Standard Contract Guidelines for a Fraudulent Marriage - Chapter 78

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 78

The Dance Party Venue opened at six o’clock, which meant Adelia had to begin her preparations around four. Silent maids attended to her every need.

As she bathed amid rising steam, watching them stand wordlessly nearby filled her with embarrassment and discomfort in equal measure. She found herself wishing she could summon Liliet to her side at once.

Without speaking, the maids dried her body, applied fragrant oils to give her skin its sheen, then dressed her in a gown.

It was a light, delicate dress befitting the season—its soft, creamy luster caught her eye despite herself.

“I…”

The maid fastening the buttons at her back looked up at the sound of Adelia’s voice.

“Would you tell me your name? There might come a time when I need to call for you.”

It really was awkward, she thought, not to use formal speech with someone she was addressing for the first time.

As Adelia mused on this, the maids exchanged glances. Then, as if prepared to hear any number of peculiar requests, they fixed her with steady gazes before answering.

“You need only ring the bell, madam.”
“Yes, I know that. But there are times when I’d prefer not to ring the bell at all…”
“There is no need for you to know the names of those of our station, madam.”

Those of our station. Adelia’s eyes fell at the phrase, and she exhaled a short, troubled sigh.

The main Residence had servants like this as well—ones who regarded their mistress and themselves as entirely separate beings.

Liliet had once been the same, but Adelia had pleaded with her so earnestly to stop that they had grown close.

“I want to know. So tell me your names.”

The sudden firmness in Adelia’s voice made both maids’ shoulders flinch.

They glanced at one another again, and the one with honey-blonde hair glimpsed beneath her cap spoke first.

“I am Lora.”

Then the maid who had been fastening the buttons, with hair the color of chestnuts like Adelia’s own, continued.

“And I am Poll.”
“Lora and Poll. Such lovely names. Then I may call you by them from now on, yes? While I’m here.”
“If that is your wish, madam…”
“Thank you.”

The maids’ expressions grew bewildered once more as they stared at Adelia.

Lora ventured to speak carefully.

“You are rather different from the others, madam.”
“Different? Me?”
“Yes. Most nobles do not say ‘thank you’ to those beneath them.”
“But if I’m grateful, I should say so. It’s only proper courtesy as a person.”
“You consider us… people?”

Adelia’s mouth fell silent as surprise crossed her face, and she looked at Lora.

But Lora seemed equally taken aback. Poll, standing behind them, had only five buttons left to fasten, yet she too had gone rigid, her head half-raised in confusion.

“Why would you even ask that? What else would you be?”

Then Poll spoke from behind her.

“Perhaps you’re the only noble who sees maids as people, madam.”
“Then what should I see you as?”

Lora answered.

“As components. Parts that must be present in their place when needed.”

Adelia would have found it better had Lora spoken those words with anger or self-mockery. Instead, the utter matter-of-factness in her tone shocked Adelia deeply.

“Components? No. Why would you harbor such a cruel thought?”

Lora looked briefly at Poll before responding.

“Poll and I originally worked for the Kissing Household, but we were sent here this time—half dismissed, really. The steward here was kind enough to take us in. In the Kissing Household, if maids or servants spoke without the master’s permission, they were beaten.”
“What? That’s impossible.”
“It’s true. Poll was beaten many times.”

At those words, Adelia spun around sharply, not caring that the buttons nearly tore free.

“Is that the truth?”

Poll’s cheeks, where a few freckles dotted her pale skin, flushed as she hesitated before nodding.

“I do tend to talk quite a lot, you see.”

Without thinking, Adelia reached out and grasped Poll’s hand firmly. Poll flinched as if she’d touched hot coals, but Adelia did not let go.

“Here, in front of me, you may speak as freely as you wish. If you have an amusing story, I want to hear it.”
“But…”
“It’s all right. Do you understand? The same goes for you, Lora.”

Lora, who appeared slightly older than Poll, bore an expression of shock yet remained composed. She swallowed hard and nodded before speaking.

“If I may, madam, there is something I should tell you.”
“Yes, what is it? Tell me.”
“The Kissing Household will have everyone in attendance at the Dance Party Venue today. The master and mistress, their two sons and two daughters—all quite malicious. They play vicious pranks.”
“My goodness.”
“Especially to those they meet for the first time, like yourself, and to those who don’t stay in this region. Please be cautious. The eldest son is called Short Kissing, and he is notorious for pestering young ladies indiscriminately. And…”
“The youngest daughter. She is the worst of all. Her name is Sophie Kissing. You’ll recognize her—she has golden hair and wears the most extravagantly ornate hair ornaments.”

Adelia committed the two names to memory.

Short Kissing and Sophie Kissing.

‘This feels ominous.’

She had a sense that today’s Dance Party Venue would not proceed smoothly.

“I understand. Thank you for telling me.”
“Absolutely keep your distance from them. There is nothing good to be gained from their company.”
“But why would such discourteous people receive an invitation to the party?”

Lora answered.

“They control the commercial interests of this entire region. They’re considered powerbrokers here. That’s why, despite the dislike, people cannot afford to slight the Kissing Household.”
“I see. So that’s the reason.”
“I do wish you might avoid even meeting their eyes, madam, but we have some knowledge of how these dance parties and galas unfold. Please be especially careful.”

A smile appeared at the corner of Adelia’s mouth.

“Thank you both for the warning. I’ll be careful.”

In any case, today I must not stray from Loerston’s side.

Adelia steeled her resolve.

***

“The Kissing Household?”
“Yes. Have you heard of them before, sir?”

Loerston, who had been lost in thought as he reclined against the carriage seat, shook his head.

“I haven’t. They must be local nobility, native to this region.”
“I feel sorry for Lora and Poll, having worked in such a household.”
“Among the nobility, you sometimes encounter those who seem to have sold their humanity for coin. Often people who were decent enough at first grow petty and base with time.”
“Do you think it’s because of power?”

Loerston laughed dryly.

“Exactly. You’re quite right. Power corrupts a person like nothing else.”

After a brief pause, he continued.

“All the more reason I should have signed the acceptance as the Duke of Insel and his wife.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The invitation only had the address. So they had no idea who we were.”
“Can they issue invitations that way?”
“They can. There are many ways to write a party invitation. And since this is a resort area as well… they might observe less formality than in the Capital. They may have thought it amusing to send invitations with only the address. In any case, they must have been confident that whoever lived there would be of noble birth.”
“But… when we enter, they announce names, don’t they? What will you do then?”
“Of course we’ll enter under the name of the Duke of Insel House. That’s the problem. Had I signed the acceptance myself, rumors of my arrival would already be spreading among the local nobility by now. That would at least draw somewhat less attention. But as it stands…”
“You mean it will be more shocking when an unexpected person appears?”
“Precisely. In any case, I’ll need to keep a close eye on these Kissing Household members.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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