Chapter 31
Felix, who had briefly set down his cigarette, swept his long hair back from his forehead with a hand that revealed strong, prominent bones.
Even as he did, laughter kept escaping his lips.
“Is she pretty?”
“……”
Sebastian didn’t answer.
His face was filled with dissatisfaction.
Judging by how his jaw had tightened, it seemed like he was grinding his inner lip.
Felix grinned at the sight of his son finally looking his age.
“Well, well. That’s not the answer I expected.”
Felix looked at his son with a smirk, as if he’d finally gotten something to hold over him.
“Just how pretty is she that you said something like that?”
Sigh.
Sebastian let out a long breath.
Finally, unable to hold it in, he grumbled back.
“Did you call me here just to ask that?”
“Of course not.”
Felix chuckled.
But his composure didn’t last long.
“…Ugh.”
Without warning, a low groan escaped him.
His head dipped slightly, and his long hair slipped down like an unfastened curtain.
His chest, visible through the open robe, was heaving dangerously fast.
Felix clenched his teeth, and a thick vein stood out on his neck.
He quickly reached for the ashtray.
His fingertips trembled slightly.
After fumbling a few times, he picked up the cigarette again and urgently put the filter to his lips, inhaling deeply until his cheeks hollowed.
“Phew.”
The pain that had twisted his face for a moment faded, and the lines of strain smoothed out.
After a few more drags, Felix seemed to regain his composure, his face settling into calm.
However, the black hair stuck to his sweat-drenched forehead made it clear just how intense the pain had been moments ago.
Felix gazed indifferently at his son.
He didn’t say anything, but his face was stiff.
Still, he made no effort to explain.
Even if he said he was fine, it would only be a lie—and Felix knew better than anyone that such reassurances were meaningless to Sebastian.
Instead, he spoke casually, as if nothing had happened.
“I got curious.”
“……”
Meeting his son’s red eyes—so similar to his own, and filled with confusion—Felix said,
“I want to meet that girl.”
Sebastian’s expression twisted.
That was an unexpected statement.
After a moment’s hesitation, he finally replied,
“If that’s your wish, I’ll arrange a meeting soon.”
But Felix quietly shook his head.
Sebastian frowned at his father’s reaction.
“No need for that. I’ll go see her myself.”
At Felix’s firm declaration, Sebastian replied reluctantly.
“But, Father…”
“Thank you for your concern. But I’ll be fine.”
Felix offered a faint smile, seemingly sincere.
“It won’t take long. I can endure that much. I’m the Duke of Ackliff, after all.”
The cigarette had burned nearly to the end.
To light a new one, Felix picked up a matchstick.
But his hand lacked strength, and his movements were clumsy.
He fumbled several times, but only sparks flew—he couldn’t light the new cigarette.
“…Here, let me.”
Unable to watch anymore, Sebastian took the match from his father’s hand and lit it himself.
Felix smiled in gratitude and took a drag from the newly lit cigarette, then murmured weakly,
“She’s the daughter of Marquess Blanche—pretty and kind. I’m looking forward to it. Perhaps I should’ve met her sooner.”
Heh.
Though he chuckled faintly, Sebastian knew better than anyone that his father wasn’t truly looking forward to it.
He figured the girl might be flustered, so he thought it best to give her a heads-up, sighing softly to himself.
‘When will they contact me?’
Erica walked slowly, deep in thought.
Not long ago, Sebastian had unexpectedly visited and hinted that Felix might come to meet her soon.
Since then, she had been on edge, ready to be summoned at any moment—but strangely, no message had come.
‘Did they… forget?’
At first, Erica had waited hopefully, but her spirits soon sank again.
Lost in those thoughts, she found herself in front of her room.
Earlier that day, she had reluctantly gone for a walk to the lake behind the mansion with Lady Alma and Joanna, unable to resist their urging.
They had even had a simple lunch there before returning home.
“This should be enough, right?”
“Yes. It’s all set. Let’s take her back now.”
Lady Alma and Joanna whispered something Erica didn’t catch, then decided it was time to return.
As the door opened, Erica blinked rapidly.
“…Huh?”
Joanna and Lady Alma, who had been following behind, asked innocently when Erica suddenly stopped in front of the door.
“What’s wrong?”
“There’s… something strange in my room.”
Erica’s voice was filled with confusion.
Her lashes fluttered slowly.
The room looked different from usual.
Colorful balloons were tied near the window, and the table in the center was piled with dolls, pretty ribbons, and even a picnic basket overflowing with candy, chocolates, and cookies.
The room was filled with adorable, lovely things.
At the sight, all her gloom about not meeting Duke Felix instantly vanished.
Lady Alma and Joanna tried to stifle their laughter while pretending not to know anything.
But occasional giggles still slipped out, drawing Erica’s gaze to them.
Looking at the two women curiously, she tilted her head.
“What is all this?”
Joanna was about to keep playing dumb, but Lady Alma nudged her side, prompting her to answer politely.
“It looks like a gift for you, Young Lady.”
“A gift for me…?”
When Erica looked puzzled, Lady Alma gently nudged her forward.
“Yes. Actually, we prepared it with the servants. As a celebration for your arrival.”
“But it’s not my birthday, and there’s nothing to celebrate…”
“Who says gifts are only for special occasions?” Joanna chimed in with a playful tone.
“Sometimes you give gifts to win someone over—someone you want to be friends with.”
Erica’s eyes widened.
“That’s why this one’s from me.”
Joanna rummaged inside her apron and pulled something out.
“…Oh?”
It was a pair of indoor slippers, just the right size for Erica’s feet.
Soft, fluffy, and bright yellow—they looked like newly hatched chicks.
“Can I really have these?”
“Of course! I bought them just for you. Welcome to House Ackliff, Young Lady.”
Erica gently stroked the slippers and looked up at Joanna with trembling eyes, asking again,
“You really… want to be friends with me?”
Why?
Aside from her mother Julia, Erica had never received such kindness from anyone.
So she couldn’t understand it.
She blinked over and over in disbelief, her lashes quivering.
But soon, realizing that Lady Alma and Joanna were sincere, her cheeks flushed.
It was a mix of excitement and warmth—an adorably bashful expression.
‘She’s just too precious!’
Joanna was overwhelmed by the urge to hug Erica right then and there.
Lady Alma, wearing a gentle smile, spoke as well.
“Joanna, the servants, and I… we all wanted to get closer to you, so we prepared this together.”
“Think of it like a little welcome party!” Joanna added cheerfully.
She explained that the servants had decorated the room, but since Erica still seemed shy, they’d only left gifts for now.
Erica still looked a bit dazed.
“But… none of them would meet my eyes… they all avoided me…”
Her voice trembled with caution, as if afraid to be disappointed.
“Oh, that’s probably because they were trying to be considerate.”
“Considerate?”
“Yes. As you know, the Marquess of Blanche and the Duke of Ackliff haven’t had the best relationship. We didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable, so we kept some distance… We didn’t expect it would make you feel left out.”
Joanna quickly continued.
“Actually, we really wanted to greet you properly. That’s the truth.”
“…Really?”
“Really, really.”
“Then… if I greet them first, will they accept it?”
“They’ll be thrilled—probably bouncing with joy!”
At last, Erica’s face lit up.
Tears shimmered in her eyes.
She hurried over to the desk and sat down.
“I want to greet the servants again!”
She pulled out a small card.
Recalling all the names of the servants she had memorized earlier, she wrote each one down carefully, along with a neat message:
“Thank you for the lovely party.”
‘Giving gifts to someone you want to be friends with is such a nice idea.’
Erica etched that newfound realization deeply into her heart as she wrote.
And she sincerely hoped that her gesture would succeed too.
