🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 66
Noble Emotions
Laurencia comfortably rested her hair in Teyshar’s hands.
“Strangely, whenever you brush my hair, Marquis Teyshar, I feel sleepy.”
Teyshar smiled as he carefully untangled and brushed Laurencia’s red hair. Her curls had become much softer than when they first met.
“We’ll be returning to the Polloide Empire soon.”
Laurencia was surprised to hear that Charlotte was pregnant. She also realized clearly that the future had changed—under the original timeline, Charlotte would have died.
“Young Lady Laurencia. These characters should be read like this.”
Charlotte had been kind. Even seeing Laurencia’s frail body and face, she did not mock her. She worried for her and treated her gently. She did not laugh at Laurencia’s embarrassment while learning letters; instead, she praised her, calling her admirable.
Laurencia let out a faint sigh. In her previous future, she had no idea Charlotte was pregnant—or rather, she didn’t even know whether she was. But if Charlotte had been pregnant in that timeline…
Then Laurencia hadn’t just killed Charlotte—she had killed the child in her womb as well.
And it wasn’t just Charlotte. She was also the one who annihilated Adrian and the emperor’s family, as well as the De Gloston family of the Polloide Empire.
She destroyed them without even knowing they were her relatives. No, regardless of blood ties, she had caused countless deaths. She had not held the hands of those who begged to be saved. Even though the present had been twisted and the future changed, she could not completely rid herself of the sins she had committed and the suffering she had endured.
Facing the people she had killed meant she had to forgive herself first.
Yet every time she saw Charlotte and the others, her guilt accumulated like snow piling up on the ground. Still, she had to face them. This was a resolve she had made for herself.
Laurencia bit her lower lip gently.
“Are you still worried about meeting your family?”
Hearing Laurencia’s faint sigh, Teyshar paused the brushing and asked.
“Sometimes I feel like everything is my fault. Rather than worrying, I doubt whether I’m doing well enough.”
“You, Young Lady Laurencia, are doing more than well enough.”
“But I feel guilty.”
Laurencia stopped her thoughts, pressing down the anxious emotions that threatened to spill out as she replied.
“Young Lady Laurencia.”
“Yes, Marquis Teyshar.”
Teyshar set down the brush, took Laurencia’s small shoulders, and turned her to face him.
“Guilt is a noble emotion, reserved for those who struggle.”
“A noble emotion?”
“When one suffers from the sins they have committed, struggles in regret, pushes oneself, and reflects, that feeling is guilt.”
Teyshar gently stroked Laurencia’s hair.
“Those who never regret or reflect can never experience it. Above all, those who cannot feel guilt cannot grow.”
He drew Laurencia into his arms.
“You are growing right now, Young Lady Laurencia. The growing pains will hurt, but soon, you’ll be fine.”
“Thank you for the comfort, Marquis Teyshar.”
“When all painful emotions trouble you, think like this…”
“How?”
“Seeing that it hurts and troubles me means I can grow even more than I am now.”
Laurencia smiled softly. Strangely, in Teyshar’s embrace, the pain she had felt moments ago melted away like a marshmallow in warm cocoa. Her heart felt soft and warm.
“But Marquis Teyshar, I’m curious about something.”
“Yes. Please ask anything, Young Lady Laurencia.”
“When we return to the Polloide Empire, will I have to go to the De Gloston estate?”
“It seems likely.”
“Ah…”
“Why do you ask?”
“If I go to the De Gloston estate, that means I’ll be apart from you, Marquis Teyshar.”
“That’s correct.”
Teyshar’s expression suddenly darkened.
“That’s why it feels a little painful.”
Even if she returned to the Polloide Empire, Laurencia wanted to be by Teyshar’s side. The thought of being apart made her inexplicably sad, and she frowned inwardly, feeling a new type of frustration she had never experienced before.
After everything is settled… would she even be able to leave his side?
“Marquis Teyshar, even if I go to the De Gloston estate, you’ll come to see me, won’t you?”
“Of course. And I’ll try to visit the De Gloston estate every single day.”
“And if you’re too busy to come, may I go to the Spencer estate instead?”
“Of course. Please do come, Young Lady Laurencia.”
Laurencia’s gentle voice shook Teyshar’s ears.
“Yes. I’ll come visit.”
“You must keep your promise, Young Lady Laurencia.”
“And if I don’t?”
“I’ll raid the De Gloston estate, carry you off, and bring you to my estate.”
“Carry me off?”
“Yes. Carry you off.”
A knock came at the door, and Amelin reported that the dresses had arrived.
“They arrived earlier than expected.”
For a noble debutante, the dress and jewelry are usually prepared to match the eyes of the male partner during the first dance. But Teyshar did not do that.
“Don’t feel pressured. If you want a dress in a color other than red, or something else entirely, just tell me.”
Laurencia wanted the dresses in her favorite colors, so she was asked what she liked.
“We’ll prepare your dress and jewelry in your preferred colors.”
“I like red.”
Hearing that Laurencia liked red was sweet music to Teyshar’s ears.
“And I like black too.”
“We can’t make a debutante dress in black, so we’ll make it in red, but let’s use dark-colored jewelry. Come to think of it, your favorite red and black match Marquis Teyshar’s eyes and hair.”
Hearing her say she liked red and black kept him awake at night.
“No. I want to wear a red dress.”
Laurencia habitually rested her head on Teyshar’s shoulder and whispered softly. Her cuteness made him embrace her.
“Marquis Teyshar, what color do you like?”
“I like purple.”
Laurencia told him she liked red while looking at his red eyes. So he replied, looking into her violet eyes:
“And I also like red.”
He hoped his feelings were received, but whether they were reciprocated was Laurencia’s choice.
“Are you ready, Miss Laurencia?”
“Yes, Amelin.”
Laurencia followed Amelin to a large drawing room, where several people were already moving about.
“Hello, Miss Laurencia. Designer Ben sends her greetings.”
“Long time no see, Ben.”
Laurencia smiled. Ben was a successful dress designer personally introduced by Charlotte.
“Today we’ll start fitting the dresses. First, we’ll measure to see if your body size has changed.”
Several female staff immediately measured Laurencia and recorded her measurements for Ben.
“Have the measurements increased, Ben?”
“No, they haven’t.”
“I thought you’d gained weight from eating so much, but apparently not.”
Laurencia felt disappointed.
“Don’t be too disappointed. It’s better for your body to gain slowly than suddenly. So wait a little longer.”
Ben was also slightly disappointed that Laurencia’s measurements hadn’t increased, but she comforted herself that her body had improved compared to before.
“Your red hair and pale skin look good in any dress, Miss Laurencia.”
“Thank you for the compliment, Ben.”
Ben signaled the maids, and mannequins wearing various red dresses began to enter the room.
“Wow.”
Laurencia’s eyes widened at the sight. In the blink of an eye, the drawing room had turned into a dress shop.
Seeing dozens of red dresses, she felt overwhelmed. Watching more mannequins come in, she understood why the room was larger than usual.
“Surprised, Miss Laurencia?”
“This is my first time seeing such a sight, Ben.”
“You’ll need to get used to it, starting now.”
Laurencia nodded slightly.
“Then let me explain the first dress. This one is made of light chiffon, slightly revealing the shoulders, with cute frills and floral decorations on the wrists.”
Ben explained each dress passionately. It was truly impressive.
“It’s so cute.”
After listening, Laurencia began inspecting the dresses more closely. Each one was beautiful. She was in awe.
“There are so many beautiful dresses; I don’t know which to choose.”
“All these dresses will suit you well, Miss Laurencia.”
While contemplating, she heard a low voice. Between the dresses, she saw Teyshar, who had gone to see Adrian briefly and returned.
“You’re back?”
“Yes, Young Lady Laurencia. Have you found a dress you like?”
“Yes. They’re all so beautiful, I don’t know which to pick.”
“Then I’ll buy them all.”
“No, Marquis Teyshar. Your heart is enough.”
Laurencia quickly called Ben. Otherwise, Teyshar might buy all the dresses in the room.
“Ben, please recommend a dress that suits me.”
“Understood.”
Laurencia looked at Teyshar.
“Don’t buy all of them.”
“I want to, but since you don’t, I won’t.”
“Yes. I don’t want that.”
“Understood.”
