Chapter 24

***

It seemed that a lot of time had passed since I came back here, both in terms of experience and in reality. Since my appearance in the series of events, people have shown great interest in me. Daughters and noblewomen, nobility, and high-ranking civil servants have sent me letters. Sometimes there were letters from men in the mix. It is said that when you first enter the social world, people with influence in the social world send letters saying they want to visit first.

If their reputation is good enough, they will introduce people in the middle and help them so that they can easily integrate into the social circle. The nanny explained this and that as she handed me an etiquette book with social etiquette written in it.

“When you receive a letter, please send a visiting card with the date you can visit. That’s the etiquette.”

Since this was the era when status was determined by capital rather than title, the social circles here tended to emphasize etiquette and manners. They respected each other and were very formal with too many taboos. Noah certainly seemed to be an educated aristocrat and had good basic manners. (Of course I didn’t forget that he put a gun to my head.)

I was an introvert and wasn’t really interested in social activities, but given the situation, I felt the need to make some contacts.

After the nanny left the room, I was lost in deep thought.

A little doubt in the beginning, a part I hadn’t thought deeply about since I went to Progen. The fact that for over a decade, no one had a door to the situation where the poor girl was discriminated against and abused, and the servants were complicit in the abuse, and that this fact was not leaked to the outside world at all.

Of course, most of them would have stood by and pretended not to know in order not to be sympathetic or disadvantaged by the group mentality, but there were a few righteous people out there.

“It’s time for rumors to circulate that the Admiral’s second daughter is a wicked woman or a crazy woman, but it’s strange.”

I decided to check it out while I was playing the villain. Seeing that the upper class people were not afraid to send me visiting cards and invitations, despite the fact that I paid the servants who treated me badly what they deserved, it seemed that the outsiders were completely unaware of what had happened in this corner of the house.

Even if they didn’t openly inform them of the injustice they witnessed at the Admiral’s mansion, there was no reason for them not to gossip about the bullying and misdeeds they had committed in the cold light of day. Only then will it be easier for them to find another job.

In the afternoon, Jeffrey paid a short visit to the residence while Celine went to a social gathering. Today he was not in his uniform or normal clothes, but in his national defense colored combat uniform. We sat facing each other in the reception room on the fourth floor. Jeffrey watched the maid who had served us tea and left, then spoke with a disappointed look on his face.

“I didn’t know anyone’s news. I’m sorry I couldn’t be of much help to hear that you lost something precious.”

I asked Jeffrey to find out the whereabouts of the servants who had left before, including the one who had been sent away for the pitiable circumstance of losing one of my most precious items, and received his answer.

“Thank you. I had no choice.”

As expected, it was highly likely that all the servants who had quit this place had died or disappeared without a trace in order to keep them quiet. I felt it from the beginning, but something was wrong. The Amiral hated me so much, but didn’t kill me until now, and as soon as I left this mansion, he sent mercenaries to kill me. Could it be that he is desperately trying to hide the fact that my information is leaking to the outside world?

I suddenly realized this. I covered my mouth and smiled secretly.

‘I am the Admiral’s weakness, aren’t I?’ An unpleasant weakness, but also a possibility that was the last thing he might use in an emergency someday.

Jeffrey, who was silently staring at me, let go of his teacup and sighed weakly.

“If it’s too much for you to stay here, I can arrange for you to stay somewhere else.”

“No, I’ll stay here.”

I may die silently the moment I leave here. The Admiral had a significant influence in this country, seeing as how many servants have disappeared even though it was a war time. I don’t want to take any chances because I could get Jeffrey killed.

“You’ve already helped me. Thanks to you, I am well fed and in good health.”

“But, Miss Diana.”

Jeffrey, who had been hesitating for a long time, tried to say something, but it was a sigh that eventually came out. He seemed to want to say something deep in his heart. I didn’t ask. I didn’t want to ask because I didn’t want to get involved in a more complicated situation with him any further.

For example, the servants who quit and disappeared, the mercenaries sent to kill me, the accusations of discrimination and unreasonableness made against this body in the past. If I revealed to society the above facts, I would be dealing with powerful people and women of repute in society.

It would be buried without hesitation, or on the contrary, I’d be condemned as a liar or being psychotic because of the history that I had been confined and had never been in society. So I would never be able to defeat the Admiral with the above facts alone.

Threatening silence and an implicit warning. It was the only weapon I could wield, and it was not an easy card to play. It became clear to me that there was something more to this than what I experienced and knew. Maybe I was only watching out of some vague sense of dread that I didn’t know the substance of, but I was certain that Jeffrey was not interested in Celine.

It didn’t matter to me now. Because I had a clear purpose and a place to go.As long as the father and daughter did not move first, I would anger Celine, maintain this tense and cold war, and leave the country.

“I want to help you. Somehow.”

Jeffrey said in a determined tone, but I slowly shook my head because it was obvious that even if I succeeded in getting the duke’s family to interfere with the Prime Minister, it would only embarrass me socially and not give me what I wanted.

Can he take me back to Progen? No, that’s not the kind of justice that man has in his eyes. It’s that kind of helpfulness, fighting on behalf of the weak against their irrationality. Moreover, I don’t believe in authenticity. Because the day he came to pick me up, I realized what hand signals he had sent to the soldiers.

‘Remain in your position.’

Was it really justice to sacrifice so many lives for a cause? Maybe he was trying to use me to gain honor, to gain the trust and recognition of society to inherit the title, or maybe as the son of the Prime Minister, he was trying to keep the Admiral, the core of military power, in check.

“I’m fine.”

I replied in a somewhat stronger tone.

I didn’t want to take the trouble to judge them directly. This country was on the verge of losing a long war, and the next war would be a big deal. Celine and the Admiral were bound to ruin themselves in this dangerous country where the powers armed with new weapons will come in the near future to chew them up and taste them.

“Just do as you do now.”

I made a pretentious smile. I needed to be safe until I returned to Progen.

“I see. ......let me know whenever you need help.”

“Thank you very much.”

At my thanks, Jeffrey turned his head away without saying a word and looked out the window, which had a view of the ocean. I looked out, too. Two young soldiers were seen walking with rifles on their backs at a port facing the sea. One person, who looked severely injured with a bandage on his head, was limping and was being supported by his colleague.

It was despair in their expressions. I looked out with courage and justice through the window of my room, but eventually I witnessed quite a few expressions returning with despair.

***

Today, as usual, I ate and read books at the same place, and the same sunset always filled the room with scarlet light. In the past, the sunset time was good, but now I feel lonely and numb for some reason.

The pillar clock that announced evening chimed with a clunking sound. It was time for the Admiral to come home, so I dressed appropriately and headed downstairs.

“Father, you’re here.”

Celine smiled in a mundane way when she saw the Admiral coming through the doorway, and a kind expression appeared on his cold face in response.

“You’re home.”

He did not respond to my greeting. He just walked coldly past me with a dry face and a hunchback. He treated me as if I were invisible, but I called the Admiral back again.

“Father.”

Finally, the Admiral stopped and slowly turned to look at me. He still looked at me with contempt and hatred in his eyes.

“I’m thinking of having a tea party this afternoon. I’ve been getting a lot of letters.”

The Admiral, who had been silent for some time, narrowed his blue eyes. His frowning face resembled Celine’s.

“The Count’s family is hunting foxes at the hunting grounds, so meet them there. This is where Celine was invited.”

In the end, it was about Celine. Originally, they would prevent me from going at all costs, but why not this time? I nodded quietly.

“Father, the Lieutenant Colonel will be there, too.”

Celine, who had interrupted our conversation, raised the corner of her mouth in a fake smile. She glanced at me softly with clear green eyes and brushed back her platinum hair. She meant she didn’t want to go with me, but the Admiral sounded adamant as he crossed his arms.

“It’s difficult to throw a party in wartime with military status.”

He had a big dinner for Celine a week ago, and then he was discharged from the military and now he’s enlisted again. He could just say he didn’t want me to have a party.

I walked past the Admiral and Celine with as much disbelief in my eyes as I could muster and headed for my room. I heard light footsteps behind me, and Celine was following me to my room. The door closed with a loud bang. Celine had her hand on the door of my room and glared at me coldly.

“Hey.” (Celine)

Celine’s voice, which had always been clear and supple, cracked gruesomely.

“Why?” (Diana)

“Didn’t you hear the rumor? Lieutenant Colonel saved you to propose to me. He said he did it for me.” (Celine)

Make a mental victory look on the subject of anxiety. I thought Celine, who couldn’t stand my harassment, might have reported it to the gossip paper. I tilted my head slowly. I could see a hint of bewilderment on her face when she saw that I was unfazed.

“Why are you telling me this?” (Diana)

“You seem to be interested in the Lieutenant Colonel. I mean that you should wake up from your dream. Once I get married, your situation will go back to the way it was.” (Celine)

“Sister, you’re thinking the opposite. It’s not something you should say to me.” (Diana)

Celine frowned as if her secret concern had been revealed. Instead of answering, she stared at me relentlessly, not blinking. In the midst of the anger and hatred that was slowly seeping into her gaze, there was also a kind of mysterious feeling lurking. I sat down on the couch with a coy look on my face and slowly lifted my chin.

“It’s not me who is interested in him. It’s him who is interested in me. If you don’t like it that much, can you tell him to stop paying attention to me?” (Diana)