Roxana
Chapter 32
Chapter 32
How to Protect the Female Lead’s Older Brother
Episode 32
“Lady Roxana, an invitation from Lady Maria.”
Taking the invitation Emily handed me, I gave a subtle furrow of my brow.
I thought to myself that what was bound to come had finally arrived, but that did not make it any more welcome.
Not long ago, Jeremy had come to see me and made a cautious confession.
He had run into Maria by chance, and during their brief conversation, he had inadvertently let slip about Cassis Pedelian.
He said he had naturally assumed word had already reached Maria as well.
Yet apparently, she had not known I had acquired a plaything, and had reacted with great surprise.
It was obvious that Jeremy had picked a fight with Maria first, as he so often did, and blurted out Cassis’s name in the heat of the moment.
Jeremy was generally quick-witted and cunning, but at times he could be utterly foolish like this.
Then again, that was precisely why in the original novel he had spilled everything about the deceased Cassis to the female lead, Sylvia.
Even so, seeing him come straight to confess the truth made it clear that, unlike the incident with Charlotte, he had not leaked word to Maria with any ulterior motive.
Jeremy had looked uneasy, mentioning that Maria had shown great interest upon hearing news of my plaything.
Though he certainly detested Cassis Pedelian, now that Maria was entangled in the matter, he seemed genuinely concerned that harm might come to me as well.
I praised Jeremy for coming to confess the truth to me right away.
He had looked anxious that my reaction might be cold, but his face brightened in an instant, wagging his metaphorical tail.
It was hardly the first time Jeremy had done something so foolish, and the fact that he recognized his mistake and came straight to me was worth commending.
Had I received Maria’s invitation without knowing anything, I would certainly have found it deeply suspicious.
After all, under ordinary circumstances, Maria was never this persistent.
After turning a few thoughts over in my mind, I sent a reply accepting Maria’s invitation.
Though Maria had suggested I bring Cassis along to the tea party, I decided against taking him.
Ever since that last incident, a different air had hung between him and me.
It was only natural.
After what had happened, there was no way he wouldn’t find it uncomfortable to look at my face.
In the first place, the reason Cassis had acquiesced to my actions back then was likely because he already understood what role he ostensibly played as my possession.
Since then, there were times when he would gaze at me in silence, and that look of his was never entirely gentle.
I wrapped a bandage around my arm, which had not fully stopped bleeding even after feeding the poison butterflies.
The frequency with which I fed blood to the eggs in the incubation chamber had noticeably increased. It was a change brought about after Deon’s return.
I gazed out the window where the sun was slowly sinking.
Maria’s tea party was tomorrow.
This would be only the second time I attended.
Maria’s tea party was held in the glass greenhouse located at the center of the estate.
Unlike the greenhouse where poisonous herbs were cultivated, this place was built purely for relaxation.
For that reason, social gatherings like tea parties were held here from time to time.
Of course, as mentioned before, the people of Agriche were exceedingly individualistic.
To the point where everyone ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner entirely separately.
The only time members of Agriche officially dined together was once a month, during the Grand Banquet.
And even then, aside from Lant Agriche, only three children were permitted to attend.
For that reason, Maria was the only person in this household who would gather everyone separately to host a social gathering.
Of course, not all invitees accepted, attending only when they felt inclined to spare the time.
“Welcome, Sana.”
Bright sunlight poured down from the vaulted glass ceiling.
The moment I stepped inside the greenhouse, Maria rose from her seat to greet me.
Seeing her look so genuinely pleased, there were times I felt as though I, and not Deon, were her biological child.
“It seems I’m the last to arrive. Thank you for inviting me.”
I greeted her with a calm demeanor.
Today, roughly ten people appeared to have attended Maria’s tea party.
Because there was only one empty chair, I could tell it was the seat prepared for me.
Irritatingly enough, my seat was right beside Maria.
To the right of where Maria had just stood was the empty chair, and to her left sat my mother, Sierra.
“Sana…”
She wore a startled expression upon seeing me, seemingly unaware that I would be attending today.
The others looked at me with curious eyes or leaned close, whispering in hushed voices.
Evidently, Maria had not given the other guests any advance notice about me.
“Mother, you are here as well.”
Guided by Maria, I walked toward the empty seat.
When I acknowledged my mother seated nearby, the hands resting upon her lap flinched visibly.
Unlike my flustered mother, I was not surprised to see her here.
In truth, my mother’s presence at Maria’s tea party was hardly unexpected.
Unable to refuse Maria’s invitations, she had been called out to such gatherings from time to time.
I already knew it, but she was truly a faint-hearted person.
It was plain to see how intimidated she felt every time she looked at Maria, yet she could not utter a single word of refusal.
In my eyes, the relationship between Maria and my mother was that of a snake and a mouse.
If Maria was the predator, then my mother was the prey—and what was more, prey sitting at the absolute bottom of the food chain.
Furthermore, as mentioned before, the person who had directly killed Asil was none other than Maria’s son, Deon.
Under the observation of the executor, Deon—who had already distinguished himself in every Monthly Evaluation despite his tender age—had executed Asil.
Lant Agriche, who ordered his young son to kill his brother, and Deon Agriche, who followed that command and truly killed his half-brother, were both equally deranged.
Of course, Deon might have simply obeyed because he could not defy his father’s orders, but even so, theirs was by no means a relationship where they could face each other comfortably.
Of course, Maria did not seem to care in the slightest about that matter, but…
No, given Maria’s temperament, she might have forgotten about it long ago.
At any rate, Maria aside, my mother was the type of person who could never move past that day.
Even now, sitting before the refreshment table, my mother’s complexion looked far from well.
“Sana, I had no idea you were coming… You should have given me some notice beforehand.”
Her face darkened even further the moment she saw me. No matter how one looked at it, she did not seem pleased by my arrival.
And with good reason.
For this tea party was no ordinary gathering.
That was why, after attending Maria’s tea party just once several years ago, I had never stepped foot anywhere near it since.
Yet from my perspective, I could hardly tell who was supposed to be worrying about whom.
“I kept it a secret on purpose, Sierra. That way it would be a surprise.”
Maria looked between my mother and me with great satisfaction, as if we were flowers in both of her hands.
In stark contrast, my mother’s face, wearing a forced smile, was steadily turning pale.
To be like this before the tea party had even properly begun.
I wondered if my mother might actually faint once the atmosphere reached its peak.
From the rumors I had heard, the atmosphere hadn’t changed much at all from when I attended all those years ago.
“Seeing Sana at the tea party after so long puts me in such a good mood. Do come more often from now on. Look, Sierra is delighted as well.”
Well, she hardly looks delighted.
“If I have the time.”
I replied tersely, then lifted the teacup before me.
With its clean taste and deep fragrance, it was clearly of the highest grade. Yet it did not suit my palate.
Most of those gathered here were Lant Agriche’s women, along with a few of their children.
“It would have been much more entertaining if Sana’s plaything were here as well. Don’t you all agree?”
At Maria’s words, the others chimed in agreement.
“Indeed. I was truly shocked when I heard Sana had taken in a plaything for the first time.”
“I caught a glimpse of him last time, and I think he’s the prettiest plaything I’ve ever seen.”
“True, which is why even Sana took an interest.”
“I’ve never seen him before, so I was looking forward to catching a look today. Why didn’t you bring him?”
Glares of regret and curiosity poured over me. Maria, too, added with a smile as she looked at me:
“Exactly. I even had a cage prepared especially for Sana’s plaything today.”
Just as she said, several large cages shaped like birdcages were set in the middle of the glass greenhouse.
Inside them, the playthings of those attending today’s tea party were on display, serving as a spectacle.
The most extravagant birdcage in the center was empty, which was likely the place prepared for Cassis.
Had I brought Cassis here, he would undoubtedly have suffered that very same fate.
If that had happened, would Cassis have stayed docile?
Since I had already branded him for show, putting Cassis on display here to flaunt him wouldn’t have been a bad choice, but…
It was not as though I lacked other options, and there was no need to deliberately bring Cassis here of my own accord and incur his animosity.
“My plaything is rather shy around strangers. He might bite anyone other than me.”
At that, the curiosity in their faces deepened even further.
