Episode 30
How can your heart stay still when a handsome man looks at you like that?
It’s probably not a big deal that he said it’s not a transaction.
Come to think of it, he’s so kind and affectionate that I might be feeling guilty, which is why I’m interpreting it that way.
So, please, let’s not misunderstand.
With that in mind, I struggled all night to fall asleep, tossing and turning in bed, and ended up staying awake all night with bleary eyes.
A few days later, the day of my parents’ 30th wedding anniversary party arrived.
From early morning, everyone in the mansion was busy with party preparations.
Today was already an important day, but with the announcement of my marriage planned as well, I felt a slight sense of tension as soon as I woke up.
After what happened in the garden, I didn’t go to the Brighton mansion due to the preparations for the party.
Honestly, being busy was just an excuse, and I was still feeling unsettled, which made me afraid of facing him awkwardly.
But I regretted my decision immediately the next day.
Because we had been together every day for a month, I thought I could manage without his help for a few days, but that was just foolish arrogance.
During the time when I couldn’t hold his hand, I constantly felt restless and anxious, like going through withdrawal symptoms.
The clarity and freshness of his presence, which I longed for every moment, made it hard to endure.
Luckily, I didn’t fall into sleeplessness, but still.
Anyway, whether it made things awkward between us or not, it didn’t matter to me anymore.
I just wanted to see him soon.
I wanted to hold his hand, feel reassured, and share conversations with his cheerful laughter.
‘I hope he comes soon.’
Unfortunately, the party was scheduled to start late in the evening.
But I just have to endure for a few more hours.
With that in mind, I pushed myself to focus on the party preparations.
The dress I would wear today was an elegant one with a light pink hue.
In the empire, it was customary for women to wear a pink dress when they got engaged.
Since Lloydin and I were going to get married without an engagement, I didn’t expect to wear a pink dress. However, to signify our engagement along with the marriage announcement, I ended up wearing a pink dress today.
After arranging my hair in a half-updo and placing a corsage made of white flowers, I finished all the preparations and headed to the room where my mother was.
“Mother, I’m here.”
“Ayla. Oh, our daughter looks so beautiful.”
“Mother, you are much more beautiful than me, aren’t you?”
As soon as I saw my mother, admiration naturally escaped my lips.
Wearing a rich white dress reminiscent of a bride at a wedding, my mother was the most beautiful I had ever seen.
Despite her age and having raised four children, my mother, who had been famous for her exceptional beauty in her youth in the empire, still sparkled brightly.
As I chatted with my mother while she finished getting ready, someone knocked on the door.
Knock, knock.
“It’s me, Mother.”
“Come in.”
The person who knocked on the door was my brother Luke.
Upon hearing my mother’s invitation, he opened the door and entered.
And just like me, when my brother saw our mother, his eyes widened in surprise.
“Brother, isn’t Mother truly beautiful?”
“Wow, Mother!”
Luke exclaimed and approached us.
“I always wondered where my handsome looks came from, but it seems I perfectly resemble Mother.”
“Well, I’m not so sure about that.”
“What did you say?”
When I playfully responded to my brother’s words, he chuckled, not taking offense.
Honestly, Jade and Noah resemble Mother a lot, but you resemble Father more.”
“No, I resemble Mother.”
“I think you resemble Father?”
“No, that’s not it.”
When my brother adamantly denied resembling Father, I found his reaction amusing and burst into laughter.
“Kids, settle down.”
“Mother! Don’t you think I resemble you more than Father? I really resemble you more than Father, right?”
“Our son naturally resembles me.”
Trying to soothe Luke, who looked as if he had lost something, Mother spoke seriously.
“Isn’t that right? Phew, that’s a relief.”
“Cough!”
At the moment Luke breathed a sigh of relief, Father’s somewhat irritated cough echoed from the hallway.
“Ah, Father!”
Upon seeing Father, Luke startled and took a step back.
Quickly approaching, I linked my arm with Father’s and interjected, “Father, did you hear? It seems like Brother doesn’t want to resemble you.”
“No, Father. It’s not that I don’t want to resemble you…”
Glancing at Father with a fearful expression, my brother hesitated.
“Luke Anaïs.”
Father called out my brother’s name, including his surname. There was only one instance when Father called us by our full names, indicating he was extremely displeased.
“Come closer.”
“Father, I apologize. It’s not that I don’t want to resemble you, but I think I resemble Mother more.”
“Alright, come here.”
As Father gestured for my brother to come closer, Luke, knowing what would happen, reluctantly complied.
I uncrossed my arms to make it easier for Father to move, observing with curious eyes how my brother would respond.
“I-I’m sorry. I can’t do that!”
“You, you little!”
As if he couldn’t tolerate his son’s defiance any longer, Father attempted to take action. Luke, with an anxious expression, watched Father closely, realizing the situation was becoming more serious.
It was as if he would flee at any moment.
Just as the tension in the room peaked, the two of them paused in their movements.
“Honey, stop it.”
With Mother’s words, the movements of the two stopped abruptly.
“I’ll go out and make sure everything is in order.”
“Alright. Now go out and prepare to greet the guests. If you go out, Jade and Noah will be there.”
“Yes, Father!”
In response to Father’s instruction to leave, my brother dashed outside like an arrow.
“I’ll go out first.”
Following my brother, I opened the door and before stepping out, I turned back briefly to look at our parents.
Father, who had quickly approached where Mother was seated, seemed to have eyes only for her, as if disregarding everyone else.
Father’s face was that of a man deeply in love.
How could one love only one person so consistently?
Admiring their love, I closed the door as quietly as possible, smiling contentedly, and joined the outside.
* * *
As the time for the reception approached, numerous carriages passed through the main gate.
Today’s reception was set to take place in the garden, lovingly tended to by Mother.
The garden was filled with beautiful and colorful flowers, a testament to Father’s affection and Mother’s care.
The garden, filled with Father’s affection and Mother’s care, was the perfect venue for today’s reception.
Parents, my brothers, and I welcomed guests at the entrance of the garden.
“Duke Anaïs, Duchess Anaïs. Congratulations on your 30th wedding anniversary.”
“Welcome. Lord and Lady Macier.”
“Lord Macier, Lady Macier. Thank you for coming.”
A middle-aged couple, looking similar in age to Father, exchanged greetings with my parents.
My brothers and I followed our parents, showing courtesy to the nobles.
We greeted guests for quite some time, and each time, most of the nobles who saw me couldn’t hide their surprise.
Considering that it was almost my first time participating in such external activities, it was understandable.
Always being in poor health, I not only avoided going out but also shied away from social activities, so there were quite a few people who remembered me as the little girl from childhood.
“Oh, how the little girl from back then has grown into such a graceful and charming young lady.”
“Thank you, Countess Armand.”
As I exchanged greetings with various people, reaching the final stages of welcoming guests, the surroundings suddenly became restless, and along with it, Someone appeared before me in a familiar sight.
“Your Grace!”
I quickly ran towards Lloydin.
He was wearing a splendid black evening suit that suited him perfectly today.
“Why are you so late?”
“I had something to attend to.”
“Oh, you had something to do. Well, you still managed to come on time. Come this way.”
It turned out that my apprehension about feeling awkward meeting him because of the incident a few days ago was just a big misconception on my part.
Thank you so much for the chapter!❤️🔥