kscans

Chapter 22 - The Life of a Certain Marquis's Daughter (Part 1)

Born into the House Garnos marquisate, Emeralda was the very model of a noblewoman. It was not just her blessed appearance; her graceful and elegant demeanor seemed innate. For a noble, a certain degree of grace and dignity was expected. Yet even among the ladies and gentlemen who wore such traits as a matter of course, Emeralda was never overshadowed.

And her views on marriage were also befitting a noblewoman.

Emeralda had someone she could call her first love, but she understood from an early age that she would never be with him. While there was no issue of social standing, the union offered little benefit to House Garnos.

Marriage was for the prosperity of both families; love was a reward to be unlocked only after one had married and produced an heir. Emeralda’s parents each had their own lovers, but their marital relationship was not a poor one.

This was the norm, and Emeralda had never once questioned it.

Ultimately, this very fact would shatter her first love in the most tragic way imaginable, but it would be cruel to hold her responsible. Only a select few geniuses or eccentrics can question the environment and values they have been steeped in since birth.

Emeralda’s first love came to her in her sixth year.

It was at her first attendance of a rather large tea party for the children of high-ranking nobles. This tea party, a sort of prelude to high society, was of course meant to acclimate the children, but it was also already a battlefield. For boys, in particular, failing to build a certain number of connections here could be problematic. In some cases, it could even lead to a change in who was designated the heir. That is how indispensable the art of socializing was for the nobility.

At first, all was well. Countess Bafman, who was hosting the event, introduced the newcomer Emeralda to the other children and encouraged them to be friendly. Although nervous, Emeralda was not surrounded by complete strangers, and a peaceful time passed as she nibbled on the tea and sweets provided. The problem began after teatime ended and the children broke off to stroll through the garden or deepen their personal friendships. Normally, the eldest girl present would look after the newcomers and younger children, but this system did not always function as intended. Even in a gathering of children, a strict hierarchy of status existed. When the daughter of a powerful ducal house subtly excluded Emeralda, the others followed suit.

Before she knew it, Emeralda had been left all alone.

If I can’t make a single friend at this tea party, my parents will be disappointed in me. Understanding this even at her young age, Emeralda approached a group of girls who were laughing merrily, hoping to join them. It was the largest group in the already-formed cliques, and she thought that perhaps she could at least squeeze into a spot at the edge.

"My ladies, what are you talking about?"

When she worked up the courage to speak, the girls all turned to look at her at once.

"It’s a topic that’s still a little too mature for you, Lady Emeralda," the duke’s daughter at the center of the group said, hiding her mouth with a fan as she chuckled. As if on cue, the surrounding girls also let out stifled laughs. Their rejection was unmistakable, and Emeralda lacked the courage and conversational skill to press on.

"Now, Lady Marie, about what we were discussing earlier. What is it that you like about your brother? His face is handsome, I’ll grant you, but he’s a barbarian interested only in swords, is he not?"

And so, ignoring Emeralda, the girls once again broke into a chorus of tinkling laughter. The girl called Marie blushed and said something, but it was in a secretive whisper too quiet for Emeralda to hear.

Standing on the periphery, Emeralda was at a loss.

She looked around, but most of the children were in small, intimate groups of two or three that seemed impossible to break into.

"To abandon such a young child. My sister is quite cruel."

"Eek!"

The girl named Marie shrieked, her face turning crimson, while the duke’s daughter’s expression twisted in annoyance at the intruder.

"My, brother! What a thing to say. We were merely discussing matters a bit too delicate for a young child’s ears."

"I see. Vulgar gossip unfit for the ears of the young."

"Brother!"

"Oh, how frightening. A young child would surely faint from terror at the sight of you. Let us flee together."

So saying, the man effortlessly swept Emeralda up into his arms. He then walked away from the group, laughing as the duke’s daughter’s angry voice trailed behind them.

"Put me down! How rude!"

"My, my… My sincerest apologies, my little lady."

Emeralda, who had been stunned into inaction by the sudden turn of events, snapped back to her senses mid-flight and desperately pounded on the shoulder of the person carrying her like a baby. He immediately stopped and gently set her down on the ground.

"…I am not yet a lady."

As he bowed respectfully, Emeralda suddenly felt like crying. She realized he had saved her, and the fact that she couldn’t handle the situation on her own was deeply frustrating.

"Hmm. If you are not a lady, then does that make my sister, who was so rude to you just now, something less than human?"

"L-Less than human?"

The tears that had started to well up in her eyes receded at his joking remark.

"Yes. A chicken, perhaps. This morning she was fussing endlessly about which dress to wear, how she disliked her hairstyle, how her necklace didn’t match… She was utterly insufferable."

Seeing his exasperated expression, Emeralda couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. As she calmed down, the precocious noble daughter within her began to re-emerge.

"But are you not also disqualified as a gentleman? Calling your own sister a chicken is terribly cruel."

"A harsh critic, I see."

"And besides, we have not even introduced ourselves."

"Oh, what a blunder."

He made an exaggerated gesture of despair and knelt before the young Emeralda.

"My name is Allen Halright Dindrion. Might I have the pleasure of knowing your name, my lady?"

"You may. I am Emeralda Lind Garnos."

Emeralda straightened her back and gently placed her right hand in the large one offered to her. It was not her first time receiving a kiss on the back of her hand; it was a simple greeting. And yet, her heart trembled with a strange patter. Unaware that this was the sign of love, Emeralda blushed and offered a shy smile.

"A beautiful name befitting a beautiful lady, Lady Emeralda. Please accept my apologies for my unworthy sister’s rudeness earlier."

"Not at all. It is possible I did something to offend her."

"That is not so. My sister was simply jealous. She has never liked her own hair color and has always longed for blonde hair. And your hair is a magnificent gold."

The hair of the man who said this with a smile was a glossy black, as was the hair of his sister. She recalled how the pearl hair ornaments had shone like stars in a night sky, a captivating sight. In a country where lighter hair colors were common, it was very striking.

"Black hair is so mysterious and beautiful. I am the one who is envious."

"Thank you. This black hair is a trait I inherited from my grandmother, who came all the way from the south. I’m actually quite fond of it and proud of it."

"Me too! I’m proud of my blonde hair, which is the same as my mother’s."

The eyes of the older boy she looked up at were smiling gently. Gazing into his rare crimson eyes, Emeralda grew flustered and unnaturally averted her gaze.

An awkward silence fell, and Emeralda felt like crying again. It seemed nothing was going right for her today.

But once again, he came to her rescue.

"By the way, Lady Emeralda. Over there is a lotus pond that is currently in full bloom."

Emeralda didn’t know what a lotus was, but she nodded without a moment’s hesitation.

"I would love to see it. Lord Allen, would you escort me?"

"With pleasure."

Their height difference made it impossible to link arms, but his hand—smaller than her father’s, yet still much larger and warmer than her own—took hers.

The warmth of his hand made Emeralda’s heart flutter and her cheeks flush red.