Chapter Title: Midnight
Gigi grinned as he delivered the report for the day.
"When you ordered to build galleons rapidly, I thought you had finally gone mad, sir."
"If I were mad, I wouldn't have brought a shoe shiner into the family."
"Come on, but the young lady is doing well, isn't she? And she's incredibly beautiful! Wow, Ezra really hit the jackpot!"
Cesare did not respond, dipping his pen into the ink. Gigi, often oblivious to timing, continued talking without a break.
"Isn't that right? You haven't gone out at night lately because after seeing the young lady, no other ladies catch your eye..."
Just as Cesare was about to grab the ink bottle, the soft, dull sound of footsteps on the carpet indicated someone entering the room. Adelaide stepped in.
"Brother... Oh."
Adelaide, who had started to speak, paused and covered her mouth. Seeing Cesare's hand conveniently poised over the ink bottle, she slightly crouched. Cesare felt a bit annoyed. Would he really throw an ink bottle at a person? Of course, the exception was that a secretary was not a person but a slave. Cesare composed himself.
"Relax, we're family. Greet comfortably."
"...Yes."
Despite his words, her eyes darted between Cesare's face and the ink bottle as if anticipating a surprise attack. When Cesare stared at her quietly, she finally fixed her gaze on him. Her expression was tense, as usual. Come to think of it, she always had that expression. An impassive face that created distance. Always seeming a bit anxious. And always looking slightly sad.
Lost in thought while fiddling with the pen, he noticed that both Adelaide and Gigi were tense, watching his every move. He finally spoke.
"So, what brings you here?"
"Well... I wanted to ask if you have time tomorrow."
"Hmm."
Cesare covered his mouth with the quill part of his pen. It was his usual smile, but now he didn't want to show it. He frowned slightly, pretending to be displeased.
"Why?"
"..."
Uncharacteristically, Adelaide did not answer immediately. She hesitated, then spoke as if avoiding an immediate answer.
"...Sometimes, as a sister, I want to share daily life with you."
At that moment, because Adelaide averted her gaze from Cesare's, he realized she was lying.
"..."
"...Brother?"
It felt like cold water had been poured over him. The waltz that had been ringing in his ears disappeared. The excitement quickly cooled. He thought he knew what her first answer would have been.
*To match her with Lucrezia.*
The dirty feeling from eavesdropping on their conversation on the portico resurfaced. His mind was not just calm but sharply focused. Cesare silently put down the quill. Both Adelaide and Gigi's gazes followed his hand. The room fell silent. Cesare knew he was smiling.
"Sharing daily life."
"...And it would help me learn the demeanor of a lady by observing many nobles."
Adelaide spoke urgently, but when Cesare slightly raised his chin, she fell silent. Her yellow eyes trembled slightly. Cesare spoke quietly.
"There is one suitable place."
"...If it's unreasonable and I'm being stubborn..."
"Just decide if you want to go or not. Midnight tonight."
"Midnight tonight?"
Cesare smiled, showing deep dimples.
"You want to observe other nobles, but you want to choose the time, is that it?"
"..."
Adelaide closed her mouth. Her thoughts were obvious. *If it's a place ladies go, it should be fine, right? Like the last time we went to Bella Stella Street. Maybe I can tell Lucrezia the location and sneak out?*
Cesare, guessing her foolish expectations, lowered his eyes. If he met her gaze, strange words he couldn't predict might come out. Eventually, Adelaide spoke cautiously.
"...Then I'll go with you. Do you have the address?"
Cesare burst into laughter and stood up. It was going to be a long night.
"It won't be fun if I tell you in advance. See you at midnight."
---
Midnight. Cesare dressed in a sleek black outfit made of Nazareth. There were no patterns; even the sleeve buttons were made of black buffalo horn. He wore a long black tabard over it.
"...Are you really taking the young lady?"
Gigi asked, holding a pitch-black tricorne, with a reluctant expression. Cesare smiled and replied.
"If you wanted to stop me, you should have done it earlier."
"How could I intervene when you were so angry?"
"Then stay quiet."
Cesare reached for a white bauta mask on the shelf. His handsome face was hidden in a square shadow. With his charming dimples concealed, his eyes, like those of a bird of prey, stood out sharply. Gigi, finding it hard to joke, groaned and handed over the tricorne.
"Although the young lady is from Kimora, she seems quite naive in some ways due to her disguise. Won't she be too shocked?"
"It's time she was shocked. It's not a world she should be completely unaware of. Isn't that what high society is?"
At Cesare's indifferent words as he put on the hat, Gigi sighed deeply.
"I don't know anymore. So, will you be staying out tonight?"
"Wait and see."
Cesare swiftly left the dressing room. Gigi did not follow. He knew where Cesare was going. Only the secret attendants who always guarded Cesare at a suitable distance followed.
Crossing the marble colonnade to the outer palace, the butler, Ernst, was waiting. Cesare chuckled.
"Ernst, you don't look happy?"
"...No, sir."
The butler seemed displeased with the revival of night outings he had stopped for a while. But he didn't dare voice his thoughts to the unusually low-spirited Cesare, and bowed his head.
"The carriage is ready."
"Again with the carriage. Should teach them to ride horses. Did you tell her?"
"As you instructed, I told the young lady it would be difficult to send letters outside."
Cesare patted Ernst's shoulder in praise and headed for the entrance of the outer palace. There he found Adelaide waiting in front of the portico and paused.
"..."
"...Brother."
Adelaide was dressed in a jet-black evening dress, like raven feathers. The fabric clung to her body, almost provocatively. Her face was paler than usual under the hat adorned with curled black swan feathers. Her anxiety was palpable.
"Brother, where are we going?"
Ignoring her, Cesare briefly considered taking away the black sable fur she clutched like a lifeline.
*Forget it. If I took that too, she'd probably tremble like a broken wind-up doll.*
"Get in."
When he approached the carriage and extended his hand, Adelaide took it with a slightly trembling hand.
"Brother, the destination is..."
"A good place."
Cesare pulled her in sharply. Adelaide awkwardly sat on the seat, and Cesare also sat down and knocked on the carriage wall. The carriage started moving.
Adelaide looked anxious the whole time. She hadn't even worn the moretta mask Epony had given her. She kept fiddling with the deeply cut neckline, trying to pull it up. In front of her, Cesare crossed his arms and legs, looking at her with a disdainful smile.
"Stop fiddling. It looks like you're inviting someone to look."
"..."
Adelaide stopped moving her hands. Her face wasn't the usual impassive look. The anxiety was clear. Her composure was shaking.
"...Brother."
"..."
"Where are we..."
"You'll know when we get there."
When he coldly cut off the conversation, Adelaide bit her red-painted lips hard. It was a pretty color, but it didn't suit her. Fuchsia might suit her better.
"Then could you answer just one question..."
Cesare deliberately turned his gaze out the carriage window, but Adelaide persisted.
"...Are you taking me to sell me?"
"Ha."
Cesare clicked his tongue immediately. He was extremely displeased that she thought he would go that far.