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Chapter 13
“However, Allen, we can never go back to how we used to be.”
Roselyne spoke from behind Allen, who remained standing facing the door.
“My children are the most important thing to me now. And…”
Unable to finish her sentence, Roselyne bit her lip tightly and lowered her gaze to the floor.
“It is alright, Roselyne.”
Allen turned around slowly to face her. Though his blue eyes were filled with sorrow, a smile remained hung upon his lips.
“Just think of me as a guardian. I understand, truly.”
“……”
Seeing his expression, Roselyne felt a sharp pain, as if someone were squeezing her chest. Yet she could bring no words to offer him.
“Roselyne, my feelings are…”
Allen cleared his throat softly.
Not once had he ever given up his feelings for her. Not even when he heard the news that she had married and borne children.
Because of that, when Ludiana had come to him speaking of Roselyne’s divorce, it would be a lie to say he had harbored no inner expectation.
Even so, Allen had no wish to force his feelings upon Roselyne.
Even if she regarded him merely as a guardian or a friend, the simple fact that he could watch over her by her side made him more than happy enough.
“I hope we can remain good friends.”
Hiding his true heart, Allen spoke, ignoring the aching weight crushing his chest and the trembling of his lips.
“…Yes. Friends.”
Roselyne’s expression turned subtle and inscrutable before softening into a faint smile. Allen could not tell whether that smile held relief, sorrow, or pity.
Having returned from the training grounds after being called by Allen, Carlos noticed that the door to Roselyne’s room was slightly ajar.
What is going on?
Sensing something peculiar, he hurried his steps forward. Although he could not see inside, as he drew closer to the door, the sound of the conversation within drifted out to him.
“I hope we can remain good friends.”
“…Yes. Friends.”
Detecting an unusual atmosphere, he signaled Neil, who was following behind him, to step back, and then leaned his body against the wall beside the door.
Though he could not see their faces, warning bells rang inside Carlos’s head that this was an atmosphere he dared not interrupt.
To Carlos, Allen was far more than a mere guardian.
He was the presence who had filled the void left by the biological father who abandoned him, a lord to serve for a lifetime, and a model of life he wished to emulate. Seeing such an Allen looking this vulnerable was deeply unfamiliar to him.
“……”
Carlos wanted Allen to be happy. Very occasionally, Allen would wear the saddest expression in the world. Because of that, Carlos had inwardly hoped that woman would accept Allen’s heart.
When the conversation between the two ended and no more sound came from within, Carlos knocked on the door.
Knock, knock.
“What is it?”
“Ah, Carlos. You’ve arrived.”
Startled by the sound of Carlos opening the door and casually walking inside, Allen flinched slightly.
“Greetings, Head of the Mjombeck Family. My Lord Duke, why were you standing right in front of the door?”
After offering a polite greeting to Roselyne, Carlos asked Allen in an off-kilter, playful posture.
“Ahem, ahem, it is nothing. Come, take a seat.”
“So, on what matter did you call for me?”
Clearing his throat, Allen guided Carlos toward the sofa. Seated beside Allen, Carlos deliberately asked in an even sharper tone to break the heavy tension.
“Lady Ludiana and Lady Irene will be coming out shortly in their new dresses.”
However, the words that came out of Allen’s mouth were more than enough to leave Carlos thoroughly dumbfounded.
“And so…?”
“It seems Lady Ludiana is still uncomfortable around boys her age, so please give her plenty of compliments.”
“Pardon?!”
Carlos glared at Allen with an expression of sheer absurdity. Was he serious? Did he really summon someone from training just to give compliments on dresses?
A disbelieving laugh escaped from between Carlos’s lips.
“Young Master Carlos, I am sorry. Ludiana is still unfamiliar with boys her age.”
“Please simply call me Carlos. I do not mind in the slightest.”
Roselyne was also surprised by Allen’s request, but putting Ludiana’s comfort above all else, she asked for Carlos’s understanding.
With speed unbelievable for a young boy, Carlos instantly shifted his demeanor and offered a polite smile to Roselyne seated across from him.
“Your Grace, the young ladies are ready!”
Just then, Redney’s voice resounded from outside the door.
“Please enter.”
Upon Allen’s permission, the door swung open, and an excited Irene came hopping into the room, holding up the hem of her skirt.
“Mom, look at this!”
Embroidered with small petals upon a yellow dress reminiscent of freesias, the petals seemed to float as if blown by the wind whenever Irene twirled around.
“Irene, you look truly beautiful.”
Roselyne looked at Irene with the happiest expression in the world.
“Heehee, Sister looks even prettier!”
With a smile as bright and dazzling as golden sunlight, Irene pointed her finger outside the door.
“You are the prettier one, Irene.”
Ludiana burst into a soft laugh as she stepped into the room alongside Redney.
Dressed in a pure white dress with a slightly dipped neckline, Ludiana looked like a pure white angel herself. The silk fabric made her glossy black hair stand out all the more, highlighting her uniquely pale skin even further.
Above all, her mysterious light-violet eyes sparkled like radiant gems in the sunlight. Ludiana’s pale cheeks flushed with a shy peach tint.
“Good heavens!”
Irene was dazzlingly lovely as well, but Ludiana’s pure white dress suited her so impeccably it seemed custom-made exclusively for her.
“This was the only outfit that fit Her Lady! But isn’t she truly dazzlingly beautiful?!”
Standing beside Ludiana, Redney could not contain her overwhelming emotion, gushing with excitement repeatedly.
By convention, it was customary to reserve a pure white dress for grand occasions like an engagement ceremony or a debutante ball. While not legally forbidden, events that valued custom strictly followed such etiquette.
For daily wear, vibrant colors were usually added to highlight innate beauty. Redney had also initially intended to recommend a colored dress to Ludiana, but unfortunately, due to the lack of a proper size, she had searched the entire town before ending up dressing her in this white dress.
Yet, making Redney’s concerns useless, Ludiana’s beauty shone all the more brilliantly.
“Isn’t that right, Young Master Carlos?!”
Heehee… He’s completely lost in thought.
Seeing the reaction of the audience mesmerized by Ludiana’s appearance gave Redney a thrilling sense of satisfaction.
Among them, Carlos’s reaction was undeniably the best. The moment Ludiana appeared, his back, which had been leaning against the sofa rest, straightened up rigid. At the same time, his handsome eyes and mouth widened in shock.
“…Ah, yes. It suits you exceptionally well.”
Carlos hurriedly collected his expression and averted his gaze.
Hmm?
Finding it even more amusing, Redney playfully pressed Carlos.
“Are you only going to offer that meager compliment? How stingy of you…”
“Pardon? Ah, no, that’s not it! It suits her incomparably well!”
Carlos’s ears flushed bright red, and he dropped his head low.
“Lady Redney… please stop.”
As the dress shop owner stepped toward Carlos, Ludiana grabbed Redney’s sleeve.
Her face was likewise flushed with a red blush, her gaze fixed firmly on the floor.
“Ahem, ahem, very well. In any case! The young ladies are gems, absolute gems! Even when you go to the East, I simply must make custom clothes for you.”
This time, Redney’s arrow turned toward Allen. Watching the interactions among the three with great interest, Allen replied with a warm, cheerful smile.
“If Lady Ludiana and Lady Irene do not mind, I shall gladly accept.”
“I’d love that!!”
Irene answered, burying herself in Roselyne’s arms.
“Then let us do so.”
Allen replied, looking affectionately at Irene and Roselyne.
“Thank you!”
“I-I… shall head back to the training grounds now.”
Carlos, who had been hanging his head down, suddenly sprang up from his seat and sprinted out of the room. He vanished so quickly that no one even had time to answer.
Intending to apologize to Carlos if she met him, Ludiana chased after him into the hallway a moment late, but he was nowhere to be found.
In the end, she trudged back into the room with a somber expression.
Ah, youth…
Watching this, the corners of Redney’s lips twitched with amusement.
“Now then, shall we decide on the designs for the remaining clothes?”
“Yay!!”
Seated beside Roselyne, Irene hopped up in excitement.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door, and Neil stepped into Roselyne’s room with hurried strides.
“My Lord. Urgent news has arrived from the territory.”
Judging by his expression and the drops of sweat trickling down his forehead, something grave had clearly occurred.
“I shall go at once. Lady Redney, I leave these ladies in your care.”
Seeing Neil’s dark expression, Allen hurriedly rose from his seat and headed outside.
“Please make my dresses as you see fit, Lady Redney!”
Ludiana also hurried her steps to pursue him.
Urgent news from the territory.
That meant a major problem had arisen in the land—something requiring the immediate decision of the head of the house.
At this point in time, there was only one massive event set to occur in the East. But could such a major incident have broken out already?
“Lady Ludiana…!”
Standing right beside her, Redney stepped into Ludiana’s path, blocking her way.
“I am truly alright!”
Bypassing Redney, she hurriedly rushed out of the room.
