Chapter Title: Eva's Offer
Adèle knelt once more. The woman, unable to speak due to a physical condition, but so exceptionally capable that all the Priori had unanimously chosen her as their chairwoman. This was Adèle's first meeting with Eva Bonaparte.
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Adèle sat upright, silently savoring the aroma of the tea. Though the room was warm with sunlight streaming through the windows, it felt like standing on a lake covered in a thin layer of ice.
_[How do you find the tea?]_
"The aroma is delightful. What kind of tea is it?"
_[It is root tea from Geoulan Mountain.]_
"The renowned tea supplied to the White Jade Palace of Sorek. It is an honor to taste such fine tea leaves. Thank you."
_[Do you like tea?]_
"I haven't had the opportunity to learn properly, so it's hard to say." There was merely a book called _The History of Tea_ among the many she had read in the library. Adèle thought she had given a reasonably good answer, but Eva paused her pen and looked at Adèle with clear eyes. This happened several times during their conversation.
_…This is nerve-wracking._ Eva could not speak. Naturally, Adèle had to fill the silence. It would have been better if Eva simply said what she wanted to say. Instead, Eva kept asking questions. As a result, Adèle had to dodge seemingly tricky answers and ponder whether the question itself was a trap, to the point her head felt like it would burst. Eva quietly watched Adèle and then elegantly wrote something on her notepad.
_[You are a beautiful child.]_
"You're too kind."
_[Cesare must be very fond of you.]_
It felt uncomfortable. To be honest, Adèle didn't care much for respecting elders. That was just the atmosphere of Santnar, and she was originally from Kimora. A place where everyone, regardless of age, desperately struggled to survive. Respecting or disregarding someone just because of their age was unthinkable for Adèle, who was from Kimora.
_Of course, it's different if the elder is Eva Bonaparte, the chairwoman…_
_[Is there anything inconvenient about your stay?]_
Adèle slightly shook her head at the sentence written in elegant handwriting.
"My brother has been taking good care of me, so I'm fine." Again, Eva gazed at Adèle intently.
_[He is taking good care of you? How so?]_
_Well, he gets excited when I say no?_ Adèle barely suppressed the rising annoyance and anger. As a result, she found herself with nothing to say.
"…"
"…" It was only a few seconds of silence. But since she had been answering questions smoothly until now, the silence felt pronounced. Eva quietly watched Adèle with her glassy eyes, then scribbled something in her notebook.
_[You are to marry into the Della Valle family, correct?]_
"…Yes, that's the plan." Eva hesitated for a moment after hearing Adèle's answer. Then, with a touch of hesitation, she wrote again.
_[You aren't in love with Cesare, are you?]_
"…" This time, Adèle was silent because she had too much to say. She could tell what misconceptions and misunderstandings were swirling around in the wise old woman's mind.
"…Absolutely not. Never."
_[Child, you can speak freely. I am on your side.]_
"Absolutely not. Absolutely not. That will never happen. I have never dared to harbor such thoughts."
_[I don't care about your background.]_
_Please…_ Adèle felt an urge to close her eyes tightly and reiterated.
"Please, Chairwoman, do not test me. I did not approach my 'brother' with impure intentions." For the first time, disappointment appeared on Eva's face. She then flipped through several pages of her notebook, repeatedly asking Adèle the same question until Adèle's face turned pale. Finally, Eva stopped.
_[Sorry. I thought it was a cover.]_
"…It's not."
_[If you were truly in love with him, I was planning to put you in another family. It's not good for appearances to be in the same family.]_
Eva explained in an extremely concise tone, suitable for written dialogue. Even as she explained, she glanced at Adèle as if hoping she would quickly admit to being in love. Somehow, Adèle understood why Cesare had been reluctant to let her meet Eva.
_[So you are not in love with him and are going to Della Valle in his place?]_
The question was too specific for her to evade. Adèle finally answered.
"…It is what I must do as a member of the Bonaparte family." Eva smiled for the first time, a smile tinged with sadness and pity. After some hesitation, she picked up her pen.
_[If you need help, come to me.]_
"Pardon?"
_[The Bonaparte family belongs to him now. But I still have some power.]_
Adèle's fists clenched at the subtle hint. _A test?_ Eva seemed to notice Adèle's tension and quickly continued writing.
_[You don't have to go that far. If you want, I will acknowledge you as a member of Bonaparte. I can give you more than what he does.]_
"…" For a moment, Adèle's usually expressionless face faltered. From what she heard, Eva clearly knew that Cesare had picked Adèle up off the streets. Yet she was offering to accept her as a member of the Bonaparte family?
_…Ah._ Adèle suddenly realized something. The clear, gentle face of the old woman had almost made her forget, but this was the former head of the Bonaparte family. She would never make such a significant decision out of mere sympathy. Adèle's neutral expression returned. She had almost mistaken it for mercy.
"You wish for Cesare to marry Lady Lucrezia. My presence would prevent that agreement from happening." Eva's golden eyes widened slightly. It seemed she had hit the mark.
"…" After a moment of hesitation, Eva began to write.
_[I want him to be loved. Lady Lucrezia can make that happen.]_
"Everyone in society loves him. So do fate and the gods." Eva made a very sad expression at those words, one Adèle had never seen before.
_[Of course, he has everything. But do you think that is true happiness?]_
"…"
_[I want him to be happy. He has not been very happy in his life.]_
Adèle remained silent. Eva continued to write, seemingly not noticing anything unusual about Adèle's silence.
_[Do you know about my husband?]_
"I heard you were widowed."
_[My husband and I were close until he passed. Rowan and Catarina were the same. They suited each other well.]_
"I see."
_[Cesare grew up seeing that. So he…]_
"Our dear Eva is quite curious, isn't she?" At that moment, a hand reached out and snatched Eva's notebook away. It was Cesare. He leisurely looked through the contents with a dimpled smile, then frowned slightly.
"Hmm." Eva's face showed a mix of surprise and joy. Cesare soon tossed the notebook over his broad shoulder.
"It seems our Eva was bored." He spoke, kissing Eva's cheek. Though it seemed like a tender gesture between a grandmother and grandson, there was a subtle coldness, especially from Cesare. Adèle glanced at the notebook on the floor.
"It's nice to see you again, but I have to take Adèle somewhere." Cesare whispered sweetly to Eva before stepping back. Adèle noticed his rarely seen outfit, covering the bandages on his body. The clothes, tailored just for him, clung tightly, outlining his physique.
"Let's go, Adelaide."
"Yes." Adèle, not wanting to stay in this place any longer, quickly stood up. Eva watched them with clear eyes, alternating her gaze between Adèle and Cesare. She seemed to want to say something, but with Cesare having thrown away her notebook and pen, she couldn't express herself.
"Eva, until next time, stay healthy." Cesare said with a charming smile.
"…" Eva opened her mouth as if to speak, then nodded. Confirming this, Cesare offered his arm to Adèle.
"Shall we go?"
"I should say goodbye to the Chairwoman…"
"It's fine. I'm taking you away." _What a rebellious child._ But Adèle, too, was eager to leave. She gave Eva a nod before linking arms with Cesare. The clear-eyed old woman silently watched the two of them leave.