Chapter 51
“Father, it’s me.”
“Come in.”
When I knocked to show I had arrived, Father immediately gave me permission to enter, as if he had been waiting.
I pushed the door open with one hand and stepped into Father’s office.
It seemed he had really called for me the moment he returned home. He was still wearing his outdoor clothes, sitting at his desk.
“You sent for me. What’s the matter?”
“…Sit down first. Let’s talk.”
Father pointed to the chair across from him with a glance.
Normally, he would smile brightly the moment he saw me and say, ‘Our C.C. is here.’
But today, for some unknown reason, his expression was stiff.
‘Is something really wrong?’
I hadn’t seen Father make this kind of face since three years ago, when I collapsed.
‘…I hope it’s nothing serious.’
Thinking I should at least hear him out first, I quietly sat in the chair he indicated.
Then, after staring at me in silence, Father finally opened his mouth in a heavy voice.
“From now on, answer my questions honestly.”
Then, with the most serious look, he asked me:
“What is your relationship with the Duke of Starten?”
“…What?”
I stared at Father in a dazed way.
‘Why is that name coming out of nowhere?’
“…Did you just say the Duke of Starten?”
I asked again, wondering if I misheard. Father reluctantly nodded.
“Yes. That Duke of Starten.”
So… he was asking what kind of relationship I have with Michael?
Father? Of all people?
‘…Is this because of what happened at that party?’
I recalled the recent party at Lady Joanna Rain’s mansion.
Many nobles had seen me talking with Michael, including Joanna herself.
I did think rumors might start…
But I didn’t expect it to reach Father this fast.
I let out a silent sigh.
Since I had decided to help Michael, this was a topic I would eventually have to deal with.
I would have to meet Michael often, and if Father interfered every time, talking about scandals and such, it would get annoying.
‘I didn’t plan to explain things like this, but…’
Since things already turned out this way, I might as well prepare the groundwork.
“I don’t know why you’re asking this so suddenly, but… the Duke and I are not what you’re thinking.”
“…Not what kind of relationship?”
“A romantic one.”
The moment I firmly drew the line, Father’s serious expression brightened.
“I knew it. I knew that—”
“More precisely, I just like him one-sidedly.”
I cut him off with a sweet smile.
“So, whatever happens, don’t touch the Duke. Okay?”
“……”
Seeing Father’s shocked expression made me feel a little guilty…
But—
‘This is the only way to meet Michael comfortably from now on.’
If I say I like him and I want to meet him, what can Father even say to that?
I stood up and gave one last strike:
“And if I hear even a rumor that our family tried to interfere with him… I’ll tell Mother everything.”
At the word “Mother,” Father coughed several times like someone choking.
“…Ahem. Ahem. Touching the man my daughter likes? This father would never do something so disgraceful.”
“Yes. I believe you wouldn’t do that.”
I smiled brightly.
‘With this, Father won’t be able to touch Michael recklessly.’
I did feel a little like an unfilial daughter… but there was no better option now.
‘Now all that’s left is to hear Michael’s answer.’
I hoped it would be positive… but knowing Michael’s personality, who rarely relies on others, there was a high chance he might refuse.
But even if he did refuse, it wasn’t like I planned to give up.
Since I was now publicly associated with Michael, it was only a matter of time before Harvis and Marquis Caisen started taking interest in me.
To protect my peaceful future, I would have to deal with those two somehow.
“Well then, that was the only question, right?”
“…Yes.”
Father nodded weakly. Still shocked, he stared into the air and mumbled blankly:
“My C.C.… a one-sided love…”
Leaving my devastated father behind, I quietly left the office.
‘At times like this, Mother’s presence would be much more comforting than mine.’
I asked a passing servant to bring Mother to him, then I turned and headed to the knights’ quarters.
Since I was out of my room anyway, I wanted to talk to Lillia about a few things.
But my plans quickly fell apart—Lillia wasn’t anywhere in the mansion, including the knights’ quarters.
Thinking she might be out on another mission, I went to see Elliott, but he didn’t know where she was either.
In the end, I couldn’t find Lillia and had to return to my bedroom.
‘…I wanted to hear exactly what happened between her and Eren…’
Well, it’s not like today is the only chance.
I would just ask her when she returned.
I flopped onto my bed.
Maybe it was because so much happened today, but I felt twice as tired as usual.
‘I’ll just close my eyes for a moment…’
With a small yawn, I burrowed under the blanket, and soon, like gentle waves, sleep washed over me.
Meanwhile
After Cynthia left, the Duke of Evergreen sat alone in his office, looking more serious than ever.
‘I wondered why his name felt unpleasant the moment I heard it. So this was why?’
Even if the Duke of Starten were chasing after Cynthia one-sidedly, that would already be unacceptable.
But Cynthia having a one-sided crush?
For him, that was absolutely intolerable.
‘What does my C.C. lack? Why that man of all people…!’
The Duke gritted his teeth, glaring into empty space.
To him, Michael Starten had nothing to boast about except his face.
When the previous Duke and Duchess were alive, people praised him as a genius… but after their deaths, he strangely stopped shining.
‘Well, I suppose… at his age, just trying to hold onto his position must have been overwhelming.’
The Duke clicked his tongue lightly.
He knew Michael’s life had not been easy.
But that didn’t change his evaluation of the man.
‘No matter how hard life was, a true lord must handle the responsibilities he’s given.’
Because Evergreen had a branch store in Ornen, the Duke knew a lot about the Starten territory’s situation.
According to his informants, the Duke of Starten barely showed his face outside.
So much so that only a handful of commoners even knew what he looked like.
He had never even inspected his own lands.
‘Someone who doesn’t put in even the minimum effort… I could never entrust my daughter to him.’
His navy-blue eyes sharpened.
He had promised Cynthia that he wouldn’t touch Michael… but that didn’t mean he could just sit and watch.
‘…I should call him and talk to him first.’
Thinking that, the Duke picked up stationery and a quill and sat back down.
His navy eyes shone with determination as he wrote.
A few days later
The moment Michael woke up, he headed to his office.
There, his butler delivered an unexpected invitation.
“…Where is this invitation from?”
“From the House of Evergreen, sir.”
At the butler’s polite answer, Michael’s lips lifted slightly.
He had been planning to contact Cynthia soon to set up a meeting.
He didn’t expect her side to send an invitation first.
‘Unexpectedly bold of her.’
Suppressing the smile that kept wanting to escape, he picked up the invitation.
“You may leave now.”
“Yes, sir. Then I will excuse myself.”
The butler, who had been watching for Michael’s mood, hurried out once dismissed.
Left alone, Michael opened the invitation with a light, excited feeling.
But the moment he saw the name at the top, his expression twisted.
It wasn’t from the daughter of Evergreen…
but from the Duke himself.
‘…Why would the Duke of Evergreen invite me?’
Michael frowned.
He had exchanged greetings with the Duke a few times, but they weren’t close at all.
That made the invitation even more strange.
