Young Lady Albert Is Courting Disaster: Volume 7, page 10
In that case... Mary thought, lowering her head. Her silver locks fluttered in her field of vision as she did so. “Let us go, Princess Alicia.”
In a clear voice, Alicia responded, “Indeed.”
As Mary slowly raised her head, she saw a strong determination shining in Alicia’s features. She must’ve picked up on what Mary was implying by her formal words and gesture, and intuited how she ought to respond in turn.
Inspired by the scene, the others likewise steeled themselves, and they all made their way towards the lavish mansion.
***
The group was taken to a large room that had more than enough chairs to seat them all. The other furniture was sparse but of good quality, and the simple interior created a comfortable atmosphere. The place made for a perfect holiday home, since its occupant was afforded some distance from their work back in the main residence while they came here to stretch their legs. Yet this extravagance only vexed Mary even further at this point.
Meanwhile, the feudal lord, Fleur, saw Mary and the others as surprise visitors and welcomed them with open arms. With a placid smile, he offered them a polite greeting, handling everything with consideration. Every single one of his words overflowed with elegance, yet he didn’t come across as boastful. Not only did he ask his servants to prepare a room for Mary’s brothers to rest, but he even arranged for a place for the coachman.
Fleur looked to be about the same age as Mary’s grandfather. Under usual circumstances, he would’ve already retired, but apparently his wife and son had died young, and all he had left were mementos of them, in addition to his sole granddaughter. As such, he was still continuing his duties. Though his advanced age was apparent in the way he walked with the help of his cane, it also gave him a mature sense of majesty.
Based on appearances alone, Fleur seemed like a capable enough feudal lord. Had the situation been different, Mary would’ve probably respected him.
“Now, as for what you wished to discuss...?” Fleur prompted.
Inwardly, Mary muttered about how insincere he was. However, it wasn’t time to start sounding the drums of war just yet. She suppressed her animosity before smiling elegantly. “We came here to discuss the domain you manage. My friends live there, but they aren’t able to lead a good life,” she explained. Although Anna and Helene were in a separate room, Mary still couldn’t bring herself to openly call them impoverished, so she kept her statement vague.
Fleur surmised what she was trying to say. He frowned, and his already wrinkly face creased even further with disgust. “Your friends live in those areas, Lady Mary?”
“That’s right. Is there an issue with that?”
“Pardon me for saying so, but I think you ought to refrain from socializing with those people. They aren’t like you, Lady Mary.”
“Oh? What do you mean by that?”
“I’m talking about the situation they were born into. We have nothing in common with them. The difference between us has already been decided since the moment of our birth,” Fleur asserted.
Mary blinked in shock. The man had spoken politely, yet he was obviously insulting Anna and Helene. It was a good thing she’d decided to send them to a different room. But even as Mary thought that, Fleur continued.
“One’s circumstances of birth determine everything. Refinement and nobility are available to one who is born into a suitable family. We were born into good families, and that’s why we can live a good life with food, clothing, and shelter.”
“That’s quite an extreme way of thinking,” Mary responded. “Is that why you turn a blind eye to the rampant wealth disparity within your own territory?”
“Turn a blind eye? Not at all! I am governing my lands perfectly well,” Fleur declared. “I draw a clear line between the haves and have-nots, ensuring that everything continues as it has been.”
“You govern them ‘well,’ and that’s how your lands ended up in such a state, I take it? In that case, what about my friends who are struggling to survive? Are you saying they should suffer like that for the rest of their lives?”
“Your circumstances of birth determine everything, so I’m afraid there’s no other way,” Fleur said with an amicable smile. He acted as though his words were reasonable, and that it was for the best for things to remain that way.
What an idiotic opinion! Mary murmured in her mind, and then...
“What an idiotic opinion.”
...actually pronounced it aloud. When she realized what she’d done, she quickly shut her mouth. She’d been meaning to restrain herself from saying what was truly on her mind, but the words had escaped unintentionally. Thank goodness Anna wasn’t here. Otherwise, she might’ve taken a liking to those words and begun merrily using them. Mary would’ve been too ashamed to face Helene after that.
“What do you mean, Lady Mary?” Fleur asked in apparently earnest confusion. He wasn’t lying or trying to manipulate her, nor did he seem to have any secret ill intentions. He truly believed in his philosophy that birth determined everything, so to have someone say that it was idiotic had confused him.
Mary looked right into his eyes. Though they were enveloped by deep wrinkles, they still hadn’t dulled, shining with a strong determination. They looked strangely cold.
“I have been observing the territory since my childhood,” Fleur went on. “Those born into rich families are raised through wealth, and build even more rich families. The opposite is also true. Your life is already determined at the moment of your birth.”
“That’s not true,” Mary replied.
“Oh, but it is. Surely you should understand that better than anyone, Lady Mary of House Albert. As for your husband—although he cannot compare to you, he was still born into a decent family,” Fleur said, turning to look at Adi.
Just as he’d said, Adi’s family couldn’t be compared to nobility, but it was a decent one. Despite his rank as a servant, he came from a lineage who’d long served House Albert, so he was still a cut above the rest. It wouldn’t have been surprising if his family had owned their own holiday home. They couldn’t be lumped together with Anna and Helene. Adi himself was respectably wealthy too.
Mary had a few things to say in response to Fleur’s allusions. However, before she could voice her concerns...
“Are you saying it was par for the course that Anna was separated from her parents, just because of where she was born?”
...the dark tone of Adi’s voice made her breath hitch. He was staring fixedly at Fleur, with sharp eyes that looked even redder than usual. His right hand was curled into a fist atop the table, while his left hand enveloped the other in an attempt to hold it down. His fingers were digging into his skin, so his grip must’ve been strong.
“Anna...?” Fleur parroted. “Now that you mention it, I do recall hearing about some woman making a racket because her child had disappeared. Is that the child in question?”
“Her father left home to find a job, and she went out looking for him. A little girl, all by herself...”
“I see, so that’s what caused you all this trouble.”
“Trouble?”
“This is exactly why they are such plebeians... They’re lowborn, so all they know how to do is rely on others. My apologies for what they put you through.” Fleur lowered his head with sincerity. In that moment, he looked like the textbook example of a feudal lord apologizing for strife occurring in his domain.
There was no hint of malice about him. He truly held no ill will. He believed in his philosophy so fully that he now apologized on Anna’s behalf for her behavior. From his perspective, doing so was expected of him, since he’d been born into a family of lords, and birth circumstances determined everything. Honestly, Mary felt it would’ve been better if he did have malicious intent.
Fleur’s attitude only instigated Adi’s wrath. The latter grew impatient and sprang to his feet as his chair rattled behind him. Mary hurriedly grabbed his clenched fist.
“Adi, calm down...!”
“I can’t excuse his remark just now!”
Mary did her best to try and pacify Adi. However, someone’s low voice interjected. “Circumstances of birth...?”
It was Alicia. She was gazing at Fleur. Her eyes were violet, her hair a shining gold. Her features were proof that she’d been born as a princess. “You claim that birth determines everything, do you?” she questioned.
“Indeed. I’m glad you understand, Princess Alicia,” Fleur said.
“No, I don’t! To think that Anna was separated from her mother due to such a philosophy! If this is your just way of doing things as a feudal lord, then I’ll respond in kind as a princess!” Alicia exclaimed with obvious rage, unable to hold back her emotions.
Everyone grew silent at her words. The pressure and anger radiating from her seemed hot enough to burn. Add her authority to the mix, and it was no wonder that nobody was bold enough to step in. Yet the tense atmosphere was soon broken...
“Don’t lose your princessly composure so easily!”
...as Mary scolded Alicia and flicked her forehead with a satisfying smack. Silence stretched out within the room, owing to this sudden difference in temperature.
Amid the quietude, Mary grabbed Alicia’s arm and vigorously pulled her from her seat. “Oho ho ho! Pardon us for a moment!” she said, glossing over the situation with her elegant laugh while taking the other girl out into the hallway. Once there, she closed the door behind them with a thud.
“Lady Maryyy...” Alicia cried pathetically, having returned to her usual self.
“What was that about responding in kind as a princess?! Don’t make such rash decisions all by yourself!”
“But I can’t let him get away with this!”
“Even so, you shouldn’t unleash your maximum firepower as a first move!” Mary shouted, once more flicking Alicia’s forehead.
After all, Alicia’s words had a much greater weight behind them than those of other nobles, since she was royalty. If she were to use her power to seize territory within another nation, the matter would immediately become an international incident. Mary explained as much, asking if Alicia was even aware of that, to which the girl pitifully responded, “But stiiill...”
Hearing Fleur’s calm words while she thought of Anna had caused Alicia to lose her temper. If he had simply been a self-serving man, she might’ve been able to keep her cool. However, his apathy, coupled with the way he believed all was as it should be, had instigated her feelings.
“Listen. You’re a princess. All you have to do is firmly stand your ground,” Mary said.
“But...I just can’t allow this...”
“I know. Regardless, a princess cannot act rashly. You were born a princess, so if you want to do something, then act accordingly.”
“Act accordingly...?”
“That’s right. Just who do you think bowed her head to you before this meeting started?” Mary asked flatly.
Alicia snapped her mouth shut in response. She turned her gaze aside while deliberating. Then, her eyes lit up as she finally began to understand what Mary was implying.
“What a thickheaded girl,” Mary scoffed. Alicia turned back to Mary, her eyes full of expectation. This caused Mary to grow silent. Her abusive language had been a means of pointing out that Alicia was acting as her peasant self right now. “What I need is the backing of a princess. If you wish to behave like a mere country hick, then leave.”
“I understand... But Lady Mary—No, Mary Albert...” Alicia’s voice sounded as light as a bell, yet it was cool and composed. Keeping her gaze on Mary, she took a deep breath and slowly opened her mouth. “Use our nation’s authority and bring this situation under control.”
The hallway was silent following Alicia’s command. Eventually, Mary let out a fearless laugh, gripping her skirt as she gracefully curtsied. “Very well, Princess Alicia,” she replied, not just as herself, but in the role of Mary Albert. Alicia had given her an order as royalty, so Mary had to respond appropriately as an aristocrat. Consequently, Mary’s actions would now count as being under imperial orders.
Any third parties would’ve surely seen this as a splendid exchange. Two women, a princess and the daughter of a noble house, were joining hands based on their convictions. Alas...
“And once this is all over, I order you to have a sleepover with me in my tent!”
“‘Very well...’ Is that what you thought I’d say?! As if!”
...everything quickly returned to business as usual. Mary smacked Alicia’s forehead, and the other girl puffed out her cheeks sulkily. The solemn air from before vanished instantly.
Mary shrugged in exasperation, glancing at Alicia. “Let’s get back there, but behave like a proper princess!”
“Okay!”
“If everything goes well, I’ll agree to have a tea party in your tent. But pitch it in the royal gardens,” Mary muttered before turning to the door to reenter the room.
***
As Mary and Alicia returned, everyone in the room expected the discussion to resume. Mary apologized for having left her seat. “Well then...” she added urgingly. However, she didn’t feel like continuing the talks. Or rather, she knew they wouldn’t reach an agreement no matter how long the discussion went on.
Fleur believed the state of affairs in his domain to be a natural consequence of the citizens’ various circumstances of birth. There was no malice or hidden motive behind his beliefs, nor did he have any vulgar thoughts about lining his own pockets with profit. He had reached his conclusion after living for more than twice as long as Mary, so it would take time to change his mind. Mary had no intention of doing that; it wasn’t her job to sober him up.
“You won’t change your mind about the idea that circumstances of birth determine everything, right?” she prompted, just in case.
Fleur solemnly shook his head. His face was etched with wrinkles, but his pronounced eyes hadn’t faded with age. He wouldn’t concede, nor did he see the need to do so in the first place. Everyone else’s faces soured at the sight of his obstinacy.
Mary was the only one who smiled at him. “That’s great. I was worried you might retract your statement at this point. But since you haven’t, then please leave this domain immediately.”
“What are you talking about...?”
“My, I doubt there’s any need to explain. After all, I am Mary Albert. I’m sure you’re aware of what my family can do?” Mary asked with a calm smile.
Fleur’s eyes twitched. His wrinkles deepened as he stared at Mary in puzzlement. Now his dignified appearance began emanating a sense of hostility. The petite elder suddenly looked very large in Mary’s eyes. But I can’t waver now, she thought while exhaling slowly. It didn’t matter how much older Fleur was, or what kind of power he held. He was insignificant compared to her.
Mary stole a glance at Alicia, who was gazing at Fleur with a grave countenance. She didn’t say a word, entrusting the matter to Mary, who carried her distinguished family name along with the princess’s imperial orders. There was no need to yield. No, they wouldn’t yield.
That said, Fleur had no intention of simply handing over his domain either. Exuding a quiet sense of animosity, he opened his mouth. “You may be an Albert, but don’t you think it boorish to meddle with another country’s affairs?”
“I do so with Princess Alicia’s approval. The same is true for Gainas, the head of House Eldland. Besides...” Mary trailed off, pulling out an envelope from her pocket. She put it on the table and slid it towards Fleur, who picked it up with his frail, wrinkly hand. Then, his eyes widened. The intense way in which his aged face contorted startled everyone else, but Mary remained smiling.
Alas, it was no wonder that Fleur was shocked, considering the contents of the letter. “I see. So you’ve already spoken with Sylvino’s upper echelons.”
“Indeed,” Mary said in response to Fleur.
“That crest...” Gainas muttered while staring at the envelope in the feudal lord’s hands. As his nation neighbored Sylvino, he recognized the crest pressed into the sealing wax. It belonged to the royal family of Sylvino. Yet though Gainas recognized it, he still didn’t understand why Mary was in possession of such a letter, and he cast her a questioning, suspicious look.
Mary puffed out her chest. “It’s the first round’s booty!” she proclaimed.
Once more, the room was filled with silence. Mary cleared her throat regretfully. She’d spoken the truth, but it didn’t seem suitable for this place. She had demolished the atmosphere completely. “Anyway,” she said to get the topic back on track as she turned to Fleur. The others did the same, gazing at the letter he was holding. “We’d prefer to keep things civil, but if you insist, we don’t mind escalating the matter.”
Mary’s words implicitly told Fleur that she was willing to keep quiet about the matter and let it end here and now. Otherwise, if the incident grew in scale, Fleur would be gravely wounded. Or rather, since Sylvino’s top brass had sided with Mary and her friends, only Fleur would be hurt as a result.
This domain had been a problem to begin with, and now a princess and a group of prominent foreign aristocrats had raised a complaint against it. There was no question about which side Sylvino’s royalty would choose to cut down. However, if Fleur were to quietly give in, everything would end without a fuss. Mary knew it was a coercive measure, but this was part of her wager.
“If circumstances of birth determine everything, then I, who was born into House Albert... No, you will act in accordance with my birth,” Mary said quietly.
The room was strangely silent as everyone waited for Fleur’s reply. Eventually, he broke the silence with a sigh, before slowly lowering his head. “Very well,” he said huskily.
Mary couldn’t hide her surprise. She had thought he would put up more of a fight, yet he quickly gave up. He issued an order to a maid who was standing in the corner, then with dignified conduct took a sip of his tea. He didn’t appear to be panicking, nor did he look frustrated. There was no indication that he would withdraw his statement either.
