Chapter 76
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Dear, I believe you may be misunderstanding.
Episode 76
"What is this? ...Could it be another matter?"
Haem trembled with trepidation as he unfolded the paper Lucas had handed him.
His eyes widened as he read the document once, twice, then looked back at Lucas.
"...Is this real? Are you truly giving me this?"
"Ah, if you don't want it, hand it back."
"What! How could that be?! Yaaaay! This is real, isn't it? You're really giving me this, aren't you? Really, truly?"
Haem clutched the paper promising a gift of the Suburban Mansion that Lucas had tossed to him and danced across the Lobby with unbridled joy.
"My dream of owning a home! As a servant of the Black Family, I shall realize that dream! Even if I work myself to exhaustion, the mansion shall be mine! There's a risk of death from overwork, but that's fine!"
Haem's exuberant clamor echoed loudly through the Lobby.
The Butler, who had been dusting the portraits of past Black Family masters nearby, heard that resounding noise.
He glanced at Haem, then smiled benevolently and shook his head.
Amused by Haem's unbridled happiness, Lucas stood motionless just before boarding the carriage.
'...The pain again.'
Occasionally, an unpleasant ache would arise as if thorny vines were coiling around my heart.
The dull pain would fade, leaving a sharp trace behind, but each time I felt it, my heart grew heavier.
"...Your Grace? Is something troubling you?"
Seeing Lucas's expression darken, Haem asked carefully, as if his earlier exuberance had never existed.
Lucas, as if his darkness had never been, quickly forced a wicked smile and answered.
"I was merely debating whether to take back the mansion I gave you, Haem."
"What? You'd give and then take back? What kind of groom acts so petty? The bride will run away!"
Lucas approached the open carriage door and lightly struck the back of Haem's head.
"Don't spout such nonsense about brides running away."
"Ow."
Haem rubbed the back of his head, which didn't hurt at all, and quickly followed him.
Since they were heading somewhere that could not be late for, the carriage departed with haste.
* * *
"Miss, the carriage is ready. Shall we head down now?"
"Yes. Thank you, Julie."
Julie quickly retrieved the silk gloves she had prepared and slipped them onto Grace Oellin's delicate hands.
The sunlight was brilliant at this hour, and the patterns on the back of her hands shimmered like pearls.
Grace Oellin adjusted the silk gloves as they slipped down her wrists and stepped out of the room.
With a moment to breathe, the events of the past several days came rushing back through my mind.
From the moment I returned to the Estate, wedding preparations had descended upon me like a tempest.
One day consumed by selecting a dress, another by choosing jewelry, yet another by reviewing guest lists and gifts.
Without a moment's respite, catalogs of furniture for the marital chamber arrived in succession.
The finest craftsmen who created such pieces came in person, consulting with me at length to sketch out the most ideal designs.
They mentioned that once production began, it would take considerable time, so for now I would need to use Lucas Black's bed.
'A marital chamber, they called it.'
By the time I had selected all the furnishings, night had fallen completely.
When I lay down to sleep, the words "marital chamber" continued to drift through my mind, leaving me deeply unsettled.
Along with that, the voice of the "licentious man" who would become my husband and that hot, sticky sensation of his tongue against my palm kept returning to my thoughts.
"...Perhaps it was not he who was licentious, but I."
"Pardon? Miss? Hot water? Do you wish to bathe?"
"Eh? Ah, no. Just talking to myself."
At my murmur, Julie, who had been walking ahead, spun around to look at me.
Julie stared at me as I shook my head, then asked with concern.
"You look exhausted. Are you truly all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine. You're the one who looks tired, Julie. Are you eating properly?"
"I assure you, I'm eating far better than you are, Miss. You skipped breakfast this morning."
Grace Oellin laughed and said she was fine.
Lately, I had been having strange dreams, and when I woke in the morning, my appetite would vanish.
It wasn't that I was having nightmares—just dreams that felt oddly unsettling.
Despite my reassurance, Julie's gaze remained fixed upon me with worry.
"I'm truly fine. It's just that my appetite is poor in the mornings."
"Ah, that's not it... Would it be all right if I asked you one question?"
"Of course. What is it?"
Julie hesitated before finally voicing the question she had been unable to ask days ago.
"Back then, you said this marriage... that you weren't sure if it was the independence you truly wanted."
"Ah, that time... Yes, I did say that."
Grace Oellin smiled readily and nodded.
Julie could not stop thinking about what she had heard then.
Though it seemed unlikely, she worried whether her mistress had resolved to marry against her own wishes.
After days of deliberation, Julie decided to simply ask Grace Oellin directly.
"Miss, are you... having second thoughts about this marriage? Have you perhaps resolved to marry against your wishes?"
At Julie's words, Grace Oellin's eyes widened before she let out a small laugh.
"Ah. Did it really sound that way?"
"Yes! It sounded like you weren't sure if this was right or wrong!"
"I see. Hmm."
At my vague response, Julie shifted her weight anxiously from foot to foot.
As we rounded about halfway up the spiral staircase, I spoke again.
"I'm truly looking forward to marrying His Excellency."
"Yes?"
"Because I like him. Perhaps... I might even come to love him."
At my words, Julie's face brightened instantly.
As if she herself had fallen in love, Julie's cheeks flushed pink and she let out a silent squeal of delight.
"It seems you like him more than I do, Julie."
"I do. I like it so much. Liking someone is such a wonderful thing, isn't it? And now our young lady is finally doing this wonderful thing—how could I not be thrilled?"
At Julie's unfiltered enthusiasm, I couldn't help but laugh.
"But what is it about him that you like? You were a bit frightened of him at first, weren't you?"
"I was at first, yes, at first. But the more time passed, the more amusing he became rather than frightening. He's quite an entertaining person."
"Oh my!"
"And most importantly."
"Most importantly?"
"His Excellency sees me as 'Grace Oellin' herself. That's the most wonderful part of all."
"But you are a young lady, aren't you? Why is that such a... wonderful thing?"
Julie tilted her head in confusion. I simply smiled.
Being seen for who I truly am—that was what I had always longed for.
The Grace Oellin who screamed wildly atop a galloping horse, the one who splashed about soaking wet, the one who collapsed trembling upon his body—all of it was me, Grace Oellin.
Sometimes I accomplished admirable things, but more often I was clumsy, and I certainly had my weaknesses.
Though I came from an ancient and prestigious house, my brother had beaten me, and my father had insulted me by calling me a "tavern woman."
Yet he neither denied nor judged me—he saw me only as 'Grace Oellin.'
He was the only man who looked upon me as Grace Oellin without imposing any pressure, prejudice, narrow obligations, or standards upon me as a woman.
To let such a person slip away would be foolish.
That is why I have never regretted choosing to marry him.
Of course... I've become unable to refuse this marriage because of this absurd curse's fragments tangled around me, but regardless, this marriage was my choice, not coercion.
"He truly is a wonderful man, Julie."
Lucas Black's wealth, his honor, his authority—all of it was merely part of him.
If I were to be conscious of it and deny it, then I would be the one evaluating him narrowly.
Just as one walks this land with the strength of their own hands and feet, lifting up those who have fallen.
He too simply wishes to embrace me with everything he possesses.
Similarly, I believe I would do the same if I were Lucas Black.
I would use everything I have to embrace my people.
I gazed at Julie, whose face was even brighter than mine.
Had I not also used every means and method at my disposal to protect her?
So to push him away out of consciousness of what he possesses would be nothing but a contradiction.
"My true independence isn't marriage, Julie."
All she needed to do was choose her own path, decide what she must do, and walk it herself.
The only person she needed to be conscious of was herself—no one else.
"What?"
"Actually, that... had already begun long ago."
What Grace truly desired wasn't escape from Oellin House, but independence achieved through her own efforts.
That itself was everything.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org