TVRC 06

Chapter 06

It had happened only a few hours earlier. LeBlanc rose early in the morning and carefully dressed herself. Unlike her usual self, she looked unusually excited.

“Doesn’t this outfit feel a bit too much?”

“What do you mean? It suits you perfectly. Even something more extravagant wouldn’t be enough.”

“Really…?”

LeBlanc stared intently at her reflection in the mirror. Her neatly pinned red hair was adorned with lustrous pearls that shimmered softly, and her dark green velvet dress fell gracefully, modest yet tastefully cut to reveal her collarbone and shoulder line without being excessive.

Today was finally the day of her wedding to Erkys—the day the two of them would move to the Feronto territory. Gatte had kept his promise to send a marriage proposal swiftly, and, fortunately, Baron Trisban’s family had responded positively.

As with most political marriages, the formal procedures were carried out so quickly that before she knew it, this very day had arrived.

She had been so elated that when she woke up that morning, LeBlanc had even thanked Gatte and Berti for raising her—a nauseating lie that made her nearly retch afterward. After all, today would be the last time she ever had to look at those detestable faces.

She had waited for this moment for so long that, unable to believe it wasn’t a dream, she had tossed and turned all night without a wink of sleep.

“Lily, do I really look okay?”

“Of course! Even if you searched the entire territory—no, the entire empire—there’s no one more beautiful than you, miss. And it’s not just me; everyone will think so.”

Lily nodded solemnly. She wasn’t saying this just because LeBlanc was her mistress—objectively speaking, LeBlanc was an extraordinarily beautiful woman.

It was only regrettable that, due to Berti’s pressure, she had been unable to properly participate in social activities all this time. Seeing her leave the mansion so beautifully dressed made Lily’s heart swell with emotion. She never once regretted choosing to follow her to the count’s estate.

“The baron will surely be completely captivated.”

In truth, ever since LeBlanc’s marriage to Erkys had become a foregone conclusion, whispers mocking her had quietly spread among the servants of the estate.

They said she was being sent off to marry a baron as punishment for biting Regasian’s ear; that after her engagement to the marquis had fallen through, she had completely fallen out of favor with the head of the household; that the duchess herself had arranged this match to remove LeBlanc from her sight altogether. Most of the rumors were nothing more than ridicule of her circumstances.

At first, Lily herself had felt some regret that her mistress was marrying a baron from such an insignificant family, but that feeling came solely from concern for LeBlanc. However, after watching her closely, it was clear that LeBlanc wanted this marriage more desperately than anyone.

Otherwise, how could she wear such a blissful smile? Lily had spent a long time with her, yet she had never seen LeBlanc smile so brightly before.

The House of Arnetio had never been a kind place for her. Rather than continuing her misery there, Lily sincerely hoped LeBlanc would make a fresh start with the person she desired and find happiness.

“By the way, I’ve been curious from the beginning—why Baron Trisban, of all people? Had you two met before?”

“Huh?”

Caught off guard by Lily’s unexpected question, LeBlanc blinked in surprise. Come to think of it, it was more curious that no one had asked such a simple question until now.

LeBlanc had barely engaged in social activities and had lived almost exclusively within the estate, so it was only natural that choosing Erkys out of the blue for marriage would seem strange. After a brief moment of contemplation, she calmly fabricated a story.

“I ran into him briefly from afar at last year’s Founding Festival. Of course, he probably doesn’t remember me, but for some reason I couldn’t stop thinking about him afterward. And above all, he was someone I could persuade both Father and Mother with at the same time.”

She had used his royal blood as leverage to convince Gatte and emphasized that he came from a nonthreatening, insignificant family to deceive Berti. However, Lily’s reaction was entirely different from what she had expected—her eyes sparkled with excitement.

“My goodness, it was love at first sight! The Founding Festival was such a long time ago—why didn’t you say anything until now? A political marriage with your destined partner from the Founding Festival… that’s so romantic!”

“I-It’s not quite like that.”

Perhaps embarrassed by Lily’s blatant enthusiasm, LeBlanc’s face flushed slightly. Just then, a light knock sounded, followed by a servant’s voice.

“Miss, the carriage has arrived.”

“All right. Let’s go, Lily.”

As they passed through the corridor and headed down the stairs, a commotion could be heard in the distance. A quick glance revealed Regasian angrily taking it out on a servant. LeBlanc sent Lily ahead, then silently approached him from behind.

“No matter how bad your relationship is, it’s still the day your only sister is leaving to be married. How can you not even show your face?”

“You…!”

Startled, Regasian stepped back upon noticing LeBlanc. But only for a moment—soon he glared daggers at her. His ear was still wrapped thickly in bandages, the wound evidently not yet healed.

Seeing the servant’s swollen cheek, it was obvious Regasian had once again failed to control his temper and struck them. Judging by the luggage the servant was holding—clearly LeBlanc’s—it was plain that he had vented his spite on them without reason. LeBlanc gestured lightly toward the servant.

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you loading the luggage into the carriage? Are you planning to do it only after I get in? Hurry up.”

The servant nodded and hurried away. Regasian, exasperated by the situation, snapped at her again.

“Who do you think you are, sending them away? Have you completely lost your mind? Or now that you’re leaving the house, you think nothing’s beneath your notice anymore?”

“Why take your anger out on an innocent person? Shouldn’t you be dancing with joy now that an eyesore like me is finally leaving the estate? I thought that’s what you and your mother wanted.”

“You disgusting wretch, talking back like that…!”

His hand twitched as if he were about to strike her. But no matter how foolish he was, he knew better than to lay a hand on LeBlanc on a day like this.

Moreover, Gatte was still firmly stationed upstairs. Knowing his thoughts better than anyone, LeBlanc fixed him with a mocking smile.

“Are you sulking because, at your age, you’ve never even been engaged, while I’m already getting married? Or are you jealous because, unlike you—who doesn’t even have a title—I’ve been granted a countship?”

“Shut up!”

Struck right where it hurt, Regasian shouted and raised his hand again. But LeBlanc, as if she had anticipated it, swiftly caught his wrist and stopped him.

“Do you still not know your place? How dare you raise your hand at me? Even a mute beast knows not to bare its fangs at someone who’s already struck it once—so what exactly are you?”

Regasian was seething. Just a few days ago, LeBlanc had been no more than dust beneath his feet, yet overnight she had completely changed her attitude.

And a count’s title, no less? Berti had tried to placate him, saying that he would soon become a viscount anyway, but his anger refused to subside. What was even stranger, however, was the way his heart began to pound.

LeBlanc’s cold gaze—something he had never seen before—seemed to crush his mind. Suddenly, memories of that dreadful pain and fear surged back, and without taking any further action, he shook off the hand gripping his arm.

“…Let’s see how long you can keep being so arrogant. The next time we meet, I’ll tear out your throat.”

“Well, to lay a hand on the body of a count, wouldn’t you need to at least be a viscount first?”

At LeBlanc’s sneering mockery, he finally stormed off, glaring fiercely as he left. Once Regasian was completely gone, her face hardened coldly.

“Disgusting bastard. That vile temper—he really takes after his mother…”

Outside, a carriage loaded with luggage waited for her. LeBlanc lifted her head and surveyed the exterior of the mansion. True to the name Arnetio, its scale and splendor were overwhelming. The number of servants bowing and seeing her off easily exceeded thirty.

In her previous life, the last time she had set foot on this land was the day she had bowed at Gatte’s feet, begging him to spare Erkys. That day, LeBlanc had been driven from this estate in utter humiliation.

In this life, LeBlanc walked out of the mansion on her own two feet. Gazing at the estate where she had lived for decades, she smiled softly.

“Goodbye, my hell.”

Without hesitation, LeBlanc boarded the carriage. Soon, with a clatter of wheels, the coachman urged the horses forward, and the carriage left the estate behind.