Then, as if thinking of another frustration, she sighed deeply.
“Lord Cesare is being too much. He claims to want to honor the elder’s wishes, yet he refuses to marry…”
That’s exactly right.
Adele thought so, but suddenly realized that she wasn’t much different from him.
Didn’t I come here because I didn’t want to sell my body?
Questions began to arise.
Does that prodigal son dislike political marriage too? Why? He seemed so calculative…
At that moment, a noisy conversation was heard beyond the gallery window.
“What a beautiful garden. I’ve never seen such lifelike marble sculptures before.”
“And what about that fresco? Did you see it? There are so many works by Angela Moss!”
Voices in both the common language and foreign languages, mingling male and female, were heard muffled through the glass.
Soon, a distinctly clear voice interrupted their conversation.
“Buonaparte sponsored many talented artists.”
Cesare. It was him.
At Cesare’s particularly low and sensual voice, Madam Flavia hesitated, and so did Adele.
“Even so, I heard that the artists Duke Cesare recently discovered are causing a revolution at the Horizon Academy? Your eye for talent is truly remarkable.”
“It’s Buonaparte’s great joy and blessing.”
“His Majesty is also grateful…”
“You’re all flattering me too much.”
Cesare and his group moved away without noticing the two women holding their breath.
Adele pondered their conversation.
‘Denonese…’
While all countries were gradually using the common language like Soruk, independent languages still remained, especially around the royal families.
Among them, Denonese was spoken in the central continent’s Orquenia and Lutier.
“It must be an envoy from Orquenina.”
Madam Flavia said, thinking the same thing.
“An envoy from Orquenina?”
“Yes. Prince Adilot has ascended to the throne. Although his reign isn’t stable yet, he must want to save face with Bonaparte’s help.”
Madam Flavia, forgetting that she was speaking to a shoeshine, gazed out the window.
Santenare thrived on trade and artisans’ artworks.
And Orquenina was the nearest land and the biggest trading partner of Santenare.
Orquenina had always been fiercely contested for the throne, and a few years ago, Cesare abruptly declared his support for a prince.
Everyone tried to stop him, but Cesare did not waver.
And the prince, who had no support base, grew terrifyingly fast and became the emperor.
Meaning.
“Your brother’s influence will grow stronger in Signoria.”
Madam Flavia nodded at Adele’s words.
“That’s right. Embarrassingly, I was one of those who tried to stop the Duke. But in the end, he was right.”
Adele remained silent.
‘Handsome, wealthy, from a good family, capable…’
What could possibly be lacking in that man?
Although abandoned by his parents, he didn’t seem to consider it a weakness.
Madam Flavia, who had been gazing out the window, turned back to Adele.
“Anyway, since there will be many outsiders for a while, refrain from entering the outer palace.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Adele obediently nodded. She would hardly have any chance to meet them anyway.
*** *** *** *** ***
A week passed as quickly as the waters of the Lacrima River. Adele received daily lessons from Madam Flavia.
“Again! Keep your eyes on your opponent until the very end when leaving!”
Madam Flavia harshly pushed Adele, and Adele silently endured it.
She always liked studying. It was easier compared to making a living.
In exchange, she got delicious meals and a warm bed, which was a good deal.
Moreover, Madam Flavia’s education, from Adele’s inexperienced perspective, was excellent.
She taught Adele pronunciation, etiquette, the language of social circles, and how to walk. She also instructed her on how to compliment without belittling oneself, how to address ladies of higher rank, and how to gracefully decline a gentleman’s invitation.
“To become a member of the upper class, attending balls is essential. All the power of Santenare is gathered in that small ballroom.”
Once she got used to the basic posture, she started learning the box step.
The pain in her feet intensified. Initially, a night’s sleep would alleviate it, but later, even after sleeping, her feet felt like they were on fire.
Epony silently washed and applied ointment to her feet, but it was no use.
Her feet were crushed again into tiny shoes in less than an hour.
“I will prepare an herbal bath for your foot soak.”
Epony, the quiet maid, stayed in the same room during the lessons.
She would stand by the wall, observing every movement with her glassy sky-blue eyes, regardless of what Lady Flavia did.
She only intervened occasionally.
“Madam Flavia, the young master doesn’t wish for the young lady’s body to be harmed.”
This usually happened when Madam Flavia tried to touch Adele’s arms or face with a stick.
The stick had a small triangular leather paddle at the end. It didn’t leave marks but felt like flesh was being torn off.
Meanwhile, Cesare never once sought Adele.
On the other hand, Adele could often spot him.
“Your gait is petty and cunning due to your humble origins! Walk around the garden to correct it!”
She began her garden strolls because of Madam Flavia’s spiteful education.
It wasn’t hard to spot Cesare among the group. He stood out among the short-statured Santenare people.
Occasionally, foreigners from Trevereum, Orquenina, and Lutier could compare to him, but that was all.
They did not possess Cesare’s broad shoulders and sleek, slender waist, making him stand out from 500 yards away.
“Lord Cesare, can’t you always display the ‘Heart of the Mermaid’ in the room of passage?”
“Yes, it’s too cruel to keep such a beautiful ring locked in an underwater vault!”
“That’s impossible. It would be troublesome if it were revealed that the magnificent ring is merely a pebble compared to the ladies before us.”
Cesare was usually at the center of the group, with a smile that captivated hearts at will.
Even from a distance, people seemed eager to speak to him.
Mostly, it was the ladies who showed this eagerness.
Ladies in Orquenina-style dresses with half-exposed chests, Santenare-style silk dresses, and more ladies.
Many women often brushed their chests or shoulders against his arms.
Cesare didn’t reject them. He simply smiled lovingly, his eyes curved into crescent moons, and kissed their foreheads.
The strange thing was.
‘He doesn’t look particularly happy…’
Adele thought as she passed them from afar without paying much attention.
The prodigal son of Bonaparte. The favorite of fate and the Goddess.
A person with such titles must live in indulgence.
He was certainly skilled and relaxed, but he seemed to be searching for something else. It could be said he looked empty, though it didn’t make sense.
And Adele often felt like she made eye contact with Cesare. This, too, was nonsensical. She quickly shrugged off the absurd thought.
*** *** *** *** ***
She’s not here today.
Cesare thought as he aimlessly looked towards the inner palace while strolling through the garden with a group of people.
Lately, he often saw his ‘sister’ during his strolls.
Adele Vivi. Adelaide Buonaparte.
Their walking schedules must have overlapped. His new sister stood out as a beauty even from 500 yards away, appearing in his sight whenever their schedules coincided. They often made eye contact.
But that was all.
Adele would glance at Cesare like a street sculpture and hurriedly go her way.
Incredible. He had only experienced such coldness from his parents.
“What’s over there?”
Just then, someone clung to his arm. It was his partner for today.
A blonde…
Well. She was a large-breasted lady, but not particularly important.
“There’s usually a mermaid, but I don’t see her today.”
“Hmm?”
The blonde squinted and tilted her head, looking towards the inner palace. In Santenare, ‘mermaid’ often referred to a beauty.
Cesare wrapped her head with his arm and covered her eyes with his hand.
“There’s one here too.”
“You’re so mischievous, Your Grace.”
“Do you dislike that?”
Cesare pulled her head closer and kissed her lightly.
“It’s not that…”
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