Chapter Title: The Della Valle Villa
Ezra knelt on one knee before Adele, his face heavy. He pressed his lips together for a long time before finally speaking.
"...I'm sorry. Now that I've sent the letter of courtship, Prince Cesare can no longer ignore you... I was complacent."
Adele knew it was rude, but she stared into the empty air. It wasn't his fault. But then whose fault was it? The misfortune of being born a woman? Having no parents and being poor? Not selling her body sooner?
In the midst of her confusion, one thing was certain. If she had been a lady from an aristocratic family, Cesare would never have spoken to her that way.
She wanted to vomit again. As she tried to hold back the bile, Ezra's words belatedly reached her ears.
"...Why don't you come with me to the Della Valle villa?"
She had only caught the last part, but she could guess what he had said before. Her answer was obvious.
"I need my brother's permission."
Ezra cried out again.
"Miss Adelaide! He's going to tell you...!"
"Nothing happened, Lord Ezra."
Ezra flinched at the dryness of her voice and bit his lip.
"...I'm sorry. You don't want to think about it..."
Adele stared into the void without answering. *I'm tired.*
The wind swept through the area. It was a winter wind, quite cold. Ezra, regaining his composure as she sat in a daze, asked:
"...Then I will ask Prince Cesare for permission. Will you come then?"
Adele looked up at him and nodded weakly. Ezra's mauve eyes shone with determination.
"I know you're anxious, but please stay here for a moment. I'll be back soon. While I'm gone, I'll also bring your maid. So please wait here."
*There's nowhere else to go anyway. Because I'm just a shoeshine girl. If I try to escape, I won't be able to evade Buonaparte's reach. Only Clarice will die.*
Adele nodded, and Ezra hesitated before leaving.
*I'm tired.*
Adele closed her eyes. She thought only a moment had passed, but when she opened them, Eponi stood before her. The maid was so frightened that her eyes were twice as wide as usual.
"Miss. What on earth happened..."
Adele looked up at Eponi. A stern but affectionate maid with olive-colored hair and blue eyes. *She's Cesare's person.*
Adele shook her head expressionlessly.
"My stockings were slipping. I need to fix them."
"Pardon?"
"The garter broke."
"Miss."
Eponi looked stricken. Then Ezra appeared from behind her. There was a mark on one of his cheeks. His expression was stiff.
"Prince Cesare has granted permission. Let's go. Miss Eponi will accompany us."
"......"
*Of course he gave permission. He doesn't want to look at a shoeshine girl in heat.* Or perhaps he was releasing her now only to call her back later when she had calmed down. He seemed skilled at such schemes. *That's why, despite all my years in Kimora, I never experienced such turmoil of emotions—yet he can manipulate me this way.*
"You should get on my horse first."
As Ezra said this and headed for the entrance, a large wagon appeared. It was a blue carriage pulled by four large black horses. The coachman who had brought the carriage before the astonished Ezra and subdued Adele announced:
"This is the carriage that Lord Manfredi brought from Fornatier. The master of the house has ordered me to take the young lady."
Ezra's face filled with anger.
"Tell them I refuse."
That was when Eponi quietly stepped forward.
"Lord Ezra, the lady needs a place to tidy her appearance."
At that, Ezra looked down at Adele. He seemed distracted by something unpleasant to witness.
"...Understood. I'll ride alongside, so please take care of Miss Adelaide."
"Yes. Thank you for your consideration."
Eponi settled Adele in the carriage with great care. Then she had a servant bring warm water, a basin, and simple belongings and clothing. Adele slumped against a canary-colored cushion and stared out the window.
The carriage set off as soon as Adele's things arrived. It moved very slowly since the horses weren't running. Eponi immediately dampened a soft cloth with water and patted Adele's cheek. She seemed at a loss for words for a moment, but then asked in a very deliberate voice.
"Miss. What happened..."
"Ask my brother."
Adele cut her off. Technically, Eponi was her superior, but she didn't feel the need to cringe when that superior had rejected any offer. Eponi paused in wiping Adele's face. Glancing up, Adele saw that those blue eyes were full of sorrow and anguish.
*She's Cesare's person.*
Adele turned her head back to the window. Eponi took a few deep breaths and seemed to calm somewhat.
"After washing your face, I'll reapply your makeup. Your dress is wrinkled—you might as well change it."
*I suppose so. They don't want it to seem like Cesare did something terrible to his sister.*
"...I say this because the master ordered it, but it's for the young lady's sake, not his. It's better not to offer others something to bite into."
*After all, I'm not even a noblewoman—who knows whether they'll bite or not?*
At Adele's expressionless appearance, Eponi pursed her lips and lowered her eyes. The corners of her eyes were trembling. After catching her breath for a moment, Eponi spoke without hiding her bitterness.
"There are a few things to keep in mind at Della Valle. If you encounter Luca della Valle..."
Adele glanced out the window, brushing off Eponi's instructions. It was a beautiful day. *A bloody thing.*
---
The Della Valle villa was not too far from the Stellone resort. It was also located along a highway wide enough for large carriages to enter.
"It's our family's vacation home. My father went to the Balladur Club, so I'll introduce you to him later."
Ezra said this as he escorted Adele out of the carriage. Adele lifted her head to examine the building before her. The location wasn't remarkable. However, as an authentic family villa, the proportions of the columns and arches lining the façade were impeccable. Overall, the light brown color with purple décor certainly had an old-fashioned elegance distinct from Palmina Genobl's villa.
"It's a beautiful building."
Adele expressed pure admiration. She had always been amazed that the minds of architects and the rough hands of laborers could produce such works of art.
"It may not compare to Buonaparte, but it's a fine building."
"Each has its own style. It's beautiful."
Ezra laughed, slightly embarrassed.
"I'll show you to your room. Let's go."
He led her inside. Someone appeared from the other end of the hall.
"Brother Ezra?"
Lucrezia, dressed in a white linen dress and a thin fur shawl, approached with a light gait like a butterfly. Behind her walked a gray-haired maid and a sullen-looking servant knight.
"Lucrezia. Are you going out?"
Ezra asked sweetly.
"Yes. I was about to..."
Lucrezia's gaze landed on Adele. Adele hesitated before speaking.
"May the goddess bless you."
Lucrezia smiled at Adele's greeting.
"May the goddess bless you. I didn't expect to see you here."
Lucrezia's gaze turned to Ezra. Ezra smiled slightly.
"She'll be staying here for a while. It's an unfamiliar place, so I'll take good care of her so that Miss Adelaide doesn't feel uncomfortable. ...She could become part of our family in the future."
Ezra said this and glanced at Adele, but Adele couldn't take her eyes off Lucrezia. At that moment, Lucrezia's mauve eyes seemed to contain the whole universe before it slipped away. It was a look too complex and deep to be dismissed as mere pretense.
Adele watched her without thinking, belatedly noticing that Ezra's face had become slightly bitter.
"I would be so happy if that happened."
"...!"
Ezra's face lit up. Slightly... he looked like a large dog wagging its tail and smiling.
Lucrezia smiled as she watched the two of them.
"I'm truly happy. Miss Adelaide is a dear friend to me. I'm very glad we can take this opportunity to deepen our friendship."
Adele thought suddenly: *Did he just send me here to die?*
It was possible. Because she was a shoeshine girl who had dared to refuse Buonaparte's bed. Perhaps he didn't even want to dirty his own hands.
It was a very plausible assumption.
"I'm happy too. Thank you."
Adele replied calmly and smiled.