Chapter 29

Cecilia smiled with a coquettish expression. Baron Benjamin grinned wickedly and glanced at her. Everything was compared to her late husband. Baron Benjamin was about the same height as Cecilia, had cloudy eyes, and possessed a hooked nose.

He was completely different from her husband who had been tall and intelligent.

Cecilia hid her disappointment.

“Elena is immature… You know what I mean?”

“Hmm. Yes. Young ladies of that age aren’t really suited for taking care of a family. Do you know where Elena is now? She must be quite upset.”

Cecilia twisted her lips. Though he pretended to be a gentleman on the surface, his gaze wouldn’t leave her cleavage.

“It’s fine. I think Elena found her own path.”

Cecilia whispered in a sweet voice. Moreover, Elena seemed likely to be helpful.

“It appears Lady Hazel thinks highly of Elena. Right now Elena and Leana are staying at the Adeloff ducal house.”

“The Adeloff ducal house!”

Baron Benjamin’s voice cracked. The Adeloff ducal house! Lady Hazel! It seemed Elena had made quite impressive connections. Then if he married Cecilia as she proposed, wouldn’t he have the Adeloff ducal house as backing!

No matter how great the imperial family was, they couldn’t ignore a wife’s family.

Baron Benjamin swallowed his saliva.

“Such a thing happened. Elena was indeed particularly intelligent and beautiful.”

She was a child who had inherited only the good points of her late husband and Cecilia.

“That’s right. Even late Fayto would be very pleased. Seeing Elena find such a good match.”

Baron Benjamin swallowed. Cecilia, who had already been tempting, became even more so. He grabbed her hand eagerly.

“Cecilia, actually I also prefer someone like you with childbearing experience over a young lady like Elena. I didn’t say it before considering honor, but… Isn’t the probability higher that you’ll bear me an excellent heir?”

“Well… that can’t be ignored. I checked with a doctor, and he said I could have two or three more children.”

Cecilia spoke suggestively while leaning toward him. Her scent wafted over to him. Baron Benjamin trembled.

She chuckled softly.

Actually, considering age, Cecilia was more suitable for Benjamin. She knew he was three years older than her.

“But there’s a problem. I need 100,000 gold…”

“100,000 gold?”

Baron Benjamin asked with gleaming eyes.

“Yes. 100,000 gold. I need it for something… I have some debts. Could you help me, thinking of it as dowry money?”

He swallowed. The dowry he had promised Elena was 1 million gold. 100,000 gold was cheap by comparison. Moreover, Cecilia and the Adeloff ducal house came as a package.

Then rather, 100,000 gold would be profitable business. Baron Benjamin nodded vigorously.

“I can give that much anytime!”

Cecilia smiled inwardly.

‘Got it.’

See, Elena. Mother will never die.

---

Crown Prince Frederick’s charity ball was held in the Rose Hall of the imperial palace. Originally, the Crown Princess should have handled such events, but she was currently pregnant. Thanks to this, Frederick prepared the charity ball together with his five-year-old son.

Crown Prince Frederick and his son Antonio greeted the guests.

Then Maxim’s party arrived.

“It seems your uncle has come, Antonio. Always appearing fashionably late like the main character.”

“Uncle?”

Antonio trembled.

“Uncle is scary. What if he gets angry again?”

“He won’t get angry if you don’t play tricks. Your uncle is a rational person.”

A servant loudly announced Maxim’s name. Frederick prepared to greet him. And Maxim appeared.

Frederick’s eyes widened. In Maxim’s arms as he emerged from the light was a young girl. She wore a white dress studded with rhinestones and cute pink shoes.

Her hair was braided in two pigtails secured with ribbons. The child’s large blue eyes, looking around the ballroom with curiosity, were impressive.

Frederick swallowed.

‘A daughter…?’

That couldn’t be. Of course, he had heard about Elena. The story that a young lady had become close with Maxim. He couldn’t forget it because Empress Riana had excitedly gone on and on about it. And she had repeatedly asked him today:

Absolutely don’t make her feel pressured, and observe carefully.

The Emperor and Empress deliberately didn’t attend today’s event.

They didn’t want to burden her when all the royal family’s attention was focused on Maxim’s partner.

Frederick asked in a flustered voice:

“Who is that child?”

“My partner.”

“What?”

“You must have heard about Elena. This is her sister. Princess Leana. Leana?”

Maxim patted her back lightly. Then she turned her head slightly to look at Frederick. He swallowed again. Good heavens! Was she a doll? She was such a pretty child.

“H-hello.”

Even her mumbled greeting was adorable. This is why daughters are the best. Frederick swallowed a wistful sigh. Unfortunately, he had just heard his physician’s opinion that the second child would also be a boy.

Since the Crown Princess had firmly declared there would be nothing after the second, it seemed there would be no daughter in his life. But such a cute child!

If Frederick felt this way, how must it have looked to Antonio? He hugged Frederick’s legs tightly.

“That little one over there is Antonio. He’s a year younger than you, Leana. Will you say hello?”

Maxim asked gently. Leana shyly waved her hand.

“Hello, Antonio…”

It had been too long since meeting a child her age. Embarrassed, she hugged Maxim’s neck and turned her head away.

“H-hello, Leana.”

Maxim chuckled. Looking at Antonio, he seemed completely smitten with her. Taking after his mother, he couldn’t help himself around anything sparkling and pretty.

While Leana was enchanting the two of them, Hazel appeared with Elena. People’s gazes shifted to Elena, who had Hazel as her chaperone.

“Frederick, your aunt came but you’re not even looking?”

“Ah, Aunt. It’s good to see you in such good health. I heard you visited before. You’re the one who left without even greeting me.”

Frederick said playfully. Hazel chuckled.

“That’s why I’m attending today. This is Elena Joseph. I’m serving as her chaperone. She’s making her society debut today. Please take good care of her.”

“Ah, so this is…”

“Hello, Your Highness Crown Prince Frederick. Elena, eldest daughter of the Joseph family, greets Your Highness.”

Her greeting was impressive. She demonstrated perfect etiquette. Hazel watched with a very proud smile.

So this is the woman.

A strange light flickered in Frederick’s eyes. Standing side by side with Maxim, they seemed to suit each other well. Moreover, her eyes were clear… Ah, Leana resembled Elena closely.

The Joseph family.

“Frederick. Just call me Frederick, Miss.”

“But how could I…”

“Maxim’s friend is my friend. Besides, didn’t my aunt ask me to take good care of you?”

“Ah… Frederick.”

Frederick laughed heartily. No matter how he looked at it, she was exactly what the Empress was hoping for. She was a woman with beautiful eyes, said to be windows to the soul.

Moreover, her kind smile and upright posture. Every single action was impressive. Frederick also took a liking to Elena.

“Thank you for coming. And to think today is your first debut. I should be the one saying it’s an honor.”

“That’s understandable. All the tutors praised her unanimously. They said Elena would be this generation’s rose.”

“I think so too.”

Elena’s cheeks flushed.

“Thank you, Frederick. I’ll work hard to meet expectations. There will be nothing to tarnish the honor of those who helped me.”

She also seemed to be someone who understood honor. Frederick glanced at Maxim and nodded. After causing such worry, somehow he felt Elena would be fine.

She was someone who made a good impression on others.

Frederick kissed the back of her hand.

“I look forward to it, Elena.”

It was a successful debut.