Chapter 53
The sunlight must be making it hot for him. No wonder, since he's bundled up in several layers unlike my light attire. The old butler must be suffering. I'll overlook that slip-up from earlier with my magnanimous heart. After all, I'm on another level.
"I'll be sure to tell Madam of your loyalty."
As a former worker myself, I couldn't just stand by while the butler grandfather worked so hard at customer service. Gotta praise him to Marchioness Toten quick. Telling the employer usually gets a bonus or at least a word of praise.
"Are you mocking me right now?"
The sweating butler grandfather now glared at me trembling with rage. What? I only complimented him, and suddenly it's mockery? Does he think I'm teasing him for speaking too bluntly?
I thought that, then nearly fainted seeing my arm on the butler grandfather's shoulder. Why is it there…?
I must've patted his shoulder unconsciously. My habit with our house butler got the better of me…! But how can I help it when the clothes look similar and it came out instinctively!
Now I get why the butler grandfather got mad. Even in a classist society, no one likes a young kid patting their shoulder.
Ah. Eye contact.
As expected! The butler grandfather trembled with humiliation.
But unable to scold a noble lady outright, he swallowed his anger and continued guiding. Worked hard to compliment, but one touch tanked all goodwill. I hate my hand.
"We must have arrived."
Quietly trailing behind the butler, we finally reached the marchioness. Escape at last! The walk to the drawing room felt like a year. Thought I'd dry up and die.
Knock knock.
"Madam, I've brought Lady Rohanson."
"Come in."
A weary, exhausted voice came from inside.
Her actual impression matched. Marchioness Toten looked gaunt despite her plump build, almost skeletal at first glance.
But as she smiled, the haggardness vanished instantly.
"Welcome. Was the trip here arduous?"
Her speech turned utterly elegant. This is the polish of a lady long in high society. Impressed, I sat opposite Marchioness Toten, and the marquessate maids swiftly set out desserts and tea.
She must've been embroidering before I arrived. No matter how hard I try, I only prick my finger and make alien scribbles, but Marchioness Toten's work looked masterful even at a glance.
"Were you embroidering? I kept you waiting."
"No. Embroidery's just a hobby…. Oh my. Up close, it really resembles you, Lady."
She said the embroidery she was working on resembled me. Embroidering an angel? Well, Evangeline is pretty face-wise. Even I get startled looking in the mirror now.
Lots of sun god statues and paintings on the way here—Marchioness Toten must be deeply devout. No wonder she agreed to chaperone at Gabriel's request.
"It resembles you more, Madam."
"Haha, such sweet words. As Sir Gabriel mentioned, I'll be your chaperone, Lady. I'm Kinder Toten."
"I'm Evangeline Rohanson. Thank you for so readily accepting such a burdensome request."
"No need. Your situation is so pitiable…. If I can help, I should. And I'm doing this to repay a debt to Sir Gabriel separately, so don't feel burdened."
"What kind of help?"
Marchioness Toten smiled without answering and sipped her tea. Ah. Dolliné's lesson. Eating while refusing to answer verbally. Teacher, I caught it! Using today's Dolliné lesson a lot. Gotta report back later.
I picked up my fork too.
Marchioness Toten silently watched me eat for a long while.
Checking my table manners, huh? Gabriel asked, but she wants to judge for herself. Ate carefully.
Too tense—unsure if fork's at mouth or nose. Gonna choke? Couldn't eat more, set it down. Thought I'd eaten a lot, but barely a nail's worth gone.
Right then, Marchioness Toten set down her tea and asked.
"Why enter high society, Lady Rohanson? With Sir Gabriel, it's not for the marriage market. Debuting late might inflate all sorts of rumors further."
That's because Gabriel asked me, not the other way around?
And honestly, no big reason—debuting in social circles is just romanta-sy flow, so I went with it. Even without romance, possessed in romanta-sy, gotta attend a ball once, right?
But can't say that.
No one tells the straight truth in interviews, so gotta embellish plausibly. What to say? Thought up a good excuse.
"Do you know my maternal family?"
"…The Hosakwin Dukedom."
"Yes. Then you've heard they cut ties with my grandfather and mother."
The duke's pampered youngest daughter defied family and eloped with a count—must've been big gossip back then.
"No contact from them when Mother passed, or when I fell bedridden."
Asked our butler—Evangeline's mom sent letters, got zero replies. No funeral attendance either.
"Mother always wanted to speak with Grandfather again. Not her dying wish, but I want to fulfill that longing for her."
Evangeline's mom often wrote in her diary regretting it, wanting to return. Though mostly cursing her husband the count.
Ah, that diary—tore pages to send with requests to the count, thinned it out. He'd treat as annoying notes, but my petty revenge. Who said stay faithful in marriage? Self-inflicted disaster. Wish there were more diaries.
"She got that far, but bearing Rohanson name, I'd face even colder treatment. Visiting directly means door slammed. So hoping to at least see him from afar at the ball."
Pretty plausible for on-the-spot. Tearful gaze would seal it, but no actress—can't immerse that deep.
"Sufficient answer?"
"Is it…?"
Hm? Not the reaction I expected? Thought she'd sympathize with Evangeline, hold my hand saying 'I see….'
Wait. Gabriel requested chaperone, so she knows the full story already?
Seems I picked wrong answer. Should've been honest!
"Did Sir Gabriel tell you beforehand?"
Mumbling how to recover, Marchioness Toten covered her mouth laughing.
"Not the details, but I know he asked you first, Lady Rohanson."
Then why ask debut purpose! Nearly burst brain fabricating excuse.
"Just helping Sir Gabriel, no other reason?"
"Wasn't what I said earlier enough?"
"But, Lady, you said it so dryly for fulfilling a longed-for wish. Truth is, you don't miss them at all, no reason to meet Hosakwin Dukedom, right?"
"Yes. Correct."
Spot on. Romanta-sy view: too late for maternal regret route. My view: miss my mom, not Evangeline's.
Thought I immersed well—acting skills the issue? Wait, Daisy spotting possession due to my poor acting? Thought my goodness shone through! Acting was the problem!
"Then… why say it like that earlier?"
"Sounded plausible. Problem?"
Please say no. Awkward explaining to Gabriel his saved Marchioness Toten refuses chaperone. If asked why, admit lying caught out—goodwill tanks. Scary.
"No. How could it be? Just satisfying my curiosity. Wondered if you had other motives. Of course, regardless of answer, no intent to refuse Sir Gabriel's request."
So without Gabriel, no chaperone flat out.
But really just that? Butler and Gabriel said pity for frail Evangeline like her son. Warned she'd ask treatment secrets.
"I thought you accepted chaperone to ask me something."
"Something from you, Lady Rohanson?"
"Yes. Like 'How did Evangeline Rohanson rise from her sickbed?'"
Smiling, her face cracked.
Wasn't that it?
As butler said, planned firm 'nothing to help with,' but knock sounded.
Before 'enter,' door slowly opened. Marchioness Toten frowned briefly at intruder's rudeness, then startled, jumped up rushing out.
"Cough, cough. Mother…."
"Rider! Why are you out of bed?"
