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Chapter 23
“The maids? It’s probably just another useless rumor.”
Count Marceline responded indifferently at the mention of the maids.
However, remembering Gemma’s earlier warning, the butler felt he had to speak up.
“If something serious happens and you don’t know about it, wouldn’t I also be responsible, my lord?”
“…They say Lady Luna is trying to harm Lady Aira.”
“What?”
Count Marceline’s eyebrows twitched at the butler’s words. He let out a scoffing laugh and shook his head.
“That’s nonsense. Which maid started this ridiculous rumor? She should be punished.”
To Count Marceline, Luna was just an innocent girl who had grown up doing menial labor in a commoner’s village until she was ten.
She was timid, always eager to please, and had no real understanding of the world. Unlike Aira, who had inherited intelligence from the late Countess and received private education from a young age.
Of course, the recent incident where Luna almost had an affair with Henrick Amstine had been shocking, but he had already punished her strictly for that. He had even taken away her rights to do what she wanted.
But for Luna to hold a grudge against Aira? That didn’t make sense.
Luna should be grateful just to be in this noble household. If anyone would be resentful, it would be Aira, who had to deal with having an illegitimate child in her house.
Not that Aira would ever harm Luna either—between the two, Aira might have more reason to, but she wasn’t that kind of person.
“I don’t know who started this rumor, but if you summon Lady Luna and question her, we’ll find out the truth.”
Count Marceline frowned but nodded at the butler’s suggestion.
“Fine, that might be best. I should also see if she’s reflecting on her actions.”
Though he was deeply disappointed in Luna after the recent scandal, he still couldn’t help but worry about her.
Just then, they heard footsteps outside.
The butler went to open the door and was met with Aira. He bowed before turning to the Count.
“My lord, Lady Aira is here.”
“Let her in.”
As the butler stepped aside, Aira entered the room and greeted Count Marceline. She then handed him a bottle of wine.
Even just by looking at the packaging, the Count could tell this was no ordinary wine. His eyebrows lifted in surprise.
“What is this?” he asked, still confused.
“It’s a gift from Lady Reina Chesswig. Since you enjoy wine, I brought it to you immediately.”
“Reina Chesswig? As in the Chesswig family?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
The Chesswig family controlled wine production and distribution across the empire. Their warehouses were filled with the finest wines.
Although Count Marceline had tasted Chesswig wines before, receiving such a high-quality bottle was rare.
“This… isn’t this the De Wig 27 vintage? There are only a few bottles of this in existence… How did you get this? And aren’t you not close to them? Luna is the one who had ties with them.”
Count Marceline gave Aira a questioning look.
Aira’s smile faded as she put on a complicated expression.
Luna must have thought Aira would expose everything that had happened that day.
But Aira only planned to reveal a small part of it.
If she exposed everything now, Count Marceline’s disappointment in Luna would reach its peak. However, she didn’t want to appear as though she was tattling.
It was better if the Count saw her as a kind older sister protecting her immature sibling.
After all, when the weight of all the doubts and suspicions finally collapsed, everything would be swept away at once.
“Lady Reina has cut ties with Luna,” Aira finally said.
“What do you mean?”
“There was an incident between them that caused bad feelings. Meanwhile, Lady Reina and I were able to clear up a misunderstanding.”
“Well, misunderstandings and arguments happen between women all the time… But since you’ve become close with her, could you try to clear up any misunderstanding between them? You are the older sister, after all, Aira.”
There was a hint of concern for Luna in the Count’s voice.
Aira smiled slightly and nodded.
“Don’t worry too much, Father.”
Turning his attention back to the wine, the Count ran his fingers over the bottle with a satisfied expression.
“To think you’d bring me such a fine gift, Aira. I’m touched.”
“This is nothing compared to the kindness you’ve shown me by raising me. I’m just glad you like it.”
The Count looked at her thoughtfully.
Her golden hair, inherited from the late Countess. Her red eyes, just like his own.
Today, Aira looked more admirable and precious than ever.
With a sigh, he finally spoke.
“Lately, I’ve been filled with regret.”
“…”
“For raising you so strictly… and spoiling Luna too much.”
His eyebrows furrowed as he reflected on the past.
“You and Luna were both just children… Yet I was so hard on you while treating her like a fragile doll.”
Like many parents, he had expected more from his firstborn while indulging the younger one.
But the child he thought he had raised to be pure and bright had nearly committed adultery.
And now, she had even been disowned by Reina.
He wanted to ask Aira for details, but seeing her expression, he wasn’t sure he was ready to hear the answer.
Maybe he was just trying to make himself feel better about leaving Luna until she was ten years old by showing her so much love.
“Don’t blame yourself, Father.”
Aira had grown up so well.
Hearing her clear voice, Count Marceline’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
Even though there was no wind, it felt as if Aira’s golden hair was gently swaying. Her bright red eyes held a hint of coolness.
“Aira… if you ever felt hurt by me, please tell me.”
He placed the precious bottle of wine on his desk and looked at Aira.
Receiving such a gift from her filled him with mixed emotions.
After a brief silence, Aira finally spoke.
“I just want you to remember my mother.”
Count Marceline’s eyebrows twitched again at Aira’s unexpected words.
The late Countess. She had golden hair and a calm, wise nature.
In the beginning, he had struggled to connect with her, and in a moment of weakness, he had betrayed her with another woman—leading to Luna’s birth.
He had kept that betrayal a secret from the Countess until her death.
It was a cowardly thing to do, even in his own eyes.
And after she passed away, he had brought Luna, his illegitimate daughter, into the house.
“I have been a terrible husband and father.”
His voice was filled with self-mockery, but Aira neither agreed nor disagreed.
Even before her return to the past, she had never truly hated or loved Count Marceline.
He was her father, but she knew he had not been a good husband.
Still, she had accepted Luna as her sister despite everything.
“I’m sorry, Aira.”
Hearing those words, Aira’s fingers twitched slightly.
She had never received an apology from him before—not until this moment.
She had always been expected to simply understand the circumstances of the adults around her.
But today, Count Marceline was apologizing to her.
The Count pressed his lips together before speaking again.
“I should go to the temple today and pray for her.”
For so long, he had avoided confessing to the Countess—even after her death.
Now, at the very least, he would try to release that burden through prayer.
Maybe it was just another way to ease his guilt, but still…
“And also…”
Aira hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“I would like a room in the estate to honor my mother. A place where we can keep her belongings and remember her.”
Count Marceline had cut ties with the Marquess of Adwints, his late wife’s family, ever since she passed away.
Maybe it was because he wanted to avoid his guilt.
Or maybe he had worried that keeping those ties would make Luna feel even more like an outsider.
But Aira knew that reconnecting with the Adwints family would be beneficial to her.
Even if they couldn’t provide the same level of political power as the Duke of Emrich—who backed Julienne—they still had their own influence.
“And please… restore ties with the Marquess of Adwints. They are your in-laws, after all.”
For a brief moment, Count Marceline’s eyes wavered.
He hesitated but then glanced at the bottle of wine on his desk.
Seeing how well his daughter had grown and hearing her request for the sake of the family, he realized he couldn’t refuse.
“…Alright. I’ll do it.”
