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Naturally, once the news spread, people began sending letters asking what on earth had happened to the House of Count Sharon. Even if the Sharon family kept their mouths shut, the gossipmongers would chatter away to their hearts' content.
And the reason being discussed was, most likely, Ariette.
Feeling irritated, Letticia leaned back against the seat. Ariette, glancing around nervously, asked with an uneasy expression.
"Speaking of the capital… our family's reputation among the capital's nobles must have plummeted, hasn't it?"
"It's probably far worse than it was five years ago. The head of the family, His Grace the Duke, was convicted of attempted assassination of a noble and sentenced to exile from the capital, and part of the lands was even confiscated."
"…Then wouldn't my involvement in this project make things even worse?"
"We even had the contract notarized by Her Majesty the Empress. Isn't it a little too late to be saying that now?"
"I'm sorry… I only heard about it this morning…"
Letticia, who had never once been excluded from decision-making in matters concerning either the family or Sharon Jewelry, had not expected such a response.
She cursed Alexander inwardly, recalling the words he had spoken earlier.
"By the way, my lady, Sir Averil mentioned earlier that he wouldn't restrict your education in any way. Was that something you had already discussed with him?"
"Ah… yes. The day after Father departed for the eastern provinces, my brothers told me that's what they'd decided."
"…I'm sorry if I sound suspicious, but are you sure they meant that sincerely?"
"I'm sure of it. My brothers never lie to me."
Judging from how confidently Ariette said it, Alexander truly seemed to have decided to allow her education without any restrictions. It was baffling, when Letticia and Seraphina had visited, he had been the one most adamantly opposed. What could have caused such a drastic change of heart?
"So… they really said it's fine to teach you things like dancing?"
"Yes. They even said that if I want, they would fully support me making my debut in society. Of course, with my current level, I can't attend an audience ceremony, but if I wished, they'd host a grand ball at the capital mansion to formally debut me…"
"A debut?!"
Letticia unintentionally raised her voice. For men who used to lose their minds at the mere thought of a man approaching their younger sister, to now permit her social debut, even the sun rising in the west would be less shocking.
"Those same people who hated the idea of you being alone with a man are saying things like that now…? Has someone swapped their souls or something?"
"I was so surprised I asked them several times to make sure. But according to Brother Alexander, this whole situation happened because Father was far too wary of any man approaching me… So my brothers wanted to reflect on that, and this decision is part of that reflection."
Ariette seemed to believe that explanation, but Letticia couldn't shake off her doubts. It felt more likely that Alexander was simply saying those things because there was no chance Ariette would actually go through with a debut.
Even if this incident had made Alexander come to his senses, the idea that he had suddenly recognized all his flaws and corrected them overnight was absurd.
'That's as ridiculous as believing love alone can solve everything.'
Letticia, who had never been a romantic in that sense, decided to test the most realistic possibilities, the two most suspicious theories: possession or acting.
"Then let me ask you a few things, my lady. Sir Averil hasn't collapsed or anything, has he?"
"No. Brother Alexander has been perfectly healthy. Even though he's been having late-night meetings with Brother Achilles lately because of the increased workload, he hasn't shown a hint of exhaustion."
"Then has he ever woken up and started saying strange things, acting like a completely different person, or developed habits he never had before?"
"No, not at all. Lady Sharon, are you suggesting my brother has been replaced by someone else? He has changed a lot, but he's still the same brother I've lived with for eighteen years."
After hearing Ariette's reply, Letticia decided to discard the possession theory. Typically, in cases of possession, the original soul departs after death, and the new soul takes over. Unless Alexander had suddenly died of a heart attack, then it was definitely still him.
Of course, it could be a case like hers, regaining memories of a past life. But if that were true, it would normally cause an identity crisis. He would want to isolate himself in his room or act unnaturally around others as he tried to adjust, signs that would be impossible to miss.
'Then it's safer to assume he's acting… Still, I need to know what's going on inside his head to do anything about it. And now, it's even harder to read him than before.'
Before, it had been simple, she could always assume Alexander would oppose anything. But now that he was behaving like a normal person, he was much harder to predict.
What's more, if he kept acting this way, people would eventually believe he had truly reformed. And by the time he showed his true colors, those around him might no longer suspect a thing.
As that thought crossed her mind, another one followed close behind.
What if, by the time Alexander revealed his true nature, it was already too late?
'She could make money through business and prepare for independence, or if that doesn't work, she could make her debut in society and find someone to marry. Once everything's done, even Alexander would have a hard time stopping her.'
Rebuilding the tarnished honor and credibility of the ducal house wouldn't be easy in a short time. Even though Alexander was well-regarded, his hands were already full as acting head of the family. Restoring the family's reputation would take at least a year or two.
If that was the case, then the answer was simple, during that period, she just needed to get Ariette out of the ducal house.
Feeling satisfied with the refreshing clarity of that conclusion, Letticia spoke brightly.
"If Sir Averil truly has had a change of heart, then that's a relief. In that case, we can focus on the perfume business without any worries."
"Do you… really think it'll be all right? People might speak ill of us…"
"Well, there's bound to be talk. But as Her Majesty the Empress said, this business involves cooperation among three noble factions, it has political significance. If anyone tries to nitpick, there will be people ready to fight back on our behalf. So let's just focus on the business."
Despite Letticia's bold reassurance, Ariette's eyes still darted around anxiously.
"Even so… our family caused so much trouble and inconvenience. Ah, now that I think about it, shouldn't I apologize to Lady Eskis and Lady Hailey as well? They must have been shocked by all this. I haven't been able to contact anyone because Father took the communication orb with him."
"…I'll let you know once a date for the gathering is set. You can talk to them then."
Seraphina would likely be fine, but Dayna, whose resentment toward the House of Averil had only deepened after this incident, would not accept Ariette so easily.
It really felt like a lightning bolt would have to strike the Duke himself before Dayna's anger could ever be appeased.
***
Even after finishing all his duties as Commander of the Kinght that day, Achilles delayed going home and instead waited near the Crown Prince's palace.
Roughly thirty minutes after the officials had left and the sun had begun to set, Ezkhiel finally emerged from the palace, and Achilles hurriedly called out his name.
"Sir Bright, do you have a moment?"
"…What is it you need, Commander Averil?"
Ezkhiel's voice was formal as he met Achilles's gaze. The tone was polite enough for official conversation, but Achilles could tell that his attitude was anything but friendly.
"If I'm not mistaken, today isn't a scheduled reporting day. Do you have something urgent to report?"
"No, I came because I have business with you, Sir."
"I'm sorry, but I'm on my way home. If it's not urgent, please bring it up another day."
"It's not about official business, it's a personal matter. I don't mean to delay you, so could you spare me just the time it takes to walk to your carriage?"
When Achilles asked again, Ezkhiel's voice turned cold.
"If this is about the matter with House Sharon, then there's nothing to discuss. His Majesty the Emperor has already mediated between us, has he not?"
"I'm not here to ask for mediation… I want to apologize to Lord Sharon."
Achilles struggled to finish his words, but Ezkhiel's expression remained icy.
"The apologies have already been made by the Duke and by Sir Averil. Whatever you say now will make no difference."
"It's not that incident I wish to apologize for… It's that I never thanked you for helping my sister, and that I was unaware of the disrespect my father showed."
When he had returned home after frantically scouring the capital for Ariette, who had vanished leaving behind only a brief note, he had seen House Sharon's carriage parked outside.
But the instant he laid eyes on Ariette and confirmed that she was safe, he had forgotten everything else.
He hadn't even realized that his father was reaching for his sword at that very moment. And he hadn't heard the full account of what had happened until long after Lenard had left.
'…It's nothing but an excuse now, I know.'
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