The calculation between Ines and himself had already been completed. She had saved his sister, and he had given her immunity. Now, if she committed the crime of killing someone, he would step forward and save her.
He snickered as he thought of her killing someone. Even though he thought it was ridiculous, his irregular heartbeat kept making him feel uneasy.
Four days later, Carson finally saved Lena's son. Count Graham had hidden the child in the house of one of his subordinates. When the rumor of Lena's death spread throughout the estate, Count Graham took action. He ordered the child to be killed as if it were the natural order. However,
Carson had saved the child a step ahead of him.
"What do you plan on doing with Lena Mariere?"
Carson rubbed his chin without answering Noah's question.
He would keep her hidden for the time being, but she was a criminal who had attempted to murder the royal family.
However, he could not make a decision on how to deal with Lena. Strangely, he felt that he had to ask Ines for permission to decide on Lena's new status.
“Postponement for now. Bring the child.”
Lena, who had received her son, would continue to be confined in a secret room with her child. Although it was called confinement, it did not pose a threat to her safety, so for the time being, she would live as a dead person in the basement of Count Raymond’s mansion. With the child she loved.
Carson settled the matter for now.
Since the perpetrator of the incident had died without leaving a word, his official position was that he would no longer bring up the issue.
In the meantime, the weather had gotten a little warmer, and the new lord of Landhill had finally opened the door to his mansion.
After that, the nobles of Landhill were busy preparing for the welcoming party to celebrate the arrival of the new lord.
“People came from the capital’s costume shop to prepare for the banquet.”
After finishing his report on various mansions, Noah, who had skipped breakfast and was buried in his papers, spoke again to the young Count who was not answering. To invite the people in the capital’s costume shop to Landhill, Carson had to pay a huge amount of money.
Not only their living expenses, but also the salaries of the employees, and he was willing to pay double the income the costume shop should have earned during their one-month stay here.
“Count?”
“Yes, I heard.”
“Go and get some clothes...”
“I can wear anything. I don’t care about my clothes, so just strengthen the security around the area.”
Noah let out a small sigh without telling the capricious Count. If he could wear anything, why on earth did he invite them to this mansion?
Noah was having a hard time inviting the arrogant costume shop in the capital. He was on his way to meet him after resolving the complaints of the costume shop people.
He snickered as he thought of her killing someone. Even though he thought it was ridiculous, his irregular heartbeat kept making him feel uneasy.
***
Four days later, Carson finally saved Lena's son. Count Graham had hidden the child in the house of one of his subordinates. When the rumor of Lena's death spread throughout the estate, Count Graham took action. He ordered the child to be killed as if it were the natural order. However,
Carson had saved the child a step ahead of him.
"What do you plan on doing with Lena Mariere?"
Carson rubbed his chin without answering Noah's question.
He would keep her hidden for the time being, but she was a criminal who had attempted to murder the royal family.
However, he could not make a decision on how to deal with Lena. Strangely, he felt that he had to ask Ines for permission to decide on Lena's new status.
“Postponement for now. Bring the child.”
Lena, who had received her son, would continue to be confined in a secret room with her child. Although it was called confinement, it did not pose a threat to her safety, so for the time being, she would live as a dead person in the basement of Count Raymond’s mansion. With the child she loved.
Carson settled the matter for now.
Since the perpetrator of the incident had died without leaving a word, his official position was that he would no longer bring up the issue.
***
In the meantime, the weather had gotten a little warmer, and the new lord of Landhill had finally opened the door to his mansion.
After that, the nobles of Landhill were busy preparing for the welcoming party to celebrate the arrival of the new lord.
“People came from the capital’s costume shop to prepare for the banquet.”
After finishing his report on various mansions, Noah, who had skipped breakfast and was buried in his papers, spoke again to the young Count who was not answering. To invite the people in the capital’s costume shop to Landhill, Carson had to pay a huge amount of money.
Not only their living expenses, but also the salaries of the employees, and he was willing to pay double the income the costume shop should have earned during their one-month stay here.
“Count?”
“Yes, I heard.”
“Go and get some clothes...”
“I can wear anything. I don’t care about my clothes, so just strengthen the security around the area.”
Noah let out a small sigh without telling the capricious Count. If he could wear anything, why on earth did he invite them to this mansion?
Noah was having a hard time inviting the arrogant costume shop in the capital. He was on his way to meet him after resolving the complaints of the costume shop people.
Noah reflected on his own life as he listened to Carson’s halfhearted response. Noah was born as the second son of a local lord and worked hard to survive. It was natural that someone with a family background as humble as he would have to work twice as hard as others to become an aide to the royal family.
When he was appointed as an aide to the royal family, he felt like he had the world at his fingertips. At that time, he had never thought that he would end up doing such a trivial task.
“It would have been nice if you had told me that in advance.”
He was surprised by the stern words that came out without his knowledge, and at the same time, his eyes met with the Count’s in midair. He quickly bowed his head and took a step back.
“I’m sorry.”
“Is that so? I’m sorry.”
Furthermore, Noah was so surprised by the unexpected apology that he blushed.
“Oh, no. I was presumptuous.”
“Don’t bow so much. You and I will spend a lot of time together in the future, and I need an aide as an advisor. I don’t want an attendant.”
The tone was cold, but the content was not. Thanks to that, Noah couldn’t say anything. He just stared at his master’s head, who had finished speaking and was bowing his head again to his documents, for a long time.
Of course, Noah knew that he was a great negotiator and strategist and that he was a great businessman. He could guess this just by looking at the enormous fortune Carson had secretly amassed. But he was human, so he needed advice.
“We had to call the dress shop anyway.”
“Huh?”
“Get Louis a whole new wardrobe. There’s nothing she can bring from the Grahams. We’ll buy her everything new.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“And by the way, what do you think...?”
Carson, without looking up, began to ask Noah what he was thinking, tapping his pen on the blank sheet of paper. Noah pricked up his ears, waiting for his advice.
“No.”
“Huh?”
“No, just leave.”
“I’m fine. So go ahead.”
He twirled his pen once and met Noah’s eyes. It had only been a short time since Noah had served him, but this was the first time he had hesitated.
“What do you think? If I were to send Lady Swenden a dress for this banquet, would it seem a bit excessive? Or would it have some other meaning? Among the talkative ladies?”
“For example...?”
“She’s of marriageable age.”
Noah thought for a moment. In fact, for a young Count and unmarried lord to send a dress to a marriageable noblewoman of the land was like throwing a sweet treat to the tycoons. It could easily become a dirty scandal for the woman.
“It’s fine as long as you make the meaning clear.”
“Meaning?”
“Didn’t she save Lady Louisianne’s life?”
“Oh.”
“Isn’t that why you’re sending it?”
Carson was silent for a moment, then nodded.
“Yes. That’s right.”
“Then give her the jewels along with the clothes.”
“Let me give her the jewelry, too.”
“It will be more obvious that it is a gift.”
He lowered his head to look at the papers again.
“Not bad.”
“I understand.”
Noah moved quickly to carry out his order, thinking that his first advice had been successful. He was almost to the door when Carson’s voice came from behind him.
“Green.”
“Huh?”
“The clothes. The jewelry too. Green would be good. Not too dark.”
Noah was speechless for a moment, but then he agreed. He thought that his master’s personality might be more delicate.
“And the necklace would be good.”
“Would you like that one to be green?”
“Yes.”
After Noah left, Carson thought for a moment.
When he was appointed as an aide to the royal family, he felt like he had the world at his fingertips. At that time, he had never thought that he would end up doing such a trivial task.
“It would have been nice if you had told me that in advance.”
He was surprised by the stern words that came out without his knowledge, and at the same time, his eyes met with the Count’s in midair. He quickly bowed his head and took a step back.
“I’m sorry.”
“Is that so? I’m sorry.”
Furthermore, Noah was so surprised by the unexpected apology that he blushed.
“Oh, no. I was presumptuous.”
“Don’t bow so much. You and I will spend a lot of time together in the future, and I need an aide as an advisor. I don’t want an attendant.”
The tone was cold, but the content was not. Thanks to that, Noah couldn’t say anything. He just stared at his master’s head, who had finished speaking and was bowing his head again to his documents, for a long time.
Of course, Noah knew that he was a great negotiator and strategist and that he was a great businessman. He could guess this just by looking at the enormous fortune Carson had secretly amassed. But he was human, so he needed advice.
“We had to call the dress shop anyway.”
“Huh?”
“Get Louis a whole new wardrobe. There’s nothing she can bring from the Grahams. We’ll buy her everything new.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“And by the way, what do you think...?”
Carson, without looking up, began to ask Noah what he was thinking, tapping his pen on the blank sheet of paper. Noah pricked up his ears, waiting for his advice.
“No.”
“Huh?”
“No, just leave.”
“I’m fine. So go ahead.”
He twirled his pen once and met Noah’s eyes. It had only been a short time since Noah had served him, but this was the first time he had hesitated.
“What do you think? If I were to send Lady Swenden a dress for this banquet, would it seem a bit excessive? Or would it have some other meaning? Among the talkative ladies?”
“For example...?”
“She’s of marriageable age.”
Noah thought for a moment. In fact, for a young Count and unmarried lord to send a dress to a marriageable noblewoman of the land was like throwing a sweet treat to the tycoons. It could easily become a dirty scandal for the woman.
“It’s fine as long as you make the meaning clear.”
“Meaning?”
“Didn’t she save Lady Louisianne’s life?”
“Oh.”
“Isn’t that why you’re sending it?”
Carson was silent for a moment, then nodded.
“Yes. That’s right.”
“Then give her the jewels along with the clothes.”
“Let me give her the jewelry, too.”
“It will be more obvious that it is a gift.”
He lowered his head to look at the papers again.
“Not bad.”
“I understand.”
Noah moved quickly to carry out his order, thinking that his first advice had been successful. He was almost to the door when Carson’s voice came from behind him.
“Green.”
“Huh?”
“The clothes. The jewelry too. Green would be good. Not too dark.”
Noah was speechless for a moment, but then he agreed. He thought that his master’s personality might be more delicate.
“And the necklace would be good.”
“Would you like that one to be green?”
“Yes.”
After Noah left, Carson thought for a moment.
Green? He had never seen Ines Swenden wear a green dress. It was a very detailed order, even for something he had said impulsively.
He shook his head and began to think about making money again.
On the day of the welcoming party for the new lord of Landhill, Ines was deeply troubled by the two dresses in front of her.
One was a dress of a similar color to her green eyes, and the other was a dress of sky blue fabric with a black ribbon as a point.
The green dress was a design that she had never seen before in Landhill. It was said that the fashion of banquet dresses had changed a lot in the capital, so it was an elegant dress with light fabric and no elaborate decorations. The dress with a subtle pearly feel also had a strangely gorgeous atmosphere.
“You have to choose quickly.”
Susan stamped her feet because of her young lady who had been staring at the green dress with sad eyes for a while. Once the dress was decided, Susan could decide on accessories and makeup, but Ines did not decide on a dress until there was only a little time left until the banquet.
“Young lady.”
“Yes.”
“Come on. I think it would be best for you to wear a green dress. How does it go so well with the color of your eyes? Since the colors are the same, your face will look much brighter.”
I know, I know. But it’s such a shame.
Ten days after Ines returned home, the capital’s costume shop people came storming into the Swenden mansion. She had been informed in advance at Count Raymond’s mansion the day before, but the number of people who actually welcomed her was much larger than expected. The costume shop manager had been harassing Ines all day and left her with the difficult decision of choosing one of three designs of dress.
After much deliberation, she handed the decision over to Carson Raymond. It was a polite request, half thinking that he would never personally choose her dress. About two weeks later, the finished dress was actually delivered to her house.
Ines kept asking the costume shop manager if the design of this dress was really chosen by Count Carson Raymond himself.
The answer she got every time was yes.
It was clearly sent for the banquet that was to be held today, but Ines found it difficult to wear it.
However, as Susan had said, she couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Yes, I’ve decided.”
Ines pointed to the dress she wanted to wear and spoke to Susan with determination. Susan let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly left the room to make other preparations.
Ines looked around her room again.
In the past, she had not been able to attend this banquet. No, she had not been able to attend, let alone go out. She had just sat in this room and cried all day.
It was because her father, who had found out about Joseph's proposal, had not allowed Ines to step out of the room.
And there was a truth that was easy to realize. At that time, Susan had told her father that Ines had been proposed to.
This time, Ines had been proposed to, and Susan was still the only one who knew about it. However, Susan did not tell her father about it because of Ines' changed attitude.
Ines approached the green dress and quietly ran her hands over it. Just touching it made her feel calm as if it were a lie. She had been losing sleep for the past three days at the thought of seeing him again.
He shook his head and began to think about making money again.
***
On the day of the welcoming party for the new lord of Landhill, Ines was deeply troubled by the two dresses in front of her.
One was a dress of a similar color to her green eyes, and the other was a dress of sky blue fabric with a black ribbon as a point.
The green dress was a design that she had never seen before in Landhill. It was said that the fashion of banquet dresses had changed a lot in the capital, so it was an elegant dress with light fabric and no elaborate decorations. The dress with a subtle pearly feel also had a strangely gorgeous atmosphere.
“You have to choose quickly.”
Susan stamped her feet because of her young lady who had been staring at the green dress with sad eyes for a while. Once the dress was decided, Susan could decide on accessories and makeup, but Ines did not decide on a dress until there was only a little time left until the banquet.
“Young lady.”
“Yes.”
“Come on. I think it would be best for you to wear a green dress. How does it go so well with the color of your eyes? Since the colors are the same, your face will look much brighter.”
I know, I know. But it’s such a shame.
Ten days after Ines returned home, the capital’s costume shop people came storming into the Swenden mansion. She had been informed in advance at Count Raymond’s mansion the day before, but the number of people who actually welcomed her was much larger than expected. The costume shop manager had been harassing Ines all day and left her with the difficult decision of choosing one of three designs of dress.
After much deliberation, she handed the decision over to Carson Raymond. It was a polite request, half thinking that he would never personally choose her dress. About two weeks later, the finished dress was actually delivered to her house.
Ines kept asking the costume shop manager if the design of this dress was really chosen by Count Carson Raymond himself.
The answer she got every time was yes.
It was clearly sent for the banquet that was to be held today, but Ines found it difficult to wear it.
However, as Susan had said, she couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Yes, I’ve decided.”
Ines pointed to the dress she wanted to wear and spoke to Susan with determination. Susan let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly left the room to make other preparations.
Ines looked around her room again.
In the past, she had not been able to attend this banquet. No, she had not been able to attend, let alone go out. She had just sat in this room and cried all day.
It was because her father, who had found out about Joseph's proposal, had not allowed Ines to step out of the room.
And there was a truth that was easy to realize. At that time, Susan had told her father that Ines had been proposed to.
This time, Ines had been proposed to, and Susan was still the only one who knew about it. However, Susan did not tell her father about it because of Ines' changed attitude.
Ines approached the green dress and quietly ran her hands over it. Just touching it made her feel calm as if it were a lie. She had been losing sleep for the past three days at the thought of seeing him again.
She had many questions for Carson. What happened to Lena Mariere? Who was Jason?
Only when she thought of him and prayed to him devoutly did she feel like she was atonement for her sins, even a little?
It had been exactly a month. It had been a while since she had seen him again.
Only when she thought of him and prayed to him devoutly did she feel like she was atonement for her sins, even a little?
It had been exactly a month. It had been a while since she had seen him again.
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