Chapter 32
“To be honest, I still wanted to observe His Majesty the Emperor’s actions, but my mother wanted to meet Count Crisis. I think Count Crisis might also know the reason.”
Laszlo nodded briefly.
He could almost guess that this meeting had been arranged solely at Barbara's behest.
“The fact that the invitation came a month after Idil sent her reply suggests that it took a month for the Grande Madame to convince the Marquis. Isn’t that right?”
Barbara, who was scrutinizing Laszlo intensely, asked:
"How is Idil?"
Laszlo recalled the things Barbara had considered and dismissed before asking this question. Although he was currently in a position of power in the relationship, he wondered how things might unfold in the future.
He finished the remaining black tea in his cup and answered.
“Would someone who was born and raised as a nobleman find it comfortable to live as a maid? Moreover, recently she has been suffering from an illness caused by the jealousy of the head maid.”
Barbara's eyes widened.
"What? Are you saying that a head maid harmed a nobleman?"
“Please watch your words, Grand Lady. They are no longer noble.”
Laszlo's response upset Barbara. The fact that Edel, who was more noble than anyone else in social circles, was now in a position where she could only helplessly submit to the master's destructive schemes was sad.
Barbara gritted her teeth and composed herself, trying to calm her emotions.
"Didn't you take any action despite such incidents occurring in your home?"
“Initially, I contacted a skilled doctor who examined her and prescribed medication. She stayed in the guest room to recover. She has improved significantly now.”
"And a head maid?"
“I warned her, so that she wouldn’t act recklessly in the future.”
"Since she was humiliated, she was probably planning a more elaborate revenge."
Laszlo laughed quietly.
“I suspect that those who ignored my warning do not know what happened to them…”
He tilted his head slightly and looked at Barbara, and said lightly.
“If they continue to ignore my orders, well, it seems that women are not destined to live long.”
Marquise Celestine looked a little nervous under Laszlo's skillful pressure, but Barbara maintained a non-shrinking posture, even staring at Laszlo.
“I don’t care what happens to that maid. What I want is for you, Count Crisis, to guarantee Edel’s safety in your name. Before Edel falls victim to the scoundrels.”
"Is it a condition that the Marquis Celestine family remain loyal to His Majesty the Emperor?"
“I never said that.”
“But my invitation to the noble Marquis’s residence means that, doesn’t it? Surely the great lady is aware that I have many eyes on me.”
A brief silence fell between them.
As Laszlo said, news of his visit to the residence of Marquis Celestine likely spread to key figures, including the three major families.
Now that the Lancastrian family, which had possessed the greatest power, had been destroyed by the Emperor, the Emperor faction, which sought to consolidate the power of the Emperor and the Imperial family, the old noble faction, which was trying to protect its current power, and the middle faction, which was stuck between them, were all acutely aware of the seismic shifts that were about to occur.
It was only natural for someone like Laszlo, one of the main characters, to have many observers.
Laszlo looked at Marquis Celestine.
"Are you okay, Marquez? To be honest, isn't this a big decision that could harm your family because of your mother's social relationships?"
Then Marquez Celestine smiled slightly.
“If Mrs. Edel had been transferred to another family, my mother would have simply kidnapped her instead of arranging such a meeting.”
“…Do I consider it an honor that you at least attempted to have a dialogue?”
“Haha. What I mean is that the problem with Mrs. Idyll was just a catalyst for us to speed up our decision. The family’s position itself would not have been any different.”
But the fact that the decision was rushed was no trivial matter, indicating that Edel's case was important. Especially to Barbara.
“If Edel’s message is true, then you are someone who knows how to protect the weak. But now that Edel has become ill because of a butler, I am perplexed.”
Seeing the deep wrinkles on Barbara's forehead, Laszlo sighed briefly.
“This is due to my inadequate supervision. Once she has fully recovered, I plan to have her work somewhere other than laundry.”
“However, she is just a maid…”
“You know how rumors spread when someone is treated differently.”
Of course, making her work as a maid would not completely stop the scandal, but the fact that Edel was working as a maid was known to all the servants of the Crisis family.
Therefore, the scandal likely did not spread within social circles.
“I plan to keep her as a maid until people’s interest wanes.”
"And after interest wanes?"
“This is a little worrying. So I should ask…”
Laszlo asked Barbara directly.
"How long will you tolerate Edel's situation? What can you do for her?"
Although others might find this question rude, Barbara did not.
She answered as if she had been expecting the question.
"Just let Idil go. I'll take care of the rest."
“If I don’t release her, it seems you’re ready to steal her.”
"If necessary."
Laszlo was very impressed by Barbara's firm and aloof demeanor. It was unusual for him to be so impressed by a woman so much older than himself.
“You may be upset, but I think we can get along very well, ma’am.”
“Although it is said that age does not matter in love, it is difficult to overcome such a difference, Count.”
"Haha! That's very unfortunate."
Laszlo laughed heartily, surprising Marquez Celestine and making Barbara's gaze sharper as she tried to understand his intentions.
However, Laszlo felt joyful.
'The Marquis Celestine family would be a good place to hand Edel over. It would be difficult even for the Count of Canyon or the Three Great Families to interfere.'
He was relieved that Barbara was handling Edel's future, and he eased his pace on his way home with the letter Barbara had written to Edel.
* * *
Bang!
The emperor's study door was almost opened, and Demarcus entered, clearly furious.
He spoke to the attendant who was waiting.
“There will be petitions and bribes throughout the week asking for leniency, so let Count Tallon deal with them.”
"There will be many who remember the former emperor, Your Majesty."
"Indeed. Was there ever an emperor loved by the nobles as much as my father?"
DeMarcus's voice was harsh as he spoke about his father, who had been a disaster for him.
The previous emperor, Demarcus’ father, had an “excessively” good relationship with the nobility.
There was no reason for it to be otherwise.
He had little interest in ruling, leaving most matters to his administrators, and generously tolerated minor issues concerning the nobility. They were good friends who provided him with money and entertainment.
“Those damned bastards must be longing for those days.”
DeMarcus had just returned after rejecting all requests from the noble criminals who had committed serious crimes and were demanding their release.
Thanks to his declaration of a review of all crimes related to the nobility upon his personal ascension, even criminals who would have been released for small bribes under the previous regime are now serving their full sentences as prescribed by law.
"Your Majesty is re-establishing the laws of the Empire. Many nobles welcome the stricter provisions."
Count Tallon, the emperor's aide, tried to calm Demarcus's anger.
“It is fortunate that my father died before he corrupted all the nobles. Otherwise, the whole country would have turned into a festering pit.”
“Before that happened, people were likely to revolt. There is a limit to how much people can endure.”
“That’s right. These fools seem to have no idea where their power and wealth come from.”
DeMarcus shook his head as he looked out the window.