Chapter Title: The Observation Deck
Adelaide responded with a demeanor that wasn't too modest.
"Are you talking about the ring with an overcut and petals around a halo?"
"Yes."
"I think there was something like that, but I'd have to check my jewelry box to be sure. My brother says green and blue suit me better than pink, so I usually open the sapphire or emerald jewelry boxes."
"..."
The ladies were momentarily taken aback. Having separate jewelry boxes for different types of gems was a slightly unconventional idea.
"...You must have a lot of jewelry."
"Enough to adorn myself adequately."
"...I heard that on your first visit to Bottega di Vesio on Bella Stella Street, you bought jewelry worth 1.5 billion gold..."
"My brother dotes on me a lot."
*Well, she's tougher than expected.*
Avery and the others smiled. But the people of Fornatie are descendants of sailors who fought the sea, and such people do not tire easily. Avery smiled again.
"Coming from Capolo to Fornatie, haven't you found anything awkward or challenging?"
---
At the end of the cliff was a lighthouse, probably set up merely as a marker, low and small.
The ladies moved to the wooden observation deck and began to enjoy the sea breeze.
After properly thanking them for the beautiful scenery, Adelaide stood alone near the lighthouse.
Pretending to admire the horizon, she felt her tense nerves finally start to relax.
*This is draining...*
She was so tense that even her gums hurt.
She didn't even remember how she got here. Only the feeling of desperately trying not to be looked down upon during the relentless barrage of questions remained.
The ladies' words and expressions were so neutral on the surface that it was nearly impossible to read their true intentions.
Their laughter was friendly, but their eyes did not smile. Nor did they show outright hostility.
*Did I answer well...?*
To fulfill the promise, she needed to marry Della Valle, and such a noble marriage took time. They would probably start with an engagement. If she caused any problems in the social scene during that time, the plan would fall apart.
*I think my answers were okay.*
Most of the questions from the ladies were as expected and had been prepared for with Cesare and Epony. Pre-arranged answers were a great help.
However, contrary to Epony's words, Lucrezia didn't step in much. The reason was roughly guessed.
For now, she was using Adelaide as a bridge to Cesare, but once serious talks of marriage with Della Valle began, Adelaide would become an obstacle from Lucrezia's perspective.
*That damned promise...*
As Adelaide clicked her tongue internally, everyone prepared to move again.
At that moment, Lucrezia approached Adelaide.
"Lady Adelaide, would you like to see more of the sea with me?"
"..."
*No...*
Holding back the desire to refuse, Adelaide smiled.
"Of course."
Lucrezia sent the ladies ahead and stood at the observation deck, looking out at the sea.
Her high-tied hair fluttered, and the sunlight along the coast softly bathed her pearlescent skin. She was a beautiful sight, but not a reassuring one. Lucrezia's silence was somewhat eerie, and now they were standing before a cliff.
"..."
Adelaide, after some thought, stepped back slightly.
Lucrezia glanced at her and smiled beautifully.
"You were impressive."
Not understanding her intent, Adelaide looked at Lucrezia.
"Your answers and the way you responded. You truly are a Bonaparte."
"Thank you for saying so."
Lucrezia, who had been staring at Adelaide, burst into an innocent laugh.
But Adelaide did not miss the slight wariness in her light purple eyes.
"Lady Adelaide, I think we could become good friends, don't you?"
"Of course. But that's quite sudden."
"Lady Adelaide, you are supporting my love, so I will support you."
As Lucrezia spoke, she looked down the path they had come up.
"Ah, here he comes."
"...?"
"My brother. I hope you have a good time. Take care. And, hmm."
Lucrezia tilted her head and quickly approached Adelaide.
"This is better."
"...!"
In an instant, she pushed Adelaide over.
*This crazy...*
Before Adelaide could react, Lucrezia disappeared down the path.
*What the hell did she just do?*
As a dumbfounded Adelaide lay there looking towards the path, footsteps approached, and someone suddenly appeared on the observation deck. The man's eyes widened as he met Adelaide's gaze.
"..."
Bright brown hair. Light purple eyes.
It was Ezra Della Valle.
He flinched upon seeing Adelaide, then furrowed his fine brows slightly. His tightly pressed lips revealed his discomfort.
Ezra looked around the observation deck as if searching for someone. But there was no one there but Adelaide, and Ezra neither left nor ignored her, just pacing.
*I heard he was a gentleman, but perhaps not...*
Or was the eye contact at the ball not effective?
*Do I need to revise the plan...?*
Adelaide calmly brushed off and stood up, but then hesitated. Her ankle throbbed. She must have landed wrong when she fell.
Regretting not bringing Aegir, she moved. As she limped towards the steps, someone stepped in front of her with a sigh.
"..."
"..."
Suddenly appearing, Ezra looked down at Adelaide with a slightly troubled face.
He was taller than she expected up close. Not as tall as Cesare, though.
With a gentle impression and slightly drooping eyes that suggested he couldn't say anything harsh, he now wore a slightly angry expression.
*Cesare also had slightly drooping eyes, but their impressions are very different.*
As Adelaide thought idly, Ezra suddenly spoke.
"Are you hurt?"
"..."
Adelaide looked up at him silently.
As she tried to move past him, Ezra blocked her path again, looking as if he didn't want to be doing this.
"Aren't you hurt? Your ankle, I mean."
Adelaide sighed and looked up at Ezra with cold eyes.
"You're being rude. Did you just inquire about your business without greeting a lady of the Bonaparte family?"
Ezra flinched, then furrowed his brows.
"I didn't want to speak to you either. Lucrezia called me here, but she's not here..."
"Then you should wait for Lady Lucrezia. That's no reason to be rude to me."
"Then should I just leave someone injured?"
"Please do."
Ezra let out a short, mocking laugh.
"Isn't this what you intended, staying here?"
"What?"
"Didn't you arrange this with Lucrezia to set this up?"
Adelaide chuckled incredulously.
"Why do you think that?"
"Are you pretending not to know? There's a promise."
"The promise between Bonaparte and Della Valle?"
"Yes."
Ezra spoke as if he didn't even want to think about it.
"I'm sure Count Cesare brought you here because he doesn't want to marry my sister. And you're cooperating. There are rumors everywhere that you and I will marry. But let me make it clear: I don't marry like that."
Adelaide was calmly shocked.
Anyone could have guessed this, but to directly confront the person involved...
His slightly trembling eyes showed how much he disliked this arranged marriage.
*No wonder he clashes with Cesare.*
Given his temperament, it made sense that someone who would confront Cesare directly wasn't entirely meek.
Thinking of Ezra as a naive bookworm, Adelaide revised her evaluation of him.
Then, as if exasperated, she clicked her tongue and added a contemptuous look that Epony had once said was scarily genuine.
"You have quite the sense of self-importance."
"What?"
"I came to Fornatie to be with my lost family. Do you think I like arranged marriages?"
Ezra blinked, looking dazed. His next words were less confident.
"...But people say."
"Sir, you seem to think you're an excellent match for a country bumpkin like me, but I am a Bonaparte. I assure you, if I were only thinking of an arranged marriage, there is no suitable match for me in Fornatie. So that excessive sense of self-importance, please, just put it aside."