Chapter 29
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Chapter 29
"Really?"
"Yes."
Amelia nodded with an indifferent expression.
It was just a nickname—it wasn't as if using it would wear it out. It didn't matter whether a close friend or a distant acquaintance called her by it.
However, Lucian had no way of knowing what lay beneath Amelia's surface.
'Amelia actually allowed me to use a nickname!'
I was overjoyed!
I barely managed to restrain myself from bouncing in place. I couldn't let her see me acting so undignified in front of her.
'If it weren't for my aunt, I never would have gotten Amelia to allow me a nickname.'
Amelia wouldn't have spoken to me first if I hadn't avoided quarreling with my aunt.
'And I even held hands with Amelia.'
I gazed down at my palm where Amelia's hand had touched me moments ago. While it fell somewhat short of what one might call truly holding hands, that wasn't what mattered to me right now.
'It's all thanks to my aunt.'
Thanks to my aunt, I was able to have a conversation with Amelia, receive permission to use a nickname, and even hold her hand.
'Ria was right. My aunt definitely loves me.'
That's why she gave me such a wonderful opportunity.
"So now, make up with Lucella already. Sister is upset."
"Okay! I will!"
I nodded so rapidly at Amelia's sullen words that my head made a buzzing sound.
Everything in this world looked beautiful to me.
* * *
On the way back from the Orphanage to the Duke's Mansion, Lucian remained silent. I tried engaging him in conversation several times and even attempted to tease him, but to no avail. He simply pressed his cheek against the window and stared into empty space.
At first, I thought his anger hadn't subsided, but looking more carefully, something seemed off. He appeared to be in a daze of some sort.
'Could he possibly be turning dark from this?'
However, my concern proved unfounded.
Upon returning from the Orphanage, Lucian shut himself in his room, but hours later, he emerged looking no different than usual. If anything, he seemed to be in an even better mood than normal.
Seeing him like that, I let out a quiet sigh of relief.
'Children really are simple creatures, aren't they.'
In the meantime, the day of the Duke of Bellomen's return arrived. It was sooner than expected.
The servants, who had been busily maintaining the Duke's Mansion perfectly over the past several days, lined up in front of the mansion to receive the Duke. It was well past dinner time.
I also came outside with Lucian. Claude and Amelia were with us as well.
"What should you do first when you see your father?"
"...Greet him."
"How should you behave in front of your father?"
"...Respectfully and with proper decorum."
"Good."
Satisfied with his answer, I nodded approvingly. It was what I had drilled into Lucian repeatedly.
The Duke of Bellomen disliked his son, who was reckless and prone to causing trouble. Whenever Lucian made even the slightest mistake, the Duke would click his tongue in disapproval.
I despised the Duke—a man who not only shirked his parental duties entirely but treated his own child with contempt rather than affection.
However, Dehardt Bellomen was the master of House of Bellomen. There was nothing good about falling out of his favor.
I straightened Lucian's clothes, which he wore more formally than usual, and opened my mouth.
"Your aunt told you, didn't she? You must never joke around in front of the Duke. Speak prettily too."
"...."
Lucian didn't answer, his lips pressed into a thin line.
Lucian's face, as he gripped my hand tightly, was far darker than usual. It was because Lucian was deeply intimidated by his father.
"You're lucky, Lucian. You get to see your father after so long."
Claude, noticing Lucian's poor mood, deliberately spoke to him in a gentle tone. It was to lift Lucian's spirits.
But Claude didn't know. The relationship between Lucian and the Duke was different from that of an ordinary father and son.
"I'm not really happy about it."
"What?"
At Lucian's unexpected answer, Claude's face filled with bewilderment. Amelia, standing beside Claude, felt the same way.
"Why aren't you happy? You're meeting your father after such a long time?"
Amelia asked with an expression of disbelief.
"If I could see my father again... I think I'd be truly happy."
In a way, it was a natural reaction.
Amelia couldn't meet her parents no matter how much she wanted to. Moreover, it was said that the late Marquis Agris had adored Amelia dearly, so it was only natural that Amelia couldn't understand Lucian's words.
"That may be true for you, Ria, but not for me."
"...."
"I wish Father hadn't come."
"Lucian."
I called out to Lucian in a stern voice.
"Didn't I tell you not to say such things?"
"...Tch."
"What do you mean 'tch'? Brighten up your face and straighten your posture at once."
As I spoke with my hands on my hips, Lucian reluctantly corrected his posture. A stiff smile appeared on his face, replacing his sullen expression, looking utterly unnatural.
"Sigh...."
I exhaled a sigh as I looked at that rigid smile.
In truth, I wasn't unable to understand Lucian's feelings.
From Lucian's perspective, the Duke of Bellomen not only hated his own son but had never even properly acted as a father. Every moment spent with him must feel suffocating and breathless.
'But there's no choice. Lucian absolutely must win the Duke of Bellomen's favor.'
For Lucian to escape the path of a villain, he first had to gain the Duke's approval. Perhaps if the Duke took a liking to Lucian, he might even pass the position of heir to him.
"What can I do about being scared."
...Of course, such a thing seemed unlikely to happen.
"He's arriving."
Soon, the sound of hoofbeats began to echo from not far away. At the butler's announcement of the Duke's arrival, I lifted my head, which had been turned toward Lucian.
The carriage bearing the black hawk, the symbol of House of Bellomen, was just passing through the gates.
The servants' shoulders stiffened at the sight of the carriage. I personally pushed Lucian's protruding lips back in, then straightened my posture and stood tall.
Soon the carriage, having passed through the vast Garden, came to a halt before the line of servants.
The butler sprang from his position and opened the carriage door.
"You must have had a long journey, my Lord."
As the butler offered his respectful greeting, a pair of black shoes stepped onto the ground from the carriage.
Click.
When the carriage door closed, the face that had been hidden behind it came into view.
Hair as black as the deepest night, eyes that gleamed with a chill so sharp it bordered on frigid, and lips pressed into a thin line devoid of any warmth.
"Welcome home."
The Duke of Bellomen had arrived.
The Duke moved forward, leaving the servants who had bowed respectfully in his wake.
Perhaps it was his unusually long stride—the distance between him and us closed rapidly.
I glanced down at Lucian, noticing the grip on my skirt tighten beneath his fingers.
Lucian's eyes held a desperate plea: that the Duke would pass by without acknowledging him.
Yet there was no way the Duke could have read such a fervent wish in Lucian's gaze.
His steps toward the main hall came to a halt before us.
More precisely, before Claude—not before Lucian or me.
"It is an honor to meet you, Duke of Bellomen."
Recognizing this, Claude extended his hand first toward the Duke of Bellomen.
"It has been a long time, Marquis Agris."
The Duke of Bellomen smiled as he grasped Claude's hand—a smile he had never once bestowed upon Lucian.
"I am glad to see you as well, though I never imagined we would meet again under such circumstances. I had hoped our reunion would be under better pretenses."
Not only had he nearly lost his life in the Avalanche Site, but now we were meeting again with his body still recovering.
"Haha."
Claude laughed awkwardly, understanding the implication.
"Though my body has suffered, I am sufficiently grateful. After all, it was through this that I finally found the niece I had been searching for so desperately."
At those words, the Duke's gaze shifted to Amelia, who stood beside Claude.
Recognizing it was her turn, Amelia lifted the hem of her skirt and offered a slight bow.
"I am deeply grateful for all your kindness, Your Grace. I am Amelia Agris."
"Ho."
The Duke of Bellomen let out an exclamation of admiration at her flawless etiquette.
Amelia's display of courtesy was so impeccable it could not be compared to children her own age.
"As I have heard, she is both lovely and intelligent."
"You are too kind."
"And humble as well."
The Duke of Bellomen continued to address Amelia with a satisfied expression.
Lucian and I existed outside the scope of his attention. His interest was directed solely toward Amelia and Claude.
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