69novels Chapter 170
Chapter 170
Chapter 170. Power Struggle (1)
Clarisse, returned from her Private Audience with Penelope. She sat in the study, staring fixedly at the mirror propped against one wall of the room.
"Penelope."
Her face was an expressionless mask, yet the corners of her eyes were trembling ever so faintly.
Knock knock.
A composed and unhurried knock broke the silence. There was only one person in this villa who could knock on Clarisse's door with such ease.
"Come in, Elder Brother."
"Sorry for the late hour, Clarisse. I saw the light on."
The door opened and a tall man stepped inside. The eldest son of the Rosemore family, and its undisputed heir apparent.
It was Rupert Rosemore.
Rupert shared the same silver hair as Clarisse, but his air was the complete opposite.
If Clarisse was the cold moon of winter, Rupert was the sun that embraced all things.
It was no accident that the family's elders — the ones who still loved their quaint old poetry — called Rupert and Clarisse the Sun and Moon of Rosemore. For the record, Clarisse utterly detested that ridiculous nickname.
"Oh dear, I thought you'd be resting, but you're still at work. You don't look well. You've been working so hard."
Rupert settled naturally onto the sofa and gave his tired-looking sister a warm smile.
"If Elder Brother paid a little more attention, I might be able to rest as well."
"Ha ha, I'm sorry about that. My abilities don't hold a candle to yours. I'm always relying on you, Clarisse."
A good-natured smile. An easygoing manner and gentle air that sat oddly with his position. The reason not a single young lady in the Social Circles could be found who disliked Rupert.
"So then, what is it? At this late hour."
"Ahem, well, I heard the news. Our youngest has come to the capital, I'm told?"
A note of warmth crept into Rupert's voice as he probed gently.
"And on the Royal Household's invitation, no less? Remarkable, isn't it? A member of our family taking charge of the Birthday Banquet. I'll be honest — I was rather surprised."
"Remarkable? It's nothing but a vulgar merchant's game."
Clarisse replied sharply.
"It's hardly something to boast about — a child of Rosemore's blood going around reeking of cooking smells."
"Ha ha, Clarisse, don't be so rigid about it."
Rupert rested his chin in his hand and continued with a look of interest.
"Times are changing, aren't they? The results Penelope has built up are by no means trivial. Cola, that chicken thing — Creating something from nothing isn't something just anyone can do. I personally find it rather admirable."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Not to mention, they say Y&P Trading Company's financial power spans the whole of the North. At that level, wouldn't it be quite an asset to our family as well?"
Rupert's eyes curved into a narrow smile.
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
"What do you think? Now might be a good time to bring Penelope back to the main house. I think it could work well to take her under my wing and give her a role in family affairs."
At Rupert's casually tossed remark, Clarisse's brow tightened.
"That again?"
"It's a waste seeing a beloved younger sister let her talents go to rot. To clear up the misunderstanding between you two, perhaps a meal together……"
But Clarisse's eyes grew only colder.
"Don't even dream of it, Rupert."
Clarisse cut Rupert off sharply.
"That girl is out of the question. She's beyond controlling. She'll clearly run wild and ruin the family's discipline."
"Hmm, is that so? You think she's still lacking in your view?"
"Lacking doesn't begin to cover it. She's dangerous. The intent behind the Royal Household summoning her is obvious enough, isn't it? They're trying to keep us in check. Bringing that kind of disruptive element into the house? Your own position could be put at risk."
"No, no, I understand that much myself."
Rupert shrugged with a put-upon air.
"But if we draw her to our side, there's no problem, is there? She's proven her ability well enough by now."
"Rupert, you're being too soft. At this juncture, unnecessary variables are the last thing we need. Please, just listen to me for once."
Rupert smiled wryly and rose from his seat.
"Well, you're probably right. Your eye for people is far sharper than mine."
He clicked his tongue with a look of reluctance.
"Still…… don't sharpen your blade too much. Penelope is our family in the end, isn't she? Let's look after her well."
"Don't worry, I'll handle it myself."
"Right, right. I know you're the one shouldering all the dirty work. I'm always sorry about it and always grateful."
Rupert patted Clarisse on the shoulder. Clarisse shook off his hand as though something unclean had touched her.
"Don't touch me without asking."
"My, in a temper again."
Rupert raised his hands awkwardly and sidled past Clarisse.
"You look tired, get some rest. I'll be heading in too."
Rupert left the room, and the door closed.
"Ha."
Alone once more, Clarisse leaned back into the cushion and let out a long breath.
***
Early morning. As Penelope was nursing what appeared to be a hangover and feeling poorly, only the trio of Jurgen, Brigitte, and Serena headed out.
Two objectives.
A preliminary survey in preparation for the Birthday Banquet, and sightseeing for Brigitte. The schedule during the Royal Culinary Competition had been so packed that sightseeing had been barely even a dream.
"Miss Brigitte, all ready?"
"Of course! Sightseeing in the capital — I couldn't sleep a wink all night! I even wore my prettiest outfit!"
In stark contrast to Brigitte bubbling with excitement, Serena's expression was far from bright. Hat pulled low over her face, she was dragging her feet like a cow being hauled to the slaughterhouse.
"……Let's just go and get it all done with quickly."
"Miss Serena, why that expression? This is your hometown, where your beloved alma mater stands."
At Jurgen's teasing, Serena recoiled and waved her hands frantically.
"H-hometown? How stifling was every single day of my Academy years…… I-I much prefer the North."
"I never knew that."
Serena's fondness for the capital hovered endlessly close to zero. The atmosphere of the Social Circles — all pretence and calculation — had never been kind to a young lady of a Viscountcy.
The three boarded a carriage and alighted in the busy commercial street connected to the capital's Central Square.
"Wow……"
The moment they stepped out onto the main boulevard, Brigitte's jaw dropped.
Spires shooting up as if to pierce the sky, and a procession of splendid carriages filling the roads.
"There are so many people! They all look like they're heading to a party somewhere."
"Most likely their morning commute."
"Dressed that splendidly?"
Every person walking the streets was magnificently turned out without exception. Lace-trimmed dresses, well-polished leather shoes. A busy, bustling capital life with a palette entirely distinct from the North's.
Familiar to Jurgen and Serena, but apparently everything felt fresh and new to Brigitte. Brigitte wandered about like a lamb let outside the pasture for the very first time.
"Look at that, look! They're saying that one parasol costs 3 Crowns!"
"It's the capital."
"Is everything in the capital this expensive?!"
Jurgen walked ahead with his hands clasped behind his back and replied with indifference.
"Consumption is the means by which one demonstrates one's worth here."
Serena folded her arms and added with a cynical air.
"Exactly. Empty on the inside but staking their lives on appearances — that's this place. That's precisely why I fled to the North. Couldn't stand the sight of it."
"Ahhh!"
"Brigitte, be careful too. Every person in the capital is a swindler. Behind every friendly smile, they're all harbouring poison."
"Oh…… ah……?"
"That's quite enough, Miss Serena."
Jurgen smiled wryly and put a stop to Serena, who was busy preaching her sinister theory to an excited Brigitte.
Not that it seemed likely to sink in deeply, given Brigitte's nature.
"You know the capital well, Sister Serena!"
"Of course I do. Do you have any idea how much I spent on tuition and living expenses here."
"Then do you know any good dessert shops?"
At Brigitte's bright, eager eyes, Serena raised her chin with deliberate haughtiness.
"Hmm, it's all overpriced…… But there is one place that's actually worth eating at. Somewhere I used to stop by when I was at the Academy."
"Ooh! Let's go, Sister! Quickly!"
"Hmph, follow me. Let Sister show you a thing or two."
Serena marched ahead with complete confidence, as though she had never said a single dark word about the capital.
To Jurgen's eye, Serena appeared to hold mixed feelings about it. If Serena had been a Count's daughter, she probably would have adapted to capital life better than anyone…… — that observation he swallowed quietly to himself.
"This is the best dessert shop in the capital."
The shop Serena led them to was a stately, old-fashioned dessert establishment situated at the entrance to the square. Outside, a long queue of nobles' attendants and wealthy citizens stretched down the street.
"Wow…… there are so many people. I'll be right back!"
Brigitte plunged through the crowd and returned twenty minutes later. In her hand was a very small, very pretty box, no larger than her palm.
"Oh, but Sister. Is this the right price?"
Serena flinched upon seeing the receipt Brigitte held out.
"Wow, it's doubled since then. Honestly, absolute robbers."
Brigitte opened the box. Meringue cookies in the shape of pink roses were nestled inside, adorably arranged.
Exactly as they lived in Serena's memory.
"Even so, I guarantee the taste. The price is worth it, go on and try one."
Serena recommended the cookies with full confidence. They were the taste of a sweet memory that had given some comfort through the difficult years of her studies.
"Yes! Thank you, I'll dig in!"
Crunch. The cookie broke apart with a light, crisp sound.
"……Well? How is it?"
Serena asked with barely concealed anticipation, and Brigitte blinked and chewed thoughtfully.
"Hmm…… it's sweet."
"Right? A refined kind of sweetness?"
"It smells like rose perfume…… and it melts away in your mouth……"
"Yes, that texture that disappears like snow — that's the artistry of it."
"Yes, it melted and disappeared."
"Right."
"And that was it."
Brigitte held out an empty palm with a deflated expression.
"Just sugar with perfume sprinkled on? I ate it, but it doesn't feel like I ate anything."
Serena's expression stiffened.
"That can't be right. G-give me one too."
Serena, as if unable to believe it, grabbed one of the remaining cookies and popped it into her own mouth.
The taste in her memory had surely been a heavenly sweetness.
"……"
Serena stared blankly into the air.
"Serena? Are you alright?"
"……It's ruined."
"Pardon?"
"My tongue is ruined!"
Serena clutched her head with a look of despair.
"Was this always what it tasted like? No, I'm certain it was delicious back then…… Why does it taste so greasy and bland now?"
Serena realised quickly. The culprit was none other than Y&P Trading Company.
After eating crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside chicken every day, charcoal-fragrant Braised Ribs, and fizzing Cola — her palate had become one that could no longer be satisfied by the capital's offerings.
"Th-then where am I supposed to find the taste of my memories now……"
"Did you not say Albion was your least favourite place?"
"But it's still a memory……"
A crestfallen Serena.
***
Various small mishaps behind them, they arrived at the Central Square. Today's destination — the square where the Birthday Banquet's parade for the citizens would be held.
"……Wow."
Brigitte opened her mouth, seemingly struck speechless.
There was no end in sight. Roads radiating outward in all directions from the enormous central fountain.
"So…… this is where it fills up with people? It's ten times bigger than the Northern Square!"
Right now it was no more than the occasional passer-by here and there, but the sense of pressure that emptiness conveyed was immense.
"Certainly…… even fifty thousand servings wouldn't make a dent."
"When the Birthday Banquet comes, the square opens and all of Albion's crowds pour in."
"How many people is that?"
The Birthday Banquet was under the jurisdiction of the Minister of the Royal Household, so Jurgen didn't know everything. Still, going by the breadth of the square and his recollections from attending past events……
"Hmm, I'd say around two hundred thousand."
"Two…… hundred thousand?!"
Serena's face went pale.
"Two hundred thousand…… that's not distribution, that's a supply operation……"
Brigitte, standing beside her, went pale in turn.
"To grill two hundred thousand servings of meat…… how many cooks would that even take?"
Jurgen looked back at the two of them, frozen solid.
"Which is precisely why we need to devise a new strategy."
He said it with a confident smile.