Chapter 87
I went out as soon as the meal was over and stroked the elsa tree gently. I can feel the rough bark in my palm, and the bitter citrus smell went into my nose.
Just in time, the chairman came towards me when he saw the elsa tree piled up in the castle.
“What’s all of this?”
“It’s mine.
“Just how many are here…”
“If I start selling it, I will be richer.”
“What are you going to do when you get richer?”
“Of course I have to pay my taxes.”
When I laughed, the chairman also laughed.
Does the chairman know that Seria’s and my heart always breaks every time the tax season comes in?
But the chairman only shrugged.
“I’ll leave some of the leaves.”
“Yes. Leave some of them. So that people don’t think it’s strange.”
“Yes. Ah, I need to depart for work.”
Originally, the work was already arranged for weeks. But it was only delayed because Mireille appeared.
“I think we’re leaving in few days.”
“Don’t forget your communication device.”
“Don’t worry, I always bring it with me.”
“Okay.”
I nodded as I touched the corner of Etwal.
***
We went to the capital city three days later.
Previously, there was only me, Henry, Isaac, and dad in the castle. But now there was Javelin and Johann.
Johann decided to stay with us until the end of his vacation.
When we arrived at the mansion, the employees greeted us.
When we were done organizing our luggage, we drank tea and discussed what was going to happen.
Aunt said to dad,
“Now that Leblaine is about to have her social debut, we’ll have to pick her godmother.”
Godmother are adults who educate the soon-to-debut ladies.
It is very important who our godmother is. This is because people are divided by factions.
Of course, there are people who don’t like factions, but if they don’t belong anywhere, it is difficult to survive.
My family discussed my godmother.
“I heard that Mrs. George is wise. All the ladies said she’s calm and smart.”
Henry who knew many people said,
“Mrs. George is wise, but her husband is not. He is greedy. If he knows that his wife is in charge of Leblaine, it will be hard.”
“I heard their niece is also making her social debut this time. He cares so much about blood, he may mistreat Leblaine and prioritize his niece.”
“What about Mrs. Dimonte?”
“It’s a good idea.”
Many names were mentioned. Aunt and Henry gave many suggestions to dad.
“Pick anyone who won’t force Blaine to wear heels.”
There have been people who have forced kids to wear high heels.
Hearing him, my aunt said, “Of course.” as she drank the tea.
Everyone voiced out their opinions together to pick my godmother, but I already had someone in mind.
My aunt will introduce me and take on the role of helping me adapt.
My aunt said,
“First…let’s just start with shopping.”
“Shopping?”
“The smell of money can make hyenas of the social circle shut their mouth. I’ll ask Sharon for your clothes.”
Sharon?
As soon as I heard the name, I quickly asked my aunt.
“Can I go and see her in person?”
“Hmm…”
My aunt, who had been agonizing for a while, soon nodded.
“It wouldn’t be a bad idea to introduce yourself.”
I sang a joyous song into my heart. Because the person I want to have as a godmother has a good relationship with Sharon.
***
When I came out with my aunt to the store, I could feel the gazes coming our way.
“Oh my god…it’s Javelin.”
I could hear whispers ever since we arrived.
From the lady holding the book to the bachelor in the flower shop, all attention was on my aunt.
There was no end to the attention.
She was like a knight who came back from the war victorious.
Everytime she wears something, it becomes a trend.
Above everything else, she had this elegant and cool atmosphere that made her feel like the cool big sister.
I knew this because there were people who valued Javelin’s portraits even in the church. Mina was one of them.
“You don’t know her Leblaine? Oh my god! Javelin is a top star!”
Many people were influenced by Javelin including Mina.
I looked at my aunt and the woman running from far away.
“Oh my, Javelin Ariage! My muse!”
Her hair is about 6 centimeters below her ears, and her name is Sharon. She is the best designer here.
She is popular for selling expensive dresses to nobles.
“What’s going on? I’ve asked you to come, but I didn’t think you would actually come. I thought I had seen wrongly.”
Then Sharon smiled, as my aunt covered her face with her palm.
“I came to buy this child’s clothes.”
“I don’t design children’s clothes. But who is this squirrel?”
“She’s my niece.”
“Niece?!”
Sharon shouted in amazement.
“You’re child of fate?”
“……yes.”
Sharon’s eyes widened, soon she burst into laughter.
“Haha! Hahahaha!”
“Little miss, my name is Sharon Rouge.”
“My name is Leblaine.”
“You speak up now?”
“As a courtesy to my aunt’s friend.”
Then she opened a door without a sign.
My aunt and I followed her inside.
The interior was magnificent. She led us to the end of the hall, and when she opened the locked door, the staircase in the form of a whirlpool came to view.
“Come on, you two go upstairs while I’m sketching.”
I held my aunt’s hand tightly.
‘This is Sharon’s workshop.’
Above these stairs the nobles called the room Sharon’s workshop.
But just because it’s called that, it doesn’t mean it’s a real workshop.
This was the so-called club where the people of status shared their personal connections.
Melvin couldn’t reach Sharon’s reputation not because she was a better designer. It’s because Sharon is the operator of a top-tier club.
I went up the stairs with my aunt.
There was about twenty people, gathering in groups of twos and threes to talk.
A nobleman saw my aunt and said,
“Ms. Ariage!”
“Now it’s a real ball.”
“Hahaha, when you get older, your memory gets so bad. So this is Ms. Ariage.”
People crowded around my aunt.
“Who is this child?”
“My niece.”
“Ah, that…”
“Hello, Marquis Dilmore.”
“Do you know me?”
“Of course. I knew who helped the founding of the empire. I admired you after hearing that you made a lot of merit being one of the knights in your youth.”
Marquis Dilmore was dumbfounded.
He was surprised because I was still young yet I spoke eloquently.
“Oh my god, you’re so young, yet you spoke so nicely.”
I greeted other nobles too.
“It’s nice to meet you. Countess Lecillia, Count Castor, Marchioness Whitley.”
The nobles really looked surprised.
“How do you know me?”
“I heard a lot about you, people said that Countess Lecillia is famous for being sensible, and she’s a beautiful lady with blond hair. So I just thought she might be you.”
“How do you know that?”
“You purposely stood on Marchioness Whitley’s left side. She’s holding a cane on her right hand, so you stood on the left to avoid any inconvenience.”
Smiles rose on the faces of the nobles.
“You’re clever.”
Countess Lecillia smiled and handed me an orange juice.
I grinned with a childish and innocent look on my face.
‘Okay, I like Countess Lecillia, who had the best reputation in this club.’
I took the orange juice and went gently to the side of the sofa.
“Countess Lecillia is one of the most talented people. She have a close relationship with Empress Yvonne.”
Many people said that.
‘But she’s not the one I want to make a godmother.’
Didn’t that person come today?
It was when I looked around thinking so,
A woman with dark brown hair was coming up the stairs.