Chapter 134
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135.
Danae looked back and forth between her daughters, her eyes widening with resolve.
'That's right. This isn't just for me. It's also about protecting my children's smiles.'
With her determination set, Danae clenched her fist and spoke.
"Yes, I'll send a letter to the Empress soon. Though I can't guarantee she'll grant permission."
"Thank you for your courage. I'd be grateful for any opportunity to speak with Princess Catherine alone."
"Theo said it himself—he'd do anything for your happiness. And if you need anything else, tell me anytime."
At her warm words, Rebecca felt her nose sting with emotion.
"Your nose has turned red. Are you cold?"
Danae said this while gently tapping the bridge of Rebecca's nose.
She wrapped a blanket firmly around Rebecca's shoulders and examined her daughter carefully.
Fearing that Danae's keen gaze might expose her vulnerabilities, Rebecca buried herself deeper into the blanket.
"My, your hair has become quite disheveled. Come here."
Kanna, who had been sitting beside her reading quietly, quickly handed a comb to Danae.
Danae gave Kanna a grateful look and began to undo Rebecca's hair.
Then she slowly began to comb through it.
"When you were young, your hair was never neat for a single moment."
Rebecca burst into laughter.
"That's true. Mother always had to carry several different combs and pins with her."
"I scolded you often, but I truly cherished these moments of tidying your hair."
With practiced skill, Danae untangled the knotted strands and gathered Rebecca's hair into a braid.
Then she secured the loose wisps firmly with pins.
"There. Perfect. You're so beautiful, my daughter."
Danae's infinitely tender gaze felt like a dream, and Rebecca's eyes grew hazy.
The children's laughter, bright as blooming flowers, mingled with the sound of waves.
Faced with such unbelievable happiness, Rebecca felt grateful to be alive again.
"Rebecca, it's time to eat now."
Julian approached with heavy footsteps, carrying a large basket.
Theo called out loudly to his two daughters and Lily.
"I told him there was no need, but Father has brought a packed meal."
Rebecca peered into the basket Julian was holding.
Julian awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.
"I prepared something impressive too, but it seems rather plain compared to this."
Rebecca followed Julian's gaze.
Inside a large makeshift tent erected on the White Sand Beach, a sumptuous feast lay spread before them.
"I wanted to serve you dishes prepared from Balaria's specialty ingredients. But the bento box looks delicious too, so I'm quite torn. Still, you'll eat everything without leaving a scrap, won't you, Rebecca?"
At Julian's ominous smile that seemed to foretell culinary torture, Rebecca unconsciously rubbed her stomach.
But her worry proved unfounded.
Theo's bento box was devoured by Lily in the blink of an eye, and the Balaria specialty dishes were completely cleared by the twins, who even licked the plates clean.
"It was so delicious!"
The three girls exclaimed in unison as if they'd made a pact, patting their protruding bellies.
Thanks to them, I was able to finish my meal satisfied, maintaining a more comfortable stomach than usual.
While everyone ate dessert with contented smiles, only Julian muttered in regret.
"My oversight. You didn't say you were stuffed to death. I prepared far too little food."
Rebecca pretended not to notice his despair and lent her ear to Lily's chatter.
* * *
Empress Belona's reply arrived after Danae sent her third letter.
'It is only for my daughter Princess Catherine.'
Though the tone was somewhat cold, permission was permission.
Upon reading the response, Danae felt worry before joy.
She could have rattled off Empress Belona's favorite colors, dress preferences, and preferred tea temperature at a moment's notice.
But it had been far too long since she'd seen her.
She couldn't know how much Empress Belona's personality and tastes had changed in the meantime.
Danae recalled the dress Empress Belona had once said suited her well.
She also retrieved from her jewelry box the ornaments that Empress Belona had personally gifted her.
As she hesitated whether wearing items that evoked old memories was the right decision, Theo entered the dressing room.
"It seems the Empress has invited you?"
"Yes. That's good news, isn't it? But I have no idea what to wear. And what gift should I bring?"
Danae fussed about like a girl preparing for her debut.
Theo, who had been quietly observing her, rummaged through the wardrobe and pulled out a gray dress with hints of sky blue.
It was a dress with puffed sleeves reaching to the elbows that was fashionable this autumn, conveying an elegant impression.
"Paired with the pearl necklace the Empress gifted you, it would be perfect. Though the design is common, the pearls are of such fine quality that the Empress will certainly recognize them."
Once Theo decided on the shoes and hairstyle to go with it, color returned to Danae's face.
"Your taste really deserves recognition."
Theo smiled bitterly.
"In a way, the distance between the Empress and you is all because of me. I wanted to do my best to help. Now that I say it, I'm truly a pathetic person."
"Don't say such things. This is the life I chose and the consequence I must accept. Let's leave our past behind and focus on the present, Theo. Right now, I'm truly happy."
Danae gently kissed Theo's cheek as his eyebrows drooped sadly.
Theo's face flushed crimson before he smiled weakly and nodded.
"You're right. I should do my best in the present."
"All right then. Would you help me choose a gift for the Empress?"
As Danae's eyes crinkled with warmth, Theo's expression brightened considerably.
Soon after, he began reciting a list of gifts he had prepared.
* * *
"I cannot rest easy sending you there alone."
Julian gripped Rebecca's hand tightly as she climbed into the carriage, his expression petulant.
Rebecca soothed his hand as she spoke.
"That's precisely why I sent word to the Empress rather than the Emperor. Empress Belona is not as calculating as the Emperor. Besides, I'm meeting with Princess Catherine, not the Empress herself, so you needn't worry so much."
"Still...."
Julian murmured softly, caressing Rebecca's hand.
With his head lowered and dressed in a simple shirt, he appeared far more docile than usual.
Perhaps that was why—his reluctance to see her leave resembled a large dog blocking its master's path to work.
Rebecca placed her hand upon his head, tousling his ebony locks.
"It's not as though I'm marching off to war. I never knew you were such a worrier."
At Rebecca's mischievous laughter, Julian stammered, yet his grip on her hand remained firm.
"W-who said I was worried? I'm merely considering the possibility that things might not go smoothly. There's nothing wrong with anticipating unfavorable circumstances beforehand, is there?"
"Most people call that worrying, but... won't you let me go now? Mother must be waiting."
At the mention of Danae waiting, Julian reluctantly released her hand.
As Rebecca entered the carriage, he issued several instructions to the coachman.
Then, with an expression dripping with reluctance, he gazed at Rebecca.
As he awkwardly waved his arm, Rebecca hesitated for a moment before rising from her seat.
While Julian stood momentarily dazed, she pressed a brief kiss to his cheek.
Though the kiss was as light as a butterfly alighting and taking flight, it was enough to set Julian's ears ablaze.
"Then I'll be careful and return soon."
Had those words ever been so sweet?
Julian still could not quite believe that the place she would return to was his home.
He touched the cheek where her lips had met his and slowly nodded.
* * *
Belona's Greenhouse Garden possessed an entirely different atmosphere from Zahidra's.
Where Zahidra's garden was a place where all manner of resplendent flora displayed their beauty, Belona's garden exuded refined restraint.
Purple blossoms peeked through clusters of pure white flowers. Wisteria cascading from the ceiling flowed like a delicate waterfall.
Flowers of every hue intertwined, releasing a subtle fragrance.
Rebecca gazed at the petals drifting leisurely across the fountain's surface, deliberately suppressing her tension.
Ten minutes after arriving, Danae and Belona sat in silence, sipping their tea.
This was not a moment for her to interject and shift the atmosphere.
To broach conversation before the Empress spoke first would be discourteous.
Rebecca observed Danae's trembling lips and sighed softly to herself.
Had she truly made such a cruel request of her mother?
Just as Rebecca began to regret coming here, Belona, whose gaze had been fixed upon her teacup, slowly lifted her eyes.
Soon her attention settled upon the pearl necklace adorning Danae's neck.
A faint smile spread across Empress Belona's lips.
"That's... the necklace I gave you."
At her sudden words, Danae lifted her head abruptly.
Empress Belona gazed at Danae with the same infinitely warm expression as before.
Danae's eyes grew moist with tears.
"You... remember it."
"A trifling gift, yet you've cherished it all this time."
"How could you call it trifling when it came from you? Everything the Empress gave me—even a single small fountain pen—is as precious as a treasure."
"Yes. I was always moved by how tenderly you valued even the smallest things I gave you."
"Your Majesty..."
"Now that I think of it, your dress today is truly lovely. It suits my Garden perfectly. Count Obelia must have chosen it for you, yes?"
"That is..."
At the mention of Theo's name, Danae's voice noticeably trembled.
She lowered her head deeply.
"Yes, it is..."
"Oh, I didn't mean to reproach you. It's been such a long time already, hasn't it? I merely spoke because I recalled that Theo has always had excellent taste. Lift your head, Danae."
"I am ashamed..."
Empress Belona's heart had already been shaken by Danae's three letters.
Seeing Danae trembling, unable even to meet her eyes, her heart ached.
The Runaway Countess Returns
E-book Publication
January 12, 2022
Author
Long night sky
Publisher
Desert fox
Published by
Woongjin ThinkBig Co., Ltd.
Submission Received
naver.me/54VzzLSn
Blog
blog.naver.com/wj_fennecfox
@wjt_fennecfox
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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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