Vol 1 Chapter 30 (1/2)

n.o.bles and Commoners (3)

“Count Royce van Elstead, is it?”

Cornelia set down the cup of tea, and tilted her head as she thought.

“Of course, I remember that he started working in the capital two or three years ago. I think Count Elstead’s territory is near the border.”

They were in the palace’s courtyard.

Cornelia waited for Wynn and the two others at a garden table, which was prepared with various sweets and a tea set.

The tea party consisted of only four people.

Since Wynn was completely unrelated to the castle, it would have been very likely for him to have gotten lost.

Wynn was finally able to feel somewhat relieved from that tension upon being surrounded by familiar faces, even though his clothing and situation were a little different.

That being said, there were several maids attending to them, so it wasn’t only the four of them.

Under that open sky— The feeling of that open air in the garden, it must have helped him feel relieved from the tension.

The lawn was covered in soft gra.s.s, and countless trees were planted there.

After being carefully picked by the palace’s exclusive gardener, fresh flowers bloomed beautifully and elegantly, giving the surroundings a completely different atmosphere compared to within the palace.

Seeming to forget about the maids waiting on them, he exhaled in relief.

As expected of the maids who work in the castle.

They enjoyed the freshly baked sweets and the tea.

The tea and sweets were definitely high-cla.s.s goods.

Even an ordinary commoner like Wynn— though he had deviated from being one recently— upon seeing the appetizing sweets before his eyes, couldn’t resist reaching his arm out towards them.

Meanwhile, Leticia, as a Duke’s daughter, and Locke, as the son of a merchant family, had both often a.s.sociated with n.o.bles, and were composedly sipping their tea.

He didn’t know the appropriate etiquette because he wasn’t taught it, but such a firm action was definitely a faux pas[1].

At first, Wynn had reached towards the sweets half in desperation, but Leticia moved the sweets out of reach, enjoying her chance to tease him.

He couldn’t merely spew thoughtless words. He would lose if he didn’t eat.

His commoner nature was laid bare.

While eating and drinking, they talked about mundane topics, but the conversation s.h.i.+fted to the recent incident.

“It seems that Count Elstead was elevated to Count of a frontier territory a few years ago, but, as I started investigating him, it seems that many terrible rumours have sprung up.”

“It’s because he’s a fat bald toad. Just judging by his outward appearance, he’s bad, but it seems that he has some shady dealings in the underworld.”

“Fat bald toad?”

Cornelia tilted her head upon hearing Locke’s words.

“The Count. It’s what I named him. He’s slimy, fat, and bald.”

Remembering the moment when their hands touched, Locke rubbed his hands against his clothes with a disgusted expression.

Not understanding his gestures, Leticia looked slightly confused.

“You’re being rude to the Count. Well, even I don’t think much of him. Fat bald toad, was it?… Well… I think it’s a fitting way to describe him in a few words..”

“Wynn also thinks that way?”

Seeing the three different reactions, only Cornelia, who hadn’t met Count Elstead in person, smiled wryly.

“Come to think of it, I think that I received a portrait of Count Elstead several years ago.”

The maid bowed, then returned to the castle.

After a short while, she returned with a painting.

“Ah, here it is. One of the portraits sent to me as a fiancé candidate.”

The maid laid the painting on the garden table, as the other three peered at it.

“Who is this?”

Then, Leticia spoke in confusion—