CMOW Chapter 58

“Darling, you look so cool,” Seraphie whispered sweetly, her voice casual as she used the affectionate nickname.

 

“…For you, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do,” Orkis replied, sounding gentle but with a hint of resignation in his tone. Yet, he still couldn’t bring himself to say the word ‘darling.’ He had even tried practicing by mumbling it to himself before bed, but it only made him feel queasy.

 

“W-What…!”

 

The great madam was struck with the greatest shock she’d experienced recently.

 

“Mother, the truth is, we’re dating.” Seraphie shyly confessed.

 

“Before I knew it, it just turned out this way,” Orkis explained, his voice half-resigned.

 

“Oh my, it just means you’re completely in love with me by now, right?”

 

“The one thing that’s certain is I’ll never win against you, Countess.”

 

Watching from a distance, Lunie leaned over and whispered into Carl’s ear. “I’ve never seen a couple that’s this emotionally dry before.”

 

“What if they get caught?”

 

“That’s what makes it even more fun. I’ve never seen Kis get so flustered like this—it’s kind of cute.”

 

“True…”

 

“It’s a shame that Lord Ester and Peni aren’t here to see this.”

 

Carl chuckled mischievously, thinking how those two would have teased them endlessly if they had witnessed this scene.

 

Pushing through the shock of the sudden public romance, the great madam finally boarded the carriage.

 

“Mother, take this…” Seraphie pulled out a small cloth pouch from her coat. “It contains pieces of the god’s treasures. When you arrive, plant them around the walls of the villa. It’ll be good exercise, and they will protect you.”

 

She also gave her another gift, a necklace made from the god’s treasure. “Keep this close to you, thinking of it as me.”

 

Before parting, Seraphie hugged the great madam tightly, and the great madam hugged her daughter back with all her strength.

 

“I’ll come visit you soon.”

 

“…”

 

“Can I write you letters too?”

 

“Of course…!” The great madam, who was answering her, suddenly lowered her head. “Oh dear, my sweet girl…” She was so overwhelmed with gratitude for everything her daughter had done for her that she couldn’t even speak. She felt endless thanks but also lingering guilt.

 

“Mother,” Seraphie understood her feelings well. She gently lifted the great madam’s tearful face, looking into the eyes of a woman who resembled her so closely. “You’ll be busy when you get there.”

 

The great madam would have to handle all the villa’s affairs and report everything to the capital.

 

“You’ll be busy working all day, studying the things you always wanted to learn, taking walks, and tending to the garden.”

 

“…”

 

“Then, at the end of the day, you’ll plan your schedule for tomorrow and fall asleep happily, reading the letters from me and the children.”

 

At those words, the great madam finally let her tears fall. But she was smiling more happily than ever.

 

“In a family, there’s no need to say sorry.”

 

Seraphie assured her that she had apologized enough and that it wasn’t necessary anymore.

 

“When I and the children go to visit, you’ll have to come and greet us, okay?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“Teacher, can we come to visit too?”

 

“I’ll be waiting for you. Make sure to bring your siblings, okay?”

 

At last, the carriage door closed.

 

“Safe travels.”

 

“I’ll be back.”

 

The carriage rolled through the mansion’s gates, with four knights following in procession. Orkis mentioned that they would stay at the villa complex for a few days to ensure the great madam’s safety.

 

“…”

 

Seraphie stood still, watching until the carriage was completely out of sight. She had a feeling the great madam would be doing the same, looking out the window until she could no longer see her.

 

“…Peni.” Orkis, who had been standing beside her, spoke as he looked in the same direction. “She’s making a magic tool to give to the great madam. It would be nice to give it to her on your next visit.”

 

Seraphie nodded. “Thank you for coming.”

 

“How could I just let the mother of my beloved embark on such a long journey without doing anything?” His words were the same as before, but this time, his tone was more irritable.

 

“I noticed your acting was pretty terrible earlier.”

 

“…”

 

Orkis sighed deeply, remembering his awkward attempt at playing the role of Seraphie’s lover. It was one of the most embarrassing moments of his life. But Seraphie wasn’t exactly a stellar actress herself, so she couldn’t really talk.

 

“Still…” Seraphie lightly patted her fake lover’s back, trying to cheer him up. “Thank you.” Her face lit up with a bright, genuine smile as she spoke.

 

“…”

 

Orkis was mesmerized by that sight. Like a newborn seeing the world for the first time, he blinked slowly, staring at Seraphie as she smiled at him. His back, where she had patted him, suddenly felt warm.

 

“…Are you upset?” Seraphie misinterpreted his silence. “Was it because we were in front of my mother? Don’t worry, I won’t make Lord do something like that in front of the crown prince or anyone el—”

 

“Sera.”

 

“…”

 

Seraphie hurriedly covered her ears with both hands. As she stepped back with a flushed face, Orkis also widened his eyes in surprise. But soon, he drew a playful smile.

 

“Oh my, you’re weak to nicknames.”

 

Seraphie couldn’t find the words to respond. It wasn’t that she was weak to nicknames, but rather, it was only natural to be startled when someone suddenly whispered in your ear. Seraphie was convinced that was the only reason. Otherwise, there was no way her heart would be pounding just from being called a nickname that didn’t even have much impact.

 

As Orkis enjoyed watching her reaction, he looked like an innocent boy. The eyes that were always bored with the world felt pure for the first time.

 

Seraphie felt a tickle at the tip of the nose for no reason. It felt like the unique scent of a fresh summer had become even stronger.

 

“If it’s a nickname, I think I could call you that every day,” Orkis teased, motioning for her to come closer.

 

Seraphie hesitated but eventually stepped forward.

 

“Your intention to tease is too obvious, so I can’t allow it.”

 

“Countess said that practicing things like this makes it a habit.”

 

“I want to punch my past self for saying that.”

 

Still, Seraphie didn’t oppose being called by the nickname.

 

“The great madam will be fine.” Orkis reached out his hand.

 

“She has to be,” Seraphie agreed, placing her hand in his.

 

Hand in hand, they walked back into the mansion, looking like a couple in love.

 

* * *

 

“Why wasn’t I there? I missed a chance to tease Kis for the rest of my life!”

 

“Countess! If something this interesting was going to happen, you should have called me too!”

 

Word had already spread about Orkis’s awkward performance pretending to be Seraphie’s lover in front of the great madam. Peonia and Eks both sent letters to Seraphie the next day, full of regret that they had missed the show. It was true family and friendship, indeed.

 

“Sera, we’ve arrived.”

 

Seraphie looked out the carriage window at the mansion in front of her. Its light green exterior walls and white roof blended harmoniously together. The silver gate gleamed in the sunlight as they passed through.

 

“So this is the Marquisate of Kastane.”

 

The crest of the Kastane family, an oak tree, was etched into the gate they had just passed.

 

“The head of the Council of Elders is Marquis Kastane,” Lunie commented.

 

“I see…”

 

But Seraphie and Lunie didn’t come to meet Marquis Kastane today.

 

“Please come in, both of you.”

 

Lady Batisa Kastane, the marquis’s daughter, greeted them personally. She was the one who had been most enthusiastic about Seraphie’s remarks at the tea party Peonia had hosted.

 

Her long brown hair was adorned with a pale green headband, and she had a gentle, kind demeanor.

 

“Thank you so much for accepting my sudden invitation.”

 

“We’re the ones who are grateful to attend.”

 

“But…” Lunie glanced around at the quiet, almost deserted surroundings.

 

“Um, let’s move to another spot for now.”

 

Batisa suggested, smiling awkwardly as she led them to the parlor. As soon as they were seated, Batisa lowered her head in apology.

 

“I’m really sorry.”

 

Did she put something in the tea? Seraphie quickly set down her teacup.

 

“The real tea party actually starts in an hour.” Batisa explained why she had invited them an hour early. “Thanks to Countess Vallidus’s words at the previous tea party, I was able to gather the courage to speak out.”

 

“Is this about the person who’s been persistently following you?” Lunie recalled overhearing a conversation at the tea party.

 

Batisa nodded solemnly and began to explain. “It started a few months ago. Someone began sending me bouquets, letters, and perfumes, asking to court me. However, I wasn’t interested in marriage, and receiving gifts from someone I didn’t even know was more unsettling than flattering.”

 

She told her parents about the situation, seeking their advice. Marquis and Marchioness Kastane, upon hearing about that, immediately became worried and instructed her to throw away all the gifts.

 

“But then… A few days later, while walking through the square with my maid, a man suddenly approached me, blocking my path and handing me a bouquet. That’s when I knew. He was the one who had been sending me all the flowers and gifts.”

 

He introduced himself as the son of Count Vagolosa.

 

Vagolosa? That name sounded familiar to Seraphie.

 

“…Wait.” Seraphie interrupted, momentarily forgetting her manners. Lunie, who had been listening attentively, was just as surprised by her sudden reaction.

 

“You mean the one who’s close to the crown prince? That Vagolosa?”

 

Batisa, on the verge of tears, nodded. “Yes. The man who sent me all those gifts is the son of Count Vagolosa, one of the crown prince’s close aides.”

 

“This is insane…” Seraphie was at a loss for words.

 

In the original story, the Crown Prince had only three close aides, and now, two of them were causing problems with absurd courtship attempts. Then it hit her. Vagolosa… She had overheard the name in the boutique during the conversation of those gossiping about her.

 

They’re even worse than Katio.

 

Seraphie turned to Lunie. “What is Vagolosa known for?”

 

“That.”

 

Seraphie glanced at the cup Lunie pointed to.

 

“Vagolosa is famous for the tea trade.”

 

They monopolized the distribution of tea, one of the greatest luxuries of the nobility. Even the mighty Mars family wouldn’t dare to compete in that market.

 

No wonder Lady Kastane is in such a difficult position… Seraphie finally understood the full picture. 

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