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Chapter 29
There were plenty of dresses left at the Earl of Airington’s estate.
That was thanks to Vanetta, who had treasured every single piece of her granddaughter’s clothing and never thrown any of them away.
After choosing one and changing into it, Aileen returned to the sitting room.
There, facing Vanetta—who sat drained of strength after crying for so long—Aileen busied herself preparing tea.
Strangely enough, what she brewed was not tea leaves, but a pitch-black, charred powder.
Soon, a fragrant aroma—warm and comforting in an indescribable way—spread throughout the room.
“…I’ve never seen a tea like this before.”
Vanetta, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.
“And such a black color—are you certain this is even drinkable?”
“Of course. Please, just try it once.”
Vanetta hesitated with the teacup in her hands, then finally gathered her courage and took a sip.
And then—
“…!”
Her reddened eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Seeing that, Aileen merely smiled faintly.
As if she had expected this all along.
Vanetta slowly finished the entire cup of coffee.
As the warm, fragrant drink settled in her, her cold hands and feet began to warm.
So did her heart, which had long been frozen.
“…Why don’t you say anything?”
Vanetta asked quietly after finishing the coffee.
“I know that no words can truly comfort you,” Aileen replied.
Her tone was calm, unadorned, lacking any formal polish.
And because of that, her sincerity came through all the more deeply.
“As you live your life, moments like that come sometimes…”
For a brief instant, Aileen’s gaze drifted far away—
Perhaps to a distant past.
She stared blankly out the window, where the rain was beginning to let up, and asked,
“Do you like the rain, Lady Vanetta?”
“No.”
Vanetta answered immediately.
Her voice trembled as she continued.
“I hate it. I hate the rain—so very much.”
“I can’t stop the rain from falling, but…”
Aileen murmured evenly.
“I can come and keep you company when it rains.”
“You… why would you…?”
“When the rain stops, doesn’t the air become incredibly clear? I really like that.”
Aileen said with a bright smile.
“I wanted to show you that.”
“Grandmother! I looove it when it rains!”
“My goodness, you rascal… what’s so good about this gloomy weather that makes my knees ache?”
“Hehe. I like the rain too, but what I love most is the moment when it stops and the dark clouds clear away.”
Over Aileen’s face, she saw her granddaughter’s face layered atop it—smiling brightly at her.
“When you breathe in that clear air, it feels like everything is starting anew!”
At some point, the pouring rain had stopped.
The dark clouds parted, and a single beam of sunlight fell through.
“Ah… that’s right.”
Watching the scene, Vanetta realized it.
Lily had loved moments like this after the rain.
Yet Vanetta had forgotten that, cursing her own misfortune every time it rained.
Clutching her rosary tightly, Vanetta smiled quietly.
It was the first smile she had worn in a very long time since her granddaughter’s death.
A bright, clear weekend afternoon.
In the garden of the Earl of Airington’s estate.
Vanetta and Taeyon sat together at a table, sipping tea.
“What about His Highness Julian?”
Vanetta had once been responsible for the imperial family’s education.
That was why Taeyon and Crown Prince Julian—being of similar age—had studied under her together.
“His Highness is currently on an inspection tour of the Kingdom of Decus.”
“I see. You must be quite busy yourself, Grand Duke.”
“Oh, come now—why are you suddenly like this? Please speak comfortably, as you always do.”
At his polite words, Vanetta lifted the corners of her mouth in a smile.
Despite how busy he must have been, Taeyon never forgot his lonely former teacher and always came to visit.
That alone made him admirable.
“…That rosary.”
Taeyon spoke carefully, having noticed the necklace around her neck.
Vanetta smiled faintly as she tilted her teacup.
“So you recognized it after all.”
Though he appeared blunt, it was only because he pursued efficiency to an extreme.
In truth, Taeyon was remarkably considerate and gentle.
Especially toward those he regarded as his own—no one was kinder than he was.
“You searched for it for such a long time… How did you manage to recover it?”
“Well. A fairy brought it to me.”
“…?”
A question flickered across Taeyon’s face at her cryptic answer.
Vanetta only chuckled softly, wearing a gentle smile.
It was a look of ease he hadn’t seen on her in a very long time.
“Well, I suppose who brought it isn’t all that important.”
Taeyon thought as he observed Lady Vanetta looking steadier and more at peace.
“If you don’t intend to tell me, I’ll leave it at that.”
Though the words sounded blunt, they didn’t quite match his true feelings.
“Oh dear, how dull. Is that why you’ve gone your whole life without a single romance, despite that handsome face of yours?”
Having known him since childhood, Vanetta spoke casually to him even after he became a Grand Duke.
Taeyon, for his part, was quite fond of her familiarity.
Though what she had just said did sting a little.
“…It’s not that I couldn’t date—it’s that I chose not to,” he corrected.
“Stop fluttering the hearts of innocent young ladies with that face and hurry up and get married.”
Vanetta scolded him, unfazed by his response.
“I’ve heard the rumors. They say Princess Seirian is quite desperate to have you.”
“…Even Lady Vanetta, who’s practically retired from society, has heard that much?”
Taeyon let out a long sigh.
Watching him, Vanetta added lightly,
“Are you searching for fate…?”
“You know I’m not the type to chase after something so grand and unproven.”
“Then why avoid romance so thoroughly?”
“I’m just…”
Taeyon hesitated.
For a moment, silvery hair fluttered through his mind.
“…What?”
Absurdly enough, the next thing that crossed his thoughts was a pair of round, tinted glasses.
“…I’ve lost my mind. Taeyon Roderick.”
He quickly composed himself and spoke calmly.
“I simply haven’t found an investment worthy of dedicating my life to.”
“An investment? That way of talking is exactly why you can’t date.”
“….”
Taeyon pressed his lips shut.
But the gesture only made his sculpted features stand out even more.
Staring at his impossibly handsome face, Vanetta sipped her tea, lost in thought.
“That girl… she’s already married, they say.”
And of all people, she married the eldest son of the Morgans family—a rootless brute of a man.
She had seemed so clever; why would she make such a mistake?
“Then again, love blinds people, and makes them willingly accept foolish choices.”
After all, her granddaughter had been the same.
Suddenly, she recalled that bold declaration from the girl who had promised to keep her company.
“I wanted to show you that.”
Vanetta let out a soft chuckle, smiling unconsciously.
“…Yes. I’ve rested for far too long.”
She had believed she had little life left.
No—she had lived as though she were urging death to come faster.
Thinking that if she closed her eyes sooner, she might see her granddaughter again.
But after hearing that child’s words, her thoughts had changed.
There was still far too much life left ahead.
“Then perhaps… I should step back out there, for that adorable child’s sake.”
“…Pardon?”
“…Society.”
Lady Vanetta declared calmly as she lifted her teacup.
“I think I’ll return.”
“…!”
Taeyon’s usually impassive eyes widened slightly.
He had tried countless times to persuade her before.
To return to society.
It pained him to see his once-tiger-like mentor slowly losing her vitality in this estate.
He had even resorted to saying she’d be a great asset to the Crown Prince’s faction.
Yet now—
“No matter what I said, you never listened.”
“Hehe. A person’s heart is bound to change.”
“This has something to do with recovering that rosary, doesn’t it?”
Lady Vanetta answered only with a knowing smile.
Just who had changed her so completely?
Taeyon fell silent, gazing around the glass conservatory.
For some reason, it felt as though the warm scent of coffee lingered in the air.
The study of the House of Roderick.
Back at his estate, Taeyon sank into thought.
Today, Lady Vanetta had scolded him repeatedly about dating.
And somehow, each time, the same images surfaced in his mind—
Silvery hair glinting in the sunlight, and a bright smile as she walked down the street.
Then came the image of a cloaked woman brushing past him, leaving behind the pleasant scent of coffee.
And finally, a brown-haired woman wearing peculiar tinted glasses.
Taeyon lowered his head deeply, his expression grim.
“What is wrong with me lately…?”
A married woman of unknown identity.
A mysterious Cinderella.
And even a woman dressed like a petty thief.
He had never once wavered over anyone in his entire life.
Had he always been this fickle?
In the midst of his identity crisis, Taeyon finally reached a conclusion.
He had simply been alone for far too long.
Loneliness must have driven him mad.
“…Andreas.”
“Yes, sir?”
Taeyon spoke to his secretary with solemn resolve.
“…Bring me the list of prospective brides my mother sent.”
