Chapter 45
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Dear, I believe you may be misunderstanding.
Episode 45
Grace wondered if she'd misheared. What had I stolen? And why did "our" Lucas factor into it?
As an eerie sense of déjà vu washed over her, Selena—whose eyes had been dancing with mischief—extended her hand.
"It's wonderful to meet you, Grace. I'm Selena. I'm Lucas's mother."
Oh, heavens.
Grace's face flushed crimson in an instant, and she stumbled over her words.
"G-Duchess! Goodness, how terribly rude of me. I'm so sorry—I didn't recognize you!"
"Oh, no, no! It's our fault for rushing at you so suddenly."
How was the Duchess here? Or had she been staying at the Town House all along? Did that mean I never even greeted her, never paid my respects? Heavens, what should I do? How must she think of me—such an impolite, thoughtless person?
Grace's mind spiraled into chaos.
Meanwhile, Selena's thoughts were consumed by a single, crystalline certainty.
'My goodness, she's absolutely beautiful! No wonder Lucas has such refined taste—he takes after me, after all!'
As Selena regarded Grace with unmistakable affection, a long horsehair tail suddenly lashed across her ribs.
"Ow!"
A low whinny.
The horse's tail thrashed roughly, continuing to push her away.
'Look at that.'
Selena glanced at Lucas with amusement.
She pulled the bewildered Grace into an embrace, as if to prove a point.
"I'm so delighted to see you, Grace. I missed you terribly and came as fast as I could."
A sharp whinny.
The horse tried to wedge himself between the two women, but Selena shoved him aside without mercy.
"Don't interrupt, Lucas. Can't you even greet her properly?"
A piercing neigh!
Every time Selena called him "Lucas," the horse reared up dramatically.
Selena's eyes widened in bewilderment.
Hmm? Why was he acting so restless today?
"Hold still—you'll hurt Grace!"
Whinny! Whinny!
"What's gotten into you? Honestly, what is this?"
Within minutes of her warm embrace, the two were bickering.
Unable to bear it any longer, Lora stepped in to mediate.
"My goodness, grown adults behaving like this? And Miss Oellin is clearly flustered. Come now, let's not carry on like this—let's head inside the Estate. It's getting dark."
"Oh, yes, of course. I'm sorry, Grace. I've been terribly forward. Were you taking a walk out here at this hour?"
Gabriel had mentioned that the Duchess was quite playful.
Meeting her in person, Grace found she wasn't merely playful—she was bright and full of laughter.
For someone like Grace, raised among an indifferent father and fierce older brothers, she was almost overwhelming.
And there was one more thing that troubled her.
'But... why does she keep calling Lucky "Lucas"?'
It was how Selena treated the horse.
She handled him as though he were a person.
Moreover, she had given him the name of her son, the Duke Lucas.
"Oh my, why is Lucas so anxious about not being able to squeeze between me and Grace?"
And each time she said this, the horse appeared excessively agitated.
He even kept glancing nervously at Grace.
Finding it peculiar, Grace tilted her head in confusion, and as we were nearly reaching the Estate after leaving the Path, she quietly asked.
"Um, but is Lucky's full name perhaps Lucas? I've only ever heard His Excellency call him Lucky or Lu... I didn't know he shared the same name as His Excellency."
At Grace's words, Selena, who had been tilting her head, laughed and spoke.
"Hmm? What do you mean? That horse is actually Lu..."
Neigh!
In that instant, Lucky let out a loud cry and began pawing at the ground.
It was such a violent thrashing that the earth trembled beneath us.
Neigh!
The sound of his hooves striking the ground as he paced in circles was deafening.
Startled by the commotion, Grace reached out toward Lucky.
"What's wrong all of a sudden, Lucky? Did you see some small animal?"
Grace hurried over to soothe him, and Lucky quickly calmed down, exhaling heavily through his nostrils.
Snort!
Lucky's eyes fixed upon Selena.
The horse's head shook desperately.
It was unclear whether he was tossing his head or shaking it in denial.
Selena tilted her head in bewilderment, muttering in a puzzled voice.
"He's being so strange today."
Fortunately, before Selena could say anything else, servants who had heard the horse's cries came rushing out.
They were all startled upon spotting Selena and Lora.
"Oh, no! The young mistress! And Mother too?"
Among them were the Butler Gabriel and Haem.
Both men looked taken aback upon seeing Selena and Lora together with Grace and Lucky.
"What on earth is going on here?"
Haem rushed toward Lora in astonishment.
Lora opened her warm embrace and swiftly pulled her tall son into it.
"Haem!"
"Ah, no, wait. Just a moment."
"Goodness, you rascal! Have you grown even more? All you do is get taller!"
"Please, just a moment. Stop, stop. Everyone's watching..."
Lora showered kisses on grown Haem's cheeks without hesitation, openly displaying her affection.
The long-serving servants laughed good-naturedly at the sight, but there was one person whose eyes widened in surprise.
It was Julie.
Julie and Haem's eyes met across the empty space.
"Wow."
Julie found the sight utterly fascinating.
Such an abundance of affection on display.
Watching Haem's cheeks bear the distinct imprint of Lora's lipstick on both sides, Julie let out a soft, delighted laugh.
Haem's face had turned crimson—so vivid it seemed it might burst at any moment.
Yet no matter how hard he tried to push Lora away, his mother, possessed of considerable strength, refused to budge an inch.
"Ah, please stop...!"
"I see my son once a year if I'm lucky, and you begrudge me a few kisses on his cheek, you sly thing!"
Lora laughed warmly, patting Haem's backside with affectionate taps.
The more she did so, the deeper the crimson spread across Haem's face, though Julie scarcely had the presence of mind to notice.
"Oh my! Miss!"
She had only just spotted her young mistress.
Julie hurried over to Grace.
"I've been searching everywhere for you, Miss! Where have you been? I was so worried when you disappeared all day!"
"I'm sorry. I got lost for a while behind the Garden."
"Lost? You're not hurt anywhere, are you? This won't do. From now on, you must stay with me at all hours—dawn and dusk alike. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand."
With Selena and Lora's sudden arrival, the Estate blazed with light and activity.
It was Coreamon who found himself busied by Selena's appearance.
He hurried inside, insisting he would prepare additional evening dishes.
Selena changed into fresh clothes and led Grace away to share pre-dinner tea together.
* * *
"Miss, are you nervous?"
Grace had a habit of reading whenever tension gripped her.
Julie asked, watching as Grace refused to set down her book from the moment she'd begun arranging her hair.
"A little, I suppose."
Grace set down the botanical encyclopedia she'd been reading and laughed, rubbing the back of her arm hidden beneath her sleeve.
"Is it that obvious, Julie?"
"Just a bit, miss. Though I imagine you must be nervous. Still, he seems like a good person, so please don't worry too much. You haven't done anything wrong, after all."
Grace offered Julie a small smile in appreciation of her clumsy attempt at comfort.
Yes, Julie was right—I hadn't done anything wrong.
It was simply that the Black Family's influence had suddenly swept into my life like a tempest, leaving my mind reeling.
A man who appeared out of nowhere, insisting I stay while he looked after me, and his mother besides.
'...The people of the Black Family all seem to have fiery temperaments. The way they charge forward, eyes fixed ahead, reminds me of thoroughbred horses.'
A family that loved horses, bore them as their family crest, and possessed the very nature of horses themselves.
The thought that these people would never know reverse in their lives drew a quiet laugh from me.
'Yes, don't be nervous.'
I took a deep breath and rose from my seat.
It was time to head to the Dining Hall.
I wanted to call for Lucas.
But with Julie beside me, muttering to myself alone would seem strange, so I refrained.
'Perhaps... they came because the curse mark transferred to the back of my hand? Given how hastily they arrived.'
As I descended to the first floor, I habitually touched the glyph that shimmered faintly on the back of my right hand.
No matter what I heard, whatever story awaited me, I mustn't show surprise.
I was taking slow, measured breaths when I reached the door to the Reception Room.
Someone stopped me.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org