Chapter 7

Celeste had grown accustomed to the beauty of women in the Art Corps around the military district, thinking she'd seen it all. That was until she saw Natalie's face and realized there was always someone even more stunning. Moreover, she walked into the room and sat down confidently, neither shrinking back nor glancing around nervously. She bore no resemblance to a naive country girl. Instead, she exuded the poise of a young lady who had just returned from studying abroad. Celeste now understood what Lilian had meant. In the countryside, someone with Natalie's looks would indeed require a strong family to protect her. Any initial complaints she had about Natalie vanished entirely. Unaware of Celeste's change of heart, Gideon looked at Phoebe and Natalie, feeling regretful. If only Charles and Robert hadn't passed away, they, too, could have witnessed how beautifully their daughters had grown. It was such a shame. Natalie and Phoebe sat on the couch for a while. When the moment felt right, Phoebe pulled a small package from her bag. "Mr. and Mrs. Locke, my father used to mention in his letters that Mr. Locke enjoys peanuts, so I brought some that I grew myself for both of you to try." Her words were beautifully expressed, and Celeste replied, "How very thoughtful of you, dear." For Gideon, the gesture brought back memories of returning from missions when food was scarce. He often found comfort in simple roasted peanuts sprinkled with a pinch of salt, especially alongside a beer. Feeling moved that Phoebe had remembered, he looked at her with gentle fondness in his eyes. Phoebe smiled lightly as her gaze drifted, seemingly without intention, toward Natalie, who was sitting beside her. Natalie's canvas bag was quite small and didn't seem capable of holding much. She recalled how anxious Lilian had been when they set off, and she was certain she had forgotten to pack a gift for the Locke family. It was a fundamental courtesy to never arrive empty-handed for a first visit. If Natalie couldn't even observe this basic etiquette, then… A flicker of unexpected joy rose in Phoebe's heart at that thought. Perhaps sensing Phoebe's intense gaze, Natalie set down her cup and turned, meeting Phoebe's eyes directly. She recalled from the original storyline that Lilian had packed her belongings secretly, fearing her husband might discover her plans, so she hadn't included anything unnecessary. However, she had specifically instructed the original subject to buy a gift for the Lockes upon arriving in Kingston. In her obliviousness, the original subject had utterly forgotten to bring a gift, arriving at the Locke residence empty-handed. Once inside, she couldn't help but stare openly at the decor, her posture timid while her gaze betrayed an unmistakable hint of greed. This only made Phoebe, who had warmly greeted the Locke family and offered a small gift, appear even more thoughtful and polite by comparison. But this time, Phoebe was bound to be disappointed. Natalie removed the bag from her shoulder, reached inside, and placed a modestly wrapped bundle on the coffee table. "Mr. and Mrs. Locke, we don't grow peanuts, but I brought you a small specialty from my hometown. It's not much, but I genuinely appreciate your willingness to help me when I had nowhere else to turn." She unwrapped the bundle to reveal a generous portion of cured ham about the length of her forearm. She'd traded for it on the train with one of the conductors, who sometimes bartered goods with passengers traveling from different regions. When she spotted the cured ham in the lounge, she used some ration coupons to make the exchange. Meat was rare in the countryside these days, making her gift all the more heartfelt. Celeste looked genuinely moved. "Oh, dear, there was no need to bring all this. Just having you here is enough! Your father and Gideon were comrades-in-arms, and it's only right that we do what we can for you." "Mrs. Locke, my mom always taught me to be grateful and to repay kindness. This gift is hardly enough compared to what you've done for me, pulling me out of such a difficult situation." Natalie's expression conveyed just the right measure of appreciation—not overly effusive, which could seem insincere, and not too understated, which might appear ungrateful. Although she played it up slightly, her gratitude toward the Locke family was genuine. Without their kindness, she would have been forced to live in precarious conditions with a man of questionable stability, always at risk of something going wrong. Watching Natalie's gentle, endearing demeanor, Celeste couldn't help but recall her experiences. The Quinn family had been merchants for generations, solidly labeled as capitalists. When political tides shifted, someone powerful had tried to pressure her into an unwanted marriage. In desperation, they sought help from the politically upright and influential Locke family. By donating a portion of their wealth and carefully managing the rest, they successfully weathered the crisis, reshaping their status from capitalists to patriotic merchants. Any reservations Celeste had felt about Natalie melted away. She moved closer, placing a comforting hand on Natalie's shoulder. "Don't worry, dear. With Gideon and me here, no one will force you into any marriage." Natalie nodded obediently. After a short while, Celeste turned to Evelyn. "Are the dishes ready? If so, let's start dinner. Natalie and Phoebe must be hungry after their long train ride." Evelyn wiped her hands on her apron and nodded. "Everything's set on the table. I'll go upstairs and get James." James had said he was looking for something upstairs but hadn't come down yet. Celeste stood up. "No need, I'll go see what's keeping him." Just as she finished, a figure came dashing down the stairs. It was none other than James. "Mom," he called, heading over to the couch with a bag in his hand. Gideon shot James a disapproving glance. Their guests had been there for quite some time, and he was only just now coming downstairs to greet them, showing a complete disregard for proper etiquette. Sensing Gideon's thoughts, Celeste smoothly intervened, "James was just upstairs looking for the gifts Jasper prepared for Natalie and Phoebe." Then, she shot James a look. "James, go on and give your new sisters their gifts." James scratched his head and beamed a bright smile, showcasing his pearly white teeth. He greeted Natalie and Phoebe, saying, "Hi, I'm James, your second brother from now on! Rest assured, I'll be looking out for you in the base housing! Oh, and here's something for you. He pulled out two jars of Elegance Frost Snow Cream from the bag and handing them over. "I heard this is something you ladies might like." The Frost Snow Cream, costing one dollar per jar, was a luxury that many people were reluctant to spend. Phoebe accepted hers with both hands as if it were a rare treasure and said, "Thank you, James! You're so generous. I've never even used the Frost Snow Cream before!" Natalie's dimples appeared as she smiled sweetly. "Thank you, James." James was momentarily taken aback by her smile. Unsure of where to place his hands and feet, a blush crept up his ears. "N-No problem," he stammered, flustered. Celeste observed James' bashful demeanor and couldn't help but smile. She hadn't expected her usually carefree son to turn this shy—how amusing! "This is Phoebe, and this is Natalie," Celeste said, pulling James closer to introduce him. She then turned to Natalie and Phoebe, adding, "This is my second son, James, who just turned 18 this month." Natalie nodded. "So, you are my older brother! I'll be 18 next month." Phoebe chimed in, "Me, too. I'll be 18 next month." In the original storyline, the original subject was a supporting character who was the same age as Phoebe, with their birthdays only a day apart. James scratched the back of his head, relieved that Celeste had given birth to him a few months earlier. Otherwise, he would have ended up as the younger brother. While it might seem like a trivial distinction, being the older brother sounded much more appealing. "By the way, Jasper has also prepared gifts for you!" James almost forgot about that and quickly retrieved the items. He presented a sleek black leather gift box and a book wrapped in a cover. He handed the box to Phoebe, saying, "This is from Jasper." Phoebe looked at the box in her hands, her eyes widening in disbelief. It was simply too exquisite! Unable to resist, she opened the box to reveal a sleek black and gold fountain pen nestled inside. It gleamed in the sunlight, exuding a luxurious yet understated elegance. "I-Isn't this gift too extravagant? I can't accept this. It would be better if Jasper kept it for himself. I usually just use a graphite pencil." Despite her words, she couldn't help but cling to the box. James reassured her, "Phoebe, please accept it. Jasper often receives awards in the army, and he's always given fountain pens as prizes. He can't possibly use them all. I also have several he's passed down to me." "Oh, I see..." With that, Phoebe felt perfectly justified in accepting the gift. James then glanced at the book Jasper had intended to give Natalie, his expression wavering slightly. He hadn't realized how exquisite and expensive the fountain pen Jasper had given to Phoebe was, and now he felt a twinge of apprehension. It was obvious to anyone that the disparity between the pen and the book was considerable. Meeting Natalie's eyes, James suddenly felt that the book was far less impressive by comparison. After a moment's hesitation, he finally handed it over. "Here you go, Natalie." As Natalie accepted the book and began to thank him, Phoebe leaned in eagerly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Did Jasper wrap that in a cover? Could it be some kind of special edition? Nattie, hurry up and open it!" She was dying to know what book Jasper had gifted Natalie. James and Celeste shared her curiosity. The book was wrapped in kraft paper, leading them to wonder if it could actually be a rare collectible. Its value might rival that of the fountain pen. "What special edition?" Hearing the commotion, Gideon approached. Celeste pointed to the item in Natalie's hands and explained, "It's a book Jasper gave Natalie." Gideon nodded. "That lad always reads books about planes. Does he think ladies like that, too? He might as well give something practical." At that moment, everyone's attention shifted to the book wrapped in the cover, their curiosity piqued.