“Let’s wait and see!”
“I don’t think we’ll see him again, right?”
Marianne added as a final remark.
Count Gallian left the dining hall roughly. Of course, he had no composure at all. I met eyes with Collen.
“Don’t worry, we can sneak out and have some fun tonight.”
“No, really, that’s not necessary… I mean it!”
Although I empathize with not wanting to see him again.
The surroundings fell into silence. Elena spoke, gripping her forehead.
“Marianne, what’s wrong with you as soon as you arrive?”
“It’s been a while, Auntie!”
Marianne replied cheerfully.
“You really can’t keep your mouth shut. That’s what I was going to say. I want you to marry your daughter off to Southern men.”
“What?”
I doubted my ears.
“At least she should become noble of the South to have the qualification to be listed as a family member, right? Fortunately, since she’s girls, it’s possible.”
Marianne said as she sat in the vacant seat left by Count Gallian.
“Auntie, our daughter is only twelve years old.”
“In the South, when they’re twelve years old, it’s the age to start looking for an engagement partner. Even if marriage is arranged after the coming-of-age ceremony…”
“That’s why I don’t like the South.”
Collen whispered as she filled his glass with wine. I was unsure whether to laugh or not. So, that’s why Count Gallian behaved like that.
“In the end, educating the daughters and keeping them until marriage is common sense, isn’t it?”
“Oh, that’s not possible.”
Strangely, Collen said neatly.
“What?”
“There’s no fiancé or anything like that.”
Collen’s expression looked strangely proud. If I had to say, it was an expression that said, ’You should have asked earlier.’
“My daughter… she said she would live with me for the rest of her life. Isn’t that cute? So, there’s nothing we can do.”
“…”
Dad, did you want to talk about this since earlier?
“Oh, really? Then let’s travel together and live.”
Marianne was delighted.
“Great! Let’s go, singlehood!”
And Marianne shouted like that, even clapping her hands. Oh… she’s already drunk. Marianne…
“No, you can’t. Where would you take her? She has so much to learn at the Duke’s estate.”
“Oh, come on! Just because she’s your daughter? She’s my niece too!”
Collen and Marianne were bantering back and forth. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to the mountains. Elena’s face hardened.
“Do you think family matters are a joke?”
“It’s my family. If I say it’s a joke, then everyone should dress up as clowns and perform a dance, shouldn’t they, Aunt?”
Ah, the atmosphere turned chilly.
I swallowed hard. Everyone was watching Collen’s reaction. Collen smirked.
“I believe you will help me.”
Marianne looked around and whispered to me.
“Darling, want to see the ballroom? Let’s say hello to Auntie later. Just stay inside the ballroom.”
I nodded.
‘It’s the adults’ conversation time.’
I knew it was my cue to leave.
* * *
“Phew…”
Becoming a noble is really difficult.
‘Do I have to become a noble to truly be Dad’s daughter?’
That must be it. Collen is the most precious noble in the country.
Once I’m registered as a noble, would I no longer feel guilty introducing Dad as my Dad to people?
‘But in reality, I’m not a real noble. Dad is just my stepdad!’
-That’s the kind of guilt that requires additional explanation, right? The guilt that I feel.
And Jade and Marianne, they can be considered my real family.
‘But if the Southern Gathering doesn’t approve, would it be a nuisance?’
Seeing Count Gallian reminded me of the past, which pricked at me.
‘It was scary.’
If it happened now, I could handle such arguments.
But the past ‘me’ was weak and foolish. So, the wounds that child suffered still linger within me.
I sat down on the balcony, feeling a bit relieved after sighing.
“What are you doing?”
Oh, it startled me!
I was shocked. By the moonlight, I could see his violet eyes shining mysteriously. When did he come? Cedric was next to me, resting his chin on his hand, looking at me.
“Let’s wait and see!”
“I don’t think we’ll see him again, right?”
Marianne added as a final remark.
Count Gallian left the dining hall roughly. Of course, he had no composure at all. I met eyes with Collen.
“Don’t worry, we can sneak out and have some fun tonight.”
“No, really, that’s not necessary… I mean it!”
Although I empathize with not wanting to see him again.
The surroundings fell into silence. Elena spoke, gripping her forehead.
“Marianne, what’s wrong with you as soon as you arrive?”
“It’s been a while, Auntie!”
Marianne replied cheerfully.
“You really can’t keep your mouth shut. That’s what I was going to say. I want you to marry your daughter off to Southern men.”
“What?”
I doubted my ears.
“At least she should become noble of the South to have the qualification to be listed as a family member, right? Fortunately, since she’s girls, it’s possible.”
Marianne said as she sat in the vacant seat left by Count Gallian.
“Auntie, our daughter is only twelve years old.”
“In the South, when they’re twelve years old, it’s the age to start looking for an engagement partner. Even if marriage is arranged after the coming-of-age ceremony…”
“That’s why I don’t like the South.”
Collen whispered as she filled his glass with wine. I was unsure whether to laugh or not. So, that’s why Count Gallian behaved like that.
“In the end, educating the daughters and keeping them until marriage is common sense, isn’t it?”
“Oh, that’s not possible.”
Strangely, Collen said neatly.
“What?”
“There’s no fiancé or anything like that.”
Collen’s expression looked strangely proud. If I had to say, it was an expression that said, ’You should have asked earlier.’
“My daughter… she said she would live with me for the rest of her life. Isn’t that cute? So, there’s nothing we can do.”
“…”
Dad, did you want to talk about this since earlier?
“Oh, really? Then let’s travel together and live.”
Marianne was delighted.
“Great! Let’s go, singlehood!”
And Marianne shouted like that, even clapping her hands. Oh… she’s already drunk. Marianne…
“No, you can’t. Where would you take her? She has so much to learn at the Duke’s estate.”
“Oh, come on! Just because she’s your daughter? She’s my niece too!”
Collen and Marianne were bantering back and forth. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to the mountains. Elena’s face hardened.
“Do you think family matters are a joke?”
“It’s my family. If I say it’s a joke, then everyone should dress up as clowns and perform a dance, shouldn’t they, Aunt?”
Ah, the atmosphere turned chilly.
I swallowed hard. Everyone was watching Collen’s reaction. Collen smirked.
“I believe you will help me.”
Marianne looked around and whispered to me.
“Darling, want to see the ballroom? Let’s say hello to Auntie later. Just stay inside the ballroom.”
I nodded.
‘It’s the adults’ conversation time.’
I knew it was my cue to leave.
* * *
“Phew…”
Becoming a noble is really difficult.
‘Do I have to become a noble to truly be Dad’s daughter?’
That must be it. Collen is the most precious noble in the country.
Once I’m registered as a noble, would I no longer feel guilty introducing Dad as my Dad to people?
‘But in reality, I’m not a real noble. Dad is just my stepdad!’
-That’s the kind of guilt that requires additional explanation, right? The guilt that I feel.
And Jade and Marianne, they can be considered my real family.
‘But if the Southern Gathering doesn’t approve, would it be a nuisance?’
Seeing Count Gallian reminded me of the past, which pricked at me.
‘It was scary.’
If it happened now, I could handle such arguments.
But the past ‘me’ was weak and foolish. So, the wounds that child suffered still linger within me.
I sat down on the balcony, feeling a bit relieved after sighing.
“What are you doing?”
Oh, it startled me!
I was shocked. By the moonlight, I could see his violet eyes shining mysteriously. When did he come? Cedric was next to me, resting his chin on his hand, looking at me.
