*** *** *** *** ***
The Buonaparte Palace was surrounded by nine gardens. Most of these gardens were adorned with short trees.
This was a measure to prevent intruders from climbing over the walls, making the external security of Buonaparte the strictest in Fornatier.
However, once entry to the palace was granted, the internal security was not as strict.
This aspect aligned with the temperament of the islanders, who were exclusive to outsiders but incredibly friendly once inside their circle.
As if to compensate for the bleakness of the high stone walls, the interior of the palace was extremely lavish.
Moreover, this time a soirée was to be held for the envoy from Orquenina. The mansion grew more splendid with each passing day.
With the busy hands of the maids, ceremonial tapestries were hung on the walls, and every corner of the palace was decorated with chrysanthemums, water plums, stone flowers, and roses.
Many guests had already arrived at the mansion for the soirée. Fornatier’s premier art museum was turning into a massive nightscape, filling with heat, vitality, and laughter.
The soirée was scheduled to last for three days. On the early evening of the first day, Adele visited Cesare’s office.
Entering the office without knocking, she turned the corner past a large pillar and was greeted by the familiar, beautiful room in a pale blue hue.
Adele quickly spotted Cesare. He was sitting at a walnut desk, looking over documents. He seemed to be dressed early for the soirée and was using his spare time to handle paperwork.
Under his meticulously styled hair, his eyes, like golden velvet, were half-open. He looked like a god of debauchery and pleasure.
Adele quietly stepped along the edge of the office so as not to disturb the god’s work.
The first to notice Adele was a young man standing next to Cesare.
“Ah!”
He was a man who looked three or four years younger than Cesare, with short brown hair and eyes brimming with intelligence.
“Master! Master! We have a guest!”
The man called out to Cesare somewhat frivolously. Only then did Cesare look up.
Their eyes met. Adele tensed from head to toe in an instant.
“Adelaide.”
His eyes, which had been like golden blades, instantly curved into crescent moons. A dimple appeared on his straight, firm cheek.
His voice was low and sensual.
Dressed elegantly from head to toe, Buonaparte’s prodigal son exuded sensuality in his gaze, voice, movements, and smile.
It didn’t seem like the attitude one would take with a younger sister, but Adele silently curtsied. She wanted to get away from this place, from that man’s sight, as quickly as possible.
” May the goddess be with you. Brother, do you have time?”
“If it’s my sister’s request, I must make time even if I don’t have it. How’s your foot?”
“It’s almost healed, thanks to your concern.”
“Did I show concern?”
“I was just being polite.”
Cesare, who was about to resume reading his documents, paused and stared at her intently. His eyes seemed to say, ‘See?’
Adele deliberately maintained an expressionless face.
“I think it was more fun when I first saw you.”
She was confident that this much was okay since he said that.
‘As for the rest.’
The shoes that stepped on her foot or the words that pierced her heart, she decided to forget. Because forgetting was the only option.
“May I attend the soirée?”
At Adele’s dry question, Cesare looked at her intently. His gaze was filled with curiosity.
“That’s difficult. Is that what you came to ask?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.”
His indifferent response implicitly demanded more explanation. Adele spoke calmly.
“…I’ve just arrived in the capital. It’s not so strange to find romance in a ball, is it?”
The man’s eyes, resembling gold, lemon, and shimmering light, stared fixedly at Adele.
Eventually, a charming and affectionate smile appeared.
“My sister is really good at her work. Cute, too. Isn’t she?”
“……”
Fortunately, it seemed she had fulfilled her role as a “sister” without offending him.
Even so, she felt a bit exhausted.
Having achieved her purpose, Adele grabbed the hem of her dress and curtsied.
“Then, since you seem busy with work, I’ll…”
“Before that.”
Contrary to Adele’s desire to quickly return to her room, Cesare gestured to the man beside him.
“Since you’re here, why don’t you two introduce yourselves? This is Gigi, my aide.”
She had heard of Gigi. He was one of the people who “knew the truth.”
Adele introduced herself first.
“Greetings, may the goddess be with you. I’m Adelaide Buonaparte.”
“Hello! I’m Gigi Manfredi!”
Before he even finished speaking, Gigi Manfredi jumped up from his seat. He seemed extremely excited.
“I am Cesare’s aide and the deputy head of the ‘Stellone Trading Company’ operated by Buonaparte! I look forward to working with you!”
Deputy head? He was a much higher-ranking person than she had thought.
“…I’ll speak informally, so please understand.”
“Of course! Hey, I’ve been thinking since earlier, but you’re incredibly beautiful!”
“You’re being verbose, Gigi.”
“But it’s true!”
Gigi continued to chatter without anyone asking, yet his hands were quick to pass or receive documents from Cesare. Despite his noisy mouth, his fingertips were deft.
Seeing the two busy people, Adele really wanted to return to her room now.
She was holding on, but from the moment she saw Cesare, it felt like a thin, delicate knife was slicing away at a corner of her mind.
As she was cautiously retreating, Cesare spoke without even looking.
“You met Lucrezia, didn’t you?”
Adele stopped in her tracks.
“Yes.”
“I heard you received an interesting warning.”
“If that was indeed a warning.”
“It probably was. Epony was my mother’s maid and is more familiar with the language of society than a street shoeshiner.”
Cesare, who said this, paused and murmured as if he found it amusing.
“I expected it, but the story spread faster than I thought…”
His voice was chillingly cold. His eyes, cold and metallic, blinked quietly beside his straight, ridge-like nose.
Even Gigi wasn’t as lively at this moment. He stood there with a cheerful smile, but without any presumptuous actions, holding the documents.
After a while, Cesare spoke again with a lovely smile.
“After the soirée, I’ll assign Bracciere to you, so keep that in mind.”
“…Yes.”
“Don’t go around alone.”
“Yes.”
“That dress doesn’t suit you.”
“……”
What am I supposed to do about that?
“Any questions?”
Adele shook her head silently. She wanted to escape from this dazzling man as soon as possible.
Cesare smiled faintly.
“Go on.”
*** *** *** *** ***
As soon as Adele left, Gigi’s mouth dropped open.
“Where did you find such a beauty? I barely restrained myself from whistling!”
“She just rolled in on her own.”
“Our master is really lucky! If I lived in the same house as such a beauty, my heart would race, and I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night!”
“She’s my sister, Gigi.”
“She’s not your real sister, is she? …I’ll shut up now.”
Seeing Cesare’s gaze, Gigi wisely twisted his mouth shut.
Gigi managed to stay quiet for exactly 10 seconds before speaking again.
“Is Bracciere going to be Mr. Aegir?”
“I suppose so. If I call him now, he should arrive in two days.”
Cesare replied slowly and in a low voice.
His master, who was slightly frowning as he focused on the documents with his handsome face, looked three times more erotic than when he was smiling.
Gigi began to understand the saying, “A man is most attractive when he’s working,” often quoted by ladies.
‘But what does it matter? My master says he has no intention of marrying!’
It’s truly a disaster for the ladies. After a moment of silent reflection, Gigi suddenly spoke.
“But if Mr. Aegir arrives in two days, there won’t be anyone to protect her while Lady Lucrezia is here, right?”
It was a thoughtless remark. However, Cesare stopped his pen.
“…That’s true.”
“Will it be okay? As you know, Lady Della Valle is a bit… well, you know?”
“Hmm.”
His master, who had paused for a moment, soon resumed writing with his pen.
“Nothing much will happen. More importantly, prepare a galley. An older model.”
This time, Gigi kept his mouth shut.
‘Oh dear.’
It seemed he had another troublesome task to handle.
*** *** *** *** ***
The soirée was held in the “Room of Aria” at the Buonaparte outer palace.
It was a long gallery, particularly splendid even among the outer palace, and thanks to the balconies on both sides, it was an ideal place to let out the heat of the ball.
Flavia Loredan walked through the “Room of Aria” with her back straight.
People either stepped aside or recognized her and nodded. Whispering could be heard from behind.
“I heard that Duke Cesare has called her back recently?”
“What could it be about? I thought Loredan would be pushed out.”
“Is he planning to bring her back to the central social circle?”
“It might be wise to strengthen our ties with her in advance.”
A satisfied smile appeared on Madame Flavia’s lips.
Loredan might not be much on its own, but with the power of Buonaparte, she could hold her head high.
For that, teaching a dirty shoeshiner was a small price to pay.
It was while Madame Flavia was strolling through the ballroom that it happened.
“Greeting, may the goddess be with you. Are you having a good evening, Madame Flavia?”
Like a cloud, Lucrezia Della Valle appeared smoothly.
The good mood she had just been in was overshadowed by a dark cloud.
“Greeting, may the goddess be with you. Are you enjoying the ball?”
Madame Flavia replied indifferently.
The status of “Della Valle,” with its priories, was higher than “Loredan,” so she accepted the greeting but clearly showed she didn’t want to engage in conversation.
“Of course. It’s a Buonaparte soirée, after all.”
Despite Madame Flavia’s attitude, Lucrezia smiled innocently like a child.
“The interior decoration is elegant, and the taste is exquisite. Duke Cesare’s eye for detail is truly remarkable.”
“Even Rossi would bow to the Duke’s discernment.”
“Indeed, and the same goes for you, Madame Flavia, who serves him.”
What kind of flattery is she aiming for?
“Thank you.”
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