Ch#85
Spoils of War
Duchess
By Lemon Frog
Episode 85
"You need to write a reply."
"How?"
"You want to meet Talon Young Master, right, miss?"
"Eh? Uh, y-yeah..... For now, wouldn't it be good to meet him...?"
She was glancing around, but her ears were already bright red, and her face was full of shy smiles.
"I'll draft it for you. Write it out by hand and send the letter tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Wouldn't it be better to write it quickly and send it today?"
"This is already fast. Send it tomorrow. Too much eagerness isn't attractive."
Linia looked a bit disappointed, but she had no intention of arguing with Edel's words.
However, she clearly seemed worried about her brother.
"What if my brother says no?"
"I'll speak to the count. He won't object."
"Thank you, Edel!"
Linia excitedly ran off to pick out stationery.
"Ian Talon is coming to have tea with Linia?"
"On the premise that you permit it, my lord."
As expected, Laslo nodded lightly.
"Prepare some refreshments and such. You handle it well."
".......What if Linia falls in love with Talon Young Master? Is that alright with you?"
.
"Do I have to decide if that's okay or not too? A little sister meeting a guy is something I don't really want to know the details of anyway. Just let her handle that much."
As before, Laslo looked puzzled about why she was even asking such a thing.
But he wasn't completely indifferent to Linia's romance.
"Well, Ian Talon isn't bad, at any rate."
"Do you know much about Talon Young Master?"
"The Calliope guys investigated on their own.
The moment some guy dared to ask our princess to dance, the mercenary group's top informants dug up everything on Ian Talon.
He's the second son of Chamberlain Count Talon, quiet and steady, not very sociable despite his neat looks, so his romantic history is clean.
His family relations are harmonious too, and he's likely to become a vassal of House Talon helping his heir brother. He'll probably get a barony at least.
"Clean personal life—passing grade there."
"But can a soft, naive young master like that make our miss happy?"
"It's fine. He'll toughen up naturally once he starts seeing Linia."
"Even at best, he'll get a barony—doesn't that feel a bit mismatched?"
"The guild leader will handle that. A rich baron's house has more clout than most viscountcies."
Laslo was just pretending to be uninterested while storing away every detail in his mind.
"What does Count Talon think? No word since the last party?"
"From his position, becoming my in-law isn't a bad choice. We're in the same boat anyway—it just strengthens the bonds."
"Some might look poorly on the Emperor's closest confidants becoming in-laws."
"That's their problem. With Calliope watching over, Count Talon hit the jackpot."
Edel read the confidence in Laslo's words there.
Confidence that he could easily put down even a son from a greater house than Ian Talon.
"The only concern is whether Count Talon has some other plan behind their meeting. He's not the type to overlook something like this."
"Not someone you can fully trust?"
"Complete trust doesn't exist in my dictionary."
- 3 -
The moment Laslo declared it, Edel felt a sharp pang in her chest. But it was so fleeting she didn't pay it much mind.
"We'll have to observe Talon Young Master closely when he comes."
"It'll be a hassle, but I'm counting on you. If I go myself, Linia will complain, so you keep watch."
...Understood."
"Make sure he's not trying to deceive Linia, doesn't ignore or spout nonsense to her, watch what kind of eyes he looks at her with. You know, that stuff. Got it?"
Edel changed her previous thought.
Laslo wasn't uninterested in Linia and Ian's meeting. He was just pretending to be.
And once she got that far, she finally understood why he'd been oddly quiet since attending House Bliss's party with Linia. And her unprecedented promotion to Linia's dedicated maid.
*He definitely didn't know what humiliations Linia faced in society. If he had, he never would have let it slide.*
This doting brother surely would have stormed the party hall sword in hand.
Feeling oddly pleased for some reason, Edel nodded.
"I'll be your eyes and ears, my lord, and watch carefully."
At those words, a faint smile spread across Laslo's lips too.
However, a guest had visited House Creaser ahead of Ian Talon.
"Thank you for permitting my visit on such short notice, Count."
".........I heard Count Bliss was sending a personal letter, but I didn't expect it to be a young lady."
The woman holding an envelope stamped with House Bliss's seal and a box that looked like a gift was Angela Bliss.
"When Grandfather said someone had to go to House Creaser, you can't imagine how thrilled I was."
"Is that so."
.
"Of course! It's a chance to see you again, Count. Being honest with my feelings—is that burdensome?"
"A bit right now."
"You're surprisingly shy. Oh! This is a limited edition from Bluebird Patisserie—try it."
Angela pressed on with a beaming smile.
But Laslo felt chills for some reason. He'd never felt like prey before a predator since he was born, but now he kind of did.
*A veteran of society battles, she called this woman, while I'm a rookie?*
Edel's cool assessment suddenly came to mind.
However, he hadn't been a pushover even as a twelve-year-old errand boy. Much less now, with some age on him—he had no intention of playing the fool.
"I'd prefer Count Bliss's letter over the pastries."
"Tea hasn't even come out yet—already?"
"True. It feels like you've been here so long I forgot."
At the implication that being with her was tedious, Angela nearly let her face harden, but recalling the rumors that many houses were preparing marriage proposals to House Creaser, she barely managed to lift the corners of her mouth.
"You must have been eagerly awaiting news from House Bliss, Count. Then, even before tea, here's Grandfather's letter."
Angela winked with one eye and handed over the envelope. But Laslo's expression as he took it was just impassive.
Without a word, he tore open the envelope and quickly read the letter inside.
"House Bliss is pasturing about a hundred superior warhorses in Heroz Territory, and if I, the Imperial Guard Captain, form close ties with House Bliss, you're willing to entrust half of them to me............"
It didn't specify what those "close ties" meant, but sending Angela as the messenger made it clear enough.
At Laslo's rather lukewarm reaction, Angela quickly added,
"The horses in Heroz are the renowned Oble Breed and Karkesha Breed, the finest warhorses. Each easily worth over 100,000 ringtons. Grandfather said he's been waiting for someone who truly appreciates their value."
"But to say that, aren't Oble and Karkesha too famous already? Much faster and larger than other breeds—who wouldn't know their value?"
"But few can 'properly' utilize them."
The words "properly utilize warhorses" could sound dangerous depending on interpretation. But Angela just pursed her red lips cutely.
"What exactly does that mean......"
As Laslo irritably started to ask, Edel brought in the tea just then.
Edel's appearance at the meeting with Laslo brought back unpleasant memories from the party for Angela.
Angela stared fixedly at Edel as she silently placed the teacup before her.
Her beauty and aura were unchanged. It was intriguing how someone who had been a duchess erased her own presence like a born butler, quietly finished her task, and withdrew.
"I know a butler pouring tea is the highest guest treatment...... But is this person really a butler?"
Angela cutely tilted her head and asked Laslo.
"Yes."
"Greetings. I'm Edel, butler of House Creaser."
As Laslo answered and Edel greeted her, Angela snickered.
"Who in this world doesn't know that name....... But Count, from what I've seen, heard, and learned, a butler attending and enjoying the family's party doesn't make sense. Is this person really your butler?"
"I don't enjoy beating around the bush. What are you trying to say?"
"Oh my! I'm just saying it out of concern. You need to clarify this person's 'role' clearly, Count, or you'll have issues with your future wife."
Laslo found Angela's attitude utterly ridiculous now.
.
