Chapter 76
“I got this from the Count, and he said it was in appreciation of my efforts in renovating the palace. There is no special meaning behind it. He said if I have no intention of using it, I can keep it and then sell it.”
"Who said anything?"
Linnea laughed and said this, and Idil felt that she had gone on for too long justifying herself unnecessarily. Her face flushed.
"But do you really think you're going to sell it?"
“What? Of course not! How could I sell a gift I received…”
"Fortunately. If you sell it, my brother will be sad."
"What?"
“My brother has some strange allergies.”
Edel became annoyed to hear Linnea talking about her brother in this way, but she wanted to end the matter quickly, so she assured her again that she would not sell him.
“It was just a joke. Now go to my brother, he probably hasn’t tied his tie yet.”
"impossible."
“Don’t expect too much from Laszlo, Edel. He’s the one person who needs the most advice in this house.”
Idil paused, remembering Laszlo who always said, “I think this is good enough,” and then quickly went to his room.
After Linia said goodbye to her, she smiled slyly.
"What? He gave her a gift because she was tired? Earrings worth 80,000 ringgit?"
Linnea remembered those particular earrings, the ones that glittered and were displayed in a glass case in the jewelry store where she used to gaze intently. The set of earrings, necklace, and bracelet together cost 120,000 ringgit, more than the earrings Lazlo had chosen for Idil.
"Was my brother watching the jewelry and decided to buy this for Idil?"
She began to smile sarcastically as she thought about her conversation with Lazlo in the jewelry store.
"Has my brother started to take an interest in jewelry? What was he looking at so intently?"
"I think precious stones are expensive, so why?"
“They are not just rocks, but shiny, beautiful and rare stones!”
"I'm not sure. I don't understand why women like these things."
“Diamonds are a woman’s best friend, and much more loyal than men.”
"Where did you get these strange sayings from?"
At that time, he was mocking her, while behind her back he was doing this nice thing.
Then Linnea thought of something strange. She knew that Laszlo had never been interested in women. Even when the emperor sent him a very beautiful woman, he had angrily sent her back.
But if this man, who managed everything in this way, gave Edel this expensive gift, then he must have special feelings for her.
"Could Edel be my brother's future wife?"
Linnea had previously strongly opposed the idea of Edel being her brother's mistress, but now she realized she had completely forgotten that.
Idil was beautiful, kind, capable, and deserving of respect. Most importantly, she was the only one who could reprimand her brother.
“My brother must marry this woman.”
Linnea imagined Idel saying to her, “Linnea, please look after me after we get married,” which made her heart race.
"I hope that happens."
She desperately wanted to take refuge in Edel's loving arms, to complain to her and act like a spoiled child.
But to achieve that, Linnea decided she first needed to become someone worthy of it. So, she took a deep breath, stood ready, and assured herself she wouldn't make a mistake today.
***
The great door of Crises Palace, which had been closed since Laszlo became Count, was opened.
Some were eager to see the palace the emperor had carefully chosen and wondered about its quality, while others were dismissive, saying that Laszlo, coming from a humble background, wouldn't be able to organize a party worthy of the occasion. Among the guests, each with their own hopes, was Edmund.
“Everyone will be surprised.”
In his confident speech, Devin Donnell, the Imperial Cavalry Commander, had curious eyes.
"What exactly do you mean by the word 'they will be surprised'?"
"You will know soon enough."
Edmund smiled faintly, remembering the palace that was full of cheap things and low tastes in Crisis Palace.
'Indeed, they will be surprised. Some may even leave the room angry because they have been overlooked.'
Because of his status as one of the emperor's close confidants, they might not be able to leave publicly, but it was clear that Laszlo's reputation would fall from that day forward.
Especially with the subtle influence of Marsha's recruitment, which began to slowly emerge.
'Talking about the Crisis family secrets from the mouth of the head butler in the article will drive people crazy.'
Rumors about the scandalous and embarrassing stories of the Crises family spread, causing Baron Owen's mansion, where Marsha worked, to receive an increasing number of guests.
Marsha, being a commoner woman, did not care about words or expressions, and the gentry who pretended to be reserved enjoyed those conversations.
'These rumors and this party will destroy Laszlo's reputation in high society.'
Laszlo did not know how important a person’s reputation was in the world of the nobility, and he acted as he pleased without thinking about the consequences of his actions, and this annoyed everyone.
Edmund had decided to witness Laszlo's downfall himself, and when he passed through the palace gate, he was determined to see it with his own eyes.
However, the reaction of the cavalry commander was strange as he watched from the carriage window.
"Well, nothing special, but it looks like a tidy garden. It seems to be Laszlo's taste."
Edmund paused for a moment.
When he visited the palace the last time, the garden was either overgrown with weeds or barren, it was one of the two options.
A garden cannot be barren and considered tidy.
Edmund quickly pulled back the curtain to inspect the scene.
But as the cavalry commander said, the garden was meticulously arranged. There were no flowers in bloom, but the trimmed trees were beautifully arranged, and there was no trace of weeds.
'It seems they hired people quickly because they decided to hold the party suddenly.'
Yes, that could have happened. If the garden was in that state, even stray dogs would know it was impossible to invite so many guests and ignore the garden like that.
But as soon as Edmund entered the Cressides mansion, he sensed something was very wrong.
“Wow! It looks amazing! Now I understand what the phrase ‘everyone will be surprised’ means!”
The cavalry commander smiled, winking at Edmund. But Edmund was not in the mood to smile.
'What? How did everything change like this?'
Of course, nine months passed, but he never expected the palace, which had been in such a dilapidated state, to have changed so drastically. Laszlo never hesitated to invite him to his crumbling palace.
“Ah? That painting, where have I seen it before…?”
He looked to the place the cavalry commander had indicated, and found a painting that had been displayed at the Otis Exhibition this year and had received very good feedback.
"Who got it first?"
Edmund gritted his teeth.
Had he purchased a famous painting for an exorbitant sum, László would have been portrayed as a reckless rich man who bought expensive paintings without understanding their value. But his discernment of this painting by a novice artist and his recognition of its potential required a taste he did not usually possess.
Laszlo himself couldn't have had such a taste, then...
'There are those who help Laszlo!'
But Edmund couldn't identify who that person was. There were many people who could offer this help.
The emperor paid special attention to László, and Count Tallon, one of the emperor's servants, treated him kindly. If ordered, those who wished to gain the emperor's favor would undoubtedly assist him.
What increased Edmund's anger was that paintings were not the only thing that Laszlo had profited from.
“The interior design here is fantastic.”
“I thought he would like unconventional things, but he chose something very elegant.”
“But this doesn’t look old-fashioned. It fits the character of Count Crisis.”
“I didn’t expect this from an ordinary person, but actually…”
The sounds were coming from all directions, and they all bothered Edmund.
But in truth, Crécis Palace looked incredibly elegant. Edmund even began to doubt himself and wondered if his previous visit to the palace had been just an illusion.
'Damn it! What did Laszlo do?'
While Edmund's plan to destroy Laszlo's reputation was taking a severe hit, he was seething with inner rage.
However, there were more surprises waiting for him.
“Huh? There…!”
"Oh! It's Count Crisis!"
When someone noticed Laszlo coming down from the second floor, all eyes inside turned towards him.
Edmund, without realizing it, also glanced at Laszlo. Although he didn't like to admit it, Laszlo was a man of strong presence.
Moreover, his appearance today was, as if, closer to excitement.
"Oh my God! Isn't it suddenly hot?"
"I think so. Who is the man who looks this handsome on the social scene these days?"
“Ha! Look at these women who are acting like addicts. What do they like about this?”
Some expressed admiration, while others mocked him. But, compared to the past when no one cared about his appearance, the response today was completely different.