SMR | Chapter 68

~Chapter 68~

“Revenge?”

“Yes! I really want to see that man fall in front of everyone.”

Albert clenched his teeth as he thought of Cedric, who had openly looked down on him and his father ever since becoming a duke.

‘He thinks he’s some kind of noble, untouchable ice flower? I’ll make sure everyone sees he’s just a flawed human like the rest of us. I’ll make it happen!’

With Angelique on his side, Albert believed it wouldn’t be difficult to make that happen. A sinister smile spread across his face.

***

Even after the festive week ended, the cathedral was still crowded. People had come again to offer their first prayers of the new year.

“Will you be okay, Daphne?”

Even after their carriage stopped in front of the cathedral, Countess Laurel looked at her daughter with deep concern and asked more than once.

“Don’t worry, Mother. It’s a cathedral. No one will dare mock me openly here, right?”

“Daphne…”

“I’m joking. I really am fine now.”

Daphne gave a bright smile to reassure her parents. But watching her like that only broke the Laurels’ hearts even more.

“What did you ever do wrong to deserve people staring at you like this, even during New Year’s prayers…!”

Count Laurel couldn’t finish his sentence and clenched his jaw, looking away.

But Daphne calmly agreed with what her father had said.

“That’s right. I haven’t done anything wrong. So, there’s no reason for me to hide or skip the New Year’s prayer. Let’s go, Mother, Father.”

The Laurel couple looked at their daughter in slight surprise. They wondered if she was forcing a smile for their sake—but her expression was just as bright and genuine as before her broken engagement.

“Y-yes. Let’s go.”

Count Laurel snapped out of it first, stepped out of the carriage, and helped his wife and daughter down in turn.

The Laurels’ reappearance in high society after a few months wasn’t surprising. But seeing Daphne’s famous silver hair in person left many in shock.

“Gasp! That’s Daphne Laurel!”

“The girl who got dumped, right?”

“How long has it been since we last saw her?”

Though Daphne didn’t hear their whispers, she could feel the lingering stares.

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t nervous.

But she wasn’t afraid like before.

“Why should the victim walk around hiding like a criminal?”

“The more you hide, the bolder Bella will get.”

That’s what Harriet had told her.

‘Right. I’m not the one who should be hiding.’

Daphne took a deep breath and smiled confidently.

With every step the Laurels took into the cathedral, they drew surprised glances.

Trying to support their daughter, Count and Countess Laurel maintained calm, composed expressions. After all, they couldn’t be gloomy when their daughter was doing her best to be strong.

Then someone greeted them.

“It’s been a while, Count and Countess Laurel.”

“Oh! Countess Lilburn!”

It was Countess Lilburn, chairwoman of the Ladies’ Society at St. Paolo’s Cathedral.

It was fortunate that she approached first. She was sociable and well-connected, the kind of person who knew how to ask personal questions politely.

“You’re here for the New Year’s prayer? And it’s been a while since I saw your daughter. How have you been, Miss Laurel?”

“Thanks for your concern. I’d been recovering my health for a while, but now I’m much better. I came to offer both a New Year’s and a gratitude prayer.”

“Oh my! I admire young ladies who are so faithful. You’ve raised her well, Count Laurel.”

“Haha! You flatter me. But I do know it’s hard to find a bride as good as my daughter.”

Countess Lilburn laughed cheerfully at his response.

“You’d better hurry inside. It’s already getting full—you might not find good seats if you wait too long.”

“Thank you. May God bless you as well.”

After the brief exchange, the Laurels quickly headed toward the main hall.

Just as Countess Lilburn said, all the good seats were taken, and the hall was bustling with greetings.

“Sigh. I was supposed to meet Count Sheldon… but how will I find him in this crowd?”

Count Laurel’s comment made Daphne think of Harriet.

‘I wonder which cathedral Harriet attends?’

She wanted to apologize for not replying to Harriet’s letter, but her protective parents made it difficult. Maybe if they met by chance somewhere like this.

‘If I meet her at a party later, I’ll be sure to say sorry.’

Pushing aside the regret, Daphne focused on greeting familiar faces who recognized her.

Because of the significance of January 1st, the church was completely packed by the time the service began.

But the New Year’s prayer service wasn’t too long.

There was a 20-minute pre-prayer ritual, a 30-minute New Year’s sermon by the high priest, followed by a 10-minute choir performance and free prayer time. Including seating and closing time, it all took about 1.5 hours.

“Even getting out of here will be tough too.”

Count Laurel listened to the choir’s final hymn and glanced toward the exit.

Because they were seated near the front, they’d have to wait a while before they could leave.

“If we chat with some familiar people, the time will pass quickly.”

“That’s true, Daphne.”

He smiled proudly at how positive Daphne sounded.

He had worried that she might collapse from the stress of being in public again after so long. But instead, Daphne comforted her worried parents and remained calm—just like her old self.

Though the wound had left a scar, it didn’t seem to be bleeding anymore.

‘It looks like I can finally breathe a little easier.’

Last year had been a nightmare.

He and his wife could ignore the mocking looks directed at them, but seeing their young, beautiful daughter’s future destroyed—that was unbearable.

What hurt even more was watching her cry every day. It felt like someone was ripping his heart out.

But even that painful time had passed, and now they were slowly returning to a peaceful life.

Still, Count Laurel didn’t know what had caused the change. All he remembered was that one day, Daphne had gone out briefly, and from that point on, she had started regaining her will to live.

“Watch your step, Daphne.”

“I’m fine, Father. You should take care of Mother.”

Daphne wrinkled her nose playfully and lightly scolded her father—just then…

“Lady Daphne?”

Hearing someone call her name, the count and countess stiffened and looked up. Daphne, recognizing the voice, looked surprised.

“Lady Harriet!”

It was Harriet—the very person Daphne had hoped to run into by chance.

Count and Countess Laurel were startled by her appearance. They hadn’t wanted their daughter to interact with Harriet, especially with Trisha Pellon standing right beside her.

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Harriet Listerwell. You must be Count and Countess Laurel. I wish your family blessings in the new year.”

Harriet greeted them very politely. There was no trace of mockery—her respectful greeting looked like it had come straight from a noble etiquette book.

“Oh, Lady Harriet. And Countess Pellon, it’s been a while.”

“It has. Age makes it harder to get around, so I’m only out on days like these.”

Trisha gently took the blame upon herself, as if apologizing for the Laurels’ recent absence from society. That small act of thoughtfulness touched Count Laurel.

Trisha always maintained proper decorum, but she was sometimes cruel to those who tried to take advantage of her.

Not mentioning the gossip and pain the Laurels had endured—that was true noble behavior. Something many had forgotten.

“I hope we’ll see you more often. We’re thinking of hosting some gatherings this year.”

“If I attend, people will say I ruin the mood. So I’ll send this girl instead—please treat her as you would me.”

“Ah… ha ha… Y-yes, of course.”

Count Laurel awkwardly agreed, even though he didn’t like the idea.

Meanwhile, Daphne stepped closer to Harriet and whispered in a voice low enough that her father wouldn’t hear.

“I’ve really been wanting to see you. I’m sorry I didn’t reply to your letter. You must’ve been upset. I did write a thank-you letter for the lavender perfume you sent, but… there were some issues, and I couldn’t send it.”

Harriet looked at Daphne, who kept glancing at her father nervously. From that alone, Harriet could guess what “issues” had stopped the letter from being sent.

That’s why now was her chance—especially since Trisha was keeping the Laurels occupied.

“Great-aunt, I just ran into an old friend. Would it be alright if we talked for a bit?”