Chapter 63
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Dear, I believe you may be misunderstanding.
Episode 63
Chapter 5
He Is Far Too Bold
Though Selena spoke as if being dragged away as a prisoner of war, the reality was entirely different.
They all adored her.
The moment she uttered a single word, they would hold their breath in anticipation.
Yet despite this, the atmosphere was not entirely harmonious.
"I'm truly worried. All my children lack any semblance of femininity—they're so boisterous and unrefined, I haven't the faintest idea where to marry them off. Whoever heard of girls taking such a liking to hunting?"
Roxanne Rosenheim, the Countess with striking red hair and an enchanting beauty mark beneath her right eye, clutched her cheek with concern and released a heavy sigh.
Seated on either side of her were two daughters who bore her striking resemblance.
Roxanne shook her head at them in reproach.
"And yet they cling to my side so desperately, refusing to leave. Whatever shall I do? Truly...."
"You say that, but you'd be bored without us, Mother. We know you don't mean it."
"Exactly, sister! The moment we return after being away from the Estate for even a few days, you won't let us out of your sight!"
The two daughters playfully nestled against their mother.
They appeared to share an exceptionally close bond.
Though the Countess waved her hand dismissively, her eyes gazing upon her daughters overflowed with affection.
"That's beside the point. My concern for you both is something else entirely."
"Roxanne, I hear Alendia won first place in the Royal Palace hunting tournament this year? What an extraordinary honor that must be."
"Well, one must win multiple times for it to be truly praiseworthy. She's been champion for how many years now? If a girl spends all her time hunting like that, how will she ever earn the reputation of being a suitable bride? I worry constantly that this is precisely why she hasn't been able to leave her mother's side."
Her words carried the peculiar tone of boasting disguised as concern.
Throughout her speech, Roxanne's gaze flickered toward Selena.
Selena, as if oblivious to those glances, remained composed and serene, savoring her tea and cookies.
'Hmm....'
Grace observed Selena with utmost discretion.
Though she sensed some unspoken tension between Roxanne and Selena, she could not discern its precise nature.
'Could it be... because of that?'
Alendia Rosenheim, Roxanne's eldest daughter, seated beside her mother—a woman with fiery crimson hair and emerald eyes.
Grace's memory suddenly crystallized, recalling where she had seen this woman before.
'...She was supposed to become His Excellency's fiancée.'
Approximately three years prior.
Grace had seen Alendia at that royal gala where she first met Lucas Black.
She was the very woman spoken of as Lucas Black's future bride.
At that time, those around them had congratulated her as if it were a foregone conclusion.
Yet the two of them never married, nor did they even become formally engaged—the scandal faded into obscurity.
Grace had completely forgotten about it, so she knew nothing of what had transpired.
Even had she remembered midway through, she likely would have paid it little mind.
She had been far too preoccupied during those days....
What was meant to culminate in marriage had instead fallen apart.
From this point onward, something had clearly gone awry.
"Grace, these cookies are delicious. Do try one."
"Thank you. The tea's fragrance pairs wonderfully with them."
"I do prefer flower tea. Do you enjoy it as well, Grace?"
"Yes."
...Yet Selena remained far too composed.
Over there, someone was clearly obsessing over Selena like a madwoman.
Roxanne's gaze shifted this time toward Grace.
Her narrowed eyes swept over Grace with the intensity of scrutiny.
Grace responded to her stare with an awkward smile.
A flinch.
Roxanne's expression hardened instantly.
Her full lashes framed wide eyes that flew open, and she turned directly to address Grace.
"You are Grace of Oellin House, are you not? I've always been curious since we rarely encounter you in High Society, and you are truly... quite beautiful."
"You are too kind."
"The Second Princess spoke so highly of you, and I can certainly see why. With such beauty, no wonder His Grace is utterly captivated, yes?"
"Not quite... so captivated as all that."
Grace's face flushed as she denied it, yet the spark in Roxanne's eyes did not dim.
Alendia beside Roxanne also observed Grace intently.
Suddenly, all eyes converged upon Grace.
Though Grace's face reddened somewhat, she did not shrink away.
With Selena seated beside her, grounding her composure, she found herself less flustered than expected.
"Everyone, please don't look at her like that. I insisted she come along, and if you keep staring that way, our Grace will become quite uncomfortable."
"Selena, aren't you being overly protective now that she's soon to be family?"
"Why wouldn't I be? You know I've always been weak when it comes to my own people, Roxanne."
At Selena's words, Roxanne's arm trembled visibly.
"...This is truly too much!"
Roxanne shot to her feet and cried out toward Selena.
Alendia, seated beside her mother, wore a troubled expression as she watched.
The room fell silent as though cold water had been cast upon it.
'...What, what is this?'
The intensity radiating from Roxanne as she approached was unmistakable.
Grace, tensing sharply, braced herself and watched Roxanne's approach with keen attention.
Surely the Countess wouldn't openly harm a Duchess in public?
Rationally, she believed this, yet Roxanne's flushed and darkening face was too ominous to ignore, and she could not release the tension coiling within her.
Without thinking, Grace leaned forward slightly as though to shield Selena.
Selena glanced at her and smiled.
"Roxanne, compose yourself."
"Mother, there are many watching."
Countess Gestache, who had been observing, stopped Roxanne.
Alendia also joined in and followed her mother out.
But Roxanne pressed forward until she reached Selena.
Selena smiled and looked at her, as if asking why she was doing this.
Roxanne's fists trembled violently.
Soon her clenched fists advanced toward Selena.
Startled, Grace jumped to her feet.
Selena quickly dodged behind Grace to hide.
In that moment, Roxanne's large eyes glistened with tears.
"Selena! You're hiding right now? This is too much! It's been two whole years since I've seen you, and how could you not even acknowledge me once?"
Roxanne cried like a girl, forgetting all propriety, and stomped her feet.
In that instant, everyone who had been tensely on guard pressed their foreheads and sighed.
'Oh dear... Mother...'
It was at that same moment that Roxanne's two daughters, Alendia and Anastasia, who had rushed over, sighed with expressions of despair.
'What on earth is happening?'
Grace's face became bewildered at the suddenly transformed atmosphere.
Only then did Selena, who had been hiding behind Grace, peek her head out slightly and spoke to soothe Roxanne.
"But you were looking at me like you were about to devour me. I'm sorry. I was a little frightened."
"What? You were frightened of me? How could you say such a thing...! Sob! I was just looking because I was so delighted and disappointed and... Selena, you didn't even look at me once. Sob sob!"
The Countess Gestache, with her fiery red hair, tear marks beneath her eyes, and impressively large eyes that seemed almost fierce, wept like a gentle lamb and stomped her feet.
Only then did Selena slowly step forward, embrace Roxanne, and patted her gently.
"...You were startled, weren't you? I apologize. My mother, she... adores the Duchess quite dearly. Very much, indeed. Perhaps a bit excessively."
Alendia, who had approached, laughed with an awkward expression toward Grace.
"Sometimes it seems like she loves Selena more than Father."
"Sometimes? I feel it constantly, Asha. If Selena had lived nearby, I'm certain Mother would visit her every single day. I suspect Selena deliberately went to the Country House to escape Mother."
Grace stood with a dumbfounded expression.
While Selena comforted Roxanne, Alendia added a brief explanation.
In fact, Selena and Roxanne had been as close as biological sisters since childhood.
Roxanne in particular had long admired and adored Selena.
"Our mother loves beautiful people. She always said that the Duchess was so dazzlingly beautiful from childhood. She boasted that the Duchess excelled at everything—studies, horseback riding, hunting, singing, poetry, even foreign languages—without a single weakness."
"Ah..."
"Unbelievable as it may seem, it's true. In fact, everyone who is somewhat close to us knows this."
The sisters laughed without any sense of shame.
"So actually, through our mother's enthusiastic efforts, His Excellency and I nearly became engaged... but he refused. He said he would not marry without love."
'...I see.'
Grace finally understood how the situation had unfolded.
Lucas Black—it seemed he had always been firm in his convictions from long ago.
In truth, in this male-dominated society, a man of his status speaking of 'love' in the context of marriage would be quite laughable.
Yet that man was utterly unashamed and unapologetic about it.
'He really is an unusual person.'
Grace found herself thinking of Lucas anew and smiled softly.
Alendia glanced at that smile and whispered softly.
"Mother may grumble a bit at Miss Grace out of jealousy, but she's truly not a bad person at heart."
Grace nodded knowingly and laughed.
Alendia extended her hand toward Grace and spoke.
"I feel as though I'm welcoming you rather late. Welcome, Miss Grace Oellin. I've heard you've accomplished many remarkable things. It would be truly an honor if you would share your experiences with us. I look forward to working with you going forward."
Grace met Alendia's gaze.
Her eyes sparkled with vibrant life and brilliance.
She was unmistakably a magnificent woman. Grace clasped the hand she offered and nodded.
"The pleasure is mine, Miss Alendia Rosenheim. I look forward to it as well."
Selena, who had been soothing Roxanne, glanced at the scene and smiled quietly to herself.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org