In fact, Mrs. Veil had no intention of accepting Miss Evgenia, who was right in front of her, as her niece-in-law.
However, she couldn't exactly get into an emotional fight with her nephew over such a matter. After all, Pierre Noah was more precious to her than anything in the world.
'In that case, there is only one way. I must teach that inadequate girl well myself.'
That was the intention behind bringing her here today.
Although it was clear that the future would be difficult, she resolved to do her best for her nephew and the family.
"Please speak, Madam."
Shioana lifted her chin without avoiding the other person's gaze. She didn't want to continue acting foolishly now that she had come this far.
"Now that I've met Miss Shioana, you seem like a very gentle and modest lady."
“Thank you."
"But to avoid the same misunderstanding as earlier, I think you'll need a lot of my help. You think so, right?"
As Madame Veil scanned Shioana sitting across from her from head to toe, the corners of her lips curled upward.
***
As Eli climbed onto the carriage parked in the secluded alley of Highbell, a beautiful woman with red hair clung tightly to his body.
She lightly stroked Eli's thigh while giving a captivating smile.
"My Lord Viscount, why has it been so long? I missed you so much."
"I told you I would contact you if you waited."
"That's true, but isn't that a bit too thoughtless?"
As Dahlia's fingers slid down the center of his pants, Eli lightly grasped her head.
"Stop messing around. You did the job properly, right?"
"Of course, sir."
Dahlia, whose eyelashes had been trembling slightly, straightened up.
“Here it is."
When she took out a small package and held it out, Eli finally smiled with satisfaction after unfolding it. It was filled with letters from someone sent from the capital.
He skimmed through it, but he felt like he knew the content even without reading it all. After all, it was nothing but longing for him.
"Dahlia, you must not forget that this is a matter known only to you and me."
"Of course, it is a secret known only to you and me."
Her face flushed with excitement as she stole a glance at Eli's lips.
Dahlia was a maid who did menial work at a gambling house.
If Eli hadn't helped her one day when she was nearly put in danger, it would have been a disaster. That was the moment she started working there and began finding and providing him with the information he wanted.
'I will give you a generous reward.'
She did need money. With only her disabled, alcoholic older brother and sick mother at home, the family of three would undoubtedly starve to death unless someone else earned money. Eli, who saved her, was a rare gentleman among gentlemen.
He always verified it, properly paid for the information Dahlia found, and did not ask for anything more.
As time went by, Dahlia was captivated by his handsome and refined appearance. In fact, she even felt that it was her destiny from the very beginning.
'My lord, may someone like me dare to harbor feelings for you?'
His blue eyes were serious as he tightly held Dahlia's hand as she shed tears. From that day forward, she became Eli's secret lover—the lover of this beautiful man coveted by all the ladies of Highbell.
"So, what about the watcher stationed on Count Noah's side?"
Eli entrusted all the messy and complicated work to Dahlia. He said that was how much he trusted and cherished her.
"He doesn't come often, and he always said he leaves soon."
"I wonder what I would have been like without you, Dahlia."
Eli's gentle voice brushed past her ears. No one in the world would call the name of a woman of such lowly status so affectionately. Not even her only brother or mother.
The man before her eyes was a fantasy sufficient to make her forget her cold reality.
"It is my very joy to help you, my lord."
Dahlia whispered as she rubbed her cheek against his hand. The cold warmth from beneath the leather-gloved hand was transmitted to her cheek.
"Then you know very well that she means nothing to me, right?"
The woman referred to as 'that woman' was Elizabeth Demory of the capital. She was said to be a noble lady from a Marquis's family.
It took a full three months for the two of them to approach Elizabeth. Dahlia went up to the capital first and tracked Elizabeth's movements: where she frequently went, who she met, and where she was at what time.
"Of course. You said I am essential to your work, sir. Even though I cannot read or write, I am not that foolish."
She had received quite a bit of praise from adults since childhood for being quick-witted. Thanks to that, she was even entrusted with a job at the gambling house in Highbell, which was known to be the hardest to get into.
"Dahlia, my Dahlia."
A large, gloved hand gently stroked her cheek, and Dahlia accepted the touch, anticipating the great excitement that was about to come.
***
Night fell on Regbell. Shioana and Eli, who had been out all afternoon, were sitting opposite each other, quietly having dinner.
"The cooking today is excellent. I think Nancy could work for us for a few more years."
Not long ago, Eli had said he would fire Nancy because she was too old. It was true, though. Nancy was already middle-aged even when Shioana was young.
However, the reason Eli continued to employ her was that she worked for a salary and devoted her life to Evgenia.
"Right. You didn't do anything rude to Mrs. Veil, did you?"
Eli asked her with a big smile.
"Thanks to Madam for being kind to me."
"Innate dignity is indeed something that cannot be ignored, especially since such a fine lady is looking after you. How grateful are you for this? Isn't it, Shioana?"
"... Yes."
Eli's face looked quite unfamiliar these days.
He always had such a stiff or cold gaze, but she realized he was someone who knew how to speak as if singing. She was glad and happy to see that, but she also felt a little disappointed.
Had he been so cruel to her all this time, knowing he was capable of doing that? The wound on her back from Eli's beating had not yet healed. The long, deep gouge looked just like a hairline crack in her heart.
She had struggled jer whole life to make a good impression on Eli, but somehow it even looked pathetic.
"I should send a letter of thanks to Madame Veil soon."
"...Yes."
As he said, Mrs. Veil was a flawless lady.
Shioana displayed impeccable manners never seen before, exuding dignity as if she had just stepped out of a book. Seeing Mrs. Veil once was better than Mr. Hooper telling you a hundred times.
'She was definitely kind...'
She felt unwell while drinking tea together. It was hard to explain why, but she felt ignored.
'This has nothing to do with us, though. I hear that poor, insignificant families are using young, pretty ladies to hunt down noblemen. Isn't it disgusting just to hear about it? Apparently, it is the trend to seduce a rich, naive man and have a child with him. That is how they want to settle into that household and be called 'Madam.' It is absolutely preposterous.'
'...Yes.'
Shioana couldn't understand why Mrs. Veil was suddenly bringing up such a story.
"But do you know something? Even if you get married like that, if you fail to produce an heir, you can be cast out at any time. If you have a daughter, you’ll be kicked out right then and there."
Mrs. Veil, who had been passionately talking about such things, regained her benevolent expression as the car entered.
"There are so many things you can't understand these days, aren't there? Your tea is getting cold. Please drink up quickly. They say the aroma of the tea here is exquisite. You should also try the scones with curry paste. It’s not something just anyone can try."
The desserts served with the tea were the ones Count Noah used to occasionally bring. Recognizing this, a faint smile spread across Shioana's face. Something that not just anyone could taste in a place like this, where not just anyone could enter.
'Am I the right person for this place?'
That thought struck her strongly. The shame she had felt the moment she was mistaken for a maid enveloped her entire body.
"So, did she like the gift?"
At that moment, Eli's question allowed her to snap out of her thoughts. The fan he had prepared suited Madame Veil's discerning taste perfectly. He said it was an item hard to find in Highbell.
"I heard that even in the capital, you have to wait a year after ordering, so to see that the Viscount prepared such a precious gift, it seems he really put a lot of thought into it."
"She told me to make sure to tell my brother thank you."
"What is the point of such a greeting between people who are about to become one family...?"
Shioana's lips drooped as she watched her brother gulp down wine with a relaxed smile.
'...Family.'
It felt strange that her brother had accepted Mrs. Veil into the family even before she was married. His real family consisted only of his father and her, and growing up, he had never received even a small birthday card from Eli.
Eli, having finished his meal before she knew it, stood beside her.
"Shioana, I believe you will do well."
Eli's palm, bearing his full weight, pressed hard against her shoulder.
A small groan escaped jer lips along with the thought, "What will happen if I don't do it well?"
"...Ugh."
"Patience is truly the virtue a lady should possess. Isn't it?"
As she wiped her eyes with her sleeve, Eli was already leaving the dining room. The only one left behind in the dining room in Regbell was Shioana.
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