Chapter 15
‘I regret to inform you, but Lady Evelyn has not awakened yet.’
‘What? Check again! If Evelyn hasn’t awakened, then why would I…!’
‘It’s certain. The lady has not awakened. She is unable to use any power.’
Evelyn desperately tried to make the flower bloom using the power of blessings, her face turning red with effort.
However, the seed in front of her remained unresponsive.
After several attempts, the Duke was forced to accept his daughter’s lack of awakening.
He was deeply unsettled.
If Evelyn hadn’t awakened, then why was his own power steadily diminishing?
Out of desperation, he searched every branch of the Muton bloodline for another awakened individual, but his efforts yielded nothing. No one in the Muton lineage had awakened after Brian.
Yet, the power of blessings continued to drain from him as if it were being taken by the gods themselves.
If news of this ever leaked, the Duke’s household could collapse. Thus, he kept the matter highly confidential and silenced anyone who might speak of it.
Still, those around him were beginning to notice his reluctance to use his abilities.
It would have been ideal if his children could support him during such times.
‘Evelyn is holed up in her room, sulking after being rejected by the Crown Prince in front of everyone. And Eric… That brat has no abilities but plenty of ambition, always complaining.’
There was no one he could rely on.
Disheartened by his children, the Duke began considering the prospect of having another child with Charlotte.
But even that, much like his waning power, failed to yield promising results.
As he sighed deeply, his assistant handed him something.
“Ah, Your Grace. Her Majesty the Empress has sent you a letter.”
The Duke had been so preoccupied with reviewing documents that he’d momentarily forgotten his initial purpose.
Taking the letter begrudgingly, he read its contents and scowled.
‘It’s that request about the power of blessings again!’
The letter was a demand to use the power of blessings to make something bloom, written in an imperious tone.
In the past, he would have gladly complied. But now, it was impossible.
‘With enough time, I could probably manage. But if I take too long, they’ll notice my weakening power.’
So, the Duke once again came up with various excuses to decline the Empress’s request. Muttering with a tired expression, he grumbled.
“Everyone just wants to suck my power dry. It’s exhausting…”
At that moment, the assistant, crouched and organizing papers, spoke as if he’d just remembered something.
“By the way, the Pierre Trading Company, which sent a funding request earlier, is reportedly in a financial crisis.”
“Ah, that company that kept begging me to supply them with Blue Trut?”
The Duke asked indifferently, lighting a fresh cigar. He recalled them only because they had been an annoyance during a sensitive time when his power was waning.
“It seems that both Divar and Pierre have fallen, and the newcomer Minerva Trading Company is filling the void.”
“What’s this Minerva Trading Company?”
“Do you remember Ron? It’s the company he’s managing, and Franz Ravello is supporting him.”
Hearing the names of his former brother-in-law and an old subordinate mentioned together made the Duke’s brow twitch.
“Hah, so Ron has teamed up with him?”
Speaking to himself incredulously, he added with disdain.
“Lately, I’ve been hearing Franz’s name a lot.”
“That’s likely because the existence of his illegitimate daughter has been revealed.”
“A daughter? Franz got married?”
“No, she’s a child of unknown parentage—a love child.”
“Unbelievable.”
Clicking his tongue, the Duke shook his head.
Just like his sister, Franz had always acted superior. And yet, he turned out to be no different.
“Apparently, the daughter is already quite grown.”
“How old?”
“Nineteen this year. Witnesses say that even with only a glimpse of her face, she is strikingly beautiful.”
“…Really?”
The Duke’s expression shifted with interest.
If the daughter resembled Franz, she was bound to possess remarkable beauty.
‘I’m starting to get curious.’
Perhaps it was because he’d heard so many familiar names today, but the Duke couldn’t brush off the news about Franz and found himself intrigued.
“The Fennec Barony is hosting a party soon, right? Invite Franz’s daughter to it.”
Unable to suppress his curiosity, the Duke issued the order, prompting the assistant to hesitate.
“The Fennec Barony is the Duchess’s family. They might find it unpleasant.”
“Why should I care? They’re throwing a lavish party using my money. How dare they feel displeased?”
“No, Your Grace. I’ll send word to the Fennec Barony.”
As the assistant turned to leave, he added a question.
“Shall I invite Franz as well?”
“No need. I’m curious about the daughter, not Franz. There’s no reason to see him.”
“Understood.”
***
For several days, letters filled with curses were sent incessantly from the Ravello Marquisate.
Franz and Claire read one or two before burning the rest.
By the time the letters stopped coming, likely because the senders had grown tired, Claire was met with an unexpected piece of news.
The Fennec Barony had sent her an invitation to a party in her name.
It was a truly laughable situation.
Claire was well aware that Brian Muton had had an affair with the daughter of the Fennec family before killing her and remarrying.
“And yet they dare send me an invitation?”
Frowning, Claire calmly pondered.
There was no way the current Duchess’s family would have voluntarily sent an invitation to the family of the late wife.
“It must have been Brian Muton’s doing.”
He had a knack for pushing tasks that seemed unprofitable onto others.
“Is he curious about me?”
Muton’s swift reaction was far from welcome.
When her gaze fell on the recipient section of the invitation, Claire’s lips twitched.
“He invited only me and excluded Franz?”
Her eyes sharpened.
Illegitimate children were taboo in noble society, even if officially legitimized. Rumors alone could lead to ostracization.
And Claire, who didn’t even have a mother to speak of, would likely face worse.
It was possible she could be thrown out of the party. In fact, it was highly probable. Nobles generally avoided associating with illegitimate children.
The only person who could shield her was Franz, the man publicly recognized as her father.
“Did they deliberately leave Franz out?”
Claire furrowed her brow.
“What should I do about this?”
Ignoring the invitation wasn’t an option; she had no established position in the social world yet.
She wasn’t in a place to pick and choose events, and refusing poorly could spark bad rumors.
Yet going alone would likely end poorly.
There was only one solution to this predicament.
“I need a partner.”
Finding a partner and attending the party with them would solve everything.
It would be even better if the partner were someone who had also been invited.
That way, there would be no room for criticism.
“The problem is, where do I find such a person?”
As an illegitimate daughter of a mere noble heir, Claire had no influence or connections.
Her situation couldn’t even compare to her days as Priscilla Ravello.
Back then, as the eldest daughter of a Marquis, many young men had volunteered to partner with her.
“I can’t take just anyone as a partner. It has to be someone powerful enough to overshadow my background.”
Claire sat in thought for a long time, trying to identify such a person.
When no one came to mind, she turned to Franz.
“Sorry, you know I don’t have any friends… And even if I did, they wouldn’t be the right age.”
Franz, too, lacked connections. And as he pointed out, any friends of his would likely be unsuitable.
“Do I have to turn to that man again…?”
Lost in thought, Claire’s mind conjured the image of a man in a white mask.
Episteme Guild Master, Teddy.
“But would he accept a request to find me a party partner?”
It seemed too trivial a task to ask of a guild in the underworld. Still, just in case, Claire decided to head to 5th Avenue.
***
Second Visit to the Episteme Guild
Pushing open the teal door, Claire found the same familiar scene unfolding before her.
Rune, sitting on a sofa on the first floor, eating chocolate cake, waved excitedly upon seeing her.
“Pretty lady! You’re back!”
“Hello, Rune. How have you been?”
“I’ve been waiting for you to visit again.”
The boy jumped up from his seat and ran to Claire, grabbing her hand and shaking it.
His large, round eyes sparkled like stars.
“Visit often. Our guild master may have a nasty personality, but he won’t mind you coming.”
“Haha, is that so?”
Though Claire knew the master’s tolerance applied only to clients, she didn’t correct Rune’s innocent belief, sparing his youthful excitement.
She gently ruffled his soft silver hair before heading upstairs, leaving Rune behind.
Knock, knock.
When she knocked and entered the room, Teddy, as if expecting her, was seated with his legs crossed, wearing his signature white mask.
—
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