*** *** *** *** ***
Cigar smoke rises.
While it’s said that the virtue of a cigar lies in smoking it slowly over time, Cesare had never cared about such things.
He smokes when he wants to smoke, and discards when he wants to discard. For him, throwing away 50 gold for a minute’s satisfaction was nothing.
Opening the large window of his office wide, the night breeze flowed in.
On the desk were documents about the small incident that occurred today, submitted by his aide, Gigi.
At the top was Henry Fetch’s personal information.
He was the good-for-nothing second son of the Fetch family, unable to inherit the family name nor capable of independence.
The others involved were similarly unremarkable.
It seemed the decent ones had already shaken their heads at Henry’s behavior and left early.
Yes, that’s the smart thing to do.
Cesare half-closed his eyes and tilted his chin up.
Since they had caused that commotion in the Buonaparte garden, he intended to deal with the aftermath thoroughly. Cesare didn’t particularly like those who didn’t know their place.
Of course, he’d have to accept some losses.
It can’t be helped. He had already introduced that shoe-shiner as his sister. Now, no matter what happened, he couldn’t find a stand-in.
“Huuu.”
Cesare took a deep drag on his cigar, held it, then exhaled. The white smoke dispersed like waves in the night air.
He recalled Adele’s dress hem submerged in the fountain. Scattering just like waves, like a mermaid’s tail.
And her black hair with green highlights glistening like wet water plants, her salt-white skin, her unnecessarily large breasts…
Cesare could bet two ships that the men who were there today were now excited, thinking of Adele.
It was arousing, indeed.
With an expressionless face, Cesare puffed his cigar.
Where did such a thing pop up from? He wondered how she could still be a virgin with that face.
Yet she acted so well.
When Adele kissed his cheek, Cesare was inwardly surprised. He didn’t expect a woman who had the aura to provoke people, yet acted like a frigid woman, to go that far.
When her cheek touched his, he could smell her skin. There was no fishy smell. It was a strangely suffocating scent.
Did he get a little aroused then?
“Ridiculous.”
Cesare frowned, pressing his eyebrow with the hand holding the cigar.
“In the end, she’s just a crippled shoe-shiner.”
If not for that, her appearance couldn’t be explained. Not her face or body, but her feet.
Her feet were like beautiful fish tails. The shape made him want to touch them, but their condition was alarming.
Blood, pus, peeling and rising skin, bruised blue and red all over.
It wasn’t just being disabled, foolish, or idiotic; she was receiving lessons in that state.
This wasn’t Madame Flavia being cruel, but Adele being tough. Tough and stupid.
He had admired her audacity to sneer at the head of the Buonaparte family, but seeing her today, it was just a lack of fear.
“…I told you to let go!”
If not for that, how could she expect to fend off those dark men drooling around her with just those words? It was almost like asking for more.
She should have cursed or invoked the Buonaparte name.
He recalled vividly the way they looked at Adele. They all seemed half-mad. If he hadn’t gone there, they might have really done something crazy as a group. Afterwards, the one with the dirtiest hands would have probably taken her.
It sounds crazy, but Adele had that kind of magic. She effortlessly triggered men’s primal desires. That’s why he brought her in the first place.
If he felt this way, someone like Ezra would be finished the day they meet.
“His expression will be worth seeing.”
The thought of that naive fool panting madly over a shoe-shiner improved his mood.
Cesare lightly put down his cigar. It was time to clean up, if only to witness that scene.
*** *** *** *** ***
Four days later, lessons resumed. Madame Flavia headed towards the Long Gallery in the inner palace with an uneasy feeling.
“Madame Flavia. I don’t mind you educating a misfit, but I’d prefer not to be bothered by it.”
Cesare said, smiling like a boy who thinks he’s cute.
“You’re wise, so you must have understood well. Classes are suspended for three days.”
It was fortunate that it ended there.
The head of the Buonaparte family, born believing it was his destiny to be loved by people, tended to be merciless to those who bothered him.
Except for a few in his inner circle.
‘That shoe-shiner… I may have made her practice too much, but she could have at least pretended to be ill.’
Isn’t this just making herself fall out of Cesare’s favor?
Originally, she had planned to blame Adele’s laziness and argue that she couldn’t stay in Buonaparte.
Madame Flavia’s brow furrowed even more as she walked through the corridor from the outer palace to the inner palace.
‘She must have deliberately overworked herself until her feet were in that state, just to make me hear such words.’
A cunning and crafty woman. Pretending to be innocent about warm meals and beds.
There was another problem. The rumors spreading in high society.
Someone had witnessed what happened in the Spring Garden and started spreading it.
The gist of the rumor was that ‘Cesare Buonaparte has finally fallen in true love and is hiding a woman in the inner palace.’
‘Preposterous!’
Even Henry Fetch, famous for his lack of gallantry, was involved. It was said that he tried to lay hands on ‘Cesare’s woman’ and was severely punished for it.
The fact that Buonaparte had recalled all the large business loans they had extended to several families, including the Fetch family, four days ago only added fuel to the rumors.
The Fornatier social circle was now burning with curiosity about Buonaparte’s love affair, right to the tips of their hair.
“Once the envoy from Orquenina leaves, I’ll immediately announce Adelaide’s existence. Things will naturally quiet down then.”
Although Cesare said so, Madame Flavia still wasn’t pleased with the situation.
How could the name of Buonaparte, which the Loredan family had served for generations, be tainted with shoe polish!
Cesare was the masterpiece of the Buonaparte family. Even the minor issue of his parents abandoning him seemed like the sea goddess’s arrangement to make him stronger and sharper.
Therefore, his name must never be tarnished.
“Why get married? I’m having enough fun as it is.”
The problem was that this ordeal had made Cesare skeptical about marriage…
‘Indeed, the elder’s intention to marry off the Duke by invoking the promise is correct.’
And the insolent shoe-shiner should be driven out as soon as possible.
With these thoughts, Madame Flavia opened the door to the Long Gallery.
“Goddess’s peace be with you. Have you been well, Madame?”
“……”
As she entered, Adele and Epony, who had arrived earlier, greeted her.
Seeing Adele for the first time in four days, Madame Flavia was so surprised that all her previous thoughts were blown away.
It had only been three days since she last saw her, but in that time, Adele had become noticeably more beautiful.
The most significant change was that her once hollow cheeks had started to fill out.
Her well-defined features began to shine.
Adele’s face had no double eyelids, tear moles, aegyo-sal (under-eye fat), cat-like mischievous eyes, and dimples—none of the usual ‘charms.’
Yet, the sophisticated shape and balance of her eyes, nose, and mouth turned all those lack of charms into perfection.
If only it were an artificial beauty.
In her dark blue taffeta dress, standing quietly, Adele exuded an indescribable androgynous allure.
In Fornatier, they called it ‘moisture.’ A face with moisture, like a legendary mermaid luring sailors…
“Madame?”
“…Goddess’s peace be with you.”
At Madame Flavia’s belated greeting, Adele calmly curtsied.
Madame Flavia paced the center of the gallery, glancing at Adele.
Though no words were exchanged, the shoe-shiner’s demeanor seemed more subdued than usual.
If that were all, well, there wouldn’t have been any problem.
But the issue was that this subdued atmosphere strangely drew attention.
If she, an old woman, felt this way, how would others react?
Feeling anxious, Madame Flavia burst out.
“I’ve heard! You showed your wet body and bare feet to gentlemen! If you had just stayed put in the inner palace instead of running around like a wild colt, this wouldn’t have happened!”
Adele’s eyes widened slightly. Then, with dry eyes, she lowered her head.
“I’m sorry, Madame.”
“I told you to correct your gait while walking, not to overwork your feet to the point of stupidity!”
“I’m sorry, Madame.”
“Such insincere responses!”
Adele remained silent. Though her expression didn’t change, she looked a bit tired despite her upright posture.
“Madame Flavia. May I say something?”
At that moment, Epony, who had been quiet all along, interjected.
Madame Flavia hesitated.
“…Go ahead.”
“Thank you.”
Epony curtsied slightly before speaking.
“Although I may not be as versed in etiquette as you, Madame, it seems that the young lady’s gait is now flawless in ‘bella figura.’ This is all thanks to your excellent education. Shouldn’t we move on to the next stage?”
It was a long speech. The intention was clear. Madame Flavia remained silent for a long time.
“Is this Lord Cesare’s wish?”
“The young master has entirely entrusted the lady’s education to you, Madame. Please understand that this is merely my opinion.”
“Then there should be no problem if I refuse.”
“Yes. That is indeed correct.”
“……”
Taken aback by the too-agreeable response, Madame Flavia sharply looked Epony up and down.
“Epony Korre. The maid of the previous Buonaparte duchess and a Popolo.”
And a bat-like woman who once left Cesare to follow Katerina, only to return.
‘Why does Lord Cesare employ such a woman…’
Flavia clicked her tongue softly.
‘He’s usually so strict, yet oddly lenient in strange matters.’
Though she disliked the woman, Epony was trusted by Cesare. Madame Flavia didn’t want to go against Cesare’s wishes anymore. If only to return to the central high society.
“…I’ll consider Epony’s opinion.”
Madame Flavia turned her head abruptly, as if reluctant.
“Though I’m not entirely satisfied, it’s enough not to be pointed at in high societies. We’ll stop the walking practice here.”
“Yes, Madame.”
Adele replied impassively. Madame Flavia grew even more irritated.
If only she would at least pretend to be pitiful!
Madame Flavia tapped her palm with her stick to regain control of the conversation.
“Listen carefully.”
“Yes, Madame.”
“Nobles have gathered in the outer palace to entertain the Orquenina envoy. And among them is Della Valle. What do you think this means?”
“I shouldn’t be noticed.”
Adele answered without hesitation.
“Right. Make sure to avoid areas close to the outer palace.”
“Yes, Madame.”
Adele answered like a doll.
Madame Flavia clicked her tongue, feeling conflicted.
‘Honestly, she already looks like a noblewoman on the outside. But she has too much moisture. Dangerously so.’
Her heart raced with an intangible anxiety. Ignoring it, Madame Flavia raised her stick.
“Let’s begin the lesson.”
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