Chapter Title: An Unsettling Encounter
There was one more change. Normally, Epony would have quietly stepped back after speaking, but this time, she hesitated and then spoke up.
"The Water Garden has the largest water organ in Fornatie."
"…"
"It's very beautiful. You might be amazed when you see it." When Adèle turned her head, she met Epony's clear sky-blue eyes. Since that day, Epony had been a bit kinder to Adèle. Adèle could guess the reason. Out of pity. She was gratefully being shown compassion. Adèle chuckled. To her, it was just a chuckle, but to others, it might have appeared as a positive smile. Epony's complexion brightened a bit.
"…Thank you." Adèle gave a polite reply and then walked straight toward the Water Garden. The Water Garden was beautiful. It was full of colorful glass decorations. The air was humid, which made Adèle, who liked damp places, feel at ease. But, as when she first arrived at the Bonaparte estate, she felt a sense of distance from that beauty. It was like her mind and senses were numb, submerged in the air. Her feet were moving forward, but the sensations from underfoot didn't disappear. Each time, nausea would gradually rise, and then Adèle would recall the meal she had that day, almost as a form of self-hypnosis. Glossy red tuna carpaccio as oily as beef, tender veal steak that tore like bread, all kinds of berries set in translucent lavender gelatin… In the end, there was always self-justification. _Yeah. At least I'm not hungry here… It's better than being sold by old Nino._ Only then did the world become beautiful again. It was when Adèle, finally able to breathe, approached the water organ fountain that she noticed a woman standing in front of it. Adèle instinctively stopped walking. Curiously, the woman also stopped. She opened her eyes wide in surprise and then smiled gently.
"May the goddess bless you. It's my first time meeting you." The woman had a remarkably delicate and pure appearance. Her long, straight hair was like ebony, and her light purple eyes sparkled like amethysts. Her hair, partly curled and decorated with flowers in the traditional Fornatie style, looked graceful rather than outdated. Her outfit, with its long sleeves made entirely of delicate white Chantilly lace fluttering in the breeze, made her seem more like a fairy than a human. Just as Adèle was silently admiring her, Epony quickly and quietly whispered from behind.
"She is Lucrezia Della Valle." A sudden tension tightened within her.
_To encounter her already._ An unfortunate one-on-one situation where Epony could hardly assist. For Adèle, who had to mimic a lady, it was burdensome. Lucrezia before her was unmistakably a real lady. But she had to do it. That was her obligation.
"…May the goddess bless you." Adèle knelt and greeted her. Lucrezia blinked in surprise once more and then smiled brightly.
"You've come to see the Water Garden."
"Yes. I heard it was beautiful." Adèle chose her words carefully to avoid any faults. Even as they approached the water organ, Lucrezia did not leave her spot.
"Are you a guest for the banquet? I don't think I've seen you at any salons or balls." Instead, she seemed pleased to have a conversation partner and even offered Adèle a better spot.
"I haven't debuted in society yet."
"Oh my." Lucrezia gave a sweet smile like whipped cream.
"I'm Lucrezia Della Valle. May I ask which family you belong to?" Adèle took a discreet deep breath and answered with a calm smile.
"I am Adelaide Bonaparte."
"Pardon?" Lucrezia blinked. For some reason, Adèle felt that her reaction was very unnatural. Perhaps it was just her imagination.
"Bonaparte…" Adèle maintained her smiling face without responding.
_'Della Valle' is of lower rank than 'Bonaparte.'_ As equals, Lucrezia was of lower status than Adèle. In other words, Adèle only had to act as Cesare would if he were here. As Adèle remained silent, Lucrezia nervously fiddled with her parasol handle.
"Is this a new joke trending in society? Embarrassingly, I've just come out of penance…"
"No. It is as you heard. I am a member of Bonaparte and, due to various circumstances, I grew up separately from my brother, Lord Cesare."
"Brother…"
"Yes."
"…That means you are staying in the same mansion as Lord Cesare? In the Bonaparte inner palace?"
"Yes, that's correct…"
"I see…" Her light purple eyes looked at Adèle intently. Then she smiled broadly.
"Would you consider traveling across the various regions of Santnar instead of staying in Fornatie now that you are with Bonaparte?"
"…" _What kind of proposal is this?_ Adèle was slightly flustered, but since she didn't know the customs of society, she couldn't tell if it was a situation to be taken aback by. So she simply shook her head.
"I plan to stay with my family."
"Family…" Lucrezia widened her eyes again and stared at Adèle.
"…"
"…" Expecting more conversation, Adèle found Lucrezia remained silent, staring at her for a long time.
_It's surprisingly difficult to read the expressions of a beautiful woman._ Is it because she is a real lady? Or am I just nervous? Adèle, hiding her frustration, pretended to admire the water organ and turned her gaze away. For a few minutes, only the sound of the water organ tinkling filled the surroundings. At some point, Lucrezia's complexion darkened.
"Another obstacle…" _…Obstacle?_ Adèle was stunned as she lifted her head. Lucrezia staggered and sat on the edge of the fountain's railing. Her maid, with hazelnut-colored hair braided into two pigtails, seemed about to approach, but Lucrezia shook her head.
"It's all right, Hazel. I'm fine…" No one dared to speak in the atmosphere of a tired, forlorn beauty catching her breath. Lucrezia sat there for a moment, then slowly stood up. She spoke with the same kind, gentle smile as when they first met.
"It was nice meeting you. May the sky and the dew protect you from murderers." At that moment, something whispered in Adèle's mind. _Lucrezia knows something._
---
"…" Adèle gave up on the walk and headed back to the inner palace. The unexpected meeting with Lucrezia—though she seemed beautiful and innocent, it was an oddly awkward encounter. At that moment, Epony spoke from behind.
"I need to report this to the young master." Adèle stopped in surprise.
"Did I act awkwardly?" This time, Epony quickly replied, surprised herself.
"No. Not at all. Your demeanor was impeccable, miss. However, it seems Lady Lucrezia noticed something." Adèle hesitated. The warning that had surged like the sound of waves echoed in her mind.
"How?"
"Not just the conversation, but her parting words are troubling." Adèle recalled Lucrezia's farewell words.
"May the sky and the dew protect you from murderers." It was a line from a fairy tale known to everyone in Fornatie. The protagonist of the tale is a wooden puppet whose nose grows longer when he lies. The puppet leaves home, blinded by gold coins and fun. The ghost of a cricket appears to warn the puppet.
_"What do you want from me?"_
_"I want to advise you. Go back."_
_"But I want to move forward."_
_"Remember that disobedient children will regret it someday. May the sky and the dew protect you from murderers."_
Ignoring the cricket's warning, the puppet is eventually caught by swindlers and robbers. Ultimately, it is hanged from a large oak tree and dies. Adèle remembered the light purple eyes staring at her. Suddenly, her neck felt cold.
"…I thought it was a social greeting I didn't know."
"No. In society, greetings always invoke the name of the goddess." Epony answered firmly, her expression darkening.
"…I will report this to the young master first."
"…" Adèle was reluctant. She could almost hear Cesare's irritated sigh.