Chapter 44
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Dear, I believe you may be misunderstanding.
Episode 44
Around that same time.
At the precise moment Lucas came rushing in and discovered Grace beneath the Platanus Tree.
The green light within the Black Family Estate's teleportation gate began to flicker.
Ten pulses of green light, followed by ten pulses of red light.
It was a signal that someone would soon arrive.
And the instant the red light burst white, two silhouettes materialized within the gate.
"Ugh, how dizzy. No matter how many times I do this, I never get used to it."
Selena Black, her complexion pallid, pressed a hand to her forehead as Lora supported her out of the gate.
"My lady, are you terribly dizzy? I told you we should have simply taken the carriage."
At Lora's concerned reproach, Selena laughed and waved her hand dismissively.
"If we'd taken the carriage, it would have taken a month! Then that poor girl would have been in distress the entire time, and I simply couldn't allow that."
"You weren't simply eager to see Lucas's lovesick face as soon as possible, were you?"
"Lora, that's only natural. Still, I feel better after resting a moment."
Selena straightened her bent back and drew in a deep breath.
I could detect the faint scent of dust.
The Gate House, situated in the deepest recesses of the Estate's garden, was scarcely maintained.
In truth, it was a restricted area, making upkeep difficult.
"Well, let's be on our way, Lora. I can't bear this dust smell much longer."
At Selena's words, Lora picked up the small trunk she had brought.
The remaining luggage would be delivered by carriage.
Since Selena kept separate belongings at the Town House, the trunk was not particularly large.
"But are you managing well, Lora?"
"Yes, I'm perfectly fine. I'm quite sturdy, after all. Hehe! Every time I come this way, I find it nothing but wondrous and delightful!"
Lora answered with cheerful laughter.
There were only ten teleportation gates in the entire kingdom.
Five belonged to the Royal Family, two to the Black Family, and the remaining three were shared among three unknown noble houses.
The possession of a teleportation gate directly reflected how much influence one wielded over the Royal Family.
The ten teleportation gates could be used independently or in coordinated fashion.
For instance, the Duke of Black could pass through the Royal Family's teleportation gate to the Royal Palace without restriction.
Of course, not just anyone could travel at any time.
In any case, Lora, thanks to her mistress, had used the teleportation gate several times—something an ordinary person would never experience even once in a lifetime.
That alone set this middle-aged woman's heart aflutter like a girl's.
Watching Lora with such affection, Selena smiled warmly and spoke.
"Yes, I'm grateful you've come through unscathed, Lora. Oh, but we mustn't linger. Let's go surprise them."
"Splendid! It's about time we saw how much that rascal Haem has matured."
"Haem does have his pleasant and endearing qualities, and his work is quite competent, after all."
"Hehe, indeed? That boy is a bit clumsy, but his hands are quick!"
A rosy blush rose above Lora's prominent cheekbones as she praised her son.
Though she always scolded Haem with her words, in her heart he was a son she could proudly present to anyone.
Lora was the sort who beamed with joy at even the smallest compliment toward Haem or Katrina, delighted beyond measure.
Mother and son shared this visible, innocent quality in common.
And Selena found this aspect of Lora utterly endearing.
"Of course, of course. He has so much more charm than Lucas lacks."
"My goodness, how could one compare Haem to Lucas? Lucas is far too stern and learned and accomplished!"
"That's precisely what I mean by stiff, Lora. He's rather dull. When he was young, he'd cry and laugh and change with every tease—it was absolutely adorable."
How thrilling it had been when I hid Lucky from him back then....
'Oh dear.'
Now I only regretted that my son no longer wept when I hid Lucky from him.
Suddenly, her husband's words came to mind.
'You're quite the troublemaker yourself, always grinning while scheming to make your son cry.'
'...Hmm, what did I say back then?'
Ah, I'd said it was to raise him strong.
Thanks to that, her eldest son had grown far too strong.
So much so that he scarcely smiled, let alone wept before his mother.
'That sullen boy. I do hope to see him fall in love soon.'
Selena was absolutely thrilled.
With ducal blood flowing through his veins, the probability of him becoming a passionate lover was extraordinarily high.
At last I would witness it!
Selena hurried out of the Gate House with an eager stride.
Though she'd come in haste, the sky had already turned orange.
"Oh, if I'm not careful, I'll miss dinner entirely!"
Her quickened pace pattered rapidly down the garden path.
Then it happened.
Neigh!
At the rough whinny of a horse, Selena and Lora's steps froze abruptly.
'That sound?!'
The two women's eyes met, and they immediately turned toward the source of the cry.
Not far away, beneath a massive tree, stood a magnificent black horse of extraordinary beauty.
"My goodness...."
No, who is that!
Selena cried out his name, unable to hide her delight.
"Lucas!"
* * *
"Hmm?"
I heard a voice.
Before Grace could even turn toward the sound, the black horse reacted first.
He couldn't help but be flustered at the sight of two middle-aged women rushing directly toward me.
'No, why are they here now?'
My mother and Aunt Lora, rushing toward me with bright smiles.
He unconsciously took a step back with a grimace.
Grace, glancing over at him, was blinking with innocent eyes.
This was bad.
I hadn't even brought up the subject of him to Grace yet, and here they were already.
"...Who are you?"
Grace watched the middle-aged women rushing straight toward me with a puzzled expression.
A beautiful blonde middle-aged woman and a warm, affectionate brown-haired middle-aged woman.
They were clearly faces I'd never seen before, yet strangely familiar.
Pffft...!
As they drew closer and closer, Lucky's snorting grew more intense.
His legs trembled as if he wanted to flee, but he held his ground with difficulty, unable to abandon Grace.
"What's wrong, Lucky? Are they strangers to you too? People you've never seen before?"
For servants, the two middle-aged women's attire was remarkably aristocratic.
And what was with that excessively delighted smile they sent toward me?
'...Do I know them?'
Grace was someone who rarely forgot a face once seen.
Yet no matter how I looked, they seemed unfamiliar.
Though that beautiful blonde woman did seem vaguely familiar.
She came rushing toward me with such a joyful expression, beaming with delight.
Grace was bewildered.
To not remember someone so clearly overjoyed to see me. I even felt apologetic.
"Seeeeleeenaaaa!"
The woman who had come nearly face-to-face with me raised her voice and burst into bright laughter.
'What do I do, what do I do, what do I do? I can't remember at all!'
The woman stepped forward with open arms spread wide.
'What is this? Is she trying to embrace me? Should I let her?'
When the middle-aged woman came nearly face-to-face with me, Grace solemnly raised her arms.
But in that moment.
"Luuuuucaaas!"
She lunged toward the black horse standing beside Grace.
Of course, her wide-open arms wrapped around the horse's neck instead of Grace.
'...Ah, so it was the horse, not me.'
Grace felt awkward but calmly lowered her arms.
Though my ears had flushed slightly red.
"Good heavens! How long has it been! You're absolutely stunning. How can such a beautiful horse even exist?"
The golden-haired woman embraced the horse's neck with evident emotion, rubbing her face against it repeatedly.
She seemed genuinely delighted to see this black horse.
Lucky stepped back with an air of annoyance, but she paid no mind and held the horse firmly in her embrace.
"Oh my—how beautiful. So very beautiful. So incredibly beautiful! How long has it been since I've seen such a magnificent black horse?"
"My lady, please compose yourself. I believe the young lady here has been quite startled."
"Oh my goodness! Forgive me—I've lost my senses. I apologize; I have this terrible habit of becoming so focused on one thing that I overlook everything else."
At the chestnut-haired woman's gentle remonstrance, the golden-haired woman snapped to attention and turned to look at Grace Oellin.
Her warm smile was beautiful and refined.
"How do you do? I'm Grace Oellin. Might I ask who you are, madam?"
"Oh!"
At Grace Oellin's introduction, the two middle-aged women exchanged glances and exclaimed in wonder.
"So you're the young lady!"
Selena Black could not contain her excitement, clenching both fists tightly.
She stepped closer, and her blue eyes gazing at Grace Oellin seemed somehow familiar.
Were such beautiful blue eyes truly so uncommon?
Lucas Black—that man's eyes were jewel-like in their beauty, just as these were.
And the horse standing beside her possessed eyes of precisely the same hue.
Blue like a vast ocean, like a clear sky, beautiful as precious gems.
"The Grace Oellin who stole our Lucas Black's heart!"
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org