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Chapter 30
“Stop it.”
Nox put a hand on Elaina’s shoulder, who had bent down to meet the child’s eye level.
“They’re just playing around with friends. Don’t embarrass him.”
“What? Playing around? How is that playing?”
“N-no! It’s just a joke! Really! We’re friends!”
At Nox’s words, the boy nodded frantically, agreeing in haste.
“See you tomorrow at the academy! Bye!”
He ran off without even glancing back, as if fleeing the scene. Elaina felt her insides twist in frustration.
“Nox, you…”
“I’m fine.”
“Fine? How could that be fine? I should teach that kid a lesson so he never says something like that again.”
“Compared to what people usually say, that was nothing.”
Nox pulled the paper out of Elaina’s hand and said bitterly,
“I just don’t want to let people like that ruin my mood. And if my brother found out someone said that to me, he’d be upset too.”
He gave a faint, weary smile, pretending it was nothing — that ignoring such things wasn’t hard at all.
But the more Nox brushed it off, the more fiercely Elaina’s anger burned inside her.
Until now, the only child she’d had around was Marion, and the kids she occasionally met at public events all behaved like little angels in front of her.
She never imagined that a ten-year-old could say something so spiteful.
This isn’t something to just let slide.
Still, Elaina decided to hold herself back — for now. Since she and the Grand Duke weren’t officially married yet, it wouldn’t look good for her to get involved in family matters.
Once we’re married, this will be the first thing I deal with.
While thinking only about the Grand Duke’s mansion renovations, Elaina quietly engraved Nox’s name at the very top of her list of priorities.
She realized she hadn’t paid any attention to what Nox’s life at the academy was like — and careless as Lyle was, he surely hadn’t either.
“Alright. If you insist that much.”
She could forgive it once, as a mistake.
“But not twice. If that kid — or anyone — ever says something rude to you again, don’t hesitate to tell me, the Grand Duke, or at least the butler. Understood?”
“I told you, it’s not a big deal.”
“It is a big deal! So you must tell an adult, promise me.”
Her angry tone carried an unmistakable authority. Nox blinked, eyes wide. Elaina held out her hand.
“Promise. Promise me you won’t just endure it alone.”
“It’s really nothing, I—”
“Now! Or I’ll go straight to the Grand Duke and tell him what I saw myself.”
It was clear from her expression that she wasn’t bluffing. Nox hesitated, then hooked his pinky finger with hers. Even as Elaina stamped the promise firmly with a “seal,” she repeated her warning several more times.
“Hey, look over there.”
It was the Winchester family’s carriage — lately seen often around the city. At his friend’s nudge, a man turned his head, soon realizing what he was being shown.
Stepping out of the carriage alongside Lady Elaina Winchester wasn’t the usual imposing man — but someone entirely different.
“Lady Winchester really is something else.”
“Tell me about it. Why torment her that much?”
Following Elaina down from the carriage was Diane Redwood.
Unlike Elaina, who walked with poise and confidence, Diane kept her head lowered, shoulders hunched as she stared at the ground.
“Diane, are you feeling unwell? You don’t look good.”
At Elaina’s concern, Diane forced an awkward smile and shook her head.
“N-no, I’m just… a bit nervous.”
“What’s there to be nervous about? We’re just going to look at furniture together.”
The men nearby almost doubted their own ears.
To choose furniture that she would use after marriage — together with Diane Redwood?
It wasn’t enough that Diane had lost the man she was once set to marry — now she was helping pick out furniture he would use with another woman.
They couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity for her.
“But Elaina… is it really alright for someone like me to help choose furniture that you and His Grace will be using?”
Even though she sounded hesitant, Elaina Winchester didn’t seem to care at all.
“Of course it’s fine. Technically, I should’ve chosen them with His Grace, but he’s far too busy — and his taste is, well… let’s just say he said I could pick whatever I want, so there’s no problem.”
Elaina looped her arm through Diane’s. To the onlookers, it looked more like she was dragging a prisoner along.
“No time to waste. We have so many places to visit today. Let’s go.”
Elaina looked cheerful and radiant — Diane, on the other hand, had gone pale as a ghost.
“Did you hear that?”
“Of course. Hah, women really can be terrifying.”
Though they pitied Diane, they also couldn’t help feeling frustrated at how she stayed silent, unable to defend herself.
“Tsk. Does Lady Redwood have no pride at all?”
“What would you do? Pride or not, if the lady of the Winchester house wants something, you’d have to oblige, wouldn’t you?”
“…You’ve got a point. I suppose I’d just swallow my pride and call it family honor.”
They weren’t much different from Diane, really. None of them could afford to make an enemy of Elaina Winchester. Realizing that left a bitter taste in their mouths.
“By the way, did you hear the latest rumor?”
Their attention remained fixed on Diane. When his friend pressed him for details, one man leaned in and whispered,
“About how the Marquis of Redwood is urgently seeking a marriage match for his daughter.”
“Oh, that. I’ve heard. But apparently every noble family he approaches refuses?”
“Actually, a proposal came to my family, too.”
“Yours as well? Same here.”
They exchanged wry laughs and shook their heads. The Marquis’s desperation was becoming painfully obvious.
“Why’s he rushing his daughter’s marriage so much, anyway?”
“Well… there’s a rumor. Just gossip, but still.”
“What kind of rumor?”
“You know… that Lady Redwood might not actually be the Marchioness’s daughter.”
“What?”
The man’s voice shot up, and his friend quickly hushed him.
“Shh! It’s an old rumor, not confirmed. But people used to whisper that she was born of a servant woman. They say she doesn’t resemble the Marchioness much. I can’t say for sure, of course.”
“That’s absurd. If that were true, it wouldn’t explain why the Marchioness has always protected her so fiercely.”
“So why did you reject the proposal, then?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
The man’s eyes narrowed.
“She was once engaged to the Grand Duke. Why would I lower myself to be the replacement for someone cast aside by him?”
“True enough. Trying to marry her off after offering her to the Grand Duke first — it feels like they’re saying our families are beneath that crumbling Grant duchy. It’s insulting.”
“My thoughts exactly. Besides, I’d rather not tie myself to someone Lady Winchester despises.”
“The Redwood fortune is tempting, but not worth the trouble.”
“Exactly.”
The man nodded, shivering slightly as if to shake off a chill.
“You said His Grace has a younger brother, right? Maybe we could make his room look a bit brighter?”
“Oh, that’s a good idea. I was just thinking the furniture we have is too old-fashioned.”
Elaina agreed and asked the clerk to show them pieces made from lighter-colored wood. Diane’s cheeks turned a faint pink.
It was the very suggestion she’d spent all day debating after receiving Elaina’s letter asking her to help choose furniture.
“I’m glad I could be of help.”
“Oh, please — I should be the one thanking you for coming with me. But really, are you sure you’re okay? You seemed uneasy when we got off the carriage.”
“Ah… that’s…”
“What is it? Did something happen?”
After hesitating a moment, Diane lowered her head.
“It was because of the gentlemen standing nearby when we got off.”
“Huh? Were there men around? I didn’t even notice — I was too focused on the furniture store.”
Elaina hadn’t paid any attention to the surroundings, only thinking of the day’s plans. Diane quietly explained what had been going on.
“Since the engagement with His Grace fell through, Father’s been… very on edge. It seems he’s desperate to get me married, but nothing’s working. Those men — they’re from families Father recently sent proposals to.”
She’d seen so many portraits of potential suitors lately that she could hardly keep track — but she remembered their faces clearly from the latest ones.
“They seemed to know each other… but why would Father send proposals to both of them?”
Her voice trembled. He’d never cared about her dignity before, but now the thought of being a laughingstock made her want to disappear.
