Chapter 12. Obvious Family

〈Riena sent a letter! She said the Grand Duke will be visiting the estate in the summer, and she will be visiting as well!〉

Riena was a woman who was frequently by the Grand Duke’s side, much like Elise.

To be precise, she was more actively pursuing the position of Grand Duchess than Elise.

If it were any other matter, Elise wouldn’t have paid much attention to Riena. After all, no matter what anyone said, she was more beautiful than Riena.

But when it came to the position of Grand Duchess, it was different.

‘I can’t ignore her family background.’

Though she was the daughter of a fallen Viscount, Riena was the daughter of a Marquis.

Moreover, Riena’s family owned vast lands in Denertum’s granary region and near the capital’s royal palace, making them one of the wealthiest noble families.

So, Riena always adorned herself with the best and lavishly bought new things, flaunting them in front of Elise.

As if to say, how could a daughter of a fallen noble like you possibly compare to me?

The Grand Duke didn’t seem to show much interest in Riena. He treated her just like any other woman in the social circle and didn’t keep her by his side like Elise.

‘The Grand Duke is fond of me.’

Wasn’t she the one he always called to meet in secret, holding hands away from prying eyes?

‘But if we look at conditions alone, Riena is much more advantageous.’

She had to work harder to surpass Riena.

She needed to pay extra attention to her communications with the Grand Duke, filled with more love than usual.

At the same time, she had to confirm whether he was really going down to the estate, and if he was, whether she would be going with him, as Riena claimed.

At such an important time…

‘Did that fool not return all day?’

The anger she felt towards Riena quickly shifted direction.

Since she couldn’t grab the Marquis’s daughter by the hair, she wanted to vent her anxiety on someone she could.

But she didn’t expect Ael to return with someone else.

Elise belatedly considered her dignity and looked at the carriage Ael had arrived in. The emblem on the carriage was not of a noble house but of the Ash Merchant Guild.

‘Even the carriage is different.’

It wasn’t the Denertum style full of ornate decorations, but a clean, practical design.

Yet, it couldn’t be mocked because anyone could see it was made from high-quality wood, painted multiple times to make it sturdy.

Even if the design was simple, anyone with eyes could see it was a valuable item.

In other words, the man who came with Ael in this carriage must hold a certain position in the Ash Merchant Guild.

‘He may not be a noble, but…’

She couldn’t openly disregard the Ash Merchant Guild.

Recently, even the Grand Duke was said to be making efforts to win them over.

Elise quickly adjusted her expression. She didn’t care about commoners, but if he was an important person in the Ash Merchant Guild, there was no need to tarnish her reputation.

Besides, it was said that the guild members shared everything they saw and heard with the guild.

If she continued to mistreat Ael, bad rumors might spread.

‘Foolish thing. She should have said she came with someone.’

Elise swallowed her regret. The person meant to take Riena’s place and bear her anger had, fortunately, slipped away.

Elise quickly returned to her usual demeanor when dealing with people.

A dazzling smile that could win anyone’s heart spread across her face.

She knew well the power of her smile. Now, like others, this man would focus on her and not pay attention to Ael.

Then she would send him away appropriately.

“Thank you for bringing Rida home. Then, if you’ll excuse me…”

“Are you hurt?”

But contrary to Elise’s expectations, the man didn’t spare her a glance and was only concerned about Ael.

Elise was momentarily taken aback.

It was the first time a man had ignored her and only cared for someone else.

All Ael felt was embarrassment as she was being supported.

‘I should have just asked to be dropped off nearby…’

Kyle had been kind and courteous to her all day.

Even though she introduced herself as a commoner, hiding her family name, his attitude didn’t change.

Ael felt like she was dreaming all day, experiencing such courtesy and kindness from a stranger after so long. He even explained the terms she had been desperately wanting to know.

Even though she hadn’t completed her errand and injured her leg, Ael thought today felt like a gift.

So when he offered to take her home, she initially asked to be dropped off nearby.

That way, she could remain in his memory as Ael, a servant of a nearby noble house.

But in the end, she ended up showing this situation.

“Who are you, young man!”

Finally, Viscount Aradis shouted at Callon.

“I’m Kyle, from the Ash Merchant Guild. I’m grateful for the great help Miss Ael provided to our guild today, and I sincerely apologize for bringing her home so late.”

Callon, tall and with his arms extended, bowed politely, causing Viscount Aradis, who was about to shout, to step back a few steps, unable to say more.

Like Elise, he instinctively realized that the man before him was not someone he could treat carelessly.

“Help? What help did my daughter provide? And Rida, you! Have you been with a stranger until this hour? Have you no shame!”

Viscount Aradis made the same choice as Elise. He redirected his anger towards the easy target, Ael.

“Daughter…?”

“Yes. I am Viscount Aradis, and she is my daughter. So release your impudent hand now!”

The Viscount spoke as if Callon was holding onto his possession.

At the Viscount’s words, Callon finally released Ael’s arm. He glanced around him briefly.

Ael, blushing and unsure of what to do.

Unlike Ael, the woman dressed extravagantly was smiling but unable to hide her eeriness.

And the woman who looked very much like her, along with her husband.

Even looking into the eyes of the Viscount, who claimed Ael as his daughter, held no affection for her.

Callon could easily guess the dynamics of this family.

After a father’s remarriage, an unloved child of the former wife often received worse treatment than the servants in the household.

Some might say, how could they discriminate against their own child, but many more believed they could behave that way precisely because they were their own child.

Many people think it’s discipline when done by family, but violence when done by outsiders.

Callon could easily imagine what Ael might go through after he leaves.

She would be scolded for not completing her tasks properly and for not behaving like a noble daughter. Judging by Elise’s behavior when Ael arrived, violence would likely accompany the scolding.

As he thought about this, a sudden anger rose within him. It was an inexplicable rage.

Honestly, Ael was interesting, but to him, she was just someone who had helped him, nothing more.

He didn’t intend to care more than necessary for such a brief acquaintance.

But…

Callon’s gaze lingered on the old, worn-out Viscount’s estate with its peeling paint. Also, the poorly maintained, messy garden.

Just from that, it was obvious what the economic situation of this household was. In fact, he could tell just by looking at Ael’s clothes.

‘This is convenient.’

Callon knew well how to deal with such people.

What they lacked was what he had in abundance.

“Is that so? Once again, I apologize for Miss Ael’s tardiness.”

Callon bowed once more and then turned towards the carriage. Viscount Aradis, thinking he was leaving like this, tried to call him back.

Instead of turning to look at him, Callon opened the carriage door he had arrived in with Ael.

“Oh my!”

Maya, who had followed the Viscount couple outside, exclaimed in surprise when she looked inside the carriage. It was filled with gift boxes.

“Move all of these into the mansion.”

“Yes, sir.”

The coachman, who had been firmly instructed by Nisha to take good care of them before leaving, quickly began moving the gift boxes at Callon’s command.

The Viscount couple and Elise could only stare blankly as the boxes continued to pour out of the carriage, forgetting even to be angry.