FWRP 19

Chapter 19

“By the way. I’m rather worried because my son, Carlisle, hasn’t been eating properly lately. Is there perhaps a tea that might stimulate his appetite?”

At the Marchioness’s words, the ladies who had been arguing among themselves before her arrival all flinched.

“I have some tea my grandson’s wife sent me. It has a pleasantly tart flavor. I’ll send you a box.”

Even though she naturally took the seat of honor, not a single person tried to stop her.

Even the most senior woman present did not scold her. Instead, she went so far as to give her a gift.

That meant everyone here, whether consciously or not, supported her.

“Oh my… A gift from my godmother? Then may I come to collect it with my son?”

“Of course. It would be nice for you to meet my granddaughter as well. They’re roughly the same age, so I’m sure they’ll have plenty to talk about.”

“Your granddaughter, Godmother? You mean the one currently studying abroad in the Eastern Empire…?”

“She takes after her father and is very clever. She can be rather stubborn, but she has all the virtues one could ask for. She would make a fine match.”

“Your granddaughter would be far too good for my son, Godmother. Still, the children’s feelings are what matter most, so I’m grateful simply for the opportunity.”

“Nonsense. You’re the lucky one.”

The Marchioness of Leonard covered her mouth as she laughed, her gaze subtly shifting toward Magrita.

Is it finally time for this gathering to come to an end?

Magrita set down her empty teacup.

“Godmother, I think I should be going. I’ll come to escort you in two weeks.”

“Very well.”

“Are the two of you going somewhere?”

“Lady Sharoz sent us an invitation to her wedding.”

“…A wedding invitation?”

“You didn’t receive one?”

“…Even if she is a young lady, I suppose it couldn’t be helped. She probably didn’t want to send an invitation to someone who nearly became her mother-in-law.”

“The young lady is still young. She ought to learn to distinguish between public and private matters.”

After bowing her head respectfully to the oldest lady at the gathering, Magrita rose from her seat and walked away.

The gathering of noblewomen that the godmother had originally intended to create had never been like this.

Any woman of at least viscount rank could attend as long as she found favor with the godmother.

But at the same time, the number of noblewomen wearing one ornament after another at these gatherings had increased only after that Marchioness appeared.

The godmother has grown old.

In the past, the moment she saw someone covered in excessive jewelry, she would have not only turned them away at the door but given them a harsh reprimand as well.

Her judgment must have become clouded enough to keep such a vain fox at her side.

Soon, the person in charge of this gathering will change.

From behind her came the Marchioness of Leonard’s voice.

“Me? Even so, I would be an uninvited guest…”

There was an unmistakable note of delight hidden beneath her troubled tone.

From the nuance, it seemed the godmother intended to send the Marchioness in her place.

Magrita had a feeling.

When that day came, there would be no place for her here.

And that time would come sooner than she expected.

“…A concert?”

Vanessa stopped just as she was about to put food into her mouth.

“I happened to have two tickets.”

Ian took out two concert tickets edged in gold.

Gold edges meant these were tickets for a same-day private reservation.

He had stepped out for a while earlier.

Had he gone out to arrange the concert reservation?

“I don’t mind, but are you sure you’re okay with it?”

“With what?”

“You said you don’t like crowds or noisy places.”

“…Anyway, I’ll take that as permission.”

Ian gave a small cough, then picked up a small piece of dessert with his fork and chewed it.

He had barely touched any of the food. The only thing he was actually eating was dessert.

Doesn’t it suit his taste?

It wasn’t the restaurant of Dominuk Freya, but it was still a fairly popular restaurant in Pommeld.

Vanessa tilted her head before pushing her own dessert toward Ian.

“…?”

“I’m already full from the food.”

Ian had looked as though he would refuse, but instead, without a word, he slowly finished the dessert Vanessa had pushed toward him as well.

Does he like dessert?

After watching him finish two plates of cake and then order more, Vanessa blinked.

Correction. He really likes dessert.

What he ordered next was a round dessert wrapped in a thin shell.

The corner of Ian’s mouth twitched slightly.

…Did he just smile?

Just as Ian was about to scoop up the thin shell and the ivory-colored dessert underneath it with a small teaspoon and put it into his mouth—

“…Here.”

Vanessa had already set down her utensils and was staring at him.

Their eyes met.

Ian extended the teaspoon he had been about to put into his own mouth toward her.

“…Huh?”

“Weren’t you staring because you wanted to try it?”

No. She had been staring because it was strange seeing him smile as he was about to eat something.

“…It’s good. Try it.”

Caught off guard, Vanessa accepted the dessert Ian offered and ate it in one bite.

“…I thought you meant I should pick it up with my hand and eat it myself…”

“Ah! Sorry. I just assumed you wanted it since you were staring. Here, use this. I haven’t used it once.”

“…It’s fine.”

Ian muttered under his breath, then scooped up some dessert with the teaspoon that had just been in his mouth and swallowed nervously.

He’s reacting like that just because we shared a spoon.

Anyone watching would think the spoon had been coated in poison.

But hadn’t he been the one to offer it first?

Whether she held it with her hand or put her mouth to it, what difference could there possibly be?

Oh?

Why were his ears turning red, too?

Then, in the end, he couldn’t bring the spoon to his mouth and put it back down.

Only after seeing that did Vanessa silently place her own teaspoon right in the middle of the table with a sharp clink.

“Use this one. Give me that.”

“…”

At this rate, the ice cream inside is going to melt.

Vanessa snatched the teaspoon from Ian’s hand and ate the dessert sitting on it again.

“Is it ice cream?”

Ian’s expression at the sight was anything but pleased, even if she tried to be charitable about it.

He looks like he’d explode if someone poked him.

Is he a little obsessive about cleanliness?

“…Yes.”

“This is good. The thin shell is especially chewy. I like it.”

“…It’s a dessert from the Eastern Empire. There’s gelato inside the thin shell.”

“Are there other flavors?”

At Vanessa’s question, Ian silently pushed the untouched dessert plate toward her.

Without hesitation, Vanessa scooped some up and brought it to her mouth.

“Strawberry?”

“…This one was the best.”

“It’s good. I usually don’t like desserts because they’re too sweet, but I think I could eat this one often.”

“Should I order more?”

“Why bother? We can come again next time.”

“Next time… Yes.”

Unlike before, Ian quickly finished the remaining dessert with an expressionless face and rose from his seat.

“Then, shall we go? It’s almost time for the concert.”

At the same time, the hand he extended toward her seemed almost natural now.

“Okay.”

Vanessa smiled and took Ian’s hand.

I thought this would be a waste of time, but it’s actually pretty fun.

If dates like this were always this pleasant, she wouldn’t mind going on one every now and then.

“What do you mean we suddenly can’t enter? I definitely purchased the tickets this morning when there were still some available.”

“I’m very sorry, madam. We are offering a refund at twice the original ticket price. If you would come this way…”

The closer they got to Nirvana Hall, where the concert was being held, the stranger the sounds became.

A refund? They can’t enter?

What on earth is going on?

“Ian. It sounds like something happened with the concert…”

“Don’t worry about it.”

No, wait…

The tickets he was holding were the same color as the tickets being refunded over there.

“And so… we ask for your understanding…”

“My goodness. What noble would spend that much money just for a date…?”

The nobleman who had just been arguing over his tickets accepted the refund with an expression that practically screamed, What kind of lunatic does that?

Oh.

Vanessa was secretly impressed.

Someone had actually rented the venue for the day just for a date.

She had no idea who it was, but he must have been incredibly fond of his partner.

“Ian, what time does the concert start?”

“When we enter.”

“…?”

The concert had to have a scheduled starting time, didn’t it?

Does it start the moment we enter?

If that were the case, it wouldn’t exactly be impossible…

No way.

Could the noble who rented the venue for a date really be Ian?

Just Nirvana Hall alone must have cost three times as much as the rings she had ordered earlier.

And if he had rented all the performers as well…

How much money did that cost?

He couldn’t possibly have spent an amount comparable to the entire wedding budget just for a date.

…Right?

Nirvana Hall consisted of separate buildings where concerts were held, and different concerts were often performed twice a day.

So there was no way the concert that nobleman had been planning to attend after getting his ticket refunded at double the price could possibly be the same concert as hers…

There’s no way.