Chapter Title: The Contract
"This is the head of the family's office. The head of the family will be inside. Enter quietly without knocking."
With that, Ernst turned back down the corridor before Adèle could stop him.
Adèle was left standing alone in front of the door. Somewhere, the sound of a cello could be heard. Pleasant sunlight was streaming through the corridor windows.
Adèle stared blankly down the empty hallway for a moment, then took a deep breath and grabbed the door handle.
As she pushed the door open without knocking, the first thing that greeted her was the salty sea breeze.
_Almond scent?_
Mixed with it was the pleasant aroma of roasted nuts and the bitter scent of dark chocolate.
A room filled with a soft sky blue came into view. There was a large arched window in the wall, through which sunlight and wind flowed into the room. The sea-blue poplar curtains hanging by the window, with their attached ripple lace, swayed gently.
In front of the window was a large, stylish walnut desk, where Cesare sat. He was sitting with his back to the sunlight and breeze, smoking a cigar and looking at documents.
Adèle unconsciously stopped and watched him.
_So it was the scent of the cigar._
She had seen many marble sculptures as she walked through the mansion, but she felt like she had just seen the most perfect sculpture now. Cesare, with his eyes lowered like a young bird of prey and a cigar in his mouth, was incredibly sensual.
Maybe it was the unexpected combination of him looking at documents. Or maybe it was just that his chest, like an ocean, was half-exposed through his thin robe.
_…Should I speak first?_
Adèle hesitated for a moment in the doorway. But soon, she quietly closed the door and stood in place. There must have been a reason why the butler told her not to knock.
How many minutes passed in silence?
"You are quick-witted, as I noticed before."
Adèle, who had been examining the carpet pattern, looked up at the sudden voice.
"You're here. My sister."
Cesare put down his cigar and laughed lightly. Dimples appeared on his cold cheeks, making his smile seem almost affectionate, but his eyes were extremely rational.
"Sit down."
"Yes."
Adèle quietly sat on the settee across from the desk. Cesare also brought a few documents and sat across from her. As he moved, his strong thighs, like those of a stallion, were partially visible through the thin robe.
_Truly a libertine…_
Adèle admired absently and politely averted her gaze.
Cesare sat casually, with one arm draped over the back of the sofa, looking at the documents. His eyes were sharp—no, very sharp. It was ironic to see someone who seemed to burn with vitality having such cold eyes.
But perhaps that was why people were so crazy about him.
As she calmly continued her thoughts, their eyes suddenly met.
"If you've changed your mind on the way here, you can disembark now."
Adèle gathered herself and answered.
"Travelers don't disembark before the ship has even set sail."
It was as if he had been waiting for those words. Cesare smiled warmly.
"Then, from today, you are Adelaide Bonaparte."
Adèle quietly clenched her fist.
"…Yes."
"Your goal is to seduce the son of Della Valle and marry him."
"Yes."
"There is no additional reward, but marrying into Della Valle should be enough for a shoe shiner. If you succeed, your origins will be kept secret."
"I understand."
"The deadline is…"
Cesare trailed off. He seemed to be pondering.
_It would be nice if he gave her at least six months…_
But Cesare quickly shattered Adèle's hopes.
"Three months."
"…"
"Within that time, you must become a perfect lady of Bonaparte."
The man, who was said to have received the utmost love from fate and God, smiled challengingly.
"Your body, your mind, your speech, down to your fingertips and toes. We're going to deceive the entire social circle of Fornatie."
Adèle slowly swallowed. She knew nothing about the social world, but she understood that three months was an impossibly short time to make someone a lady.
_Did this man believe it was possible?_
Noticing the doubtful look in her eyes, Cesare showed his dimples and smiled slightly.
"Of course, you might fail. For example, if learning how to handle tableware is too difficult for a shoe shiner."
"…"
"So, if you do not become a lady to my satisfaction in three months, the plan will be scrapped."
At those words, Adèle stared at Cesare. He didn't mention what would happen to the shoe shiner after the plan was scrapped. Looking at his irritatingly charming smile, it seemed like he wanted Adèle to ask.
But Adèle maintained her expressionless face without asking.
_He'll probably kill me._
She wasn't very afraid. If she had stayed on the street, she would have committed suicide before being sold by old Nino. In a way, an early death was somewhat predetermined for her. The only uncertainty was the timing.
Now, the timing was set, and the executioner in front of her promised to feed her warm meals until that time came. There was nothing to fear.
"I understand."
Cesare's golden eyes glinted slightly.
"Did you really understand?"
"Yes."
"Without even asking why three months?"
"Isn't it to coincide with your birthday banquet?"
"You know well. Are you interested in me?"
"I'm not interested, but I can read the newspaper."
"Hmm."
Cesare smiled, furrowing his brows as if to gauge her. The furrowed brow was a habit, a sign that he had no need to mind others.
"Try to have some interest. If you're a country bumpkin with nothing but a face, you should at least cling to your only brother."
Indeed, it was a sensible statement. Adèle nodded.
"I'll try."
Then, she suddenly remembered something and opened her mouth.
"…So, will the chairwoman also be part of this plan?"
For Adèle, it was a natural question. She expected the answer to be yes. Eva Bonaparte, Cesare's grandmother and only family member. Without her cooperation, this plan couldn't even start.
But Cesare smiled and answered, in a way that felt like hitting a wall.
"Our dear Eva is rather eager to see her great-grandchildren soon, so she's actually welcoming Della Valle with open arms."
"Ah…"
No wonder Della Valle was pushing so hard despite the promise.
_Eva Bonaparte is supporting the marriage._
It was like an ordinary grandmother urging her grandchild's marriage. The title "our dear Eva" suggested a closer relationship than she had thought.
Adèle felt that peculiar sense she had when she first stepped into the Bonaparte mansion again. It was a sense of distance.
_There's no reason for wealthy people not to be harmonious, and it wasn't that she wished for their discord._
"They might seem grand, but they're probably fighting over money, more unhappy than us."
Realizing that the self-consolation of the poor was indeed just consolation made Adèle feel somewhat sad.
"…"
"Anyway, Eva won't be pleased with our plan, so you only have me to rely on."
"Yes, I understand. I'll do my best."
"To cling?"
"Yes."
For some reason, Cesare laughed out loud. Then his golden eyes, with the small tear mole, looked at Adèle strangely.
"…"
"…"
After a long, inexplicable exchange of gazes, Cesare raised an eyebrow as if nothing had happened.
"Just to let you know, don't fall for me and come to my bedroom at night."
"…"
_Handsome, but unfortunately a bit crazy…_
Seeing Adèle's expression, Cesare laughed and turned his eyes back to the documents.
"It actually happened before. And from now on, call me brother."
"Yes, brother."
"You are five years younger than me and were born in Capolo. You lived as a commoner until you came to Bonaparte 'for certain reasons.'"
"Yes."
The background of coming to the capital was left as a variable.
_A flexible personality. She seems capable of dealing with situations well._
Adèle added new information about Cesare's personality to her mind.
"Only five people know that you're a shoe shiner, including Jude Rossi and me."