Chapter 41
“Really…? You don’t want to meet with anyone? No, are you saying you won’t meet anyone?”
“Yes.”
“Ha—no, I think I can understand how you feel, Miss Daphne.”
She quickly erased the embarrassment that had crossed her face and replaced it with a smile.
“My feelings?”
“You can be honest with me… but it seems I’ll need to close the distance between us a little more. Still, don’t ever forget this one thing.”
She gripped both my hands firmly.
“We’ve worked so hard to become true friends all this time, and today we’ve become closer than anyone else!”
I nearly let the words, That’s just what you think… slip out, but I bit them back out of politeness.
She wandered around the drawing room, lost in thought, until she glanced at the clock and jumped in surprise.
“Oh, it’s already this late? I must have been keeping you from your busy schedule. Shall we end our meeting here for today?”
“Yes, that sounds good. I’ll be going then.”
“Sorry for holding you so long. I need to get back to him too. Miss Daphne, let’s meet again soon. Once things are settled, I’ll come to you to have another dress fitted.”
She made that promise with a face overflowing with happiness.
There was no point in saying no right then, and no need to either.
I only hope her fiancé’s business takes off before I leave for vacation…
I forced a lukewarm smile and stepped out of Hampton Manor.
Just spending time with her had drained me, my shoulders felt stiff.
What surprised me was something else—Jake had actually gone to see Rose, after hearing Eden’s words.
Didn’t Jake despise him? Eden looked a little guilty, but Jake was furious, shouting at him to get lost…
Or maybe it wasn’t quite that bad.
Anyway, whenever they met, Jake always frowned. But perhaps the overwhelming evil that was “Radipal” was even more terrifying than their personal grudges.
Exhausted, I climbed into the carriage.
Might as well reconcile, the two of them. From the looks of it, defeating Radipal individually was impossible.
As soon as I sat down, I closed my eyes and leaned against the backrest.
Tomorrow I’d have to go to work again—please customers, take measurements for dresses, listen to endless chatter from shop visitors… and reply to Madam Salvia’s letter.
Ah, save me.
My head throbbed automatically.
Maybe I’d gone too deep into this to pull out now.
The messy thoughts made my eyes hot.
I decided to nap for a bit, determined to go home and rest properly tonight.
By the time I arrived home, dusk had already fallen.
I dragged myself upstairs with no energy left.
That was when I saw my younger brother Milo waiting for me at the landing, flushed with excitement.
“Sis!”
“What the—why are you home? What about the Academy?”
“And why are you here? Shouldn’t you be on vacation by now?”
“…That’s complicated. But shouldn’t you explain why you’re here instead of at the Academy first?”
“I’m more curious about why you didn’t take your vacation. If you tell me, I’ll tell you.”
I’d long since given up the elegance expected of a noble lady, worn out from endless days of work.
Summoning what little strength I had, I strode toward Milo.
I gripped his shoulders tightly and ground my teeth.
“I’m too tired today. And you—do you think this is the time to loaf around? To just come home whenever you feel like it? Isn’t it exam period right now?”
He may have been seven years younger than me, but he was in his mid-teens now.
Being tired or homesick was no excuse for skipping the Academy whenever he liked.
Milo bit his lip nervously, trying to back away.
But I didn’t let go, tilting my head and demanding an explanation.
Finally, with eyes squeezed shut, he blurted out:
“You’re meeting the Grand Duke, aren’t you! You might even marry him!”
“…?”
“There’s a rumor at the Academy that you and Duke Richebarden are… involved.”
“Ha… I explained months ago that was nonsense. Why is that rumor only now spreading to the Academy… wait, seriously? You came home just because of that?”
“…Anyway, I’ve decided to take a leave of absence. To help with your wedding preparations…”
“A leave of absence?! Don’t tell me you failed and got expelled? And what wedding preparations—there’s no wedding! Are you trying to fool me?”
I was ready to tear into him when a voice came from behind me.
“Daphne, come talk with your mother.”
It was Mother’s voice.
I reluctantly let go of Milo, who rubbed the spot where I’d held him, lips jutting out in a pout.
“Talk to Mother. I’m just resting for various reasons.”
“Do you even know what taking a leave means? For such a ridiculous reason—!”
“Daphne, come inside so we can talk.”
I had no choice but to follow her into the sitting room.
As if I didn’t already have enough headaches from work, now my brother—whom I’d sent to the Academy so he wouldn’t end up like me—was suddenly declaring a leave of absence.
And the Academy didn’t allow half-year breaks. A leave meant at least a full year off.
How was I supposed to watch him fall behind the other nobles?
I went into the parlor showing my displeasure openly, even in front of Mother.
She spoke gently, as if to soothe me.
“Daphne, you know Milo has always been diligent at the Academy.”
“I know. But a leave of absence? That’s too much. You know he promised me he’d graduate quickly and become a scribe.”
“Yes, the plan was for you to inherit House Algerf, and Milo to find a stable livelihood. But Daphne… ever since that scandal with the Grand Duke, Milo seems to have struggled a lot.”
“What?”
Honestly, I’d never worried about Milo at the Academy.
Compared to high society, it was a peaceful place. And Milo, being more easygoing and lacking my insecurities, had adapted well.
I never imagined the rumors from the capital would reach him there.
“Even though it was explained quickly, other students still teased or provoked him because of it. Somehow, the clarification never spread properly.”
I knew Mother must have suffered too, hearing about all this.
So instead of snapping back, I just sighed deeply.
“But that’s not a reason for a leave. You know I can’t be fooled that easily.”
“You’re right, no one here can fool you. It’s hard to say, but… Milo was advised to take a leave. Not because of grades or fights.”
“…Advised? If it wasn’t because of problems, then…”
“For safety reasons, likely. As you know, the noble faction supporting Marquess Leodid is growing stronger each day.”
“…Yes.”
“And the Academy receives enormous funding from the noble faction, while our family has no ties at all. Ever since Lady Rachel was chosen as His Highness’s bride, can you imagine the isolation Milo must have felt? Children at the Academy are shrewder than they were in your day.”
Mother pressed her forehead with a sigh.
But I had been entrusted with making Rachel’s wedding dress. That meant Milo wasn’t from a family openly hated.
Mother went on carefully.
“It seems your connection with the Grand Duke has continually offended House Leodid. Honestly, when I heard you were making Lady Rachel’s dress, I was shocked. Part of me hoped you’d refuse…”
“…They’ve disliked me and House Algerf for as long as I can remember.”
The words slipped out before I realized.
Rachel and Rowan had never been openly unkind to me.
But Marquess and Marchioness Leodid were different.
They had always shown their displeasure when I visited, their voices only warm toward Lena.
“I understand. Milo just didn’t want to admit the real reason, so he made up an excuse. He’s in his adolescence too, so it must have been hard for him to say.”
But that wasn’t the end of the story.
