Chapter 51: Chapter 51

DAHLIA:

“A banquet - what for,” I asked, looking at Tristan’s reflection on the drawer mirror.

He was sitting on the bed, reading a book. He was wearing his reading spectacles, which made him look like a different person than the one I knew.

“Well, we never had a proper wedding banquet, and you’re starting your study in three weeks. I think it’ll be the perfect time for us to celebrate these milestones.”

“These milestones,” I said, my eyebrows shooting upward, “didn’t we agree I’d take private lessons at home? What’s with this sudden display of achievements?”

Honestly, I didn’t get his idea. He was the one who suggested that I take the lessons at home from a private professor sponsored by the university for the time being. He didn’t want me to feel too overwhelmed with all the changes since my powers have been revealed to the capital. The last thing I needed was people swarming about at school.

I conceded since I wasn’t really a people person. I wanted to study, but I don’t want people harassing me and asking me questions especially if they are about the wedding I ran away from. I think it’ll be better to gently adapt to my study by and by and start going to school properly by next year.

That’s why I didn’t get the reason why we needed to throw a party and invite the nobles of the capital for those things.

“As much as you and I hate the idea of socializing, we must make our influence in the capital known. Crohmwall District is in the borders, but it has a lot of problems. By meeting people and becoming acquainted with them, wouldn’t we be able to get better support for the district?”

“I see…” I can’t believe Tristan has an eye for politics… Despite being a commoner in Linderon, it seemed that he knew how to play his social cards well too…

“Alright, but can we just do a small scale party? This will be my first time to host one,” I said nervously.

I never liked parties, but suddenly, I was being asked to throw one, so I was feeling a bit panicky.

“Don’t worry a thing about it. Just leave it up to me. Gideon can handle the preparations.”

No matter how skilled Gideon was, I still had my doubts… However, if he insisted that he’ll handle it, then that’s fine.

“Um, can we invite papa,” I asked after taking some time to brush my locks.

“Sure, He’s your father after all, and he’s an important figure in the capitol too…”

Tristan’s tone did not sound convincingly happy, but the important thing was that we will invite papa, so the misunderstanding between them can be cleared up… I hope...

The banquet was to be held in a week. I don’t know how they were able to pull off such a grand stint, but they did.

And, just after what seemed like a simple snap of one’s fingers, the banquet day had come.

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“Countess Abell, your villa is grander than I expected,” Marquise Linett said as she walked arm in arm with his husband.

“Ah, yes, thank you. I’m happy that you find it so,” I said, trying my best to smile all throughout the exchange.

Although I escaped from busying myself with the planning and preparation of the banquet, I couldn’t escape from becoming the official hostess of the party.

“Where’s Count Abell? I thought he would be here with too.”

“He will join us soon. There are just some matters he needed to attend to,” I said politely.

The truth was that I had no clue where Tristan was. He was here a couple of minutes ago, but as soon as Count Jeteris and his daughter had arrived, he disappeared.

Count Jeteris was one of the strongest political figures in the capital, and he and father were close. However, the relationship that he had with papa and the king was something that baffled me.

While papa and the king did seem like friends rather than mere subordinates, Count Jeteris felt like a tyrant who’d always say something bad when papa was around.

I never liked Count Jeteris, not even a bit, and I think papa didn’t like him too although he never voiced out his displeasure of him.

Thus, when I learned that Count Jeteris had a daughter and was coming to the party, I was anxious. Of all the years I had known him, I had never seen his daughter.

I heard nasty rumors that she wasn’t really treated as a daughter by the count but was treated as a servant. This may have been true, given how cruel Count Jeteris had always behaved to others…

Earlier when the count entered, I was curious to see her daughter for the first time. Fortunately, I had to greet them as the hostess for this event.

Lady Livia Celeste Jeteris had blonde hair and light violet eyes that made her shine so brightly amongst crowds of people. She was wearing a royal blue dress that made her eye color more apparent.

She was a really breathtaking beauty, a sight to behold. Her face and everything about her was so in contrast with the count. How and where did the count manage to hide her all these years, and why?

Word has it that the count had illegitimate children here and there, all of whom he hid in different houses in far flung districts. Could it be true? But why was he only bringing Lady Livia with him now?

“Greetings, Count Claude and Lady Livia. We are glad you can make it to our small party,” I said. Tristan was standing alongside me when we greeted the count and his daughter at the main door of the villa.

“I must say this is a big house. You must be more well off than I think, Count Abell,” the smug older count said.

It was no secret that the count hated anyone that wasn’t from Talandor. Given that Tristan was an outsider and was originally a commoner, he was positively mocking him, and it irritated me.

“What can I say? Merchants have several ways of making money, count,” Tristan said in a brighter manner. I liked how he handled the count’s insults well.

“Indeed. I hope I’d be able to do some business with you someday,” the count said, walking away from the door curtly.

I didn’t like Count Jeteris one bit, but since Gideon and Tristan organized the party, I wasn’t able to handpick the guests I wanted to invite. I just have to endure it while he’s here.

“Lady Livia, it is nice to meet you,” Tristan said. He reached for her hand and kissed it.

It was a customary gesture among nobles to kiss the hands of the ladies, but the look in Lady Livia’s face as Tristan did this was a bit peculiar.

I can’t explain it, but they gazed as if they were already familiar to each other. As he bent down to kiss her hand, she also gave me a side glance.

I glanced back and smiled, but she did the exact opposite. She looked at me with a slight frown in her face.

As far as I know, it was the first time this lady and I were seeing each other, so I don’t think she has any reason to dislike me…

Was I just being too sensitive?...