"Anyway, Count Riphaely would never allow it, so it's not wrong either way, is it? If she happens to be spiteful, at least know why she's acting that way."
A waiter automaton approached as the words ended and set down cake plates. Since this was all it did, it had to do it well, and the automaton really did set things up perfectly. Esperanza admired the cleanly angled setting.
Already accustod to it, Cordelia didn't even glance as she stabbed her fork into the lavishly decorated cake and began talking about Mabelwood again.
"And, even if anyone asks, I'd prefer if you didn't ntion that you're going to Mabelwood."
"That's not difficult, but why?"
Cordelia's shoulders, which had been lively all day, drooped. She spoke while dejectedly stabbing at her cake.
"Honestly, there probably isn't anyone who would particularly want to co to Mabelwood right now."
No one knew the details about the incident that occurred in Mabelwood. Even Kendrick, who was a judge, only knew it in general terms, and only the fact that such an incident had happened was known through the broken engagent with Dunbarton. Nevertheless, there was no reason to 'particularly' go.
Perhaps it was because of a lingering uneasiness in people's minds. Even in an age when airships could circle the world in a week, superstition still powerfully dominated people.
"I'm hoping that if Lord Avondale and Esperanza visit, such rumors might die down. Either way. That's why grandmother allowed it too. And most importantly, no matter what happens, Esperanza will be safe, right?"
Cordelia giggled while making punching motions. While pushing aside her mutilated cake. Esperanza suddenly felt doubtful.
That day, at least that day, Cordelia probably couldn't think to have doubts. She would have been surprised and tired since sothing big had happened. But the next day, and the day after that, didn't she have doubts?
How 'lady' Esperanza Hunter had such force. Why she didn't even blink when faced with a gun, one loaded with magic bullets at that.
"Oh my, that's only natural. Esperanza, you ca from Paolun, didn't you?"
Ominous.
"People from Paolun are all martial arts masters, right? Do you also wake up at dawn to ditate, Esperanza?"
Ahaha. Esperanza laughed awkwardly. Should I say that prejudice saved ?
"But do those people teach such things to Osdern people too? Didn't you learn from so reclusive martial arts master?"
"......It's like a riding club."
So like weekend sports? Or an early morning soccer club? If Cordelia ever t a real Paolun person, this lie would probably co back to her tenfold.
"It must be quite common. How wonderful. I'd like to travel too...... but they say to go after marriage. Even then, don't even dream of going to the colonies. Esperanza, the colonies aren't that dangerous, are they?"
"Well, yes. People live there too."
She roughly recycled a similar excuse from before. You couldn't escape the imperialism that perated like air.
"Before going down to Mabelwood, would you like to co to our tea party once? Lucinda, Sylvia, Gloria and the others you saw before will co. A few more will be added, but they're all unmarried ladies. We'll play card gas, sing songs, and it would be nice if you told us about Paolun too."
Esperanza, who had no talent for making up even similar stories about Paolun, awkwardly smiled and declined.
"I'm helping Lord Avondale with his research. It would be difficult to find ti. To go to Mabelwood, I need to finish the current research, so I'll be busy for a while too."
"Ah, I see. I didn't think of that."
Fortunately, Cordelia was quickly convinced. It was fortunate she didn't persistently probe like soone else.
"So when did you say we're going down?"
"Didn't I ntion that?"
Cordelia smiled brightly while brushing back her long blonde hair.
"In a week."
Really, Cordelia was impatient. Very much so.
??????°??☆????°??????
"A week? That's impossible. No matter how much I rush, I need at least 2 weeks. I need to take leave and prepare."
"I suppose so, right? Then we can go separately."
Cider blinked. The gear he was trying to fit inside the machine went askew and made a clang sound.
"You and ?"
"What are you talking about? Obviously us and Cordelia."
"That would be a good idea. If Lady Cordelia is attached too, it'll be cramped, uncomfortable, and no fun."
"Why are you so harsh toward Cordelia? She's my friend."
He had no grudge against an eighteen-year-old young lady. Even if he wanted to have a grudge, there had to be contact points to have one, and they had no contact points. Even if there were, he probably wouldn't have been interested.
"I'm just stating facts."
"I think she's much better compared to Viscount Poulsbury."
"I agree with that. And that person isn't my friend."
"You're alumni though? Aren't you sowhat close?"
Cider brushed the dust around the gear with a brush, then erged from the machine and said:
"Do you think I would have played around having picnics with alumni?"
"That's a bit... disgusting......"
"Consistently rude as always."
Cider clicked his tongue at the openly distorted expression. Esperanza soon smoothed her expression and giggled.
"But where are you alumni from? University?"
"No, college."
"Ah, you went to such a place too. Wearing shorts, boys living together in dormitories, performing plays and reciting poetry......"
"That's a very narrow perspective."
It wasn't entirely wrong. Though they didn't wear shorts.
"It didn't suit
at all, so I skipped grades. But they still count
as alumni."
"Ah, yes, I see."
If school doesn't suit you, you skip grades.
"Anyway, whether Lady Cordelia is your friend or not, if more people join, there's less we can talk about."
"That's true."
Esperanza answered nonchalantly. Did they really need to have important conversations? It seed like they could spend ti well enough just chatting like now.
"Esperanza, I know what you're thinking, but it's five hours by train from here to Mabelwood."
No one told
that!
The fountain pen that suddenly approached her face gently lifted and closed Esperanza's jaw.
"You didn't discuss this with your friend?"
Cider sneered. Esperanza threw the cushion she was holding. Cider caught the cushion and chuckled. Just as a second round was about to begin, the sound of bells announcing the hour ca from the clock tower in the plaza outside. Cider put down the cushion as if he had never been fooling around with Esperanza.
"Now, let's go out."
Being pushed out by the back, Esperanza grumbled.
"What on earth are you doing......"
What secret research was he conducting? Esperanza firmly decided she wouldn't be surprised even if there were corpses in the laboratory.
??????°??☆????°??????
Cider Russ Claiborne. He really didn't give a single hint for the entire two weeks.
'I have to leave for Mabelwood this afternoon!'
Esperanza colored the map with a sullen face. The reason it took longer than expected was that during that ti, Esperanza had been busy being dragged around shopping by the girls, buying ribbons that Annie would like, and going to et Jack.
And from the incompetent information broker, she received news that he couldn't find the hunter, along with tourist report-level information about Mabelwood territory.
"I have no words to offer. Regarding information about the hunter, as you instructed, we searched centered on hunters who deal with the magic goods store owner, but he says he doesn't rember anything either. The only thing certain is that they're not real relatives."
He doesn't rember anything. It was too shallow to be a lie or a ploy to cover up the situation. If he really didn't rember anything, then that hunter was likely a much more dangerous person than Esperanza had guessed. Probably not even a hunter.
"Our fault is great in this matter. We won't take money for this part. We'll return the advance paynt too."
She deducted it from the remaining paynt for information about Mabelwood and took the Mabelwood information. It also detailed how the marriage with Dunbarton had progressed and how it had been overturned.
Honestly, this was as entertaining as a popular novel, so the tedious organizing work was sowhat delayed.
"Miss Esperanza, the Count is calling for you."
"What's this about, being awake at this hour?"
Eight o'clock in the morning sharp. A ti when an alert lady would never enter a man's room alone. Esperanza, who had no alertness and wasn't a lady, unhesitatingly knocked on Cider's study door. The employees who had initially whispered about whether this was proper soon accepted it. Those two often went in and out in the evenings, so what about mornings.
"Miss, let
retie your hair."
Even the employee who had initially cheered had beco more accustod than before. Annie, who had loosely braided Esperanza's hair to the side, smiled slyly and trotted outside.
"Why did you call ?"
"I have sothing to show you."
Cider smiled confidently. Esperanza instinctively realized. He was finally going to show her what he had been hiding all this ti.
"What is it? What?"
When she opened the laboratory door and entered, she saw a huge magical device in front of her.
It was a long gun decorated with golden ornants.
"Did you make this?"
Esperanza asked in bewildernt while stroking the barrel.
"I didn't make the exterior, but I did the internal design."
"My goodness."
She was about to complint how pretty the exterior really was. Esperanza closed her mouth for a mont. She should see the internal design before complinting. After hesitating, she asked as if spitting out a lump:
"Are you giving it to ?"
"Of course. Who else would use it. The gun I made."
Reviews
All reviews (0)