Chapter 82. Meeting Lady Frederica Part 1

“First, you will be meeting with House Graveline, whose head is Lady Frederica, though she has a daughter there is no successor named after her for political reasons” Stella reported, reviewing her clipboard.

Francesca offered a quiet nod, looking out the glass window as the carriage rattled steadily along the snowy road. Through the freezing white haze, the grand silhouette of a sprawling mansion slowly began to loom in the distance.

“So... when are you going to get married? I heard Kenny finally proposed,” Francesca asked, a playful glint in her eye temporarily breaking through her deep thoughts.

A rare, bright blush spread across Stella’s cheeks. She cleared her throat, trying to reply nonchalantly, “Oh... well, it is the Winter Freeze right now, so it isn't exactly the ideal time to host a wedding. We decided to wait and do it in the summer.”

Francesca’s expression immediately shifted into a smug, teasing smirk.

Flustered, Stella lightly tossed her clipboard at her lap. “Ah...! Enough about me! Do you feel any different, My Lady? Lord Miller and you have been very intimate for a few months now. Even with that week long break you two just had... some sort of signs should be showing by now, right?”

“Not really...” Francesca replied thoughtfully, a faint blush dusting her own cheeks as she nervously twirled a strand of her silver hair.

Stella frowned slightly, muttering under her breath, “That’s odd... You haven’t been taking any holy water either, so some signs of pregnancy really should have shown up by now...”

CRACK!

The carriage suddenly jerked to a violent halt, giving them both a sharp, jarring jolt.

“What the-” Francesca complained, gripping the edge of the leather seat to stabilize herself.

“I am so sorry, Your Ladyship!” the driver called out from the front box. “A group of kids suddenly ran out to cross the path!”

“It’s fine...” Francesca replied, catching her breath and straightening her dress.

Stella, however, let out a sharp sigh and scolded the driver through the partition. “You should know the children head to their classes right around this time of day! Haven’t you been driving this route long enough to anticipate that?!”

As Stella continued her reprimand and the carriage slowly began to rattle forward once more, Francesca allowed herself to dive back into her own deep thoughts.

Miller did promise that he would figure out our financial problem... but I still have a lingering worry, she thought, watching the snow fall against the glass. She shook her head slightly, forcing her mind back to the present. No. I need to focus on my current objective... convincing the Council members to stop trying to stand in our way.

She spent the next several minutes in silence, carefully formulating exactly how to approach her conversation with Lady Frederica. Her deep daze was only broken when the carriage slowed to a final, smooth stop.

“Your Ladyship, we have arrived,” Stella announced gently.

Francesca looked out the window as the Graveline mansion footmen hurried over to pull the carriage door open. Swallowing hard with a nervous gulp, she gripped the handle of her cane tightly.

“Alright... let’s do this.”

Audience Hall, Graveline Mansion

“Hmm...”

Francesca kept her gaze fixed on the massive oil painting hung high on the wall directly across from the plush sofa where she sat, waiting for Lady Frederica to arrive.

The painting was breathtaking, rendered in a classical, biblical style with masterful brushstrokes. It depicted the Siren Goddess Hakio and the Mermaid Goddess Nakio in the center of a swirling, ethereal ocean. Both divine figures were painted completely bare, their bodies intertwined in a passionate, deeply intimate kiss. Haloed by golden, divine light and crashing sea foam, it carried an aura of raw, untamed reverence.

“A rather surprising painting to be proudly displayed in Lady Frederica’s main audience hall...” Francesca muttered quietly to herself.

“She doesn’t seem like it in public, but Frederica is actually very religious,” a voice suddenly chimed in right beside her.

Francesca jumped slightly in surprise, turning to see an elder lady around Lady Frederica’s age. Despite her years, the woman had striking, jet-black hair and a warm, knowing smile as she elegantly took a seat on the adjacent single sofa chair.

“Ah... I should introduce myself, shouldn't I?” The lady bowed her head with deep respect while remaining seated. “I am Nadia Graveline, Your Ladyship. Frederica’s wife.”

Wife? Ah... that’s right. Same-sex marriages already exist in this world, though there are still very contentious issues surrounding them... Francesca noted internally.

Quickly recovering, she offered a smooth, perfectly practiced smile of her own. “It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Lady Nadia. Lady Frederica seems to keep you very closely guarded, seeing as this is the very first time we are formally meeting.”

“Ho ho...” Lady Nadia chuckled, politely covering her mouth with her hand. “They always say that Capital nobles are well versed in high noble speak from a very young age. That certainly seems to be true in your case.”

Before Francesca could formulate a similarly snarky, polite retort, a stern voice echoed from the other end of the grand room.

“You shouldn’t talk as if you have never been to the Capital yourself, Nadia. You used to be the most sought after etiquette teacher in your prime.”

The elderly Lady Frederica entered the room, a silent, calculating smirk playing on her lips.

“Lady Frederica,” Francesca greeted, keeping her clean, practiced smile plastered flawlessly across her face. “I have been delightfully waiting for you here.”

“Heh...” Lady Frederica scoffed softly. She offered a formal bow to greet Francesca before taking her seat across the table.

As she sat down, Frederica shot Nadia a subtle look that clearly translated to: You weren’t kidding. This girl really seems to have mastered the high noble mask.

“So, for what reason might Your Ladyship want to visit the Graveline House today?” Lady Frederica asked, her tone turning strictly business as the household servants stepped forward, quietly placing hot tea and delicate snacks across the low teapoy table for their discussion.

Francesca met the older woman's gaze head-on. “A very important discussion, truly. I merely wanted to know if you, as a senior Council member, harbored any reservations regarding Miller and my governance.”