Chapter 68
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Chapter 68
I lay in bed, spinning lazily as I spoke to Dale—a habit, really, searching for him as my conversation partner.
"...."
I expected Dale to arrive soon with milk tea sweetened with five sugar cubes, yet he did not come. The silence was palpable.
Our shared routines had become far more familiar than I'd anticipated. Six months had already passed since we began this contractual arrangement.
Unbidden, Dale's face drifted through my thoughts.
Or was it simply that I wished to see his handsome features?
"...What could it be?"
I clutched the pillow and sat up abruptly.
Dale and I were merely bound by a contract to share the same house—nothing more.
So why did I long to see him so?
The moonlight streaming brilliantly through the window seemed to stir something sentimental within me, and I furrowed my brow.
"Is it natural because we've been together so long?"
Yet after running away, I had never yearned to see my parents or Emma the way I yearned for Dale.
...What is this?
I sipped the milk tea Emma had left behind, tilting my head in confusion.
Dale prepared milk tea perfectly suited to my taste, but this was astringent and slightly bitter.
"I suppose I've grown too accustomed to Dale."
That seemed to be the reason.
Dale was considerate and comfortable—someone who felt like an older brother, or perhaps a dear friend.
"I wonder how our Dale is faring?"
I gazed quietly at the cup.
Without me, he might eat carelessly and struggle to sleep properly...What if something difficult happens to him?
I'm so worried.
* * *
"Ugh!"
I held my breath and squeezed into the newly tailored dress.
"Argh! I ate far too much cake in the meantime!"
"Miss, put some strength into it!"
I barely managed to fasten the dress before collapsing onto the sofa, utterly drained.
"Miss. You must rise. The guests will arrive shortly."
"Mmm...."
"Once this event concludes, Mother has promised you may venture wherever you wish."
Mother had struck a bargain—my appearance at the charity bazaar in exchange for permission to go out.
"As if she doesn't know that once my face is revealed, my freedom will be curtailed."
"I consider it miraculous that Madam has made even that concession."
"True enough."
I rose with the assistance of Emma and the other servants.
My elaborately adorned reflection gazed back at me from the mirror, yet now it felt strangely unfamiliar.
Only two ducal houses existed in the entire Empire, and I was the daughter of one of them.
My appearance was resplendent enough to justify such a title.
Silver hair that shimmered with each step, jeweled accessories draped across my neck, ears, and wrists.
Even holding a fan in my hand, I felt utterly—and thoroughly—uncomfortable!
"Did I really live like this before?"
"Before you ran away, Miss, this level of attire was merely standard—even when you remained confined to the house."
"Was it really?"
The memory had already grown hazy.
Looking at the mirror, fragments flickered at the edge of recollection....
"But what about this bracelet, ring, and earrings? Did I even own such things?"
"These were among the birthday gifts you received, Miss. We selected them because they transcend fleeting fashions, they're beautiful, and they appear quite valuable."
Emma smiled warmly as she observed my reflection in the mirror.
True to her words, the accessories were extraordinarily lavish. At a glance, they practically announced 'I am extraordinarily expensive,' and even I was astonished to be wearing them.
"Today belongs to our young mistress, so we must adorn you with the most beautiful things."
"You're right, Emma."
I turned to face her directly.
"This is the charity bazaar where each house displays their treasured heirlooms."
It was the Lockhart Family's annual event—each house brought items to display, and the proceeds were returned to society.
Though conceived with noble intentions, such gatherings always harbored ulterior motives among the attending nobility.
It was an opportunity to cultivate connections with the rising noble factions, and with the most distinguished houses assembling, many considered a mere invitation to be an honor.
And this year's event held a unique significance—the unveiling of Enya Lockhart, the mysterious young lady who had been shrouded in secrecy, making her formal debut in High Society.
Naturally, I too had to contribute a treasured item.
"What if we offered these very pieces I'm wearing today?"
"...Pardon?!"
"Jewels of this caliber must be gifts from Mother, Father, or Grandfather. If the mysterious Enya Lockhart makes her first appearance in High Society wearing these, and then we auction them off, they'd fetch an extraordinary price."
I considered the idea seriously.
"Then it would generate substantial profits, and all of it would be donated anyway. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
"Oh, no! Miss!"
"Why?"
"I heard it wasn't a gift from Master."
"Then who on earth gave me something so expensive?"
Father was not the sort to accept such lavish gifts from outsiders.
Given the risk of it being construed as a bribe, he would have refused such luxury items outright and returned them immediately.
"Tell me who gave this to you. Emma. I suspect you already know."
Yet Emma deliberately avoided my gaze, stammering uncertainly.
"Did you buy it yourself?"
"No? Emma loves Miss, but I don't have that kind of money. It's incredibly, incredibly, *incredibly*... expensive. I've even appraised stolen goods before, so I know."
"Really?"
A gift that expensive? It would have to be from Mother, Father, Grandfather, or perhaps...
"My brother?"
"No, Young Duke wouldn't have the financial means for that right now."
"That's true—he didn't inherit the estate... wait?"
It made no sense, yet an ominous thought crept into my mind.
"...Could it be?"
Emma's expression grew awkward as she averted her eyes.
It couldn't be. Surely not.
"The Emperor?"
* * *
"Why do I have to keep doing this now that Adeline has finally shown up?!"
Nicola bit her nails as she spoke irritably.
The carriage had just arrived. Having fortunately received an invitation to the Lockhart Duchy Estate's bazaar, Nicola Portnum stomped her feet, reluctant to disembark.
"A man called a marquis saw me at the boutique before. Adeline is the Emperor's fiancée, and that marquis must be Marquis Schultz, who is His Majesty's confidant. So why would he invite someone like me from a mere viscounty? He must know that I've been impersonating the lady!"
"Stop this and get out now."
"I don't want to!"
"Nicola."
A man's cold voice called out to the whining, defiant Nicola as he opened the carriage door.
"No more excuses—can't you hurry up?!"
"Why should only I be locked in the Lockhart Duchy Estate's dungeon? I won't! This is all because of Duke Hexagon!"
"You foolish girl!"
As resentment spilled from Nicola's lips, her uncle scolded her.
"You've been paid generously. Isn't it good news for you that the real Adeline has revealed herself? As you said, you don't have to pretend to be the lady anymore. This time, you just need to attend—what's the problem?"
"...."
"Stop complaining and go already."
"But—"
"You're not the only one invited to today's bazaar. We've invited most of the nobles currently in the Capital. We were fortunate."
Baron Portnum chuckled, stroking his mustache.
The Lockhart Duchy Estate's bazaar—a gathering where the most distinguished nobles assembled, and they too had been invited.
The Portnum Viscounty belonged to the Old Nobility Faction, which stood apart from House Lockhart.
After Duke Hexagon's fall from power, they had merely been running errands for a severed connection, when suddenly they received an invitation to the bazaar.
All Duke Hexagon had ordered them to do was something inexplicable—tarnish the reputation of Adeline.
'Impersonate Adeline and cause a scandal.'
Having faithfully carried out that single instruction, they had received the promised compensation and at least avoided the family's immediate ruin.
Adeline, who had long since reached the age to debut in High Society yet remained hidden, could only have her reputation damaged by someone impersonating her and causing trouble.
But now it was time to stop.
"This is the last time. Duke Hexagon said so himself—just observe Adeline and report her condition. We don't need to think about anything else; we just need to do that."
Duke Hexagon had issued a peculiar order.
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