“Yes?”
I looked at my father with a bewildered face.
No, what do you mean difficult?
Is it hard to send an invitation?
“Father, what do you mean by that?”
Father, furrowing his brows like mine, replied with a somewhat excited expression.
“Libe, actually, the Grand Duke has contacted us.”
“The Grand Duke who… What? What did you say?”
His name, unexpectedly heard in this place.
Standing there with a dumbfounded face, my father smoothly continued.
“The Grand Duke.”
In the moment I forgot to breathe-
“Libe, he has conveyed that he has a special interest in you.”
…
Ah, I might as well keep stopping since I’ve forgotten to breathe.
I trembled the corners of my mouth and bowed my head deeply.
“Libe?”
Father seemed puzzled by my reaction.
“Oh, Libe. Are you alright?”
“Yes, no. I mean, yes, I’m fine.”
“There must be a reason why the Grand Duke told me this. On the day when the fact that I invited a man of marriageable age to dinner reaches the Grand Duke.”
A shadow fell over my father’s gentle face.
Yes, I think I know what might happen next.
“…”
“So, that would be a bit difficult. I’m sorry, Libe.”
It was a plan I had thought out myself. I tried to hide my bitterness.
“No, Father.”
“But Libe, there’s something I want to ask you. Can you answer me honestly?”
As I lifted my bowed head, Father looked at me with worried eyes.
“Yes.”
The words that followed moved me a little.
“No matter what anyone says, I think Libe’s heart is important.”
“Father.”
“Of course, the fact that the man interested in you is Grand Duke Signus does excite me a bit.”
“…”
“The thought alone that our family could have a duchess makes me lose sleep at night.”
“…”
“How happy your frail mother would be, and how bright the future would look for your brother Oliver.”
“…”
“The attention and tremendous influence we would gain by becoming family with the Grand Duke is something I’ve dreamed of all my life.”
“…”
“But still, our Libe’s heart is what’s important to me.”
Father looked at me with kind eyes, but his cheeks were slightly flushed, and his nose twitched honestly.
Such an honest nostril.
“I understand, Father.”
Truthfully, it was natural for Father not to understand my actions.
I also know what it means to receive the affection of Zelarack.
To become the woman of someone with power rivaling the emperor.
A life where everything lies at your feet, and you can have anything you want.
If there were no constraints on me, I might have welcomed the current situation with open arms.
Well, would I really have?
He was certainly a great and impressive person, but still a bit frightening.
His nose, as if sculpted with care, seemed sharp enough to cut, the chill from his flawless white skin made my whole body shiver, and I felt like I could die getting lost in his unfathomable eyes.
…Listing these out, I guess I am afraid of him.
Ah, snap out of it!
“Libe, is it because Grand Duke Signus is too… intimidating?”
Father asked gently as I struggled to relax my expression.
“Yes, it’s a bit overwhelming.”
It’s not just a bit, it’s a lot.
After all, he cannot become my person.
I don’t want to die here. I want to go back alive.
“Actually, I was uncertain until he sent you the dress. Such a favor could be extended to anyone. But if he goes so far as to say this to me.”
“…”
“Libe, like your mother says, men are very simple. Of course, excluding your father.”
Haha.
“Maybe the Grand Duke is really pure, unlike what is known. That’s why he’s showing his feelings honestly.”
Pure, you say?
No, Father, really. Power is good and all, but!
“Why don’t you try to understand his feelings a little, just a little?”
“I will, Father.”
At least I was sure Father wasn’t on my side. It meant it was impossible to use Nathan to deal with Zelarack.
Alright, I’ll use another method.
I smiled kindly at Father again.
“Yes, Father. I understand what you’re saying.”
For now, it’s a retreat.
“Then I’ll go up now.”
“Libe.”
As I turned to leave, Father spoke with an awkward face.
“If you’re okay with it, I’d like to invite the Grand Duke to dinner, what do you think?”
I briefly recalled him, sipping tea with a noble expression.
My feelings towards him were incredibly complex.
Once, I wanted to run away, and just looking at him from a distance made my legs weak.
But still, he was fatally attractive. I didn’t want to acknowledge my complex feelings, so I clenched the hem of my skirt tightly.
However, there was something more important than those feelings.
I had to put back together the puzzle I had ruined.
“Father, when you’re done with your busy work. That would be alright, wouldn’t it?”
“Ah, of course. Then… what are your thoughts on looking into music? Shall I introduce you to another musician I know?”
“No, I’ll take care of it myself. Thank you.”
Father seemed pleased with my answer and smiled broadly. After showing a polite smile, I turned around and let go of my laughter.
I’m sorry, Father.
I don’t think I’ll be able to realize that grand and vast dream of yours.
What dinner?
I’ll resolve it before that dreadful event takes place! ⚜ ⚜ ⚜
The rain that had been falling since morning was getting stronger. Whether it was because of the conversation with my father last night, or the uncertainty of what lay ahead, my head felt heavy, and even eating something sweet did nothing to lift my spirits. Ah, if I’m still feeling down after eating something sweet, this must be serious. I was aimlessly watching the raindrops hit the window and slide down when I heard a voice.
“Miss.”
It seemed that Eclat, who had gone out after breakfast, had returned.
“Yes, did you meet Elome well?”
I glanced in the direction where Eclat stood and then listlessly looked back out the window.
“Yes, Miss. But that’s not what’s important.”
“Uh-huh.”
Right now, the only important thing in my life is escaping, Eclat.
“I have two pieces of completely surprising news.”
“Oh, two pieces of news, huh.”
I responded indifferently, but Eclat seemed undeterred by my attitude.
“Which one would you like to hear first?”
“Whichever.”
“Alright, then first! Remember the novel you mentioned last time?”
“Novel?”
“Yes, don’t you remember?”
“…What novel did I talk about?”
“Oh, come on, it’s about two people who are destined to fall in love, but the female protagonist’s friend interferes.”
What?
Eclat’s words made my ears perk up, and I quickly turned around.
“Oh, right. We did talk about that. But why?”
“I was curious about the ending of that novel, so I asked you for the title.”
How could I know the ending when I don’t even know how this story will turn out!
“Oh, right, right.”
“But you said you couldn’t remember.”
Eclat continued excitedly.
“So I asked Elome just in case.”
Elome.
She was a maid of the Schrein family, quick on her feet and well-informed about rumors.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she knew all the issues in high society.
“And then?”
“Elome found out the title of the book for me.”
“What?”
I was genuinely surprised and jumped to my feet.
I mean, I don’t even know how this story will unfold…
And there’s someone who knows the title?
That’s what I’m currently going through, isn’t it?
“Is that true? You know the title?”
“Yes, as expected, Elome knows everything. If she doesn’t know, she’ll find out.”
Eclat shrugged her shoulders proudly.
But no matter how much I thought about it, it didn’t make sense.
Elome was a girl who took great pride in the fact that her words had influence.
It didn’t seem like her to damage her credibility by claiming something existed when it didn’t.
So… is it really true?
“So, what’s the title?”
My heart was pounding.
“Of course! I thought you would like it too. I rushed here to tell you.”
“So what’s the title?”
“It’s called ‘Turbulent Renata.’”
“What?”
That name sounded familiar.
Wait, isn’t it strangely similar to the title of the novel ‘Turbulent Leoni’?
As I stared at her with a dumbfounded face, Eclat spoke without concern.
“So I looked further, and it turns out it’s only available at Mr. Clem’s bookstore. I was going to buy it on my way here because I thought you’d be curious, but the rain was pouring too hard.”
I knew where Mr. Clem’s bookstore was.
It was always where my brother Oliver went when he couldn’t find the books he needed.
Of course, I had never been there.
“Let’s go.”
“Pardon?”
“We need to go see it right now.”
“Ah, but it’s raining heavily, are you sure?”
“Of course. Let’s go!”
Perhaps I’ll find the answers inside.
For the first time today, my mind felt clear.
I looked at my father with a bewildered face.
No, what do you mean difficult?
Is it hard to send an invitation?
“Father, what do you mean by that?”
Father, furrowing his brows like mine, replied with a somewhat excited expression.
“Libe, actually, the Grand Duke has contacted us.”
“The Grand Duke who… What? What did you say?”
His name, unexpectedly heard in this place.
Standing there with a dumbfounded face, my father smoothly continued.
“The Grand Duke.”
In the moment I forgot to breathe-
“Libe, he has conveyed that he has a special interest in you.”
…
Ah, I might as well keep stopping since I’ve forgotten to breathe.
I trembled the corners of my mouth and bowed my head deeply.
“Libe?”
Father seemed puzzled by my reaction.
“Oh, Libe. Are you alright?”
“Yes, no. I mean, yes, I’m fine.”
“There must be a reason why the Grand Duke told me this. On the day when the fact that I invited a man of marriageable age to dinner reaches the Grand Duke.”
A shadow fell over my father’s gentle face.
Yes, I think I know what might happen next.
“…”
“So, that would be a bit difficult. I’m sorry, Libe.”
It was a plan I had thought out myself. I tried to hide my bitterness.
“No, Father.”
“But Libe, there’s something I want to ask you. Can you answer me honestly?”
As I lifted my bowed head, Father looked at me with worried eyes.
“Yes.”
The words that followed moved me a little.
“No matter what anyone says, I think Libe’s heart is important.”
“Father.”
“Of course, the fact that the man interested in you is Grand Duke Signus does excite me a bit.”
“…”
“The thought alone that our family could have a duchess makes me lose sleep at night.”
“…”
“How happy your frail mother would be, and how bright the future would look for your brother Oliver.”
“…”
“The attention and tremendous influence we would gain by becoming family with the Grand Duke is something I’ve dreamed of all my life.”
“…”
“But still, our Libe’s heart is what’s important to me.”
Father looked at me with kind eyes, but his cheeks were slightly flushed, and his nose twitched honestly.
Such an honest nostril.
“I understand, Father.”
Truthfully, it was natural for Father not to understand my actions.
I also know what it means to receive the affection of Zelarack.
To become the woman of someone with power rivaling the emperor.
A life where everything lies at your feet, and you can have anything you want.
If there were no constraints on me, I might have welcomed the current situation with open arms.
Well, would I really have?
He was certainly a great and impressive person, but still a bit frightening.
His nose, as if sculpted with care, seemed sharp enough to cut, the chill from his flawless white skin made my whole body shiver, and I felt like I could die getting lost in his unfathomable eyes.
…Listing these out, I guess I am afraid of him.
Ah, snap out of it!
“Libe, is it because Grand Duke Signus is too… intimidating?”
Father asked gently as I struggled to relax my expression.
“Yes, it’s a bit overwhelming.”
It’s not just a bit, it’s a lot.
After all, he cannot become my person.
I don’t want to die here. I want to go back alive.
“Actually, I was uncertain until he sent you the dress. Such a favor could be extended to anyone. But if he goes so far as to say this to me.”
“…”
“Libe, like your mother says, men are very simple. Of course, excluding your father.”
Haha.
“Maybe the Grand Duke is really pure, unlike what is known. That’s why he’s showing his feelings honestly.”
Pure, you say?
No, Father, really. Power is good and all, but!
“Why don’t you try to understand his feelings a little, just a little?”
“I will, Father.”
At least I was sure Father wasn’t on my side. It meant it was impossible to use Nathan to deal with Zelarack.
Alright, I’ll use another method.
I smiled kindly at Father again.
“Yes, Father. I understand what you’re saying.”
For now, it’s a retreat.
“Then I’ll go up now.”
“Libe.”
As I turned to leave, Father spoke with an awkward face.
“If you’re okay with it, I’d like to invite the Grand Duke to dinner, what do you think?”
I briefly recalled him, sipping tea with a noble expression.
My feelings towards him were incredibly complex.
Once, I wanted to run away, and just looking at him from a distance made my legs weak.
But still, he was fatally attractive. I didn’t want to acknowledge my complex feelings, so I clenched the hem of my skirt tightly.
However, there was something more important than those feelings.
I had to put back together the puzzle I had ruined.
“Father, when you’re done with your busy work. That would be alright, wouldn’t it?”
“Ah, of course. Then… what are your thoughts on looking into music? Shall I introduce you to another musician I know?”
“No, I’ll take care of it myself. Thank you.”
Father seemed pleased with my answer and smiled broadly. After showing a polite smile, I turned around and let go of my laughter.
I’m sorry, Father.
I don’t think I’ll be able to realize that grand and vast dream of yours.
What dinner?
I’ll resolve it before that dreadful event takes place! ⚜ ⚜ ⚜
The rain that had been falling since morning was getting stronger. Whether it was because of the conversation with my father last night, or the uncertainty of what lay ahead, my head felt heavy, and even eating something sweet did nothing to lift my spirits. Ah, if I’m still feeling down after eating something sweet, this must be serious. I was aimlessly watching the raindrops hit the window and slide down when I heard a voice.
“Miss.”
It seemed that Eclat, who had gone out after breakfast, had returned.
“Yes, did you meet Elome well?”
I glanced in the direction where Eclat stood and then listlessly looked back out the window.
“Yes, Miss. But that’s not what’s important.”
“Uh-huh.”
Right now, the only important thing in my life is escaping, Eclat.
“I have two pieces of completely surprising news.”
“Oh, two pieces of news, huh.”
I responded indifferently, but Eclat seemed undeterred by my attitude.
“Which one would you like to hear first?”
“Whichever.”
“Alright, then first! Remember the novel you mentioned last time?”
“Novel?”
“Yes, don’t you remember?”
“…What novel did I talk about?”
“Oh, come on, it’s about two people who are destined to fall in love, but the female protagonist’s friend interferes.”
What?
Eclat’s words made my ears perk up, and I quickly turned around.
“Oh, right. We did talk about that. But why?”
“I was curious about the ending of that novel, so I asked you for the title.”
How could I know the ending when I don’t even know how this story will turn out!
“Oh, right, right.”
“But you said you couldn’t remember.”
Eclat continued excitedly.
“So I asked Elome just in case.”
Elome.
She was a maid of the Schrein family, quick on her feet and well-informed about rumors.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she knew all the issues in high society.
“And then?”
“Elome found out the title of the book for me.”
“What?”
I was genuinely surprised and jumped to my feet.
I mean, I don’t even know how this story will unfold…
And there’s someone who knows the title?
That’s what I’m currently going through, isn’t it?
“Is that true? You know the title?”
“Yes, as expected, Elome knows everything. If she doesn’t know, she’ll find out.”
Eclat shrugged her shoulders proudly.
But no matter how much I thought about it, it didn’t make sense.
Elome was a girl who took great pride in the fact that her words had influence.
It didn’t seem like her to damage her credibility by claiming something existed when it didn’t.
So… is it really true?
“So, what’s the title?”
My heart was pounding.
“Of course! I thought you would like it too. I rushed here to tell you.”
“So what’s the title?”
“It’s called ‘Turbulent Renata.’”
“What?”
That name sounded familiar.
Wait, isn’t it strangely similar to the title of the novel ‘Turbulent Leoni’?
As I stared at her with a dumbfounded face, Eclat spoke without concern.
“So I looked further, and it turns out it’s only available at Mr. Clem’s bookstore. I was going to buy it on my way here because I thought you’d be curious, but the rain was pouring too hard.”
I knew where Mr. Clem’s bookstore was.
It was always where my brother Oliver went when he couldn’t find the books he needed.
Of course, I had never been there.
“Let’s go.”
“Pardon?”
“We need to go see it right now.”
“Ah, but it’s raining heavily, are you sure?”
“Of course. Let’s go!”
Perhaps I’ll find the answers inside.
For the first time today, my mind felt clear.
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