Chapter 9: The Owner of the South Wing Recuperation Room
The second letter from the Leivelt marquis house arrived the day before the tea gathering.
The sender was not Gilbert, but the steward Bolk.
[The recuperation room in the south wing is located within property owned by the marquis house and therefore falls under its management.
We request the prompt return of the thermal magic maintenance records and the keys to the recuperation facilities that milady removed.]
After reading the letter, I remained silent for a while.
Beside me, Hannah frowned sharply.
“By ‘keys,’ do they mean the keys to the south wing heatstone storage room?”
“Most likely.”
“But those facilities were purchased using your dowry funds, milady.”
“Yes.
That is also how the contract defines them.”
I took a copy of the marriage contract from the document box.
At the time of my marriage, Father was still alive.
He had been a gentle man, but strict regarding financial agreements.
Since his daughter was entering a political marriage, he insisted many times that the usage and return conditions of the dowry must be properly specified.
Back then, Gilbert had signed the papers with obvious annoyance.
Now, that signature was protecting me.
“The renovation costs of the south wing recuperation room, heatstones, double-paned glass, medicine shelves, bedding, and thermometers.
All expenditures were paid from the special dowry account of House Weiss.
The designated purpose is the recuperation of Lucy Leivelt.
Any use outside that purpose requires the consent of the investor.”
I read the clause aloud.
Hannah quietly nodded.
“Will you send a response?”
“Of course.”
I prepared stationery.
[The thermal equipment within the south wing recuperation room constitutes recuperation facilities funded through the special dowry account of House Weiss under Article 5 of the marriage contract.
Their use is restricted to the recuperation of Lucy Leivelt, and any use outside that purpose requires the consent of the investor.
At present, such consent will not be granted.]
Once I finished writing, Hannah narrowed her eyes slightly.
“Milady.
Isn’t it a little too rigid?”
“It should be rigid.
This is not a letter meant to convey emotion.
It is a document that may later be submitted to the court.”
“Then perhaps add just one final sentence.”
It was unusual for Hannah to make suggestions.
“Something stating that these facilities are necessary for Lady Lucy’s treatment.”
I considered it, then nodded.
[Furthermore, the facilities in question form part of a recuperation environment essential to the preservation of a young child’s life and should not be casually repurposed.]
Once I added that line, the tone of the letter changed slightly.
It was no longer merely a contract.
Beyond those words existed the room where Lucy had slept.
The following afternoon, seven guests attended the tea gathering at the greenhouse estate.
The wife of a physician.
Countess Rajenda, an old friend of my mother.
Court clerk Mireille.
And several other noble ladies.
It was not a glamorous gathering.
But every guest present was someone society could not easily dismiss.
I guided them through the old greenhouse.
The south-facing glass panels.
The thick rugs.
The arrangement of the fireplaces.
The child’s bed.
The herb shelves.
The meal records.
Lucy grew a little nervous midway through, but she sat on the small chair Martha had prepared and showed everyone her pot of Winter Bellflowers.
“Lucy planted them.”
“Oh my, you did such a wonderful job.”
When Countess Rajenda praised her gently, Lucy bashfully hid behind me.
Watching that, the ladies’ gazes changed.
They no longer saw a child from a rumor.
They saw a small child standing right in front of them.
During tea, one of the guests cautiously asked,
“Lady Noelia.
I heard there was talk within the marquis house about giving Lady Lucy’s recuperation room to another person.”
The room fell silent.
I set down my cup.
“The word ‘giving’ is not entirely accurate.
My husband requested that I vacate Lucy’s recuperation room for Lady Lilia.”
“My goodness.”
“I explained that Lucy’s condition made that impossible.
I also proposed renovating another room, but the suggestion was not accepted.”
“And that is why you came here?”
“Yes.
To protect my daughter’s recuperation environment.”
I did not insult Gilbert any further.
Nor did I speak ill of Lilia.
I merely stated the facts.
The ladies gathered here were women who understood that facts carried more weight than rumors.
As the tea gathering came to an end, Countess Rajenda took my hand.
“Lady Noelia.
You are not a cold-hearted wife.”
“Did I appear that way?”
“Rather than cold, perhaps you were difficult to notice.
Those who only look at the size of the flames cannot see the embers hidden beneath the ashes.”
At those words, I lowered my eyes slightly.
It was fine if I was difficult to notice.
As long as I could keep Lucy warm.
The next day, the direction of the rumors in noble society shifted slightly.
The marchioness had not left out of jealousy.
She had left to protect her daughter’s recuperation environment.