Chapter 10
* * *
Although the path was rough, Adele returned to the mansion using a shortcut, flinging off her clothes and quickly changing into fresh ones. The mansion wasn’t fully prepared yet, so she moved as swiftly as a bird.
“You placed the silver candlesticks in every room, right?”
“Yes.”
“There were far fewer people than I expected—what a relief.”
Susan had also been flustered by the sudden turn of events, but her hands moved quickly, just like her mistress.
“Weren’t they supposed to arrive tomorrow?”
“That’s what I heard too, but I suppose they moved faster due to the small number of people. Still, I didn’t expect the Duke himself.”
“Right? I never imagined I’d meet the Duke in person.”
Herbon Estate was located two to three days away from the capital by carriage. As such, the ladies of the territory usually only heard about high-ranking nobles through magazines. Among them, Jacques Ivan Sonnier, the most prominent figure in high society, was the most talked about.
And now, having seen him in person, Adele realized the magazines hadn’t exaggerated at all. Though they sometimes included illustrations of him, none captured the real man.
“Let’s hurry.”
The two quickly changed and headed to the front gate. Ben appeared belatedly, still trying to recover from the chaos.
“Where on earth did the Count go?”
“He went to the library to look for the Madam.”
“He went to look for me?”
At that moment, the front gate opened, and a black horse carrying the Duke entered the garden. Just his entrance made the familiar mansion grounds feel like a strange land. Such was the power of his overwhelming presence. Adele filled her chest with air, determined not to shrink before him.
Jacques dismounted and visibly showed his surprise upon seeing the Countess.
“What in the world…?”
“Is something wrong?”
Nervous, Adele swallowed hard.
“As far as I know, we departed at nearly the same time, yet you’re already perfectly dressed?”
Adele blinked, not understanding what he meant.
“You’re faster than any woman I know.”
“Oh…!”
“And your hair looks much better now.”
“Excuse me?”
Adele self-consciously smoothed her neatly styled hair, noticing the mischievous smile on the man’s face. She straightened her posture. Now she understood why the women of high society were said to swoon over him—every word he said seemed to carry hidden meaning.
“By the way, it seems Count Debrian isn’t home.”
“The Count will be back shortly.”
He looked around briefly, then extended a hand to Adele. Staring blankly for a moment, she realized he was greeting her properly as the lady of the house and slowly extended her hand in return.
With a slight smile, he touched his hand under hers and then bent to kiss the back of her hand lightly.
In that instant, Adele was overwhelmed by a strange sensation again. A fleeting feeling she couldn’t grasp tilted her head involuntarily. As he began to pull away, she instinctively held his hand tightly.
Startled by her own action, her eyes widened. Jacques also smiled in mild amusement.
At that moment, the gate clanged loudly, and in the distance, Ethan came riding in. Only then did Adele feel some relief. It was the first time since her marriage that she had to welcome such an important guest alone—it was too much to handle.
Ethan dismounted immediately and rushed over. But when he arrived, he didn’t say a word—instead, he fixed a heated gaze somewhere, making Adele suddenly realize she was still holding Jacques’s hand.
Startled, she quickly let go, but not before her face—and even her neck—flushed bright red.
“Count Debrian?”
Jacques called out, but Ethan continued to scrutinize Adele’s expression. Thinking he was silently scolding her, Adele quickly moved to stand by her husband.
Only then did Ethan turn his gaze to Jacques Sonnier.
Ethan instantly recognized the Sonnier family crest.
The Empire’s insignia was famously ornate, reflecting its long history. The Sonnier emblem featured an eagle with a lion’s leg, representing both royal blood and one of the Empire’s two supporting dukes.
“Apologies for my absence, Duke Sonnier.”
Ethan had many questions for Adele, but he had no chance to ask them while hosting the Duke.
Soon, the family banquet hall opened, and the feast began.
At first, no one spoke. Once the formal dinner began, Jacques ordered all the food to be brought out at once and sipped his wine. Only a few servants remained.
“Weren’t you supposed to arrive tomorrow?”
Ethan started the conversation while cutting into a piece of slightly rare meat.
“His Highness the Crown Prince urged me to hurry, so I arrived sooner. Thanks to that, I had a delightful experience.”
The suggestive tone made Ethan put down his knife. But before he could respond, news came that Anastone Lowell had arrived.
She greeted Jacques politely and took a seat at the far end.
“Closer.”
At Jacques’s command, Anna sat beside Ethan. Jacques had already heard a brief explanation about what happened in Herbon before his arrival. So the pretty young woman trembling before him was supposedly the real force behind the major waterway project.
He had chuckled when he first heard it. But the Order of Merit was granted to the household, and it was up to the head of the family to assign credit—none of his business. And yet now, it strangely irritated him.
Jacques glanced once at the woman before him and once at the Countess sitting far away, calmly eating as if nothing had happened.
“You’ve done a great service to the Empire. Your name is…?”
“Anastone Lowell.”
“Indeed. May I ask what first prompted you to consider a waterway project?”
Neither Anna nor Ethan expected Jacques to address her directly—they both looked startled.
“It’s quite late, so perhaps you could ask her tomorrow during the inspection,” Ethan interjected.
“Of course, that was my intention.”
Jacques smirked as he looked at Ethan. It was obvious the maid was his woman. Watching him try to shield her was quite amusing.
“Oh, I happened to run into your wife today in the estate.”
“You mean Adele?”
“Yes. A very memorable encounter.”
Ethan quickly turned to look at Adele. She smiled serenely as always, but it was clear she didn’t intend to explain.
“A memorable encounter…?”
Just then, Anastone gripped Ethan’s hand tightly, and he turned away from Adele. Watching the drama unfold before him, Jacques’s eyes gleamed with interest.
He couldn’t help but wonder—was the poised noblewoman sitting across from him really the same woman who’d been drenched in water and laughing brightly just hours ago?
* * *
After the whirlwind of a day, Adele sat on the windowsill of her bedroom, gazing out at the quiet rear garden.
Susan had scolded her to move into the main residence as soon as possible, but Adele preferred this place. Built where the mansion wall was lowest, it was the first to catch the breeze.
Since arriving at age 12, she’d never wanted to leave this annex. But lately, she found herself wishing she had somewhere to go beyond its walls.
Whenever that happened, she’d shake herself free from the thought, startled. As a child, this place had been her heaven.
Just then, someone knocked on her door.
“Who is it…?”
“It’s me.”
Before she could finish asking, Ethan’s impatient voice answered. As she moved to greet him, he burst through the door.
“What on earth happened today?”
“How did you…?”
He had never visited her this late before.
“Just answer me. What happened today?”
“What do you mean?”
Adele looked confused, unaware that this alone might provoke Ethan. After all, he had never once let his emotions shift because of her.
“They said you went to inspect the library, but you weren’t there.”
“Ah…”
“Ah?”
“The waterway had an issue, so I went to check it.”
“Then why did you lie?”
Adele hesitated, but didn’t delay long.
“I didn’t think the Count would like it if I said I was going.”
Her calm reply stirred something turbulent in Ethan. He took a deep breath and turned away for a moment.
“Then what was so urgent that you came all the way there looking for me?”
Ethan didn’t answer. He didn’t even have the energy to make up an excuse.
