Chapter 55
“What is this? You’re so arrogant, trusting in my brother!”
“Exactly! Not too long ago, she wouldn’t have dared even look at us, and now she holds her head up high…! Sigh… I was so upset I couldn’t even sleep.”
As Camille fanned herself to cool her flushed face, Angela encouraged her from the side.
“She never turns down a party invitation, so she’ll definitely come tomorrow. And since she’ll be alone, why don’t you introduce her to a ‘suitable’ partner, Brother?”
Enoch immediately realized what Angela meant by a “suitable partner.”
“I know just the person. He’s 32, still single, only likes young women, has bad manners, and, unfortunately, isn’t very attractive. He’s always a lone attendee, so it works out perfectly!”
“Who knows? You might just end up matching them up!”
“Hahaha! They might actually suit each other.”
They imagined Rinia, looking awkward beside a shameless lecher, appearing without any of her usual allies. The thought alone lifted their spirits, and their smiles were even more radiant than usual.
“The fact that Brother’s last day of vacation is at the Bliss family’s party… It’s like fate!”
“I’m not going.”
“Oh, come on, Brother!”
Rinia hadn’t stopped pestering Laszlo about it. Ever since she found out that the party on Camille’s invitation was on the last day of Laszlo’s break, she had persistently bugged him up to the day of the event.
For Laszlo, dressing up and going to a party he would usually avoid felt like torture.
Not just the party—he was honestly getting nervous about returning to work.
However, Rinia, who was thrilled with her brother’s new appearance, was determined to show him off at the glamorous event.
“I want to show all those people who called you a country noble or a mere mercenary!”
“And I don’t want that. So, stop bringing it up.”
Laszlo, who was watching Idel sort through his wardrobe, silenced Rinia’s attempt to protest further with a sharp “hush!”
Idel found their sibling dynamic both amusing and enviable. Outsiders would probably never guess Laszlo’s true nature.
“I think it would actually be good if you escorted Miss Rinia to the party this time, Count.”
Idel spoke cautiously after observing the siblings, causing Rinia’s pouting expression to brighten instantly. Laszlo, on the other hand, looked quite displeased.
“Did I ask for your opinion?”
“I apologize.”
Idel continued organizing his clothes with the same calm focus, hanging new outfits and draping unworn items on the couch. Some attire, like his formal suit, took longer to tailor, but simpler items had just arrived that morning.
Focused solely on his task, Idel didn’t offer any explanation beyond his apology, which made Laszlo feel a bit unsettled.
“Why do you think that, anyway?”
Unable to bear the silence, Laszlo finally asked.
Idel, who had been smiling slightly, turned to Laszlo with a more serious expression. He gave an answer he knew might irritate him.
“Because you can’t win a fight if you keep running away.”
“Avoid? Me? Avoid what?”
“You’ll find out. It would be good for you to see the ‘social world’ that Miss Rinia has been facing on her own.”
Had any other servant spoken like this, they’d likely be dismissed on the spot for such audacity.
Yet Laszlo couldn’t bring himself to be angry.
Idel’s gaze was so earnest that it felt almost severe.
Laszlo felt properly chastised.
“Sigh…”
Rinia immediately understood the meaning of his sigh.
“So, we’re going together, right? We’re going together?”
Laszlo didn’t reply, but Rinia, thrilled, leapt with joy and hugged Idel. She didn’t add any more comments, worried that her brother might change his mind and cancel.
And so, Laszlo found himself unexpectedly preparing to attend the party.
Idel selected the best of his formalwear for tailoring, which Laszlo was now going to wear sooner than expected.
“Did he plan this day all along?”
Laszlo wondered, putting on the outfit with a reluctant expression.
The tailored suit fit his body like it was brand new, almost too comfortably.
Having always preferred looser fits for ease of movement, he was surprised that the snug fit actually felt even more freeing.
With the addition of a new belt, shoes, cravat, and brooch, it really looked like a completely new outfit.
“I didn’t want to say this, but Brother, you look amazing.”
Rinia, also dressed elegantly in a new dress, clapped her hands in delight.
Trying to suppress a blush, Laszlo adjusted his cuffs and walked out briskly.
“We’re going to be late. Let’s go.”
“Yes! We’ll be back soon, Idel!”
Idel waved goodbye at Rinia, who clung to her brother’s arm and didn’t seem the least bit discouraged by his attempts to shake her off.
Laszlo, ultimately unable to resist, would likely let her hold onto his arm.
The Bliss family descended from the royal family of the Kingdom of Zerva, absorbed by the Empire 200 years ago.
While it wasn’t conquered by force, it was annexed for practical reasons, and the family still held their heads high, carrying themselves like royalty.
“They still think they’re royalty.”
Laszlo muttered as he stepped out of the carriage.
The mansion’s decor, with its distinct Zervan style, exuded an air of pride.
Although the current Count Bliss family leaned towards the imperial faction, Laszlo saw them as a family ready to become the next Lancaster duchy at any time.
Of course, Rinia was more interested in appearances than political implications.
“Brother! We really need to spruce up our garden. Look at how every other house has such gorgeous flowers!”
Laszlo, of course, had eyes too; he knew their garden could use improvement. But if he was going to hire anyone, it would be a butler before a gardener.
‘Once I find a butler, they’ll likely handle hiring a gardener. But first, I need to get the guards’ training back on track so I can focus on house matters again.’
The resentment towards him within the royal guard had lessened, but many of the knights, who lived comfortably without financial worries, found his training regimen overwhelming. That was understandable, considering he trained them the same way he had trained mercenaries—people who risked their lives to earn a living.
But for now, Laszlo had to focus on being Rinia’s “decent enough” partner rather than his royal duties.
Meanwhile, as the atmosphere heated up at the Bliss mansion party, lively conversations were exchanged—although not all were moral or appropriate.
“Young Master Bliss! When is this ‘young lady’ you promised me arriving? You’re not pulling my leg, are you?”
Viscount Benito, his face flushed with lecherous anticipation, was eagerly awaiting the young lady Enoch had hinted would be his partner for the evening.
Enoch found Benito a troublesome associate, but avoiding him wasn’t an option. Benito was a major investor in several Bliss family ventures.
“Of course not! The party has only just begun. She’ll arrive before eight.”
“Oho, so it’s soon.”
“If you like her, just give me a little signal. I’ll handle the rest.”
“Haha! Excellent, excellent! If things go well with her tonight, I’ll make an additional investment in the Bliss family business!”
Boasting loudly, Viscount Benito went off to fetch more wine. Alone now, Enoch hid a sly smile behind his champagne glass.
“Rinia Chrysis… Angela came up with quite an elegant solution.”
Rinia was just the type Benito fancied—a young woman not yet twenty, with no one here to protect her if anything went awry. A perfect target.
If Benito found her appealing, Enoch planned to lead them to a secluded room and wait for Rinia to emerge in tears.
‘If she refuses to marry Viscount Benito, I can threaten to expose what happened tonight. In fact, for a woman like Rinia Chrysis, Benito isn’t such a bad match.’
A nasty grin crossed Enoch’s face, a sharp contrast to his usual amiable expression.
He’d learned that achieving success meant using any means necessary and keeping his ruthless, cutthroat side hidden from others.
That was how the Bliss family had transformed from a “ruined royal family” into a “distinguished imperial house.”
Just then, a servant approached him, leaning in to whisper something.
