Chapter 68
With Cecilia’s help, things were definitely moving faster.
She chose a dress of pale pink silk with delicate violet floral patterns that matched Hera’s hair color perfectly.
A teardrop-shaped sapphire necklace and earrings also suited Hera beautifully.
Thanks to her hair being styled in more elaborate curls than usual, Hera’s noble aura was accentuated.
It was all Cecilia’s idea.
“Perfect! Absolutely perfect! Bravo!”
Cecilia, impressed with her own work, clapped and cheered continuously with a serious expression.
Every time this happened, Hera felt a little embarrassed by Cecilia’s enthusiasm.
“Stop… already…”
Hera grabbed Cecilia’s hand, trying to calm her down.
At that moment, Jeff, lingering near the door, was visible in the mirror.
‘Jeff? Does he have something to tell me?’
He moved hesitantly, his gestures full of uncertainty.
His eyes were fixed downward.
Though Hera’s door was wide open, making it easy for him to enter, Jeff stubbornly stayed at the edge of the room.
Finally, he moved his lips, which had only twitched, and spoke the words he needed to say.
“Emilia-nee… Lina and I are planning to leave the mansion today…”
“Jeff.”
“Uh…”
Seeing Jeff, who was usually so carefree, struggling like this was unfamiliar, so Hera stepped closer to him.
Jeff, keeping his eyes on the floor, looked up at the hem of Hera’s dress and froze.
For a moment, he stared at Hera with a dazed expression.
Hera, all dressed up, completely blanked his mind.
“Nee… you look really… beautiful today…”
“You little brat. What are you doing? Coming into a lady’s room like this? I was still in my pajamas!”
Cecilia, standing behind Hera, spoke to Jeff in a displeased tone.
Normally, Jeff would have come back with a witty remark that would annoy Cecilia, but this time, his face flushed red, and he shifted uncomfortably.
“The… the door was open, so… I’m sorry… ugh!”
As he stepped back, he seemed to trip and fell flat on his butt.
“Jeff!”
Hera, who was right in front of him, grabbed his wrist in surprise.
Jeff felt a sudden heat in his hand.
Oblivious to Jeff’s flustered state, Hera focused on helping him up.
She suddenly realized that Jeff had grown taller than her.
When she first met him under the bridge, he had been about half a head shorter than her.
“Hm? Jeff, haven’t you grown a bit?”
Hera, who didn’t consider herself particularly observant, still noticed how much Jeff’s body was changing day by day.
Was this normal for a growing boy?
Hera thought Jeff’s growth had surpassed what she considered reasonable and began to gently massage his forearms.
His previously thin frame had gained some flesh and muscle, and his skin, once smudged with soot, now had a healthy, radiant glow.
Even when she had met him in the slums, she thought his face had a certain elegance, but after living in Toringa with nutritious food, he now looked like the son of a noble family.
“Um… please don’t touch me like that…”
“Sorry! Sorry…”
Hera, lost in her thoughts while touching Jeff absentmindedly, quickly withdrew her hands.
Jeff’s ears turned red, and he couldn’t even look at her.
Seeing this strange atmosphere, Cecilia, slightly sulky, asked:
“This is ridiculous. What did you come here to say? Aren’t you going to tell us?”
Jeff cleared his throat briefly and clasped his hands behind his back.
This stance made his broad chest appear even wider.
Today was truly unusual.
Jeff looked like a grown man now.
“I… Lina and I are leaving the mansion today.”
Lina, who had been hidden behind Jeff, peeked her swollen face out.
It seemed Jeff had forcibly brought her along.
“So suddenly? You could stay longer. If you want to stay, I can arrange a job for you.”
“We’re fine, nee.”
Hera’s disappointment was visible on her face.
Jeff declined politely.
“We found something we want to do while we’re here. That’s why we can’t delay any longer.”
Jeff noticed Hera’s disappointed expression.
Telling her he was leaving in front of that face was truly difficult.
But staying as Toringa’s guest by Hera’s side would be meaningless.
He didn’t want to remain a boy from the slums who couldn’t help her.
‘I’d probably end up wanting to stay here forever if I stayed…’
Jeff decided he would rather take on adventures and stand proudly than remain safely foolish.
The exact nature of that adventure was still a secret.
After succeeding, he wanted to surprise Hera, showing her a confident and impressive version of himself.
“I see… I’ll miss you. When are you leaving?”
“Chichi said we should eat dinner first, so we’ll probably leave at night.”
Chichi, the cook of the Toringa mansion, was particularly fond of Lina and Jeff.
Not just Chichi, but many friendly children from the slums were loved by those at the Toringa mansion.
Hera felt happy just knowing they were leaving with good memories.
Jeff, watching Hera’s kind smile, slightly bent his waist and whispered in her ear so others wouldn’t hear:
“I have something I want to give you. After the ball, can I come by your room?”
Hera smiled brightly and replied:
“Of course. Come quickly.”
Straightening up again, Jeff felt a twinge of regret.
She still treated him like a helpless boy.
A poor boy in need of help from the slums.
A sense of determination arose in Jeff’s heart.
Next time they met, he would appear as a man so attractive Hera would be speechless.
He would be far cooler than that irritating duke, making Hera happy.
And he would definitely present her with a single flower, or better yet, a bouquet of Casablanca lilies.
Clenching his fists, Jeff made a vow.
“Miss. The Duke has arrived.”
Just then, the butler announced Merriott’s arrival.
The guest of honor at the ball was expected to arrive earlier than other invitees.
This was why Merriott needed to come to Toringa earlier than usual.
“Quite early.”
Even considering that, Merriott arrived sooner than expected.
Thankfully, thanks to Cecilia, preparations had already been completed.
Hera began moving to go downstairs.
At that moment, Cecilia and Jeff rushed over to block her path.
“Wait, nee!”
“Miss! Just a moment!”
The two glared at each other briefly, but soon realized they shared the same goal at that moment.
Reading each other’s intentions through their eyes, Cecilia and Jeff smiled broadly and pushed Hera back into her room.
“We’ll handle the guests. You focus on finishing your hair.”
“Huh? My hair? Isn’t it done already?”
“No, no! It still needs more volume. Especially the left side. Right, Jeff?”
“Just Jeff. She’s right. The right side is a little less full, I’d say.”
Unaware they were giving slightly different opinions, the two awkwardly agreed with each other while seating Hera at the dressing table.
Cecilia emphasized to the maid to work slowly and carefully.
“Mary. Please, take your time and be thorough.”
“Yes, Miss.”
The maid began adjusting Hera’s hair, and Cecilia and Jeff exchanged glances before dashing downstairs together.
Hera had no way of knowing what they were thinking, but watching them sometimes gave her a headache.
“Should I say they work well together… or what…?”
As Merriott stepped into the Toringa entrance hall, he removed his white gloves.
A Toringa servant took them and stored them in the entrance drawer.
The bouquet of Casablanca lilies he had brought was placed on the entrance table by the butler, Miles.
It was unusual for Merriott to bring Casablanca lilies, which had no connection to the Toringa family.
Still, Miles remained expressionless while attending to him.
Merriott asked, with an arrogant expression, where Hera’s room was.
Miles pointed toward the staircase to the second floor, and following his gesture, Merriott saw Cecilia and Jeff rushing down chaotically.
They looked like overly busy little puppies, and Merriott shook his head slightly.
‘Troublesome little things, always sticking together.’
Breathless, Cecilia and Jeff lined up before Merriott, their eyes slightly defiant.
Merriott looked down at them and asked:
“Where is Miss Emilia?”
“She’s still getting ready.”
“Ah. Then I’ll wait in the salon.”
There was no reason to deal with these immature children.
Merriott turned without hesitation and gestured to the Toringa butler.
Following Merriott’s request, the butler led him to the salon.
The disadvantage of puppies is that they persistently follow people.
These two were no different.
As Merriott moved toward the salon, the pair hurriedly followed him.
