LI Chapter 36

‌⁠♡⁩ TL: Khadija SK

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Theodore spoke, lowering his head in humility:

 

“Grant me a chance to make amends for the Bernier family’s insolence.”

 

His apology was no ordinary one.

 

Viscount Easton frowned.

 

‘Is he serious about Hazel? Does he truly love her?’

 

When a man falls in love, he becomes dangerous. How much more so Theodore, a man among men?

 

Viscount Easton imagined a grim future in his mind.

 

His body shuddered as he pictured Hazel married to Theodore and mistreated in the ducal household.

 

“I’ll accept your apology, Lord Bernier. But my resolve against forming a marital bond with the Bernier family won’t change.”

 

“I know. You told me last time. You said you’d only accept someone who loves Miss Hazel more than you do as part of the family.”

 

“Correct. My stance hasn’t shifted. Has your heart grown that steadfast?”

 

Viscount Easton asked with a tone suggesting he didn’t believe it.

 

With his head slightly tilted, cigar smoke drifted from between his lips.

 

Theodore felt anger surge within him.

 

Not because Viscount Easton spoke with mockery, but because he was furious at himself for not being able to confidently declare before him that he loved Hazel.

 

Yes.

 

He did love Hazel.

 

But did he love her as much as Viscount Easton did?

 

No, he didn’t.

 

Yet, to rise above Viscount Easton’s scrutiny, Theodore said the best he could in his position:

 

“What I can assure you is that I’ll protect Miss Hazel no matter the circumstances or the nature of our relationship.”

 

“So it seems you don’t love Hazel, then?”

 

Theodore clenched his jaw.

 

Viscount Easton wasn’t the one who should hear his confession first.

 

“I’ll delay answering that question for now.”

 

Viscount Easton shrugged indifferently.

 

He was flaunting the depth of his love for Hazel before Theodore.

 

Theodore felt both anger and defiance but sealed his lips tightly.

 

“I don’t wish to form ties with a family that opposes my daughter. Has Lady Michelle changed her mind and decided to accept Hazel?”

 

“Not yet. But since my thoughts align with yours, Viscount, I’m certain the outcome we both desire will come someday. I hope Miss Hazel is warmly welcomed—not just in the ducal household, but anywhere in this country.”

 

When one parsed Theodore’s words, they implied Hazel wasn’t warmly received anywhere.

 

Viscount Easton’s eyes narrowed.

 

‘It seems he knows Hazel’s secret. Well, it’s unlikely Lady Michelle, who wrote me that letter, kept her mouth shut from her nephew.’

 

Viscount Easton and Theodore focused on smoking their cigars for a while.

 

As Viscount Easton savored the study’s calm, a sudden thought struck him:

 

‘This is what I’ve wanted for so long.’

 

Viscount Easton had always longed for a son too.

 

Not for the family’s future, but to share a cigar with and impart all he could teach a man.

 

Since Hazel was so clever, he could entrust the family’s future to his eldest daughter, yet a part of his heart still yearned for a grown son.

 

By the time he could share cigars with Andre, he’d be too old to hunt with him.

 

But Theodore was fulfilling this simple wish of Viscount Easton’s.

 

A wry laugh escaped him.

 

Objectively, Theodore was a flawless son-in-law.

 

Had Lady Michelle not seized Hazel’s origins as an excuse, he could’ve done so much with Theodore.

 

Especially hunting…

 

“Do you enjoy hunting?”

 

Theodore asked abruptly. Viscount Easton was utterly taken aback.

 

“Have you learned to read minds too?”

 

“Because you just said you wanted to go hunting.”

 

“Did I say that?”

 

Theodore smiled faintly as he saw Viscount Easton’s obvious confusion.

 

“There’s a good hunting ground. If the chance arises, let’s go together. And of course, with Miss Hazel, who’s said to have won first place in a hunting contest.”

 

Theodore glanced toward the door, as if someone were outside.

 

At that moment, Hazel, who was indeed beyond the door, gripped her skirt’s hem tightly.

 

Perhaps Theodore had foresight rather than mind-reading.

 

Hazel mentally noted a new observation about Theodore.

 

***

 

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop…”

 

As soon as Theodore stepped into the hallway, Hazel apologized.

 

But her apology didn’t finish. Because it wasn’t sincere. Hazel frowned and continued:

 

“Honestly, I did mean to eavesdrop.”

 

“So, did you hear everything you wanted to?”

 

Theodore was highly attuned to sounds. He’d heard the door creak slightly open—something Viscount Easton hadn’t noticed.

 

Thanks to that, he wasn’t surprised someone was outside, but he was surprised it was Hazel.

 

He’d assumed it was Charlotte.

 

He’d even braced himself for a sharp rebuke from her.

 

Charlotte would’ve demanded, “Is that all you feel for my big sister?”—for she loved Hazel extraordinarily and firmly believed Theodore would marry her.

 

And Theodore was ready to gladly endure Charlotte’s boldness, as she was a staunch supporter and like a little sister to him.

 

In any case, he was startled that it was Hazel, but delighted to see her again.

 

“Shall we take a walk?”

 

Hazel requested.

 

“But Viscount Easton won’t stay idle.”

 

Hazel gestured with her eyes as if to say, “Wait and see,” then entered the study with a mischievous smile.

 

Muffled sounds of a light squabble between Hazel and Viscount Easton drifted from within.

 

Since the conversation came through faintly, Theodore felt temporary relief.

 

Hazel surely hadn’t heard the details of his talk with Viscount Easton.

 

There were no lethal words to hide, but he didn’t want to leave the impression that the Bernier family opposed Hazel.

 

Moreover, it wasn’t accurate to say Bernier opposed Hazel.

 

Lady Michelle was no longer part of Bernier—she’d been Michelle Yulias for a long time.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

The father-daughter spat ended in Hazel’s victory. Theodore quickly followed her as she strode down the hallway.

 

They exchanged no words until they stepped outside.

 

When they reached a quiet garden, Hazel finally spoke:

 

“Do I need to win your aunt’s approval?”

 

Theodore’s heart jolted.

 

He’d thought she hadn’t heard, but it seemed she had.

 

“I’ve got sharp hearing.”

 

Hazel added with a playful smile, as if trying to ease his tension. But her efforts didn’t help.

 

“Sorry.”

 

“It’s not something you should apologize for, Your Grace. It’s Lady Michelle’s heart.”

 

The moment she caught a hint of Lady Michelle’s opposition, Hazel felt a pang in her chest too.

 

Whether they married or not, it didn’t feel good to be disliked by the family of someone she cherished.

 

Moreover, Hazel hoped her bond with Theodore would last a long time—as friends.

 

“Should I meet Lady Michelle separately? What does she like?”

 

Earlier, Theodore had asked Hazel a similar question.

 

She realized he’d been making a one-sided effort for their relationship.

 

Perhaps it was natural for a suitor to strive, but since Hazel—the one with no intent to marry—was the other party, it felt unfair for him to bear the effort alone.

 

Especially since he wouldn’t get what he wanted anyway.

 

“There’s no need for you to make any effort, Miss Hazel. You shouldn’t have to do anything.”

 

“How can that be?”

 

“You don’t usually care about others’ opinions.”

 

Theodore knew Hazel well.

 

Embarrassment crept onto her cheeks as he pointed that out.

 

She felt shy when he highlighted an unexpected side of herself.

 

Until now, Hazel hadn’t cared whether others disliked her.

 

Perhaps due to her secret or her peculiar personality, many disliked her without truly knowing her.

 

If she’d minded each one, she’d have had a breakdown and withered long ago.

 

But she couldn’t be indifferent to Theodore’s family. And it was embarrassing that he’d noticed.

 

‘Why?’

 

She asked herself, but the answer didn’t come immediately, and she lacked the time to ponder.

 

“Miss Hazel.”

 

Theodore stopped walking and faced her.

 

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