Chapter 55
"What is this? She is so arrogant, and she trusts her brother!"
“Exactly! Not so long ago, she wouldn’t even dare to look at us, and now she’s raising her head high…! Ha… I was so upset I couldn’t even sleep.”
While Camille fanned herself to cool her flushed face, Angela cheered her on from the side.
“She never turns down a party invitation, so she’ll definitely come tomorrow. And since she’ll be alone, why don’t you introduce her to a ‘suitable’ partner, bro?”
Enoch immediately understood what Angela meant by “the right partner.”
“I just know the person. He is 32 years old, still single, only likes young women, has bad manners, and unfortunately, is not very attractive. He is always a lonely guest, so it's going well!”
"Who knows? You might end up matching her!"
"Hahaha! They might actually suit each other."
They imagined Linnea, looking embarrassed next to a lecherous scoundrel, appearing without any of her usual allies. The thought alone lifted their spirits, and their smiles were more radiant than usual.
**
“The fact that my brother’s last day off is at the Bliss family party…it’s like fate!”
“I will not go.”
"Oh, come on, brother!"
Linnea wouldn't stop nagging Laszlo about it. Ever since she found out that the party, at Camille's invitation, was on the last day of Laszlo's break, she kept bothering him right up until the day of the event.
For Laszlo, getting dressed up and going to a party he usually avoided was torture.
Not just the party, but he was honestly feeling nervous about going back to work.
However, Linnea, who was thrilled with her brother's new look, was determined to show him off at this glamorous event.
“I want to show all those people who described you as a noble countryman or just a mercenary!”
“And I don’t want that. So stop bringing it up.”
Laszlo, who had been watching Edel arrange his clothes, silenced Renya's attempt to protest further with a sharp "silence"!
Edel found her brother's dynamism amusing and envied him for it. Outsiders would probably never guess Laszlo's true nature.
“I think it would be really good if you accompanied Miss Linnea to the party this time, Count.”
Edel spoke cautiously after noticing the siblings, which immediately caused Linnea's sullen expression to light up. Laszlo, on the other hand, looked extremely upset.
"Did I ask for your opinion?"
"I apologize."
Edel continued organizing his clothes with the same calm focus, hanging up new clothes and rolling up unworn items on the sofa.
Some of the clothes, like his formal suit, took longer to design, but the simpler items arrived that morning.
Edel focused solely on her task and offered no explanation other than her apology, which made Laszlo feel a little uneasy.
"Why do you think that, anyway?"
Laszlo finally asked, unable to bear the silence.
Edel, who had been smiling slightly, turned to Laszlo with a more serious expression. She gave an answer he knew might upset him.
“Because you cannot win the battle if you keep running away.”
"Escape? Me? Escape from what?"
"You will find out. It will be good for you to see the 'social world' that Miss Linnea was facing on her own."
If any other server spoke in this manner, they would likely be immediately dismissed for such audacity.
However, Laszlo could not get angry.
Edel's gaze was so serious that it almost felt cruel.
Laszlo felt appropriately rebuked.
“Ha…”
Linnea immediately understood the meaning of his sigh.
"So we'll go together, right? Will we go together?"
Laszlo didn't reply, but Linnea, overjoyed, jumped for joy and hugged Idil. She made no further comments, afraid her brother might change his mind and retract his statement.
And so, Laszlo unexpectedly found himself preparing to attend the party.
Edel had his best formal clothes tailored, which Laszlo would now be wearing sooner than expected.
'Have you planned this day all along?'
Laszlo wondered, wearing the outfit with a hesitant expression.
The tailored suit fits his body as if it were brand new, and is almost very comfortable.
Because he had always preferred looser sizes for ease of movement, he was surprised that the relaxed fit felt more free.
With the addition of a new belt, shoes, a tie, and a brooch, it looked like a completely new outfit.
“I didn’t want to say this, but bro, you look great.”
Linnea, who was also wearing a stylish new dress, clapped her hands in delight.
In an attempt to suppress his blushing, Laszlo adjusted his handcuffs and quickly left.
"We'll be late. Let's go."
“Yes! We’ll be back soon, Idel!”
Edel waved goodbye to Linnea, who clung to her brother's arm and didn't seem disappointed at all by his attempts to get rid of her.
Laszlo, who was ultimately unable to resist, would likely allow her to hold onto his arm.
The Bliss family descends from the royal family of the Kingdom of Zerva, which was absorbed by the empire 200 years ago.
Although it was not conquered by force, it was annexed for practical reasons, and the family still holds its head high, carrying itself like royalty.
“They still think they are kings.”
Laszlo muttered as he got out of the carriage.
The palace's decor, with its distinctive Zervan style, evoked an atmosphere of pride.
Although the current Count Bliss family was leaning towards the Imperial faction, Laszlo saw them as a family ready to become the next Duchy of Lancaster at any time.
Naturally, Linnaeus was more interested in appearances than in political implications.
“Brother! We really need to beautify our garden. Look how every other house has such wonderful flowers!”
Laszlo, of course, had eyes too; he knew their garden might need some improvement. But if he were to hire anyone, it would be the head butler before the gardener.
“Once I find a personal butler, he will likely take over hiring a gardener. But first, I need to retrain the guards so I can focus on domestic matters again.”
Resentment toward him had subsided within the Imperial Guard, but many knights, who lived comfortably without financial worries, found his training regimen arduous. This was understandable, given that he trained them in much the same way he trained mercenaries—people who risked their lives to earn a living.
But for the time being, Laszlo had to focus on being Linnea's 'sufficiently respectable' partner rather than his imperial duties.
Meanwhile, as the atmosphere grew heated at the Bliss Palace party, lively conversations were exchanged – though not all of them were ethical or appropriate.
“Young Mr. Bliss! When will this ‘young lady’ you promised me arrive? You’re not pulling my leg, are you?”
Viscount Benito, his face flushed with lewd anticipation, was eagerly awaiting the young lady whom Enoch had hinted would be his companion for the evening.
Enoch Benito found himself a troublesome partner, but avoiding him wasn't an option. Benito was a major investor in many of the Bliss family's ventures.
“Of course not! The party has just started. You will arrive before eight.”
"Oh, soon."
“If you like her, just give me a small sign. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Haha! Excellent, excellent! If things go well with her tonight, I will make an additional investment in the Bliss family business!”
Boasting loudly, Viscount Benito went to fetch more wine. Alone now, Enoch hid a sly smile behind his champagne glass.
“Lenia Crisis… Angela came up with a very elegant solution.”
Enya was exactly the type of girl Benito had dreamed of; a young woman not yet twenty, with no one around to protect her if anything happened. A perfect target.
If Benito found her attractive, Enoch planned to lead them into a secluded room and wait for Linnea to appear crying.
“If you refuse to marry Viscount Benito, I can threaten to reveal what happened tonight. In fact, for a woman like Linnea Crisis, Benito is not a bad person.”
A wicked smile appeared on Enoch's face, a stark contrast to his usual friendly expression.
He learned that achieving success meant using any means necessary and keeping his tough side hidden from others.
Thus, the Bliss family transformed from a “ruined royal family” to a “distinguished imperial family.”
At that moment, a servant approached him and bent down to whisper something.