5. The Beginning of Rumors
"I told you I don't want to see you, so please leave!"
Baroness Baden's voice, filled with anger, shook the tranquility of the country house. The sounds of chickens and geese wandering the backyard scrambling away in surprise could be faintly heard through the open window.
"I'm sorry, Grandmother. I was wrong. Please?"
Erna, having signaled for Mrs. Greve to leave, approached her grandmother a few more steps cautiously. Baroness Baden, seated in a chair by the window, stubbornly turned away from Erna. It had been like this ever since she heard about what happened in Schwerin.
"If you truly think that, contact Walter Hardy right away. Tell him to undo such a ridiculous deal."
Only after a long while did Baroness Baden finally face Erna.
"I can't do that, Grandmother. The Hardy family's lawyer is meeting Thomas Baden today to finalize the transaction. Father will be the owner first, but he promised to transfer it to me soon. Then we can live in this house forever, without any worries."
"My dear, what meaning is there in selling yourself to keep this house?"
"Selling myself! Why would you say such a thing? That's not it. It's absolutely not like that, Grandmother."
Erna frowned deeply and shook her head.
"It's good for everyone. We keep this house, and I can finally live with my father."
"Are you sincere, Erna? Do you truly want that?"
"...Yes."
Erna hurriedly forced a smile.
"Of course. I am sincere."
But judging by her grandmother's eyes still filled with sadness, it didn't seem to be a very successful lie.
Her father granted her request.
He said he would purchase the country house inherited by Thomas Baden and transfer it to Erna. She was so surprised she nearly fainted. She had clung to it desperately as her last hope, but never imagined it would be fulfilled so easily. Of course, since she had to pay a price for it, it couldn't be called a freely obtained fortune.
As a condition for granting his daughter's request, Viscount Hardy made an unexpected proposal. He suggested that they live together as a proper family, even if starting now. He said he had been feeling guilty about leaving his daughter in such a distant place until she was of marriageable age.
'One year. Give this father just that much time.'
When Erna hesitated, her father added urgently.
'Stay in Schwerin for about a year, go out into society, and take time to build the connections you'll need for your future life. Preparing at least that much foundation for you seems to be a father's duty.'
When he signaled, the Viscountess also chimed in. Her enthusiastic explanation about helping Erna live as a proper noble lady was nothing but meaningless illusions to Erna.
Erna loved the quiet life in this place where today was like yesterday, and tomorrow would be no different from today. If the life created by such days could be beautifully completed like the patchwork quilt her grandmother made, she would have nothing more to wish for.
Nevertheless, she agreed because it was the best option. Erna wanted to protect this house by any means necessary. Even if it was called foolish stubbornness. If she could obtain this house in exchange for staying by her father's side for about a year, it wasn't such a bad deal.
"Just go out now."
Baroness Baden withdrew her gaze from watching her granddaughter.
"Grandmother..."
"Please, Erna. I think I need some time alone."
Her eyes, gazing out the window, had grown even redder.
Erna could say nothing more and left her grandmother's bedroom. The shadow trailing behind her footsteps as she walked listlessly was very long.
* * *
The topic at the drinking party returned to horse racing.
The young men from prestigious families who were members of the social club were all horse owners themselves, so they spewed passionate words half-madly whenever horses were mentioned. When the conversation turned to the winning horse of the last racing competition, gazes mixed with envy and jealousy focused on Björn. The stallion owned by the Grand Duke had been winning various racing competitions throughout the kingdom. Even though the owner himself rarely appeared at the racetrack.
"Björn, if you have no interest in horse racing, why not sell? Even at an enormous price, horse owners would be lining up everywhere. I'll be first in line."
"Then I'll pay 1.5 times whatever that bastard asks."
"I'll pay double."
Everyone waited excitedly for Björn's answer.
"I indeed have no particular interest in horse racing."
Björn set down his emptied glass and replied calmly. Everyone's eyes were now twinkling with unconcealable anticipation.
"But I still won't sell."
"If you're not interested, why on earth?"
"Because it's mine."
Sighs erupted here and there at Björn's indifferent answer. All manner of persuasion and coaxing followed, but Björn, as always, merely listened without caring.
"Our Prince doesn't even listen to others' words with half an ear."
Peter shook his head in disbelief and laughed.
"What kind of logic is that, saying you won't sell because it's yours even though you have no interest? Anyway, you perverted bastard."
Even while grumbling with a scrunched face, Peter filled the empty glass with quite a friendly attitude.
After some time of getting heated about horse racing, the men's conversation naturally shifted to women.
Glancing at the grandfather clock in the diagonal direction, Björn crossed his legs and propped his chin on his hand at the table.
"Ah! I heard a new maid came to the Hardy household, and she's supposed to be stunning?"
When the names of beauties famous in social circles were exhausted, someone threw new fuel on the fire.
"The Hardy family? That house isn't in a position to be hiring new maids right now."
"Then was it a maid they've had for a long time? Anyway, that household's maid is certain. I saw her entering the house."
"What? You already had her followed?"
"Followed? Nothing like that. I happened to encounter her on Tagal Boulevard, and she was such a beauty I thought about speaking to her. But she fled in fright or flatly refused, so I couldn't even get her name."
"How could you let a beauty get away? I thought you had a thick face. Our Prince would be the same. Even a country girl would have greeted you sweetly."
"Pfft."
Giggling words and the scent of strong liquor spread together. At that name, Björn's expression became interested.
Björn rose from his seat. He sipped the brandy in the glass held in one hand, swaying like the rhythm of his steps.
"You've all arrived early."
Entering the study on the club's second floor, Björn greeted them with a smile. The bank directors seated on the reception sofas all raised their gazes to look at him.
"We're not early, Your Highness. You are late."
"Hmm. I don't know about that."
Björn flopped into the seat of honor and pointed at the clock.
"It's exactly on the hour now. Isn't it?"
Before his words finished, the clock's hands pointed exactly to 4 o'clock. Björn's face, smiling as if in triumph, was remarkably fresh for a rake who had been drinking since midday.
Setting his empty glass at the end of the table, Björn readily accepted the thick documents the lawyer handed him. It was a detailed report on foreign bonds and municipal bonds newly introduced to Lechen's financial market.
Björn began to read through the documents carefully. Though he had already drunk quite a bit, it was hard to find any sign of intoxication in his calm eyes.
The men seated in the study waited silently for his review to end. They were renowned figures in finance and law, yet they gathered at a social club in broad daylight, calling themselves the limbs of a rake—and that was because that rake was Björn Dwnaister.
They decided to join the prince who suddenly wanted to establish a bank purely because of the connections and capital he possessed. Since he was someone who wouldn't work enthusiastically anyway, they thought they could simply set him up as a figurehead holding the purse strings. But for Björn to become a goose that laid golden eggs—no one had dared to expect that.
So what did mere reputation matter?
The profits gained thanks to that poisonous mushroom prince, who was clearly born with a talent for finance, were sweet enough to make them forget everything else.
"Well then, let's begin."
Björn, having quickly reviewed the documents, raised the corners of his lips in a smile. It was a smile that foretold yet another success.
* * *
"Uncle, have I done something very wrong?"
Handing over the nail she had been clutching tightly, Erna asked quite seriously. Ralph Rois, who had glanced at her, began hammering without any particular answer. Following the loud banging sounds, the dust that had accumulated on the fence scattered.
Even while sneezing repeatedly, Erna didn't leave Ralph's side. By the time the half-collapsed fence regained its original form, the bridge of her nose had turned red.
"Since it means sending the young lady away, the Madam can't help but be very upset."
Ralph Rois, wiping his face with the handkerchief Erna handed him, finally gave a belated answer.
"The Madam knew well that she couldn't keep the young lady in this countryside, like this, forever... But still, this is too sudden a farewell."
Unlike his blunt tone, his gaze at Erna revealed warmth and sorrow he couldn't hide.
Baroness Baden eventually accepted her granddaughter's wishes. Tomorrow, Erna was scheduled to leave for Schwerin where her father's house was located. Seeing that he sent servants all the way to this distant Buford to fetch his daughter, Viscount Hardy seemed to have made up his mind firmly.
"I'm sorry, Uncle."
Erna whispered as she gazed at him.
"I made this decision on my own, and I'm really sorry for making everyone sad."
"Miss Erna..."
"But I protected this house, so I won't have any regrets."
Erna's smile was so bright that even the shade of her wide straw hat couldn't hide it.
Ralph rubbed his reddened eyes roughly and answered by nodding his head. If he opened his lips, he might burst into tears inappropriately. As if to say she understood his heart completely, Erna stayed by his side for a long time. The late afternoon sunlight pouring down on the two of them leaning side by side against the newly repaired fence was dazzling.
"Please take good care of Grandmother until I return, Uncle."
Erna, who had been kicking the dirt ground for no reason, carefully made her request. Ralph Rois nodded once more, his face even redder than before.
He had been the Baden family's coachman, but after there were no more carriages left in the household, he took on various odd jobs. After the family fortune declined to the point where it was difficult to pay proper wages, only he and the housekeeper Mrs. Greve remained here.
Erna knew well that while there was affection and loyalty from their long years together, it was also because they were too old to find other employment.
That was why she wanted to protect this house even more.
So that they, who were now like family, could stay here for a long time to come, with peace of mind. For that, she could endure a year easily. By next spring, she would be able to see this beautiful and peaceful scenery from this house again.
* * *
Erna left the Baden house the next morning. It was a few days later that rumors about the Hardy family's daughter, who had suddenly appeared, spread throughout the social circles.
They said the Viscount Hardy's daughter, who had been recuperating in the countryside due to poor health, had returned. She would make a late debut in society this season, and she was said to be a beauty comparable to Princess Gladys. It was something to look forward to.
Such were the rumors—somewhat questionable in origin, but just the kind to greatly stimulate the interest of the idle rich.