EWOWMAIBTYPF Chapter 159

Chapter 159

 

“Hey, don’t you…”

“I want to receive it from you.”

Jack answered quickly.

He didn’t hear the rest, but somehow, he felt like he knew what she was about to say.

Probably something along the lines of, ‘Don’t you have a lot of people who would give you a handkerchief, being such a famous knight?’

But…

“Things given by people who don’t even know me mean nothing.”

He had received countless love letters and gifts from women of all ranks.

But Jack only found them burdensome and uncomfortable.

Because there was always only one person whose attention he wanted.

“Alright.”

At that moment, Lia suddenly wore an expression of realization, then replied with a bright smile.

“…Really?”

“Yeah!”

Despite her cheerful reply, Lia didn’t even glance at the handkerchief and simply walked past the stall.

Jack looked at her, puzzled, but she responded with a look that said, ‘Just trust me.’

Though a bit suspicious, Jack shook his head.

‘Yeah, no matter how clueless she is, she should’ve understood after I said it that clearly.’

He figured she must’ve planned to give him one she already had, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly.

 

***

 

Finally, the day of the Founding Festival had arrived.

Early in the morning, I attended the opening ceremony and looked up at the princess on stage, Serphin.

She must’ve woken up earlier than usual, as she yawned behind her hand, clearly tired.

“…And so, to commemorate the founding of the great Raksten Empire, let the festivities begin! Rejoice and enjoy!”

As the emperor finished his long speech with the opening declaration…

“Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”

“Long live the Raksten Empire!”

The crowd erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.

The nobles and foreign delegations joined in as well.

Everyone seemed ready to head back and prepare for the royal ball that evening.

“Adriana, your mother and I are going back to the marquis’ residence to rest until the ball.”

To my father’s words, I quickly replied,

“As I mentioned before, I’ll stay and watch the swordsmanship tournament with Diana!”

The Founding Festival’s swordsmanship tournament had so many participants that the preliminary rounds were held over two days in a tournament format, with the finals on the last day.

The finals were so popular among commoners that getting a ticket was nearly impossible—so much so that I’d only ever heard about it and had never attended myself.

But this time, I was finally going to see the finals in person.

‘Of course, I already know who this year’s winner is.’

Honestly, who wouldn’t know that Jack would win this year, just like Allen did last year?

While browsing the night market yesterday, I saw people gambling on the swordsmanship tournament. Jack’s victory was already considered a given, everyone was busy trying to guess who would come in second.

Still, no matter how favored he was, he had to compete in the preliminaries.

Jack’s preliminary match was scheduled for this afternoon.

‘I was planning to go anyway…’

But after he specifically asked for a handkerchief yesterday, I felt like I had to be there.

“Alright. Then enjoy the tournament, but don’t be too late—we have to go to the palace this evening…”

Just as my parents were about to give their usual reminder not to be late…

“Sis!”

A voice I’d been hearing multiple times a day recently rang out.

But it wasn’t Diana’s voice, which always made me feel good.

Turning my head, I saw Countess Amber waving at us, adorned with a flashy opal necklace.

Maybe it was the ostrich feather ornament in her hair, but she looked like a peacock.

Though clearly conscious of the attention around her, she wore a bright face, as if she’d completely forgotten what happened at the marquis’ residence not long ago, and that annoyed me.

‘Maybe it’s time to settle things properly.’

I nodded to myself and spoke in a very composed tone, responding in place of my mother.

“Oh, it was you—Countess Amber.”

A crack formed in the countess’s previously smiling face.

“What? This girl, still…”

Though her trembling voice hinted at her anger, she quickly forced a smile, probably remembering there were others around.

Then, she stood silently in front of me, as if waiting for something.

“…?”

I was momentarily puzzled, but soon realized what she was expecting and almost laughed.

As the duke’s daughter, I didn’t need to bow, even to a princess.

‘And yet she expects me to show her formal respect first?’

It seemed the countess had no grasp of basic etiquette.

Just as she opened her mouth, perhaps to say something…

“Adriana, there’s no need to bother with her. Let’s go.”

My mother, casting a cold glance at the countess, gently turned my shoulder.

“Look, the young lady is waiting for you.”

Just as my mother said, a few steps ahead stood Diana with Allen.

It seemed they had come to find me right after the opening ceremony, but had hung back when the countess barged in with her entourage.

“Sis, what was that just now—?!”

“Come on.”

The Countess, her face flushed red as if she couldn’t believe the insult she had just received, kept calling out ‘Sister,’ but my mother simply gave me a gentle push on the back without responding.

Then it happened.

“Uncle, it’s been a while. It’s me, Clara.”

Clara, who I hadn’t even realized was there, quietly stepped forward and bowed gracefully to my father.

“O-oh, right…”

My father, who had been quietly watching between my mother and the Countess, replied awkwardly.

“Clara, you’ve become quite the young lady.”

“It’s been a long time since we last met. Have you been well?”

“Hmm…”

My father gave a strained smile and nodded. Clara glanced briefly at me and continued.

“I can’t tell you how happy I was when I heard Adriana had been found. I was so worried when I heard she wasn’t well. And to think we’re meeting again here in the Empire…”

Clara’s eyes sparkled with emotion, but then a shadow passed over her face.

“But… it seems Aunt isn’t very happy to see me. May I ask why you seem so upset?”

The girl’s smile was tinged with sorrow, and despite her relatively modest dress compared to the Countess, the atmosphere shifted dramatically in an instant.

Watching how Clara flipped the situation in her favor so swiftly, I couldn’t help but click my tongue inwardly.

Clearly, she was someone better handled by me rather than Mom.

Just as I took a step forward, thinking so..

“Before you call someone ‘Aunt,’ shouldn’t you first check if your mother even has a sister?”

“…Pardon?”

“Your mother said she would rather not be considered part of the family, so I agreed. I don’t need a younger sister who carelessly runs her mouth about my daughter, either.”

Clara flinched at my mother’s cold words.

The Countess, who had been wearing a smug expression as if she’d thought my father’s response would smooth things over, was visibly stunned.

Above all, the revelation of the severed relationship between the sisters left people shooting sharp, judgmental looks at the Countess.

“Clara, we’re leaving!”

The Countess shouted, her face burning red with embarrassment as she turned around.

It seemed like she was trying to express her own anger too—but to me, she just looked like someone running away from the scene.

‘That’s what happens when you overstep.’

Maybe the Countess had misunderstood Mom’s kindness as softness, but Mom was never someone to care about appearances or reputation, especially when it came to family.

In fact, the Countess had been enjoying the benefits of that “family” label all this time. And now, she had stomped out of that boundary on her own so it was only fair that she face the consequences.

‘Still… she’s probably thinking right now, ‘How could you treat me like this, sister?’’

Somehow, I could see right through her.

Compared to the Countess, Clara was better at hiding her true feelings.

She held her trembling lips tightly shut and bowed politely to my parents before leaving looking quite the picture of a victim.

But—

“…”

That last look Clara gave me as she passed was chilling.

The spectators, who had been enjoying the unexpected drama, began awkwardly dispersing once the Countess and Clara left.

“Mom…”

“It’s alright, Adriana.”

Before I could say anything, my mother smiled gently, already knowing what I wanted to say.

“We’ll be heading back to Belus soon. So what if people talk?”

“But…”

“You really do worry too much, my dear daughter.”

Shaking her head, she leaned in and whispered in my ear.

“Gossips aren’t fearless, you know. In fact, they’re more sensitive to power. That’s why all the arrows will fly toward Regina. Her daughter’s grown enough—it’s time she learned a lesson.”

Smiling like she’d just shared a joke, Mom gestured playfully.

She looked so innocent, completely at odds with the sharp words she’d just spoken to her sister and niece.

But she wasn’t wrong. Not in the slightest.

Still, I couldn’t shake Clara’s final look from my mind.

‘I hope she just lets it go quietly…’

But I had a bad feeling that wouldn’t be the case.

 

***

 

After seeing my parents off as they returned to the estate, I got into the duke’s carriage with Diana and Allen.

Jack had already left early to prepare for the preliminaries, and the plan was for us to grab a light lunch near the tournament venue before heading over.

Resting my chin in my hand, I leaned against the carriage window, continuing the thoughts I’d been having during the ceremony.

‘I still don’t understand why she returned alone when she left with the delegation.’

A few days ago, word had spread that Princess Serphin, who had gone to the Kingdom of Riven, had returned alone.

And yet, the imperial delegation that had accompanied her was still completely out of contact…

‘Could it be that the new king has already begun making moves?’

Or were they in some sort of difficult situation?

“Why haven’t they come back yet?”

I muttered unconsciously, then paused.

Since arriving in the Empire, I’d been so busy reviewing what I had to do and gathering information that my mind had been constantly occupied.

And yet, one person kept surfacing in my thoughts.

‘No matter how much I think about it, I just can’t understand… but maybe… maybe he was looking for me even in the past.’

The one person I’d assumed I would meet without question, once I arrived in the Empire—

Lucio Elard.

 

Did I leave you waiting for too long? I was feeling extra lazy for a while 😂