IMMSFL Chapter 21

Chapter 21

 

 

 

After changing into her indoor clothes, Ebony noticed a letter placed on the table. 

The sealing wax in the center of the envelope indicated that it was from Leon.

Ever since returning from Evgenia, Leon has been writing to her whenever he has the chance. 

His letters were always long, so much so that the envelopes became thick with pages.

As she pulled out the first page, she was greeted by the familiar sight of densely packed writing.

The letter started with Leon sharing the happy moments he had spent with Helene and ended with a humorous description of how lovely and terrible his wife’s cooking was.

“…I’m glad I refused when Helene offered to cook for me.”

She recalled how she had turned down the offer simply because she was too full at the time. Thinking back, she shuddered at the close call.

**”Diego seems to still be busy with monster subjugation. I tried to get him to talk about you, but he’s so occupied that I couldn’t even find the time. 

I’ve sent him multiple letters, but there’s been no reply.

I won’t oppose your decision since you say you love him, but as your older brother, I can’t help but worry. 

He may be a good friend, but I’m not sure he’s a good man.”**

Ebony gently ran her fingers over the part of the letter mentioning Diego.

“So that’s why he hasn’t contacted me… He’s just busy.”

Hearing that Diego was still caught up in work reassured her.

After finishing her response to the letter, Ebony walked down the hallway to hand it to the postman. Along the way, her eyes fell on a lonely portrait—her own.

When the family had commissioned their portraits, she had also gotten her ones painted. While the rest of the family’s portraits were displayed in the grand hall on the first floor, hers alone had been hung upstairs.

“There’s no space for your portrait, Ebony. We’ll have to place yours upstairs. Is that okay?”

That’s what Edward had said when explaining the arrangement. He claimed that Irene had requested two paintings, which took up more space.

But even so, wasn’t it unfair that everyone else’s portraits were in the family’s official hall while hers was excluded?

She had wanted to express her disappointment, but she hadn’t had a choice. More than anything, she hadn’t wanted to talk back to the father she loved.

“Would things have changed if I had spoken up back then?”

Would standing up for herself have made any difference? If she had asked why her portrait was the only one missing from the display, would Edward have listened?

“No… If they had truly considered me family, they wouldn’t have made that decision in the first place.”

The problem wasn’t her silence—it was their actions.

“…Is something wrong, my lady?”

Gale had approached her when he noticed her staring at the portrait.

“I don’t like my expression.”

Ebony pointed at her painted face.

Maybe it was because of what had happened during the family portrait session, but throughout the entire process of painting this individual portrait, she had been in a gloomy mood. 

And that was reflected in the final result.

She recalled how Herman had sneered when he saw it, saying, “Are you putting your misfortune on display for everyone to see?”

“It does look like I’m begging people to pity me.”

“……”

“So take it down. I want to commission a new one.”

“…But this portrait was created alongside the family’s. Are you sure?”

“Can you call it a ‘family’ portrait when mine wasn’t included in the display?”

Ebony’s sharp words left Gale speechless.

“Just take it down. And I’ll choose the new artist myself.”

“…Understood. I’ll have it removed immediately.”

Without hesitation, Gale summoned a few attendants.

They brought out a ladder and quickly worked to remove the painting, hammering out the nails that had held it in place for years.

The portrait that had weighed on Ebony’s heart for so long was gone in mere minutes.

“What should we do with this painting?”

Looking at the frame leaning against the wall, Ebony paused for a moment before answering.

“Destroy it.”

Feeling lighter, she left the estate’s garden and sat down for tea.

Irene was locked in her room, writing yet another letter to Diego, so there was no one to disturb her peace.

“A day this peaceful won’t come often.”

The warm sunshine, the gentle chirping of birds, and the soft fragrance of flowers filled the air.

It was rare—almost unheard of—to have such a tranquil moment.

Just as she was about to fully relax, a loud voice shattered the silence.

“Hey!”

The birds on the fence scattered in alarm, and the flowers, swaying in the wind, seemed to freeze.

The one who had ruined her peace was Herman, storming toward her with an angry expression.

“I knew it.”

Hoping for peace in this wretched place had been her mistake.

Ebony glanced at him with indifferent eyes.

Herman, still fuming, shouted, “What on earth have you done this time?”

His sudden outburst annoyed her.

“What is he trying to blame me for now?”

She glared at him, already irritated.

“What kind of trouble did you cause for the Duke himself to come looking for you?!”

Duke?

Ebony blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the unexpected name.

There were only two dukes in the Printed Empire—one was Edward, the head of House Dominique, and the other was Duke Millenia, an elderly noble who rarely left the North due to his health.

It couldn’t be Millenia, so that meant…

“No way.”

A name flashed through her mind, but she immediately dismissed the thought.

“That’s impossible.”

Leon’s letters had made it clear how busy he was. There was no reason for him to come all this way to see her.

As she pushed the idea aside, Amy came running up, out of breath.

“My lady! The Duke of Magnus has arrived!”

Magnus.

She hadn’t misheard.

“He’s here?”

Almost in a daze, Ebony turned and hurried toward the drawing room.

As she walked, countless thoughts raced through her mind.

Why had he come?

If it was about their contract, wouldn’t a letter have been enough?

Herman had said the Duke was here for her, and Amy had also urged her to meet him.

“Could it be… that he’s here to break the contract?”

If he publicly announced the contract and declared it void, not only would her plans be ruined, but her engagement to Diego would be completely exposed.

“So much for keeping a low profile.”

Herman sneered at her anxious expression.

“What, even foreign nobles can’t escape your messes?”

“We’ve tolerated you long enough. If you’ve angered the Duke, you’ll pay the price.”

Ignoring him, Ebony knocked on the door.

A moment later, it opened.

She stepped inside, her gaze settling on the man seated before her.

“…It is an honor to meet the Little Sun of Evgenia.”

There he was—Diego Magnus.

“The honor is mine, the noble daughter of House Dominique.”

“…”

“Nice to see you again, my lady.”

In this surreal moment, he was the only one who seemed at ease.

A breeze brushed against Ebony’s cheek, snapping her back to reality.

She took her seat, watching Diego cautiously.

When their eyes met, he smirked.

Just as her unease peaked, a voice rang from the doorway.

“Lady Irene has arrived!”