Chapter 112
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Chapter 112
"How have you been?"
"Well, thanks to you. But what brings you here?"
"I arranged to meet a friend. The cream cheese cake here is absolutely delicious."
"I see. I had something different today, but I'll have to try it next time."
After exchanging pleasantries with Elena, I subtly shifted my weight.
Now that the greetings were done, I intended to excuse myself.
'She's not someone I'm comfortable around, after all.'
Perhaps it was because I'd heard Elena's declaration that she would approach Claude. Being around her felt as uncomfortable as sitting on a bed of nails.
"Well then, I should be going. I hope you have a wonderful time."
I gave Elena a light nod—a farewell gesture.
"Miss Rilprey, wait a moment."
But Elena didn't let me leave so easily.
"What is it?"
I stopped in my tracks and turned back to face her.
As if struggling with difficult words, Elena parted her lips several times before finally speaking.
"I heard rumors that Marquis Agris is courting you."
"...."
"They say he sends you gifts every day and even visits the House of Bellomen."
I found it difficult to open my mouth.
Nodding felt like I was being arrogant, while denying it felt like I was deceiving Elena.
Because Elena had said she liked Claude.
"Back then, when I asked if you liked the Marquis, you didn't answer me properly."
"Huh."
The short gasp didn't come from me.
Turning toward the sound, I saw Melissa with her hand clamped over Ahin's mouth.
"Sorry, Lucella. This seems like an important conversation, so we'll head out first."
Melissa and Ahin, reading the atmosphere, dragged themselves away from us. They'd sensed something unusual.
"Yes. See you next time."
I gave them a simple nod before turning my attention back to Elena.
Her pupils had wavered at the intrusion, but Elena quickly regained her composed expression and spoke again.
"Can't you answer even now?"
"...."
"Postponing your answer because you don't understand your own heart—that's something you shouldn't do to Marquis Agris. It's nothing but cruel hope."
It was presumptuous of her.
This was a matter between Claude and me, not something for others to meddle in.
Yet I couldn't bring myself to tell her to mind her own business.
"It's something I shouldn't do to you either."
Because I understood Elena's feelings for Claude.
If I refused him, Claude might let go of his feelings for me. Then Elena could express her heart to him more freely, without burden.
Of course, there was a way to accept Claude's feelings and become his lover. If I did, Elena would abandon her feelings for Claude and seek another love.
'But if I keep delaying my answer, neither of them can move forward.'
Claude would grow weary waiting for me, and Elena would grow weary waiting for Claude to move on. My selfishness was ultimately causing both of them suffering.
"So please don't hide it and tell me clearly. Will you accept Marquis Agris's feelings?"
I shook my head.
If I thought purely of my feelings for Claude, I should have accepted his courtship.
But as I've always said, I have Lucian.
'If Lucian were already grown, I would accept Claude's courtship, but....'
I couldn't know how many more years it would take for Lucian, the heir to the Duke of Bellomen, to come of age. Asking Claude to wait in this situation would be pure selfishness.
"I've been causing so many people pain under the excuse of thinking things over."
"That means...."
"I won't accept Marquis Agris's feelings."
Because there is someone I must protect.
"I'll tell the Marquis soon. So please don't worry too much, Miss Dimen."
"Since you've said so, Miss...."
Elena's words trailed off. From her reaction, it seemed she hadn't expected me to refuse.
"Don't concern yourself with my existence anymore. Express your feelings to the Marquis in your own way."
"...Yes."
"Then I'll take my leave."
I bowed lightly and fled the room as quickly as I could.
I deliberately avoided meeting Elena's eyes.
I feared that if I saw her gaze, the words I'd been holding back would spill out.
That I actually loved Claude very much, and that she should never approach him.
That I would grow jealous of Elena spending time happily with Claude.
I was aware of how pathetic and cowardly I was being.
To reject his feelings out of my own selfishness, yet to regret and grieve over it—I despised myself for it.
'Stop thinking useless thoughts. Think only of Lucian.'
The child of my most beloved Sister. For me, there was nothing more important than raising that child properly.
I climbed into the carriage returning to the Duke's Mansion, my heart heavy as if weighted down by stone.
* * *
"Why does she reject everything?"
Claude stood with his arms crossed, staring at the pile of gift boxes stacked high in his room.
These were all gifts he had sent to Lucella.
"They say women—or men for that matter—are weak to gift offensives."
Contrary to Amelia's advice, every gift Claude sent to Lucella came right back to him. Lucella had refused his gifts.
At first, he thought she found the gifts burdensome.
And indeed, every gift Claude sent to Lucella was expensive.
Starting with a ring adorned with a diamond the size of a thumbnail, a dress made by the Empire's finest designer, and rare medicinal herbs that appeared perhaps once in a hundred years.
If only he could prove the magnitude of his feelings, he could have procured something even more precious and costly.
Yet Lucella returned all the expensive gifts to Claude. The only gifts she accepted were relatively modest ones like bouquets of flowers or desserts.
Claude became certain then. Lucella was simply uncomfortable with expensive gifts.
Considering her frugal spending habits compared to other extravagant nobles, it was hardly surprising.
So Claude changed his approach. He sent her flowers, potted plants, and dolls—things she couldn't refuse.
They were modest items that wouldn't even dent his fortune, so he thought that this time, at least, Lucella wouldn't reject them.
But she did.
"Why did they come back?"
Claude sighed as he looked at the bouquet sitting forlornly beside the gift package.
The flowers, the letter he'd written himself—everything had been returned to the Marquis's Residence.
"At least she used to send a brief reply before...."
This time, there wasn't even a response letter.
But that wasn't the only problem.
"Miss Rilprey says that a meeting would be difficult."
Lucella had even refused Claude's request to see him alone, without the children.
"Did you try to adjust the date? If she's willing, I'm free anytime."
"I did ask about that, actually...."
The Messenger swallowed hard and opened his mouth, gauging Claude's reaction.
"She said she would prefer not to meet alone anymore."
"What?"
Claude's mouth fell open at the unexpected answer.
"She doesn't want to meet alone? What does that even mean?"
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't ask why. She went straight to her room...."
"Hah...."
Claude's legs gave out, and he collapsed into a chair.
"What on earth is the problem?"
Was she burdened by the gifts? Or was my confession too clumsy? Or has she already grown tired of me?
Imagining that last possibility made his already poor mood even worse.
If she'd grown tired of me, there was nothing I could do about it.
"I think I need to meet her in person and ask."
When I saw her, I planned to apologize first.
It's embarrassing to admit, but I've never been with a woman before. I've never even had feelings for anyone.
So I'm very inexperienced.
I don't know what I did wrong, but I planned to beg her forgiveness.
After that, I would ask what I'd done wrong and what she'd prefer going forward.
"Visit the Duke's Mansion once more. Tell her it's fine to meet with the children, but please, just once more. Tell her I'll wait anytime."
Claude was willing to reshape everything to suit her preferences.
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