When Ash couldn't stand it anymore and said, Winter responded.
"So, even if you're not royalty?"
Winter, who had been drinking Ash so much, flinched when he felt the commotion around him. He habitually checked his watch first and raised his head urgently as he muttered.
"Damn, I should have canceled it."
He hurriedly ran to Violet. But it was too late. She was already looking up at the sky. A drone was slowly passing by in the not-so-high sky.
<Congratulations to Lady Violet for her first official event (Lawrence Family Meeting) at Kanim Aviation Industries.>
Violet was trying her best not to be embarrassed by the airship. Luckily, no one here was embarrassed by it, and everyone was amazed and moved.
That didn't change how she felt.
Winter looked at his wife's expression, wanting to hear something. Violet was surprisingly calm, so he swallowed dry saliva, which scared him even more, but she opened her mouth.
"It's so embarrassing."
At Violet's words, Winter immediately spoke with a shameless expression.
"It's for company promotion. I didn't put it out for you."
“Ah.”
"It's not what's in front that's important, it's what's behind. In the Kanik Flight Business' is the main topic."
"Okay."
Winter frowned at Violet's still-sunken gaze and voice, then grumbled.
"I said I'll launch my airship on the day I want to launch it."
"I see. Then would you please erase my name?"
"..."
Winter closed his mouth again. Violet looked up at the airship once more and let out a small laugh at the absurdity. Thanks to the latest technology and huge capital, the tension of the meeting was momentarily forgotten.
Winter also saw that smile but thought it would be better to keep his mouth shut here, so he didn't say anything. Violet said, glancing at Winter.
"Clean up quickly and get out."
"I thought so."
"The meeting will end around 10 o'clock."
"Okay, 10 o'clock. I'll be there for the anniversary party. I made a mistake today. Usually, such mistakes come from strong loyalty."
Winter was snickering, but then he coughed in vain at Violet's cold gaze and hurriedly turned around. Lawrence, who was amazed by the airship, said to Hayel as everyone went inside and Winter, who was leaving the mansion, saw people still gathered in front and cheering loudly.
"Please buy them some food. They must have had a hard time coming here."
"No. I heard from Eglin that the young lady refused to give him any money for his political activities."
"Can a human be both radical and old-fashioned at the same time? I still can't believe it, even though we live together."
Winter shook his head. The citizens of Rockround gathered in front seemed determined not to leave until they could confirm whether a seat would be created today. The reporters also sat down in front of him and waited while eating their packed lunches.
Winter muttered.
"Is this possible for a Princess? She can do something that shakes the country and not be afraid."
"CEO."
"What."
"If you want to brag, just be honest. Don't beat around the bush."
Winter looked embarrassed at Hayel's remark. Then, he ordered him to pack a tuxedo to wear to the party and got into the carriage to go straight to the company. At that moment, Eglin, who had come running from afar, grabbed the door in a hurry.
"CEO! I will also return to work!"
Then Winter held out his hand without answering. Hayel, who was riding with him, stuck his head out and asked.
"What will you bring back this time, Eglin?"
Eglin, who had handed over the documents she had brought, shrugged her shoulders without saying a word. Winter, who had confirmed this, handed the documents over to Hayel and spoke to Eglin.
"Come back."
"Okay. I'll run over first and warm up the chair."
Eglin bowed his head in greeting, closed the door, and ran off excitedly. Hayel, who had received the documents, looked through them one by one and said as if he was very impressed.
"I know of drug dealers operating in the area where Miss Heston's statement and Carlson Rowe's statement meet. Where on earth did they get that information?"
"Don't ask. If you know, it's illegal from the start."
"I know that too... Besides, it's the ring you'll be proposing to. Didn't you say that the Philippe family would never sell it?"
"So if you know, it's illegal."
Hayel sighed and closed the papers again.
***
Normally Winter would have been upset, but today he was instructing his servants to treat him like royalty, and the treatment was outstanding. As they followed the servants through the house and out the door on the other side of the garden, the Lawrence family could not help but exclaim in admiration.
No place in the house was not touched by the hands of the housekeeper. Lulu, and everywhere she touched, comfort was utmost.
The garden was dazzlingly covered in autumn leaves as if it were sprinkled with all sorts of jewels. The white flowers of autumn were in full bloom all over the vast garden, making it feel like snow had fallen. The splendidly shaped braziers placed here and there gave off a warm feeling.
"This is my first time seeing such a large and beautiful garden."
"And yet you're inviting me now! Violet, isn't that too much?"
Violet looked embarrassed at the family members' criticism.
It wasn't that she particularly hated throwing parties or inviting people. It was just that the pain she felt during her three years in the South still lingered in a corner of her heart, and she didn't like parties enough to throw one when she had work to do.
She saw her mother, who was present at this meeting today. She had been using the surname of Filipe, a noblewoman of great wealth and maternal lineage, to give her son power since the royal family was disbanded, but like Violet, she was more than qualified to participate in this meeting.
The meeting was to be held after dinner, and they were amazed by everything from the white asparagus with the chef's secret sauce to the seasonal Northwest truffle dish, to the final dish, the slow-cooked tuna. After the meal, the table was quickly filled with all kinds of desserts, and only after the servants had completely withdrawn did the meeting begin.
Although the story had already progressed to some extent, the differences of opinion between the opposing sides had not been narrowed.
Jeff, Violet's cousin, said.
"It's all good. It's good, but why do we have to do something that will harm our family in the first place?"
Then Violet's grandmother, Mary, who was sitting across from her, said.
"I think so too. By disbanding the royal family, the Lawrence family has done all they could."
Then her brother Anthony said,
"That's separate from that, Mary. That was Ash's choice, and it's the trend of the times."
"There are things that must be preserved even as times change."
At Mary's words, Benjamin, the husband of Violet's cousin Angela and the one who took the surname Lawrence after his royal wife whispered in his wife's ear. Angela mixed her own opinion in her response to Benjamin's words, who dared not directly contradict the words of the eldest member of the Lawrence family.
"But you know, if there's a value that should be preserved as times change, it's the justice of the Lawrence family, not authority. Isn't that right, Ben?"
When Benjamin nodded in agreement with her words, Angela secretly patted his butt as if to say that he had cleaned up well. Benjamin was startled and whispered as if asking why they were doing that in front of everyone.
Violet felt slightly envious of their behavior, which would have been embarrassing in the past.
'My husband would have been here if Lawrence had become human.'
She took a sip of her tea, thinking.
Then Ash, who had been silent, opened his mouth.
"Angela. Do you think the Lawrence family has any authority left? We have nothing left. If we continue like this, only money-hungry businessmen like Winter Blooming will be successful. It's the job of the noble families to stop that."
As her husband was attacked, Violet put down her glass and said.
"Ash, can't you speak without putting others down?"
"What?"
When Ash asked again, their aunt Harriet answered on his behalf.
"Yes, Ash. And it was His Majesty the King who bestowed upon you the title of Lord Winter. I hope you will respect it."
"Why is even Auntie taking Violet's side? No matter how much the world has changed, if Rockround is filled with such vulgar people, the Lawrence family will be remembered as the culprit who turned a blind eye to it."
Violet narrowed her eyes slightly at his words. Ash kept attacking her with Winter's story.
She found it mean. Besides, the fact that she was attacked would ultimately have something to do with the outcome of this meeting. It was also a matter of prestige within her family and Ash's.
Ash's words ended and the argument began again. Even during the argument, Ash felt a surge of anger whenever he saw Violet. Of course, she initiated and hosted the meeting, but there was no need for Violet to look at him and ask for permission to speak as if she were the one in charge.
From the day the rent he thought no one would care about was made into an article, he felt his position strangely becoming narrower.
As the affair grew larger and a huge crowd of onlookers and media gathered outside, those who supported Ash and took the accouterments he had been receiving began to take notice.
Her cousin, Aaron, who was now only seventeen, asked her.
"Sister Violet. Why did you make a choice that would harm the Lawrence family?"
"Aaron, I love Lawrence."
Her calm response caught everyone's attention.
Violet put her hands down and continued speaking in a voice full of affection.
"There is only one thing that the Lawrence family has protected so far and will continue to protect: the Rockround people."
"..."
"And I have a desire for honor, and I want the Lawrence family to be a beloved family to the Rockround people again. So... That's what I think. I believe that separating the Lawrence family from the parliament will protect our honor. That's why."
The Lawrence family's emblem has always had an ancient word meaning honor written on it. It was the Lawrence family's greatest value that would not change no matter how the world changed.
Ash glared at her and said.
"What part of your actions is honorable?"
"Ash, do you remember what my husband, Lord Winter, paid for the money?"
"I know. How could I forget that you, a foreigner, wanted to have the title of Duke?"
"Yeah. That one."
Violet continued, watching him.
"If you didn't give it to him, you should have given him the money back or said sorry."
"I am so grateful that I dared to let him marry someone of royal blood."
Violet laughed in vain at his words.
"If you take credit for it, it's not yours, it's mine. If things were as they were, you should have taken care of it since you inherited the throne right after our father passed away."
Violet continued, looking intently at Ash.
"You don't know how to be grateful, and you only insult him as a vulgar person and a foreigner... Even animals know how to be grateful to their benefactors. I think I should teach you how to be grateful even now. So I need to hear your thanks right away."
Even though Winter was already making him upset, when Violet lit it, Ash couldn't hold back his anger and poured the red wine he was holding onto Violet.
Ash was even more surprised by his actions, which made him lose control of his temper, and put his glass down.
On the other hand, Violet, who had actually been hit with the wine, was hoping that Ash would make a mistake and speak harshly to her, so she thought this was okay.
She and everyone else at the table knew that if royalty behaved like this, it would come back to haunt them several times over. As if to prove that thought, Ella, the highest-ranking person in the group except for her children, stood up and spoke to Ash.
"Ash Lawrence."
"Yes, Mother."
Of course, you will defend me.
Ella said in a cold voice as Ash was expecting it.
"You are not qualified to be here, and you are not qualified to vote. Get out of here immediately."
The place became quiet for a moment at her trembling command.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment