Sophia, the Duchess of Klein
If the Huiante Marquis family wasn’t hosting an event, then naturally one had to attend the tea party at the Orleans Ducal house, and a visit to the Quayser County family wasn’t a bad idea either.
Though their standing was a notch below the first two houses, she needed to become acquainted with them beforehand if she wanted to observe the circumstances surrounding that late-summer incident.
At my debutante ball I did greet them, but of course they had to pair me with Morgana and the third son, arguing over who would introduce whom… How infuriating. Should I even bother saving them? Their territory’s ruin has nothing to do with me anyway.
“…Tiana?”
“Ah, yes. Do the gatherings hosted by the Quayser County family and the Orleans Ducal house happen to overlap?”
Dot tilted her head and asked quickly.
“No, they do not. There is a short interval between the dates, and the Quayser event comes first. Will you attend both?”
“Yes.”
The Klein Duchess answered briefly, then gazed quietly at the smiling young lady.
Just now—had she imagined it? While deciding where to go, the girl’s eyes had turned far too cold, as though recalling something unpleasant.
Honestly, the look had been so frigid it seemed directed at an enemy.
It must have been a trick of the light. Well… After everything she endured at Grace Monastery, it’s only natural our daughter would be wary of people. And whose fault is that, if not mine? Who am I to blame?
In the Duchess’s mind, it was only right that her daughter attend the gatherings of the two houses she had chosen. Yet she also thought it wouldn’t be bad for the girl to visit the Duran Viscount family’s reading circle and cultivate her refinement.
Though their title and estate were smaller than others, the Durans were steadily respected and continued receiving imperial invitations for good reason.
There was also the special gathering the Dahlia Hotel salon was hosting for people from all walks of life. That could be considered the year’s most remarkable meeting.
At that venue, influential merchants who were not nobles, as well as well-educated commoners who met the qualifications, could attend. The Klein Duke had always reminded his wife that one must not shun meetings simply because of differing status and must be willing to listen to others’ stories. She agreed with her husband on that point.
After all, they were a ducal house; they ought to lend an ear to more voices than others. In that sense, she secretly hoped her daughter would attend.
I’d like her to go, but I can’t force her to attend the ones she didn’t choose. Then I suppose I’ll have to go alone.
The Quayser County tea party was scheduled for the 27th at the end of this month, and the Orleans Ducal tea party for the 1st of next month. The Duran Viscount family’s reading circle was in two days, on the 24th—tight, but acceptable since one didn’t need to wear an extravagant dress. The Dahlia Hotel salon gathering fell on the 5th of next month.
The Klein Duchess carefully filed the dates in her mind and offered a gentle smile.
So what if her daughter’s behavior was occasionally displeasing? She was her precious child. No matter the cost, she would raise and protect her with care.
“My dear, may I embrace you?”
“Of course.”
The young lady’s body was wonderfully warm. For a moment the Duchess recalled that terrible past and trembled, then raised her hand to stroke the back of her daughter’s head.
Nowhere did she feel any protruding or sunken scars—only smooth, beautiful hair. She prayed the pain of losing her memory after being struck while fleeing the carriage would never resurface. She would never again allow unjust blood to flow from any part of her daughter’s body.
“Then let us go out together in five days. I’ll prepare a new dress and ribbons for you, so rest well.”
“Yes, Mother. I trust your taste.”
“Understood.”
These days, the Klein Duchess found the greatest happiness in spending time and money on her lovely, adorable daughter.
My child. I would do anything for you.
* * *
“My lady, it’s raining.”
“Spring rain.”
The rain that had begun falling at dawn kept tapping against the windowpane. Clouds had gathered thickly in the sky, so the morning light was dim and the air was heavy with mist.
The lady’s maid hesitated a moment before speaking.
“Perhaps we should cancel today’s outing. The rain doesn’t look like it will stop soon, and I worry you might catch a cold.”
“No. I gave my word that I would go. Am I to turn back just because of a little rain?”
The Klein Duchess asked the question, though in truth her body felt somewhat stiff. She had skipped only the Duran Viscount family’s reading circle and accompanied her daughter to the other two gatherings. Today was the 5th—the day of the Dahlia Hotel salon meeting—and she had to attend even if it meant going alone. She would let her precious daughter rest and return quickly.
“My lady…”
“Since I said I would come, there will be people who attend despite the rain. How could I disappoint them? Even if hail falls, a noble keeps her promise by holding a knight’s shield over her head. Stop arguing and prepare the carriage at once.”
She spoke with considerable dignity.
“Understood.”
“Do not wake Tiana. Let her sleep in.”
The Klein Duchess remained lost in thought the entire ride to the Dahlia Hotel. Her husband, the Duke, was as indifferent and work-obsessed as ever. The joy of recovering Tiana had already vanished like smoke, and he continued his busy life just as before. At least he did not skimp on money spent for Tiana, yet she still felt a pang of disappointment.
Well, it was a blessing that the Crown Prince escorted her at the spring ball. But it has been quiet ever since, and that worries me.
Lady Russell had also made her return to society, yet she had remained remarkably silent afterward. She had not shown her face at either of the two gatherings the Duchess had attended with her daughter. If she intended to stay out of the spotlight, why had she forced herself to appear at the imperial ball in the first place?
Her husband was one matter; her two sons were another problem.
Cassel.
These days she could hardly see Cassel’s face at all. Her eldest son not only refused to return to the ducal residence, but even when she visited the imperial palace he claimed to be busy with work or training with the regular knights, making it difficult to arrange a meeting. Was that truly the only reason?
Why won’t you come home, Cassel? You can’t possibly be so busy that you cannot spare a single day.
Had she raised her voice too much when she stopped him before Tiana’s debutante ball? But that was the one thing she could never yield on. Ever since that day when she had tearfully rejected her son’s proposal, the distance between them had undeniably grown.
If she insisted on meeting him, seeing his face was not difficult. She was still his mother, and Cassel was not cold enough to leave her standing outside his door. Even so… meeting him that way no longer brought the same joy.
Her own son keeping his distance from her? Because of her daughter…?
A suffocating frustration wrapped around her. The last time she had seen Cassel, there had been no trace of a smile on his face. And he had said something strange.
Whatever one did, one should act so as not to regret it later—or something about not driving a nail into someone’s heart even if they were a complete stranger. His words had been peculiar.
That is exactly what you are doing to me right now. Why don’t you realize it?
She finally pushed Cassel’s face from her mind and thought of the other person she cherished.
Maurice.
Her second son had become a squire in the Crow Knight Order and was devoting himself to his duties and training, enduring the whispers of others. She knew that becoming a knight was the only path left for Maurice to survive.
“Just leave! Go and live as you please! How long do you think the family will continue to protect you?”
Ah…
The Klein Duchess clutched the carriage door handle and tightly closed her eyes. Was that truly the last thing she had said to Maurice?
Every time she recalled that moment, her heart felt crushed. Even if Maurice’s success was a source of parental joy, had she spoken too harshly…?
Ironically, Maurice’s departure from home was also connected to Tiana’s return. She had believed that once she recovered Tiana, the ducal residence—though filled with people—would overflow with laughter and vitality. Cassel had returned from the frontier, and Maurice had been less wayward with his brother around. Yet she had squandered that precious opportunity with her own haste. She regretted it deeply.
If only she had chosen her words more carefully…
She forced the painful memory aside.
Well, there will probably be commoners at this gathering who are not well-versed in etiquette. Even if they act offensively, I must not point it out rudely. I should simply accept it.
When the rain pouring beyond the carriage window stopped, would a rainbow appear?
The Duchess, who had dozed off from exhaustion, opened her eyes to find herself in front of the Dahlia Hotel.
“My lady, we have arrived.”
The carriage door opened. As the Duchess stepped out without thinking, she was slightly startled. The coachman was not holding an umbrella, yet the sound of rain continued.
What is this? Does he intend to let me get soaked?
Contrary to her thoughts, she remained completely dry. The spring rain falling ceaselessly from the sky was not striking the hotel entrance but rolling off to the side.
“Greetings, Duchess of Klein. One of today’s invited guests, concerned about the heavy rain, created a large magical parasol so that everyone could enter directly without umbrellas.”
The hotel manager, who had been waiting outside, explained politely.
“Oh, is that so?”
She lifted her eyes and beheld an astonishing sight. Instead of a dull tent-like color, a transparent, glass-like magical barrier spread wide, adorned with watercolor paintings of flowers, birds, deer, and young trees.
Even more wondrous was how the falling spring rain remained visible through the transparent membrane; whenever the raindrops touched the paintings, their colors subtly yet vividly shifted.
How fascinating. Such magic exists? I’m glad I came after all.
“Please enter, my lady.”
“Yes.”
The air inside the salon where the gathering was to be held was pleasantly warm. Once inside, the Duchess encountered a familiar face.
“Scholar Pochette, it has been a long time.”
“Oh, Duchess. How delightful to see you.”
The scholar kissed the back of her hand in the customary greeting.
“I did not expect to find you here.”
“Haha, I actually attended the Duran Viscount family’s reading circle recently. There I happened to meet Lady Morgana. She speaks well and has read quite a few books.”
Lady Morgana? Why was that name coming up here?
“She told me she would also attend this gathering, so I rushed to obtain an additional invitation and came straight here.”
The Duchess, who had barely recalled the unfamiliar name, belatedly realized it referred to Pay, Tiana’s monastery companion and mage.
Normally she would have flared up, but the steady spring rain and the composure she had gathered in the carriage kept her anger at bay.
“I see.”
“She was also the one who cast the umbrella magic in front of the hotel. Imagine—less than a year of magical study, yet she kept saying intriguing things at the reading circle. I was quite surprised. Haha.”
The Duchess took a seat near Pochette and spoke.
“If she can pique your interest, she must be quite remarkable.”
She had only grown angry because Tiana had lived miserably at Grace Monastery; she bore no real ill will toward Lady Morgana. Though the woman had gained attention as the Crown Prince’s subordinate, there had been no sign of her frequenting the palace since.