Chapter 52
“You’re saying exactly what I was about to say.”
Leonie strode forward and addressed Grania.
“Leonie.”
As Adrian stood by with a puzzled expression, Leonie thrust something she had been holding toward Grania.
“Is this really for Ribe? You’re not using her to pursue your own desires, are you?”
“Lady Almaz, what are you talking about? It’s quite shocking for you to come barging in and speak so harshly.”
As Grania’s face flushed, Leonie continued.
“You practically wrote that invitation like it was a memorial service. Look, Ribe isn’t dead. She’s still alive somewhere.”
“Did I say otherwise? What exactly do you think my sincere goodwill is?”
“Sincere goodwill?”
Leonie trembled with anger.
She barely knew Grania Shurein—just a passing acquaintance, and certainly not someone close. It had been the same with Ribe.
So why was this woman suddenly holding an event for someone who had disappeared? It didn’t make sense.
“What exactly is your intention with all this?”
“Didn’t I clearly write that in the invitation? You would know if you could read.”
At that moment, the sound of a piano began to filter through the open door.
Nathan was apparently warming up.
“Ugh, and what is that music supposed to be now?”
“Lady Almaz, I don’t know why you’re being so sensitive, but I truly want Lady Bernadette to return.”
Grania glanced behind her and added,
“That’s why I paid a good sum to have a piece composed for her. Even so, are you really going to see my sincerity as malicious?”
Adrian, who had been standing silently with a grim face, gently grabbed Leonie’s arm.
“Leonie, let’s go.”
“…….”
Leonie turned away, her face flushed with anger.
No matter how she thought about it, the anger wouldn’t subside. As she turned away, the words she hadn’t said flooded her mind.
She knew she couldn’t go back and had to swallow it, but her heart wouldn’t settle.
“Are you okay?”
After a while, Adrian asked gently.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
Of course, her forced smile didn’t fool Adrian.
“No, you’re not. You’re probably the one who’s most upset right now.”
“…….”
“Lady Shurein definitely made a mistake. Holding an event for a missing person? It’s inappropriate and disrespectful.”
Leonie nodded tightly, clenching her fists.
“And just look at her all dressed up in finery. The invitation said to wear simple clothes to honor Ribe’s spirit, but she shows up like that? There’s no way this is out of sincerity.”
Still, she couldn’t fathom Grania’s motives for doing something like this.
While she was fuming, Adrian suddenly covered his mouth with his hand and chuckled.
“I never knew you had this side to you, Leonie.”
Leonie hunched her shoulders slightly at his words.
“Me neither. I was so furious when I got the invitation, but I was worried I wouldn’t be able to say anything in front of Lady Shurein.”
She’d thought about just leaving quietly—about whether it was worth stirring up trouble. But then, Ribe’s face had come to mind.
“I thought of Ribe. She was truly a special girl.”
Even when others shunned Leonie because of her father’s issues, Ribe had stayed by her side.
She had a warm and deep heart, and she taught Leonie that people should be seen without prejudice.
She never tolerated injustice and was always dignified.
Thinking about how Ribe might have handled a situation like this gave Leonie the courage she needed.
“When I thought, ‘What would Ribe do? What would she say?’—I wasn’t scared anymore. I knew I had to speak up. If I stayed silent, Lady Shurein might never realize what she did wrong.”
“I see.”
“That’s why you came too, right, Lord Watford?”
Adrian just nodded with a faint smile.
“I miss Ribe.”
“She’s strong. She’ll come back.”
This time, Leonie didn’t say anything.
“Let me walk you home. Come on.”
As the two disappeared, a chill settled over the mansion.
Grania promptly shut the door and returned to the drawing room, but her face was stiff with anger.
“How ridiculous. She must think she’s someone important.”
Elome looked at her uncomfortably but said nothing.
“Whatever. She wasn’t an important guest anyway. Come on, people will start arriving soon. Let’s wrap things up.”
But the event didn’t go the way Grania had planned.
Many people suddenly sent their regrets, canceling their attendance. Even those who had intended to go casually were startled by a message from Millen and backed off.
With the Grand Duke in a foul mood, no one wanted to risk drawing his ire by showing up.
As Grania sat blankly in the empty drawing room—
Knock knock—
Hearing the sound, Elome stood, and Grania’s eyes widened.
“Who could it be? Maybe…”
Yes, the whole event had been staged for that person. No one else mattered.
If he came… if he understood her heart, that would be enough.
“I’ll go check.”
Unfortunately, the visitor at the Shurein estate was not the person Grania had hoped for.
It was Ecla, Ribe’s former maid, looking gaunt and worn.
“Ecla.”
Ecla greeted Elome with a cracked voice.
“Hi, Elome. Have you been well?”
“Mm-hmm, come inside.”
Elome opened the door, but Ecla shook her head.
“No, can we talk outside for a moment?”
“Sure, okay.”
As they walked toward the front gate, Elome spoke first.
“Ecla, are you eating properly? You don’t look well at all.”
“Mm-hmm, I’m fine.”
But she clearly wasn’t.
“I’m more worried about my lady than myself.”
Ecla muttered as if to herself, then suddenly stopped.
She turned to Elome and grabbed her hands.
“Elome.”
Elome blinked a couple of times before Ecla, nearly in tears, began speaking.
“You know so much—no, there’s nothing you don’t know.”
“Ecla.”
“So, maybe you could find out where my lady is? Maybe you’d know where she went?”
“…….”
“I’m so worried about her. I don’t know where she is, where she went. I can’t sleep at night, and I don’t know what to do.”
Ribe had been a kind and warm mistress.
Sure, she had been selfish and temperamental as a child, but at some point, she had changed completely.
Since then, she and Ecla had been like real sisters.
“Ecla, I’m so sorry.”
Elome hugged her friend tightly. But even as Ecla wept in her arms, there were things Elome couldn’t say.
“Hrk… sob…”
Ecla cried in Elome’s arms for a long time. Gently patting her back, Elome eventually spoke in a heavy voice.
“Ecla, you need to stay strong—for her.”
Ecla nodded, her tear-soaked face silently affirming.
“And I’m really sorry.”
At that, Ecla looked puzzled.
“Why would you be sorry?”
“…….”
“I think I’ve made you worry too much too. I’m sorry, Elome.”
Ecla wiped away her tears and managed a small smile.
“And about today’s event…”
She hesitated slightly, pressing her fingers together.
“I know Lady Grania meant well.”
Elome didn’t know what expression to make—she just bit her lip.
It wasn’t done with good intentions. It wasn’t for Ribe at all.
She knew she should defend her mistress no matter what Ecla said, but the words wouldn’t come.
“But it was hard for my lady to be portrayed like that… as if she’s no longer in this world.”
“Ecla…”
“Yes, I know that’s probably not what she meant. I’m sorry—I didn’t want to say all this, but someone needed to speak on my lady’s behalf.”
After saying that, Ecla gave another brave smile.
“I’ll go now. Let’s see each other again.”
“Take care.”
Elome stood there until Ecla had completely disappeared.
