“So what are you worried about?”
So the Duke was frustrated.
‘Even if I introduce Ethan, there is no problem with Jonathan’s status.’
‘I’m just trying to get personal connections with the princess and the Imperial Family.’
“I am ashamed to carry my face! Have you thought about what it would be like to have to smile in front of people with the child my husband has with another woman?”
“You like Ethan, too.”
“Ethan, he is beautiful. I’m going crazy because he is beautiful. But only that’s it.”
The Duchess was disgusted. When Ethan first joined the Duke, of course, she didn’t like it. But the little child knew how to melt the Duchess’s heart. She couldn’t help but love his pretty face and his friendly, polite manner of speaking.
Ethan was not shy, he was proud, and he knew where he was.
In addition, he was smart, so he understood the Duchess’ words from an early age.
Sometimes she wished Ethan was her child.
But in the end, Ethan is another woman’s son.
“Madam…”
“Then you wanted me to wear that pretty boy as an accessory? The son of the woman with whom my husband cheated is very beautiful. I guess that’s why there was an affair. Ha-ha?”
When the Duke of Bronte tried to convince her, the Duchess opened her eyes and sarcastically sneered at him.
‘If you take Ethan to society, it’s obvious what’s going to happen. I’m sure Ethan will be loved by people.’
But at the same time, it will be at the center of the rumor. Since Ethan is smarter and more handsome than Jonathan, everyone will inflate the rumors by comparing him to Jonathan.
The duchess’s son is worse than the bar girl’s son.
‘It’s the perfect prey for gossip lovers!’
This had to be opposed not only by the Duchess herself but also by Jonathan and Ethan. There is no need to let the sons get caught up in a scandal and light a fire that is already bad.
But the Duke of Bronte did not give up.
“I know, I know I am ashamed too. Still, the princess is looking good! Then other people don’t care–!”
At that moment, Duke Bronte stopped talking at the sound of the door. In the cold silence that followed, the duke and his wife looked back at the same time, feeling ominous.
And beautiful silver hair and gold eyes reflected through the door.
“Eh, Ethan…!”
The Duchess panicked and called out his name.
‘Oh, why didn’t I know that it was the end of Ethan’s violin lesson!’
The Duchess’ heart sank. Meanwhile, the Duke approached the door to appease Ethan.
“Ethan, you just misunderstood…”
But Ethan took a step back a little. And as soon as the Duke of Bronte grabbed the doorknob, Ethan fled from the spot to the room.
“Ethan!”
Ethan didn’t answer his father’s call and just ran down the hallway and disappeared. The Duke of Bronte looked at the Duchess.
“You are so bad!”
“It is because of you! Why did you suddenly bring up such a thing…!”
“Anyway, I’ll take care of Ethan, so you must know that!”
The Duke let go of the threat and walked out of the Duchess’ room with a nervous gait.
He headed straight to Ethan’s room. Ethan’s door was tightly shut. The Duke could open any door in this mansion, but he was afraid to open this door. He stood in front of Ethan’s door and cleared his throat once.
“Ethan, are you in there?”
The Duke of Bronte asked, knocking cautiously.
Ethan, who would normally have answered his father’s call, did not answer. The quiet silence made the Duke even more anxious
The Duke wet his tense lips and opened his mouth again.
“I said that earlier because I was too emotional. it’s not the truth. When we were fighting, the words came out harshly for no reason.”
The Duke said to Ethan at the door. There was still no answer from inside.
“Ethan, father apologizes. Actually, I plan to introduce you to people. As my son.”
The duke groaned and confessed at the door. He became anxious and worried that Ethan might be crying from the inside.
“Ethan…Ethan?”
At that moment, the Duke called Ethan’s name several times and was contemplating whether to force the door open or not.
Finally, the doorknob moved. The door opened with a squeak, making a careful sound. And the Duke of Bronte saw.
An angel with golden eyes shed tears. The appearance of tearing pearl-like tears from her clear eyes as if she were swarming.
“Oh, Ethan!”
The Duke of Bronte felt like his heart was breaking and hugged Ethan. Ethan cried silently in the Duke’s arms and spoke with a low voice.
“Are you ashamed of me, Dad?”
“No, Ethan. I’m never ashamed of you.”
‘If there’s anything to be ashamed of, it’s me, not this kid.’
The Duke of Bronte thought.
“Is it my fault that my mother was a lowly person?”
“No, Ethan. absolutely not. You did nothing wrong.”
“Then why do you keep hiding me? Why are you two fighting over me?”
Ethan asked the Duke of Bronte with disbelief.
‘It’s been several years since I was brought to the duke’s family, but my father had never officially introduced me to people, so I had to live alone.’
A being who hesitates to say his name in front of guests.
‘The times when I had to doubt if the word “I love you” was real love.’
Tears falling from his cheeks, heavier than a block of iron, fell on the Duke of Bronte’s heart, making his chest heavy.
“I’m not hiding you, Ethan. I promise I’m taking you to the Countess Duncan’s salon this month.”
The Duke of Bronte hugged him and said. If it was the Countess’s salon, it was a place where nobles from around the area would gather and socialize.
Especially this month, there was a party held twice a year, so the size of the gathering was bigger. Besides, Princess Dorothea was also invited.
“I will formally introduce you to people as my son.”
“Really?”
“Yes. You are now a full-fledged Bronte.”
The Duke said to Ethan.
Ethan’s tears slowly stopped at that. The Duke was able to put down his heavy heart when he saw Ethan who stopped crying.
“And don’t take our words too seriously today. As I was talking, I made a mistake because my words went out emotionally again. It was like spitting in each other’s faces…”
“I know, Father.”
At Duke Bronte’s lengthy excuse, Ethan stopped crying and nodded.
“You two really care about me.”
Conversely, at Ethan’s words, which seemed to soothe the duke, one side of his chest simmered. A child who grew up too early is more mature than an adult. To the Duke, Ethan was a sore finger.
“Yeah, that’s good. Well, let’s get a new pair of clothes on before we go to the salon. You have to greet people in fancy, fancy clothes.”
When the Duke of Bronte laughed, Ethan nodded and smiled faintly. The smile that spread across her tear-soaked cheeks shook the Duke of Bronte’s heart.
‘Oh, what sin have we committed to this beautiful and kind child!’
Guilt penetrated deep into the Duke of Bronte’s heart.
“I love you, Ethan.”
With a sorry and sinful heart, said the Duke of Bronte.
* * *
“Wow…!”
As Dorothea put on the dress and stood in front of the mirror, Joy and Po opened their mouths in admiration. Seeing Dorothea dressed a little more decorated than usual, they couldn’t take their eyes off her as if they were watching something strange.
Blue dress with lace. sky blue ribbon. shiny necklace. A little bigger than usual and colorful earrings.
“Princess! Very pretty!”
“You always say I am pretty.”
“Right. Because the princess is pretty every day.”
Poe nodded as Joy smiled, revealing his teeth.
I felt a little better because of them.
‘Because praise is dangerous.’
There was a time when I thought I was okay with my looks, but at some point, people’s compliments started to sound like lies.
Maybe it was after I wasn’t loved by Theon. No matter how prettier I was, he didn’t look after me, so there was only an ugly woman in the mirror who couldn’t be loved.
Therefore, the words of those who whisper that I am pretty were always like the whispers of disloyalty.
However… Joy and Po are not that kinds of person
‘I guess it’s because I treat them well.’
I think their praise might be a reward for living a good life.
“I’m going out for a while today, so both of you take it easy. If anything happens, tell Clara right away.”
“Where are you going?”
“Salon.”
The Salon’s social gatherings are held periodically by Countess Duncan.
I rarely attend social gatherings, but at least twice a year I need to show my face as a courtesy.
Especially this month, Countess Duncan had sent an invitation to me, saying that she had put a lot of effort into preparing the party.
Countess Duncan used to sing as a hobby, and she was going to present a new song at this party.
‘Social gatherings are tiring…’
I, who doesn’t have good memories of social gatherings, didn’t want to go there today.
However, if I decline the invitation as a princess, there will be other things like the princess despising the Countess or the Imperial Family trying to abandon the Countess.
If I want to live a good life, I have to at least do this. Because I can’t live doing what I want to do.
“It’s a salon. Princess, you look like a real princess.”
“I was a princess from the beginning.”
‘I am only regret.’
Even though I thought so, considering the lives of Joy and Po, I wondered if it was a blessing.
I patted the heads of the two of them once, then moved on.
The sound of shoes, a little louder than usual, climbed into the carriage across the garden. Stefan closed the door of the carriage and got on his horse. The Carriage departed with the sound of a whip.
I saw Joy and Po waving their hands.
I already wanted to go home.
* * *
