Chapter 14
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Dear, I believe you may be misunderstanding.
Episode 14
'Oh no.'
Julie's mind raced rapidly.
Haem, simple-minded yet possessed of uncanny perception, had already noticed my swollen cheek.
I didn't mind if he knew I'd been struck.
'But the problem is that he's realized Miss Grace was hit.'
Knowing this could potentially become a blemish on the young lady's reputation, Julie hesitated.
At the same time, she wondered if this might actually incline Lucas Black's heart further toward Grace.
'But I can't act rashly.'
After deliberation, Julie chose to let the information slip subtly.
The rest would be for Lucas Black's aide to judge.
If necessary, he would tell; if not, he would forget.
"Yes, I was hit."
"Hit? By whom?"
Julie answered with a light shrug of her shoulders.
"By someone who faces no consequences for striking others."
Haem tilted his head in confusion.
"Then... does that mean Miss Grace was also hit?"
"I'm going to have to give you no comment on that, Haem! But more importantly! You've asked two questions, so I should get to ask one more, shouldn't I?"
"You have another question?"
Julie nodded vigorously as she spoke.
"Of course! Truth be told, I've been dying to ask so many things. There's been all this gossip about the possibility of you and our young lady marrying the Duke of the Black Family!"
Julie, who had been smiling, leaned a bit closer to Haem and continued.
Haem looked at Julie with a suddenly tense expression.
"In that sense, I feel incredibly fortunate to have this chance to speak with you, Haem. Truth is, I've been nervous since earlier, wondering how to even approach you. You were driving the carriage with such a stern expression that I didn't dare strike up a conversation."
It was a complete lie, but Julie delivered it with convincing tone and voice.
Simple Haem, true to form, puffed up his shoulders like a dancing whale at her small compliment.
"A stern expression, you say? I see! Hahaha! So what did you want to ask?"
"Well, why has His Grace delayed marriage for so long? I understand he's been busy with his duties, but it does seem like he's married later than the average age..."
"Ah, that's rather complicated... Truth is, despite appearing so fierce, His Grace is actually quite romantic... He's the type who won't marry without love. Ah, if he found out I told anyone this, my head might roll, Julie. So keep this between us."
Julie had expected a simple answer—that he simply had no intention of marrying—but instead received unexpected information and clamped her mouth shut.
'A romantic man who won't marry without love!'
...Yes!
She quietly clenched her fist.
Her instincts had been correct.
Lucas Black, unlike the lapdogs of the Oellin Marquessate, belonged to the category of 'good men.'
'I knew it.'
Julie, born as the fourth among six sisters, had learned to read people well.
Three of them were older sisters, and two were frivolous younger sisters.
Having grown up witnessing countless romantic scandals and love affairs, she prided herself on having developed a keen eye for judging other women's men.
Until now, lacking sufficient information, she hadn't known whether Lucas Black the Duke was a good man or not.
But the moment she witnessed that ridiculous performance in front of the Fountain Pen Shop, she became certain.
'He'll do just fine!'
He was a man who held the rank of Duke, no less.
Such a man had willingly subjected himself to potential embarrassment for Grace's sake, sealing the town's gossip with his own performance.
Though his expression and intent were rather fierce, it hardly mattered.
If anything, Julie found his such qualities reassuring.
'The audacity and courage to buy laughter for the sake of protecting the young lady—a man like this could truly cherish our young lady.'
Despite his rather fearsome reputation in the past, since stepping down from his position as Knight Commander, he had devoted himself solely to managing his territories.
He rarely visited the Capital's Town House unless there was a royal command or special administrative period.
Such a person was rare among the high nobility.
Most would willingly become courtiers attached to the royal family, yet he enjoyed residing in his own territories despite receiving the royal favor.
'If the young lady were to enter the territory after marriage, she wouldn't suffer harassment from the Oellin Marquessate either....'
Julie couldn't shake the thought that Lucas Black was a far better husband candidate for Grace than she had initially considered.
"How romantic it is.... Your Grace seems to be an even more wonderful person than I had thought."
This was more than enough reason to become her devoted supporter.
And Julie observed.
The way Lucas Black gazed upon Grace.
Those eyes that tended to her with such meticulous care and warmth, as though she were already his own, despite the marriage not yet being formally conducted.
"Ah... truly a wonderful person."
"...Yes? Your Grace?"
"Isn't he?"
"No, well. That's true, but.... Ah, I! I actually think the same way."
"Yes, what do you mean?"
"A marriage without love is hollow! Of course, one should marry someone you love!"
'...Ah, he's asking for praise too.'
Julie's wide-open eyes curved beautifully as she nodded her head.
For a moment, she nearly reached out to pat Haem's head, but she barely managed to restrain herself.
"Right? After all, Haem is truly a wonderful person as well. Does the Black Family only have such splendid people?"
"Hahaha! The men of the Black Family are indeed famous for being romantic."
"Hohoho! I've never heard such a thing, but I'll take your word for it!"
As Haem and Julie exchanged pleasant banter and grew closer, the carriage carrying the four of them arrived swiftly at the Black Family Townhouse.
* * *
"You've had quite the journey. I am Gabriel, the head butler overseeing the administration of this Estate."
Gabriel, the chief butler of the Black Family Townhouse, bowed respectfully before leading Grace and Julie up to the modest reception room on the second floor.
Lucas and Haem had already excused themselves from the lobby, mentioning they had somewhere else to attend to briefly.
The butler opened the rightmost door on the second floor and gave a brief introduction to the room.
"This is known as the Sunset Room—a place where the view of the sun setting beyond the horizon is truly magnificent. We've prepared warm tea on the terrace, so please make yourselves comfortable while you enjoy the scenery."
The butler, his ash-gray hair neatly combed back, courteously showed them to their room before descending the stairs.
The moment the door closed, Julie rushed toward the terrace and threw the window wide open.
Just as the butler had said, the plains visible beyond the terrace were indeed spectacular.
"I had no idea the Black Estate was so far away. And look at all this vast plains stretching out here."
As the breeze flowed through the window, Grace let her tension ease slightly and gazed out beyond the open panes that Julie had pushed back.
Though a tea table was set up in front of the terrace, after more than two hours of carriage travel, my body refused to remain seated any longer.
Grace leaned against the terrace railing, gazing out at the expansive plains, and found her thoughts drifting to Lucas.
'He wasn't quite as terrifying as I'd imagined... but he's still frightening, nonetheless.'
I couldn't fathom what lay beneath Lucas's surface.
But one thing was certain: that frightening man seemed to have at least some measure of affection toward me.
And that conviction had only solidified during our conversation just before stepping down from the carriage.
'Grace, have you never been told that you're not very good at hiding your emotions?'
'...How did you know? Can you see my feelings too, Your Excellency?'
'Yes. To be honest, I didn't notice at first... but once it caught my eye, I couldn't stop perceiving it. And you seem far more forthright than I initially thought.'
At that moment, I was truly startled.
'Did I really show my fear so plainly?'
Well, given how much I'd been trembling, it would have been impossible not to notice.
I responded with an embarrassed expression.
'I apologize, Your Excellency. I didn't mean to... I have no face to show you.'
'No, that's not it. I understand well enough that people's hearts don't always obey their will. There's nothing for you to apologize for.'
...He's more magnanimous than I expected.
I felt relieved.
A slight sense of admiration stirred within me as well.
Considering what happened in the City District too.
It made me reflect—had I been viewing this man through prejudiced eyes all along?
But as his next words followed, I began to sense something strange.
'It was curious, and it caught me off guard... but I didn't dislike it. Your honesty.'
'...Pardon?'
He smiled, lifting the corners of his rather full lips.
What was that hopeful gleam in his eyes...?
'In fact, I found it quite impressive. I felt... drawn to it.'
Drawn...? Why...?
'If I may be bold enough to speak my mind.'
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org