Chapter Title: Lessons and Distant Observations
At Madame Flavia's words, Adèle hesitated. A sudden question came to her mind.
"Madam, may I ask a question?"
"Cut out that stiff tone already!" Madame Flavia snapped irritably, gesturing for Adèle to go on. Adèle knelt and expressed her gratitude before speaking.
"I understand that my brother does not want to marry into the Della Valle family. But as you mentioned, can't Della Valle postpone the agreement?" In other words, it wasn't necessary for her to win over Ezra Della Valle's favor. If Ezra rejected Adèle, Cesare would have the justification to refuse Lucrezia by saying, "You were the ones who refused." However, Madame Flavia scoffed.
"You're truly revealing your selfish nature, only thinking of what's best for yourself."
"…"
"Can you commit to such a thing? Can you force such a difficult agreement on your descendants? You've lived off the glory built by your ancestors—how can you pass the responsibility to the next generation?" _I see._ Adèle, having received nothing from her ancestors, didn't understand. She bowed her head indifferently.
"I'm sorry, madam."
"Is that a face that looks sorry?"
"Even that, I'm sorry, madam." Madame Flavia began pounding her chest in frustration. Then, as if a new wave of anger had come over her, she sighed deeply.
"Lord Cesare is also too much. How can he refuse marriage while claiming to uphold the Grand Duke's will…" That's true. Adèle thought the same but suddenly realized she wasn't much different. After all, she had come here because she didn't want to sell her body. Then a question followed. Did that libertine also dislike arranged marriage? Why? He seemed so calculating… At that moment, loud voices could be heard outside the gallery window.
"What a magnificent garden. I've never seen marble sculptures so full of life."
"And the frescoes! Moreover, did you see? There are so many works by Angela Moss!" Voices mixed with the common language and foreign tongues were muffled through the glass. Soon, a distinctly clear voice interrupted the conversation.
"Bonaparte has always sponsored talented artists." Cesare. It was him. Madame Flavia froze at Cesare's uniquely low and sensual voice, and so did Adèle.
"Even so, I've heard that the artists discovered by Lord Cesare are revolutionizing the Horizon Academy. Your eye for talent is truly remarkable."
"It is a great joy and blessing for Bonaparte."
"His Majesty is also expressing his gratitude…"
"You're all flattering me too much." Cesare and his entourage walked away, unaware that the two women were holding their breath.
_Drènshé…_ Adèle pondered over the conversation. Although all countries were increasingly using the common language, unique languages still remained, particularly around the royal families. Among them, Drènshé was used in the central continent's Orqueenia and Luthiena.
"It seems there's a delegation from Orqueenia," Madame Flavia said, as if sharing Adèle's thoughts.
"Has a delegation come from Orqueenia?"
"Yes. Prince Adilot has ascended to the throne. His rule is not yet stable, but having received support from Bonaparte, they are likely here to show respect." Madame Flavia spoke, seemingly forgetting that she was talking to a shoeshine girl. Santnar thrived on trade and the artisans' artworks. And Orqueenia was the closest landmass and the largest trading partner of Santnar. Orqueenia had endured a fierce struggle for the throne for a long time, and Cesare had suddenly declared his support for one prince a few years ago. Everyone tried to dissuade him, but Cesare did not waver. And the prince, who had had no support base, grew terrifyingly strong to become the emperor. In other words.
"My brother's influence in the Signoria will increase."
"That's right. I'm ashamed to say it, but I was one of those who tried to dissuade him. But in the end, Lord Cesare was right." Adèle remained silent.
_Handsome, rich, from a good family, capable…_ What could he be lacking? Although he was abandoned by his parents, he didn't seem to consider that a weakness. Madame Flavia, who had been looking out the window, turned back to Adèle and frowned.
"Anyway, there will be many outsiders around for a while, so avoid going to the outer palace."
"Yes, madam." Adèle nodded meekly. She had no reason to encounter them anyway.
---
A week passed as swiftly as the waters of the Lacrima River. Adèle attended Madame Flavia's lessons every day without fail.
"Again! I told you to keep your eyes on your partner until the very end when departing!" Madame Flavia harshly pushed Adèle, who silently endured. She had always liked studying. Compared to the struggle to survive, it was easy. In exchange, she received delicious meals made from fresh ingredients and a warm, cozy bed, so it was a profitable trade. Moreover, Madame Flavia's teachings were excellent, even to Adèle, who knew nothing. Adèle learned voice training, etiquette, social speech, and walking from her. She learned how to compliment someone without lowering herself, how to address a lady of higher status, and how to gracefully decline a gentleman's invitation.
"Attending balls is essential to becoming a member of high society. All the power of Santnar gathers in that small ballroom." Adèle began learning the basic box step. The pain in her feet worsened. Initially, a night's sleep alleviated the pain somewhat, but later, her feet burned even after sleeping. Epony silently washed and applied medicine to her feet, but it was useless. In less than an hour, her feet were back in the tiny shoes, being crushed again. Epony, the taciturn maid, was always present during the lessons. She stood against the wall, not interfering no matter what Madame Flavia did. She simply observed all their actions with her glassy blue eyes. She only intervened occasionally.
"Madame Flavia, the young master does not want the young lady to be harmed." This was mainly when Madame Flavia tried to touch Adèle's arm or face with the stick that had a small triangular piece of leather at the end. Meanwhile, Cesare never sought Adèle out. However, Adèle often saw him.
"Your walk is vulgar and cunning because of your lowly origins! Take a walk around the garden to correct it!" It started after she began walking in the garden due to Madame Flavia's teaching… disguised as a pretext for bullying. It wasn't difficult to spot Cesare in a crowd. He was exceptionally tall among the generally short people of Santnar. Occasionally, foreigners from Trevereum, Orqueenia, and Luthiena could match his height, but that was all. None of them had shoulders as broad or a waist as slim and well-defined as Cesare's, so he still stood out from five hundred yards away. Cesare was usually at the center of the group, flashing a smile that could grasp anyone's heart. Even from a distance, it was clear that people were eager to talk to him. This behavior was more often observed among ladies. Ladies in Orqueenia-style dresses with half-exposed chests, or in Santnar-style silk dresses that fell straight down, and more ladies—all kinds of ladies. Many women were seen rubbing their chests or shoulders against his arm. Cesare did not reject them. He simply looked at their antics with a fond gaze, curving his eyes into crescents and kissing their foreheads. The curious thing was.
_It doesn't seem very fun…_ Adèle thought, passing by indifferently from a distance. Bonaparte's libertine. Fate and God's favored one. With such titles, she expected him to be deeply immersed in pleasure. While he was indeed skillful and relaxed, he seemed like someone searching for something else. He looked empty. It didn't make sense, but it did. And Adèle often felt that their eyes met. This was also an absurd thought. Adèle quickly dismissed the ridiculous notion.