Chapter 107
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Chapter 107
At Amelia's words, Lucian's cheeks flushed with shy embarrassment.
"I think you're right, Lia."
Lucian nodded, and as if he'd made some grand decision, he opened his mouth with resolute determination.
"Aunt, I really wish you'd marry the Marquis—I mean, the Commander."
"That's absurd, Lucian!"
"The Commander is far better than some stranger."
A headache was beginning to form. What on earth was he saying in front of Claude?
I fixed Amelia with a desperate look, silently pleading for her to stop him.
But Amelia was not on my side.
"Our uncle may fall short as a husband for Sister, but... his face is certainly presentable."
"Amelia, why are you like this too?"
If anything, Amelia was pouring fuel on the fire.
"Didn't Sister like handsome men with impressive muscles?"
"Well, yes, I suppose..."
"Then our uncle is perfect for you. You saw him at the lacrosse match last time."
"That may be true, but... marriage isn't something you can decide so simply."
"Why make it so complicated? All that matters is that your hearts are aligned."
"I agree with that assessment."
Claude suddenly interjected into our conversation.
"If your feelings for each other are mutual, there's no reason to hesitate."
"No, I'm just not mentally prepared yet..."
"Do you not care for me?"
Claude's eyes grew moist like a puppy caught in the rain, his eyes drooping downward with sadness.
"Oh, no. I do care for you."
"Truly?"
"Of course!"
Only after the words left my mouth did I realize something was terribly wrong.
'I've just declared my affection for Claude in front of the children.'
Mortification washed over me belatedly.
Yet while I trembled with embarrassment, Claude's face looked thoroughly satisfied.
"Then is there any reason to delay?"
He quickly erased the smile spreading across his lips and opened his mouth again with a serious expression.
"There's no need to take the long way around. We should simply marry."
"Why is the conversation heading in that direction again?"
I cared for Claude too, but marriage was an entirely different matter.
"Marriage isn't such a simple issue. At the very least, we should spend time together as if marriage were a possibility."
While noble marriages of love were rare, I wanted to experience something resembling courtship with him—to have time getting to know each other. That was the proper way to express it.
But there was another, more important reason.
"I'm sorry, but I have no intention of marrying until I've raised our Lucian properly."
If I had to name the most important goal in my life, it would undoubtedly be raising Lucian properly. I couldn't possibly rush into marriage when I hadn't yet achieved that objective.
"Marriage means gaining a new family, doesn't it? Once I devote my attention to this new household, I'll naturally neglect Lucian."
If that happened, Lucian would surely feel abandoned.
I didn't want to make a child left alone in this world without parents feel lonely. No matter what anyone said, I was Lucian's only family.
"Then you're saying that as long as you raise Lucian properly, everything will be fine?"
"That is... well..."
By my own logic, I should have affirmed Claude's question.
Yet I couldn't bring myself to nod in agreement. I had a premonition that if I said yes here, a storm I couldn't weather would descend upon me.
"I understand."
Despite my failure to give a proper answer, Claude nodded as if he comprehended everything.
"Lucian, starting today, we begin intensive training."
Claude's eyes gleamed with determination as he turned to address Lucian.
"So you can become a good child as quickly as possible."
Claude's face was filled with unwavering resolve as he spoke.
* * *
Claude and Amelia, who had arrived at the Duke's Mansion like a tempest, departed just as swiftly as the wind. From the atmosphere, it seemed they had much to discuss regarding marriage with Lucella.
"I wanted to play more with Lia..."
Edwin's steps toward his room were heavy with regret.
In truth, the emotion ran deeper than mere regret—it was a profound sense of hurt.
Throughout Amelia's visit to the Duke's Mansion, her attention had been fixed solely on Lucella. Even when Edwin spoke to her, she barely responded, too focused on Lucella.
That wasn't all. Amelia had excluded him entirely, whispering secrets with Lucian instead.
Once her business was concluded, she departed for the Marquis's Residence without so much as a backward glance.
Edwin had felt nothing but isolation throughout his time in the Tea Room. Discussing unfamiliar topics already gave him a headache, but being deliberately excluded from the conversation only magnified his sense of rejection. He felt as uncomfortable as if he were sitting on a hard wooden chair.
"But if the Marquis marries Sister Lucella... then Amelia and Lucian would become family?"
The family Edwin had so desperately wanted, and Amelia too—Lucian would obtain all of this without any effort whatsoever.
"What about me?"
Edwin shared not a single drop of blood with Lucella.
Which meant that even if Lucella and Claude married, Edwin would not be able to live with Amelia.
"From now on, the four of them will live together in one house..."
Only me. Left alone in the Duke's Mansion.
Without Lucella and Lucian, no one would even visit the Duke's Mansion.
Edwin sat down on the edge of his bed.
The thought of becoming a solitary figure once more drained all strength from his legs.
"I don't want to be alone..."
Why does the world keep making me an outcast?
Why does Lucian obtain so easily what I cannot have?
Why must I be alone again...
"...You're not alone, though."
Edwin suddenly sprang up from where he sat. Then he bent down and reached his hand beneath the bed.
After fumbling with his short arm a few times, a small slip of paper emerged from the dust, grasped in his hand. It was the mysterious note that had arrived for Edwin days ago.
Edwin blew softly to dust away the grime, then unfolded the note.
[A sudden sense of isolation must make you feel terribly alone.]
'I'm not alone.'
At least the person who sent me this note understands my heart.
[I can help you. I will save you from this unbearable loneliness, from the anxiety that you might lose what is yours.]
'This person can help me.'
So I need to meet the person who sent this note.
'But how?'
Edwin flipped the note over. Yet nowhere on the paper was the sender's name written.
"I really want to meet them..."
It was just as he thought this, pouting slightly.
Knock, knock.
"Young Master Edwin."
At the sudden knock, Edwin froze mid-motion, about to hide the note.
The voice from beyond the door was familiar.
'It must be him. The person who delivered this note to me.'
Edwin immediately opened the door. Without even answering, he feared the visitor might vanish as suddenly as before.
"Oh my."
The man stepped back in surprise at the door opening so abruptly.
"You startled me by appearing so suddenly."
Yet despite his words of surprise, the man's face was full of laughter.
"I intended only to deliver the letter and leave today... but it seems that's become difficult."
"Who are you, sir? You're not one of our household servants, are you?"
At Edwin's question, the man placed his index finger to his lips. Edwin immediately covered his own mouth with both hands.
The man glanced around once before speaking.
"Would it be all right if we stepped inside and spoke privately?"
"Of course."
Edwin moved aside to let the man enter the room. It was an action only possible because he held an unwavering conviction that this person would help him.
"Are you the one who sent me this letter?"
Leading the man deeper into the room so no one outside could hear, Edwin asked what he was most curious about.
But the man shook his head at Edwin's question.
"No, I am merely a humble Messenger."
"Then who is the person who asked you to deliver this note to me?"
"That person is my client."
"Your client?"
"Haha, I suppose I used a word that was too difficult."
The man chuckled lightly and handed Edwin a new letter he had brought.
"A new letter addressed to you, Young Master. It's from the same person."
Taking the note from the Messenger, Edwin immediately unfolded it.
The contents were not greatly different from before.
His hair was still short, yet I found myself deeply resonating with his sentiments.
However, there was one thing that had changed from before.
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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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