novelraw Chapter 123
Chapter 123
Chapter 123. No Banquet is Complete Without a Young Lady (2)
The Northern Charity Event. Before the full force of winter descended, it was an event where the Northern social circles gathered in one place to collect donations to be delivered to those in need.
And anyone with a sharp eye would understand the true nature of this event the moment the words 'social circles' entered the picture. It was a gathering where opportunity, intrigue, envy, and failure all changed hands.
A grand ballroom with glittering Chandeliers.
"Lady Penelope Rosemore of Y&P Trading Company has arrived!"
With the footman's announcement, voices bubbled up through the strains of music.
"Y&P Trading Company? Where's that again?"
"You know, the company that makes CCC and Cola."
"Ah, the second daughter of Rosemore?"
This charity event, hosted by the Ashford Marquis Family——the North's longstanding powerful house——was a true league of its own, open only to those who held an invitation. In other words, this was Penelope's first time attending such an occasion.
And yet, every eye in the room turned to fix upon the Y&P Trading Company party that had just entered.
"What a sharp gaze she has. It's hard to believe she's the same one they used to mock as a 'useless flower' not so long ago."
"The going theory is that it was all a disguise to avoid drawing too much attention, isn't it? Looking at how she rose above even Clarisse's attempts to suppress her…… she's no ordinary woman."
The one drawing the most attention was Penelope.
Her gorgeous golden hair pinned neatly up, adorned with rose decorations. And those crimson eyes——shining bright and clear, not the least bit cowed under the weight of every gaze in the room.
The dress, which boldly bared her elegant collarbones, set the hearts of many young noblemen aflutter.
"……Devastatingly beautiful."
"Should I try requesting a dance at the ball?"
There was no shortage of young nobles who had recently set their sights on Penelope.
"Don't bother. If you marry a woman like that, you'll spend your whole life with your nerves on edge."
"Why? She looks a little fierce, sure, but who knows if she might not soften up a bit?"
"Ha, soften her up——as if. She's a woman who took down every last one of the mafia men who went up against her. She's no ordinary praying mantis."
"And that's exactly what makes her so appealing."
Viscount Thornton was among them, keeping his gaze fixed on Penelope as he chatted with his friend. Having inherited the Viscountcy at a relatively young age when his father passed away from illness, he was enthusiastically on the hunt for a bride.
And then Penelope had caught his eye. Beauty that could stand anywhere without a flaw, business acumen she had proven by her own hand, and now even the solid backing of the Rosemore family behind her.
Could there be a more suitable match than her?
"What do you think? Do I have a chance?"
"You're handsome enough that you probably won't get shot down outright, but…… honestly, I can't say I'd recommend it."
"But there's a chance, is what you're saying?"
Viscount Thornton, half-ignoring his friend's words, suddenly leaned his upper body forward.
"Wait, who's that fellow standing next to Lady Penelope?"
A rather polished-looking man had planted himself at Penelope's side and was escorting her.
"Ah, that Commoner has been quite the talk lately. I've heard he's the co-representative of Y&P Trading Company."
"A Commoner? Co-representative?"
Viscount Thornton couldn't make sense of it.
"Why would someone as distinguished as Lady Penelope need to make a Commoner her co-representative?"
"He's said to be capable. There are those who claim that the achievements of Y&P Trading Company came from that man's hands."
"Tch, nonsense. Even if that were true, it just means he's not a candidate for marriage, doesn't it?"
Viscount Thornton gave a dismissive snort. However capable a Commoner might be, how capable could he really be——and besides, Penelope would have to have lost her mind to plan a future alongside a Commoner.
"So he's no competition of mine, then."
"None at all. But even so, thinking about it more, I really don't think that woman is a good idea for you……."
Just then, Viscount Thornton's eyes met Penelope's.
When Viscount Thornton flashed a smiling wink, Penelope quickly averted her gaze. There was something rather endearingly innocent about the way she did it.
"Billy, did you see that?"
"See what?"
"The moment our eyes met, she shyly looked away. She's quite cute, different from what the rumors say."
"Oh, good grief, alright."
The corners of Viscount Thornton's lips curled upward with a smirk.
She looks spirited enough, but she doesn't seem experienced with men. Then again, being capable in one area doesn't guarantee being capable in romance. If anything, the more rigidly brought-up a distinguished family's young lady like Penelope is, the easier she tends to fall for a bit of passionate mischief.
A panoramic vision was already playing through his mind——Penelope, utterly smitten with him, anxiously awaiting his marriage proposal with a look of pure, demure anticipation.
***
Having entered the ballroom with the group, Jurgen looked around.
The sound of an ensemble tucked into the corner, footmen serving Champagne and simple finger foods. Groups already having claimed sofas here and there, chatting away. It was similar to the royal charity event, though different in scale.
He was entertaining the thought that the Tailcoat he hadn't worn in ages was remarkably stifling, when——
"Ugh."
Penelope, who had been striking quite a pose beside him, made a strange sound.
"What's the matter?"
"Some fellow winked at me."
"Seems you're quite popular."
"Popular? Don't joke about it. The very same lot who wouldn't even glance at me when I was a nobody are now——ugh, it makes my skin crawl."
Penelope shuddered, as if genuinely revolted.
Jurgen chuckled quietly. Well, he too had felt the shift in Y&P Trading Company's standing from the moment they stepped into this space.
The outcast of the family who used to wander alone into a shabby general store and sip coffee was nowhere to be seen. There was only the second daughter of the Rosemore family, leading a mythic young enterprise.
The fact that no one was approaching Jurgen was itself enough to gauge her current standing.
"Lady Penelope, it's been a while."
"Lady Penelope, what an honour to have you grace this occasion. What a beautiful dress."
"I'm the representative of Volair Tech——"
That much was demonstrated by the steady stream of people lining up to greet her.
And even.
"I've heard much about the Renoir Workshop's reputation."
"Pardon? M-me?"
"Oh, yes, yes. Word throughout the industry is that your skill is exceptional."
"Ehehehe, is…… is that really the word going around……?"
"If it wouldn't be too much trouble, might you consider using our products as well?"
"If you send samples to the Workshop, I'll look into it favorably……!"
The flood of eager attention pouring over Serena was equally intense. Jurgen watched with mild concern, wondering what would happen if Serena, faced with such fervent attention for the first time in her life, went and signed some strange contract without thinking.
"Hmm, that being the case——we'll pass. You're trying to get far too much for nothing."
"Oh my……? Is, is that so? Then…… might I send over a revised proposal after reviewing it internally?"
"Yes, please do that."
Watching Serena firmly hold the line with composure put him at ease. Then again, Serena may look approachable, but her nature was anything but a pushover.
After all, she was the only one among them who had picked up on Jurgen's true identity.
"Jurgen, let's get away from here."
Penelope, who had been besieged by people for quite some time, came tottering over as if thoroughly fed up.
Penelope kept work and personal matters sharply separate. If it had been business talk, no matter how exhausting, she would have held her ground right where she stood.
"Why are there so many people here with nothing worthwhile to say?"
"What sort of talk, exactly?"
"They're telling me to marry their sons."
But when more than eight out of every ten conversations that came her way were marriage proposals, even Penelope had her limits.
"My stomach is absolutely turning."
Even knowing that noble marriages were all more or less the same. Watching the very people who had regarded her like defective goods barely a year ago now licking their lips and trying to play matchmaker was something she simply could not stomach.
"Let's step out onto the terrace for some air. It's not as though today is our only chance."
"Shall I escort you?"
"Who else would?"
"My honour."
Penelope extended her hand to Jurgen as naturally as breathing. As they made their way up the stairs——
"Lady Penelope, I am Viscount Thornton."
A young man stepped into their path.
Viscount Thornton was a forward-thinking noble who led by example. Rather than the childish business of sending a proxy to pursue a marriage prospect, he had chosen to go himself.
"I am Penelope Rosemore."
Penelope gave a brief, almost mechanical nod of acknowledgment. It was a purely courteous greeting.
"This charity event symbolises the harmony and solidarity of the North. Having Lady Penelope grace this occasion makes it all the more reassuring."
"Oh, well, yes. The honour is mine."
"Have you heard of my name?"
"……Shipbuilding?"
"Oho! You do know of it! That's right. I operate Thornton Marine Steel, which represents the North's shipbuilding industry. There is something I would very much like to speak with you about privately——would that be alright?"
Viscount Thornton, nose tilted skyward with pride, slicked back his fringe in a slippery fashion and cast a look at Jurgen.
The look clearly said: get lost, Commoner, and stop interfering in someone else's marriage prospects. From his perspective, it was only natural for Penelope to respond eagerly, and any man with any sense would have read this subtle air.
'Hm. He's trying to make his move.'
Jurgen caught it immediately, of course. Penelope, however, remained oblivious as ever. She was obtuse in oddly specific ways, and besides, she had simply never been on the receiving end of such a blatant advance before.
"What sort of matter? Business?"
"Yes, though speaking only of business in such a fine setting seems rather stiff, doesn't it? How about a stroll through the garden together?"
Catching on belatedly, Penelope too smiled pleasantly. To Jurgen's eyes, it was a chilling smile that said: 'I'm already dying of tedium and now some tiresome wretch has come to pester me.'
When that expression appeared on her face, even the formidable Serena would quietly gauge Penelope's mood before making a discreet exit.
"The garden?"
"Yes."
"Me?"
"Yes."
"With whom?"
"Why, with me——"
"Why?"
"……Pardon?"
"I'm sorry, but I have things to discuss with my partner. If you'll excuse me."
The two of them moved past Viscount Thornton——left flustered by an answer he had never once imagined——and headed on toward the Terrace.
"A clean rejection. My sympathies."
"……."
"Could be a blessing in disguise, for you."
Billy, who had been watching Viscount Thornton's attempted pursuit, stepped over and patted him on the shoulder——then flinched. Viscount Thornton's face was contorted to an unnatural degree.
Not the contortion of physical pain, but the kind where grotesque fury seemed to have burst through the surface of the skin.
Veins bulging at his temple with enough force to suggest a blood vessel might rupture. Eyes shot through with red. And between his parted lips, ragged breathing accompanied by a trickle of saliva.
It seemed a bit extreme of a reaction for merely being turned down by a woman. The sight was somehow unsettling.
Viscount Thornton's way with women was notorious, for good reasons and ill alike——but hadn't he always been the sort who, even when openly rebuffed, never held a grudge afterward?
"Are you…… alright?"
As Billy took a step back, Viscount Thornton finally reacted.
"Ah, Billy."
"You don't look well. Shall I call for a doctor?"
"A doctor, for what? It's just been a while since I was rejected like that. Uhahaha!"
"Well, as you said yourself——today's not the only chance you'll get, is it?"
"That's right. There are plenty of opportunities. Ah, Billy. Give me a moment——I need to use the lavatory."
Viscount Thornton moved swiftly toward the lavatory. Standing before the washbasin of a lavatory that would put most wealthy homes to shame in its splendor, he turned the cold tap on full and washed his face.
"You little…… you little bitch…… you dare look down on me?"
The mirror showed him a face warped into something grotesque. Not a physical deformation——rather, the kind of warping where hideous, seething fury seemed to have torn through the very skin and burst outward.
"I, I shouldn't be like this…… why am I, why am I like this……? Damn it, even so, I can't forgive it. You dare refuse me?"
Viscount Thornton's disturbed muttering continued without end, carried along by the sound of running water.