Translator: Nox

Ch#117

Chapter 117

As Edel headed back to the drawing room after seeing Barbara off, she sensed something off about the servants' atmosphere. Their smiles were stiff, and they kept glancing at her.

*What's going on?* Then Linia's head suddenly popped out from the second-floor railing.

"Brother. Edel."

Her voice calling them was much quieter than usual.

The moment they saw Linia, Edel and Laslo realized one more hurdle remained before them.

As Linia came down the stairs toward them, Edel whispered to Laslo.

"Miss Linia will be angry."

"I'm the one getting married, so why her?"

"Miss Linia loves you far more than you think. Just a few days ago, she came to me venting her worries about your marriage."

"Linia likes you too. Once she knows this is the best way for your future, she'll understand."

Though he said that, Laslo looked a bit anxious himself.

Linia, who had run up to them, grabbed Edel's arm and pulled her away from Laslo, asking worriedly.

"Edel, are you okay? Brother dragged you off, and then you were crying and screaming in the drawing room... What did he say to you?"

It was blatantly an attempt to protect Edel from her brother.

Far from feeling slighted, Laslo hoped Linia would maintain that attitude through the conversation ahead.

"Linia. I have something to tell you."

"Yeah?"

"It's probably important to you too. Shall we talk in the drawing room briefly?"

"What? Why are you being so scary?"

Linia looked at Edel anxiously, but Edel just nodded and gripped Linia's hand tightly.

Linia followed them to the drawing room, looking intimidated.

.

In the meantime, Margaret had tidied the drawing room and brought out fresh hot tea, but Laslo stopped her as she tried to leave.

"The head maid should know in advance too, so sit with us."

That only heightened Linia's curiosity. Her brother, who had merely announced 'I'm becoming a count, so deal with it' when he received the title, was suddenly including her among the 'adults.'

"Ahem! Linia."

"He's never called my name so seriously before..."

It was hard to speak under Linia's worried gaze, but he took a deep breath and said.

"Edel and I are getting married."

A short silence followed Margaret's gasp, feeling eternal to Edel and Laslo.

But their worries were unfounded.

"Kyaaah!"

Linia jumped up from her seat and started hopping around like a child.

"Li, Linia?"

"Oh my gosh, what do I do, what do I do! Edel is really going to be my new sister-in-law!"

She spun around in place before rushing to Edel and grabbing both her hands.

"So I can call you sister-in-law now, right? No, it might be rude to be informal! Can I call you sister-in-law?"

"Mi, Miss...?"

"What miss? Just call me Rin. Okay?"

Edel and Laslo couldn't comprehend Linia's sparkling eyes, like fireworks exploding.

"Linia. You understand what I said, right?"

"You're marrying Edel, right? Yeah? I didn't hear wrong?"

"Y-Yeah... that's right, but..."

Releasing Edel's hands, Linia clutched her pounding chest with a face about to burst from happiness, as if her heart might leap out.

"I've always thought how great it would be if Edel were really family. I thought it was just my dream since you were such a fool and so blunt, but that dream came true!"

"And yet you told me to find Edel a remarriage partner?"

As Laslo asked discontentedly, Linia pointed at him.

"I told you not to look far, didn't I?"

"That was what you meant, you...?"

Laslo finally let out a helpless laugh.

But Edel still looked tense.

"If I marry the Count, it could cause issues for your marriage prospects too. Despite that, the reason I have no choice but to marry the Count is..."

Edel exchanged glances with Laslo before explaining the circumstances surrounding this pardon.

House Canian trying to extract information on Laslo through her, Marquis Winblair seeking any pretext to attack the emperor, and the best way to avoid them was changing her affiliated house within the grace period.

Even after hearing it all, Linia's expression didn't change.

"So, why would that cause issues for my marriage?"

"High noble houses won't send proposals if the Count takes someone flawed like me as his wife. Not for you either."

"Brother. Isn't my marriage issue already settled?"

"It is. I just haven't told Edel yet."

Linia shrugged boastfully at that.

"I'm getting married to Sir Ian next year. So what if other houses don't send proposals? It's not like I'm marrying multiple times."

Then she frowned discontentedly and pressed.

.

"And what's flawed about you, sister-in-law? Bring anyone who points fingers at you! Let's see how many are better than you."

"That's what I've been saying. The woman once called the perfect duchess saying that—what does that make a guy like me?"

With even Laslo saying that, Edel had nothing left to say. It seemed ridiculous to keep apologizing when they were fine with it.

"Thank you for understanding and accepting."

"You're going to be my sister-in-law now, so speak comfortably."

"I can't yet. I'm not a noble until the marriage..."

"Then Brother, get married quick! You have to within a month anyway, right?"

Laslo chuckled seeing Linia stomping her feet like a child begging for a birthday present early.

"I'll gather the servants this evening and announce the marriage. The steward becoming the lady of the house might shock them, so we should tell them sooner."

"Oh, right. You know the servants are all shocked? They think something huge happened in the drawing room."

Margaret nodded at that.

"Everyone's agitated. It looked like you were very angry at the steward, my lord."

Only then did Laslo regret his thoughtless behavior.

"Guess I'll have to soothe them one way or another. Wonder if Oliver can handle a generous dinner order."

Laslo sent a servant to fetch Oliver.

Oliver, summoned to the drawing room for the first time, looked tense, but upon hearing Laslo's order, he forgot to compose himself and gaped.

"Pardon? Roast enough meat to feed all the servants too? It's... past 4 p.m. now...?"

"Send someone for bread and pastries, use the jam and butter we have, and raid the wine cellar for drinks—no problem there."

"So, you're saying serve the Count's wine to the servants too?"

"What's wrong with that? More importantly, can you roast enough meat for everyone by 6?"

Oliver blinked in shock before nodding with a determined face, imagining the servants' joy over fine food.

"Beef will cool if we roast that much. Better to prepare chicken—it stays tasty even if slightly cooled. Is that alright?"

"I don't mind!"

"Understood! If we fill the ovens, we can manage. Some charred bits are inevitable, but they'll eat it anyway."

"Good. Go ahead right now."

"Yes, sir!"

Oliver dashed to the kitchen and began pulling out the chicken from the storage.

"Edel, rest until dinner. You exhausted yourself earlier."

"I'm fine..."

"I'm not. Your face is still pale, tear stains and all. You need to fix your hair too."

"Ah..."

Only then did Edel realize her disheveled state. There had been too many shocks today.

But with urgent matters ahead, she couldn't just sit idly.

For Laslo's honor at least, she had to look more beautiful than ever at the marriage announcement.

"Then I'll rest a bit and come down properly dressed."

"See you later."

As Edel and Margaret left, only beaming Linia and slightly awkward Laslo remained in the drawing room.

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