♡ TL: Khadija SK
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Moments ago, Charlotte had relayed to Hazel a peculiar rumor circulating in high society.
The rumor claimed that “Hazel and the duke have split, and Hazel was the one abandoned!”—a utterly nonsensical tale.
Upon hearing it, Charlotte’s insides churned like a sea struck by a fierce storm. Yet the person directly involved, Hazel, remained utterly composed.
“Sister, we must correct this ridiculous rumor! Contact the duke at once and go on a date where everyone can see you!”
Charlotte stomped her feet on the floor.
Dust rose from the carpet due to her force. Hazel began fanning her hand to disperse it.
“Charlotte, calm down. It’s just a silly rumor, as you said. High society is always full of meaningless gossip that flares up and fades away.”
Charlotte narrowed her eyes. Then she plopped onto the floor beside Hazel’s chair and gripped her hand tightly.
“It’s just a rumor, right?”
When she first heard it, Charlotte had been furious, but as she learned the detailed reasons behind its spread, a faint doubt crept into her heart.
That was understandable— Theodore no longer met with Hazel and had even stopped sending the letters he once wrote to her.
Of course, Charlotte didn’t believe Hazel had been abandoned.
In Charlotte’s world, Hazel being rejected was unthinkable. Even if the world crumbled, it wouldn’t happen.
“Of course it’s just a rumor.”
Hazel withdrew her hand from Charlotte’s grasp and patted the back of it. Only then did Charlotte’s gaze soften.
“So why haven’t you been meeting the duke lately? Have his feelings for you cooled?”
Hazel felt a pang of confusion.
The first question was easy to answer: they hadn’t met due to Viscount Easton’s opposition. But the second posed a problem.
Did Theodore even have feelings for her to begin with?
Hazel still didn’t know the true reason behind his marriage proposal.
‘He never even told me why it had to be the Easton family.’
Hazel was convinced there was a motive driving Theodore to tie his family to the Eastons.
She hadn’t asked because their relationship’s end was preordained, but after receiving such significant help from him, ignoring it entirely became difficult.
‘Perhaps if he truly needs a marriage…’
One option was a sham marriage, like a staged romance, followed by a later divorce.
But that would leave a substantial blemish on both Theodore and Hazel.
If Theodore was willing to endure that and insisted on marriage, it meant the benefits he’d reap would outweigh the damage of a divorce.
For Hazel, naturally, it would be pure loss.
Yet, unlike before, she began seriously considering marriage.
‘If not for Duke Theodore, I’d be a wanted fugitive right now.’
Like what happened with Fabri.
Despite Theodore’s efforts, two books from Nemo Publishing had landed on the banned list.
Theodore felt deep regret and blamed his limited influence, but Hazel saw it differently.
Thanks to him, three out of five books slated for the list were spared.
Regardless, the Royal Guard had ordered Fabri to undergo a mental evaluation for publishing two books deemed rebellious.
But he vanished.
Consequently, the Royal Guard issued a warrant for his arrest.
Had Theodore not commissioned Hazel for that translation, she too would be hunted like Fabri.
Even if she’d braced herself for it before his help, the reality would’ve been catastrophic.
Through this ordeal, Theodore had undeniably become Hazel’s savior.
Thus, she owed him a proper repayment.
How could she repay him?
That had been the greatest concern keeping Hazel awake lately.
“Sister, are you thinking of breaking things off with the duke because of Father’s opposition?”
Charlotte asked cautiously, scrutinizing Hazel’s serious expression.
Hazel snapped out of her thoughts.
“If it’s because of Father, I’ll try to convince him.”
“Charlotte, this is my personal matter. I’ll only accept the beautiful sentiment of your heart wanting to help me.”
“But if the rumors keep spreading…”
“And if they do, what will happen?”
“Women chasing Duke Theodore will swarm like bees! And suitors might come for you too. Then the misunderstanding will deepen…”
“Wait, Charlotte. Your imagination’s running too wild. I can see that happening to Duke Theodore, but expecting suitors for me is excessive. I assure you my life won’t change from what it is now.”
Hazel spoke firmly.
Looking back over the past few years, her words held true.
Even when there were no rumors of her dating or splitting with Theodore, her suitors numbered only one or two a year.
But this time, her rumored connection to Theodore had spread widely.
“Men don’t like women with a past.”
Hazel affirmed.
Charlotte muttered, “Is that true?” then nodded in agreement.
She believed Hazel’s words without the slightest doubt.
But Charlotte overlooked something.
When it came to men, Hazel knew less than she did.
That afternoon, after Charlotte shared the rumor with Hazel, a stream of unfamiliar gentlemen flooded the Easton family’s drawing room.
“I’ve come to see Miss Hazel.”
They were new suitors for Hazel.
***
Lady Easton’s mouth fell open in shock.
Faced with the throng of suitors visiting Hazel, she didn’t even think to cover it.
Finally, Charlotte, beside her, hurriedly opened her fan and shielded her mother’s mouth on her behalf.
Only then did Lady Easton regain her composure, adjust her expression, and greet the guests politely.
“Please, come in.”
“Thank you for graciously allowing our visit.”
A tall man stepped forward and kissed the back of Lady Easton’s hand.
Without retreating, the others began vying to offer their greetings.
The scene devolved into a flurry of salutations.
“Please, everyone, take a seat. Lara, bring tea for the guests. Viscount Easton is away briefly.”
Viscount Easton had gone hunting with friends for the first time in a while.
He’d left the house with André, who’d insisted on joining him.
“As you know, I’m the lady of the Easton household. And this is…”
“Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Charlotte.”
While awaiting Hazel, a traditional introduction session ensued.
After it concluded, silence settled over the drawing room.
The men cast frequent glances at the door, eagerly anticipating the arrival of their intended.
Lady Easton jabbed her finger hard into Charlotte’s thigh.
“What’s Hazel doing? Did you tell her a crowd of guests is requesting her now?”
“Of course I told her. Didn’t you hear her scream?”
When Charlotte informed her that not one, but five suitors had come to visit, Hazel had suddenly shrieked and slapped her thigh hard.
She’d said if it was a dream, she wanted to wake up quickly.
But since it wasn’t a dream, nothing changed—except her innocent thigh turned red.
“So what’s she doing now?”
At Lady Easton’s faltering question, Charlotte shrugged. At that moment, one man ventured to ask:
“When will Miss Hazel come down?”
The man adjusting his glasses was the second son of the Bloom family, known to have already inherited a small estate.
Though he wouldn’t gain a noble title, he was considered an excellent match, free from lifelong financial worries.
“It seems she has some preparations to finish. Lara, could you go upstairs and fetch Hazel?”
After setting down the final teacup, Lara ascended, and shortly after, Hazel descended.
She didn’t enter the drawing room directly but stood staring at the door with a grave expression, as if the people inside were enemies.
“My lady, is something troubling you?”
Anne asked cautiously. She’d forced Hazel to sit at the vanity despite her protests upon hearing a horde of suitors had arrived.
“Anne, something’s off. Those people in there—could Mother and Charlotte have hired them as actors?”
Anne smiled.
“My lady, do you really think so?”
At Anne’s smiling reaction, Hazel sighed.
“No, I suppose not?”
“Of course not!”
“Then why have these men suddenly come to see me? They look normal on the outside, but are they terminally ill? Or drowning in debt?”
Hazel couldn’t grasp men’s reasoning.
She asked in earnest, arriving at a ridiculous misunderstanding.
Anne sighed deeply.
“Do you really not know why?”
‘How can our clever lady be so clueless about matters between men and women?’
Anne sighed heavily again and began to explain.
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