Mr. Kornich presents Anna to Baron Bethlenffi, and the baron basically calls her plain but sturdy, adding that his last wife was (lovely but) so frail she couldn't bear him any children. Anna is shaking and sweating.
Modri is incensed that the baron would be so rude to Anna. It's bad enough she doesn't want this marriage to begin with, and now her intended fiancé is treating her like he's window shopping for an incubator. Truth be told, that's just what he's doing.
Modri makes a fist and moves to punch the baron, but someone steps forward, reaching out a gloved right hand to stop the attack. The mystery man asks the baron to introduce Anna to him.
I'm not sure if it's simply because the mystery man calls Anna "lovely", but Modri seems to fall under a spell. Anna is still nervous, but now she's clutching at her necklace. The baron realizes who has just shown up, and he introduces the man as his consultant, a financial advisor from Vienna.
The consultant goes on to give his name and specifies that he travels around the (Austro-Hungarian) empire and that he assists "distinguished families" with their "sensitive interests". This leaves his position open to interpretation as more than just a financial advisor.
He puts out his left hand now, also gloved, while essentially saying he might be of service (to Modri, Anna, and/or Mr. Kornich) if needed.
He appears to have blond hair, and that's about all I can see. When he states his name and shows his face, we still cannot see either. Is Yana-san covering those up for a reveal later... or has she decided his face and name don't matter, so perhaps she never decided on his assumed name or appearance?
I'm thinking that Anna and the baron's engagement moves forward, since we've previously seen the bloody scene with the flower wreath from her head. They are at a church, so I'm thinking that might have been their wedding ceremony when the demon changes shape (becomes goop) and starts devouring souls.
Anna mentions Katalin and Dr. Matyas. Her father mentions Baron Bethlenffi. As narrator, Modri mentions the Kornich family and Transylvania.
Well, we are definitely not in Russia, but there's still a strong Slavic connection. Let's talk about each of these names.
Anna is a common name of Hebrew origin, meaning "grace", "favor", or "He (God) has favored me." It's odd that she has such low self esteem regarding her appearance and worthiness, with a name like that.
Kornich is a lot like Weizsäcker in that it has to do with grain crops.
Matyas is a variant of Matthew, basically meaning "gift of God." It can be a given name or, as used here, a surname.
Katalin is a Hungarian variant on Catherine, coming from the Greek word for "pure". It's often associated with St. Catherine of Alexandria.
Bethlenffi is an odd one, made up, loosely based on traditional naming conventions in Hungary. The "ffi" part denotes "son of" the name at the beginning.
So, when I tried Bethlen by itself:
Baron Bethlenffi is a bit of a mystery, but his surname must be intended to identify him as the "son of Bethlen", and to give him a long history within Hungarian nobility.
Then we have Transylvania, which is part of Romania now, but at the time it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This is at a time when the Habsburg dynasty is coming to an end. Their ruler, Franz Joseph I, was born at and died at Schönbrunn Palace, in Vienna. We've heard about Schönbrunn Palace before, since that's where Sebastian says -- all the way back in ch2 -- that he learned the Viennese waltz.
It makes sense that Modri would end up with a grain-farming family, since that was such a common occupation in the region. I find it a bit concerning that medical care was so scarce, making Anna's grandmother very lucky Dr. Matyas was making house calls. I'm also taking note of the high sui rate, making me curious how many reapers came from the region....
This demon has told Vladis he might be able to help the Kornich family, so Vladis takes him to speak with Mr. Kornich, Anna's father.
The demon proposes a deal, but it's a loan with his Viennese associates, not with himself. Still, the potential price is very dear; if they cannot repay the loan from crop sales, they would lose their land. The lenders would take ownership of however much land they used as collateral.
Modri sees it as a great opportunity to release Anna from having to marry Baron Bethlenffi, but her father sees an obstacle that he cannot see past.
He's already announced the wedding to the public, at church. News travels fast... and probably faster still, if it's church gossip. Those in attendance will quickly spread the word to others who were unable to attend that day, as well as to anyone else they seem fit to tell. His main concern is losing face honor and respectability. His second (but still very important to him) concern is the high risk of such a loan, since he cannot predict the coming year's crop yield. What would become of all his tenants, if he defaulted on the loan? He would lose land and income, but he's been keeping the estate dwellers fed by sharing his food supply. Some lending company isn't going to do that, if it takes possession of the land. Those who live there could perish from starvation. Even if they left, that would not end their hardships.
The demon accepts this refusal of his offer and asks if Mr. Kornich intends to stick with relying on Baron Bethlenffi's assistance (after the wedding takes place). Anna's father is slightly hesitant but says "yes." Modri is shaking with agitation; he wants desperately to be able to free Anna from having to marry that baron.
While this demon/financial advisor is still visiting their estate, Modri and Anna give him a short tour, showing him the empty fields. The wheat seeds have already been sown, so now they are waiting for the season to change and for nature to take its course. Anna muses that if the wheat were already grown, their visitor could also witness the lovely view.
Then, true to the meaning of violets, she expresses her genuine feelings about the upcoming wedding, followed by backtracking, out of modesty and shame.
The demon shows "understanding" by essentially saying that there's no reason to mock or condemn her for her lack of desire to marry Baron Bethlenffi. She is young and beautiful, and she's setting aside her own goals and aspirations on behalf of the people who call the estate home, including her own family. He replies that it's ok to have such feelings and to wish for something different
But then he puts a shushing finger to his lips and says her "father" isn't there. Instead he's the one standing there. The bolded word likely has two meanings: 1. Her actual father, Mr. Kornich and 2. God, as in "Our Father, who art in heaven." This is a more subtle version of what he has previously said to Modri -- that they must look elsewhere for help, that their god won't help/save them (at least not this time).
The demon's tone changes as he tells her to state her wish. Anna and the demon now both reach towards the other, as she laughs, calling him "kind.
Modri looks at both of them, and he doesn't take any notice of this "financial advisor's" shadow, which has turned amorphous but almost flame-like.
The demon holds both of Anna's hands now, as she lowers her head and wishes for the wheat to miraculously grow and ripen.
There is a flash between them, promoting Anna to pull her hands away and protect her eyes.
Modri realizes there is something wrong, but perhaps he does not see the flash. He responds as if he cannot actually see what just happened, and he attributes her reaction as a result of the cold, dry air. They head back to the manor, as the demon continues to stand there and watch them leave.
I have a lot to say about this scene, but I'll wait until the end of the chapter review, which will be in part 4.
Modri is their servant, though he's dressed better than his host family usually is. Isn't that odd?
Young Lady Anna calls Modri over to show him an injured bird she has found.
Anna speaks of a Dr. Matyas coming to visit her grandmother, hoping he might also be able (and willing) to check out this poor bird during his visit. She says the doctor is kind, and she gets nervous when she realizes how soiled her outfit is; she wants to receive the doctor in something more presentable.
They do possibly have another servant, a woman named Katalin, though nothing else is mentioned of her here.
Modri thinks back to his life before he was welcomed to live with this family. He was orphaned after his father left for the military (never to return) and his mother died in an epidemic.
The Kornich family takes him in, even though they are not wealthy and lack any title. They do, however, still have a domain within Transylvania. In order to make sure the people on their land have food, they live thriftily and share what they have. Modri sees their charitable deeds as proof that man is made in God's image.
Modri makes the choice to serve this family, as a matter of religious devotion.
When Anna's father tells Modri about an arranged marriage between Anna and some baron, Modri gets defensive about it. I'm not sure if Modri is asking for clarification that the father means marriage... or if the father is still speaking and that question mark isn't the right punctuation.
Either way, Modri isn't happy with the arrangement, since Anna is so young while this Baron Bethlenffi is older than Anna's father. Mr. Kornich doesn't seem particularly happy about it, either, but he's accepted the proposal hoping their financial situation would improve, while Anna would gain a title and presumably have a higher quality of life. (Perhaps this baron knows their situation and is merely taking advantage of it.)
It sounds as if Modri has been released from his duty to serve Anna, at least once the marriage is finalized, and that would make sense.
Back to Anna and the injured bird. Modri shows it to Dr. Matyas and is told it is too late to save it, but they say a prayer... apparently more for Anna than for the bird? We see Anna burying it at the base of a tree.
Anna already knows about the marriage arrangements. First she says she's not attractive enough to be the baron's wife, then she says how the baron is not just accepting her as his wife but would also help support the people of that domain.
But then she fights her own acceptance and gratitude; she does not like this baron... and she seems to hold some sort of attraction or other attachment to this Dr. Matyas. She break down crying, and Modri comforts her.
Then we skip forward to the ball where Modri meets the demon.
Before I post part 3, though, I want to post about these names and where they live.
[Geez, Tumblr and a weak internet connection ate my initial attempt at this post, so now I'm trying my best to recreate it. It will not be worded quite the same as the original. 😔 Anyway....]
We see Modri standing outside Anna's bedroom door, lifting a hand to knock but then partially lowering it, failing to actually do so. He's also carrying a tray of tea and baked goods. The demon acting as a financial adviser walks towards him and points out the tea will get cold. That's such a Sebastian thing to say, showing concern over the presentation of food and drink, the duties and corresponding efforts of a servant... though we cannot just yet be certain this demon is the same as Sebastian. Plus, Sebastian had apparently never served as a butler before.
Modri states that the wheat miraculously ripened overnight, but it didn't stop the planned wedding.
Then we see what they hear: Anna is bawling and screaming over being forced to proceed with the promised union to the much older baron... who claims she isn't much to look at but will likely suffice for his purposes.
The demon hesitates then decides he will go to her and brave the onslaught of her tantrum. Inside her room and not leaving her bed, Anna cries and laments the futility of the fulfillment of her wish. The wheat grew and ripened in time to save her family and the tenants on their land, but she is still to marry the baron. At this point, it's no longer about necessity, her father is stubbornly committed to his promise as a means of saving face. He simply refuses to back out of a promise that's been made public.
This is the second time, as far as I recall, that someone in the series has complained that they are the only one -- "and only I" -- being forced to handle a particular burden. I've included a page from ch117 (on the right) for comparison with Lizzie. Oddly enough, both of these situations involve an intended betrothal, though Lizzie is fighting to protect her fiancé (what's left of him), not wishing to reject him for another (not even for his twin brother).
Back to ch226... where the demon, unseen by Anna (because she's crying into her pillow), smiles in response to her situation. It's not so much because she's suffering but because she's told him she loves another... and has also just told him the identity of her beloved.
But he replies with sympathy at the news she has feelings for someone other than her fiancé. He assumes the two are lovers; Anna quickly explains that she loves the young doctor but has not yet professed that love.
Since Anna isn't yet stating any more clear wishes, and perhaps also because the demon is getting impatient to finish up, he starts asking leading questions. We can tell it's definitely him saying the wish, despite it being in first person, because of the quotes. He states what he believes to be her wish then asks for her to agree or deny it. [Note he's holding up a thumb and a finger; it's not (just) to make a 🤔 expression.]
She agrees and then adds to it how she'd love to run away with Dr. Matyas. However, love for her family and people continues to take priority, and it's for them she chooses to marry the baron and to suffer.
Despite (or due to) hearing her say she will accept the arranged marriage, he proposes another wish for her to approve. Again, he states it in first person, in quotes, then asks if he's got it right. She again agrees. With this wish, he's no longer holding the thumb and index finger to his face; instead, he's just plain holding up the thumb and two fingers. His smile returns, becoming a grin 😁, now that he's tricked a second and a third wish out of her.
Now he simply says "As you wish." Anna responds in confusion, but when she sits up to look at him, he's already left the room. Her sleeping gown has slipped off her left shoulder, and we can now see she definitely does have a contract seal. I'm not sure how he had marked her without her even knowing it, back when she had wished for the wheat to ripen early. I recall that when Sebastian marks our earl, it's painful and bleeds. Each time they agree upon a condition of their contract, Sebastian "seals" it with their seals. There's none of that here.
With Anna's marriage to the baron looming nearer, this demon informs Modri that Dr. Matyas has expressed his love for Anna. I do think Anna and Modri are simply taking the demon's word for it, for a few reasons:
The image of Matyas and Anna together is merely an imagined rendering. If they had actually met up and expressed their feelings, we would see it as it happens, not in some grayscale embroidery design -- because that's what that is there, merely an embroidery design.
Also, Modri wouldn't need to hear it from this "advisor" if it had actually happened. Anna would have been the bearer of the joyful news.
The demon is probably pretending to be a messenger between Anna and Matyas anyway, since they likely wouldn't be able to keep everything hush hush if all this were to take place at her home... where she is likely stuck and at least somewhat monitored.
The demon (according to Sebastian, also back in ch117) cannot sway Matyas' "heart"; there would be no way to make Matyas love her, if he did not. If the demon actually spoke to Matyas, and Matyas rejected Anna, the next time Matyas paid a visit he might mention it to Anna's father. The easiest way around this is to just lie to Modri and Anna.
Here's the page from ch117, where Sebastian talks about being unable to "bind a heart in the truest sense of the word. Not even a god can do this.
Back to ch226 again, the demon is the one talking once more, laying out plans to have Anna and Matyas marry in secret. He says the wedding must be held in secret to keep the baron from finding out, but I suspect the main reasons are 1) so Matyas doesn't find out and deny any involvement, 2) so her family doesn't find out and keep it from happening, and 3) so the demon doesn't have to go to the extra effort of killing so many people. Holding the ceremony in a church within their domain is probably mostly a matter of convenience for the demon, too. Making it seem as though she'd died in a tragic accident will be much easier with the use of her actual corpse. Helping them escape is a non-issue, since they are to die that night. Thinking back to Matyas (and ch117), the demon will not be able to sway her father. Considering the previous exchange between Modri, the "adviser", and Anna's dad, there's really no way to convince her father that his daughter's happiness is worth more that keeping his word to some disgusting old baron. And the last part is to ensure no one can expose the demon in his lies.
Keeping to the secrecy of their plans, Anna asks Modri to wait until the day of the wedding and hire a carriage in a neighboring town. People in the other town won't care too much about someone they don't know selling jewelry and hiring a carriage with the money. Modri seems to be emphasizing the heirloom or sentimental value of the ring, but Anna might not realize it. She insists she won't need the ring, since she will be the wife of a town doctor. She could mean that the wife of a town doctor should be ok with a modest living and not feel the need to keep or show off such luxuries. She could also simply mean that she doesn't need to keep it now to sell off later, since a town doctor should be able to find work as a physician anywhere they travel and/or end up settling down.
Modri worries about betraying his master, the man who gave him a home and a purpose in life, but he cannot help but want to make Anna happy, as he also serves her. He wishes not to sin, but he believes in a compassionate god who should forgive him for choosing Anna's happiness over her father's senses of pride and duty. Besides, thanks to the "miracles" of this "adviser," Modri believes they have received divine blessings.
The night of the secret wedding, Modri is driving the hired carriage from the neighboring town to his master's own domain. A wheel gets stuck in the mud. It's not quite a full moon, but there's plenty of light for Modri to unstick the wheel by. Looks like he checks in at the Kornich house to make sure everything is still calm there, then he changes into clean clothes and heads to the selected church.
By the time Modri gets to the church and up to the door, he's in high spirits, thinking it's all going so smoothly and that all will be well.
