Chapter 106
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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Chapter 106
I hurriedly smoothed down my hair.
I'd been lying in bed all day, and my appearance was absolutely dreadful—especially now.
And on top of everything, I hadn't even put on makeup since I'd been home all day!
"When will he arrive?"
"He said he would come immediately if you permit it."
"Damn."
A harsh curse slipped from my lips—the kind that would have earned me a scolding from Lucian had he heard it.
"Shall I decline if you're not prepared?"
"No!"
I waved my hand urgently.
Though startled by the sudden news of his visit, I had no intention of turning Claude away.
After all, I genuinely wanted to see him.
"Tell him to come in two hours—no, three hours. Help me get ready in the meantime."
"Understood."
The Maid who had briefly left soon returned to my room with three additional Maids in tow.
"Make me look as natural as possible. I don't want it to look like I'm wearing makeup. Understand?"
"Yes."
"But don't make me look too unkempt either. You all know what I mean, right?"
"Of course."
The Maids, brushes and cosmetics in hand, beamed with enthusiasm.
* * *
After finishing my preparations, I descended to the first floor of Bellomen Mansion.
I'd applied oil to my frizzy hair to keep it smooth and voluminous, and chosen a simple yet elegant one-piece dress that was bright without being overly ornate.
"Where is Marquis Agris?"
"He's in the Tea Room with the young masters."
I immediately turned my steps toward the Tea Room.
He'd already arrived. All my careful preparation had consumed so much time that it had slipped away unnoticed.
"I apologize. Have you been waiting long?"
As I opened the door and entered, I saw Claude sitting beside Amelia, sipping tea. Across from them sat Lucian and Edwin.
"Not at all. We've only just arrived."
"That's right, Sister. We just got here."
"Is that so?"
I entered the Tea Room, welcomed warmly by Amelia and Claude.
"Sister, sit here. I saved this seat for you."
Amelia pointed to the seat directly across from Claude.
Under normal circumstances, sitting across from Claude wouldn't have bothered me in the slightest, but now that I'd become aware of it, taking a seat directly in his line of sight felt somewhat burdensome.
In truth, there were countless things weighing on my mind.
From meeting his gaze to wondering what he thought of me, to questioning whether I was misinterpreting his feelings—various thoughts left my heart unsettled.
"Miss Rilprey, is something the matter?"
Claude cautiously approached me with a question.
"No, nothing's wrong."
"Your expression doesn't look good, though."
What I'd only meant to think privately had somehow become visible on my face.
"Aunt, what's wrong? Is it because of that friend you mentioned yesterday?"
I tried to play it off, but I had Lucian as an unexpected obstacle.
"That's not it, so let's just stay quiet, Lucian."
Please. Please just stay silent.
But as always, Lucian wasn't one to let me off the hook easily.
"If it's not about that friend, is there something else bothering Aunt?"
"A friend?"
It was Claude who became curious at Lucian's question.
He stared at Lucian with an expression seeking an answer.
"Aunt has this one foolish friend who doesn't even know who she likes, you see."
"Lucian."
"But this time, that aunt finally realized her true feelings, hehe!"
I quickly lunged forward and clamped my hand over Lucian's mouth. He thrashed about, trying to escape my grip.
"Aunt, what are you doing! Why are you suddenly covering my mouth?"
"Because you keep spouting nonsense."
Lowering my voice, I whispered directly into Lucian's ear.
"If you say that, what will happen? That's a secret that shouldn't be told to anyone else."
"...Was that it?"
"This is bad. Really bad."
I turned my gaze toward Claude.
Claude, who had been exchanging an indecipherable look with Amelia, was now staring intently at me alone.
"I-I apologize, Marquis. Please forget what you just heard. It's a matter concerning a friend's privacy."
"Miss Rilprey has a friend?"
"...."
"My apologies. That's not what I meant to ask...."
Claude, who had been frantically waving his hands, quickly buried his face in his rapidly moving palms.
When he lifted his head a moment later, his cheeks were flushed a deeper red than before.
"Miss Rilprey."
Claude opened his mouth with a noticeably more resolute expression.
"Yes. What is it?"
His demeanor made me tense as well.
"The friend Lucian mentioned."
Ah, this is ruined.
I knew he'd ask about it.
"Yes."
I answered as nonchalantly as I could manage.
Yet the composure I had painstakingly gathered shattered far sooner than I expected.
"Are you perhaps referring to Miss Rilprey's situation?"
Claude had posed such a blunt question that I found myself caught off guard.
"That is...."
I should have denied it.
I should have said it was my friend's affair, that it had nothing whatsoever to do with me.
Yet when my eyes met Claude's, the lie refused to come. His gaze was far too earnest.
"...."
In the end, I could only lower my head in silence.
"Sigh...."
A heavy sigh escaped from across the table.
Claude ran his hand over his face repeatedly, as if he too were wrestling with turbulent emotions.
"Miss Rilprey."
He spoke again only after a considerable pause.
"I may be mistaken, so I won't presume to ask what your heart desires—not with the children present. However...."
His voice grew measured, as though carefully selecting each word.
"I must make my own feelings clear."
He drew several deep breaths before finally speaking.
"I love Miss Rilprey. Far more than you might imagine."
My mouth fell open involuntarily at Claude's bombshell declaration.
I had suspected his affection, though I could not be entirely certain. Yet I never imagined he would confess in such a manner, in such circumstances.
"I know this confession lacks elegance. But thinking that you might have suffered in silence, I felt compelled to make my feelings unambiguous, whatever the cost."
He drained the still-warm tea in a single gulp.
His trembling gaze fixed entirely upon me.
"Pay no heed to what others say—listen only to me. This is my heart speaking, not another's."
"Marquis Agris...."
"I care for Miss Rilprey deeply. From the moment I first saw you until now, without wavering."
"...."
I could not find words to respond.
This was my first confession, my first discovery that someone I loved harbored the same feelings. I had no notion of what to say in such a moment.
"W-what did you just say?!"
It was Lucian who broke the silence on my behalf.
"You love our aunt? And from the very first day you met her?!"
Lucian shot to his feet, his eyes blazing as he fixed Claude with a glare—the very picture of a disapproving father-in-law meeting an unsuitable suitor.
"What's wrong, Lucian? You'd already suspected as much."
Amelia poked at Lucian's side repeatedly. Yet even formidable Amelia could not calm him in this moment.
"That's completely different!"
Lucian's eyes narrowed to slits as he huffed indignantly.
"I thought well of you for treating our aunt kindly, but to spirit her away like this?!"
"Lucian, is that any way to speak to an adult? Spirit her away?"
I struggled to calm the excited Lucian, but Claude only made matters worse by pouring oil on the flames.
"Well, the cat's out of the bag now. I'm sorry, Lucian."
Claude placed both hands on his knees and bowed respectfully toward Lucian.
"It's all because your aunt is such a radiant person."
"No, but even so...!"
Just as Lucian, unable to contain his indignation, began to stamp his feet.
"Lucian, calm down and listen to what I have to say."
"You don't look calm at all..."
"If your aunt and my uncle get married, we can live in the same house."
"...What?"
At Amelia's whisper, Lucian's eyes, which had been sharply narrowed, widened into perfect circles.
"It means we can eat together every day, play together, and fall asleep together."
"..."
"If we live together, we won't need to make separate appointments just to see each other."
"..."
"What do you think? Isn't that wonderful?"
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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