Esther Portoni quickly stepped back behind the gathered nobles. Beyond the receding window, the figures of two people who had already disappeared lingered before her eyes.
Among them, what caught Esther's eye was a man with a haggard appearance.
A familiar blue hair and an unfamiliar scar, but still a beautiful face.
'...Lord Enoch.'
A man who was expected to die survived and returned as a war hero.
The man who thought he had married the continent's best bride and ascended to a place beyond her reach, contrary to the rosy rumors that circulated throughout the capital, did not look so good.
'Was it just a rumor that the couple was on good terms?'
Esther's mind was filled with the thought of a collateral relative of Aratus whom she had recently come into contact with.
She thinks he was called Baron Thatcher.
"Are you not thinking of starting over with the Marquis?"
"Honestly, why do you think the head of household left his wife alone? It must be because he still has feelings for you."
"This time too, we will do our best to help you with your work. Perhaps, beyond being the lover of the head of the household, this time, you can become the Marchioness."
At the time, she thought that was nonsense.
After seeing Marquis Aratus a little while ago, a little courage began to well up in Esther's heart.
'It's shameless, but he might be waiting for me too.'
Originally, the nobility was a race that had separate marriage and dating.
But in the process, she didn't like the idea of joining hands again with those who had tried to harm Enoch.
“I can just throw them away when I'm done.”
Esther spoke coldly, unfolding her fan.
“Huh? Mrs. Esther. What did you say?”
“It’s nothing, Ma’am.”
She thought this might be a good opportunity to reveal that what had happened back then was something her relatives had planned and to ask for his forgiveness.
'When I return to the mansion, I must send a message to Baron Thatcher.'
Esther smiled brightly as she looked at the beautifully decorated, old-fashioned mansion.
It seemed like a dream that she might become the true mistress of a prestigious family with such a magnificent mansion in the capital.
After the first tea party, Agatha opened a makeshift salon in the Aratus mansion.
She held auctions to purchase paintings, sculptures, liquor, and other items needed for the mansion, and encouraged nobles with a deep knowledge of art to attend.
For the nobles who were not interested in art, they played chess or card games and also had ordinary tea times.
Today was the second day that the first floor of the mansion was open to the public for visits without a special invitation.
“Oh my. The mansion is more beautiful than I thought.”
“I can sense the elegance that is characteristic of a long-standing family. It hasn’t even been a month since the Marchioness returned to the capital. Didn’t you say that the Aratus family had many problems within it?”
“I guess it wasn’t as serious as I thought. The Aratus family is prestigious. I heard that their history goes back to the early days of the Empire.”
Isabelle Aratus walked past the whispering nobles as she explored the first floor of the mansion.
She had been feeling the changes in her family over the past few weeks.
His brother was still a war hero and the Empire's greatest knight, and the mansion had not changed much; it had only been renovated.
At some point, the status of the family, which had fallen to rock bottom, began to change.
Isabelle knew.
All these changes began when Agatha Nobilis came forward.
As they left the hallway, they saw people enjoying tea time, reading, chatting, and playing chess in the garden of the main house.
In the middle of it all, Agatha, who was nodding occasionally while approving the documents Ben had handed her, found her.
“Welcome, Isabelle.”
“Oh my. Young Lady Aratus. It’s an honor to meet you today. How about having a cup of tea together?”
Isabelle, who had been staring blankly at Agatha, moved to the seats given to her by the big names in high society.
It was the right couch, right next to Agatha, which could be called the second-highest seat.
“Have you all heard any news related to the Neuta top?”
Then the Marchioness Iris Domunia brought up an interesting topic.
“Are you talking about the new fall social fabric you released? I heard the response wasn’t very good.”
The ladies and young ladies smiled. The reason for this was well known.
“It can’t be helped since I wasn’t chosen by Lady Agatha.”
“The color was a bit too heavy. Well, I guess it suited the tastes of older ladies to some extent.”
“It’s not surprising, since she would have chosen it. I mean, the eldest of the Neuta family.”
Agatha did not say a word, but she did not particularly discourage talking about the subject. The ladies lowered their voices and asked.
“Lady Agatha, I think they will return to the society in the fall.”
“That’s right. They enjoy bringing in their own fabrics.”
It wasn't really her intention though.
Agatha put down her teacup and gave a suitable comment.
“Well, the quality was okay, but I didn’t really like the color. I don’t have any complaints, but it’s a shame that the ambitious new product I released after a long time didn’t do well. Of course, this is the top of people who have nothing to do with me.”
“Hohoho. Madame Agatha too, really.”
After that, major social news followed one after another.
As Agatha was intermittently reacting and signing off on the last document, the butler, Ben, appeared. This time, what he brought was not a document.
“Madam, the Master has arrived.”
Today was the first performance of the Abrum Orchestra sponsored by Agatha.
As promised, Enoch came to get Agatha.
“I guess I should go now, everyone.”
“Oh, Ma’am.”
As Agatha prepared to leave, exclamations of regret erupted from all over. However, no guests actively tried to hold on to the newlywed Marquis of Aratus.
“I’m going to go to a concert with my husband for the first time in a long time. It’s the first performance of the orchestra I used to support.”
“So you had a schedule like that.”
“And wouldn’t it be nice if Lady Isabelle could have some time to get to know you all?”
“Of course, it’s also fun to spend time getting to know Young Lady Aratus. Hahaha.”
The time that followed belonged to Isabelle Aratus.
Isabelle, who had gained some leisure after going to a few makeshift salons, saw her off with a smile.
“Have a nice time, Madame Agatha. I’ll make sure to finish it well.”
“Yes. See you tomorrow, Isabelle.”
After greeting the guests, Agatha left the garden, led by her butler, Ben.
As she was crossing the hallway, occasionally exchanging greetings with visitors touring the first floor of the mansion, she began to see a man standing in front of the main mansion.
"Enoch."
Within a few days, a man who had lost some weight greeted her with a slightly softened face.
Hold hands naturally and kiss the back of her hand.
"Let's go."
Agatha didn't look at him. The carriage door opened.
Agat climbed into the carriage, relying on his hand that was supporting hers.
Following her, he got on and the carriage escorted by knights set off. Inside the carriage, bright with sunlight and lanterns, silence flowed.
First, Agatha returned to her new home and finished dressing up for the concert, then headed to Armand Hall with Enoch.
In front of the largest hall in the capital, the Armand Hall, carriages of nobles interested in the art business as well as those who were prominent in high society passed by.
The Abrum Orchestra, sponsored by Agatha, was one of the best orchestras in the empire and was a barometer of how the music world would flow in the future.
As the performance time slowly approaches.
As the Aratus family's carriage approached Armand Hall, the leader of the Abrum Orchestra, Louis Morales, quickly ran out.
“Marchioness Aratus. Marquis Aratus. It is an honor to have you here. I am Louis Morales, the leader of the Abrum Orchestra. Do you remember me?”
Agatha, who was getting out of the carriage escorted by Enoch, nodded slightly.
“It’s been a while, Director Morales. I’ve been so busy that I’ve only been able to contact you by letter. How have you been?”
“Yes. Thanks to your good care, both I and the orchestra are doing well.”
The captain went ahead and led the Marquis Aratus and his wife to the Hall of Armand.
As they entered close to the show time, there weren't many people lining the hallways and stairs outside the concert hall.
After exchanging greetings with some familiar nobles, Agatha went up to the second floor and was guided to a balcony seat overlooking the hall and orchestra.
“If you need anything, please pull the line at any time. Our staff will be standing by at all times.”
“Thank you, Director.”
As soon as the door closed, the commotion was completely silenced.
A large, soft sofa and a wide table were placed on the green carpeted floor.
Agatha sat on the sofa and stared over the railing at the still-empty orchestra area. Enoch, who was sitting next to her and staring down as well, opened his mouth.
“Your face was not good.”
“...”
She doesn't know who's talking. Agatha looked down without saying anything.
“Has anything happened in the past few days?”
“There wasn’t. And Enoch.”
"Yes."
“There are no eyes on us right now, so I don’t think we need to talk. Let’s go back to the mansion after the performance.”
Among them, what caught Esther's eye was a man with a haggard appearance.
A familiar blue hair and an unfamiliar scar, but still a beautiful face.
'...Lord Enoch.'
A man who was expected to die survived and returned as a war hero.
The man who thought he had married the continent's best bride and ascended to a place beyond her reach, contrary to the rosy rumors that circulated throughout the capital, did not look so good.
'Was it just a rumor that the couple was on good terms?'
Esther's mind was filled with the thought of a collateral relative of Aratus whom she had recently come into contact with.
She thinks he was called Baron Thatcher.
"Are you not thinking of starting over with the Marquis?"
"Honestly, why do you think the head of household left his wife alone? It must be because he still has feelings for you."
"This time too, we will do our best to help you with your work. Perhaps, beyond being the lover of the head of the household, this time, you can become the Marchioness."
At the time, she thought that was nonsense.
After seeing Marquis Aratus a little while ago, a little courage began to well up in Esther's heart.
'It's shameless, but he might be waiting for me too.'
Originally, the nobility was a race that had separate marriage and dating.
But in the process, she didn't like the idea of joining hands again with those who had tried to harm Enoch.
“I can just throw them away when I'm done.”
Esther spoke coldly, unfolding her fan.
“Huh? Mrs. Esther. What did you say?”
“It’s nothing, Ma’am.”
She thought this might be a good opportunity to reveal that what had happened back then was something her relatives had planned and to ask for his forgiveness.
'When I return to the mansion, I must send a message to Baron Thatcher.'
Esther smiled brightly as she looked at the beautifully decorated, old-fashioned mansion.
It seemed like a dream that she might become the true mistress of a prestigious family with such a magnificent mansion in the capital.
***
After the first tea party, Agatha opened a makeshift salon in the Aratus mansion.
She held auctions to purchase paintings, sculptures, liquor, and other items needed for the mansion, and encouraged nobles with a deep knowledge of art to attend.
For the nobles who were not interested in art, they played chess or card games and also had ordinary tea times.
Today was the second day that the first floor of the mansion was open to the public for visits without a special invitation.
“Oh my. The mansion is more beautiful than I thought.”
“I can sense the elegance that is characteristic of a long-standing family. It hasn’t even been a month since the Marchioness returned to the capital. Didn’t you say that the Aratus family had many problems within it?”
“I guess it wasn’t as serious as I thought. The Aratus family is prestigious. I heard that their history goes back to the early days of the Empire.”
Isabelle Aratus walked past the whispering nobles as she explored the first floor of the mansion.
She had been feeling the changes in her family over the past few weeks.
His brother was still a war hero and the Empire's greatest knight, and the mansion had not changed much; it had only been renovated.
At some point, the status of the family, which had fallen to rock bottom, began to change.
Isabelle knew.
All these changes began when Agatha Nobilis came forward.
As they left the hallway, they saw people enjoying tea time, reading, chatting, and playing chess in the garden of the main house.
In the middle of it all, Agatha, who was nodding occasionally while approving the documents Ben had handed her, found her.
“Welcome, Isabelle.”
“Oh my. Young Lady Aratus. It’s an honor to meet you today. How about having a cup of tea together?”
Isabelle, who had been staring blankly at Agatha, moved to the seats given to her by the big names in high society.
It was the right couch, right next to Agatha, which could be called the second-highest seat.
“Have you all heard any news related to the Neuta top?”
Then the Marchioness Iris Domunia brought up an interesting topic.
“Are you talking about the new fall social fabric you released? I heard the response wasn’t very good.”
The ladies and young ladies smiled. The reason for this was well known.
“It can’t be helped since I wasn’t chosen by Lady Agatha.”
“The color was a bit too heavy. Well, I guess it suited the tastes of older ladies to some extent.”
“It’s not surprising, since she would have chosen it. I mean, the eldest of the Neuta family.”
Agatha did not say a word, but she did not particularly discourage talking about the subject. The ladies lowered their voices and asked.
“Lady Agatha, I think they will return to the society in the fall.”
“That’s right. They enjoy bringing in their own fabrics.”
It wasn't really her intention though.
Agatha put down her teacup and gave a suitable comment.
“Well, the quality was okay, but I didn’t really like the color. I don’t have any complaints, but it’s a shame that the ambitious new product I released after a long time didn’t do well. Of course, this is the top of people who have nothing to do with me.”
“Hohoho. Madame Agatha too, really.”
After that, major social news followed one after another.
As Agatha was intermittently reacting and signing off on the last document, the butler, Ben, appeared. This time, what he brought was not a document.
“Madam, the Master has arrived.”
Today was the first performance of the Abrum Orchestra sponsored by Agatha.
As promised, Enoch came to get Agatha.
“I guess I should go now, everyone.”
“Oh, Ma’am.”
As Agatha prepared to leave, exclamations of regret erupted from all over. However, no guests actively tried to hold on to the newlywed Marquis of Aratus.
“I’m going to go to a concert with my husband for the first time in a long time. It’s the first performance of the orchestra I used to support.”
“So you had a schedule like that.”
“And wouldn’t it be nice if Lady Isabelle could have some time to get to know you all?”
“Of course, it’s also fun to spend time getting to know Young Lady Aratus. Hahaha.”
The time that followed belonged to Isabelle Aratus.
Isabelle, who had gained some leisure after going to a few makeshift salons, saw her off with a smile.
“Have a nice time, Madame Agatha. I’ll make sure to finish it well.”
“Yes. See you tomorrow, Isabelle.”
After greeting the guests, Agatha left the garden, led by her butler, Ben.
As she was crossing the hallway, occasionally exchanging greetings with visitors touring the first floor of the mansion, she began to see a man standing in front of the main mansion.
"Enoch."
Within a few days, a man who had lost some weight greeted her with a slightly softened face.
Hold hands naturally and kiss the back of her hand.
"Let's go."
Agatha didn't look at him. The carriage door opened.
Agat climbed into the carriage, relying on his hand that was supporting hers.
Following her, he got on and the carriage escorted by knights set off. Inside the carriage, bright with sunlight and lanterns, silence flowed.
First, Agatha returned to her new home and finished dressing up for the concert, then headed to Armand Hall with Enoch.
In front of the largest hall in the capital, the Armand Hall, carriages of nobles interested in the art business as well as those who were prominent in high society passed by.
The Abrum Orchestra, sponsored by Agatha, was one of the best orchestras in the empire and was a barometer of how the music world would flow in the future.
As the performance time slowly approaches.
As the Aratus family's carriage approached Armand Hall, the leader of the Abrum Orchestra, Louis Morales, quickly ran out.
“Marchioness Aratus. Marquis Aratus. It is an honor to have you here. I am Louis Morales, the leader of the Abrum Orchestra. Do you remember me?”
Agatha, who was getting out of the carriage escorted by Enoch, nodded slightly.
“It’s been a while, Director Morales. I’ve been so busy that I’ve only been able to contact you by letter. How have you been?”
“Yes. Thanks to your good care, both I and the orchestra are doing well.”
The captain went ahead and led the Marquis Aratus and his wife to the Hall of Armand.
As they entered close to the show time, there weren't many people lining the hallways and stairs outside the concert hall.
After exchanging greetings with some familiar nobles, Agatha went up to the second floor and was guided to a balcony seat overlooking the hall and orchestra.
“If you need anything, please pull the line at any time. Our staff will be standing by at all times.”
“Thank you, Director.”
As soon as the door closed, the commotion was completely silenced.
A large, soft sofa and a wide table were placed on the green carpeted floor.
Agatha sat on the sofa and stared over the railing at the still-empty orchestra area. Enoch, who was sitting next to her and staring down as well, opened his mouth.
“Your face was not good.”
“...”
She doesn't know who's talking. Agatha looked down without saying anything.
“Has anything happened in the past few days?”
“There wasn’t. And Enoch.”
"Yes."
“There are no eyes on us right now, so I don’t think we need to talk. Let’s go back to the mansion after the performance.”
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