Ch#120
Arsel thought about Count Aradman.
The Count Aradman family was one of the longstanding noble houses in the empire.
However, no one in recent generations had made a notable name for themselves, and the current count wasn't particularly savvy with investments either.
As a result, their finances were naturally declining.
Of course, that didn't mean the count's family was on the verge of collapse immediately.
They still had their territory, and though their influence had waned, the title itself wasn't going anywhere.
But after Izriella caused a commotion at the Genius Academy, their already diminishing influence had plummeted to rock bottom.
Upon further inquiry, no one in the capital was inviting the Count Aradman family anywhere anymore.
Yet now, inviting Izriella would look to anyone like open defiance against the emperor.
Even though time had passed, the capital nobles still remembered when Clois had hung the bodies of nobles loyal to the former emperor from the Imperial Palace walls.
He had left their rotting corpses for the crows to pick at until only bones remained, vowing to do to them exactly what they had done to his wife and daughter, without laying a hand on them.
The emperor might be living quietly now, but he could do it again at any moment.
Count Aradman surely knew that, so Arsel had thought he'd stay low for at least a few years...
"They've been frequenting Madam Crevel's Shop. Word is they're commissioning dresses for the Seasonal Festival. And learning imperial etiquette in the process."
When he first heard what the informant planted in the count's household had uncovered, Arsel wondered if the entire family had gone mad.
'Showing their faces at this year's Seasonal Festival? At an event held inside the Imperial Palace, no less?'
There wasn't much time left until the Seasonal Festival.
The schedule for the autumn Seasonal Festival banquet inside the palace was already set.
Until last year, the Minister of State had hosted the autumn Seasonal Festival.
'But this year, to commemorate the Genius Academy's reopening, Dean Seraphina is hosting it.'
In other words, the biggest autumn banquet in the palace this year would center around the Genius Academy students.
There was no way Izriella could appear at such an event, yet they were getting dresses made.
He had wanted to dig deeper, but the information Riden had gathered ended there.
Count Aradman was taking considerable precautions around the child named Eve.
To the point where no one in the household except the maid she brought and Izriella could even approach her.
'They're not exactly flush with cash, yet pouring money freely.'
He wondered if the maid had exaggerated a bit in her report. But...
"Haven't you heard? I'm buying all of this! The count said not to worry about money!"
Eve glared venomously at Izriella, who was trying to stop her, and shouted.
"That's true, but... these aren't yours either, Lady Eve."
Indeed, as Izriella said, what Eve was clamoring to buy were adult sizes.
"The nursemaid's coming soon!"
"But..."
"Noma said it. The nursemaid is important. We need her to see His Majesty!"
"Lady Eve, shh!"
At the words nursemaid and His Majesty, Izriella paled and covered Eve's mouth.
'Noma.'
Arsel engraved that name in his mind.
But Eve irritably slapped her hand away and grabbed a hanging muffler.
"Iz, you! If you keep this up, I won't make you my maid!"
Izriella bit her lip at those words.
He had only seen her a few times at the Genius Academy, but even in that short time, Arsel knew she was someone with immense pride.
Yet she was enduring such treatment from a child whose family she didn't even know.
Confirming that everything in his reports was true, Arsel turned his head and signaled the person who had been in the room with him from the start.
The well-dressed man nodded subtly to Arsel, held his glass in one hand, and headed outside.
It was wine specially served to esteemed guests inside Madam Crevel's Shop.
Pretending to pass by Izriella, he naturally spilled the wine all over her clothes.
"What are you doing!"
Startled, Izriella hurriedly checked, but red stains had already spread across her white summer dress.
"Oh dear, I'm truly sorry."
The man bowed deeply, acting flustered.
"Might you give me a chance to make amends for this rudeness? If it's alright with you, miss, I'd like to have you change into one of our garments here, even if hastily."
"Uh..."
Izriella's eyes widened at his words.
This wasn't just anywhere—it was a private area where Madam Crevel's Shop served VIPs.
Moreover, unlike the clothes in the front shop open to anyone, the items here were astronomically priced.
'I wasn't even allowed more than one Seasonal Festival dress myself.'
Count Aradman placed no limits on what Eve bought. But not for Izriella.
That had her already seething with frustration.
'Eve's buying whatever she wants!'
Even as his daughter, she hadn't been allowed to shop like this in the past.
No matter that the child would be recognized as princess, this was too much.
Perhaps sensing Eve's shopping was excessive, the count had called Izriella before today's outing and hinted,
"Shouldn't you help her show some restraint?"
She knew arguing would earn her a scolding, so she kept quiet.
But her stomach churned with injustice.
Cater to Eve's whims, yet skimp on money? Was that even possible?
As expected, she'd been breaking a sweat reining in Eve, who started ordering things that weren't even hers the moment they arrived.
'The nursemaid's coming within a week... Then I can dump all the caregiving on her.'
She had just managed to calm her irritation when some passerby spilled wine, ruining the one outfit she cherished.
Of course her words couldn't be polite.
But new clothes?
'Can I go home in new clothes too?'
And moreover...
She saw Eve, oblivious to her plight, eagerly picking out items nearby.
Even if Eve chose them, Izriella was the one signing at the shop.
'So she'll just have to watch while I'm gone.'
She wanted to escape that irritating child even while changing.
"Then I'll gladly accept your kindness. Lady Eve, I'll be right back, so stay right here."
"Sure!"
Izriella spoke, but Eve was already distracted elsewhere, giving a vague reply without looking back.
Izriella left with the man, guided by staff.
In the hall full of samples, Eve excitedly grabbed and flitted about whatever caught her eye.
'The nursemaid has to go see Dad with me, so she needs the best outfit.'
The Seasonal Festival would draw countless nobles and wealthy people.
It was the place where she'd declare herself as Dad's daughter for the first time before others.
Of course the nursemaid needed to look perfect too.
'But Iz got mad.'
Eve was growing increasingly displeased with Izriella as days passed.
At first, she thought the noble girl she met seemed princess-like.
But she kept subtly snapping at her, and compared to the other nobles she'd secretly glimpsed coming and going, Izriella didn't seem that pretty.
'And she's getting boring...'
Always repeating the same things, Eve thought a new person would be nice. Then she could have more fun...
As she thought that, she turned at the presence of someone else behind her.
That moment.
"Hello?"
Eve froze at the sight of the boy greeting her with a soft voice and bright smile.
'He's so handsome!'
Not just handsome.
While frequenting Madam Crevel's Shop, she'd secretly peeked at the refined guests.
Naturally, there were many peers her age.
To Eve, they all looked like princes.
But the moment she saw the boy before her now, she forgot every child she'd seen until then.
"Do you come here often?"
The boy's voice was pleasant too.
"Not really."
Before she knew it, Eve was behaving utterly politely, unlike how she'd treated Izriella.
"I see. No wonder you seemed unfamiliar. I would've remembered a girl like you."
Eve stared at him, entranced, as he smiled brightly.
For a moment, Eve thought,
'If I become princess...'
Could she play with this boy too?
Noma and Izriella always whispered.
That as princess, she could do anything she wanted.
Have whatever she desired. So...
'I'll take this one.'
She didn't care who he was. Soon she'd be able to do as she pleased anyway.
* * *
Snip. Snip.
Each time the scissors cut, the grape stems fell with a loud snap. Evi focused even harder, continuing to trim the grape stems.
Before long, her apron pocket was full of small grapes.
"Eric oppa, my pocket's full."
"Really? Then let's transfer them to the tub."
Eric grabbed Evi's waist where she'd been perched on his shoulder and gently set her down.
Ruska quickly pulled over the grape-filled tub from beside them.
Once Evi emptied her pocket into it, the tub was soon full.
"Good. This should fill one oak barrel. Then I'll write Evi's name on it."
"Really?"
"Of course. After all you've picked. When you grow up and can drink wine, it'll be aged perfectly, and I'll gift it to you."
"Thank you!"
Evi spread her arms wide in delight and hugged Eric's neck.
"Alright, shall we call it a day? It's not just the vineyard—we have summer apples to pick too."
"Yes! I'll pick apples hard too!"
Evi answered spiritedly, sweat dripping down her face.
Not just Evi.
"Oppa! Can I put these here too?"
Irene approached from the side, her apron pocket also full of grapes.
She'd set aside her usual primness, wearing a straw hat and wiping sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.
"And put my name on that wine too!"
"Naturally. I'd be the disappointed one without Irene's name."
Irene blushed at his affectionate words.
Watching Evi and Irene in turn, Ruska sighed.
"What kind of kids enjoy working... Won't people think we forced them to labor at Marquis Ragselb's?"
Evi shook her head at his despairing voice.
"No! It's really fun!"
It was her pure, unfeigned truth. It was the third day at Marquis Ragselb's mansion.
Evi was running around amid the brothers she called oppa, fully enjoying the estate's abundance.
Wherever she went, people called her smiling.
From morning till evening, they toured the mansion and territory together.
Eating meals, helping with work, watching at the training ground.
The brothers, Ruska, Irene too.
Evi was thrilled surrounded by big sisters and brothers.
