Chapter 18

‘Why is this happening?’

Massera fell into thought alone.

If he let his guard down, he’d be led along just as Cynthia intended, and before he’d know it, everything would go exactly the way she said it would.

Their sudden forced honeymoon to Medeia had been like that, too.

[“The youngest is much more useful than the older sister. She’s sociable, and even her demeanor and expressions are lovely.”]

[“The older sister only knows how to be formal—she’s so stiff it’s useless. How will she ever fit into society like that?”]

Cynthia understood everything the Dowager Duchess’s younger sisters, Madam Hills and Madam Veraché, said in Medeian, but decided to pretend she didn’t understand for now.

Sensing that they were comparing her to Cynthia, Helene smiled and added—

“They call it the country of gentlemen, don’t they? I’d like to visit Medeia someday too.”

With her many years in high society, Madam Veraché could tell it was just a polite remark and asked—

“Do you know why it’s called the country of gentlemen?”

“Of course, it’s because it values refinement, elegance, and etiquette.”

‘Nope. That’s false information.’

Cynthia pursed her lips as she recalled what she had read in books.

As the gentry class—those between commoners and nobility—rose in wealth and began setting global trends, Medeia became known for having many gentry dressed in black hats, suits, and canes. It was really just a euphemism.

The traditional nobility weren’t particularly fond of the label.

[“Pretending to know things when she clearly doesn’t.”]

Madam Hills mocked her in Medeian, pretending to be impressed.

Cynthia raised her glass and smiled.

“You’re right, sister. Nations that failed to show proper etiquette to the Medeia kingdom didn’t survive. They used to send fleets to teach them manners, you know.”

At the risky joke, Madam Hills and Madam Veraché burst into heart laughter.

Count Queesnguard and his two sons, not quite grasping the humor, forced themselves to laugh along.

On the other hand, Massera didn’t laugh. He was too busy wondering if he really had to eat the sardine head buried in the pie.

“Goodness, what an amusing princess.”

“Oh, I love such cheerful people. Her Majesty the Queen also enjoys humor and comedy, so she often invites clowns to her parties, you know.”

Helene simply couldn’t understand why Cynthia was receiving more attention than she was.

How could a maid with no education possibly know all that?

After all, even jokes require knowledge to be effective. Otherwise, they could come across as rude.

Joining in the harmonious laughter, Helene made a comment.

“Cynthia, you seem to have studied Medeia with great interest. Then you must also be curious about eel jelly, right? I think you’d like it, so would you like to try some?”

Helene, who had already tasted eel jelly herself, thought Cynthia would surely be horrified.

Eel jelly was made by chopping up eel and turning it into gelatin, and it was a dish that looked grotesque, felt unpleasant in the mouth, and reeked of a strong fishy odor.

“That thing I’ve only heard rumors about? You’ve tried it too, sister?”

“Yes, so why don’t you give it a try too?”

Cynthia stared blankly at Helene.

Believing Cynthia was flustered, Helene laughed inwardly.

‘Let’s see you try to hide your disgust and swallow it down. After all, it’d be a miracle if you don’t spit it out as soon as you put it in your mouth.’

“I’ll pass on that. I’d rather have more of this Stargazing Sardine Pie. It’s really delicious.”

Contrary to her expectations, Cynthia declined firmly.

Helene, who assumed Cynthia would naturally accept in order to impress the ladies, looked flustered.

“Why not? You said you liked Medeia so much…”

“It’s just a matter of taste. You don’t eat snowflake broccoli, which is our hometown’s specialty, either. That doesn’t necessarily mean you dislike the place you were born, does it?”

Unable to find the words to respond to Cynthia’s comment, Helene clutched the hem of her skirt.

Meanwhile, Cynthia shuddered as she imagined the fishy taste. She had eaten far too much cheap canned fish in her past life, so there was no reason to be a bizarre food enthusiast when such delicious food was readily available.

At this, the Dowager Duchess watching the scene waved her hand dismissively.

“Helene, don’t push her. Not even I can eat that. The locals themselves don’t particularly like it either.”

‘So she only offered it to me to give me a hard time?’

Helene clenched her fist tightly, forcing herself to maintain a smile.

Later, Edford took a bite of the eel jelly out of curiosity, only to turn pale and run off.

Cynthia jokingly offered some to Massera as well, and he silently ate it all before saying—

“This is a flavor I didn’t even know could exist.”

***

“Father, what exactly did you order Cynthia to do?”

After the meal, Helene went to her father the Count’s room and confronted him.

She was sure he had told Cynthia to study Medeia and win over the duke’s family.

“What do you mean?”

“Those picky people really seem to like Cynthia.”

“Is that such a bad thing?”

Count Queensguard shrugged his shoulders, looking genuinely puzzled.

Even if it was just a guise, she was his daughter for now and gaining favor with the duke’s family could only be beneficial.

“Helene, it seems you’re not getting along well with your in-laws. The duke included.”

“How am I supposed to get along with them when they basically look down on me? They’re so uptight and blunt, I can’t even tell if they’re joking or mocking me.”

She hadn’t realized it before coming to the capital.

After all, the Count had always told her that many were desperate for royal blood and that it was immensely valuable.

However, it turned out that was only true as a possession—it didn’t lead to proportional treatment.

“They’re royalty from a prideful and powerful nation. You should’ve been more friendly. And perhaps because she was a maid for so long, Cynthia is quite good at reading people and gaining favor with them. That’s something you’d do well to take note of.”

“You want me to learn from a lowly maid?”

“Servants are often the ones with the best social skills.”

For someone like her, who had never bowed her head and had always been put on a pedestal, that was something her pride simply couldn’t accept.

The Count stroked his chin and spoke.

“But was she always that shameless and witty?”

“I wouldn’t know. Why would I bother to know the personality of a mere maid?”

They lived in completely different worlds, so there was no reason for her to know what kind of person Cynthia had originally been.

“It was probably General Vicente’s idea to have her study Medeia. As a war orphan who climbed his way up from the bottom, he must know how to survive in society.”

The Count gave a relaxed smile as he looked at Helene.

“We just need to capitalize on the goodwill that those below us have earned. It’s always been like that. And don’t forget—petty feelings of inferiority and jealousy only lead to one’s own ruin.”

Meanwhile, Carlos was brooding over a glass of whiskey.

‘A custom-made dress worth the price of a house?’

Of course, it could’ve been for show, but a man’s intuition told him otherwise.

‘There’s a possibility their relationship could develop.’

If the two of them fall in love, she’ll never want to come back.

“Of course, once I get what I want, I’ll return her to you. By then, you’ll be leading a massive railroad project.”

That was one of the conditions the Count had set.

In truth, there was one thing Carlos had never told even his father.

‘No matter how you look at it, this fits too perfectly to be a coincidence. Just like at the engagement ceremony.’

In the past, he had taken Cynthia to a casino and won a huge amount of money.

The next day, he went alone and lost everything. When he took her again, he miraculously regained the money, but he couldn’t win beyond a certain amount as if there was a limit.

Cynthia had once said something cryptic to him, “If you use luck on gambling, you’ll lose something more precious.”

‘I have to get her back. Especially if she really is a lucky woman.’

***

Night finally fell. It was time to sleep, which meant I had to share a bed with Massera.

If one of us suddenly fled now, the whole “loving engaged couple” narrative we had built up would fall apart.

Massera seemed to be thinking the same.

“I can’t look like the kind of fiancé who leaves his fiancée alone in an unfamiliar place.”

“Yeah, I won’t leave you alone either. Let’s both pretend to be thoughtful people.”

Honestly, I was a bit scared to be alone.

Entering the room with Massera, I stared at the bed the size of a sports field.

“Look at how huge this bed is. If we sleep on opposite ends, it’s basically like sleeping in separate rooms, right?”

“I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

I had tried to reassure him, but he still seemed uneasy.

Taking off his uniform jacket, he firmly warned me—

“Don’t even think about touching me.”

“You don’t trust me?”

“No.”

Somehow, it felt like our lines were reversed.

Will we make it through the morning?