CH 18.1

The Montefeltra Mansion was busy. They were busy packing up Lucas and Lila’s luggage, and also cleaning and organising the mansion since they were leaving soon.

And since they had fired more than half the staff, Vincent was busy hiring new ones.

Regardless of the preparations for their departure and the bustle of the mansion being reorganised, Lila was furiously moving cosmetics around in her parlour.

With Karin’s advice and Lucas’s support, she was perfecting her first beauty cream for sale.

Instead of the crystal cream jars she’d made in the beginning, she was using unscented, water-resistant wooden cream jars.

The pouches were simple, containing only a moisturiser and a hydrating cream.

“How is this pouch made so that when you put it back in, it comes back to life, and when you take it out, no matter how long it’s been in, it comes back to life?”

She wanted to take this opportunity to really understand the pouch’s performance. Several boxes on the side of the table were already filled with beauty creams.

Karin and Gale would be here soon. She would sell to the capital first, but she had to leave soon.

So she planned to show Karin the benefits of simple make-up and creams.

Just then, her video communication gadget chirped, and Lila snatched it out and pressed the button, answering in a cheerful voice.

“Michael!”

She waved at him through the device, and he waved back, but today was different.

“Michael?”

Lila’s heart dropped at the sight of him, looking pained.

“What’s wrong? Is something wrong?”

—Lila.

“Yeah, why, what’s wrong?”

Michael opened his mouth to ask her impatiently, then turned to Lila on the screen.

—My uncle came to visit today, but why didn’t Lila come?

“Huh?”

Why had Lucas gone to see him alone without telling her?

—I heard you’re going up North. Aren’t you going to see me before you go?

“No! I’m going to see you! No, why didn’t he tell me?”

Panicked, Lila stammered.

No, if you’re going, you have to take me with you.

Michael, who glared at her as she whimpered, said in an unhelpful manner.

-It’s okay. You can see me before you go. So, you have to come find me. Okay?

His mature words had Lila on the edge of her seat.

“How is my Michael so grown up? He’s more grown up than his uncle.”

—Right? I think so too. Uncle seems to be getting childish.

“Hoo-hoo, you’re right.”

—Today, he was still nagging me.

“But why did Lucas go to see you?”

Michael, who’d been talking a mile a minute, fell silent at her question. His cute little lips, glued together like honey, parted meaninglessly and then closed.

—Well, he said he had a favour to ask me or something, Lila. I’ve got to get to class, so come find me!

“Okay, have a great day! I love you, Michael.”

Michael’s cheeks flushed at her greeting.

—… Me too.”

With a shy whisper, Michael’s image disappeared from the screen. Lila patted her cheek in satisfaction, then muttered.

“But why did he go alone? Really…”

Lila couldn’t stop giggling, she wanted to meet Michael so badly. Just then, there was a knock on the door and Jessie entered.

“Madame, you have a visitor.”

Karin and Gale were supposed to come, but they were earlier than their appointment. Checking her timepiece, Lila scratched her head.

“It’s not time yet…”

Jessie, who knew who she was waiting for, replied with an apologetic look.

“It’s not them, it’s the Baron and Baroness Este.”

“… Again?”

“They said they wouldn’t go back unless they saw the lady…”

Lila frowned in displeasure. Just when she thought she’d forgotten about them, they came and embarrassed her.

They says they care about her, but their actions show otherwise.

“Yeah, that’s good.”

Perhaps she should see them again, at least once, anyway. Deciding that the effort had been saved, Lila snapped the creamer in her hand shut.

“Jessie, show them in.”

“Yes, Madame.”

Lila strode out of the room.

Entering the guest parlour, Lila glared fiercely at Louie, who was pleased to see her. Beside him stood Becky, looking disgruntled.

“What brings you here again?”

“I’ve come to see my cousin, but do I have to have a business?”

The affection in his voice gave Lila goosebumps. She knew how he usually spoke.

“To anyone else, I’d think you cared a great deal about me, Brother Louie.”

Lila shot him a cold glare, and he flinched.

“Of course I care about my family, don’t be such a prude.”

Lila didn’t argue with the unspoken words. Turning to Lila, who was sitting on the couch with her arms crossed, Louie wasted no time in getting to the point.

“I came to get you.”

Lila said with a hint of incredulity in her voice.

“What the hell are you talking about…”

She didn’t get to finish her sentence, however, as Louie rudely cut her off.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has given me special orders to get you out. I had no idea that you were being forcibly held by the Duke. My ignorance has caused you hardship, Lila…”

“…”

Lila was genuinely speechless, and if she had eyes, she could see that she wasn’t being forced to be here, but she ignored it as if she were blind.

No, she saw what she wanted to see and heard what she wanted to hear.

“You must be very fortunate, young lady, to have a brother who thinks so highly of you, and to have His Highness the Crown Prince care enough about you to send us a letter himself… So why do you have to wear such strange make-up, bringing so much trouble to other people? You wanted to be associated with the imperial family from the beginning.”

Becky, who had looked disgruntled throughout the conversation, spoke up.

“Yes, I wish I had, but it’s not too late, dear, so let’s pack up and head back to my place while the Duke is away.”

Lila looked at the two of them as they casually uttered such outrageous words, and thought to herself.

Why are there so many idiots and madmen in the world?

“Pfft.”

She burst out laughing. She couldn’t help but laugh at Louie, who spoke in hushed tones, like a spy in an enemy country, or Becky, who swooned at her beauty.

“Now is not the time for laughter. Pack your bags, now!”

Leaving Louie shouting at the top of his lungs, Lila picked up a teacup from the table and poured it out.

Chak-!

Louie jumped as the tea splashed onto his face with a well-aimed shot.

“Aak, hot!”

“It’s been a while since I made it, it’s not that hot.”

Becky shouted at her as she nonchalantly spilled the words.

“Lady, you’re crazy!”

Becky rolled her eyes as she pulled out a handkerchief and quickly wiped Louie’ face.

“What if he gets even uglier here, you’re going to splash tea all over his face, aren’t you sure you’re not being a bit harsh?”

“Pfft. Phew.”

Lila couldn’t help but laugh at Becky’s comment.

“Are you laughing now? Are you out of your mind? Oh, my God, how can I… I think you’ve been locked in a cage and you’ve lost it, what am I going to do, honey?”

With concern on her lips but mockery in her eyes, Becky turned her head to look at Louie.

When they met, Louie’s eyes burned with anger.

“We can’t get away with this. I’m going to have to re-discipline you this time, or I’m going to have to send you to His Highness the Crown Prince. This kind of behaviour will only get us into trouble, honey.”

The disgruntled look on his face had vanished, and an angry Louie turned to Becky, pouring all his anger on his face.

“I’m ugly?”

“… What?”

Embarrassed, Louie was furious to the core at the moment’s outburst.

“You went from being a maid to being a baroness, and you say I’m ugly?”

“Honey…”

Turning to Louie, who glared at her with a snort, Becky skilfully managed her expression.

“There’s no way I said that, you must have misheard me.”

“No, big brother Louie, you are ugly.”

That’s when Lila interjected. Laughing so hard she stole a tear from the corner of her eye with her fingertip, she snorted when she saw Becky glaring at her.

“What are you talking about now? Miss, don’t you think you’ve been too rude since the last time? Calling your brother ugly, that makes sense. I’ve never seen a man as handsome as Louie.”

Seizing the opportunity, Lila muttered something to the retreating Becky.

“There really is an epidemic of blindness in the capital.”

With that, she rang the bell. Jessie, who was at the parlour door, came in quickly.

“Jessie, can you bring out some fresh tea?”

“Yes, Madame.”

“Make sure it’s very hot.”

“Yes, Madame.”

Her words, very hot, sent a shiver down Louie’s spine.

“Miss!”

Becky called out, as if she couldn’t stand her behaviour. Lila shook her head in disbelief.

“Why?”

“What do you think you’re doing? Don’t you think you should apologise to your brother first?”

“Why should I?”

“Miss.”

“Yes, Becky.”

Lila called her as she had when she was a maid. Becky’s face flushed red at her words. Not from embarrassment, but perhaps from heat.

“If you come out like this, we can’t help you, we’re family, we can only help you so much. Do you know what we’re here for? We’re here because we’re thinking of you…”

Lila cut off her rambling, coldly.

“You can have your pretentious family.”

“Lady!”

“Stop calling me that, I’m getting tired of hearing it.”

“Hey, now is not the time to be so emotional. I won’t talk to you anymore. Go pack your things. As your head of household, I command you.”

Louie said calmly, his face flushed. But Lila could only stare in disbelief.

She couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of their behaviour. It was the first time she understood why people laugh when they’re angry, even if it wasn’t genuine.

“I’m being emotional? You’re the one who shouldn’t be throwing punches. You’re still talking about this topic with fists the size of pot lids. Who says I can’t be emotional?”

Louie’s eyes flickered wildly at Lila, a little embarrassed by her rant.