Ezkhiel, after lightly tuning the violin brought by the servant, began playing skillfully. It was a piece titled ‘Gentle Memories’, often performed in concerts.
“Quite a thoughtful choice,”
Camilla murmured softly. <Gentle Memories> is a famous piece with a popular melody that doesn’t require complex techniques, making it easy for beginners to play and enjoyable for listeners.
The sonatinas performed by other visitors also didn’t require high-level skills but needed substantial expertise to play properly. However, Letticia, who didn’t particularly enjoy classical sonatinas, often found herself dozing off while listening to any piece.
Yet, since she was familiar with the melody of this piece, she managed to listen to it without falling asleep. Although the performance wasn’t exceptionally outstanding, the absence of the typical screeching sound of violins was praiseworthy.
“An excellent choice, Sir Bright. This happens to be one of my favorite pieces,”
Camilla remarked, clapping her hands. Ezkhiel lowered the violin with an embarrassed expression. At that moment, Lord Jarvis naturally intervened, drawing Camilla’s attention toward himself.
“Do you enjoy violins, Countess? Had I known beforehand, I too would have prepared a violin. Such a missed opportunity!”
“Oh, Lord Jarvis, do you also play the violin?”
“Yes, I was taught by Sir Hardy, the royal court music director.”
“Now that you mention it, Sir Hardy was from the East. Did you start learning as a child?”
“I began at the age of seven. My private tutor came when I was four.”
“Four years old?”
“Yes. Teaching a mere four-year-old proper etiquette—it was truly harsh of my father. Besides that, I also learned writing, dancing, mathematics, and all sorts of things from an early age. On days I argued with my father, I would play pieces he disliked for an hour as a form of revenge,”
Lord Jarvis said with a shrug, laughing. His remark lightened the mood of the room, and even Camilla chuckled before glancing toward Count Selburne and Ezkhiel.
“What about you, Count Selburne? I’ve heard you were an academy peer of Kenneth’s.”
“Since I suddenly became a Count, you wouldn’t expect me to have received the same level of education as Lord Jarvis, the heir to the Marquisate of Jarvis. I only received the kind of education that a relative of a count might typically get while growing up.”
Count Selburn feigned tears with a playful smile.
“However, I suddenly ended up becoming a Count, and I had to completely revise my life plans, leaving no time to learn anything. Originally, I was planning to ask Kenneth for help to get a job at Sharon Jewelry. Did I ever mention that to you?”
“I never conveyed it. You sounded as if you were joking.”
“Oh, what a relief. That saves me the effort of canceling.”
Count Selburne brushed off Kenneth’s comment as a joke, signaling he had no intention of further emphasizing himself.
The last remaining, Ezkhiel, fiddled with the violin before finally lifting his gaze to speak to Camilla.
“I started receiving lessons from a private tutor when I was six. Since I have an elder brother, I only received the education suited for a second son. Later, as per family tradition, I entered the administrative studies department at the academy to prepare for a managerial role.”
“Oh, that reminds me, I forgot to mention the department I graduated from,”
Lord Jarvis interjected abruptly, cutting off Ezkhiel. Letticia and Kenneth’s expressions hardened, but Lord Jarvis, smiling as if to lighten the mood, continued.
“I graduated from the political science department, not as the top student, but with fairly high grades. I initially wanted to study in the Public Administration department to better manage our estate, but being the heir meant I had no choice but to enroll in political science. I find it regrettable, as there’s much to learn from the administrative or business management classes, especially considering the income our estate, Istre, generates from its hot spring ventures. Those studies would have been more beneficial.”
In a sudden shift, Lord Jarvis dominated the conversation, leaving Ezkhiel and Count Selburne sidelined. Without even offering an apology for his rudeness, the viscount kept speaking. Upset by his behavior, Letticia ignored him entirely and focused her attention on Ezkhiel.
“………..”
Ezkhiel, frozen in place while holding his violin, flinched when his eyes met Letticia’s and quickly averted his gaze. Letticia, taken aback, tried to speak to Ezkhiel, but Lord Jarvis turned his conversation with Camilla to Letticia as well.
“Istre is one of the East’s most prominent social cities. Thanks to its many hot springs, people often visit during the winter for leisure. It would be an honor for our estate if you could visit someday, My Lady.”
“I’ve never been to a hot spring before. If the opportunity arises, I’d love to visit, my lord.”
Forcing a smile, Letticia replied, but her mind was still preoccupied with Ezkhiel. Was he simply tired, or was something bothering him?
Letticia wished to speak with Ezkhiel, but Lord Jarvis’s buttery smooth words never ceased, and the remaining visit time ended as his solo show.
***
As soon as the visitors departed, Letticia, unable to contain her frustration, began venting her anger on a cushion.
“Ugh, what is it with that Lord Jarvis—or whatever his name is—chattering on all by himself!”
“He certainly had a lot to talk about. No wonder he’s popular in social circles,”
Camilla remarked with a chuckle, prompting Letticia to explode further.
“Then he should go to the women he fancies! Why come to me?!”
“He came to you because he’s interested in you. That’s his choice, after all,”
“Argh!”
While Kenneth’s rational explanation made sense, Letticia’s irritation remained unresolved. In the end, she parted ways with Ezkhiel, having exchanged nothing but greetings.
Fortunately, Letticia’s focus was entirely on Ezkhiel; otherwise, the visit might have been so lackluster it wouldn’t even leave an impression.
“…More than that, I’m curious about Count Selburne. For someone supposedly coming to court you, he seemed too lukewarm about it.”
Camilla’s words reflected the truth. Among the three visitors, Count Selburne was the most understated in his attitude toward Le5ticia.
Based on the rumors about his conversational skills, he might not have been able to entirely wrest control of the conversation from Lord Jarvis, but he could have at least participated more actively. Instead, he merely nodded along a few times and let it end there.
It was better than Ezkhiel, who barely opened his mouth at all, but still, there was no sign of enthusiasm.
“Kenneth, did the Count say anything particular to you?”
Kenneth replied with an awkward expression.
“Not really. I know the Dowager Countess is determined to marry him off, but Austin doesn’t seem very interested in marriage. Besides, his title as Count came to him rather suddenly.”
“Then Kenneth, you should inquire with Count Selburne directly. And Letticia—”
Camilla, unusually stern, called Letticia’s name.
“I’ve told you before that showing favoritism isn’t good. You should have been more careful.”
“I didn’t show favoritism! I just accepted the gifts as they were.”
“That part was fine. But your attitude during the violin performance gave it all away. That’s why Lord Jarvis blatantly excluded Sir Bright like that.”
It seemed Lord Jarvis’s interruptions weren’t just for self-promotion. Seeing Letticia’s interest in Ezkhiel, he had likely cut off Ezkhiel’s words and dominated the conversation to keep the attention on himself.
‘Doesn’t even realize he’s hurting his own reputation.’
Letticia disliked people who lacked basic manners, no matter how good-looking or eloquent they were. The moment he interrupted Ezkhiel, Lord Jarvis inevitably earned her disfavor.
“…Lord Bright already looked exhausted; do you think he’ll be alright?”
“Well, when he visits next time, we’ll just have to talk things out. But it might be better to wait a few days before speaking to him. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days.”
“True, he did seem pitifully worn out.”
Letticia frowned, recalling Ezkhiel’s face, which resembled a withering plant. If she could, she would have taken him to bed to rest, scolded the cook into preparing a hearty chicken soup, and ensured he got plenty of sleep.
Even workaholics like Lenoa or overly responsible individuals like Lenard didn’t push themselves to that extent. Just how monstrous could Matthias be?
As Letticia sighed and was about to eat the remaining cookies, the butler entered, holding an envelope with a slightly troubled expression.
“My Lady, a visitation letter has arrived for you.”
“A visitation letter?”
A visitation letter was a brief card used to arrange meetings with acquaintances who weren’t particularly close.
Taking the envelope to reply immediately, Letticia froze upon seeing the name written inside the dark green envelope.
The name, written in an impeccable and orderly script, belonged to none other than Seraphina Eskis.
