Kays Translations

Chapter 256: I Really Wasn’t Told

The House Heine carriage arrived at Baron Ambert's mansion. Baron Ambert and his family were lined up waiting in front of the gate.

Thank goodness I wasn't late. Making them stand there rigidly waiting for me would have left the worst possible impression.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. Thank you for inviting me today."

"Not at all. We only just stepped outside. Welcome to House Ambert. We are delighted to have you."

"I've been waiting for you, Lord Julius."

After the baron gave me a light greeting, Lady Fabienne greeted me as well. She looked somehow happy. Seeing that made me feel a little relieved.

The letters I'd sent from the royal capital hadn't exactly been full of cheerful topics. I'd written about how to make magic potions and the possibility that an epidemic might break out. If anything, they were the sort of things she probably would've preferred not to hear. I must have worried her, and I was sure I'd made her feel uneasy.

And yet, there wasn't the slightest trace of gloom on Lady Fabienne's face.

She must have dressed up for my visit. Her sleeves puffed out softly, her collar framed her neckline beautifully, and her skirt was made from layer upon layer of thin fabric, like the petals of a rose.

She was dressed well enough to attend a royal social gathering, so my own clothes didn't stand out at all. Nero's judgment had been right on the mark. As expected of Nero. If I'd come in my ordinary clothes, I might actually have disappointed her.

Lady Fabienne's dress was based around a pale blue. By contrast, I was wearing my usual navy-blue nobleman's clothes. Standing side by side, I thought we looked pretty good together. If only I had a camera, I would've taken a picture.

"Lady Fabienne, I've been looking forward to the day I could see you again. Your dress is even more beautiful than usual today. I nearly mistook you for a real snow fairy."

"Oh, Lord Julius."

She smiled with her cheeks flushed red. I wasn't joking, though.

Since it would have been awkward to keep talking outside for too long, Baron Ambert quickly showed us into the mansion.

Lady Fabienne had looked a little cold. She could have waited inside instead of forcing herself to stand out there. But perhaps this was simply what happened when a higher-ranking noble came to visit.

Once we were led into the salon, I exchanged greetings with Baron and Baroness Ambert again. Then her parents left with an air that practically said, "We'll leave the rest to you two." Of course, Lady Fabienne still had an attendant with her, and Nero was standing behind me.

"I'm sorry I didn't introduce him sooner. This is Nero, who recently became my personal attendant."

"My name is Nero. I hope you will remember me from now on."

Nero bowed deeply in a perfectly polished gentleman's salute. It looked beautiful. Wait, am I losing to him here? Isn't Nero growing up a little too fast?

"I'm Fabienne. Lord Julius has mentioned you several times in his letters. He wrote that he wanted you as his personal attendant, so you must be a truly wonderful person."

"No, I'm not worthy of such praise."

Nero shrank with embarrassment. Come to think of it, was this the first time he'd been praised so directly to his face? I was glad he'd made a good impression on Lady Fabienne. Nero had a pleasant face, and I doubted she would ever feel uncomfortable having him nearby.

"Lady Fabienne, let me thank you again. Thanks to you, we were able to limit the damage from the epidemic in the territorial capital. The royal capital seems to have had a fair number of patients, and there were places where medicine temporarily ran short. Quite a few people's symptoms also worsened until they developed illnesses of the lungs."

"Please, don't thank me. I only did what I was able to do. Thanks to the magic potions you taught me to make, my ability as a magic pharmacist has become much more widely recognized."

She said that while flexing an arm as though showing off a muscle. I couldn't remember ever seeing a proper young lady do that before, but it was probably Lady Fabienne's way of showing consideration for me. I gratefully let myself smile.

"Your skill as a magic pharmacist is highly regarded in House Heine as well. It sounds as though we've made some unreasonable requests of you more than once… I'm truly sorry."

"I don't believe I pushed myself. I was happy that I could be of use to everyone."

Lady Fabienne narrowed her eyes with a gentle smile. There were limits to what a single noblewoman could do, and only a very small number probably had the opportunity to contribute directly to other people. She truly seemed happy that she'd become one of them.

In the future, Rosalia would probably become one of those noblewomen who could contribute to society too. I was sure Rosalia would be able to live a life she found worthwhile.

"As an apology for asking so much of you, I'd like to give you something… Next time, would you go out into the territorial capital with me and let me give you a p-present?"

"D-do you mean… Of course. I'd be delighted to accompany you."

Lady Fabienne's face turned as red as a bright rose. My own face was probably turning into the same kind of rose. I had never known asking someone on a date was this difficult.

"Good. Let's go before the territorial capital gets buried in snow. Ah, speaking of that, I wonder if the capital will ever be buried in snow again?"

"What do you mean by that?"

Lady Fabienne tilted her head just a little, like some tiny animal. What was this feeling that made me think, I have to protect her?

After that, I told her what had happened on the journey back from the royal capital, and while I was at it, I also told her about the spirits that had come to visit my family home.

Lady Fabienne was extremely interested and said that she wanted to meet a spirit herself, but I kept my answer vague. I was sure she'd be disillusioned if she saw one in person.

Because, at first glance, they looked like complete perverts.

I secured a date with Lady Fabienne and returned home in high spirits, only to find a shocking fact waiting for me.

"What? Mother is attending an evening party tonight? Then is Father also…?"

"Of course he is. What are you talking about, Julius? Mother would never attend an evening party by herself. She also said they might stay there overnight."

"I-I see."

Brother Alex's unexpected words left me so shaken that my eyes wandered into empty space. I glanced over at Nero and found him staring back in astonishment.

…Was I seriously the only one who didn't know?

I really wasn't told about this.

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