Christoph looked at them with a sidelong glance, his expression turning indifferent. Taking a sip of his champagne, he winked subtly at Marianne. As if suggesting she should have a sip too.

Marianne couldn’t fathom what Christoph was thinking. This had always been the case, but lately, it had intensified. Just as her lips touched the glass.

“Count Schneider has entered!”

Oscar’s resonant shout echoed. The star of tonight’s party, Count Schneider, walked into the banquet hall. Conversations ceased as everyone turned their attention to him.

Count Schneider greeted familiar faces with brief eye contact as he slowly made his way to the podium. His demeanor exuded both authority and kindness. His silver hair, lit by the spotlight, added gravity to his presence.

The Count scanned the crowd. For a fleeting moment, his eyes seemed to pause on Marianne’s face.

The audience closed their mouths in anticipation, and the Count began to speak only when the silence reached its peak. The way he carried himself reminded her of Christoph.

So blood is thicker than water, after all.

Marianne unknowingly let a small smile creep onto her face.

“Deep gratitude to all of you who travel far and wide each year to celebrate my birthday. It’s very fortunate for you that birthdays come only once a year.”

His joke prompted laughter from the crowd. Count Schneider looked at them with charitable eyes. His deep voice still brimmed with youthful vigor.

“I’d love to hold birthday parties every month to meet you all, but my grandson would get angry, so I’ll refrain.”

“Ha ha ha.”

The crowd laughed again, casting amused glances at Christoph. Christoph stared back at Count Schneider with an emotionless face.
But recently, I’ve been enjoying days as delightful as if it’s my birthday every month. As some of you may know, it’s because my grandson and daughter-in-law are visiting Blauburg. Nothing could make me happier at this age than being able to see my family often.

At that moment, people stole glances at Marianne. Marianne held her gaze, which seemed to keep falling, by sheer will. She clenched her lips to hide the growing darkness within.

“Everyone probably knows that my daughter-in-law, Marianne, works at the Blauburg Police Department.”

“……”

For a moment, the banquet hall went silent, as if doused with cold water. A topic everyone knew about but no one spoke of. It felt taboo, and it came from the mouth of the Count.

Marianne was the most surprised. She stared at Count Schneider, her face drained of color. Then she tightly shut her eyes. It felt as if she had become the disgrace of the Schneider family, as if she had tainted the Schneider name.

I shouldn’t have come. It would have been better to endure the slander. If it bothers the Count, then I should have…

At that moment.

“!”

She felt a warm grip quietly take her hand. A hand that was just putting on a ring slowly. Marianne opened her eyes and turned her head.

Christoph was looking forward with an inscrutable expression. His gaze remained on the Count as his lips twitched slightly.

“Don’t worry, Marianne. No one can treat you lightly. Even if that’s me. ……I promise. So, you have nothing to worry about.”

Ugh.

Marianne bit her lower lip to swallow the rising emotion. She was used to bearing the scrutiny of people alone.

All she had to do was look ahead, not letting any words affect her, back straight, chin up. Then, eventually, the time would pass.

But holding her hand, Christoph was not familiar. Having Christoph quietly stand by her, sharing glances, was not familiar.

And so, Marianne wavered once more. Splish-splash, she heard the sound of water filling up beneath her feet. The tide came in, wetting the soles of her shoes.

Count Schneider waited for the audience’s murmuring to quiet down before speaking again.

“It feels awkward to say this, but my daughter-in-law, Marianne, is a graduate of the Royal University. She attended the same law school as Christoph. That connection led her to become our family’s daughter-in-law. But Marianne is originally a talent who graduated from the Royal University’s Law School with excellent grades.”

“!”

Caught off guard by the unexpected words, Marianne widened her eyes. The crowd, too, seemed surprised, murmuring among themselves.

Christoph squeezed her hand. Marianne looked at the Count with a face that didn’t know what expression to make.

“It would be a waste for her to just be Mrs. Schneider. I’m a little embarrassed to brag about my daughter-in-law, but Marianne’s talents are like a hidden gem. She’s only been in Blauburg for a short time, but she’s caught a jewelry store robber, cleared a boy accused of murder, and even recently found the youngest son of the Heinz family.”

Count Schneider cast his eyes toward Lord Heinz, who was standing in a corner of the banquet hall. People followed his gaze. Receiving the attention of the audience, Lord Heinz awkwardly pulled up the corner of his mouth.

“I sincerely appreciate it, Lord Schneider. …Of course, Mrs. Schneider as well.”

Saying so, Lord Heinz bowed to Marianne. A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd.