Violet Zerotta’s Hasty Marriage - Chapter 61

“Have you been well too, Countess Lambert? It’s such a pleasure to see you again after so long. The preparations are lacking, but please accept my heartfelt welcome.”

Since it was their first meeting since the victory ball, it had truly been a long time. Violet, who had held a good impression of the two regardless of their being Aldrick’s friends, warmly welcomed the unexpected visitors.

“Well then, why don’t we unpack first and continue our conversation later? I’m fine, but I imagine my wife must be quite worn out from the long carriage ride. Oh right, Aldrick. What about the luggage you brought?”

“If you leave it as is, the butler will take care of moving it. Go on and take your wife upstairs.”

“All right, understood. Thank you for welcoming us so readily despite the sudden visit, Madam. And you should take this time to properly reunite with Aldrick. I’m sure it’ll be a very pleasant moment. He put so much effort into choosing the gifts he brought you. Honestly, I thought he was trying to bring the entire capital back with him. All kinds of fine silks and spices, expensive mirrors. He went through every fashionable district in Mallo—”

“That’s enough, Simon.”

Because Aldrick cut him off without mercy, Violet didn’t get to hear the rest, but judging by the commotion outside, there were more than just a few carriages and wagons.

After the war with Aslan, trade with them had become quite active—Violet had heard this even from her relatively distant location. Aldrick, who never returned from a trip without bringing at least a small gift, must have acquired quite a few things this time as well. She felt a slight curiosity about what he had brought, but only for a moment. Violet, who had never been especially materialistic, quickly moved on.

Now quite used to her role as the lady of the estate, Violet handed the now sleepy-eyed Rosetta off to the nanny and guided the Count and Countess to their guest room. After a period of relative quiet due to the lord’s absence, the castle was beginning to come alive again.

***

That evening, the dining hall of the lord’s castle rang with the clinking of glasses and cheerful conversation late into the night.

Having only been interacting with her babbling child lately, Violet was delighted to be sharing lighthearted conversation with fellow adults for the first time in a while. Simon was, as always, lively, and Doris was kind and gentle as ever.

However, Doris did share one concern.

“We’ve been married for eight years now, and yet… we’ve had no news of a child. I was quite envious when I heard about you, Violet. Of course, I wanted to see you again, but I was also very curious about your daughter. I’m hoping this trip will lift my spirits and that some of your good fortune will rub off on me, so I might have a beautiful child like Rosetta someday.”

Violet could only offer words of comfort, saying that a little angel would surely find its way to her soon.

“Gifts tend to come at the most unexpected moments. I’m sure good news will come your way.”

Countess Lambert was a good person—one who had treated Violet kindly even when she was just a country girl newly arrived in the capital. Violet sincerely hoped for her happiness.

Even after dinner ended, the conversation continued. When midnight passed, Doris, worn out from the long journey, excused herself.

“I’ll go up first. You can stay and talk a while longer with Count Winter.”

At Doris’s words, Count Lambert nodded, and the lord Aldrick stood up.

“I’ll escort you to your room.”

Once Aldrick returned from seeing Doris off, Violet also planned to retire for the night.

With the two having left the room, only Simon and Violet remained in the dining hall.

For a moment, the once lively table fell into silence.

“Countess Winter.”

After a brief pause, Simon suddenly addressed her. Violet, hearing the oddly formal title used for her, couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m still not used to being called ‘Countess’… You can just call me Violet, it’s fine.”

Worried that she might have seemed impolite, Violet quickly tried to regain her composure. Thankfully, Simon returned her words with a friendly smile.

“Shall I? After all, Aldrick is my old friend, and you’re his lifelong partner. So you’re no different from a friend to me as well. I’d be glad if you called me Simon too.”

“That’s a really nice way to put it—Simon and Violet, Aldrick’s lifelong friends!”

Suddenly delighted by the trivial wordplay, the two poured themselves more wine and clinked their goblets together merrily.

In truth, the long drinking session had already left them both tipsy. Had Aldrick seen the state they were in, he might have sent Violet straight to bed.

“You see, Violet! There’s something I’ve really always wanted to tell you, sincerely! Do you know what it is?! It’s that… I’m so thankful to you! Because—because you made my friend happy!”

His slightly slurred speech and overly emotional tone were typical of a drunkard, but Violet, just as drunk herself, didn’t find anything odd about it. She nodded along enthusiastically.

“Hear, hear!”

Another round of wine was poured into their emptied cups.