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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Partner
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Jayden's sudden declaration was enough to fluster our entire family.
The stunned marquis asked his son.
“Is something wrong with you?”
Jayden just calmly shook his head.
“I'm perfectly fine. There's no law against having one's brother as a partner, is there?”
“Well, that's true, but…”
“Then, there's no need to look as far as Sir Lehman. Just take me, Sister.”
“Uh, huh?”
Suddenly, the focus shifted to me.
“Do you dislike the idea of me as your partner?”
“No, it's not that… but you're busy with your heir training and meetings.”
“What's the date?”
I hastily examined the invitation.
“Four days from now.”
“I'm free that day. And even if I had something scheduled, I would clear it.”
Oh my, what's gotten into him all of a sudden?
Because Jayden's stance was so firm, it was settled that he would be my partner. Regardless of my own wishes.
After the meal.
“Wait, hold on!”
“Sister?”
I called out to Jayden, who was heading back to his chambers ahead of me, and pulled him into a secluded spot.
“What on earth are you thinking?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why do you want to be my partner?”
“Wasn't that matter settled earlier?”
I only held back from questioning him further because our family was watching; it didn't mean I was convinced.
“Don't change the subject. Tell me the truth.”
“There is nothing to hide.”
Jayden was as elegant as ever.
“I want to be of help to you, Sister. That's all.”
“Why all of a sudden? You… you used to hate me.”
His expression clouded over slightly.
“I cannot deny that. I truly did not like you very much.”
“Right, so…”
“But seeing how you've changed, I've begun to think I may have misunderstood you.”
“Huh?”
“So, I will endeavor to improve our relationship.”
“No, well, you don't have to go that far.”
“…Or perhaps you dislike me so much that you don't even want to try?”
Jayden's eyebrows drooped slightly—just a fraction.
But even such a minute change, coming from someone who never seemed to show such an expression, struck a strange chord within me. It was as if I were the bad guy.
I squeezed my eyes shut. No matter how pitiful Jayden seemed, I couldn't give in.
‘He's the one who's ignored Charlotte all this time! Who knows what ulterior motives he might have!’
So I can't give in. I can't, I can't, I can't… I can, I can, I can, I can.
‘Ahem!’
When I came to my senses, I was in a carriage, and across from me sat a well-dressed Jayden.
Several days had passed, and we were now on our way to the Mosella estate for the tea party.
I was struck by an important fact I had forgotten for some time.
‘That's right, I've always had a weakness for pretty faces!’
Even before my transmigration, I'd suffered from a chronic affliction: the inability to refuse a request from a beautiful person, regardless of their age or gender.
Because of this, I'd ended up doing all the work for group projects in college and was even nearly proselytized to on the street.
In fact, fear and guilt weren't the only reasons I'd agreed to let Raynerd and Yugen sleep in my bed.
‘This guy is also incredibly handsome.’
I admired Jayden's radiant beauty, which seemed to shine especially bright today.
It was a well-known fact, but seeing him all dressed up for the event made me realize it anew.
Just as I was desperately trying to force down the corners of my lips, which were curling up on their own, my eyes met Jayden's.
“…Is there something on my face?”
“I was just looking because you're handsome.”
“Pardon?”
Oops. I'm so sincere when it comes to faces that my true feelings slipped out before I knew it.
“Ah, thank you for the compliment.”
Jayden offered a subtle smile at the sudden compliment about his looks from his sister, with whom he'd been on bad terms.
His expression seemed a mixture of bashfulness and awkwardness.
The atmosphere in the carriage grew awkward. I wished we would arrive at the Mosella estate as soon as possible.
* * *
The gardens of the Mosella estate.
Even though the tea party had yet to begin, the guests, gathered in small groups, were chatting happily.
“Oh, have you heard?”
“Heard what?”
“Well, they say Young Lady Lindsi is coming here today.”
“Good heavens. Is that really true?”
“Of course. I heard it directly from Young Lady Mosella, the host. She said she sent an invitation to the Lindsi marquisate out of curiosity and actually got a reply!”
Insincere sneers painted the faces of the crowd.
Other attendees craned their necks one by one, eavesdropping on the conversation about Charlotte.
Charlotte Lindsi was, without a doubt, one of the most entertaining topics of gossip in high society. In a bad way, of course.
“To show her face in public after that incident. I suppose you could say that's just like Young Lady Lindsi.”
“Still, considering she's kept a low profile for half a year, isn't that quite an effort for Young Lady Lindsi?”
“Oh? But that's a bit strange. Grand Duke Hiklrid isn't attending, is he?”
“You're right. It is odd for someone who always chased after the Grand Duke.”
“Perhaps…”
A young lady spoke up, her gaze fixed on a man and woman under a distant gazebo.
Young Lady Mosella was stuck to a man with soft silver hair and jewel-like violet eyes, showing no sign of leaving his side.
The man's name was Kirie. He was the current Archmage's top disciple and the most likely candidate to become the next Archmage.
The story of how the emperor himself had invited him to be the royal court's advisory mage, under the pretext of promoting friendly relations between the empire and the Magic Tower, was famous.
Nearly every noble in the empire wished to form a connection with this promising mage, but that wasn't the only reason Kirie garnered so much attention.
“She might be here to see Sir Kirie. He has a different kind of charm than Grand Duke Hiklrid, after all.”
A blush crept onto the face of the young lady who continued speaking as she watched the pair.
His background as a great mage already exuded a mysterious charm, and his looks were more than enough to bewitch people.
Some even described him as a spirit of a snow-capped mountain.
Someone shook their head at her speculation.
“Oh, come on. You know how Young Lady Lindsi only ever had eyes for the Grand Duke.”
Many people agreed.
“That's right. Young Lady Lindsi may have a poor personality and background, but she is single-minded in her devotion.”
Just then, a young nobleman brought up a rather interesting topic regarding Charlotte Lindsi.
“Who do you suppose Young Lady Lindsi's partner is? You must have a partner to attend.”
“I wonder. She always said she'd rather die than be with any man other than Grand Duke Hiklrid.”
“I doubt a partner capable of handling that temper even exists.”
They all burst into laughter.
“It's obvious. Some poor vassal from the Lindsi marquisate must have been sacrificed.”
“Or perhaps some pathetic fellow who doesn't care about anything as long as the face is pretty.”
Just then, a maid from the Mosella household came to announce the arrival of the Lindsi family's carriage.
It seemed Charlotte Lindsi truly was the talk of the town, as even Young Lady Mosella, who had been completely engrossed with the great mage, came out from the gazebo to look.
Following behind her, Kirie watched the path leading from the estate's main gate to the gardens, his eyes gleaming.
A pair, a man and a woman, entered the party area set up in the garden, guided by an attendant.
The woman was Charlotte Lindsi, with her impressive wavy orange hair and cat-like eyes. The man escorting her was…
“That's Jayden Lindsi!”
Someone cried out in surprise.
Jayden Lindsi. The eldest son and heir of the Marquis Lindsi family.
Though from the same family, he held a reputation completely opposite to that of his sister, Charlotte.
Skilled in both martial arts and literature, handsome, with impeccable conduct. He wasn't called the empire's most eligible bachelor for nothing.
So why would someone like him appear with Charlotte, whom he was known to not even associate with?
The only plausible scenario they could imagine was that Charlotte, unable to find a partner, had begged and cried until Marquis Lindsi forced the duty upon his son.
Just then.
“Ah.”
As everyone watched, Charlotte stumbled, her foot catching on a stone.
“Sister!”
Jayden supported Charlotte's body, preventing her from falling.
“You should watch where you're going.”
“Sorry, I can be a bit clumsy, can't I?”
“…I didn't mean to scold you. Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Then that's a relief.”
The attendees' jaws dropped at the sight of the two, who seemed to be on surprisingly good terms.
No matter how they looked at it, they could only conclude that something had gone wrong with Jayden's head.
While the others just stared blankly, the party's host, Young Lady Mosella, stepped forward.
“Welcome, Young Master Jayden Lindsi. And Young Lady Charlotte Lindsi.”
Evelyn Mosella named them both, but her greeting was clearly directed only at Jayden.
“…”
“Thank you for the invitation.”
However, Jayden remained silent, and Charlotte responded to the greeting.
“…Please, enjoy yourselves.”
Evelyn awkwardly excused herself.
Strictly speaking, Charlotte was the one invited to this tea party; Jayden was merely accompanying her as her partner.
Evelyn should have greeted Charlotte first. In other words, Jayden's silence was a pointed remark on her rudeness.
Just as the atmosphere was turning awkward right from the start, another variable appeared.
“Greetings, beautiful lady.”
Suddenly, pop, an orange tulip appeared and was offered to Charlotte.
“I wish to present you with this flower, which suits you so well.”
It was Kirie, Evelyn's partner, who had given the flower to Charlotte. Evelyn bit her lip.
The image of Charlotte coldly rejecting Kirie automatically formed in the minds of many.
As if to prove she only had eyes for Grand Duke Hiklrid, Charlotte would usually lash out fiercely at any other man who showed interest in her.
“Thank you. The tulip is quite lovely.”
But, shattering everyone's expectations, Charlotte simply expressed her thanks and accepted the flower.
