Chapter 56
“Count Crisis’s carriage has arrived. They will enter the hall soon.”
"Is that true? Then go and tell Viscount Benito that his awaited guest has arrived."
Enoch gave the order and sent the servant to inform the Viscount. Then he approached Camille and Angela.
“Young ladies, it looks like our evening entertainment is about to begin.”
"Oh my God! Linnea Crisis has arrived?"
"Just in time to add some excitement to the party, isn't it?"
Since Linnea knew no one at the event, she would undoubtedly turn to Angela, who had sent her the invitation. Enoch, who had planned to accompany Viscount Benito at that moment, presented Linnea with an offer she couldn't refuse: to become Benito's partner.
Enoch, along with Camille and Angela, were filled with anticipation.
Only then did the entrance doors open, and Linnea appeared.
"What…?"
The three of them made foolish noises unintentionally, astonished by what they saw.
Linnea Crissis was not alone.
She was hand in hand with a strikingly handsome, tall man, radiating a glowing smile.
"Who... who is this...?"
“I don’t know! I’ve never seen him before.”
“No…it looks familiar in a way…”
They stared, trying to remember the man's identity. But if someone with such charisma was seen in high society, he would certainly be remembered.
Camille finally scoffed and crossed her arms.
“Ha! Maybe it’s one of those ‘escort services’.”
"Escort service?"
“It’s a cheap job done by some of these fallen nobles. And good-looking men go with women who don’t have partners to attend these events.”
"What? Are you saying he's a male escort?"
"Something like that."
Angela shook her head in disgust. However, Enoch, now troubled about what he would say to Viscount Benito, looked at Linnea's companion with an even more despairing gaze.
“Strange… his face looks very familiar…”
As they continued their quiet conversation, Viscount Benito, who had been hovering near Linnea, approached Enoch with a snarling expression.
“Young Mr. Bliss. Is the “expected guest” you spoke of really Mrs. Crisis?”
“Ah, well, yes, but-”
“That wasn’t what we agreed on! I said she would come alone!”
When Camille and Angela saw Enoch stumble, they rushed to intervene.
“Calm down, Viscount. Perhaps she felt embarrassed coming alone, so she must have hired an escort.”
"An escort? What on earth are you talking about? This man is Count Crisis!"
"What?"
“You all have terrible eyes. He may have shaved his beard and cut his hair, but it’s clear that this is Laszlo Criscis.”
Camille and Angela gasped, their eyes widening in shock, while Enoch finally realized why the man's face looked so familiar.
“He really is Laszlo Criscis!”
It was definitely him.
But he looked so transformed that it's no wonder they didn't recognize him.
His disheveled, tangled hair and clothes that lacked any semblance of decency had disappeared.
Now, his sleek black hair slicked back, his strong eyebrows, his well-defined features, his broad shoulders, his lean and firm waist, and his elegant and simple clothes, painted a completely different picture.
Laszlo, who once seemed terrifyingly crude, now exuded a more subtle danger that was undeniably seductive. The way so many women flailed themselves to maintain their composure was all the clue needed.
“Young Mr. Bliss! Was this your idea of a joke? Did you mean to embarrass myself by proposing marriage to a lady in the company of such a man?”
Enoch came to his senses after hearing the viscount's angry tone.
“No, of course not! This is all just a mistake by one of the servants! That young lady you mentioned is not the guest!”
“Is that true? But these young ladies here were absolutely certain that Mrs. Crisis was the guest.”
“They were wrong too, Viscount. It seems the guest you spoke of is running late. Please, a little more patience!”
“Hmm… Don’t disappoint me, young man. I’ll give you another thirty minutes.”
With questionable word, Viscount Benito left, still not entirely convinced by Enoch's explanation.
Enoch felt as if the ground was collapsing beneath him.
“Angela! Camille! What’s going on here? This wasn’t the plan!”
To be fair, he did nothing wrong. Angela and Camille were the ones who asked him to find a suitable partner for Linnea, believing she would come on her own.
But Angela and Camille were equally confused.
"Why is Count Crisis here? And what is that look? Of all days, why did he have to appear like this?"
Camille watched with disdain as Linnea, the girl she had once insulted, entered alongside the most impulsive man at the party, and gracefully greeted everyone.
But Angela had a different point of view.
'Who knew that Laszlo Criscis could look like this…'
Count, stunningly handsome, and now the center of attention - he was bound to become the hottest topic in high society soon enough, with countless marriage proposals likely to head his way.
'When the opportunity arises, you must strike first.'
Angela smiled behind her fan. The solution to the problem that had bothered her for years was right in front of her.
First, Angela decided to calm Enoch, who was in a predicament.
“Brother, do you have anyone else you could pair with Viscount Benito instead of Linnea?”
“I’m going to have to find someone. Damn it, but where am I supposed to find a woman on such short notice…”
“In that case, do you see that woman over there? The one with the brown hair in the yellow dress.”
Enoch stared in the direction Angela had pointed.
"The person standing next to the girl in the pink dress?"
“Yes, that’s one. She’s the daughter of a baron from a rural area, and she’s staying in the capital with relatives to find a partner.”
A young lady from a small, insignificant family - Enoch had met her briefly at another party and thought she was fairly ordinary, making her perfectly suited to this situation.
“The relatives you live with don’t have much influence, do they?”
"Look at her dress. Does it look like what they did?"
"Indeed. And since she's here to find a suitor, she might be perfect for Viscount Benito."
Relieved, Enoch decided to ask his mother for help in introducing the young lady to Benito and left.
With the Enoch crisis resolved, Angela then turned her attention to calming the disgruntled Camille.
“Camille, now that it’s come to this, let’s go and greet Mrs. Linnea.”
"What? She should be the one to welcome us, not the other way around!"
“If she were alone, yes, but she’s with Count Crisis. He’s even better than my brother, so we should approach her first.”
Although Angela was right, Camille seemed less happy.
However, with her own goal in mind, Angela confidently grabbed Camille's wrist and headed straight for Linnea.
“Hello, Lady Linnea! You remember me, don’t you?”
Angela greeted her warmly, and Linnea responded with a kind smile and a slight bow.
“Miss Angela Bliss, of course! You’re the one who sent me the invitation.”
“Technically, my cousin, the host, was supposed to come and greet you, but he was very busy. I hope you don’t mind me greeting you instead?”
“Absolutely! Mrs. Emerson, how are you?”
Linnea Camille received him warmly.
Camille, who momentarily forgot her previous disdain, gave Linnea a charming smile.
“Lady Linnea! You look amazing tonight! And what a handsome companion you have with you! Would you mind introducing him?”
Linnea, smiling proudly, looked at her brother.
“Brother, say hello. This is Mrs. Camille Emerson and Miss Angela Bliss. Mrs. Emerson, Mrs. Bliss, this is my brother, Count Laszlo Crises.”
The introductions were given with polite gestures and slight bows.
'He's even more handsome up close,'
Angela thought, unperturbed by the slight coolness in Laszlo's gaze. For her, what mattered was that his presence could shake the ranks of high society with his looks and style. She was delighted by his impeccably tailored and sophisticated attire.
Angela gave him a warm smile.
"From what I know, this is your first time at the party, Count. Is that correct?"
"Yes. That's how it turned out," Laszlo replied tersely.
Angela clasped her hands together in delight, undeterred by his brief reply.
“How wonderful that your first social appearance was at our family gathering. If it’s not too much trouble, may I introduce you to my grandparents and dad?”
Angela's gentle and friendly demeanor was the kind of behavior that could easily win anyone over. However, despite her politeness, Linnea found herself feeling slightly annoyed.