chloe and Alice lived, was far from the town square, the fresh scent of flowers was still delivered to them by the spring breeze.
“I feel dizzy. The perfume smell in the boutique earlier was way too strong,” said Alice, falling onto her bed and pretending to faint. It was this sort of posture that would prompt her father, Viscount Verdier, to tell her she was unladylike if he were here.
“Then how about we get some dinner? Auntie is worried about us.”
Chloe’s voice as she opened the window was full of concern.
“Wouldn’t she be happy to feed one less mouth, that stingy woman?”
“Alice!”
The sisters were well aware that Tabatha, who was not happy with having family members as guests, had made a big decision for the upcoming social season and accepted them. And ever since the long war ended two years ago, Alice, searching for stability, has been looking for a wonderful potential husband within the kingdom.
“It’ll be nice tomorrow since I won’t have to wear my corset. But for you, don’t your legs hurt? We went around for a long time looking for the right boutique because that bloody horseman was hanging out elsewhere.”
Alice frowned at Chloe, who slammed her cane onto the floor. Chloe smiled while trying not to show off her left leg, which began to cramp hard because she had walked around on it too long today.
“Hey sis, I know you’re hurting. Take it one day at a time. You know you cannot have another accident like the last one, right?”
Alice had stayed at her aunt’s house during the last social season as well. Having recently become an adult, she had received over two dozen invitations thanks to her gorgeous appearance. However, at the third party, she had gotten so drunk off of five glasses of sherry she had to be carried out by the servant. Aunt Tabatha, who was actively seeking out Alice’s potential husband, had freaked out, telling her she was a disgrace to the family; that no man would dare come to her house.
“I couldn’t help that I was bored out of my mind. Heh-heh.”
Alice laughed, not knowing how Chloe felt inside.
“Still, it’ll be better this time since I get to go with my big sister and dance with you.”
Chloe thought that no one would invite Alice after last year’s drunken incident, which had created a little buzz in Swan. But a month ago an invitation had unexpectedly arrived at the Verdiers’ mansion. Oh, how shocked Viscount Verdier had been when he saw the invitation with a birch tree-shaped seal.
“C-C-Chloe. My daughter. From what I know there is only one family in this kingdom that uses this seal… Am I mistaken?”
“Nope. I think this is from Duke Teece.”
“Oh my god!”
Her father, who hadn’t gone to church in such a long time after the death of his wife, was so surprised he had said God’s name in vain.
“This isn’t a joke, Alice. Tomorrow you must be on your best behavior.”
It wasn’t just anyone, it was a ball hosted by Duke Damian Ernst Fawn Teece. The power of the young duke—the only son of a duke who had led a great victory of the war and succeeded the family early due to the death of his father—was great. His estate was located in the northern part of Teece, but his villa in Swan was rumored to be as beautiful as the royal palace. It was no exaggeration to say that recently there have been more roses blooming around the castle than roses blooming in the entire city when his mother, the sister of the current King, had been a princess.
Countless steps existed between Duke Teece—war hero and the King’s nephew—and Viscount Verdier, who managed a small estate in the countryside. Something like the distance from the top of the tallest building in the capital to the ground.
“At least look at the sender’s name.”
It was a great honor to be invited to a party of Swanton Kingdom’s high-ranking aristocrats, but Alice’s face only remained at ease.
“All right, all right. I will. I’ll just dress myself up like a doll, dance with all the guys there, and sip on lemonade instead of alcohol.”
Leaning against the window on the second floor next to the painting of a beech tree, Chloe’s heart got a bit heavier. As she approached the bed limping on one leg, Alice turned around and looked at her. She whispered to Alice who was tidying her curly bangs,
“Sorry, Alice.”
She had become an adult but still enjoyed running in the meadow more than attending formal parties. She felt uncomfortable because she felt like she had put a lot of burden on her sister. And her father as well.
“Sorry for what, Chloe? If there is any fault, it would be to our father, who loved mother so much that he spent all his fortune on hospital expenses and has failed to manage our land.”
Quietly soothing her, Chloe stroked Alice’s shoulder, who was pouting her mouth.
“It’s not his fault we’ve had bad crops for three years. This area with all these typhoons and droughts is controlled by God. Even if Father can’t tell us himself, he probably feels even more sorry for you.”
“Even in this situation, you can’t blame him.”
“That’s because he’s family. That’s the truth.”
When a smile spread across Chloe’s face, Alice sighed so hard the ground almost shook. She could understand Chloe’s mind. If she were Chloe, she would religiously attend parties in the city to find a husband so she could save this debt-ridden household. If… she could only do that.
“When I think of you, I need to get my head on straight.”
Alice lifted her wilted head, raised her body, and sat down. Then, after hugging Chloe’s waist and lying down side by side, she stared blankly, blinking.
“Sis. But I thought I would marry someone who would sweep me off my feet.”
“You never know. Tomorrow at the party there could be a marvelous gentleman who steals your heart.”
When Chloe lowered her voice, Alice sucked her teeth and laughed, reminiscing on their childhood when they used to giggle on the same bed.
“I can’t forget Father’s face when he checked the invitation. It was like he’d been summoned by the kingdom.”
No matter how far away from politics the aristocrats in the countryside were, they couldn’t help but get nervous at the mere mention of Damian Teece’s name. Perhaps all the best aristocrats will attend the party tomorrow, so it was natural that their father, who cherished the invitation, was nervous. Chloe didn’t want to put any more pressure on Alice, so she only ran her fingers through her hair.
“At first, I was puzzled to see what Damian Teece had to do with our family, but then I later remembered what Mr. Chester said in the past.”
“What did he say?”
“During the war, Father lent the castle to Damian Teece’s soldiers. Then Damian complained that the value of Father’s property dropped because he fed and treated those who were injured and looked like beggars.”
Chester had a bad habit of mouthing off whenever he got drunk. He seemed to have said pointless things to Alice, who was not familiar with the situation because she was studying at the monastery at that time. Well, actually though, you couldn’t say that it wasn’t true.
“All right. However, Father is grateful that I was invited because the Duke did not forget and remembered that.”
Chloe suppressed a sigh. As the night deepened through the window, her heart felt heavier knowing tomorrow was approaching closer.
“Sis,” Alice began, “You don’t want to go, right?” When she suddenly raised her head and asked, Chloe blinked without realizing it. She never suspected her sister as someone so sensible. Right, sisters thought alike.
“I was reluctant because the rumors aren’t that good.”
“Only ‘not good’? They said there are more than one or two love children born between governments. And that they’re killing them without letting a word out.”
“Alice!”
Chloe could guess where Alice’s rumor had come from. Recently, it was obvious that the capital had acquired a gossip newspaper published without the permission of the royal palace.
“They said Damian’s personality is a total mess, and if he sees something wrong, he’ll completely trample over anyone or whatever. Some wished he died on the battlefield…”
Eventually, Chloe placed her soft hand lightly over Alice’s lips.
“Anyway Alice, it is true that it is an undeserved invitation in our status.”
“But why did you ask Father if it’s okay if you go?”
Chloe winced before making a puzzled face and asking back.
“He said that I said?”
“No. Mr. Chester.”
It looked like the butler was out of people to gossip to after a few of the servants had quit.
“Actually, I was surprised that you said that, Chloe, but it’s even stranger that Father didn’t listen to your request. It’s because he doesn’t want you to leave the house.”
Viscount Verdier never welcomed the idea of Chloe, who had had serious problems in her leg after catching a virus, leaving the castle. And he had become more serious after his wife had died.
“Father respects and follows your opinion, sis.”
After their mother’s death, Chloe had to act as head of the castle on behalf of her heartbroken father. Her normally meticulous and calm attitude had intensified due to the surrounding environment.
“When you said you wouldn’t attend, I heard that he told you to go even though you had thought deeply about it…”
Alice paused for a second, giving Chloe a sidelong scowl.
“Father is something like a horrible matchmaker!”
Chloe burst into laughter while hugging her sister. Now, she held her much taller sister in her arms and patted her hair as their mother always did in the past.
“Should we just wake up super early tomorrow and go back home?”
“Pcht. You’re pathetic.”
Alice muttered in her arms in a slightly tired voice. It was only natural for her to be tired after spending most of the day dragging her aunt around and trying on dresses.