Chapter 69
Countess Lavia shot a glare at her husband for putting the Krau family on the guest list and quickened her pace. The Duke of Spes, who was escorting her, also sped up, so their steps matched perfectly.
They arrived at Eluana’s side as if flying. Countess Lavia, who had been about to raise her voice at the audacity in her own party, inhaled sharply as she watched Eluana slowly turn her head.
Ah… Stella, you really do look like her.
Unlike the first time, when it had been purely bewildering, a warm, stirring feeling welled up inside her. While Countess Lavia stared intently at Eluana’s face, Duke Spes shot a chilling glare at Kudas.
At the same time, Count Krau, who had been observing nearby, hurried forward.
“Duke, it’s been a long time. Haha.”
“Oh, Count Krau, good timing. Tell me, since when has your family become so remarkable? I’m curious to show my daughter just how impressive you are.”
Count Krau’s eyes flickered nervously. He had assumed that Duke Spes leaving Eluana alone was simply a courtesy, but that had been a mistake.
Awed by Duke Spes’ fearsome gaze, Count Krau awkwardly placed a hand on his son’s shoulder.
“That was a foolish thing to say. Naturally, when one is young, one thinks their own child is the best. Don’t take it to heart. Ahaha.”
But it was too late. Duke Spes had already taken the comment to heart.
“In your esteemed Krau family, I suppose we won’t have to buy grain from you anymore. Truly remarkable.”
“N-no… what a frightening thing to say!”
Count Krau’s heart sank; he had heard rumors that the Marquess Pegimul family was struggling because of grain issues.
“You’re saying this because my son made a small mistake with Miss Spes?”
“Small? He spoke harshly to my daughter, treated her with disregard. I didn’t realize he wanted to pick a fight with Spes.”
“No, that’s not it. I apologize. It’s my fault. I will discipline him properly.”
Count Krau tried to downplay it, but Duke Spes’ formidable aura forced him to step back.
“Take note: as long as Kudas Krau is the heir, you won’t sell a single grain of food to Spes.”
The thought of suddenly having to replace the heir drained the color from Count Krau’s face. Even if it was said in anger, Duke Spes would carry it out.
Turning his icy gaze to Eluana, Duke Spes’ expression softened and transformed. His eyes, as if melting, were complemented by a smile that was breathtakingly striking.
“Sorry to leave you alone.”
Countess Lavia breathed a sigh of relief, glad that the situation was resolved. But Eluana’s expression seemed odd. At first, she seemed pleased to see Duke Spes, but her eyes gradually sharpened.
Stella would make that same expression when displeased.
‘Ah!’
Seeing the shocked faces of the nobles nearby, Countess Lavia realized that Duke Spes had crossed a line. Anyone could see him as a doting father.
And he was Duke Spes—rarely seen smiling. Yet all the guests had now witnessed his smile. To blatantly show such affection while hiding the fact that Eluana was his daughter…
‘She’ll be discovered today.’
Countess Lavia knew this couldn’t happen. She steadied herself, looking at the tips of her hair to avoid being distracted by Eluana’s face. Her golden hair was really beautiful…
No. Focus.
Lowering her voice, Countess Lavia said:
“Your Grace, I understand the resemblance to Stella and your affection for her. But for me… it’s uncomfortable. Please find someone else to be her godmother.”
Duke Spes looked surprised, as if he had just remembered his goal for today.
“I was confused at first as well. But—”
“No, Your Grace. Please don’t try to persuade me.”
Countess Lavia glanced at Eluana nervously, worried she might be hurt. Her lips nearly curved in a smile—because Eluana’s mouth formed the words:
‘Thank you.’
She let her expression droop again, but the meaning was clear. Eluana clasped her hands and spoke:
“Please reconsider. I know I have much to improve. If you give me time, I will show you a side worthy of your respect.”
Eluana’s performance was extraordinary. Countess Lavia, not to be outdone, played along.
“Honestly, it’s hard for me to be around you. It’s not your fault, so please forgive my narrow-mindedness.”
“Ma’am.”
Eluana gave a faint thumbs-up and lowered her head in a pitiful gesture.
“I’m sorry, Miss.”
As Countess Lavia dramatically turned away, Duke Spes stepped forward.
“Ma’am, I’d like to continue speaking for a moment.”
With an exaggerated sigh, Countess Lavia reluctantly followed him. Once back in the study, she changed her expression completely.
“Acting like that is no different from declaring her as your daughter. You must maintain boundaries, Your Grace.”
Duke Spes remained confident.
“I am maintaining boundaries. Otherwise, I would have declared a private war over the estate.”
Countess Lavia pressed her hand to her forehead, aware that he was capable of doing exactly that. Fortunately, others knew his temperament well.
“That’s true. You’ve restrained yourself a lot. But you must restrain yourself more. If people find out she’s your daughter, it would be disastrous.”
“I want to let Eluana follow the path she desires. If necessary, I will restrain myself further.”
“What does Eluana want?”
“We’ll find out together. What would make her happy? I haven’t been a father for long, so I’m unsure how to be a good one. I keep thinking about it.”
Countess Lavia’s smile softened. She had never expected to see this side of Duke Spes.
“Worrying like that proves you’re a good father, Your Grace.”
Meanwhile…
Dad… Father never knew the meaning of ‘moderation.’
This morning, Eluana had told Duke Spes that it was important to pretend to care moderately. She had reminded him in the carriage and again just before entering the banquet hall.
Yet, watching Duke Spes and Countess Lavia walk away, Eluana thought:
‘I think this is ruined.’
Her plan had been to emphasize the resemblance. Countess Lavia had cooperated more than expected.
The problem was her father, Duke Spes.
He had publicly threatened the Krau family, which owned all the prime lands in the empire, over the sale of grain. Right in front of everyone.
As a result, anyone meeting Eluana now lowered their gaze. If their eyes met hers, they would quickly look away.
‘Don’t go. I won’t hurt you.’
Eluana wanted to cry. Her last hope had been Daize, who had approached her first. But as soon as Duke Spes appeared, Daize had vanished with dazzling backsteps, leaving his location unknown.
‘Right. I’ll handle this myself.’
Eluana decided to act. Passing through awkwardly standing noblewomen babbling aimlessly, she moved toward the garden connected to the banquet hall.
Peering through the leaves, she spotted a deer-like Daize. As she approached, Yeongsik blocking the way caught her eye. That rectangular back of the head was clearly Krau, following Daize and harassing him.
Eluana stepped onto the garden grass. Even as she approached, Daize’s ordeal continued.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Do you know how much trouble I’ve gotten into because of you? I have to mediate between you and Miss Spes.”
“Me? I don’t even know her.”
“Who cares! Take responsibility and mediate, or I’ll stop delivering iron ore from my family.”
“What? You can’t just—”
Daize’s face went pale.
“Of course, how I feel may change depending on what you do.”
Seeing Krau reach toward Daize made Eluana’s blood boil. She had to stop that filthy hand before it touched the deer.
“Wait.”
Out of urgency, her hand acted before words. Eluana grabbed Krau’s neatly tied hair, pulling it back, causing him to scream.
“What the—!”
Eluana brushed her hands clean as if it were filthy work, ignoring his shouts. Kudas realized the person who pulled his hair was Eluana and lowered his voice.
“W-what rudeness is this…”
“The rudeness is what you’ve been doing consistently, Krau Yeongsik. Don’t worry; if a long-standing count family needs iron ore, Spes can supply it.”
The iron from the Spes family’s mines was renowned for its purity. External supply was limited, and many families waited to purchase it. The Krau family, being nearby, had been buying from the region instead.
“…Miss Spes.”
“I can’t let you get hurt because of me.”
Daize blushed like a lovestruck girl. He had been sparkling-eyed since Eluana grabbed Kudas’ hair.
“You think I’ll just let this slide?”
Kudas grumbled, but it was ineffective. The little bead on her brooch seemed ready to jump at any moment, asserting its presence.
“And if I don’t?”
“The Krau family—”
Kudas tried to raise his voice but had to stop under Eluana’s steely gaze. He had just witnessed Duke Spes’ protective behavior.
Eluana pressed forward:
“Krau Yeongsik, if you want to oppress me with your family’s status, go ahead. I’ll do the same. Who here can wield more influence than me?”
Kudas had no answer and backed down. Victory was fleeting, as whispers around her made her realize something was wrong.
Helping the deer had apparently earned her the title of ‘ruffian of this area.’
‘How do I fix this?’
At that moment, the murmurs in the banquet hall went silent. Everyone’s eyes turned to the newly entered figure: Kazar Arkas Fortuna.
With divinely perfect features, a genius swordsman, aura user, and prince, his consistently cold demeanor stirred the conquest instinct in girls of his age.
Kazar scanned the hall, then walked directly toward a certain spot. Everyone followed his gaze.
And there she was:
A lucky girl resembling Princess Stella, the adopted daughter of the Spes family, standing firmly on one leg—Eluana Vita Spes, the one who had tamed the ruffian.
