(213) Side Story; Precious and New (7)
The dinner table was stifling, as always.
Trying not to let the oppressive atmosphere show, Charlotte slowly moved her fork.
When she lived in the imperial palace, food was often served on a long table so long that they could barely see each other's faces, with an amount of food that they could not possibly eat. However, the Blenwitt family's table now sat for eight, and there was only enough food to fill even that size.
Roast duck, soup containing meat and potatoes, and a salad with a few types of vegetables.
Charlotte had now become accustomed to this kind of table setting. However, her mother, Aegis, would still look gloomy when she saw the table setting, reciting the names of the dishes she had eaten at the imperial palace and muttering that she wanted to eat them.
David and his wife, Yuria, undoubtedly shared the same thoughts as Aegis, even though they did not voice them. They ate because they had to fill their stomachs, but their expressions clearly showed that they did not want to eat.
'Everyone should be used to it by now...'
The dinner table was stifling, as always.
Trying not to let the oppressive atmosphere show, Charlotte slowly moved her fork.
When she lived in the imperial palace, food was often served on a long table so long that they could barely see each other's faces, with an amount of food that they could not possibly eat. However, the Blenwitt family's table now sat for eight, and there was only enough food to fill even that size.
Roast duck, soup containing meat and potatoes, and a salad with a few types of vegetables.
Charlotte had now become accustomed to this kind of table setting. However, her mother, Aegis, would still look gloomy when she saw the table setting, reciting the names of the dishes she had eaten at the imperial palace and muttering that she wanted to eat them.
David and his wife, Yuria, undoubtedly shared the same thoughts as Aegis, even though they did not voice them. They ate because they had to fill their stomachs, but their expressions clearly showed that they did not want to eat.
'Everyone should be used to it by now...'
Charlotte sometimes felt like screaming.
Why can't everyone get used to this life?! Why won't you accept it?! It's already been two years! Two years have passed; you should be used to it by now. You don't have to make such a tearful face, at least not at the dinner table!
If you're going to shed tears reminiscing about past glory like that, at least try to reclaim it! Why are you wallowing in depression, longing only for the past without even doing that?!
But instead of screaming, Charlotte chewed and swallowed the slightly soggy vegetables.
Viscount families without their own estates had no source of income other than the small monthly allowance they received from the palace. The same was true for the Blenwitt family, who were once royalty but had now become Viscounts of the Kingdom of Stella.
Therefore, lower-ranking nobles had to find ways to make a living in addition to their salaries; typically, they would tighten their belts by implementing austerity measures or save up their wages to start businesses.
'We really should do something now...'
It was thanks to Ariana that they were able to acquire a mansion of no means, small in a good area of the capital. The maids and servants were also people Ariana had hired and sent, and the food filling the storehouse was what she provided every month.
Then, as for where the barracks' salary was spent, it was used for medicine for Yuria, who was still in poor health, and for Aegis and David, who could not forget their past glory, to indulge in luxury.
Even though she could not afford it, Aegis bought dresses and shoes every season. When a peddler visited, David bought useless items at high prices.
And so, useless but expensive items were accumulating in the Blenwitt family's warehouse.
"I went out today, and the weather was really nice."
Charlotte tried to start a conversation to change the atmosphere. Yuria asked in a calm voice.
“Where have you been?!”
"I went to the market. Tomorrow is the Princess's birthday, so I went to buy a present."
"Ah."
The Blenwitt family also received an invitation to Ariana's birthday party. It appeared that invitations had been sent to those close to the White family or to high-ranking nobles.
Receiving an invitation to a Princess's birthday party was an honor for the family, but the members of the Blenwitt family wore somber expressions.
"You really have a heart of your own. If you have money to spend on that, you should have done something about eating something instead."
Charlotte narrowed her eyebrows at David's grumbling.
“What do you mean, Brother? Who do you think sent us what we are eating right now?! If the Princess hadn't looked after us, we wouldn't even be able to survive on this much.”
“They have to do at least this much. Who do you think is to blame for us ending up like this?”
“Who else’s fault? It is Father’s. Have you forgotten? How Father treated the Princess, and how he treated the previous Eastern Lord. The situation we are in now is entirely our own doing.”
"Charlotte!"
David slammed his fist on the table and glared at Charlotte. Charlotte glared back at him, not backing down.
David wasn't like this from the beginning, either.
She realized her father's foolishness and was grateful to the White family for looking after her kindly despite what had happened.
However, with circumstances worsening incomparably compared to the past, good feelings had worn away, leaving only resentment. David particularly hated Cyrus.
"Father did act foolishly, but it didn't need to come to this!"
"It was bound to come to this. He didn't trust the people he should have trusted, and he trusted the people he should have kept his distance from. He tried to force the Eastern Lord's daughter to marry a worthless man, and when the former Eastern Lord came to protest, he acted stiffly toward him. The two wings that sustain the Camellia Empire were broken because of Father."
“Charlotte...”
Aegis weakly called out his daughter's name.
"Stop it."
“I can’t stop, Mother. I can’t bear it any longer. Just how long will everyone keep immersed in the glory of the past and turn a blind eye to reality? The Camellia Empire has fallen. It doesn’t even remain on the map anymore. Father was foolish, and it was the Northern and Eastern Lords who stopped Paganus from swallowing the continent. The Northern Lord became the Emperor of a vast empire, and the Eastern Lord became a King. Even so, they spared our lives. They are looking after us so that we can live well.”
“So! So you’re telling me to swear allegiance to those bastards who let my father die?”
“If you do not want to swear allegiance, you should not accept what they give you! Everything on this table right now, and the care being taken for in this mansion—it is all sent by the Princess! Don't you understand? We are living off the Princess like parasites!”
David picked up the cup placed in front of him. He trembled as he held the cup, as if intending to throw it at Charlotte.
Charlotte glared at David without blinking. After glaring at each other for a while, David was the first to lower his gaze.
Bam.
The cup that had been lifted up with great force was placed on the table.
"I know..."
The former Crown Prince spoke in a hoarse voice.
“I know that kind of thing. I know. I know, but...”
David covered his face with both hands.
"It's tough."
He knew he had to accept my situation. He also knew very well that he was still alive thanks to the recognition of Cyrus and Russell.
Nevertheless, whenever he confirmed his situation, feelings of inadequacy, sadness, and resentment sprouted, blurring his vision.
Because of the unbearable suffering that no one would be able to endure without resentment, the arrow was turned toward the innocent.
Charlotte, who had been staring intently at the distressed David, spoke firmly.
“I received an invitation to the Princess’s birthday party. I consider it a great honor, and I will go to the party tomorrow. Mother, brother, and sister-in-law, please think carefully about it.”
***
Although it was said to be a simple affair, quite a few nobles attended Ariana's birthday party. This was because they, too, needed time to catch their breath after the war ended.
Next to the chair where Ariana was sitting, a large pile of gift boxes brought by the nobles was stacked. Once the party ended, all the boxes would be moved to Ariana's room, and she would spend the night opening them.
Wiona smiled leisurely as she watched the people wondering which gift the Princess would like the most.
'No matter what anyone brought, they will probably find my gift the most amusing.'
Cyrus was clinging to Ariana's side like an ornament. Seeing the Emperor of an empire sticking close to Ariana and glaring to keep other men away, Wiona felt a sense of pride for no reason.
Yes, our Princess is someone capable of holding the Emperor's heart in her hands.
There was a time when she hated Ariana so much she couldn't stand it. But that is all in the past.
Wiona was married, and Averaster was a husband who became very affectionate when they were alone. Now that she had married the best man in the world, she felt that the power struggles she had experienced as a young lady were all in vain.
'Come to think of it, the Princess has been like that from the beginning.'
She was only 16 years old when she came to the East and faced Wiona's jealousy. Nevertheless, Ariana acted several times more maturely than Wiona.
She recalled herself trying to persecute Ariana like a child.
'How much of an idiot I must have looked.'
Now that she has reached this age, she understands.
Even here, a subtle battle of wits was unfolding among the young ladies. Watching from a step away, their ulterior motives and expressions were clearly visible.
Her face burned with embarrassment at the thought that Ariana, back then, must have been watching jer with the same feelings she has now.
As Wiona picked up a cup from a passing servant's tray and took a sip to cool down, there was a striking sight.
A woman was surrounded by some young ladies.
She was a woman of exceptionally beautiful looks, with light brown hair and green eyes. She wore an outdated dress, and her hair was simply tied back with just a small pin.
At this gathering of only high-ranking nobles, she was simply dressed and looked particularly shabby, but her strikingly beautiful face compensated for her frail dress.
The reason the young ladies surrounding her look upon her unkindly is probably because of that beautiful face. Or perhaps it is because of her circumstances.
'Charlotte Blenwitt.'
Charlotte Blenwitt, who was once the Princess of the Camellia Empire but is now the daughter of a Viscount family with no territory.
To the young ladies, Charlotte was the perfect target to attack.
She couldn't hear what the young ladies were saying, but judging by Charlotte's troubled expression, it didn't look like they were saying anything nice.
'Everyone must have grown up hearing bad things about the Camellia Empire.'
It wasn't that Wiona couldn't understand the young ladies' feelings.
In the past, the Emperor of the Camellia Empire ignored the Eastern Lord and kept the Eastern Territory at a distance. Therefore, it was no surprise that the nobles of the Eastern Territory did not have a good opinion of the Empire.
'Still, it wouldn't be just because of that reason.'
It was only natural to feel jealous when the Princess of the Camellia Empire, whom they already found unpleasant, came to live here, and her appearance was even more stunning.
'But...'
Wiona glanced back at Ariana.
Surrounded by people, Ariana's gaze was fixed precisely on Charlotte. No, on the young ladies surrounding Charlotte.
She could feel the blue eyes growing cold even from a distance.
'Oh dear.'
As far as Wiona knew, Ariana had good feelings for Charlotte. It was largely thanks to Ariana's consideration that the Blenwitt family had been able to stay in the Kingdom of Stella until now.
The young ladies, unaware of the circumstances, were tormenting the Princess's friend right before her eyes. It was truly an act of sheer audacity.
Ariana and Wiona's eyes met as Ariana, who was about to elegantly dismiss the crowd and move on, met. Wiona spoke with her eyes.
'I'll take care of it, Princess.'
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