Chapter 10
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 10
At my uncle’s house, I practically lived on digestive medicine. Diarrhea and constipation were a constant cycle; a bloated stomach and chronic heartburn were so common that I simply accepted them as part of life.
But since coming to the convent, I hadn't felt a single moment of discomfort—save for the first few days of adjustment.
‘Why? Is it truly because this place is blessed by Yawar’s grace?’
Even though I didn't believe in divine miracles, the thought occurred to me naturally.
As I quietly sifted through my memories, I realized what I ate here was completely different from my life in the capital. Back then, I’d eat maybe two meals a day, only when the mood struck me. Sometimes I’d skip meals entirely when Bella upset my stomach; other days, I’d binge on rich foods out of a desperate sense of compensation.
‘I think I ate far too many sweet and greasy things.’
The only reason I hadn't gained weight on such a diet was thanks to the agonizing stomachaches that followed every meal. Even if I wanted to eat something light, my aunt would insist on heavy, meat-laden dishes, claiming, “You need to eat heartily!”
At first, I thought she was looking out for me. As time went on, I began to suspect otherwise.
Once, after eating pork barbecue, I became violently ill and threw up for hours. Yet, even after that, pork barbecue appeared on Harriet’s table more often than not.
‘She probably didn't even bother to remember that it made me sick.’
There were many other distressing incidents related to food. Whenever I drank a certain tea, my hives would flare up. When I mentioned how strange it was, I was scolded for being a "complainer" and forced to eat foods I despised.
If I were to say that Bella’s expression while watching me suffer seemed subtly pleased... would that be an excessive victim complex?
‘Come to think of it, I almost choked to death after eating crab.’
My lips and throat had swollen so badly I could barely breathe. I was terrified. When I suggested the symptoms were caused by the food, my uncle became incensed, as if he had been personally insulted.
“Because of this dish? We all ate it, and you’re the only one reacting like this. You’re just nitpicking to be difficult.”
I never brought it up again. After that, whenever I felt my throat tightening during a meal, I’d quickly set down my fork, rush to the bathroom alone, and force myself to throw up.
However, that never happened at the convent.
‘Rye bread, vegetables, honey, milk, cheese, wine, fruit, and the occasional slice of ham...’
Here, I rarely ate meat. My meal times were consistent, and my days were filled with physically demanding work. There was no separate tea time, and sweet desserts were out of the question.
But since I wasn't sick, I didn't miss the rich food of the mansion at all.
‘I was someone who needed to eat simply and move much more than I thought.’
Harriet let out a short, dry laugh at this newfound realization.
*
As summer arrived, high society bustled with events of every size, all featuring cold drinks and cucumber sandwiches. The aristocrats' schedules were packed throughout July and August; those seeking last-minute invitations had to mobilize every connection they possessed.
During this frantic season, John rushed into the house, clutching a card in his hand as he shouted for Bella.
“Bella! Bella, where are you?!”
“Father, you startled me. What is it?”
Bella looked down from the second-floor railing with an annoyed expression, but John ignored her tone, his face flushed with excitement.
“Bella! Do you have plans next Wednesday?”
“Yes. I’m going boating at Tolles Park with my friends…”
“Cancel it.”
“What?”
Bella’s brow furrowed at the unilateral command, but John proudly waved the card in his hand.
“I secured an invitation to a party at Viscount Kingsley’s estate! Do you know who is attending?!”
“For you to be this excited about a Kingsley party, Father… I assume Duke Kailas will be there?”
“That’s my clever girl!”
John bounded up to the second floor and pulled Bella into a tight hug.
“Oh, Father! You’ll ruin my hair.”
“Oh, my. Forgive me. I was just so happy.”
Bella chuckled and snatched the invitation from his hand. The card, embossed with an elegant pattern, invited them to the Kingsley mansion next Wednesday.
“Where did you get this?”
“I went to the gentlemen’s club and whined a bit to Count Arens. I told him that after the Victory Banquet, I was so disgraced that I’d been keeping a low profile, and that no decent invitations were coming my way.”
“Count Arens? That soft-hearted old man?”
“Exactly! And today, he simply handed me this! He said he didn’t want to go because of the heat and told me to take his place.”
John patted himself on the back, boasting that his efforts to cultivate influential connections had finally paid off. Bella smiled faintly as she slipped the invitation back into its envelope.
“There’s no time for a new dress, so forget that. Just buy me a new earring and necklace set.”
“Huh? But you already have plenty of fine jewelry, don’t you?”
“I need to win over Duke Kailas! He’ll be wearing that ruby brooch again, so I should adorn myself with the same gem. I only have a ruby set with small stones, you see.”
Since Bella refused to wear low-quality jewels, a ruby set with large stones would cost at least 20,000 Dirham. John shook his head, trying to talk her down.
“You’ll stand out regardless, Bella. You don't need something like that.”
“Father. Standing out once is just getting to the starting line. You need to think long-term.”
As expected, his protests fell on deaf ears. As John averted his gaze, searching for an escape, Bella grabbed his sleeve.
“When I go this time, I’ll apologize again for the ruby brooch incident to strike up a conversation. If I’m also wearing rubies, a ‘ruby connection’ will form between us.”
“Hmm…”
“From then on, whenever he sees a ruby, I’ll naturally come to mind. A man’s heart is gradually swayed by small triggers like that.”
It wasn't just beauty that captivated men. Bella had instinctively known how to make men fall in love since she was a child.
“Men are susceptible to visual stimuli. And the triggers that make them believe in ‘fate’ aren’t grand at all. A beautiful woman, met by chance because of a brooch that was his father’s keepsake, wearing blood-red rubies—that alone is enough to make him fall in love.”
Listening to her, John found himself persuaded. He nodded slowly.
“And you didn’t have to pay the alimony to Duke Kailas thanks to me, so you can at least do this much, can’t you?”
“Was that thanks to you?”
“Of course! He let it go because I begged for his forgiveness, not because he found you or Harriet particularly charming, surely?”
John chuckled. Bella truly was his daughter—so eloquent and sharp. It wasn't wrong; if Cedric hadn't been captivated by Bella’s beauty, there would have been no reason for him to drop the matter.
John’s eyes darted as he mentally calculated the cost.
‘If Bella truly becomes Duke Kailas’s lover...!’
Then what was 20,000 Dirham? Bella would bring back far more than just information for that investment.
“Alright, I understand! There’s not much time, so you and your mother should visit the jewelers today!”
“Thank you, Father!”
In the end, Bella acquired the 25,000 Dirham ruby set she had been eyeing. Aston pouted, demanding to know why his allowance wasn't being raised, but even he couldn't deny that the jewels suited Bella perfectly.
*
Early summer evenings were romantic, blessed with cool breezes and long, lingering sunsets.
Moreover, women’s dresses became more revealing, and men could unbutton a few buttons while feigning tipsiness without facing criticism. This was why the nobility preferred summer banquets over winter ones. Add excellent food, fine wine, and a rarely-seen guest, and a party would become the talk of the town for weeks.
‘Just like tonight.’
Benedict Kingsley looked down at the bustling hall, a secretive smile playing on his lips.
“When is Cedric arriving?”
His son, Albert, approached unnoticed and asked pointedly.
“He’ll be here soon. Don’t protagonists always make a late entrance?”
“It’s our party. Why is he the protagonist?”
“Albert.” Benedict placed a steadying hand on his son’s shoulder. “Until you achieve your goals, you must know how to humble yourself and observe. If we can snatch even one of the business rights he holds, what does it matter if we treat him like the protagonist? It costs us nothing.”
“It’s infuriating! That young brat has grown far too used to being fawned over like a proper duke.”
Albert clicked his tongue in annoyance. Cedric was two years younger than him, yet he had already inherited the ducal title and was hailed as a war hero. Albert, meanwhile, would remain merely the ‘viscount’s heir’ for years to come.
Whenever situations like this arose, Albert couldn't help but imagine: ‘What if my uncle had remained the second son of the viscount’s family?’
In that case, Cedric would be the one fawning and trying to read the room.
“Father and Uncle look exactly alike, but one became a duke by being the Imperial Princess’s kept man, and the other…!”
“Albert!”
As his father’s expression darkened, Albert quickly shut his mouth.