NOVEL WEB Chapter 10 - Trial (2)
Scene 010: Trial (2)
I found myself in an awkward situation. Until I arrived at the Duke’s residence, I hadn’t even remembered what gift I was supposed to prepare.
“Well, I’m off to speak with the Duke,” William huffed as he exited the carriage.He pulled out a pocket watch, its ticking filling the silence. After a glance at the time, he added, “I’ll meet you here in 42 minutes. If you’re late again, I’ll leave without you.”
Without waiting for a response, William walked off with precise, steady steps.
Is he even human?
As I stood there, pondering, the Isaachel family butler approached me. The elderly man, stiff with years of service, bowed obsequiously.
“Welcome. Have you come to celebrate Lady Bella’s birthday?”
I said nothing, merely holding out my left hand to reveal the black ring worn upon it—an obsidian band engraved with a black lion, the symbol of the Ruelberta family. Each noble house in the Empire had an item that symbolized its lineage, used for identification.
The sight of the ring caused the old butler’s face to light up with a welcoming smile.
“Oh! You’ve come from Ruelberta! Welcome, we’ve been expecting you.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Bastien, head butler of the Isaachel estate. I’ll personally escort you to the young lady.”
Hmm? The butler’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. How unusual.
Being welcomed with such warmth simply for carrying the name of Ruelberta…
The Ruelberta family was notorious, cursed for generations, unable to use magic, and with each head dying young. William, the current head, was infamous for his eccentricity. So why was I being received with such warmth?
I followed the butler silently. He led me behind the large mansion, where a beautifully manicured garden stretched before me—a garden that epitomized the essence of spring. At its heart, a group of young nobles around my age were having a tea party.
“What… are they doing?”
“Ah, those are guests invited to celebrate Lady Bella’s birthday. They’re enjoying a banquet over there.”
Wasn’t I invited too?
Bastien smiled at my confusion. “That area is the ‘waiting room.’”
“The waiting room?”
“Yes. They’re all waiting for their ‘turn.’ But of course, Sir Tristan, you don’t need to wait.”
I was about to ask what he meant when I felt the eyes of several nobles on me from the garden. Their gazes were unmistakable—jealousy, envy, inferiority, even hatred.
…What?
Before I could dwell on it, Bastien opened the back door of the mansion.
“Please, come inside.”
I entered through the back entrance, feeling the nobles’ eyes on me. It felt strange, like I was receiving special treatment. But that discomfort faded when I saw the room before me.
This place is unbelievably extravagant.
Gold-plated decorations, luxurious wooden furniture, and tiles made from the finest stone made the room gleam with opulence. My talent for assessing wealth kicked in, and I quickly estimated the staggering value of everything around me.
Though not as excessive as the Ruelberta estate, the Isaachel estate was still quite ostentatious.
So this must be back when the Isaachel family was still wealthy…
The Isaachel family, as I knew them, had fallen too far to retain their noble dignity. If Tristan hadn’t loaned them a large sum of money, they might have already disappeared. Duke Fred couldn’t defy Tristan because of the massive debt he owed. Tristan held their lifeline, which allowed him to force his engagement to Bella.
“Please wait here for a moment.”
After Bastien left, I was alone in the lavish room. Despite the unfamiliar setting, what caught my attention was the pile of presents stacked in the center. There must have been hundreds of gift boxes—it almost felt like Christmas.
But today wasn’t Christmas.
Upon closer inspection, I saw the names of various nobles written on the boxes—birthday presents for Bella. It gave me insight into how influential the Isaachel family was at this time, and how many nobles sought Bella’s favor.
Hmm?
One of the gift boxes had been torn open. Curious, I picked up the item that had fallen out: a teddy bear, with no name attached. I pulled it from the box.
It was the cheapest gift in the entire pile.
======
Item Name: Affordable Teddy Bear.
Description: A teddy bear made from low-quality cotton and leftover fabric. It’s rough, but babies might enjoy it.
Appraised value: 5,000 Kael.
========
Far too modest a present for the birthday of a noblewoman. Who would bring something like this?
Before I could dwell on it, a voice interrupted my thoughts.
“I’ve been waiting forever, Tristan.”
Startled, I quickly set the teddy bear down and turned. A silver-haired girl stood before me, her hair braided into twin pigtails.
“You never accept my invitations. What’s different this time? Why did you come?”
“…I’m just here to wish you a happy birthday.”
Her sapphire-blue eyes sparkled. She had long legs like those of a child model. If not for her youth, she’d have been the spitting image of the current Bella Isaachel.
No, there was a difference.
“Hmph. Don’t act like you didn’t come just to see me.”
Bella chuckled softly, her smile was far from innocent.
“You’re lucky, you know. Most men don’t even get to see me on my birthday. They just leave their presents and go.”
“So be grateful. Someone as beautiful as me is taking the time to meet you.”
She was a spoiled brat who relied on her looks.
Bella stared intently at my face before speaking, her eyes burning with intensity.
“Hmm… Seeing you this close, you’re not bad.”
“Not bad?”
“You’re handsome. You.”
Ugh. A shiver ran down my spine. Bella, who normally called me the ‘Pig,’ now said I was handsome. Worse, she looked at me with the eyes of a girl in love.
That’s when I realized something. At this point, Bella didn’t bear any ill will toward Tristan. She actually had a soft spot for him. The shock of this hidden backstory left me speechless.
Seeing that I wasn’t responding, Bella changed the subject.
“Ahem, so what are we doing? Today is my birthday. Hurry up and congratulate me.” She extended her hand casually, obviously expecting a gift.
I wasn’t trying to rebel, but I didn’t feel like giving her anything. However, for the sake of the story’s progress, refusing wasn’t an option.
“Fine…” With a sense of resolve, I reached into my jacket pocket, pulled out the first thing my fingers touched, and handed it to her.
Her brows furrowed as she looked at it.
“What… is this?”
“A blank check.”
It was all I had on hand. Simple process of elimination.
“Do you really think I am asking because I do not know what this is? Why are you giving me a blank check?”
“It’s my gift.”
“Are you kidding me right now?”
“I’m serious.”
“Tristan, a gift is supposed to come from the heart,” Bella shot back, still in disbelief.
“It is from the heart.”
“This feels more like a bribe than a gift!” she exclaimed, snatching the check and throwing it back at me. “I reject this! Even though the Ruelberta family is wealthy, the Isaachel family is second to none. What, are you taking us for beggars?”
I bit my tongue and didn’t say, “Yes.” Her family was drowning in debt, though she did not know it yet. I couldn’t bring myself to tell her that in the future her family would have to survive on the money I’d lend them. Even if I was crazy enough to try to, she wouldn’t believe me, and it would only hurt her pride.
“If you don’t like the gift, there’s nothing I can do.” I decided to retreat decently. I had given her a present; if she did not want to accept it, then so be it. That would do for the time being.
But Bella triumphantly said, “Hmph. Liar. Do you think I didn’t notice it?”
I furrowed my brow, puzzled. Bella picked up the stuffed bear I had touched earlier in her arms.
“I’m so disappointed, Tristan. Were you ashamed to give me such a meager thing, trying to hide it from me? Well, with something like this, no one would think it came from the Count’s.”
I had no answer—not because I held my tongue, but because I truly didn’t know what to say. For some reason, Bella found this amusing. “Are you embarrassed? That’s so cute, Tristan.” She leaned forward and touched my cheek with her hand. It sent shivers down my spine.
It was unimaginable from the Bella I knew now. No, it wasn’t Bella who had changed—it was Tristan’s charm in his youth.
I checked the wall clock. “It’s time. I should go.” I was eager to leave. This version of Bella was too much trouble to argue with.
Weirdly, she didn’t protest it; instead, she let me go. “Alright. Hehe… I’ve seen plenty of Tristan’s good sides today, so I’ll let you leave.”
The cute smile was characteristic of the young Bella Isaachel, who was fated one day to blossom into a peerless beauty.
I shrugged and turned to walk away.
“Oh, by the way, what’s the name of this teddy bear?” she asked from behind my back. I hadn’t thought about it. I was going to throw out some random name; then, something strange happened. There was only one name which came up in my mind as if it was under some spell.
“Dimitri.”