FCHTIB Chapter 30

Railey looked up at the dark smoke rising in the distance.

Thanks to the original story, she already knew that the Guildmaster used long-distance magic to observe each department of the guild directly, but still—it caught her a little off guard.

'I didn’t think they’d respond this quickly.'

Originally, she had only planned to throw out some bait today and stir the Guildmaster's curiosity to create room for future negotiations.

So the fact that they reacted so promptly was actually quite favorable for her.

[Hello, young miss? I’d like to meet you too.]

“Right now?”

[Right now’s a bit difficult since I’m far away. But if we set an appointment, I’ll make time.]

“Then, let’s meet again here at this antique shop next time.”

[Sounds good.]

After setting a time, the Guildmaster ended the call as the smoke dispersed.

“Wow… It’s the first time I’ve seen the Guildmaster respond so fast…”

“Maybe they found her interesting because she’s just a kid.”

“They probably hasn’t dealt with anyone who looks like a child among their past trade partners… Hmm…”

The informant tilted his head repeatedly in thought, then eventually escorted Railey back outside.

As she exited, Parnel lit up upon seeing her.

“Young Madam! Did you find something you wanted?”

“No, but the owner said he’ll keep looking for me. I’ll have to come back again later.”

As she said that, she glanced back toward the informant. He nodded in understanding, he’d surely prepare some excuse-worthy antique for her next visit.

Railey sighed in relief as she returned to the carriage. Now that the tension had eased, her body felt weak and limp.

Still, she was in a great mood, having achieved even more than she originally set out to do.

She now felt confident, like she had just laid the foundation for seizing a new future with her own hands.

***

Later, at the townhouse, upon returning home, Railey personally handed the gifts she had chosen to her husband and father-in-law.

“I’m not sure if you’ll like them, but…”

“Oh, nonsense! Of course I’ll love it, without even looking!”

Walter exclaimed cheerfully, acting as overly dramatic as ever, and immediately opened the box Railey handed him.

Inside was a pair of finely crafted cufflinks, delicately made from amber.

“Wait… are these matched to my eye color?”

“Ah, you noticed?”

“My goodness, my daughter-in-law thought of me and picked this out as a gift? I must be truly blessed.”

“T-That’s a bit of an exaggeration…”

Embarrassed by his excessive praise, Railey fidgeted, but Walter was already trying to put the cufflinks on. (Only for one to pop off and fall, with Yuan silently picking it up and handing it back without a word.)

“This one’s for you, Young Master Serge!”

“…Thank you.”

Serge, who had just been watching his father with an exasperated look, quickly composed himself and received the box with a smile.

“This is...”

“An amber brooch.”

Railey had deliberately chosen a brooch made with the same gemstone as the Duke’s cufflinks so they would form a matching set.

It was partly because she thought the color would suit Serge’s eye color well.

Serge, while genuinely pleased, also felt a contradictory annoyance knowing that his gift now formed a 'set' with his father’s. That duality made his feelings more complicated.

“Shall I pin it on for you?”

“...Yes.”

Unable to resist the sparkle in his wife’s eyes, Serge nodded reluctantly.

Railey carefully pinned the brooch to him and smiled brightly. It looked even better on him than she had imagined.

“You both look wonderful!”

“Y-Yeah, I guess so.”

Walter, knowing his son’s tendency to rebel, just smiled and patted Serge on the shoulder. It was a subtle gesture, urging him not to act coldly in front of his wife.

Serge, in turn, brushed off his father’s hand (so swiftly that Railey didn’t even notice) and then looked back at her to express his thanks.

“Thank you for picking this out just for me. I’ll… get you something in return next time, something that suits you.”

“Oh, you really don’t have to!”

“I want to.”

He was thinking of giving her a necklace or earrings made of amber—something that would make him and Railey look like a pair, a husband and wife, rather than a father and son with Walter.

Cufflinks weren't very noticeable anyway, so to the outside world, it would appear they were matching as a couple.

'Receiving a gift in return makes me feel guilty... Should I get him something else too? But if I do, won’t this turn into an endless gift loop?'

Unaware of her husband’s sweet desire to match couple accessories, Railey was off worrying about something entirely different.

***

A formal invitation from Aidelica arrived sooner than expected.

The message explained that since she was staying in the capital for the time being, she wanted to invite the daughter-in-law of House Elestine for a tea party and conversation.

After reading the letter, Walter tilted his head in surprise.

“That’s odd. I thought the Lady usually avoids social gatherings.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Even though it’s the social season and she's in the capital like us, I thought she’d keep to herself.”

Since Railey had already met Aidelica before and they had agreed to keep it secret, she merely nodded without revealing anything.

“Maybe she’s just curious about our family since we rarely visit the capital... Hm…”

Walter's expression grew more serious.

He suspected that this invitation, directed solely at Railey, wasn’t entirely Lady Aidelica’s idea, but rather something influenced by the Grand Duchess herself. The thought made him uneasy.

Noticing his dim expression, Railey asked carefully.

“Would it be better if I didn’t go…?”

“No, that’s not it. Since you’ve been invited directly, refusing would be impolite. Just go and enjoy yourself.”

“Yes!”

“But if anything happens there, you must tell me. Promise.”

“I will.”

Serge, who had been quietly watching beside them, looked visibly downcast.

Since only Railey had been invited, he couldn’t accompany her this time either.

“...I probably can’t go, right?”

“Well, it would be inappropriate for someone who wasn’t invited to attend...”

“...”

“I’m sorry for having to leave you alone so often, Young Master Serge.”

“No, it’s fine...”

“Like I said before, let’s definitely go out together sometime!”

“...Okay.”

“Besides, the tea party’s tomorrow, right? So today… why don’t we just relax and read a book together?”

Serge gave a small nod. Though subtle, Walter could tell his son was deliberately acting pitiful to get attention.

It reminded him of his own childhood, leaving him with a strange, nostalgic feeling.

'Is this sort of behavior inherited?'

Despite the awkward smile on his face, Walter genuinely enjoyed watching the two of them interact so sweetly.

So much so that he completely missed something important.

The look in Serge’s eyes as he stared at Railey… dark and thick with something scheming, something brewing.*

***

The next day.

Railey made her way to the Grand Duke’s residence in the outskirts of the capital, arriving just in time for the afternoon tea party.

Though the territory of House Colluima was located far away, like many influential noble families, they maintained a residence in the capital as well.

This 'townhouse,' however, was less a house and more of a fortress—its scale and grandeur more fitting for a small, independent kingdom than an urban dwelling.

After parting ways with Parnel, who had escorted her, Railey followed the servant through the mansion toward the North Wing.

The Grand Ducal mansion’s enormous scale and the placement of the Grand Duke’s first heir, Aidelica, in such a remote section revealed something clear.

She was being deliberately pushed aside by the family.

The distance from the central living quarters was a stark and unmistakable sign of how neglected and marginalized Aidelica was within her own household.

- “But alas, I’m afraid I’m not exactly the kind of ‘high-ranking figure’ who can help you.”

“……”

“You’re still young, so perhaps you don’t see it yet… but even though I hold a high position, I have little real power. Getting close to me won’t benefit you much.”

Perhaps the Grand Duchess, who held the actual power, was deliberately keeping her own daughter in check. It might be a form of gaslighting, designed to keep Aidelica from rebelling against her.

There hadn’t been much detail about this in the original story, and Railey, being from House Vitence, hadn’t had access to political knowledge, so this was all just speculation.

“Please wait here.”

“Yes.”

Railey was guided to a reception room in the North Wing and sat down properly.

Not long after, the door opened.

Thinking it was Lady Aidelica, she stood up to greet her.

But to her surprise, the person who entered was a noblewoman she had never seen before.

She appeared to be about eighteen, a little older than Aidelica, with sharp green eyes and equally sharp features. Her presence gave off a strict and stiff impression.

“I am Jennifer, the second daughter of Count Laom. I am in service to Her Ladyship.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Railey of House Elestine.”

Jennifer acknowledged her greeting with nothing more than a curt nod of the chin.

“…Huh?”

That subtle arrogance in her attitude brushed against Railey’s nerves like ice.

“Follow me. Her Ladyship is waiting inside.”

“…Okay.”

As Railey stepped forward to walk alongside Jennifer.

Clatter!

Her foot caught on something, and she stumbled forward, falling spectacularly.

“Ugh…”

“Tch… This is why those from lowborn houses can’t even master basic etiquette.”