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Chapter 43
“Alright! Now my uncle will handle it himself.”
Fleur clenched her fists tightly and let out a sigh of relief.
When Maricel first mentioned the debutante ball, Fleur had listened with nothing more than curiosity.
“Mom and Dad said I should keep an eye out for someone suitable at the ball. Hee hee hee. They’ll do everything they can to make the marriage happen. They really do care about me, you know. Hohoho.”
At that point, Fleur could still smile while listening.
But now… Maricel was going to get married? Not to her uncle, but to someone else?
A wave of anxiety overwhelmed her—the fear that Maricel might be taken away.
‘No! Maricel has to be my mom!’
Maricel had to marry her uncle…
Her busy uncle didn’t even seem to notice Maricel was preparing for the debutante ball.
Of course, he liked Maricel. Though she didn’t seem to like him back yet.
But Fleur was absolutely certain that Maricel would eventually fall for her uncle.
After all, her uncle was rich, handsome, smart, and strong.
She also knew that countless young ladies in the empire wanted to marry him. Surely, Maricel would soon feel the same.
And the crown prince also had many women wanting to marry him. Fleur just had to neutralize the prince.
She had seen the crown prince once at a royal ball with her parents. He had been dazzling.
It was possible Maricel might fall for him, and vice versa, because she was beautiful.
But this could never happen.
The only one who could prevent it was her uncle.
Her uncle liked Maricel and would certainly try to be her cavalier. That would keep the crown prince at bay.
He could also stop Maricel from simply following her parents’ wishes in finding a marriage partner.
So Fleur made a plan.
The moment Maricel left for her family estate, Fleur went straight to Morgan’s office.
She reminded him that he had to secure the role of Maricel’s partner.
As expected, her uncle immediately understood and said he would handle it.
They even made a pinky promise, stamping it with certainty.
‘Uncle will definitely keep his promise!’
With the meaning of the ceremony clear, Fleur had no doubt he would follow through.
Feeling at ease, she went to the window to finish reading her book.
After escorting Fleur back and returning to his office, Morgan sat at his desk, reviewing everything Fleur had said, lost in thought.
Rino, unable to restrain himself, broke the silence with a teasing voice.
“Hahaha. Fleur is such a devoted child.”
Morgan glared at Rino, breaking the train of thought.
“What do you mean by devoted?”
“Look at her! She ran straight to you, worried someone might snatch Maricel away.”
Rino chuckled, shoulders shaking with amusement.
Morgan shot him a disdainful look and turned back to his papers.
Seeing no reaction, Rino grew bored and left, saying he’d be back soon.
Meanwhile, Morgan called Porr.
“Bring me all the correspondence, don’t filter anything.”
“Yes, sir.”
Porr went downstairs and returned with letters, placing them on Morgan’s desk.
More than half of them were requests to be a cavalier at the debutante ball.
Every year, Morgan received countless requests like this.
Yet he had never attended a debutante ball.
The letters were all the same.
Some came on luxurious paper, scented with perfume, or included pressed flowers as a display of painstaking effort.
One letter in particular made him frown.
A letter bearing the Zelkova family crest.
Of course, it was also soaked in perfume.
Morgan checked carefully, given they were a rival family—and indeed, it requested that he be their cavalier.
But it was the closing line that made him sick.
“If Your Highness the Grand Duke becomes my debutante cavalier, the empire will be bathed in the light of glory. —Boora Cruyff Zelkova”
It implied a potential union between the Grand Duke of Johaim and the Zelkova family.
Morgan scowled and ordered Porr to burn all the letters.
“Just an eyesore.”
He found himself wanting to see Maricel.
Seeing her would wash away this filthy feeling.
‘Of all days, it happens to be my day off.’
“Liam!”
“Yes, sir!”
Liam Levi, captain of Morgan’s Shadow Guard, revealed himself.
“Gather all information coming from the Marua Marquisate. Leave no detail about Maricel behind.”
“Yes, sir!”
Liam’s golden, predatory eyes gleamed as he vanished at high speed.
“Welcome, Maricel!”
Herace ran forward and hugged her as if she were a child, greeting her warmly.
The embrace was so natural that Maricel had no time to be surprised and clung to him instinctively.
If Morgan had seen this, he would have been horrified.
“Hmm. Herace. How have you been?”
Maricel greeted him and then distanced herself slightly.
“Of course! And how about you? Are you well? You must have worried me so much.”
“I’m sorry, Herace.”
Herace smiled warmly at her calm expression.
“Come in. I’ve prepared plenty of things you like! Your parents are waiting too.”
“Eh? The Baron and Baroness?”
“Of course! They were very worried. They said they had to see your face to be reassured. Let’s go.”
“Oh… alright.”
Maricel felt overwhelmed by Herace’s energy.
‘Maricel, is this your type?’
Herace approached freely, like an eager puppy, completely unrestrained.
Perhaps for the shy Maricel, he was the perfect companion.
He had pink hair, soft green eyes, and a gentle demeanor—resembling his mother, the Baroness.
Being around him naturally lifted her spirits.
She felt lucky to have such a friend.
The luncheon with Herace and his parents was chaotic, filled with relentless questions.
“I wish Zenti were here too… what a shame.”
After lunch, Maricel enjoyed tea with him alone on the terrace attached to Herace’s room.
“Yeah. He just went to see the newborn niece at the Vero estate. He’ll be back later. We can meet then.”
“It’s a pity. Zendra must be healthy though. Ah, now I should call her Countess of Vero, not sister anymore.”
“The Countess is healthy. She’s always been strong!”
Herace chuckled, reminiscing.
“Oh! I have something for you, Herace!”
“Something for me?”
Herace pointed at himself, eyes sparkling with anticipation.
“Here, this is for you.”
Maricel handed over a beautifully wrapped gift.
Herace’s eyes sparkled and he glanced at her every time he unwrapped a layer.
Finally, when the last layer was off, his eyes widened, mouth gaping, and tears formed as he smiled broadly.
He jumped up and hugged Maricel tightly.
“Maricel! Thank you so much! This is the best gift ever!”
Herace wiped his tears while holding Maricel.
“Hmm. Herace. And stop crying now.”
Herace’s reaction, so honest and heartfelt, was perfect.
‘This makes giving gifts worthwhile.’
She wanted to give him more.
Now she understood why she liked Herace.
Once he calmed down, he explained that the book How to Control Ancient Mana was extremely difficult to obtain.
As the title suggested, it was truly a rare old text.
Maricel now understood why he had been so excited—and why she had chosen this book to confess her feelings before.
At that time, she had intended to confess while giving the book. Now, she had another request.
“Herace. I have a favor to ask. I really hope you can do it.”
“What is it? With a bribe like this, I can do anything!”
Maricel smiled.
“Be my cavalier at the upcoming debutante ball. Can you do it?”
She was confident he would agree—and he did, without hesitation.
“Of course! It’s an honor.”
“But what about Zenti?”
“Don’t worry! Zenti said she’ll attend with Gerard. Gerard cares for her a lot—almost too much.”
“Oh right. Any young man who takes Zenti will have to endure Gerard’s stern watch. Probably.”
“Exactly.”
Herace wholeheartedly agreed with Maricel. They laughed, enjoying the rare time of reminiscing and chatting.
During this time, Maricel realized that Herace did not see her as a woman at all—just as a childhood friend.
She silently felt grateful that she hadn’t confessed to him.
It was a perfect unrequited love.
