Episode 19. The Result of the Wall Slam
It was three days after he visited Madame Alice Boutique that Leon returned to Valois Manor. This time, he was alone, without his father. Martha paused to think as she received this news from Maxim. Not the Duke of Ashford, but Leon alone. It was said to be an official visit. The purpose was to share additional information regarding the Golden Lion Merchant Guild. Martha nodded.
"Prepare the study."
Leon entered. He was expressionless again today. However, Martha was now gradually coming to understand what that blank expression represented. It was not a blank expression of complete nothingness. It was a blank expression that held something inside.
Claude and Edward were also waiting in the study. As Leon sat down, he said.
"I have confirmed some things at the Imperial Palace."
Claude said.
"Tell me."
Leon spread the documents he had brought onto the table.
"These are the results of Father's verification through a reliable source at the Imperial Palace. It has been determined that funds flowing into the Golden Lion Merchant Guild originated from two additional households besides the three families of Valois, Strauss, and Werner."
Edward froze.
"Two more."
"Yes. The Baronial House of Kaiser and the Viscount House of Lint."
Martha thought as she heard those names. The Baronial House of Kaiser. The Viscount House of Lint. Both were families close to His Imperial Majesty. Although they were not as large as the Valois family, they were families that always attended imperial events. Five families. Martha said.
"Were the five families involved at the same time?"
Leon looked at Martha.
"Not at the same time. There is an order. The Viscount House of Lint started first, and the Valois family came last."
"Does the order of start relate to the size of the families?"
Leon looked at Martha for a moment.
"That is correct. It is a method where they start with small families and gradually move up to larger ones."
Martha thought as she listened. Starting small, gaining experience, and gradually rising to become a large family. And if Valois is recent...
"There must be a next target."
The study fell silent. Leon said.
"That is how you should look at it."
Claude said.
"Do you know where the next one is?"
"It is difficult to specify at this point. However, it is highly likely to come from a family larger than Valois and close to His Imperial Majesty."
Edward said.
"The House of Ashford?"
Leon looked at Edward.
"Our family directly controls the military, so it is difficult to mess with us carelessly. At least not yet."
"At least not yet."
Those letters hung in the air. Martha spoke up.
"Then we must respond first."
Claude looked at Martha. Martha continued.
"We need to get close to a family that possesses a trading company capable of keeping the Golden Lion in check. The families on His Imperial Majesty's side are constantly being breached because they lack connections to the trading companies."
Leon looked at Martha.
"A family with a trading company."
"There is a family that possesses a trading company ranking among the top five in the Empire. It is the Viscount Muller family."
Claude said.
"The Viscount Muller family."
"Yes. They are currently in a neutral position. They haven't sided with either party yet."
Edward said.
"How would you know that?"
Martha chose her words for a moment before speaking.
"I heard it from her lady-in-waiting."
Edward looked at Martha.
"From a lady-in-waiting?"
"I ran into her by chance at the dressmaking shop, and the Viscount's daughter was with her. I spoke to her, and it turns out she hasn't quite found her footing in high society yet."
Leon said.
"I know the Viscount Muller family as well."
Everyone looked at Leon. Leon continued.
"They are a family known to the military as well. They are maintaining neutrality while keeping an eye on both sides. It seems they are waiting because they cannot decide which side would be more advantageous."
Martha said.
"Then we'll have to meet them to know."
Leon looked at Martha.
"You mean you intend to meet them in person?"
"I've already agreed with the Viscount's daughter to be with her at the Imperial party."
Leon glanced at Martha for a moment. Something flashed through his eyes. The Viscount's daughter she met by chance at the dressmaking shop. They agreed to be together at the Imperial party. When did this woman... Claude said.
"You need to meet not only the Young Lady but also the Viscount himself as soon as possible. The Young Lady can act as a link, but the Viscount holds the final decision-making power."
Martha nodded.
"That is why I am asking you to arrange this."
Claude looked at Leon. Leon looked at Claude. Claude said.
"If the Dukedom of Ashford acts as an intermediary, Viscount Muller will make his move. No one in the military doesn't know Ashford."
Leon thought for a moment and then said.
"Understood. I will speak to Father."
Claude nodded.
"Serena."
"Yes."
"Send a formal letter to the Young Lady of the Viscount Muller family. It is better to contact her in advance before the Imperial party."
Martha nodded.
"Understood."
The meeting ended. Claude and Edward left the study; Leon also left. Martha remained alone in the study for a moment. She had to write a letter. Martha sat at the desk and took out a piece of paper. A letter to Miss Lily of the Viscount Muller family. As she picked up the pen, Martha thought. Letters.
You have no idea how many letters Martha wrote to every corner of the Imperial Palace during her time as Head Lady. There were letters written on behalf of Her Majesty the Empress, letters written on behalf of Duke Claude, and letters written on behalf of Miss Serena. Letters had a certain decorum. There had to be an opening. There had to be a title appropriate to the recipient's status and relationship. And before diving into the main body, there had to be a brief greeting.
The main body had to have a clear beginning, middle, and end. If it was too short, it looked insincere; if it was too long, it looked disorganized. The closing required a balance: respecting the recipient without lowering one's own status. Martha knew all of this instinctively. She picked up her pen.
To Lady Lily of the Viscount Muller House.
She wrote the opening, and then her greeting. After writing the body in detail, she continued with the closing. Once finished, she read it aloud. As a lady of dignity, this is the level one should do, indeed. Martha felt a sense of pride in herself as she placed the letter in the envelope. Then she stretched. Her arms extended straight up. Her shoulders rotated. It felt refreshing. This body is truly wonderful.
As she thought this and was about to stand up, the door opened. Lucy had entered.
"My Princess."
"What is it?"
"Young Master Leon is still in the garden."
Martha looked at Lucy.
"The meeting ended a long time ago, didn't it?"
"I didn't know either, but Mr. Maxim told me. He's sitting alone on a garden bench."
Martha thought for a moment. She didn't know why Leon was still there. Well, it couldn't be helped. Still, he was their guest, so she should at least keep him company.
Handing a letter to Lucy to deliver to Maxim, Marta said.
"I'll go out and take a look."
It was the garden. The afternoon sun was setting. Shadows were beginning to fall on the lavender flowerbed. Leon was sitting on a bench in one corner of the garden. He didn't seem to be doing anything while sitting there. He was just sitting. It seemed like he was looking at the garden, and yet, it seemed like he wasn't looking at anything at all.
As Martha walked toward Leon, she said
"You're still here?"
Leon looked at Martha.
"I had something to look at."
"The garden?"
"Just."
Martha didn't sit on the bench next to Leon but stood in front of him, looking at the lavender flowerbed. The lavender had grown a little more. Now, the scent was faint. Looking at the lavender, Marta said.
"It smells like lavender."
Leon remained silent. Martha looked at Leon after looking at the flowerbed. Leon was looking at Martha. Meeting his gaze, Martha spoke.
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
"That doesn't look like nothing."
Leon was silent for a moment, then spoke.
"Have you finished writing the letter?"
"Ah, I wrote it well. Don't worry."
"I wasn't worried."
"Is that so?"
Martha looked at the lavender again. Leon said.
"Earlier in the study."
Martha looked at Leon.
"How did you meet the young lady of the Viscount Muller family?"
"By chance at the dressmaking shop."
"By chance?"
"I mean, I met by chance and bought her a dress."
Martha looked at Leon.
"Because I needed her."
"Did the Princess pay for it herself?"
"Rather than a payment."
Martha thought for a moment and said.
"In life, there are times when you meet people you need."
Leon looked as if he accepted those words. In life. It was that phrase again. Leon spoke.
"The Princess keeps saying, 'As you live on."
"I use that often. Because it's true."
"Nineteen."
"I've lived long enough."
Leon looked at Martha. His gaze was different from before. It was a look that wanted to know something more. Watching that, Martha thought, 'Here we go again.' Turning toward the flowerbed, Martha said.
"I'll be going now. I have to write a letter and prepare dinner."
"You told me you were done."
Martha looked at Leon. Leon said.
"You told me you finished writing the letter earlier."
Martha paused for a moment and said.
"I need to check on the dinner preparations."
"That's Helena's job."
Martha looked at Leon. Leon looked at Martha. They exchanged glances for a moment. Martha let out a small chuckle.
"Young Master, are you trying to stop me from leaving?"
Leon remained silent. Martha found the silence amusing.
"Ah, may I go?"
"..."
"Then I'll be going."
Martha turned around and started walking.
"It seems to still be bothering you."
She walked, thinking to herself. Her footsteps were light. As she walked toward the mansion, she heard footsteps behind her. Martha walked without looking back. The footsteps grew closer. And then. His hand rested on the wall in front of her. Martha stopped. The wall was right in front of her. Leon was standing beside her. He was taller than her. His right hand was resting on the wall next to her. It was a wall slam. Martha recognized it.
Leon spoke in a low voice.
"Why does it keep bothering me?"
It sounded like a monologue. But it was clearly directed at Martha. Martha looked at the wall, then at Leon's hand. Leon was looking down at her. His gray eyes were closer than usual. They usually had no expression, but those eyes weren't blank. Martha saw it. And wouldn't doing something like this be more atmospheric in a dark alley? That thought crossed her mind. And she simply let it out.
"Doesn't this usually have more atmosphere in a dark alley?"
Leon froze. Martha continued.
"But I don't really like wall slamming."
Leon looked at Martha. Martha looked at Leon's hand.
"If you rest your hand on the cold for too long, you'll get arthritis later, Young Master."
Leon was speechless. Martha looked up at Leon with a sly grin.
" I'm saying this because I'm worried. Your hand is too precious to waste, Young Master."
As she slipped past Leon's hand, Martha said.
"I'm going inside now. Please stay for dinner."
And she walked. Leisurely. Without looking back. The mansion gate drew near. Leon stood there. His hand was resting against the wall. He could see Martha's retreating figure walking away. Her golden hair swayed.
Leon watched her, then looked at his own hand. Arthritis. The word echoed in his head. He had slammed his hand against the wall. He had intended to scare her. This woman kept bothering him. She bothered him in the study, she bothered him in the garden, and even the sight of her turning around and walking away bothered him. So he followed her. And he leaned his hand against the wall. The result. Arthritis. Arthritis?
Leon took his hand off the wall. His palm was cold. Martha was already gone, having gone inside the mansion. Leon stood there for a while.
Lucy came out from the mansion gate, taking notes, and saw Leon. Their eyes met. Lucy bowed politely. Leon looked at Lucy. Lucy spoke cautiously.
"Would you like to have dinner before you go, Young Master?"
Leon was silent for a moment, then spoke.
"It is fine."
[Lucy's Secret Shock Journal - Episode 19]
Young Master Leon came alone today. He held a meeting.
Shock No. 1: The Princess wrote a letter in the study. To Miss Lily. I read it, and while it really was a letter from a noble lady, I wondered, 'Why is it so perfect?' The header, the footer, the body-everything. I wonder where she learned that.
Shock No. 2: Young Master Leon stayed in the garden even after the meeting ended. For quite a while.
Shock No. 3: The Princess stood up after talking with Young Master Leon in the garden, but he followed her and leaned against the wall. A wall slam. The Young Master.
Shock No. 4. The Princess said, "Wouldn't it be more atmospheric to do this in a dark alley?" And she said, "If you rest your hand on the cold for too long, you'll get arthritis, Young Master."
Shock No. 5. Then the Princess leisurely walked into the mansion. Young Master Leon remained there for a while with his hand resting on the wall. Later, as he was leaving, I asked him if dinner was okay, but he replied, "It's fine."
However, I don't know why that "It's fine" sounded so weak. It seems like something is developing somewhere other than arthritis for him right now. I'm not sure if I should mention this.
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