CH 29

"What?"

“Don't be overjoyed, Nils. It's because he doesn't think you're smart enough to be trained as an heir. Maybe after a few months, he will pass it on to Yvonne?”

“You bastard… … !”

Nils squirted fire from his eyes and grabbed Iona by the collar.

While Iona was estimating how much his dentures would cost, she somehow felt pity for him who would live without them, so she just turned her eyes to the servants.

Only then did Nils let go of Iona's collar, perhaps conscious of her eyes.

He glared at Iona and said clearly.

“Know that you are lucky.”

Nils turned around and left the dining room.

Yvonne, who had been watching the two quarrel, hurriedly followed her brother. Even in the midst of this, she didn't forget to shoot her fierce gaze at Iona.

Iona waved her hand toward Niels and Yvonne, who were moving away.

Now that the enemy's attention had been diverted, it was time to start implementing her plan.

***

Whilst Nils was distracted by the delayed training of becoming an heir, Iona was stamping her daily attendance at the social gatherings of the capital.

She accepted all invitations, including middle-aged ladies and gentlemen, younger ladies and ladies of her age, and sometimes the elderly...

As a matter of course, the nature of the meeting varied wildly.

“Dame Iona, would you like to attend the equestrian competition in the second half of this year? Then, at our meeting, we will finally be able to produce a winner!”

At the equestrian meeting, Iona was offered to participate in the competition,

“I am very glad that you accepted my invitation, Dame Iona. I have been wanting to see you again ever since you rescued me from trouble on the Avenue Blanche last time.”

Lady, who invited Iona to tea time, had an unknown crush on her.

“I thought you had no interest in opera, but I was wrong. I never thought you could predict the ending so accurately... … Did you already see it? That can't be, this play premiered today.”

She was able to tell everything about today's opera because of regression.

“Oh, Dame Iona. hmm… … . For a first-time embroidery, um. It's a great piece of work. In particular, this raccoon feels all the joys and sorrows of living as a wild animal. What can I say about this distorted expression, it's like... … . yes? A lion?”

The embroidery class was a bit ambiguous...

'I can't be full on the first drink.'

Anyway, since she had been praised, it was safe to say that she had some talent.

The handkerchief she had completed was intended to be given to Leroy. It was bothering her that she had never gifted a single piece of embroidery to her husband in her previous life.

'Even if he says he doesn't like it, what's wrong... … I can't help it.'

Iona hadn't finished it yet, but she was already worried about the other person's reaction in advance.

Iona hadn't even looked at Leroy's face for about a week.

It seemed almost pointless to have informed him of her destination through Jonas in advance.

It was something a normal woman would feel sorry for, but Iona passed it on as if she had other business to do with him. Because she already knew that he was very busy at this time.

'Maybe he's looking for his old fiancée.'

In the first place, responding to the call of the imperial family was just a smoke screen, and the real purpose of his coming up to the capital was to find his former fiancée.

Around this time, news came that Viviana, the only daughter of Count Schmidt, had been sighted nearby.

In the previous life, Leroy had failed to find Viviana, but now he was still in the middle of the search.

Yes, he must be very busy looking for his fiancée's whereabouts... …

“Long time no see.”

'Why did he suddenly appear in front of my eyes?'

Iona looked up at Leroy with a puzzled face.

She thought it was a dream, so she closed her eyes and opened them again, but the other person was still there.

When she heard the news that the duke was visiting, she thought there must be some mistake, but it wasn't.

Iona opened her mouth with a puzzled expression.

“I didn’t know you would come today.”

“Aren’t you planning to attend the ball at Count Ritzer’s house today?”

“That’s right, but… …”

“You were the one who said that it would be difficult to cross paths due to someone else’s interference.”

Coming home without notice was another matter.

Even the servants who followed him were holding a bunch of mysterious boxes.

Iona didn't want to go overboard, but the atmosphere seemed like a gift to her.

“… …Come upstairs to my room. I am not ready yet.”

After thinking about it for a while, Iona finally let him into the house.

A partner who came without a prior appointment could not be left out indefinitely.

There was still a long way until the ball started, so she thought she would serve some tea.

It was fortunate that Hayden and his children were out at the moment.

Iona felt very happy for that happy family gathering that she had never participated in before.

The servant brought by Leroy delivered the gift to Iona and left.

Marsha, who came running after hearing the news belatedly, opened the box and did not hide her joy.

“My lady, look at this. It is a ruby ​​of the same color as the eyes of a young lady. How about this shiny silk?”

It seemed more exaggerated because the person who gave the gift was by her side, but it was true that all the items in the box were of the highest quality; A dress made of lavish silk, carpet shoes with large natural stones, and matching accessories each were shining under the lights.

Iona stopped watching Marsha as she carefully took out her dress and asked abruptly.

“How do you know her size?”

“Looks like I borrowed a pattern from the dressing room you use.”

'There's nothing that can't be done with the money.'

Iona was deeply impressed.

It was a world she never imagined. Being able to order clothes without knowing the size was something new for her.

'Should I consider it fortunate that my body secrets were not directly passed on to him?'

“It looks pretty expensive.”

Iona said as if thinking of Leroy. 

But he closed his mouth and didn't answer.

Eventually, Iona's expression became more direct.

“You don’t have to give me a present like this, but the clothes are enough.”

“If you want to claim that, you had better not let me in here. I was starting to doubt whether or not you lied to me about your identity.”

Leroy said, looking around the room indifferently.

It was not that she liked it, at first glance, the number of dresses hanging there wasn't too many.

Even considering the fact that she started social activities late, it was clearly insufficient.

Iona replied with an embarrassed expression.

“I am getting a decent salary. It's just that I didn't have enough taste for makeup to spending a lot of money on clothes.”

“That's a good thing. There is no need to spend a lot of money on something you are not interested in.”

“There is no need for the Duke to bear the cost for me.”

“Unlike you, it’s not such a waste of money for me.”

Iona couldn't tell if she was worth spending money on or if it was worth spending money on clothes.

Iona, who was staring at the suspiciously shiny skirt, finally nodded her head.

It was also not polite to refuse a gift given to her because it was burdensome. Even if she returned them, it wasn't something he could use.

“… … Then I will be grateful.”

As soon as the owner gave permission, Marsha began to organize the presents as if she was waiting.

Iona was watching her with a feeling that it was okay to do this, but she felt eyes pouring from the side.

As soon as she turned her head to see if she was mistaken, their eyes met.

He asked.

“Could I ask you a rude question?”