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Chapter 42
The Countess adjusted her posture as she watched Duke Holt’s carriage approaching from afar.
Her decision to come out and wait for him had been made for Rose, who had cried in front of her the night before.
Rose, who claimed she couldn’t receive love from the Count and wanted to marry quickly to leave the household, had begged to be married to Duke Holt if it wasn’t the Ameron family. She whined that unless it was them, her situation of being ignored wouldn’t change.
The Countess shared Rose’s thoughts. If Rose married into a good family, her own status would automatically rise as well.
“Your Grace, Duke Holt.”
“Yes.”
Seeing Travis looking toward the mansion as if searching for Espin, the Countess blocked his path.
“I must apologize. Espin has a matter to attend to and will find it difficult to attend the royal banquet today. My apologies.”
Since the dress Espin had intended to wear had been taken, it would take time to find and change into a new one. Besides, most of the maids had been sent to help Rose, leaving insufficient staff for preparation. In the meantime, all that was needed was for Rose and the Duke to go together.
The Countess quickly gestured behind her, calling Rose. Soon, Rose appeared outside the door.
“Since it might be difficult for you to go alone, how about going with our Rose? I say this for Duke Holt’s sake.”
“That’s fine. I intended to attend the banquet because of Lady Espin. Is Miss Espin all right?”
Travis spoke only of Espin, who wasn’t even visible. If Espin was okay, he seemed ready to leave immediately. Travis appeared as though he had no further need to observe and was about to return to his carriage.
“No, Your Grace.”
The Countess knelt. Setting aside her pride in a place like this was easy if it was for her daughter’s sake.
“Please. Could you go with Rose? Actually, I don’t have much time left to live. If I could see my daughter Rose living happily before I go… I could leave peacefully.”
For a moment, the Duke faltered.
The weakness of the ice-cold, stoic Duke—his dying mother.
The Duke’s mother had been frail from birth and passed away when he was too young to walk. Rumor had it that he was weak when it came to his mother’s affection. The evidence that this rumor was true lay in the Duke’s current silence.
As the Countess, feeling victorious, smiled under her bowed head…
“I’m hearing for the first time that your days are numbered. Does Father know?”
Espin’s pesky voice sounded.
“It took some time because my dress went missing. I didn’t know Mother had fallen ill. She was fine this morning and even had wine for breakfast.”
Espin’s gaze shifted to Rose.
“And this dress… looks like the one I was planning to wear today. I wondered where it went—it’s here.”
“What? No, why are you treating me like a thief? I had this made at the atelier.”
“Really? Must be a common design then.”
Hearing Espin, the Duke slapped away the Countess’s hand holding his own. It was a clear message that he no longer needed to hear her lies.
“Rose, since Mother is very ill, you should stay home and care for her, right?”
“What are you talking about?”
The Countess, exposed in her lies, quietly rose.
“Then I shall be going.”
Espin flashed a mischievous smile, took Travis’s hand, and got into the carriage.
Tears immediately welled in Rose’s eyes, her carefully applied makeup unable to hide them.
“Mother! Why can’t you do anything right? You promised I’d go with His Grace this time! You’re no help at all!”
Tears fell from Rose’s eyes as she screamed.
“…”
Travis silently looked at Espin.
“Is this how she usually is?”
“What do you mean?”
“The Countess.”
“Oh.”
Earlier, the Countess had shamelessly lied that Espin couldn’t attend the royal banquet. Moreover, Rose was wearing the dress Espin had intended to wear. It was clear how Espin was treated in that household. Yet Espin’s calm response seemed somewhat unsettling.
“It’s fine.”
“I heard she even took the dress you were planning to wear.”
“Oh, that’s really fine. It must be a common design.”
Espin smiled brightly. Her amused smile felt slightly off, as if she was pretending everything was okay.
“Honestly, I think this dress suits me better.”
Even in a difficult situation, she remained positive. Travis felt pity for her.
“Ahem.”
Espin stared out the window without saying anything. The world reflected in her clear green eyes.
“Shall we get out?”
The carriage had already arrived at the palace. Following the butler’s instructions, Travis stepped out first and offered his hand. Though he had learned this during etiquette lessons, escorting someone for the first time felt strange.
Espin’s small hand rested on his.
“Her Grace Lady Espin of the Leon Count family, entering with His Grace Duke Holt.”
Announcing their entrance drew the gaze of the crowd. People’s eyes widened at the unfamiliar pairing.
Among them, the one whose eyes widened the most was a famous Count in the art world.
For a first-time event like this, it was more fun than expected. Not because she enjoyed mingling in a gorgeous dress, but because watching the Count’s expression was entertaining.
Seeing her enter with Duke Holt, the Count’s face turned to shock.
‘Ah, now that I think about it…’
It was no wonder his heart was racing.
“Haha, Lady, good evening.”
“Good evening, Count.”
“Um…”
The Count, cautiously observing Travis beside her, asked carefully:
“You haven’t forgotten our promise, have you?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Please keep your promise. Especially regarding the auction, do not discuss it with His Grace Duke Holt.”
“Of course.”
She intended to keep her promise. It would be inconvenient for her to discuss this incident herself.
The Count, still suspicious, kept watching her even after a few steps. He seemed anxious about how his last big auction tomorrow would turn out.
“Members of the Leon Count family have arrived.”
Soon after, her father, the Countess, and Rose entered.
Rose’s eyes were slightly red, probably from crying outside the mansion, but she forced a smile. Her father strode forward as if unconcerned, approaching her and Travis.
“Your Grace, Duke Holt.”
“It’s been a while, Count Leon.”
“Yes.”
Her father noticed her hand resting on Travis’s arm and remained silent for a while.
“Do you have something to say?”
“No, Espin. When will you be returning home?”
“Home? We just arrived.”
“Still, make sure you don’t stay out late.”
“Ah, yes…”
Her father, at a loss for words, turned away without finishing his sentence.
It was unclear why he said that.
“The Ameron family has arrived.”
Soon, news spread that the Ameron family had arrived, and people’s eyes brightened at the entrance, eager to see the truth behind the rumors.
