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Chapter 22
Love Leaves Scars
“Those who reach for something beyond their station must be prepared to pay the price. We are nothing more than a viscount’s family. How could we ever dare covet the position of mistress of the Grand Duke’s household?”
“Nothing more than a viscount’s family.”
For some reason, those words stirred a strange sense of déjà vu in Venerucia.
“I told you I don’t mind.”
“We are grateful that Your Highness has looked after my daughter, who had no one to rely on in the capital.”
From the perspective of a parent, it was difficult to simply thank Venerucia for everything he had done.
Especially for people like the Viscount and Viscountess Dafnen, who had never once taken advantage of Selenia’s relationship with him to ask for favors. They had no desire for power.
“My daughter has learned many things over the years. Even if some of those lessons were painful.”
As expected…
One had to hear the entire sentence before understanding its true meaning.
Only then did the Viscountess reveal what she truly meant.
She was saying that Selenia had never been happy insisting on staying by Venerucia’s side.
“So I believe it would be best if Your Highness ended your kindness here.”
In other words…
She was asking Venerucia to let Selenia go.
The Viscountess met his gaze without wavering.
She was convinced beyond any doubt that the man standing before her would only make her daughter miserable once again.
Venerucia fell silent.
If someone asked whether Selenia had truly been happy beside him…
He couldn’t honestly answer yes.
Especially after thinking about the scandals he himself had caused over the past two years.
Almost unconsciously, he turned toward Selenia.
Deep down…
He had still been hoping.
Hoping that despite her mother’s opposition…
Selenia might choose him.
A foolish, desperate hope.
“Selly.”
His voice came out far more pleading than he intended.
But the moment he saw her face…
That hope shattered completely.
She looked every bit as shaken as he was.
Her complexion had gone deathly pale.
Selenia could never bring herself to oppose her mother.
Because her mother was someone she loved with all her heart…
Even if she had caused her endless pain.
And despite everything…
For eight long years, her mother had continued accepting her simply because she was her daughter.
To be honest…
Selenia was in a panic.
She had never imagined her mother would oppose Venerucia this firmly.
Because Selenia herself had never once considered marrying anyone else.
She had already passed the ideal age for marriage.
After spending so many years as Venerucia’s lover, her reputation had long since solidified.
For a year or two, people might have merely found it fascinating that she had been the Grand Duke’s lover.
But six years…
That was different.
Most young noblemen now kept their distance from her, afraid that showing interest might earn them the Grand Duke’s displeasure.
Objectively speaking…
Marriage to anyone besides Venerucia was almost impossible for Selenia now.
There was no way the Viscountess didn’t know that.
And yet…
She still opposed him.
Which meant…
She would rather see her daughter remain unmarried for the rest of her life than marry Venerucia.
In other words…
She truly despised him that much.
“…What if I choose to marry Selly regardless of your objections?”
Venerucia’s voice was low and heavy.
He had rejected Rucalina.
He had humbled himself before Selenia.
He had done things he never imagined he would do in his lifetime.
It was already too late to pretend none of it had happened.
Because he had finally realized…
He loved Selenia too much to turn back now.
“There are very few children who can truly be happy in a marriage their parents do not bless.”
The Viscountess answered without the slightest hesitation.
Her words made one thing perfectly clear.
She had absolutely no intention of backing down.
And the firmer she became…
The paler Selenia’s face grew.
A terrifying thought crossed her mind.
Would the Emperor… truly allow Mother to get away with this?
She fought desperately to keep herself from trembling.
The Emperor was perceptive.
He would quickly realize how deeply her mother’s opposition affected her.
And Selenia could never abandon her mother.
That fact alone would greatly displease Cliffd.
To an Emperor obsessed with perfection…
The existence of anyone other than himself capable of controlling his “hound” was utterly unacceptable.
That was why she was afraid.
She feared the Emperor might one day decide to eliminate her mother because of today’s refusal.
Her thoughts raced.
Then suddenly…
She spoke.
“I don’t want to marry someone my mother opposes.”
At that instant…
The expressions on Venerucia’s and the Viscountess’s faces could not have been more different.
But Selenia’s mind was occupied by only one calculation.
Even if the Emperor learned about her mother’s objection…
Perhaps everything would be fine if Selenia made it appear as though this had all been part of her own plan.
What Cliffd hated wasn’t people’s personal relationships.
He hated plans going awry.
“Do you really mean that, Selly?”
Venerucia’s voice hardened.
It wasn’t as though Selenia had enthusiastically accepted his proposal.
Even so…
Watching her abandon the idea of marrying him so easily left a bitter taste in his mouth.
“I’m sure my late husband would have wished the same.”
The Viscountess seized the opportunity to press further.
The moment she invoked the late Viscount Dafnen…
The situation shifted decisively against Venerucia.
And with it…
A deep crack spread through his pride.
The Viscountess rejected him.
Selenia rejected him.
Even the deceased Viscount seemed to reject him.
Never in his life…
Had Venerucia been treated like this.
The proposal letter the Viscountess had returned crumpled in his fist.
He loved Selenia.
But…
Did he love her more than himself?
Enough to keep begging for marriage after being humiliated like this?
“If that’s truly what you want… then do as you please.”
Venerucia rose to his feet.
All the countless regrets he had carried in his heart…
Faded before the wounds inflicted upon his pride.
Before leaving Selenia’s room, he looked back at her one last time.
But she never took back her words.
To Venerucia’s sorrow…
Her mother came before him.
“Selly… you’ve always been like this.”
Emotion surged through him before he realized it.
If Selenia had only asked him to wait until she persuaded her mother…
He would have waited.
Gladly.
But just as always…
She never asked anything of him.
She never tried to hold him back.
He couldn’t bear remaining there another second.
He strode toward the door.
Bang!
The door slammed shut behind him with a thunderous crash…
As though echoing the fury raging inside him.
* * *
Selenia had said those words only because she wanted to protect her mother.
But the moment Venerucia stormed out…
Every alarm bell in her mind began screaming.
She had finally managed to secure the chance to marry him.
She couldn’t let it slip away like this.
Absolutely not.
Just as she was about to persuade her mother—
“Selly.”
“Have you ever been partners with the young master of House Pendragon?”
Selenia stiffened.
That was the last question she had expected.
The incident involving her, Venerucia, and the Pendragon heir at the banquet had become one of the capital’s biggest scandals.
But the Viscount and Viscountess Dafnen deliberately avoided rumors.
They had no desire to hear gossip about Venerucia’s scandals…
Or whispers about their unmarried daughter.
Besides…
No one would go out of their way to spread such stories in this small territory.
So how did her mother know?
“…Yes, I have.”
“How did you hear about him, Mother?”
Selenia nodded cautiously, unable to hide her anxiety.
She had no idea what sort of rumors had reached her mother’s ears.
“You received this.”
The Viscountess handed her something she had kept aside separately from Venerucia’s proposal.
The moment Selenia accepted it…
She froze.
It was another marriage proposal.
“I didn’t return the Grand Duke’s proposal because I want you to spend your life alone.”
Seeing the look on her daughter’s face, the Viscountess continued gently.
“If you’re going to marry someone… I want it to be a man who will make you happy.”
“The young master of House Pendragon came to your father’s funeral and asked for permission to pay his respects. I allowed him to.”
“Mother…!”
Selenia’s voice rose involuntarily.
The Emperor had paired her with the Pendragon heir…
Not because he actually wanted them to marry.
His proposal had been completely unexpected.
And Selenia could say with absolute certainty…
This would bring neither her nor the Viscount’s family any benefit whatsoever.
“I’ve watched this marriage situation long enough!”
The Viscountess refused to yield.
Her own voice had grown noticeably sharper.
“I looked into him. Aside from not getting along with His Highness the Grand Duke, the young master of House Pendragon has an excellent reputation. Far better than the rumors surrounding the Grand Duke.”
Her tone was unusually forceful.
Leaving no room whatsoever for discussion.
“And now he suddenly sends a proposal?”
“Hah!”
“No.”
“Absolutely not.”
The Viscountess spoke through clenched teeth, her entire body trembling with disgust.
