The Whipping Maid of House Calley - Chapter 79

It was the time when the oppressive heat finally eased, and cool breezes began to blow in the mornings and evenings.

With banquets scheduled every evening for the next four days, the weather could not have been better.

Carriages carrying guests arrived one after another at the wide-open Calley estate.

The Count’s household, which had been preoccupied with preparations, became even busier as the guests poured in.

In the hall, Bernard and Marisa Calley, dressed to impress, welcomed the visitors. Naturally, they also put forward Cedric Calley, the eldest son of the family and the star of this event.

Today, Cedric’s looks seemed to be working even harder than usual.

For this event, Cedric had commissioned as many as twelve new outfits. All of them were designed with classical elegance, heavily adorned, and strikingly splendid.

To match the outfits, his hair was styled with pomade and given more volume than he normally wore.

Overall, it was a style far removed from the modern, clean look Cedric usually preferred.

But Cedric followed tradition without a complaint.

After all, it was an appointment ceremony that would happen only once.

The appointment ceremony was also a traditional event passed down in the House of Calley.

In the past, the Calley family had been unusually short of heirs, so when there was a son to inherit the title, they held a grand party to announce that the family was secure. That was how the tradition began.

Then, as now, all authority passed to the eldest son, but that only applied once he survived the many battles and illnesses and reached adulthood safely.

“What a wonderful outfit. It suits you perfectly.”

“It’s like a prince stepped straight out of a fairy tale.”

“That’s exactly what I was going to say.”

Regardless of Cedric’s personal taste, compliments from the women kept coming.

Regardless of Cedric’s personal taste, compliments from the women kept coming.

It was one thing for older noblewomen, but the sight of unmarried young ladies from noble houses forgetting their shyness and competing to praise him drew jealous and admiring looks from the men.

Compliments, jealous gazes, and whispered gossip were all familiar to Cedric.

After all, he had been envied even by the father who gave birth to him.

Because he had lived that kind of life, there was no way Cedric could not know he was exceptional.

That was the fundamental reason he never complained about clothes.

He was confident he would be praised even if he wore rags.

At the same time, Allen and Judith, also members of House Calley, appeared dressed up as well. They stood beside their parents and Cedric and greeted the guests.

Only Alfonso Calley, who had taken it upon himself to host the event, was busy directing the head butler and servants.

“Why is this table still here? Remove it at once.”

“Open the curtains wide, and move the chairs over there.”

Just then, the head butler’s voice rang out, announcing the arrival of the Vivarinis.

At the arrival of one of the kingdom’s greatest noble houses, Alfonso hurried toward the main entrance. Even as he walked, he did not miss a chance to point out what he saw.

“The floor hasn’t been waxed enough. Rub it more, quickly.”

At the second young master’s instructions, the servants moved in perfect unison.

Making full use of his long legs, Alfonso ran out in a single dash, then welcomed the Vivarini family together with his parents and siblings.

“Thank you for coming such a long way, Your Excellency.”

“Thank you for inviting us, Count.”

Marquis Maximo Vivarini arrived with his wife, Odessa Vivarini, and their unmarried third daughter, Eloise Vivarini.

“What a beautiful, well-kept estate.”

Odessa Vivarini introduced her, and Eloise made an elegant gesture as she greeted the Count and Countess of Calley.

“I am Eloise, the third daughter of House Vivarini. Thank you for inviting me, Count, Countess.”

After greeting the count and countess, Eloise also offered greetings in turn to Cedric Calley, her prospective fiancé, and his siblings, Alfonso, Allen, and Judith.

“We’ll be speaking with the marquis and marchioness in a little while, so why don’t you take Miss Vivarini to her room first, Cedric? The young lady must be tired from the long journey,” Marisa said.

If anyone looked visibly tired, it was the older Marquis and Marchioness Vivarini, not Eloise. But Cedric, who saw through his mother’s maneuvering, only let out a silent scoff and replied briefly.

“Very well.”

Cedric, raised from the moment he was born as the heir to the family, knew his role better than anyone.

There was no way he would forget it, not on the very day of the “heir appointment ceremony.”

Cedric held out his arm to escort Eloise.

With everyone’s eyes on them, Eloise also reached out and placed her hand on Cedric’s arm.

That was when it happened. The head butler’s voice rang out, introducing the newly arrived guest.

“From the Kingdom of Lotas, Lady Sylvia Stacy, the heir of Duke Stacy.”

The head butler’s voice trembled slightly as he announced her.

A woman stepped out beside him, possessing not only lofty status but a dazzling figure and beauty.

She wore a refined Lotas-style dress.

At the news that a young noblewoman from a foreign country had arrived, everyone’s gaze turned that way.

Eloise, who had been reaching for Cedric, was no exception.

When she unconsciously paused, Cedric, who had spotted a friend from his time abroad, withdrew the arm he had been offering to escort her and handed Eloise’s outstretched hand to Alfonso.

“Excuse me, my lady. A friend has come alone all the way from Lotas. My younger brother Alfonso will see you to your room.”

Cedric offered a courteous bow and turned away.

Eloise’s expression stiffened in disbelief.

Alfonso, who ended up taking Eloise’s hand without meaning to, came back to his senses and gave her a friendly smile.

“This way.”

After seeing Alfonso’s agreeable face, different from Cedric’s cool handsome looks, Eloise returned his smile.

As the saying went, the more handsome men the better. All three sons of House Calley were handsome. And each of them carried a different charm.

(Of course, the fewer beautiful women, the better. That way, she would shine all the more as the kingdom’s “rare” beauty.)

Forcing herself to ignore the beauty who had come from a foreign land, Eloise followed Alfonso’s escort and moved her feet.

Either way, during the four days of festivities, it would be she who claimed Cedric.

Cedric strode forward and stopped before his friend, who had come from another country over a long distance.

“Sylvia.”

“Cedric.”

Sylvia, having spotted him, came closer and pressed her cheek to his.

It was a typical Lotas-style greeting.

The moment her face pulled away, Cedric spoke in fluent Lotas.

「This is Eric’s doing, isn’t it? I don’t remember sending you an invitation.」

「So? Aren’t you glad to see me?」

「Since you came such a long way, I’ll say I’m glad to see you, at least.」

Cedric escorted Sylvia forward to Count Bernard Calley.

“This is Sylvia Stacy, a friend from my time abroad.”

The spot where the marquis and marchioness had been exchanging greetings was now left with only Bernard.

The moment Cedric abandoned Eloise and approached Sylvia, the duke’s heir from a foreign country, Marisa swiftly led the marquis and marchioness away.

“My name is Sylvia Stacy. This estate is truly wonderful, Count.”

Sylvia greeted him in fluent Beloica. Unlike earlier, her greeting was also Beloica-style, taking hold of her skirt and bending her knees.

At the visit of the heir to a duke of Lotas, Bernard’s mouth fell open in delight.

「It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Stacy. I hope you have a wonderful time here.」

“Thank you, Count.”

When Bernard greeted her in Lotas, Sylvia replied in Beloica, creating a curious scene.

“Since you’re my friend’s father, may I call you Father as well?”

At the duke’s daughter’s straightforward advance, Bernard’s face flushed red.

“No.”

It was Cedric who answered firmly in place of the flustered Bernard. He wrapped up the greetings quickly and dragged Sylvia along.

And he warned her.

「It’s fine that you came, but don’t act however you please.」

「Just now, was I acting however I pleased?」

Sylvia asked brightly.

「This place is more conservative than Lotas. And even in your country, which is more flexible than this one, you’re unusually free-spirited.」

「I am a bit like that, aren’t I?」

Sylvia admitted coolly. Then, drawing out her words lazily, she said,

「When will Eric arrive?」

The Crown Prince Marquis’s attendance had been expected ever since the royal edict on human trafficking was issued.

The kidnapping of a collateral noble of the royal family had been found to have nothing at all to do with any treasonous faction against the royal house.

Sure enough, the very next day, a letter arrived from Marquis, saying he would accept the count’s invitation.

He was scheduled to arrive today as planned, but since he was a prince, he would probably show up late.

「You should have just met him together. Eric would have liked that better too.」

「What are you talking about, honey? You know Eric and I both have no one but ourselves.」

「Stop calling me that.」

「Honey.」

「You’ve lost your mind.」

At Sylvia’s teasing expression, Cedric met it with a measured response.

Sylvia, who had barged into the Calley estate at Eric’s invitation (?), was a guest who hadn’t been on the original list.

But as the heir of a duke of Lotas, she was assigned one of the best rooms.

It was the room Cedric had used in the past, a room that had not originally been planned to be used as a guest room for this banquet.

「You should have brought at least one maid with you.」

Cedric said as he escorted Sylvia to her room.

「You know I hate having maids trailing after me. Instead, I brought guards and drivers, so…」

Just then, there was a knock.

“Come in.”

Since it was obviously a servant bringing welcome tea or carrying up luggage, Sylvia told them to enter without hesitation.

The door opened, and the one who appeared, carrying Sylvia’s travel bags, was Sheila.