Chapter – 35
“It’s not that I’m worried you’ll cause any trouble, it’s just that my grandmother might be shocked. She hasn’t heard any news from outside yet.”
“……I see.”
“She’s spent the last ten years with me, saying your name more than mine. If she were to hear that the Count’s family has fallen and that you’ve been broken off from your engagement, she’d collapse in grief. Her mind isn’t exactly stable, and that could easily turn into a funeral, just like that.”
“…….”
“Are you laughing right now?”
Being in this house, does everyone lose their mind?
Cales, who had been cautiously speaking, froze when he saw her suddenly bury her face in her hands. Better than crying, perhaps—but he hadn’t expected her to laugh in this situation. Even if it was a sad smile rather than full laughter.
“……I’m happy.”
“…….”
“To think that there are still people who genuinely grieve for my family’s misfortune.”
Evangeline lifted her head and took the teacup after speaking in a small, hushed voice. The strange taste she had struggled to get used to no longer seemed so unpleasant.
“After going through so much, I’ve come to be grateful even for something like this. Of course, I don’t mean that I wished the nurse had cried or fainted,”
“Would you like some more?”
“……Pardon?”
Before the melancholic smile on Evangeline’s face could fade, Cales had already picked up the teapot and hurriedly poured the cup full. Seeing the tea overflowed, Evangeline jumped up in surprise.
“Thank you, but I’ll pass. I should be going now.”
“……You’re leaving?”
“I came without notice and caused a disturbance. You’re already busy caring for the nurse, and now I come here too—I truly apologize.”
“It’s I who should apologize. What are you saying?”
“……Pardon?”
Her hands, which had been hurriedly packing her things, lost their strength. She felt she hadn’t really said anything rude, yet Cales’ expression seemed excessively dejected. The faint smile at the corner of his mouth looked almost incredulous.
“If you leave like this, what am I supposed to do?”
“What… I…?”
“Didn’t you hear what my grandmother said? That precious young lady she cherishes arrives and leaves immediately—the blame for that falls on me, doesn’t it? I never thought you’d be so cold.”
“No, that’s really not it,”
“Then at least finish your tea.”
With a flick, his long fingers pushed the teacup toward her. Only then, as she looked properly at Cales’ face, did Evangeline swallow hard. His striking red hair and deep green eyes bore no resemblance to the nurse. Anyone would be impressed at first sight by such a handsome man, but somehow his mannerisms and speech gave him a rough edge.
“You can just sleep upstairs for now.”
Even the rougher hands that helped carry her bag were…
#6
The Duke had returned home.
It was only natural for the homeowner to be back in his own house, but this was his first return in a full ten days. Since news of the Duke’s broken engagement had appeared in the newspapers, a heavy tension hung over the Teze Duke Residence.
“Your Grace, will you be dining now?”
“I’ve already eaten.”
Whether this was entirely true or not was uncertain, but at least on the surface, the Duke appeared unperturbed. His movements—taking off his coat and gloves, searching for the stack of accumulated documents immediately upon arrival—were no different than usual. The butler, who had been nervously observing him, finally breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
‘Thank goodness he hasn’t brought up the young lady’s matter…’
If she had revealed at the auction that she had relinquished the southern coastline, everyone in Loark would already know. If the Duke were to find out while in the same house and question why the butler hadn’t been informed beforehand, it would be difficult for the butler to escape blame. It wasn’t really the Duke’s fault, but if he chose to believe it that way, that was simply the law of this household.
“…….”
Fortune or misfortune, the Duke showed no curiosity at all, much less a reproach. From the moment he stepped off the carriage, he walked calmly toward the main residence. Though he hesitated for a moment at the fork leading to the annex greenhouse, that was all.
‘That area is notoriously confusing, so it’s understandable.’
The butler exhaled quietly, relieved. Encouraged by the Duke’s calm, he began placing the letters he had brought in front of him as normally as possible.
“I was just about to send a courier to ask your Grace’s intentions, as there are several matters requiring your reply.”
“…….”
The butler carefully laid out the ornate envelopes one by one. Though they were inappropriate for the current circumstances, it wasn’t something he could dispose of at his discretion.
“These are invitations to social gatherings. They specifically request your Grace’s attendance.”
“Haah.”
Looking at the large pile of letters, the Duke let out his first hollow laugh. Invitations flooding in right after a broken engagement—he found the timing amusing. The butler, realizing the reason for the laugh, felt unnecessarily guilty as if it were his own fault.
“It’s the start of the social season, and with many families connected to the late Duchess, it would be difficult to refuse all invitations.”
“Mother passed away long ago, you know.”
The Duke’s indifferent response left the butler with an awkward smile. He hesitated, as if he had more to say, but chose not to press. As the Duke lifted his gaze, the butler slid a golden envelope toward him.
“However, you must reply to the invitations from the palace. I barely managed to send one back when your Grace insisted on delivering it in person.”
“…….”
At the very least, given that the imperial seal was stamped on it, it couldn’t simply be ignored like the other letters. Seeing the Duke remain silent indicated he would grudgingly accept it. With this task accomplished, the butler moved on.
“These are letters left by your relatives and family members.”
“Yes. And do they need anything else this time?”
The Duke, as always, struck directly at the point, making the butler’s smile uneasy. The letters he held likely contained familiar content. Members of the Teze Duke family asking for financial favors under the guise of investment was nothing new.
“Apparently, with the warmer season approaching and trading ships arriving, they hope to contribute in some way. They wish to be of help to the Teze family.”
“They fail to see that doing nothing would be helping.”
“…….”
Indeed, if they had the foresight to realize that, none of this would have been necessary.
The Duke coldly pushed aside the letters in front of him. Even without his intervention, Michael would handle them appropriately. As he watched the butler gather the letters again, the Duke noticed another envelope.
“Is this another request for money?”
“……Pardon?”
“I mean the one you’re holding.”
The Duke’s sharp chin indicated the plain white envelope in the butler’s hands. Unlike the others, it wasn’t adorned with ornate designs or the family crest. If it was meant to emphasize poverty, it was cleverly done, but it didn’t elicit much reaction. The fact that it wasn’t over-embellished was refreshing in itself.
“Interesting. I wonder how much they intend to demand in this manner.”
“Ah… this was left by the Duchess, Lady O’Hara.”
“…….”
The Duke’s calm breath stopped, and the butler’s hands grew even more cautious. It was the letter she had left on her dressing table on the day she departed.
“Why wasn’t this delivered sooner?”
“It wasn’t anything urgent. Lady O’Hara left a note asking not to trouble your Grace by delivering it immediately, and requested it only be passed along when you met in the future.”
“…….”
Under furrowed brows, the Duke picked up the envelope. As the butler said, there was nothing extraordinary inside—a single thin sheet of paper with a simple message.
To His Grace, the Duke of Teze,
I regret that I must bid you farewell in this manner.
It would have been preferable to part after seeing each other in person, but perhaps our fate does not allow such a meeting.
I am deeply sorry for the trouble my recent actions have caused you and the Teze household.
Had I known things would turn out this way, the engagement would never have taken place, though none of us can foresee the future.
Despite the hardships, I do not regret the time we shared. I bear no hatred or resentment toward you. From the very first moment, you did your utmost within your position. I can only blame myself for having been too ambitious.
However, I am saddened that I cannot fulfill the promise made to the late Duchess. Though I wish to offer some small token of apology, I am certain nothing I give could suffice.
The only thing I can do now is to forget you as quickly as possible.
I intend to begin a new life in a place unconnected to the Teze household. I will no longer bring your family’s name into disrepute, so you may rest assured.
May your family continue to achieve greater honor and prosperity.
Evangeline O’Hara
