Chapter 7-9 (1/2)

pon-pon (pata pon) ranunculus flowers Because Fredericka likes orange flowers

7 Volker: That Nape…

‘I will call upon you again’ I

said as I kissed the back of Lady Fredericka’s hand and left the Castley home

As soon as I boarded the carriage I

loosened h of relief,

‘Ah~…I was so nervous’ I said to

Xavier

I had been more nervous in that

drawing rooht she would

have shouted at me, looked atat a disgusting bug I thought I would be killed

‘Lady Fredericka was rather

adorable, and she’s lovely too’ I said to Zazie

Xavier had been forced to come withaccused of indecency of some sort Freed from

a potentially tense situation, I was a bit more relaxed, therefore more

loquacious than usual

‘She was acting Didn’t you

notice?’ Xavier replied (Zuben: Dude stop ruining it) Xavier looked as though

he was shocked, ‘Maybe because of you, Young Master?’

I didn’t like his expression

I sat up in shock, ‘Acting? That

loveliness?’

My body sagged How come?

‘She had no choice but to act that

way Young uillotine, so she

quickly conveyed her gratitude Apologising first was intentional See how

relieved she hen you calmed down? Under normal circumstances, ould

admit that their lace underwear tore and fell off?’

Xavier’s insight! I cleared my

throat and e

‘She was blushi+ng from her ears

down to her neck Although it didn’t show on her face, Lady Fredericka was

e She could not fully hide her shyness’ He

added with an evil sounding chuckle

Xavier is a bad guy, I thought

‘Hey? How did you notice that?’

‘Her hair was up’

Indeed, Lady Fredericka’s hair had

been styled prettily into a loose knot off to the side I alad I didn’t

notice or I would not have been able to concentrate

‘What kind of a cad would abandon

such a beautiful lady? Doesn’t he have eyes in his head? Why did her love

affair end so sadly?’

I sighed

‘If you think you do not want to

hand her to another, don’t worry’ Xavier said

I was struck by Xavier’s words Truly,

I did not want to let herlady and she has

just had her fiancé break their engagement She would be hurt

She is beautiful and gentle

She had atte

the visit, her father had told funny stories and she had laughed heartily She

hadn’t been scared rather she had been like a kitten studying me curiously

‘Look into plays that the Society

ladies like’ I commanded

‘Yes, young Master’ Xavier

replied

8 The Storm Has Passed

but there is a Local Tornado

The door closed heavily behind the

General and his e wheels

We kept silent until the general’s

carriage went out of view

There was a hiccup

Everyone burst out laughing

I grimace at my own shamelessness

as the rest of

‘Oh Fredericka!’

‘“It’s was my favourite”! Hahaha!’

‘And that cute act?! You were like

a little girl Very cute!’

More laughter

‘The general seemed pleased, so it

turned out alright’ Oliver said wiping tears from his eyes

It was fine if he was pleased, but

to the General, I must seem little more than a child

‘Well, I just imitated Marie’ I

said with a smile as my maid

‘Wait? What?’ she asked confused

‘Marie is the cutest person around

me’

Aside from that, he kissed my hand!

Oh how exciting But, it was only a greeting, it didn’t have any deeper

connotations

But when he lifted my hands to his

lipsso dashi+ng so sophisticated! (Zuben: Someone has fallen hard)

Could I afford such a grown up man

who exuded such intense sex appeal like 『buwaa』 (Zuben: Like buwaaa! Like ain dry ice)

When I ith Eugene, it had been

so stiff I have never experienced such a feeling before

I never realised the back of my

hand was so sensitive, I could still feel the sensation of General Volker’s

lips on e and numb I want to scream and run and hide I

feel agitated and restless

There was a knock on the door

Eugene? No It was a er with

the forement from the Duke of Cajes

How could he turn up without even a

by-your-leave? Is it that they were more concerned about the consequences of

not co?

I suppose now that the engagement

is cancelled they don’t need to keep up the pretence of politeness

The er sat proudly in the

proffered chair, and narrowed his fox-like eyes at me He told us his name was

Garde

‘Lady Fredericka, please sign this

docuht away’ He said, while his words were polite, his tone was rude

He unfurled a paper that had been tied with a grey ribbon

‘I will read it,’ Father said

taking the document

The written agreement to end the

e contract

I held my breath as Father read it

For a time there was only silence

‘I have a question’

‘Is there any room for questions?’ the

antly with a raised eyebrow

Why did the Duke send this person?

My Mother was sitting beside with a

fixed shter and

tighter I tried to keep the discomfort from my expression

‘It says here “Accepting Fredericka

Castley’s error…” what error does that specifically refer to?’ my father asked

What error? What have I done that

was a disgrace towards Eugene and the Cajes family?

‘Think of it as an error in the

docuer replied

My tried to hold down my temper;

how could I understand if you don’t explain?

‘In other words, this agreement is

trying to say that the Castley family is at fault Is it?’ my father asked the

er

This may have been the plan from

the start

The er shi+fted in his seat,

and uncrossed his long legs He took a sip of his tea and returned the cup to

the saucer with a loud clatter

‘Eugene went to the ball last night

with another wohter in front of a lot of people, that the

woman with hiement I

am afraid there was been a mistake How do you like this?’

‘Where you there?’ the er

asked, ‘Is there any evidence? You are trying to n my master’ The man

said with a derisive laugh

There were many witnesses, the

other attendees, the orchestra, the servants

‘Do you think I cannot protect my

daughter?’ My father said his jaw tense The er merely looked amused

‘I will delete that line We agree

to cancel the e contract between ourselves and the Cajes family’

Oliver presented a pen, and father

crossed out the offending line before signing

‘We fore the

cancellation of engageene Cajes I hope

we never cross paths in the future’

The er took the document,

and left out house laughing loudly

‘I’m sorry, Father,’ I said after

the odious man left I wish I was a better woman(Zuben: Girl, how is it your fault that

family is full of shysters?)

I should have been able to avoid

this

‘Heh heh, that er, I’m sure

he’ll be crowing that he got the better of the Castleys’ Father said without