Chapter 12

Kurt arrived at Mrs. Danee's mansion around seven in the evening. He opened the door of the hired brougham and stepped out, then turned to offer his hand to his companion. She was dressed in an ethereal green silk dress, trimmed with lace on the sleeves and a sleek collar, and wearing a hat. Kurt lightly squeezed her hand, which was hidden in a delicate glove.

The arriving guests looked with interest at Kurt and his charming partner, who looked like a real lady, and only excessive excitement gave her away. Her cheeks were red as if it were Siberian cold, and her eyes feverishly sparkled as she looked at everyone with genuine interest and amazement.

"Eliza, lean on me," Kurt whispered. "And try to calm down."

However, Kurt realized that with just one phrase, he couldn't calm down the excitement of this girl who felt like she was living in a fairy tale and couldn't believe her eyes.

"Remember what I taught you," Kurt whispered, leaning slightly toward Eliza. "Hold your dress. Bow your head politely, but not too much..."

But Eliza was almost not listening, dazzled as she was by the surrounding splendor. As they entered the hall, Eliza even flinched at the sound of the soft waltz playing.

Kurt searched among the guests for Philip and finally spotted him near the art exhibition at the other end of the hall. He made his way to him, and thankfully, Philip noticed them too, and walked toward them. They met by a large column, with only a few people nearby.

Philip's eyes lit up at the sight of Eliza, leaving him clearly stunned. Kurt could see that he was barely able to contain his excitement. Eliza blushed even deeper and cast her eyes down sheepishly. Philip took her hand and placed a gentle kiss on her fingers, startling her. Kurt worried that Eliza might faint, but she held on, smiled at Philip, and looked at him with adoration.

Kurt felt like a third wheel. They were in love and enveloped in a semi-transparent veil that seemed to dissociate them from everyone and everything else. They were oblivious to their surroundings. Kurt realized that he understood them and felt happy for them. However, he constantly looked around, knowing that he was the only one who remained vigilant and cautious.

Kurt finally decided to breach their privacy. "Philip, did you do what we talked about?" he asked.

Philip's expression darkened with sadness for a moment. "I wasn't allowed to see her. Instead, I spoke to her mother, but I'm afraid I didn't gain her understanding. Nevertheless, I'm ready for anything!" Philip replied confidently. "As we agreed, you will introduce Eliza to my mother, and I will insist on terminating the engagement. Your word will carry weight with her, Kurt. Otherwise, she will consider it nothing but youthful folly. But it's not!" Philip exclaimed, glancing at Eliza. His words made her blush again, but the joy in her eyes shone with renewed vigor.

"Now my mother is busy welcoming guests, but right after that we can talk to her," said Philip. "And now I have to leave you," he said and looked at Eliza with such tenderness that Kurt again felt odd. Philip left.

"Mr. Rhein, can we go outside for a moment?" Eliza asked quietly.

"Of course," Kurt said and escorted her from the dazzling luxury rooms into the cool garden.

There was no one else here. Kurt released Eliza's hand. She took a few hesitant steps and sat down on the bench. Gradually the realization of her situation came to her, and as she was no longer able to hold back her emotions, she gave way to tears.

Kurt stood silently aside and handed her a handkerchief. They were silent, and Kurt felt no need to say anything. This silence was filled with something special that didn't require words.
How many amazing discoveries he had made recently. But the most amazing thing among them was that they could not be written in the form of words, or submitted to a scientific conference. They only enriched the one who discovered them but remained a mystery, which could not be revealed to others.

Here, for example, was silence. Kurt always paid tribute to silence when it appeared during his sessions with patients. He believed that silence indicated how much a person had to say, but lacked the determination. And what lay in silence, he read from the patient's face. The silence was merely an inconspicuous box where a person tried to hide their thoughts and feelings, but now... He could close his eyes and feel what silence was filled with; he could taste silence.

Someone's laughter distracted Kurt from his thoughts. He turned and froze. John Fenrir was approaching the entrance of the mansion, accompanied by a couple of young men who seemed to be trying to pass themselves off as his brothers. They were engaged in conversation with John, who occasionally flashed his white teeth in a predatory smile if he found a joke amusing. It was clear that these two were part of his inner circle, advanced enough in catering to their king that they were permitted to accompany him. Or perhaps the king brought jesters with him to stave off boredom.

And then again, Kurt felt a surge of sweet yearning; for a second, he envied those jesters, and he didn't even understand why.

However, John's appearance was a complete surprise and not a pleasant one. This only increased Kurt's excitement, and his soul began trembling with joy, which was also quite inappropriate. Despite the growing desire to return to the hall and watch John, Kurt wisely chose to stay in the garden. Plus, Eliza had just calmed down. Her recent emotional state was evident only from her slightly reddened eyes. She was sitting on the bench and staring blankly at the rose bushes. Her thoughts or dreams took her away from the mansion, and Kurt didn't want to disturb her.

However, their peace was disturbed anyway by the noise coming from the hall.

"Eliza, I need to step away for a moment," Kurt said, turning to her. "Stay here." He then headed to the hall.

The cause of the commotion, as expected, was the arrival of John. Everyone looked at him and whispered. Catherine, visibly nervous, went straight to him. From where Kurt was standing, he could hear their conversation. Catherine, trying to maintain a composed smile, inquired about the reason for John's visit. Openly grinning, he replied that he had always been a philanthropist at heart and that today was the perfect day to fulfill the needs of the less fortunate. When asked why he didn't show his mercy elsewhere, John feigned offense and replied with a question of his own: where else, if not within the family, could he best demonstrate his charitable nature?

His two jesters stood on either side of him like guards, enthusiastically supporting his every word.
Catherine realized that she wouldn't get rid of John easily. She had to put up with his presence. However, Catherine's expression turned anxious. John's presence had spoiled the evening's charm and splendor, for he showed no restraint in the company of distinguished guests.

Kurt noticed Philip in the hall, who signaled him to come with a polite nod. Philip was occupied with the guests, discussing the paintings on display and preparing for the upcoming auction. Kurt approached him.

"I'm sorry, Kurt. Now I can't leave the place, but we'd better talk to my mother before the auction starts."

"What's the hurry?"

"My proposed bride came with her parents," Philip said and pointed in the opposite direction.

At the fountain, towering in the middle of the room, stood a pretty girl in a beautiful dress, and next to her was an older woman with a cold, if not contemptuous, facial expression and a man with an impressive black mustache.

"Her name is Michelle Conte," Philip continued. "And there is her mother Clarissa and her father Jean. They are friends of my mother from France."

Kurt again looked at Michelle. How dramatically she differed from Eliza. At that moment, Kurt felt that his whole idea was just a silly farce. Just one, even a fleeting, glance at Eliza was enough, and everything became clear. It didn't require one to be a psychologist. To have eyes was enough.

Michelle possessed that restrained coldness, which was instilled in girls from high society since childhood, and they internalized it frighteningly fast. And it stayed with them forever, making their facial expression arrogant and heart cold.

Kurt glanced at Philip and suddenly thought that Michelle would have suited John more than sincere and good-hearted Philip.

Looking at Michelle's mother, Clarissa, Kurt immediately understood why Philip had been unable to find sympathy or understanding. She was the embodiment of the established order. Remaining beside her husband, she behaved as if the preservation of the world depended on her presence alone. Her demeanor exuded a sense of self-righteousness and complacency.

"I'm worried they might start talking to my mother about my visit. Mrs. Conte said she forgave my impertinence, but... if the engagement is canceled, it would provoke a scandal. And I'm afraid they'll break off business affairs with my mother. I think she's afraid too. Their family has great influence in France, so the whole story will have a very negative impact on the name of Danee. I don't know what to do. But still..." Philip trailed off.

"I don't think Mrs. Danee is in the mood to converse now. Your brother is here," Kurt said.

"John?"

"Yes. So, now all her attention is focused on him."

"Could it be any worse? She has already suffered enough from his antics. We need to find a way to get him out of here."

"You know John much better than me, and you must understand that he will go away only when he wants to," Kurt replied.

"Or if he gets bored..." Philip mused.

"I don't think so," Kurt said confidently. "If John gets bored, he'll surely find a way to entertain himself, and that's much more dangerous. Maybe we should call it off?"

"No!" exclaimed Philip, drawing the attention of nearby guests. "The engagement is scheduled for tomorrow. And the fact that the Conte family arrived today is alarming. Maybe my mother arranged everything for today!"

"Okay," Kurt finally agreed. "I'll bring Eliza."