***
– Madeline at 17 (the present)
An invitation to Colhaz’s mansion.
Upon receiving the thin card, Madeline felt somewhat troubled and bit her lower lip. Master Colhaz seemed to like her very much. Since the last party, he started to call on her, but now he even sent an invitation to his mansion.
Officially, it was a polite letter from Viscount Colhaz to Baron Loenfield’s daughter, but in reality it was clear that it was an invitation with George’s personal agenda.
“Hmm, he’s the third son.”
Baron Loenfield scolded, looking at the invitation. George Colhaz was the third son of Viscount Colhaz, a promising young man who had graduated from Cambridge Law School. But the Baron was still not pleased. He did not like the idea of a third son, who had no title, taking an interest in his daughter.
“But it would be unladylike to refuse the invitation.”
Her father came to a simple conclusion. Madeline sighed.
She didn’t care about her father’s decorum or snobbishness. George was a pleasant young man and she had a little fun with him. But he was Ian Nottingham’s best friend. That meant she could run into Ian and Isabel there.
How embarrassing and awkward would that be? Madeline wanted to avoid that situation as much as possible.
Indeed, it was very difficult to avoid the Nottinghams in London society.
Madeline sighed and composed herself.
* * *
Colhaz’s mansion was located near London. It was a blink of an eye to get there by car or carriage. It was cozy compared to the Loenfield’s mansion, but that did not mean that it was built roughly.
It was a cozy brick house. Madeline got out of the car and walked to the house. The sky changed color as she approached.
When she arrived at the mansion, it was just before dinner. Ladies and gentlemen in cars were arriving one after another. They sat at the long banquet table and were treated to a fine meal.
Viscount Colhaz was a generous man. He was not overbearing because he was a self-made man, but a man who knew his responsibilities as a worthy host.
The silverware was clean, the decor was not too fancy, and the guests were few and comfortable. Behind all these conveniences must have been the uninterrupted labor of the servants.
Next to Madeline sat George Colhaz, who kept talking. Ian Nottingham sat far away with his siblings. This was the first time Madeline had seen all three Nottingham siblings together.
Ian in the first, Eric in the second, and even Isabel in the third.
The three dark-haired siblings caught the attention of the entire sitting room. Each of them was beautiful and elegant.
Eric joked when Ian would grab the center of the conversation. Isabel looked at the people arrogantly as she tilted her head.
Then her eyes met Madeline’s. She gently lifted one eyebrow, as if to ask ‘why are you here?’
Madeline lowered her head and pretended to sip her soup.
After the meal was over, people gathered in groups and began to talk. A small chamber music orchestra performed props.
In the eyes of the unassuming Madeline, George was magnificent and likable. He said he enjoyed talking with Madeline, and was so brusque that he even noticed his own compositions.
‘He was someone who passed by in my previous life.’
She remembered him as someone who had a long history of women.
“If you get a chance later, go to Vienna instead of Italy.”
George said, offering a glass of sparkling wine.
“All kinds of innovation will be happening there.”
“…… I see.”
Madeline nodded, not speaking of the fact that the area would soon become a battlefield and a smoldering field.
“Civilization will continue to develop. Science and art, everything.”
Technologically and artistically we are leading. George stretched his shoulders confidently. Madeline nodded mechanically.
“I don’t know if that’s the case.”
It was then. Ian Nottingham appeared from behind George. He snatched George’s cup.
“Brother George, long time no see.”
Eric Nottingham was with Ian. A full smile filled the young man’s face, which was more pliable than Ian’s.
“You disagree with my theory? It is true that we are in a recessionary period. ….”
George was irritated. He seemed to be concerned about the appearance of Ian when he saw him glancing at Madeline.
“It’s an unnecessary concern.”
As Madeleine, the appearance of Ian was very inconvenient. However, in a crowded room, it was impossible to show any sign of it. Fortunately, Ian did not look at Madeline.
“The perpetual peace theory is a pipe dream. Humans are selfish by nature, so we are endlessly competing with our own kind.”
“Do you really believe that?”
The lady sitting across from them looked concerned.
“That’s how history has been able to develop because it’s been competing and destroying. Renovation is inherently painful.”
Ian said casually.
“But I don’t think the method necessarily has to be forced. Economically, the world is too intertwined for there to be any danger.”
“Well, mankind has already left the age of barbarism.”
George and the other young men countered.
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Madeline remained silent and listened without engaging in the dialogue between the two gentlemen. They had no idea of their fate, which was soon to be on the battlefield anyway. The situation itself was a kind of irony.
“What does Miss Loenfield think?”
It was then. Ian suddenly put Madeline in the spotlight.
“…….”
Madeline, sitting in the corner, was more than a little annoyed. Besides the burden of having the whole sitting room’s ears and eyes focused on her, she was just wondering if the man was being mean to her and doing this to her.
Ian looked at Madeline with a nonchalant expression. His thick eyebrows were still in their original place. The gaze beneath it was subdued. He looked as relaxed as he had the last time he asked for a dance.
‘As expected, it’s because I talked to Isabel last time.’
Madeline sighed.
“Well, a gentleman I know well….”
Madeleine looked at Ian. The confident, arrogant man stared at her as if he was really curious about Madeline’s answer.
“A gentleman I know says that history is a meaningless game of dice. It’s a development, yes. Even if that statement were true, how can we justify all the death and grief under the pretext of development?”
She could see the expressions on the faces of the seated participants harden. But Madeline could not stop.
“I don’t want to be sentimental. It is clear that Master Nottingham’s insight has a point. But I don’t know. War is bound to happen because people think violence is a ‘necessary evil.’”
Silence. The crowd was silent.
“So that’s what Miss Loenfield thinks…..”
Ian mumbled, lifting an eyebrow. There was no sign of displeasure at the slight rise in the corners of his mouth.
In comparison, the expressions on the faces of the other ladies and gentlemen were not good. They seemed shocked by Madeline’s bluntly sarcastic words about the controversy.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Eric suddenly changed the subject.
“I’m bored with politics. Instead, let’s talk about Wimbledon. Who would you like to bet on among the ladies and gentlemen in the rankings?”
The conversation quickly switched to tennis. Ian Nottingham also joined in the conversation without seeming offended or irritated at all. Only Madeline was a bit reluctant.
“My brother is a very good tennis player. If he and I team up, I think we can compete at Wimbledon.”
“Eric, don’t brag.”
“Oh, it’s true.”
Eric made a fuss. It was quite plausible to imagine the brothers forming a tennis team. They both had tall, well-balanced bodies. Madeline was silent.
She asked to be excused to take a walk for a while, and when she left the crowd, she was able to breathe a little. There was a large shrubbery in front of the mansion. She felt her heart open as she proceeded to the balcony and looked out at it.
It was about the time Madeline was taking in the evening air. A pair of shadows could be seen among the shrubbery across from the mansion.
She observed them with suspicious eyes. The shadows were a pair. A man and a woman, to be exact. It was the shadow of a man in a hunter’s hat and a woman with a parasol.
‘Isabel Nottingham…!’
It was clear that it was Isabel and her lover Zachary Miloff. Madeline fidgeted with the cool air that was coming down her spine.
She turned to the room just in case, and there was Ian approaching her.
She must prevent it. Instinctively, she made that decision. Madeline inevitably created a smile. She didn’t detect Ian’s stiff expression softening slightly.
“Miss Loenfield. I would like to talk to you about the other day.”
“…… about the other day?”
“I mean about Isabel. It was wrong of me to pursue you about that girl.”
“No, I am fine. As an older brother, it’s natural to worry about your younger sister, right?”
“…….”
Ian paused for a moment. Madeline looked at him with anxious eyes. When he wrinkled his brow, she became nervous.
“If you and Isabelle are on friendly terms…”
“I……”
“Talk to her well. You know what I mean.”
Ian’s cheeks began to blush. He seemed embarrassed to make a personal request. Madeleine nodded quietly. This conversation was quite uncomfortable, but what could she do?
She did not know what to say.
“Shall we go inside?”
She said, feeling the wind blowing in the back of her head. The sunset was pouring down on the man’s face.
“Miss Loenfield. I don’t know.”
“……”
“I have always felt for some time now that you don’t like me very much.”
“How can that be?”
Madeline’s face hardened.
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“Or should I say contempt?”
“What do you mean contempt?”
‘Yes. I despise you. What you did was not love. It was only childish possessiveness.’ The words that could not escape Madeline’s throat coagulated and tore at her breath.