TBDNS - Chapter 6

Episode 6. Mrs. Hans' Invitation

“His Majesty was very pleased with the lady’s desserts. So, please have desserts supplied to the imperial family regularly. This is the contract with the details.”

The Emperor's attendant, who got out of the carriage, handed Adele the supply contract.

"Miss!"

Tanya's face brightened as she watched from the side. If she could supply regularly to the imperial family, she would no longer have to worry about making a living. Furthermore, if this rumor spread, other nobles would surely rush to place orders. Behind the imperial carriage, other nobles' carriages were already lined up.

“Please come in first.”

Adele, who had brought the chamberlain and the nobles into the house, carefully read the contents of the contract. It stated that once a month, they were to be supplied with the amount of dessert they wanted. Since there were no particularly toxic clauses, Adele readily signed. After the chamberlain left, the other nobles who had been waiting also came over.

“The cookies that day were really delicious.”

“Even when I go home, I can’t stop thinking about it.”

Adele was bewildered. This was the first time she had received such a friendly response from the nobles.

“Try this too. It’s a cookie that was just baked. It’s crispy on the outside and moist on the inside!”

Mia was also excited and offered them some cookies to taste.

“But, madam, what is your relationship with Count Weiss?”

Then one of the guests cautiously spoke up. In fact, this was the main point.

“What’s between the Count and me?”

Adele's expression hardened, but people didn't care about her expression.

“You two looked great together at the banquet that day.”

“That’s right. Is a black dress really that pretty?”

“They said the Count visited a few days ago?”

Seriously, the rumors about Greenhill spread at a chilling pace.

“I heard that the Count will soon be appointed Captain of the Guard. Could you please arrange an audience with His Grace?”

“My son failed the guard exam three times. I really hope he passes.”

They all came with their own agenda. The guards that escort the Emperor. The captain of the guards who commanded the guards was the only person who could stand by the Emperor while holding a sword. As such, he was the one the Emperor trusted the most and had a great influence on the Emperor's decisions.

“It seems like you guys have misunderstood something.”

After taking a sip of tea, Adele said firmly. If they leave it like this, the rumors will get out of hand. Christine will soon be engaged to the Princess, so if even a strange rumor spreads, it will be a big problem.

“Indeed, Count Weiss is here, but he only stopped by to say hello.”

But people laughed strangely as they looked at the freshly arranged flowers in the vase.

“So it is true that the Count visited.”

“Oh my. He must have robbed an entire flower shop. So many flowers in the middle of winter.”

Adele became sad. No matter what she said, people interpreted it in the way they believed. And that soon became the truth.

“The Count and I are not on the same level as you misunderstand. In fact, the Count and I... well, the Count to me...”

Adele took a breath and spoke more clearly.

“Yes, the Count is my brother!”

“...!”

Everyone's mouths dropped open in shock. Tanya and Mia were no exception.

“We’ve been like family since I was little. So the Count is like my own younger brother.”

Still, no one seemed to believe it. In every way, Christine seemed more like an older brother.

“It’s because there’s a one-year age difference. He was much smaller and cuter before.”

Adele coughed as she saw the people's expressions of even more disbelief.

“Then, after my mother passed away, I moved into the Grills' household, where my father was. After that, our relationship became estranged.”

“Are you really saying that you are not dating the Count?”

People still asked with expressions of disbelief. The way the two danced that day was quite provocative. And the Count never danced with anyone after that. So it was only natural that gossipy people would create countless rumors. It was not enough that Adele had lured him into her bedroom, but soon the story of her hidden child would come out. Adele knew better than anyone else the nature of such rumors. And that they would not be silenced unless they were her own brother.

“And I already have someone I like.”

Everyone's eyes widened at the unexpected words.

'Who?'

Even Mia's eyes widened in surprise, and Adele whispered, "I'm sorry."

'Huh, could it be Mark?'

Meanwhile, other women came up to her one after another and congratulated her.

“Congratulations, Mrs. Oswald! Well, it’s been a while since the Marquis passed away, so it’s about time you remarried.”

They were really sincere. With this, Count Weiss returned to everyone. At that moment, Mrs. Hans, who had been sitting quietly, approached. She was a distant relative of the Oswalds and belonged to a wealthy family.

“Congratulations on your new marriage, ma’am.”

“I haven’t said I’ll remarry yet!”

Adele screamed, but it was no use.

“We’re having a New Year’s party at our house this year. It would be great if you could come and tell us the news.”

Mrs. Hans held out an invitation with a red ribbon. Adele politely declined without a second thought.

“Thank you for the invitation, but if I go, everyone will be uncomfortable.”

“No. In fact, everyone wants to get to know Madam. If there are any misunderstandings, this will be a good opportunity to resolve them.”

Then Mia whispered softly.

“Adele, accept the invitation. It’s a great opportunity to re-enter society.”

“I don’t want to do that.”

Adele shook her head, but Madame Hans added:

“Bring your friends too!”

“Me?”

Mia pointed at herself in surprise.

“Yes, Mrs. Oswald would feel a little better if a close friend were with her.”

Mia's eyes sparkled with emotion.

“Thank you for your kind words. But I’m so busy that I don’t know if I’ll have time. Hahaha!”

She glanced at Adele with a trembling of politeness that she didn't mean to show. In fact, Mia had always been interested in society. However, no society party invited a poor and insignificant Baroness. Adele, who had known this from the beginning, found it difficult to ignore Mia's earnest expression.

“Please come! And I hope we can continue to communicate in the future.”

Mrs. Hans, who noticed the situation, held Mia's hand tightly and made a polite request.

"Well..."

Mia looked at Adele with all her might once again,

"All right."

Adele reluctantly accepted. 

***

“It was good. I was secretly hoping that things would go well with the Count. But he’s your younger brother...”

After everyone left, Tanya said with a disappointed face.

“That’s good. If I supply desserts to the royal family, I can live without worrying about money.”

Adele consoled her as she changed the water in the flower vase.

“Still, I hoped that the young lady would get along well with the Count and that Oswald would flatten his nose.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll get revenge by living well.”

“But if you had a younger brother like the Count, why didn’t you ask him for help earlier? If you had, you wouldn’t have suffered like that at the Oswald family...”

"Ah!"

Adele's fingers turned red with a soft scream. She had been pricked by a rose thorn while arranging the flowers in the vase.

“I’m sorry. I brought up something irrelevant.”

Tanya quickly wiped Adele's blood with a handkerchief.

“No, I was just thinking about something else. I forgot everything that happened at Oswald’s, so don’t worry.”

Adele smiled innocently, but Tanya knew that she would never forget what happened at the Oswalds. How could she forget that? 

*** 

A few days later. In front of Madame Hans' mansion.

“Adele, am I okay?”

Mia said that dozens of times during the carriage ride to the mansion.

“Yeah, pretty.”

“I guess I should have made my lip color a little darker.”

“It’s still dark enough.”

“Then should I erase a little?”

Adele smiled at Mia, who was unusually nervous. Then she took the powder in Mia’s hand and gently pressed down her flashy eye and lip makeup. It was Mia’s first social gathering in a long time. For today, she rented an expensive dress and coat from a downtown costume shop. She also carefully cleaned and put on the jewelry she had received as her grandmother’s heirloom, and she bought expensive cosmetics with great determination.

“Adele, you put on some makeup, too. I should have borrowed yours when you borrowed mine.”

But unlike Mia, who was all dolled up, Adele was dressed as usual. She was wearing a worn-out gray coat over a dull wool dress buttoned all the way to the neck, and her hair was long and loose, tied with a ribbon.

“I’m fine. If I show up all dressed up, people will gossip more. And you promise not to listen to what people say. Yes?”

“Of course! Am I the kind of person who would be easily discouraged?”

Mia answered cheerfully and gracefully got out of the carriage. However, she flinched the moment she saw the magnificently lit mansion in front of her. Not only that, but large and splendid carriages pulled by servants were lined up around the mansion.

“What brings you here?”

A man asked the two women rudely as they got out of the small stagecoach. He was a servant in a luxurious velvet jacket. When Adele showed him the invitation, he glanced at them and tilted his head.

“Did you really get invited here?”

Adele replied in a dismissive tone.

“If I hadn’t been invited, there would have been no reason to come.”

He made way for her with a trembling face. Then he caught Adele as she was trying to enter the mansion with Mia.

“The maid, go to that door.”

Mia, who had been walking ahead, returned and shouted like fire.

“Hey, maid!”

That was when.

“Oh my, I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Adele turned around at the familiar, unpleasant voice. A beautiful woman wearing a rich fur coat got out of the carriage, escorted by well-dressed attendants. She was a beauty with dazzling blond hair and blue eyes, worthy of her nicknames, 'the jewel of the empire' and 'the flower of society'. Three or four noble ladies had gathered around her. They were also dressed in expensive furs. Seira and the remnants. Adele called them that. Of course, only in her heart.

“You’re here, Young Lady!”

The mansion servant who treated Adele like a maid bowed his head so that his waist touched the ground. Ignoring him, Seira looked at Adele from head to toe. And then she said with a grin...

“I guess you didn’t hear. The dress code today is fur.”

“...!”

Mia looked around in confusion. When she saw that everyone attending the party was wearing fur.

“Oh my, you came!”

At that moment, Mrs. Hans' voice was heard. Mia spoke, barely hiding her face that looked like she was about to cry.

“Thank you for inviting me, ma’am. But you didn’t mention the dress code today.”

“That... I couldn’t tell you in advance because I thought you might feel burdened and not be able to come.”

As Mrs. Hans answered with an embarrassed face, a giggle could be heard from around her. It was because even if I had said so, it would have been difficult for you to obtain fur. Fur was expensive and rare, so even the most noble had difficulty obtaining it.

'Is this why you called me?'

By the way, Adele had forgotten that Mrs. Hans was also one of Seira's remnants.

"Ma'am..."

It was when Adele, who couldn't stand to watch anymore, opened her mouth.

“That’s why I prepared fur dresses for you two! I told the maids to change into them quickly and come out.”

Mrs. Hans said kindly, grabbing Adele and Mia's hands.

“That’s enough. We should just go back now...”

Adele spoke firmly, but Mia shook her head. She had no idea how earnest her expression was. Mia had been excited and worked hard for several days to attend the party today. Knowing that, Adele couldn't turn back coldly.

“I’m fine, but if you could lend me some clothes to change into, I’d be grateful.”

Adele decided to take a step back.

“Would you like to do that?”

As if she had expected this, Mrs. Hans grabbed Mia's hand and pulled her towards her. Adele then gave a quiet but cold warning.

“Please make sure you have a pleasant trip back.”

It was Adele who had a reputation for poisoning the Marquis. So Madame Hans also looked a little nervous.

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