BD Chapter 1

Chapter 1

*This book is for ages 15 and up.

01. Invitation with a birch tree

In the kingdom of Swanton, the capital city Swan was filled with the scent of May flowers. Aunt Talbot's house, where Chloe and Alice were staying, was far from the main street, but the spring breeze carried the scent of flowers all the way there.

"My head is spinning. I must have smelled too much perfume in the dressing room earlier.”

Alice fell onto the bed and let out a tired voice. She was in an attitude that, if her father, Viscount Verdier, had seen her, he would have said that she was unladylike.

"But if you skip dinner, what will we do? Aunt Talbot will worry.”

Chloe's tone, letting in the breeze through the window, carried a sense of concern.

"Considering how frugal she is, she might even be pleased if I miss a meal."

"Alice.”

The sisters were well aware that Mrs. Talbot, who did not easily warm up to guests, graciously hosted them for the social season. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] It had been two years since the lengthy war ended, and within the kingdom's newfound stability, Alice needed to find a worthy husband.

"Tomorrow morning, you'll be relieved not to tighten the corset. But, won't your legs ache, sister? We wandered around for quite a while trying to find the dressing room because that cursed map was misleading.”

Alice frowned as she watched Chloe put down her wand. Chloe grinned, not showing off her left leg, which had begun to stiffen from exerting strength.

"If you acknowledge the trouble we went through, make sure to behave well tomorrow. You know we absolutely can't afford another incident like last time, right?”

Last season, Alice stayed at her aunt's house. As a young adult, Alice was invited to more than twenty parties because of her striking beauty. However, the third time she attended a count's party, she drank five glasses of sherry and became drunk, causing a scene where she was carried by a servant. Her maternal aunt, who had been actively trying to find a husband for Alice, was horrified, calling her a disgrace to her family, and there were no grooms for her who came to visit the Talbots.

"I couldn't help it; it was so boring."

Alice chuckled carelessly, oblivious to Chloe's concern.

"But this time will be much better since I'm going with you, sister. We're going to dance together, after all.”

After the incident that somewhat stirred up Swan last year, no one expected to invite Alice. However, a month ago, an unexpected invitation arrived at the Viscount Verdier's residence.

How surprised their father, Viscount Verdier, was when he received an invitation with a birch tree symbol on it.

"Cl... Chloe, my daughter. As far as I know, there's only one noble family in the kingdom that uses the birch tree emblem... Am I mistaken?"

"No, Father. It seems to be an invitation from Duke Thisse."

"Oh, my goodness!”

Their father, who had stopped going to church for a long time after their mother passed away, cried out to God.

“I’m not kidding, Alice. You have to behave really well tomorrow.”

It wasn't just anyone hosting the ball; it was organized by the Duke's family. Damian Ernst von Thisse, the eldest son of the Duke who led the great victory in the war and inherited the family early after his father's death, was extraordinary.

Though his domain was in the northern Thisse region, the castle he owned in Swan was rumored to be as beautiful as the royal palace. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] Back when his mother, the late Duchess and the king's sister, was a princess, the gift of a castle adorned with roses from his father was not an exaggeration when they said there were more roses in that castle than in the entire city.

There were countless steps between the King's nephew and war hero, Duke Thisse, and the Viscount, who managed a small estate in the countryside. One could think of it as the distance between the tip of the church steeple, the tallest building in the capital, and the length of the ground.

"Even just judging by the inviter's title.”

Being invited to a party attended by the high nobility of Swanton was an immense honor, but Alice's face betrayed more unease than excitement.

"Yes, yes. I understand. I'll dress up like a doll, dance with all the gentlemen there, and, in a ladylike manner, sip on lemonade instead of wine.”

Chloe's heart felt a little heavy as she leaned against the second-floor window under the shadow of the beech tree. As she limped to her bed, Alice lay down and turned her body around to look at her. Chloe whispered softly as she smoothed her curly hair that fell over Alice's beautiful forehead.

“I’m sorry, Alice.”

Although she had come of age, she was more of a child who preferred galloping across meadows than attending formal parties. It felt like a burden imposed on her, and her heart was uneasy. Perhaps her father felt the same way.

"What's there for you to be sorry about, sister? If there's any fault, it would lie with our dear Viscount Verdier, who spent all his fortune on Mom's hospital bills out of love, and miserably failed in managing the estate."

Chloe gently reassured Alice, her fingers soothingly tracing the hunched shoulders.

"It’s not all Father’s fault that the crops were poor for three years. Because typhoons and droughts are the domain of God. Even if Father can't express it in words, he's probably feeling much more sorry towards you right now."

"Even in this situation, you're not blaming Father, sister."

"Because we're family. It's only natural.”

As Chloe smiled faintly, Alice let out a long sigh. Alice wasn't unaware of Chloe's feelings. If it were Chloe, she would have aggressively attended every party held in the capital to find a husband in order to save her family from being deeply in debt. She… If only it were possible.

"When I think about you, sister, I need to pull myself together.”

Alice lifted her buried head and sat up. She wrapped her arms around Chloe's waist and laid her down on the bed next to her, then blinked her eyes.

"Sister. But I thought I would marry someone who completely steals my heart."

"Who knows? Maybe at the party tomorrow, a charming gentleman will appear and steal your heart entirely.”

When Chloe lowered her voice, Alice laughed. She felt as if she had gone back to her childhood, giggling in the same bed.

"I can't forget Father's expression when he checked the party invitation. It was like he received a summons from His Majesty the King, wasn't it?”

Even for a modest country noble living somewhat detached from politics, the name Thisse would undoubtedly evoke a sense of tension. Perhaps all the so-called nobility attending the party tomorrow would be present, so it was natural for the Marquis, having received the invitation, to feel apprehensive. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] Chloe didn't want to burden Alice any more, so she just gently brushed Alice's lovely hair.

“At first, I was confused, wondering what this relationship had with our family, but then I remembered what Uncle Chester said a while ago.”

“What did Mr. Chester say?”

"During the war, Father once surrendered our castle to that Duke's soldiers. He complained that he ended up treating and feeding these ragged, injured soldiers in our house, and that's how our family fortune vanished.”

The butler, Mr. Chester, had a habit of becoming talkative when he was drunk. To Alice, who was studying at the monastery at the time and unaware of the situation, it seemed like he was babbling about irrelevant things. Well, it couldn't be said to be entirely untrue, but you know how stories can go.

"Indeed. But Father is grateful for the Duke remembering that fact and extending the invitation."

Chloe swallowed a sigh. As the night deepened beyond the window, the thought of tomorrow approaching weighed even heavier on her heart.

"Sister, truthfully, don't you also not want to go?”

Caught off guard by Alice's sudden question, Chloe blinked involuntarily. She didn't think she was particularly perceptive, but it seemed that sisters could still read each other's minds.

"Well, I was a bit apprehensive because the rumors aren't exactly very good."

"It's not just 'not very good.' There's talk of more than one illegitimate child born from a relationship with the government. And they say they were all quietly killed off."

"Alice.”

Chloe was also able to guess the source of the dangerous rumor that Alice was talking about. Recently, she had undoubtedly come across gossip newspapers circulating in the capital without the permission of the royal palace.

"They said Damian’s personality is a total mess, and if he sees something wrong, he’ll completely trample over anyone or whatever. Some wished he died on the battlefield…”

Chloe's delicate hand finally gently covered Alice's murmuring lips.

"Anyway, it's true that the invitation is quite extravagant for our status."

“But why did you ask Father if it’s okay if you go?”

Chloe paused, then asked with a nonchalant expression.

“Did Father say that?”

“No. Mr. Chester.”

Apparently, after several servants quit, the butler didn't have enough people to chat with.

"To be honest, it was surprising that you said such a thing, but it's even more astonishing that Father didn't insist on the request. He doesn't like it when you leave the house, sister.”

Viscount Verdier never welcomed the idea of Chloe, who had had serious problems in her leg after catching a virus, leaving the castle. And he had become more serious after his wife had died.

“And, as much as possible, Father respects and follows your opinions.”

After her mother died, Chloe had to take on the role of mistress of the castle in place of the heartbroken Viscount. Her naturally meticulous and calm personality was further strengthened by her surroundings.

After her mother died, Chloe had to take on the role of mistress of the castle in place of the heartbroken Viscount. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] Her naturally meticulous and calm personality was further strengthened by her surroundings.

“When you said you wouldn’t attend, I heard that he told you to go even though you had thought deeply about it…”

Alice paused for a moment, her expression furrowing as she glanced away.

“Father is even more of a vicious matchmaker!”

Chloe let out a light laugh and hugged Alice tightly in her arms. She held her sister, who was now taller than her, in her arms, and stroked her hair as her mother had always done before her.

"Shall we just return home early tomorrow morning?"

"Tsk. Nonsense.”

Alice muttered in her arms in a slightly tired voice. She must have been tired as she had been dragged by her aunt for a long time today, putting on and taking off several dresses.

A small round table could be seen over Alice's shoulder. A card neatly placed in the exact center. Chloe narrowed her eyes when she saw the birch tree symbol stamped on it.

The party invitation sent by the Duke was embarrassingly simple, to the point where calling it an invitation felt awkward. There was no trace of the slightly dull but formal greetings that should be expected from a noble. It merely contained the location and time of the party and the names of the inviting party—nothing more. Knowing very well that there wasn’t a single person in the kingdom with enough courage to reject an invitation from him, Chloe still had a frown on her face.

“He’s probably more brutal now, huh?”

Alice’s head shot up out of Chloe’s arms when she mumbled that to herself.

“Huh? What?”

“Nothing.”

Chloe quickly shook her head. Alice drawled, her eyes half closed, her sleepy face showing.

“Even if it’s not because of the rumors. I hate Thisse.”

“…Why?”

“I remember how much you suffered after that Duke's army disrupted the castle and left. It was during the break, and I came home, but the inside of the castle was a complete mess. You were in so much pain that Father wouldn't let anyone, including him, enter your room.”

Uncle Chester said that Chloe, who was already weak, must have caught the disease from the wounded soldiers. To make matters worse, natural disasters began to occur that year, and crop harvests were reduced by one-tenth. So, the bad relationship between the Verdiers and the Duke began from then on.

"Was that why you didn't want to go? Afraid that something unfortunate might happen again if you got involved with Thisse?”

After coming to her own conclusion, Alice barely lifted her heavy eyelids and looked at Chloe.

"Don't worry, sister. I'll go to the party tomorrow and behave quietly, like a lady. Then, I'll find a suitable suitor who can break Duke Thisse's arrogance.”

Thinking about whether it's possible to find someone who can match the power of the Thisse family within the kingdom, Chloe smiled at her sister.

"Yes, I feel reassured with you around, Alice.”

Chloe mumbled in a determined voice before Alice closed her eyes and fell asleep. That Alice would be shocked by the number of visitors in their aunt’s house. Then she carefully got off the bed after checking she was in a deep sleep.

A river breeze flowed in through the slightly open window. Even though it was a summer night, she became worried that Alice might catch a cold. After closing the window, Chloe sat down in her chair with her legs stretched out and pounded her tight thighs with her fists. Her legs were sore from walking all day. She thought about doing a poultice, but she thought calling her maid would make things more troublesome, so she stopped.

“…Let’s not be afraid.”

Unlike Alice, Chloe had never left the Verdier estate except when she was young enough to have vague memories. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] Although she tried not to show her signs to her sister, it was no wonder she had been on edge since the two days since her arrival in Swan.

As soon as their aunt looked through their trunk on the day of their arrival, she had said that they didn’t have any proper dresses and urged them to go to the best dress shop downtown the next day.

“Why in the hell would I marry off my niece looking like that?”

The dress Alice wore last year still looked new, but Aunt Talbot scolded her for being way behind the trend. As a result, they visited five different clothing rooms to find a dress, and eventually paid a lot of money to buy a custom-made dress for a young lady who could not attend due to illness.

“You won’t be able to dance, but you will still have to be formal as long as you follow Alice.”

As Aunt Talbot said, Chloe didn't like buying a dress for herself because she couldn't dance. However, it was bad etiquette to show up looking shabby at the party she was invited to, so after hearing that she could not humiliate herself and her sister, she had taken gold coins out of her precious pocket. She had tried her best to hide her trembling hand holding the money to purchase the dress, but it was a futile attempt.

“Now I know why your father sent you two alone with an escort. Your family is all out of money, huh? To the point where even taking a trip is wearisome”

Aunt Talbot's eyes were sharp. The Verdier estate has suffered from poor harvests due to recent natural disasters. To make matters worse, the misfortune of stocks that her father had invested in plummeted. This was something Chloe also knew up to this point. Still, she had believed that they could overcome it by pinching pennies, but the family’s financial status was worse than expected. That she found out about her father’s secret debt was after she had received the Duke’s invitation.

“I have to thank… him, right?”

Chloe sighed quietly as she looked at the invitation she tried to disregard. As soon as the sisters arrived at their aunt’s home after hearing the news, an image of Aunt Talbot making a fuss had appeared in her head. For the past two days, she has been hearing to the point that it was an honor to be invited to the Rose Castle party hosted by Duke Thisse.

Of course, Chloe also had no intention of denying Aunt Talbot's words.

To the daughters of a poor viscount living on a tiny estate in the southwest region of the kingdom, sending an invitation to a party could also be considered as payback of the debt they owed during the war. Whether Duke Thisse knew about the incident Alice caused in Swan last year remained uncertain. However, just being invited by him would elevate Alice's reputation. If it became known that she had a connection with the Duke, many nobles would take an interest. There was a high possibility that Alice could indeed meet a suitable husband tomorrow.

However, Chloe was concerned. The summer breeze carrying the scent of roses in Swan left an odd residue instead of refreshment.

"Let me check your leg. Is it a genetic condition?”

Her walking stick, which had been quietly standing on the wall, fell to the floor. Chloe bit her lip gently as she watched the rolling cane. Even though not a short amount of time has passed, she cannot forget his cold voice.

“If you plan your strategy emotionally, you are bound to lose. Likewise, you cannot win a fight if you emotionally disobey orders.”

“I am not a soldier who fights in a war, Duke.”

Chloe staggered up, missing the point of his words. Slowly approaching while stepping on the fallen petals, Duke Teece bowed his head and made eye contact with her.

"Since birth, life itself is a war. Especially for someone like you, it's even more so.”

"Even if that's the case, there's no reason for you, Duke, to meddle in my life."

"Interference, you say. I deliberately give advice, but seeing you unable to offer a simple thank you suggests your mind is quite twisted.”

The young Duchy’s matriarch smiled as she looked at Chloe, who opened her eyes wide and tried not to cry. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] It was a beautiful smile, as if it had been beautifully crafted by God, but it was a cold smile that she would never want to see again. That was the first time Chloe understood the saying that 'the devil is beautiful.'