Chapter 26
“Huh?”
I looked at my father in bewilderment.
Wait—what do you mean, it’s difficult?
Is it hard to invite someone?
“Father, what do you mean by that?”
My father furrowed his brows, just like I did, and replied with a somewhat excited look.
“Ribe, the Duke actually contacted me.”
“The Duke? Who… What?! What did you just say?”
His name came out of nowhere in this unexpected place.
While I stood frozen in shock, my father continued on calmly.
“The Duke,” he repeated.
In that moment, I forgot to breathe—
“He told me he has a special interest in you.”
…
Ah, I might as well just stop breathing for good.
My lips trembled as I lowered my head.
“Ribe?”
My reaction must have been confusing because my father looked concerned.
“Oh, Ribe. Are you okay?”
“Yes—no—wait, yes, I’m fine.”
“The Duke must have had a reason to say that to me. If I were to invite some eligible bachelor to dinner and His Grace the Duke were to hear of it…”
A shadow fell over my father’s normally gentle face.
Yes, I can imagine what might happen next.
“…”
“So, I suppose it would be difficult. I’m sorry, Ribe.”
I had made the plan after some thought… but I forced myself to hide my disappointment.
“No, it’s okay, Father.”
“But Ribe, there’s something I want to ask you. Could you answer me honestly?”
When I lifted my head again, my father was looking at me with worried eyes.
“Yes?”
What he said next actually moved me a little.
“No matter what anyone says, I believe your feelings are the most important.”
“Father…”
“Of course, the fact that the man interested in you is Duke Cygnus is a little… exciting for this old man.”
“…”
“Just imagining the possibility of having a duchess in the family keeps me up at night.”
“…”
“Your poor mother, with her frail nerves, would be absolutely thrilled. And your brother Oliver’s future could be so bright.”
“…”
“The prestige and enormous influence that would come from being related to the Duke… it’s something I’ve dreamed of all my life.”
“…”
“But even so, I still believe your feelings are what matter most.”
Father looked at me with kind eyes, his cheeks slightly flushed, nose twitching.
What an honest pair of nostrils.
“I understand, Father.”
Honestly, from his perspective, my reaction must have seemed baffling.
I understood perfectly well what it meant to receive affection from Jerlach.
To be the woman of someone with power nearly equal to the Emperor.
A life where I could place everything beneath my feet and have anything I wanted.
If I had no constraints, I might have welcomed the situation with open arms.
Then again, would I really?
He was, without a doubt, an extraordinary and impressive man—but still a bit frightening.
His sharply sculpted nose looked like it could cut, his spotless white skin radiated a chill that made me shiver, and those fathomless eyes felt like they could swallow me whole.
…Listing all that, it does sound like I’m scared of him.
Ugh, get it together!
“Ribe, is it that His Grace the Duke feels too… overwhelming for you?”
As I struggled to relax my expression, my father asked gently.
“Yes, a little intimidating.”
Not a little—a lot.
Either way, he can’t become mine.
I don’t want to die here. I want to survive and go back.
“When he sent you that dress, I was still unsure. He could have just been being polite. But for him to say something like that to me…”
“…”
“Ribe, like your mother says, men are simple creatures. Though your father is an exception, of course.”
Haha.
“Maybe, just maybe, the Duke is not like people say. Maybe he’s really pure-hearted. That’s why he’s so honest with his feelings.”
Pure-hearted?
Come on, Father. I know power is attractive, but really!
“So how about trying—just a little—to understand his feelings?”
“I understand, Father.”
Well, one thing is clear now—my father is not on my side.
Using Nathan to get rid of Jerlach is officially off the table.
Alright. I’ll find another way.
I smiled sweetly at my father again.
“Yes, Father. I understand what you mean.”
For now, I’ll retreat.
“Well then, I’ll head upstairs.”
“Ribe.”
As I turned to leave, Father spoke again, looking a bit awkward.
“If you don’t mind… I’d like to invite the Duke to dinner. What do you think?”
I recalled the image of him elegantly sipping tea, his face calm and noble.
My feelings toward him were deeply conflicted.
Once, I had wanted to run away. Just seeing him from afar made my legs shake.
But he was also breathtakingly captivating.
I clenched my skirt, unwilling to admit those confusing emotions.
Still, there’s something more important than my feelings.
I need to fix the puzzle I’ve broken.
“Maybe after you finish your busy work, Father. Would that be okay?”
“Ah, of course. Then… what about the music? Do you want me to introduce another musician I know?”
“No, I’ll take care of it. Thank you.”
Father smiled widely, satisfied with my answer.
I offered a polite smile in return, then turned around and dropped it immediately.
Sorry, Father.
I don’t think I’ll be able to fulfill your grand, noble dream.
Dinner, huh?
I’ll make sure this whole thing is solved before that nightmare even begins!
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
The rain that started in the morning had grown heavier.
Maybe it was last night’s conversation with Father, or the uncertainty ahead—but my head felt heavy, and even sweets weren’t lifting my spirits.
Ugh. If sweets don’t cheer me up, it must be serious.
I was staring absentmindedly at the raindrops sliding down the window when—
“Young Lady.”
Ecla, who had gone out after breakfast, seemed to have returned.
“Did you meet Elrome?”
I glanced briefly in her direction, then turned back to the window, feeling listless.
“Yes, my lady. But that’s not the important part.”
“Mm-hm.”
Right now, the only important thing in my life is escape, Ecla.
“I have two pieces of totally shocking news.”
“Two, huh.”
I answered flatly, but Ecla didn’t seem to mind.
“Which one would you like to hear first?”
“Whichever.”
“Okay! Then first! Do you remember the novel you mentioned before?”
“Novel?”
“Yes, don’t you remember?”
“…What novel did I talk about?”
“Oh, come on. You said it was about two people destined to fall in love, but the heroine’s friend keeps interfering.”
What?
Her words made my ears perk up and I quickly turned around.
“Uh, right. We did talk about that. Why?”
“I was curious how it ended, so I asked you for the title.”
I don’t even know how that story goes—how would I know the title!
“Ah, yes, that’s right.”
“But you said you couldn’t remember.”
Ecla’s face lit up with excitement as she spoke faster.
“So I asked Elrome just in case.”
Elrome.
A maid of the Shurain household—quick on her feet and an expert in gossip.
She knew everything about the social scene.
“And?”
“Elrome figured out the title!”
“What?”
I was so shocked that I jumped to my feet.
I mean, I don’t even know how the story unfolds…
Someone knows the title?
That story was about my current situation!
“Is that true? She really knows it?”
“Yes! Elrome doesn’t miss a thing. If she doesn’t know, she’ll find out.”
Ecla puffed up proudly.
But no matter how I thought about it, it didn’t make sense.
Elrome took pride in the credibility of her words.
She wouldn’t make up something and risk losing trust.
So… it’s real?
“So, what’s the title?”
My heart was pounding.
“I knew you’d be excited! That’s why I rushed back to tell you.”
“So what is it?!”
“Tumultuous Renata.”
“What?”
That sounds… familiar.
Wait—it’s strangely similar to the title Tumultuous Leoni.
As I stared at her in confusion, Ecla continued, unfazed.
“I looked into it more, and apparently it’s only available at Mr. Clem’s bookstore. I thought you’d be curious and wanted to buy it on the way, but the rain was too heavy.”
I knew where Mr. Clem’s bookstore was.
My brother Oliver always went there when he needed hard-to-find books.
I’d never been there myself, though.
“Let’s go.”
“Sorry?”
“We have to go there right now.”
“Ah—but it’s raining so much. Will you be okay?”
“Of course. Let’s go!”
Maybe—just maybe—I’ll find an answer there.
For the first time today, my head felt clear.
