Chapter 64
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Dear, I believe you may be misunderstanding.
Episode 64
"Oh, is that so? How delightful that Grace Oellin is fond of plants! In that case, I shall be thrilled to showcase our Estate's pride—the Glass Greenhouse."
Countess Gestash could not conceal her excitement after exchanging a few words with Grace Oellin.
With flushed cheeks, she rang the bell to summon an attendant.
"Cassy! Please escort Grace Oellin to the Greenhouse."
"I was actually quite curious about the Glass Greenhouse I glimpsed on the way here, so thank you, Countess."
"Oh, not at all. I'm simply delighted to have found someone who truly appreciates my pride and joy."
Grace Oellin excused herself to Selena and rose from her seat.
"Ah! Oh, you mustn't approach the flowers with the green fence around them. They are quite dreadfully poisonous."
Countess Gestash added hastily, as if the thought had only just occurred to her.
Grace Oellin acknowledged the warning carefully and turned to leave.
"Wait! May I accompany Grace Oellin as well? I should like to become better acquainted with her."
Alendia asked, following Grace Oellin as she departed the Garden.
Having no reason to refuse, Grace Oellin walked alongside Alendia.
"In truth, I have heard whispers about you for some time now."
"Whispers about me?"
Grace Oellin's eyes widened in surprise at her sudden remark.
Whispers? I have scarcely participated in High Society, living as inconspicuously as possible. It astonished me to learn that rumors of me existed at all.
Alendia spoke with a broad, radiant smile.
"Female nobles who receive titles are quite rare, are they not?"
"Ah... I believe I was simply fortunate. It is rather embarrassing, actually."
"Oh, but that cannot be! How could one stumble upon such a discovery by mere chance? Impossible. I find it truly remarkable."
"Such praise is somewhat mortifying, but I shall accept it graciously nonetheless."
Grace Oellin replied with elegant composure, offering a gentle smile.
Alendia gazed at Grace Oellin in wonder before speaking with genuine fascination.
"You possess a certain... presence, Grace Oellin."
"I do?"
"At first glance, you appear merely delicate and refined, yet when one converses with you, there is an unmistakable quiet dignity about you. A composed, almost magnetic quality—if I may put it that way. You draw people toward you."
"Me...?"
"Yes, you."
At Alendia's sparkling affirmation, Grace Oellin's cheeks flushed a rosy hue as she laughed.
Alendia gazed at her admiringly and nodded.
"Until now, I could not understand why Mother spoke so fondly of Selena's beauty, but now I begin to comprehend. Grace Oellin, let us become close friends."
Alendia seized Grace Oellin's hand eagerly.
"Have you ever hunted? Would you like to hunt with me? I know an exceptional hunting ground. What do you say? Will you come with us?"
"Ah, I have never hunted before, I'm afraid."
"Oh, how perfect! Then learn from me. Asha is quite skilled as well, so come hunting with us. I shall teach you well. What do you think?"
Grace Oellin laughed in bewilderment at Alendia's forthright affection and took a step back.
I was beginning to understand Alendia's temperament.
"Haha, thank you, Alendia. But I'm afraid hunting isn't something I'll be able to learn."
"My goodness, why not? It's incredibly fun!"
Grace laughed awkwardly before speaking honestly.
"The truth is, I'm rather timid, and I can't bear to look at things like arrows or blades."
"Ah...! I see! Well, there's nothing to be done about that. There are quite a few people who can't abide sharp objects, after all."
Alendia couldn't hide her disappointment, but she didn't press her regret too forcefully.
"Then instead of teaching me what I enjoy, why don't you show me what you love? Shall we start here in the Greenhouse?"
Alendia didn't give up and continued to show her affection toward Grace.
Finding it not entirely disagreeable, Grace responded thoughtfully to her words and walked slowly beside her.
As they walked, they soon found themselves before the Greenhouse entrance.
* * *
"It may be somewhat warm inside the Greenhouse. If you spend too long within, you may become dehydrated, so please call for me if you grow thirsty. My name is Cassy."
"Thank you, Cassy."
Following the attendant's courteous guidance, Grace and Alendia stepped inside the Greenhouse.
True to the attendant's word, the interior of the Glass Greenhouse was incomparably warmer than the outside air.
Perspiration quickly gathered beneath her thin dress.
"Why is it so hot in here? It's already warm outside, but this is beyond imagination."
Alendia wiped the sweat from her brow and grimaced.
"They must maintain this temperature to cultivate plants that only thrive in warm climates. That's why the plants here have large leaves and elaborate forms. Aren't they beautiful?"
"They certainly are. I've never seen many of these before."
Grace's eyes sparkled as she wandered deeper into the Greenhouse.
The Greenhouse was larger than expected, and there was much to see.
"Wow, what is this? The colors are so vibrant! How fascinating..."
As Alendia peered curiously at various plants, she suddenly discovered a brilliantly colored flower blooming within a green fence.
It was an orange blossom adorned with black speckled markings.
The petals were as large and delicate as butterfly wings, utterly mesmerizing.
"I've never seen a flower like this before."
Alendia drew closer to the flower as if enchanted.
The flowing orange petals gleamed like silk.
The flower seemed to beckon her to touch it.
Before she realized it, Alendia's hand extended slowly toward the blossom.
"No, Alendia!"
Grace, whose attention had been elsewhere among the other plants, suddenly gasped in alarm and seized Alendia's arm.
"This is a poisonous plant. Touching it could be dangerous."
"Gasp!"
At the mention of poison, Alendia started and stumbled backward.
In doing so, her body collided with Grace, who was still holding her, and the two of them tumbled backward together.
"Oof."
"Ah!"
The two of us tumbled over, knocking down a potted plant that had been standing nearby.
That pot cascaded into another, creating a domino effect of crashing sounds.
Crash, crash, crash.... Clang!
Similar sounds continued in succession before ending with something that sounded like metal bars being struck.
"Ow, ow, ow."
Alendia, who had fallen on top of Grace Oellin, groaned as she pushed herself up.
Only then did she realize she had been crushing Grace Oellin with her full weight, and she scrambled to her feet.
"I'm so sorry, Grace Oellin! Are you, are you alright?"
"Oh, I'm fine. Are you alright, Alendia?"
"I'm not hurt at all because Grace Oellin cushioned my fall! What should I do? I'm rather heavy...!"
"No, you weren't heavy at all."
A delicate woman who looked as though a breeze might carry her away laughed while supporting Alendia, who was both taller and appeared healthier than herself.
Alendia, looking utterly mortified, quickly helped Grace Oellin to her feet.
"Really, I'm fine. You don't need to make that face."
"But your dress is ruined now, Grace Oellin. I'm sorry."
"What matters more is that you're not hurt, Alendia."
"Goodness, Grace Oellin.... How can you say such touching things?"
Alendia spoke with a voice full of emotion, her eyes glistening with tears.
Watching Alendia become so deeply moved by something so trivial, Grace Oellin could only laugh.
That was when it happened.
Kee-ree-ree!
Ree-ree-ree...!
Something massive shot up into the sky with a sharp sound.
It was certainly an animal's cry, though it was a kind I had never heard before.
Alendia and Grace Oellin both lifted their heads simultaneously.
Yet there was no sign of any bird-like creature overhead.
"What was that just now...."
"It sounded like a bird's cry."
Grace Oellin tilted her head, listening more carefully.
Kee-ree-ree!
When the cry sounded again, Grace Oellin's head turned precisely toward the source of the sound.
She raised her hand and pointed to two large birds perched side by side on a tree branch, both staring down at us.
"It seems to be those birds."
* * *
"Gasp!"
Countess Gestash dropped the teaspoon she'd been holding and quickly clapped her hand over her mouth.
Her face drained of color as a belated realization struck her, and she bolted upright.
"Oh, heavens! What am I to do! Titi! Titi, come here at once!"
Everyone fell silent as Countess Gestash suddenly began fluttering about in alarm, as though she'd pressed some invisible button.
"Whatever is the matter, Countess?"
Asha, seated beside her, asked with wide, round eyes as she watched Countess Gestash's frantic movements.
"I completely forgot! I've been keeping birds in the Greenhouse these past few days!"
"Birds? Well, that's certainly possible. But why...."
"They're exotic species, you see. Absolutely stunning creatures, but they seem exhausted from their long journey and have grown quite temperamental. Far more sensitive than I anticipated!"
At Countess Gestash's words, Selena turned to look at her.
Selena's voice carried a note of tension, somewhat strained.
"Surely... you're not keeping those birds loose inside the Greenhouse, are you?"
"Oh! Of course not. But they've become so wild that I couldn't keep them in the small cages, so I hastily placed them in larger ones instead...."
As always, the most crucial detail came last.
"And then?"
"Well, you see, the cage door is rather loose. A craftsman was supposed to come tomorrow to fix it, but I completely forgot about that."
She gazed anxiously toward where the Greenhouse stood.
"Since the birds are so sensitive right now, I placed them in the innermost part of the Greenhouse, which most closely resembles their original environment.... But they've continued to behave restlessly nonetheless."
Countess Gestash, looking utterly flustered, quickly ordered a nearby maid to go check on the Greenhouse.
She also made certain to instruct her not to touch the cage in the very back of the Greenhouse under any circumstances.
'Surely the cage door hasn't opened...?'
Countess Gestash tried desperately to suppress the ominous thought creeping into her mind.
Selena was watching her intently.
At the slightest sign of further distress, she looked ready to spring into action immediately.
Countess Gestash composed herself, forced a smile, and spoke.
"It will be fine. They're merely birds about the size of hawks. You cannot imagine how beautiful they are. It's only that they're rather sensitive at the moment...."
That was the instant.
"Kyaaaaaaagh!"
All the noblewomen gathered there froze as though caught in a stasis spell.
A brief but overwhelming silence descended.
"...Oh, Grace!"
Selena was the first among them to break free from the spell.
"This won't do."
She pushed herself up urgently and bolted from her seat.
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