A cruel expectation lingered in their curved eyes—the joy of being able to look down on Edele Canyon, who possessed everything they had so desperately wanted but could never attain.
“I heard the knights of the Imperial Guard were dismissed because of you? I suppose your talent for seducing men is still as sharp as ever?”
“No, that’s not it… If you’re a sinner, you should be living with your head bowed. How are you out in the open, even smiling? Have you lost your mind?”
“It seems something is wrong with her head. She must have gone through all sorts of things while being dragged away, right? If I were her, I would have chosen an honorable death.”
It was clear they were intentionally using meaner tones to mock her, hoping to see Edele hurt and shedding tears.
Seeing them, Edele saw a reflection of Marsha.
Once that thought crossed her mind, Edele no longer felt afraid. She only felt sorry for Daisy.
“If you wish to know the details regarding the Imperial Guard members, you can confirm them in the military tribunal records. As for my outing, Count Krissus graciously granted me permission. And, fortunately or unfortunately, I am still in my right mind.”
Edele answered with an indifferent expression, even adding a smile, which caused them to stare at her in disbelief.
Not wanting to waste her pleasant day any further by engaging with them, Edele decided to cut the conversation short.
“Please understand that I cannot explain my situation any further. The Count has ordered me to remain silent. Now then, I wish you a pleasant outing.”
She bowed slightly once more.
Though as a lower-ranking person she could not leave first, she could still politely dismiss them without overstepping her bounds.
When Edele mentioned Laslo, Lucille’s friends felt there was nothing they could do and turned to leave.
But Lucille was different.
“The great Edele Canyon—not content with being sold off as a second wife to an old man, she’s even become a mercenary’s mistress.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Calling a mercenary ‘Count’ at every turn, and the fact that she’s still walking around just fine even after being dragged off as a slave—isn’t it obvious?”
Second wife of an old man, a mercenary’s mistress, slave.
She used malicious terms, trying to trample Edele into the dirt. Because she raised her voice as if for everyone around them to hear, the eyes of the crowd turned toward Edele all at once.
“That’s not it! Edele-unni is…!”
Just as Daisy was about to snap and step forward, Edele held her back.
“I didn’t know I had a mistress.”
At the sound of a familiar voice piercing through the murmuring noise, Edele turned her head.
“I’m curious how you came to know something even I am unaware of.”
Laslo was approaching slowly, pushing through the onlookers who had gathered.
Not only Edele and Daisy, but even Lucille and her friends, who had their backs turned to him, were startled.
Regardless, Laslo walked right up in front of Lucille, looked down at her, and asked again.
“I asked, how do you know?”
“I, I, no, it’s not that…”
“So, you were spreading false rumors about my private life without even knowing the facts?”
Lucille stammered in confusion, and her friends stood by, not knowing what to do and exchanging nervous glances.
Noticing the situation, the surrounding spectators began to chuckle at Lucille.
“It seems that young lady is jealous of the maid over there, doesn’t it?”
“The maid is prettier, after all.”
“Even at a glance, it looked like she was picking a fight on purpose.”
Though their jeers weren’t perfectly audible, Lucille couldn’t have missed the atmosphere. She shouted as if to rebuke them.
“A-are you threatening me now? Is that what a Commander of the Imperial Guard does? Uphold your chivalry!”
“A moment ago, you called me a ‘mercenary.’ You should be grateful that this ‘mercenary’ is speaking to you this gentlemanly.”
Lucille’s complexion turned paler.
However, Laslo didn’t go easy on her in the slightest.
“Edele. What is this lady’s name?”
“…Her name before marriage was Lucille Arten. I do not know her current name.”
“Spreading false rumors about me seems to be an attempt to cast a shadow on His Majesty the Emperor… Where should I place the blame for this?”
At that, Lucille let out a shocked gasp and begged with her hands clasped together.
“I am sorry, Count! I was truly wrong! I never had any intention of belittling you!”
“You had no intention of belittling me, yet the word ‘mercenary’ came out of your mouth? The same applies even if you only intended to disparage the maid of my household. Did you think her master would just laugh and let it slide?”
Laslo’s eyes were sharper and more menacing than ever.
Lucille stomped her feet with a face that looked ready to cry, and her friends, embarrassed by the situation, kept looking away.
But the most bewildered person was Edele.
‘My pleasant Saturday with Daisy…’
She had only intended to draw portraits, do some light shopping, buy some delicious food, and then return. But at this rate, the security guards would come, and things would only escalate.
Then, Laslo, who had glanced at Edele, suddenly changed his attitude.
“It’s annoying, but I don’t want to go digging through this mess, so let’s make it brief. If you apologize to me and my maid right here, I’ll let it go.”
Lucille immediately apologized to Laslo.
“I am truly sorry. I was thoughtless and rude. I will ensure something like this never happens again.”
“Very well. And there is one more person you need to apologize to, isn’t there?”
Edele wondered if Lucille would really apologize to her. But unexpectedly, she quickly approached and bowed her head.
“I’m sorry, Edele. I was wrong. Will you forgive me?”
Her hands were shaking. Edele didn’t know if the apology was sincere, but she wanted to end this situation quickly, so she readily nodded.
“I accept your apology.”
“Thank you, Edele.”
Fortunately, the situation ended with that.
Laslo gave permission for Lucille’s group to leave, and as they fled, the crowd dispersed as well.
Only then did Edele realize that Lynnia and the coachman, Marco, had been watching the whole scene.
Lynnia was glaring at the retreating figures of Lucille’s group with a disgruntled look.
“Noblewomen aren’t much, are they?”
She even uttered words that seemed to dismiss the other noblewomen she had once feared so much.
“What on earth are you doing here?”
Laslo asked Edele, who had unintentionally caused a scene.
“We came to draw portraits with Daisy. We were looking for a spot to draw when we happened to run into someone I know. I apologize.”
“It doesn’t look like something you need to apologize for. But… portraits…?”
Only then did he look around the bridge filled with artists and easels, and asked again.
“You’re going to get a portrait done here of all places? Is there something special about this spot?”
“They draw quickly and the price is cheap.”
Edele hoped he would just take Lynnia and leave. She and Daisy still had much to do.
But suddenly, Lynnia cut in.
“I want to draw a portrait with my brother too.”
“Are you crazy?”
“Crazy? Since you’re the only family I have, I don’t know when you might die, so I should at least have a portrait to remember your face.”
Edele hadn’t known that Lynnia felt that way about Laslo. Perhaps it was only natural as family.
Laslo seemed to have changed his mind at those words as well.
“Then let’s go somewhere else. Too many prying eyes here.”
“Where are we going?”
“There’s a place that only accepts nobles as customers.”
“You know places like that, Brother?”
“If you don’t like it, forget it.”
“No!”
Lynnia shook her head vigorously and looked back at Edele and Daisy.
“What are you doing? Let’s go.”
“Pardon? Us too?”
As Edele hesitated, Laslo tossed one more remark from the side.
“Unless you enjoy being the center of attention, come with us.”
Only then did Edele realize that passersby and the nearby artists were glancing at her. After such a scene, it would be difficult to draw portraits leisurely here.
‘I also feel sorry for Daisy…’
Edele nodded and followed after Laslo with Daisy.
The place Laslo took her to was the studio of a fairly renowned portrait painter. It seemed to be by appointment only, but after Laslo said a few words, they immediately ushered them inside.
“A portrait in pastel? You’ve come to the right place! We complete them in under thirty minutes.”
The painter said with a confident, beaming smile.
These rapidly produced portraits had originally been a trend born from commoners envying aristocratic culture, but it seemed the trend had reversed and begun to take hold among the nobility as well.
“Usually, when you commission a portrait, it takes at least a month, even at the fastest pace. But pastel paintings can be completed much faster and are more affordable, so people can come to get them done with a lighter heart.”
The studio walls were adorned with paintings waiting for their owners, and they were certainly of a higher caliber than the works found on ‘Portrait Street.’
Moreover, as one would expect from an establishment that catered to noble clientele, the interior was clean and bright, and the chairs looked spacious and comfortable.