Ch#52
“Of course, some turn away because of the Count’s background. But for those desperate for connections, you’re actually quite an appealing prospect, miss. Since Count Criserus is currently close to His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Then why have you ignored me so much until now?”
“It might be unpleasant for you to hear, miss, but nobles still gauge others’ discernment. Their own reputation depends on who they associate with, so they can’t help being sensitive.”
They hadn’t approached because they didn’t want rumors of fawning over a vulgar woman, even though the ‘sole blood kin of the Imperial Guard Captain favored by the Emperor’ was so tempting.
And it meant her own discernment wasn’t actually that bad.
“I didn’t get the reaction I hoped for, so I left everything to Marsha right away. I was such a fool.”
Every time the humiliations she’d endured came to mind, Linia felt wronged. If she’d known befriending nobles was this easy, she wouldn’t have lived like a fool for the past three years.
It was a bit sad that no one around her had pointed out her wrong choices.
But not anymore.
*Spoils of war*
*Duchess*
Edel coming to our house was pure luck!
Marsha was still desperate to belittle Edel, but Linia ignored her completely.
On the contrary, Edel was a ‘teacher’ she absolutely couldn’t afford to lose.
“By the way, Miss Linia, does Count Criserus dislike parties? I haven’t heard of him attending any.”
Truly written by Lemon Frog
Linia, lost in thought, snapped to attention when the party host mentioned her brother.
“My brother’s too busy. There are even days I don’t catch a glimpse of him.”
“Oh, really?”
“That’s how the Imperial Guard Captain position is, they say. Protecting His Majesty leaves no room for leisure.”
“Exactly, exactly. Still, it must be a shame not seeing your beloved brother often.”
Laughter erupted.
Linia was now handling such conversations with ease.
- 2 -
.
“Brother!”
“Don’t overthink it. Ladies your age are just peers. Noble daughters don’t receive any extraordinary education.”
Laslo, who had arrived just minutes earlier than Linia, tossed his jacket aside carelessly, undid a few shirt buttons, and slumped into a chair with a sigh.
Thanks to Edel’s advice, conversing with peer ladies felt much more at ease.
His fatigued face, the casual glance her way without surprise, the rolled-up sleeves revealing veined forearms—it all felt decadently alluring.
Moreover, her position as the ‘sole family’ of Imperial Guard Captain and Count Laslo Criserus earned her treatment above most noble daughters.
Edel felt like she’d glimpsed his private side and quickly averted her eyes.
But it didn’t faze his sister Linia at all.
*Yeah, let’s keep going like this. I don’t need great lady treatment. Just don’t be a burden to Brother…!*
“Ugh, look at that sloppy getup.”
Around that time, her brother became the topic among the ladies.
“Why pick a fight again?”
“But Count Criserus looks a bit scary. Oh, not in a bad way! As His Majesty’s guard knight, he should look intimidating. But for romance… he seems kind of difficult…”
Instead of answering him, Linia whipped her head toward Edel and said,
“Right… sort of… free-spirited looking… that’s nice and all, but his clothes are like some country noble fresh to the capital…”
“How about Miss Linia helping your brother a bit? He should marry soon. Then he can help find you a match.”
“Edel! Do something about our brother, okay?”
“Pardon? Wh-what do you…”
They’d all been circling around it, but Linia caught on instantly.
*Wait! It’s not my looks that are the problem— it’s Brother?*
Edel, dragged there without a clue, could only panic. Of course, Linia cleared it up soon enough.
“I had my issues too, but Brother’s even more of a problem! They say he looks like a country noble new to the capital! That he seems unromanceable!”
Laslo had worn far rougher clothes during his mercenary days, so Linia hadn’t imagined his attire drawing mockery.
And the one to respond was Laslo himself.
*That self-grown hair and beard—I’ve hated the sight of them for ages.*
Linia gritted through the remaining time, vowing to somehow fix her brother.
“Still, they said he looks noble-like. Good enough.”
“Good enough for what?”
“Why should I care about that nonsense? I’ve got enough real headaches. Butt out already.”
His attitude, treating her words like a child’s tantrum, made Linia clamp her mouth shut before asking in a serious tone.
“Edel! Come with me.”
“You’re not even thinking of marrying me off?”
The moment she returned from the party, Linia grabbed Edel’s wrist and barged into Laslo’s room.
“I’d marry you off in a heartbeat if I could.”
Edel could only stammer and get dragged along.
“Jeez. With Brother like that, no wonder all the marriage proposals are coming my way. Should I just marry a commoner? Then there’d be no issue.”
She let out a sharp cry the instant she entered the room.
As Linia started sniping, Laslo furrowed his brow.
.
