𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟖: 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲
After a brief period of time, I made my way to the grand hall.
I had planned to exchange a few words with the friendly young ladies before returning home, but the first to approach me was Sonia, accompanied by Anthony.
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“Graciela, I thought you had run off already.”
“No, I just stepped out for some fresh air.”
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Anthony, whether resigned or indifferent, wore a vacant expression and, of course, did not meet my gaze.
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“Graciela, look. Everyone is dancing and enjoying themselves. Why don’t you join in?”
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Knowing that I had no partner, she still invited me.
Even though she’s my cousin, her personality is truly awful.
Then, she proposed something I didn’t expect.
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“Would you like to borrow Anthony?”
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The way she said it was as if she was talking about her own man.
Naturally, I declined.
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“No. . . . . .I’m not in the mood for dancing today.”
“Then why did you come to the evening party? There’s no point in participating if you’re not going to dance.”
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I couldn’t stand the idea of people speculating and gossiping about me in my absence.
The reason I attended the evening party, it could be said, was out of stubbornness.
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“By the way, Graciela, don’t you think you’ve aged a bit?”
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I used to be told I looked mature for my age, but it seems when you reach a certain age, you just look old.
Aging comes equally to everyone. Being pointed out doesn’t make me feel anything more than “so it is.”
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“I wonder if I will look like that when I reach your age. Growing old is scary.”
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As I listened with a slightly troubled expression, Sonia’s mood seemed to brighten as if she was having fun.
After that, Sonia continued to tease me in good spirits.
In a romance novel, this would be the moment where a cool hero would gallantly arrive to save the heroine.
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However, it’s dangerous to expect to be saved by someone.
In the world of stories, many love stories start with a crisis, leading to a happy ending.
But what would happen if that hero fell in love with another woman?
I can’t believe in a place that is only held together by love.
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This is my life. I must not rely on others for anything.
I have to carve out my future with my own will.
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“Sonia, it seems Anthony is bored. Why don’t you go dance with him?”
“That’s a good idea. Anthony, let’s go.”
“Y, Yes.”
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I directed a wistful gaze at the departing pair, of course, it was all an “act”.
The performance I showed to those around me was enough.
Just as I was thinking of going home, someone came running. On closer look, it was my father’s servant.
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“Graciela-ojousama, please return home immediately!!”
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The fact that he, who is always by my father’s side, is so frantic must mean something happened.
I quickly got into the carriage and headed for the Mendoza family mansion.
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“What happened?”
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The servant, his face pale, teared up as he explained the situation.
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“Duke-sama has vomited a large amount of blood. The doctor says tonight will be critical.”
“Otou-sama?!”
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Why?! There should still be days left until my father’s passing.
Holding my chest that was thumping with an unpleasant sensation, I made my way towards the bedroom where my father was.
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“Otou-sama!!”
“Ugh, gaaa.”
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My father was writhing in pain, vomiting enough blood to stain the sheets red.
What on earth happened?
In my previous life, my father passed away peacefully.
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“What is the meaning of this?! What happened to Otou-sama?!”
“His condition suddenly worsened.”
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For now, there’s nothing to do but give him painkillers, they say.
During this time, the butler addressed me.
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“Graciela-ojousama, what should we do about Young Master Florenci?”
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I was told that Florenci had already gone to bed.
If he were to see his father suffering and covered in blood, he would be traumatized.
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“There’s no need to call for Florenci. I will stay by Otou-sama’s side.”
“Understood.”
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My father coughed up blood all night, suffering until he drew his last breath.
It was a brutal end.
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By the butler’s hand, my father was cleaned up.
The blood-soaked bedding was replaced, and he appeared as if sleeping peacefully on a clean bed.
Perhaps the only solace was his peaceful expression as he passed. . . . . .
In front of my father’s remains, I cried until my tears ran dry.
At such a time, Ga-chan kindly consoled me.
Despite having experienced my father’s death once, the shock was significant and it was saddening.
I was tormented by regret, wishing I had stayed by his side instead of attending the evening party.
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Slowly, the outside began to brighten. A new day was about to start.
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“Graciela-ojousama.”
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I turned back to the butler. I could tell what he was about to say.
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“Otou-sama’s funeral will be held in three days. I will talk to Florenci later, so don’t worry.”
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Having stayed by my father’s side all night, the butler must be tired too. I told him to rest for a while.
When left alone, I was swallowed by a whirlpool of thoughts on what to do next.
Just thinking about dealing with my uncle gave me a throbbing headache.
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For the time being, the status and property of the Duke Mendoza family are frozen. My uncle can’t take them away.
It’s only a matter of time before my uncle learns about this.
He might resent me and take some action.
Maybe even foolishly thinking that if only Florenci wasn’t there, the status and property of the Duke Mendoza family would fall into his hands.
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A chill ran down my spine.
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“. . . . . .I shouldn’t be here.”
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I must take Florenci and hide somewhere far away for a while.
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“But where should we go?”
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Apart from the territory and relatives, I have no connections.
Given that my enemy is my uncle, I couldn’t rely on them.
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“What should I do?”
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The moment I muttered that, Ga-chan started to flutter a note like a flag. It was a note with bird wing magic, which I got from Rachael.
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“That’s it!”
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I had a connection. It was Rachael, the Grand Duke’s daughter of Binemöer.
She might be able to help me.
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If I just fled to Binemöer in an ordinary way, I would be found out immediately.
We must thoroughly prepare, to the point of disguising the identities of Florenci and myself.
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However, if we were a brother and sister who came from Vulcano, we might attract attention.
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What should I do to protect Florenci?
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“If only I could be Florenci’s real mother.”
[Nyan Nyan!!]
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It seemed like Ga-chan was shouting, “That’s it!”
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“Mother and child. . . . . .That’s it! If we pose as mother and child and cross to Binemöer, we won’t be suspected.”
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A twenty-year-old daughter with a six-year-old son might be a bit of a stretch, but according to Sonia, I look older, so it might work. It might be better to pretend to be in my mid-twenties.
I gripped my father’s hand and made a vow.
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“Otou-sama, I will protect Florenci!”
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This is not the time to be always downcast. I wiped away my tears and stood up.
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