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Chapter 52
That was true.
Marchioness Trisha was right next to the Emperor, but she was nothing more than a lover.
If she became Cassiax’s companion, Muriel would rise to the highest position in the Imperial Palace. She did not deny it anymore and lifted the teacup with a slight smile on her face.
Envy and jealousy were mixed in the eyes of the young ladies looking at her.
‘What kind of wind had flown for her, who had no presence?’
‘Why didn’t this happen to me?’
‘Am I lacking so much? More than her?’
Behind the smiling faces, everyone was thinking like this.
‘To wake up in the same bed every day looking at the beautiful face of His Highness Cassiax. I’m sure it will feel like heaven every day.’ All the girls gathered around the table thought the same thing. They covered their blushing faces and fanned themselves.
“Oh, right!”
When Eliza put her hands together with sparkling eyes, everyone paid attention to her.
“This time, we are having a reading group at our house, and if Lady Muriel comes, the seat will shine brighter.”
“A reading group?”
“Yes. A famous poet will come and read a poem.”
“That would be fun.”
She said so, but at Eliza’s suggestion, Muriel’s eyes were slightly startled. Helen, who was taking the teacup to her mouth, glanced at Eliza. The reading group that she was referring to was originally created by Rose, and many young ladies wanted to join it.
In fact, Eliza attended the meeting with no interest in reading.
Everyone knew that she was more interested in the family’s second son, Hans, so she was there to see his face at least once.
In the capital, many families wanted to somehow build friendships with Etoile County.
For a family with a daughter of marriageable age, the count’s two sons were the best groom candidates.
As Rose left for the North, the meetings fell apart. But now, it was clearly visible in Helen’s eyes that Eliza was trying to fill Rose’s vacancy with Lady Muriel. Helen took a sip of the tea with a bitter face.
“Come to think of it, the reading group was quite active when Lady Rose was here.”
Maybe thinking the same as Helen, Rose’s name came out of someone’s mouth.
As if naming a forbidden word, the atmosphere suddenly became quiet just by mentioning her name.
Young Lady Muriel, who was as gentle as a narcissus all the time, was the most astonished among them. Her expression hardened.
“I wonder if she’s doing well… Going to that place.”
“There’s no way she’s doing well. It’s cold and there’s no one to rely on, it would be a miracle if she didn’t get depressed.”
“The rumors about the king were terrifying. I might have fainted at his hideous appearance.”
“I still don’t understand why Rose caused so much anger to His Highness.”
“She must have gone insane. Daring to hurt the Crown Prince’s face.”
“By the way, will we really see her at the wedding? Aren’t you curious?”
“It’s going to be really worth seeing. I’m looking forward to it.”
As the gossip continued, Muriel drank tea without saying a word. The teacup she was holding trembled faintly.
“She must be fine. Because she adapts well anywhere. By the way, are the wedding preparations going well, Muriel?”
Helen, who had been sitting as if she wasn’t there, opened her mouth for the first time. She couldn’t just listen to their stories silently.
Whenever Rose’s story came out, she didn’t know what to do, perhaps because of guilt.
The young ladies were worried about Rose, as if she had been sacrificed, but in reality, they were relieved that they were not in such a situation. Helen couldn’t stand their hypocrisy.
“The Mundo family is helping me a lot with the preparations for the wedding.”
To Helen’s question, Muriel gave a small answer. The young ladies, who had been immersed in Rose’s story until then, pricked up their ears when they heard the name Mundo.
“If it’s the Mundo family, aren’t they aggressively expanding their business in the capital recently?”
“My uncle also said that he changed his bank from Etoile to Mundo. It seems that he promised to allow him to borrow money at a lower rate than in Etoile.”
The eyes of the ladies sparkled out of curiosity. These days, stories about the Mundo family have been heard in social circles. The nobles who knew even a little bit were busy bragging that they had a connection with the family and the nobles listened to their stories with eagerness, trying to know more.
“They say the Emperor will take care of it himself. Seeing that they are supporting the Crown Prince’s wedding in both ways, I don’t think that’s just a rumor.”
They nodded as if they had learned something new.
“Even so, it will not diminish the influence of the Etoile in Solstern. Because they have so many achievements. A wedding would have been too uncomfortable for the family since it’s the daughter that has to do the job. I don’t think you need to put much meaning into it.”
This time, Helen also defended the Etoile family alone.
“Of course Helen would like to believe that. Because she only thinks about Hans.”
“Eliza! What are you saying?!”
Helen’s face turned red to her ears as if she had felt insulted.
“Didn’t Miss Eliza have Lord Hans in mind for a long time?”
The ladies covered their mouths with fans and held back their giggles.
“I gave up. I know the subject very well.”
“No matter how flirtatious he is, Lord Hans doesn’t give room to anyone.”
Eliza’s face distorted at a lady’s jokingly straight words. As the atmosphere became colder, the ladies only looked at each other.
“By the way, the Mundo family also has an unmarried eldest son.”
When the topic shifted back to the Young Lord of the Mundo family, many people were interested.
“If it’s the eldest son of the Mundo family, I’ve seen him once.”
“Who is he?”
“He’s just come back from abroad, so I didn’t know much at first. It’s unparalleled to Sir Hans, but he looks quite handsome and reliable. I’m sure he’ll be targeted by many families in the future.”
“If he comes to the party, I’ll have to take a closer look. Everyone says that, so I’m curious what kind of person he is.”
“I wish there was a party for him!”
The young girls grinned in excitement at the fact that another possible groom had appeared.
Helen was feeling so tired from today’s tea party, she only wanted to leave quickly.
Hans, who was visiting the Imperial Family to meet the Minister of Finance and returning home, met an unfamiliar face. The young man one or two years younger than Hans was Timothy Mundo. He was the eldest son of the Mundo family and had just come to the capital.
Hans knew immediately where Timothy was coming from. This outer corridor across the garden was connected to the Crown Prince’s Palace. He already has heard that the Mundo family was blatantly going to and from the Imperial Palace these days.
It was clear that he was doing his best to look good in front of the Crown Prince. No, maybe Cassiax brought in the Mundo family himself. To raise them as a hunting dog who will serve faithfully under him.
Just as the previous emperors have parasitized the wealthy Etoile family to consolidate their power.
“Who is this? Oh, Timothy Mundo, what brings you here?”
Hans spoke with a charming smile, as he would do to anyone. Timothy hesitated to answer, looking like someone who had been stabbed.
Nevertheless, he answered skillfully.
“There is no law that only the Etoile family are allowed to enter the Imperial Palace.”
Timothy’s words and actions in response to Hans’ words were quite bold. Recalling his old self as a young kid, Hans swallowed a smile.
“Indeed. Thank you for your effort.”
Perhaps Timothy felt Hans’ sneer, so he bowed down and spoke again.
“I’m really sorry for your little sister. I heard that you’ve been to the North recently. Is she still safe?”
At Timothy’s words, Hans stopped and stood tall. He was asking about Rose’s well-being quite worriedly, but no matter who listened, the mocking tone was clear.
Hans raised the corners of his lips, his gaze turning cold.
“Are you that worried?”
“Of course. Could it have a different meaning?”
As Timothy politely placed his hands on his chest and bowed his head, Hans clenched his fists. He wanted to twist his arm right away, but he didn’t show it.
But instead, he laughed loudly, startling Timothy.
“Thank you, but I’m worried about you.”
“What do you mean?”
Timothy asked, adding strength to every word, with a displeased face. Hans clicked his tongue and looked at Timothy with disapproval.
Then, he took his gaze somewhere behind his shoulder.
‘…?’
Wondering what it was, Timothy turned his head to look where Hans’ eyes were headed.
‘That’s-!’
Someone was watching them from a balcony far away. They were Crown Prince Cassiax and his sister Princess Johannes. Hans and Timothy, who met their eyes, bowed politely to the two far away.
Cassiax raised a glass of wine in his hand towards them.
“The Mundo family is probably not lacking anything to remarry a Princess who returned from a divorce.”
Still glancing at them, Hans muttered low enough for only Timothy to hear. And the latter was quite furious hearing that.
“What does that mean!”
Timothy’s face distorted, but Hans spoke neither congratulations nor consolation.
“When would come such an opportunity in the Mundo family? You could be in-laws with the Imperial Family. I hope you will win the heart of the princess for the sake of your family.”
Hans tapped Timothy once on the shoulder, as if encouraging him.
“Then.”
He turned coldly from the stiff Timothy and left.
Hans’ face, which had just been smiling charmingly, turned as cold as the north wind as he walked down the hallway.
‘How dare you make fun of my sister? If you run wild without knowing the subject again, I will make a mess of your mouth so that you can’t talk at all.’
Timothy, who was left alone in the corridor, could not move even a single step. With a puzzled expression, he looked out onto the terrace, where Cassiax and Princess Johannes had been standing.
They had already disappeared.
‘What does that bastard mean by that?’
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