94.
The Glass Greenhouse Party.
The salon party hosted at Marquis Geron’s villa was larger in scale than I had expected.
If our mansion felt more like “we built it, and it just so happened to have a lakeside behind the mountain,” this place gave the strong impression of being an artificially created lakeside.
A beautifully landscaped garden surrounding the massive glass greenhouse, and beyond that, open fields and an expansive lake with beautifully rippling waves…
It was a place so naturally perfect that one could tell the Marquis’s family hadn’t built their villa here for nothing.
Not only was the host of this party the Marquis’s family, but the patron was the Empress as well.
Naturally, I could see Meriana Peregrine too.
Instead of letting her emerald hair flow freely,
she had fixed her hair full of silver ornaments to match her dress, where thin silver threads sparkled subtly in the sunlight, showing off a beautiful figure that seemed to scatter halos of light.
‘How much does all that cost?’
With so many expenses here and there lately, to me, it all looked like nothing but money.
Still, it drew my admiration just the same.
And the unfortunate truth was…….
that I had to approach that woman, who sparkled and shined just standing still under the sunlight, today.
The ‘subordinate’ that the Duke had captured during the previous kidnapping incident was still unconscious.
The Duke had barely saved him from taking his own life, and they said there was no danger to his life, so he would wake up soon.
But none of the Duke, myself, or the physicians knew when that would be.
Because of that, for the time being, I planned to focus on gathering ingredients for the antidote rather than the pervert’s identity.
The fact that Zaka’s condition, which I had thought was fine, was actually not very good had also fueled my worries.
So I planned to leave the capital temporarily to gather ingredients, with today’s attendance here being my last before departure.
That an opportunity to approach Meriana was hovering right before my eyes before I left was, if nothing else, my misfortune.
Anyway, she was Meriana ‘Peregrine.’
I didn’t know in what way she was still entangled with the pervert, but it was certain that she was the mastermind who had administered the ‘antidote’ to Rohinas.
After that, I had planned to secretly rendezvous and have fun on the sly, just as Daena had suggested.
These days, at the mansion, the gazes from those around me were so intense that I had been in a state of semi-abstinence.
If only I could somehow, even outside……
Just then, two tall men standing out conspicuously from the crowd appeared.
It was Rohinas Canesion and Ishitan Gladineer.
The two, who had been conversing, stopped to exchange greetings; Rohinas headed toward Meriana, and Ishitan…….
Our eyes met.
I opened my mouth to say something, but he turned away first.
It was a faint emotion, but I somehow felt irritated.
‘You took the wonder drug, yet you avoid people?’
It was already the second time.
But thinking about it carefully, it wasn’t entirely unreasonable.
The way one holds someone in their heart differs for each person.
Depending on personality and situation, the same emotion can be expressed entirely differently.
Even so…
I don’t know if I should say this, but for such a great Duke who wouldn’t be outdone anywhere to be so utterly lacking in courage—
‘It’s not like I embarrass you every time we meet!’
Annoyed, I almost chased after him, but that felt ridiculous too, so I stopped in my tracks.
Suddenly, the face that had smiled at me while throwing himself into the rift that day came to mind.
A face that seemed willing to be hurt, and for that very reason, looked freer.
‘And you know how to smile like that.’
I don’t know the reason.
Why are you avoiding me?
‘Next time we see each other, I’ll grab you tight so you can’t run away and ask you.’
* * *
It was the first social party held since the conclusion of the large-scale kidnapping incident that had shocked the capital.
Everyone knew that the Empress had arranged for the glass greenhouse to be opened in order to soothe the unsettled atmosphere.
Since it was an opportunity that came only a few times a year, and moreover a party held at the best time when the greenery was lush, many people had gathered.
The glass greenhouse was filled with all sorts of rare flowers and trees, and the nobles were busy showing off that they were still going strong.
As if the previous heretic incident had never happened, everyone gathered in groups of threes and fives, busy admiring the scenery and chatting merrily.
Then someone suggested a good idea.
It was to launch boats on the lakeside, where the glass greenhouse, garden, and green fields could be seen at a glance.
Of course, it was already one of the events prepared by the Marquis’s family.
Everyone knew that, yet still applauded and agreed that it was a good idea.
While they went through the troublesome motions of saving face,
Anastasia Roxan stood alone by the lakeside.
Her expression, gazing at the ripples on the lake surface as if bewitched, was unadorned.
Already, several noble men were surreptitiously glancing her way.
But Rohinas’s scandal had developed into such a huge disgrace that she was now a woman whose mere mention could damage one’s prestige.
At the same time, she had been suddenly handpicked by the Emperor and was also someone who moved together with the Duke.
According to rumors, she had even been involved in this ‘incident,’ but honestly, it was hard to believe.
What could a mere insignificant baron have done in the midst of all that?
To those who wished to form a connection with the Duke, she was simultaneously the last connection they wanted to make, yet also a being that aroused a curiosity of unknown origin.
Black hair, dark as ebony, that even the sunlight couldn’t overpower, fluttered one by one in the wind.
The hair climbing up as if tickling her forehead, eyes, and cheeks could have been bothersome, but the woman made hardly any movement.
Warm sunlight, rippling waves, and a beautiful woman as if crafted with painstaking effort.
But as if even that brief peace was hard to tolerate, a group came rushing in.
Anastasia turned around and raised her eyebrows.
The group was, for some reason, all men.
They surrounded Anastasia.
Around then, with a noisy clamor, nobles were approaching the opposite lakeside while conversing.
Prepared small rowboats created ripples on the lake one by one, carrying people forward.
The last boat had been prepared for a pair of lovers.
Favorable gazes and exclamations of admiration followed the two.
A tall, handsome man with gorgeous blond hair and beautiful features.
That man boarded the boat first, then immediately turned and extended his hand.
That neat and elegant gesture was so perfect that even the most demanding governess couldn’t find fault.
Moreover, he possessed the bloodline and authority that everyone couldn’t help but acknowledge as superior.
The one who took the hand of Rohinas, standing bathed in gazes of envy, jealousy, and admiration, was, as expected, a beautiful and noble woman.
As if to say that one had to be at least this level to stand by the man’s side.
The woman, wearing a dress that revealed a slender, straight, white neckline, carefully held her skirt and boarded the boat.
Fluttering, finely textured emerald hair, and purple eyes sparkling under the sunlight.
Though she possessed gorgeous features, perhaps because her attire emphasized her slender figure, Meriana exuded an unusually pure and refined atmosphere.
Anyway, once the perfectly matched pair of a handsome man and beautiful woman sat down, the boatman began to row.
Around the time the boat carrying Meriana and Rohinas approached the opposite lakeside from the center…
A handkerchief flew from Meriana’s fingertips and fell onto the water surface.
“Oh my.”
Those on the surrounding boats gave their attention for a moment.
“The Count gave me that handkerchief……”
Meriana leaned out of the boat as if trying to pick up the handkerchief.
Rohinas immediately pulled Meriana’s shoulder back.
“A mere handkerchief like that is fine. I will gift you a new one.”
“But……”
“It has fallen into the water and gotten dirty, has it not?”
Meriana hadn’t really been hoping for much either.
Still, she had thought he would at least attempt to retrieve it.
The Count didn’t even pretend to look toward the handkerchief.
That handkerchief was the one he had gifted to Meriana on the day he proposed.
So while a single handkerchief might not be worth much, it should have held special meaning for the two of them at least.
But he merely held onto her hand and wouldn’t let go, as if irritated by Meriana moving dangerously on the boat.
Meriana looked down at their clasped hands.
But still, perhaps this was his way of expressing himself……
It was then.
Splash!
Fluttering black hair,
a raised skirt hem,
and a thin arm swaying in the air.
Someone had fallen into the lake.
Suddenly, Meriana felt the boat shake like crazy and hurriedly lowered her head.
A hair ornament fell off, stinging the nape of her neck.
With an uneasy feeling, her head automatically turned to find Rohinas sitting across from her.
And Meriana saw.
Her fiancé, holding onto the railing and leaning almost halfway out over the lake’s surface.