Ch#54
Edel knew that too, but she just smiled softly.
*Linia reminds me of Lin so often—I can’t dislike her.*
Besides, Linia was changing bit by bit.
She now spoke to Edel quite amiably and tried to give her all sorts of things. Of course, Edel never accepted them,
but still, Edel was grateful that Linia had aired out the atmosphere that had been growing more awkward.
Linia’s ‘Laslo Transformation Operation’ proceeded on a rather tight schedule.
The men’s tailor arrived that very afternoon after his skin and hair care session.
*Spoils of war*
*Duchess*
“We have to finish during Brother’s vacation! Then on his return, ‘Ta-da!’ and reveal it! Everyone will be so shocked, right?”
Linia seemed to be imagining a fairy tale where a soot-covered protagonist transforms beautifully by fairy magic.
Laslo was appalled, but Edel agreed with the idea.
*It might come off a bit silly to suddenly transform and appear, but in Count Criserus’s current situation, they need an event like this.*
Truly written by Lemon Frog
Even Edel could guess that the changing Laslo would become quite the topic at the palace on his return. Whether for good or ill was unknown, but in his current state, creating some buzz like this was better. Without it, drawing attention in high society would be even harder.
*Besides, improving his looks isn’t a bad thing. As Linia said, marriage proposals might soon come his way.*
Imagining Laslo taking a wife made Edel a bit anxious about her own position.
No matter how rumors of her circulated in society, they surely weren’t favorable.
*All I can hope is that Count Criserus chooses a compassionate wife.*
- 2 -
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It was embarrassing, but with the deed already done, Laslo had to endure Nathan’s mockery.
She smiled wryly and flipped through the men’s clothing catalog.
Even lost in such thoughts, Edel skillfully selected outfits that would suit Laslo.
“No, I’m asking seriously. Did His Majesty order this?”
“That man’s been nagging me since forever.”
“Please make one each of these shirts—this, this, this, and this. For outerwear, one each of this and this design. For cravats, one plain silk with a sheen, and one cotton with a pattern at the tip….”
“So His Majesty isn’t the decisive cause… Then, have you found a woman you want to impress?”
“How’d your mind jump there?”
“Men usually do for that reason.”
Laslo, watching Edel’s selections, furrowed his brow.
Laslo sighed, shook his head, and tossed out the answer casually.
“Why buy so much? I’ve got plenty already.”
“We’re throwing those all out. We need to replace them entirely, so this is already the minimum.”
“It’s Linia, Linia! That girl’s been whining so much my ears hurt.”
“What? Why toss perfectly good stuff?”
“No, when did the boss start listening to Miss Linia like that….”
“…they’re not perfectly good.”
Muttering Nathan shut his mouth as Laslo’s glare turned fierce, but Laslo thought for a moment and said,
Edel clenched her molars and replied.
Seeing Laslo view those shabby shirts as ‘perfectly good’ felt like a thorny path ahead, drawing a sigh from her.
“It’s what I’ve been putting off. Because of that, Linia suffered.”
Linia clapped beside him, laughing gleefully.
“So you’ve finally resolved to do something about it?”
“That’s why I’m doing this annoying crap.”
“Yay, so refreshing! Seeing Brother get scolded is too fun and exciting! Edel, more! More!”
With that answer, Laslo fell silent, skimming Nathan’s report.
In the end, Linia got a flick on the forehead from Laslo and yelped, while Edel sighed again and checked the order form from the tailor.
Someone knocked on the office door then.
There was still much left to do.
“Come in.”
As Laslo’s dry response ended, the door opened and Edel entered. She paused upon seeing Nathan.
“Wahahahaha!”
“I didn’t know you were in a meeting. I’ll come back later.”
Nathan, who had come to report on matters after a long time, laughed for ages at sleek new Laslo.
“Ignore this guy. What is it?”
His mercenary comrades would probably react the same.
“To get approval for the men’s accessories purchase plan.”
“Hand it over.”
“Who on earth turned the boss into this?”
“Shut up, please.”
Laslo set down his document and quickly skimmed the one Edel handed him.
.
*The boss smiled when that woman entered.*
“Buying quite a lot.”
“If the cost is a burden, I can reduce the brooches and buckles by one each.”
It was momentary, but Laslo definitely smiled. He even immediately set aside the serious report to focus on her. The man who’d been indifferent even to approaching beauties!
“No need. You put them in for good reason.”
*The boss has changed… Seems like it’s because of a woman after all…?*
Laslo signed the bottom of the document, handed it back to Edel casually, and said,
Nathan couldn’t yet judge if this was good or bad, so he kept it to himself.
“Proceed.”
“Understood. I’ll take my leave.”
Thus ended Edel’s brief visit. Laslo returned to his document as well.
“Brother! How’s the party prep going?”
But Nathan, watching the scene, unwittingly tilted his head.
“Angela! Camille! Come on in.”
“Why’s that woman buying the boss’s accessories?”
Aeneok, future heir to the Bliss Count title, grinned widely at the two beauties.
“Who in this house has better taste than her?”
Angela’s cousin and grandson of the Bliss Count, he was helping his mother prepare the garden party this time.
“Th-that’s true, but wasn’t she a laundry maid?”
“Yeah, due to some circumstances, she’s now Linia’s exclusive maid.”
“I was worried since it suddenly got chilly the other day, but thankfully tomorrow looks splendidly clear.”
“A garden party hosted by our devout great-aunt? Of course it’ll be clear. Para must be blessing it.”
Nathan blinked again.
Angela even praised Aeneok’s mother, creating a warm, friendly vibe.
“No way—the one who prettied up the boss like this was that woman from earlier?”
Aeneok saw no reason to hold back his laughter either.
“…the phrasing irks me a bit, but yeah. Why?”
The two renowned society beauties taking interest in this party was welcome.
“No, just feels weird. Her status seems to be shifting more and more….”
“We’re just using her because she’s the only one capable for urgent tasks. Status, what status?”
“So what brings you here? You’re not supervising party prep—Aville’s doing that.”
“But….”
“Not that! Actually, I have a favor to ask you, Brother.”
“A favor? I’d grant anything you ask! Just say it, Angela.”
Nathan, unsure exactly what irked him, simply closed his mouth.
Angela and Camille beside her smiled even more at her cousin’s assurance.
*But they look much closer than last time. Am I overthinking?*
“Remember when I gave the party invitation to the Criserus lady…? At Camille’s sister’s party.”
Overreacting from that brief talk might be oversensitive, but having stuck by Laslo so long, Nathan noticed the change right away.
“Oh! You suddenly asked for one invitation, so I rushed it over. What about it?”
- 3 -
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