TCBCVF 87

~Chapter 87~

“A… Father.”

Seraphina called out desperately to the Count.

In the past, the Count would have just laughed off Seraphina’s crossing the line and called it cute.

But now, Count Gusto only looked at Seraphina coldly.

“Who are you calling father?”

“…What?”

Seraphina looked stunned, as if she’d been slapped.

“You need to face reality.”

The Count clicked his tongue so Seraphina could hear.

“You were just childhood friends. How long are you planning to keep chasing Gregory around?”

He looked Seraphina up and down like she was pathetic, then snapped at her again.

“Isn’t it time you learned to live on your own?”

“W-what do you mean…”

“How long are you planning to keep clinging to the Gusto family?”

Seraphina couldn’t believe what was happening.

The Count had always doted on her, saying he wished she was his daughter because his two sons never brought him any joy.

He definitely said that…

‘Lies.’

Seraphina couldn’t recover from the shock.

But nobody cared about how shocked she was.

Instead, Gregory gently asked after Laritte’s well-being.

“Lari, are you okay?”

“Were you very surprised?”

Count Gusto also turned to Laritte and spoke as if he’d been waiting.

Laritte, looking at the two men in disbelief, frowned and retorted,

“I don’t think we’re close enough to ask each other how we’re doing.”

“Come on, Lari. How long are you going to be so cold?”

Gregory answered cheekily.

“But still, I didn’t think you’d actually come all the way to the temple.”

His eyes glinted with a cunning light.

“So? Now that you checked for yourself, are you satisfied?”

He acted like he had already won.

Gregory tried to soothe her.

“Isn’t it enough now? Why not stop here?”

“What right do you have to tell me what to do?”

“Why? Isn’t it normal for a husband to give his wife some advice?”

Laritte couldn’t hide her look of disgust at his shameless words.

But Gregory pressed on.

“You’ll be my wife anyway. Do you really have to make things so difficult?”

He shrugged like he didn’t care.

“I don’t like women who make a fuss.”

“Gregory’s right. You should stop being stubborn and get ready for the wedding,”

Count Gusto joined in, siding with his son.

“If you keep making a scene, you’ll only disgrace the Ansie family name.”

He sounded like he was only thinking of Laritte’s reputation.

Suddenly, Laritte felt a strong sense of discomfort.

‘Wait.’

Why were these two even here?

If the Gusto family really held all the cards, they wouldn’t need to pressure Laritte in person.

‘They’re the ones who seem desperate.’

And Count Gusto had always looked down on the Ansie family for being of lower rank.

If he was suddenly acting humble, maybe—

‘Was there a problem with the marriage paperwork?’

Laritte’s pink eyes flashed sharply.

‘Maybe they’re rushing the wedding to cover up a mistake?’

It seemed worth looking into.

‘No point wasting time here.’

Laritte glanced at the Gusto men one last time, then left without another word.

“Laritte? Laritte!”

“Wait, child!”

Gregory and the Count hurried after her.

Seraphina was left alone.

“…This is too much.”

Tears streamed down her white cheeks.

“It’s really too much…”

Until now, she had held back because of her pride, but now she couldn’t control her emotions.

Seraphina bit her lip until it bled.

‘How could they abandon me?!’

They had always just been friends, and it was strange that Gregory had supported her for so long.

But Seraphina was too angry to think clearly.

‘He chose Laritte over me, how could he…!’

Just then—

“Lady Lopez.”

Someone spoke gently to her.

Seraphina snapped her head around, glaring through her tears.

“Who…! Oh.”

Her sharpness faded, and her tear-filled eyes grew wide.

“…Chief Priest Evans?”

Isaac Evans.

Heir of the Evans Marquis branch of Claudius, the youngest Chief Priest, and hugely popular with the ladies.

He looked at Seraphina with gentle eyes.

“I’m sorry if I startled you.”

“Ah…”

“I just felt so bad seeing you crying all alone that I came over without thinking.”

Is he interested in me?

Seraphina instinctively lowered her eyes, letting her tears fall.

“I, I…”

But while she looked delicate on the outside, inside she was busy calculating.

‘Chief Priest Evans is a much better catch than Gregory.’

His family’s status, his abilities, even his looks.

She needed to win his favor here.

“…Sob.”

Seraphina trembled, swallowing her tears.

Isaac looked flustered and gently patted her shoulder.

“Please don’t cry.”

“I’m sorry… I must be troubling you.”

Seraphina tried to give him a sad smile through her tears.

Just then—

‘Huh?’

She blinked her wet eyelashes.

‘Did Chief Priest Evans just smile?’

But the smile quickly disappeared.

“If you don’t mind me asking…”

Isaac comforted her, looking genuinely worried.

“May I ask what has made you so sad?”

“…Sir.”

“…”

“Duke!”

At the call, Dietrich snapped out of his thoughts and looked up.

“What is it?”

“Well…”

His attendant looked at his hand in surprise.

Dietrich followed his gaze.

Black ink was spilling from the fountain pen he’d been gripping.

His hand and the documents were covered in ink.

“Oh, no.”

Dietrich frowned.

“Here you are.”

The attendant quickly handed him a handkerchief.

Dietrich took it and wiped his hand irritably.

“….”

Looking at the white handkerchief now stained black, he felt a surge of frustration.

In the end, Dietrich sighed and spoke.

“Let’s take a break.”

“Huh?”

The attendant looked shocked.

It was rare for Dietrich to suggest stopping work first.

But Dietrich seemed serious.

He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

The attendant stood there awkwardly as time passed.

“Why, do you want to keep working?”

Dietrich opened his eyes and asked sharply.

The attendant shook his head quickly.

“No, sir. Please rest.”

Lately, the Duke seemed to be in a strange mood… was it just his imagination?

The attendant left, confused.

Click.

The door closed.

“…Sigh.”

Dietrich let out a deep breath.

He’d snapped at the attendant for no reason.

‘I shouldn’t have done that.’

Lady Ansie.

Laritte and Gregory’s marriage registration.

And Gregory’s public proposal to Laritte.

All of it was getting on his nerves.

Even though he knew he had no right to interfere in Laritte’s affairs.

‘It’s frustrating.’

Dietrich irritably tugged at his cravat.

Just then—

Bang!

“Brother!!”

The door burst open as Evangeline rushed into his office.