“Congratulations on your engagement, Miss Grail.”
“Thank you very much.”
“But, you know, marriage is like being thrown into a well-maintained sitting-dungeon, so let me welcome you as the newest member of the pigsty, our little piglet. Welcome.”
“….Ah, thank you.”
It was the peculiar lady of Count Emmanuel who gave me such an unmerciful blessing.
“Why, Constance, did you get engaged?”
“Yes, indeed,”
“Oh, dear! You must invite me to your wedding!”
“What? Yes, yes, of course,”
“Well, I’m glad! Yes, I just wanted the silk fabric I was dealing with at Bronson’s, the King’s Goods.”
“…I’ll see what I can do for you.”
It was always the Baroness Borden that makes me really confused.
“I heard it, Connie! Your fiance, Neil Bronson, isn’t that person you’re talking about is with Pamela! Let me know what it means!”
“Even myself would like to know about that.”
A little bold and rather insensitive, Viscount daughter Milene loves gossip.
◇◇◇
It has been a week since I heard the rumor. I am still engaged to Neil without the courage to confirm the truth.
At that time, the ball at Grand Merrill-Ann was very popular.
Viscount Harmsworth, the sponsor, was in a good mood, and he gave thanks to the Three Goddesses many times in a theatrical manner. In addition, the Viscount was a rare case for a head of a noble family, and also a clergyman. for he was originally the youngest of the five brothers, and after coming of age he had been accustomed to church. But within a few years, the epidemic in the territory caused the deaths of the parents and brothers in a dazed way. So that he, who was a clergyman, would succeed to the title.
Probably the teaching of poverty in the church did not suit him very much, and the Viscount, who had been conferred a peerage, was indulging in dissipation. It is said that the reason why they are not excommunicated is that they are saving their fortune by paying a cart full of donations. The Harmsworth family is a great wealthy one with a fertile territory.
If it is not true in the first place, a ball won’t be held at Grand Merrill-Ann.
In the vast garden of the Palace of Moldabite, where the royal couple lives, there are two detached palaces.
One of them is the Elbite Villa where the Crown Prince and his wife live. It’s a relatively new building and prides itself on its practicality and has a modest aspect.
And the other was Grand Meryl-Ann, the splendor of the entertainment palaces built in the reign of King Micherlinus, who was once a glorious country. Today, it is a so-called tourist attraction, and the seven rooms of official rooms are open all year. In addition, during the social season, any nobleman who has continued for three or more generations can rent out a large hall and hold a ball. It would cost a lot of money, but there were many restrictions, so the nobleman who had a town house would hardly do it.
In fact, the hall of Grand Meryl-Ann was also the scene ten years ago when the great villainess, Scarlet Castiel, was condemned by Prince Enrique.
At that time, he broke off his engagement with Scarlet and announced his engagement to the Crown Princess of Cecilia, who was still a daughter of the Viscount, so this place is now one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in the imperial capital.
◇◇◇
The candles flickered in the luxurious chandelier lighted a bright light in the hall. To the music played by the musicians, young guests gathered in the center are enjoying the cheerful cadreels. A space for light meals was provided in the four corners, where people, including Connie, who did not participate in the dance, chatted gracefully with one cocktail.
Connie and Neil’s engagement announcement seemed to be a well known fact, and there were many who came to express their congratulations. But it was hard to deal with all of them with a smile. I should have finished making a round of greetings to my familiar face. You can take a short breath. Neil, who was playing card games with the gentlemen at another table, was out of sight. He must be absent somewhere. So I escaped away from the hall and went out into the open greenhouse conservatory.
The greenhouse was about the size of the drawing-room of the ordinary town of Town House, which was certainly a building from the time of King Michelinus. In a glass-covered room surrounded by white wood frames, rare southern flowers and exotic plants are grown. A garden table and a chair of a round top plate decorated with lace patterns in a dark green casting are placed in the middle, and a simple tea ceremony is enough. A little way off, there was a couch woven of straw-tan. Even the octagonal ceiling was made of glass, and the stars twinkled overhead. Some window was open, and the cool air rubbed Connie’s hot skin.
Although this was the case, Connie still believed Neil, for he was sworn in at the church and even announced his engagement. If you really don’t like it, you’ll do something before that. And his attitude was quite normal. As usual, he was kind to Connie. Even today, he praised me for my dress becoming good. In the first place, I didn’t hear it from him. It’s rather lacking sincerity… to depend on rumors alone. Still, Connie is the end of the Grail family, whose motto is sincerity. Neil, for the evening party of to-day, prepared a carriage for me and escorted me —
Perhaps this rumor is just a malicious harassment. It’s a mess with no bottoms up and no end. Yup, I’m sure of this.
That thought makes me feel a little better. Now, I feel like dancing at triple my usual speed.
Before going back to the hall, I look for the entrance of the greenhouse to keep the window closed just in case. Then I realized that the door to the garden, instead of the window, was slightly open. As I approached unconsciously, behind the glass, I saw two figures in the bushes of the garden that sank into the night. I wonder. With her eyes fixed, Connie burst out screaming in her mind.
(Wait a minute—!)
Who she was embracing in front of her eyes was Connie’s familiar partner, and those two were the ones who I did not want to see the most.
Neil Bronson and Pamela Francis.
It was Pamela who noticed Connie standing blankly. As she was close to Neil, she suddenly turned her face to Connie’s direction. It’s an open place, but still inside the palace area. The external lamps are arranged at equal intervals in a row. She could see clearly enough of the rosy cheeks of the Pamela. Our eyes met, I’m really sure.However, the person who was supposed to have committed adultery was somehow calm and, on the other hand, she looked back at me openly. The end of my mouth was raised with provocation.
Then she turned her arms around Neil’s neck and slowly put her lips on the face.
I thought it would be fun to pick up this novel. Apologies for any grammar mistakes or anything that doesn’t make sense.
All Just a Mistake 
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