𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟒: 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐚’𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
“Graciela, I regret having caused you such hardship.”
“Otou-sama, I am fine. From now on, I will consider Florenci’s wellbeing first and live accordingly.”
“But, what about your own life? I at least wanted you to marry Anthony and find happiness.”
Somewhere in my heart, I believed that marrying Anthony would bring me happiness. But a future with him was nothing but despair.
ㅤ
“What if Anthony accepts the dissolution of the engagement, how about finding another candidate?”
“Otou-sama, I am not even slightly considering finding happiness through marriage.”
“However…”
ㅤ
I place my hand on my chest and make a declaration to my father.
ㅤ
“I am nothing more than a cog in the Duke Mendoza family. I believe that young Florenci needs a well-functioning cog.”
ㅤ
My mother is gone, and my father is bedridden due to illness. Under these circumstances, I am the only one who can protect Florenci.
ㅤ
“I want to become a parent figure for Florenci.”
ㅤ
My father looks at me with a sad expression.
His eyes seem to be filled with guilt and regret.
He is probably lamenting that he cannot fulfill his duties as a parent.
ㅤ
Having said so much, my father stopped urging me to marry.
ㅤ
“First, let’s send a letter to Anthony.”
“Please do.”
ㅤ
There was another thing I wanted to ask my father. That is, to keep this matter as private as possible.
If my uncle found out, he would be furious and barge into this mansion.
I want to avoid any trouble with them, so I desperately ask my father.
ㅤ
“Also, Florenci might worry.”
“That’s true.”
ㅤ
He also seems to give strict instructions to keep Anthony quiet.
ㅤ
“Let’s pay a little more compensation for the cancellation of the engagement.”
ㅤ
With plans in place for Anthony, I was relieved.
ㅤ
“Otou-sama, what about the servants?”
ㅤ
If our assets are frozen, we will not have the luxury to pay their wages.
They might understand if we explain the situation, but it would be better to keep the number of people who know the information to a minimum.
“Then, we should dismiss them under the pretext of my convalescence, and introduce them to jobs at the royal palace.”
“That’s a good idea.”
ㅤ
Not just as an excuse to the servants, but he seems to be considering actually spending time in a quiet and nature-rich resort.
Certainly, compared to the capital city where the sky is always cloudy due to factory pollution, a place with clean air would be better.
ㅤ
“What will Graciela do?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
ㅤ
When I thought about Florenci’s education, it seemed better to stay in the capital city.
However, the rural area would be out of reach of my uncle’s threats.
ㅤ
“I’ll think about it a little more.”
“I see.”
ㅤ
For now, it seems to be somewhat manageable, and I was relieved.
I bowed deeply and left my father’s bedroom.
ㅤ
We had laid off most of the servants, and the mansion was quite deserted. Maybe because the cleaning was done by a minimal number of people, it felt slightly dusty.
I had asked them to thoroughly clean at least the room Florenci uses.
The cook comes only at night. I make breakfast and lunch with all my skill.
Today, too, I stand in the kitchen and cook a dish I learned before the time was rewound.
It’s a little chilly, so I’ll make something that warms the body.
I simmered chicken broth, which I prepared in the morning, with sautéed ginger and carrots.
The second dish is a turnip stuffed with minced meat sprinkled with cheese and baked in the oven.
The third dish is a seafood stew with chopped pasta.
I finished quickly and asked the arriving butler to carry it to my father’s bedroom.
ㅤ
“You too, please eat the food here.”
“Graciela-oneesama, thank you.”
ㅤ
I will have mine with Florenci.
Fortunately, he enjoys my home cooking.
Maybe in the future, he won’t be able to eat luxurious meals prepared by a cook.
So, I started getting him used to my cooking.
Today, too, Florenci eats everything without leaving any. I was relieved.
ㅤ
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
ㅤ
The news about the temporary freeze of the Duke Mendoza family’s status and wealth seems to have been accepted by His Majesty the King. It appears that I have successfully obtained the “official endorsement” I was seeking.
The overwhelming joy makes me feel as though I might burst into dance. After exiting my father’s bedroom, my steps feel lighter.
When I return to my room to report to Ga-chan, she launches herself at me. She lands on my shoulder, looking up at me with her round eyes.
ㅤ
“Ga-chan, I did it. I managed to freeze the Duke Mendoza family’s status and wealth!!”
[Nya!]
ㅤ
Ga-chan rubs her cheek against mine as if to say, well done. Touching her fluffy body, I felt as though my tense heart was easing.
ㅤ
For the time being, the future where this house would be usurped by my uncle’s family will not come to pass.
It’s a strange feeling.
Despite having died once, I get to redo this same life.
ㅤ
“But Ga-chan, did you rewind my life?”
[Nya?]
ㅤ
In response to my question, Ga-chan tilts her head, casting me a gaze of uncertainty.
Though we have a contractual relationship, it does not mean we can understand each other’s thoughts.
I can only understand her basic emotions.
ㅤ
“I don’t know who granted me this life, but I have no intention of repeating the same mistakes. Ga-chan, I’ll do my best.”
[Nya!]
ㅤ
Now, I’m not alone. Ga-chan is here, and so is Florenci. Even my father is alive.
All I can do is steadily handle what’s possible.
In order to avoid a tragic future. . . . . .
ㅤ
Since then, I’ve been preparing dismissal notices to reduce the number of servants, and arranging new job placements.
Most of the servants wanted to follow me to the countryside, but with a heavy heart, I had to refuse.
Discussions regarding my father’s country rehabilitation were also advancing.
However, it was still undecided what Florenci and I would do.
ㅤ
During this time, I received a reply from Anthony.
My father reported the news to me with a somber expression.
ㅤ
“Anthony seems to accept the cancellation of the engagement with you.”
“I see.”
ㅤ
Although I was about to burst into joy, I quickly hid my mouth with my hand and looked away.
Seeing my reaction, my father comforted me, saying, “It’s not because Graciela did something wrong that he accepted the breakup.”
ㅤ
“By the way, a problem more troublesome than the engagement cancellation has come up.”
“What is it?”
ㅤ
Apparently, a reporter who had heard about our engagement cancellation somehow showed up at the mansion.
The butler drove him away, but I was told to be careful.
ㅤ
“You should take it easy for a while.”
“No, I will attend tonight’s party.”
“――?!”
ㅤ
I can guess what my father swallowed down.
The press has caught wind of the cancellation of my engagement with Anthony. Surely, by now, those around us must also know.
Why did I take such action? I must be the talk of the town now.
He must have wanted to ask why I would take action that would expose myself so.
ㅤ
“I think it’s necessary to show people that I am not in the midst of misfortune but am living happily and energetically.”
“Even so, you don’t have to go on the day you broke off your engagement with Anthony.”
ㅤ
I feel the same, but I can’t show weakness to those around me. To show strength, it’s not enough to just hide.
ㅤ
“Graciela, don’t overdo it.”
“Yes, I understand.”
ㅤ
With a determination not to lose, I took on the evening party.
[insert page=’4633′ display=’content’]
[insert page=’4587′ display=’content’]
Leave a Reply