Chapter 47
“I’ll say it once more. I appreciate the Marquis’s proposal and intentions, but I can’t accept it. So please understand.”
Hoping this would be the end of it, I said the words.
Layton stood there, frozen in shock as if he were hearing the word “rejection” for the first time.
If he’s going to be shocked, he could at least go outside and do it, right? I don’t want to see that face.
To wake Layton from his stupor, I moved closer to the door.
“Sir Ripert, please see the Marquis to the front door politely…”
“Lady Brilloxen!”
Just as I reached for the door handle, I heard a voice from behind me, and it felt as if a shadow had fallen over me.
When I turned around, there was Layton, his face twisted in a terrifying expression as he reached out for me.
For a moment, I thought he was going to hit me, and I frowned.
Just as I stumbled back, I felt myself suddenly pulled upright against the wall.
The familiar, refreshing scent of perfume surrounded me.
The cool fabric brushed against my exposed skin, and I could hear soft sounds at my ear.
“What’s going on?”
When I turned my head, I saw my father, Rudwin Brilloxen, standing there with a hardened expression, hiding a simmering anger.
Surprised by his unexpected appearance, I froze as he glanced at me and then stepped inside, closing the door.
It felt as if he was aware of the numerous servants and attendants lined up behind him.
Once inside, he released me and met my gaze.
His deep brown eyes, just like mine, were right in front of me.
It had been so long since I’d seen those eyes that I couldn’t even remember the last time.
After a moment of surprise, I bit my lip as emotions swelled within me.
Though I hadn’t seen my father for nearly ten years, here it had only been a couple of months.
I couldn’t cry like a child.
Swallowing my emotions, my father’s voice broke the silence.
“You look pale.”
“Is that so? I guess it’s because I haven’t been eating well in this heat.”
I forced a smile.
If I cried in this situation, he might think I was scared.
Taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly, my father nodded.
He ruffled my hair before turning to look at Layton.
Layton seemed equally shocked, standing there with a confused expression.
“It’s been a while, Marquis Vladia.”
“…Since the royal event earlier this year. I heard you were away for a bit. Did you have a good trip, Count Brilloxen?”
My father smiled briefly, nodding before falling silent again.
As he closed his mouth, a heavy silence descended.
The stillness was more oppressive than expected, and Layton felt the most anxious in that quiet.
I couldn’t quite figure out what Layton was trying to do.
He might have just tried to grab my shoulder or hold my hand.
Surely he wouldn’t hit me in that situation; that couldn’t have been all.
He hadn’t done anything too terrible.
But the important thing was that my father had opened the door, and Layton suddenly felt like a guilty criminal.
If it had been someone else, I might have helped them, but I didn’t feel the need to, so I stayed close to my father, watching the situation unfold.
My father remained silent for a long time, not speaking.
As Layton glanced around awkwardly, trying to smile and fiddling with his sleeves, my father stood there quietly.
After what felt like a long silence, Layton finally sighed, giving up and opening his mouth.
“Lady…”
“I should be treating you properly, but as you can see, I just returned and am a bit scattered. Plus, Flora is exhausted and lying down. I should go check on her. Sierra.”
My father called my name briefly, and I lifted my head.
He gave me a plain smile before turning his attention back to Layton.
“I’ll be sure to prepare better next time, so I hope to see you again, Marquis Vladia.”
“Y-yes, of course.”
Layton seemed relieved when my father spoke in a calm and composed tone, as he had feared he would be angry, and he nodded with a sigh of relief.
“Well then, Lady Sierra. I look forward to seeing you again.”
Without waiting for my response, Layton quickly turned to leave.
Just as he opened the closed door and hurried out, my father’s voice rang out, still looking straight ahead.
“Marquis Vladia.”
“Y-yes, what is it?”
Layton paused, turning slightly to look back.
My father withdrew his gaze from the front and turned his body.
The corners of my father’s mouth lifted gently.
“I hope to see you in my office next time, rather than Sierra’s office.”
“…”
But despite the smile, his eyes were not laughing.
His unmoving gaze was frozen and cold.
Layton swallowed hard and nodded.
“I’ll see you next time, Count.”
After leaving his final greeting, Layton hurried out of the room, as if afraid of being caught again.
“Phew…”
As the door closed, a long sigh escaped my father’s lips.
He ran a hand through his hair and frowned.
“Seeing something so unpleasant right after arriving is making my stomach turn.”
Whenever my father complained, his voice echoed in my mind when I closed my eyes.
Now, hearing that familiar voice again brought forth a strange feeling, and I found myself moving my legs involuntarily.
“Father.”
I wrapped my arms around my father, who was still frowning as he pushed his hair back.
Surprised by my sudden affection, a gasp escaped his lips.
But I didn’t even notice that, as I was just so happy to see him standing right there in front of me, it felt surreal.
“I’m so glad you’re back safely. You’ve worked hard.”
Guilt surged within me.
It was the regret of not being able to protect my mother and father.
The guilt of not being able to protect Belietta.
The pain of being mocked even in death.
And the longing I couldn’t suppress.
“…Sierra?”
A surprised voice came from above me, but it was only for a moment.
With my father’s warm hands gently wrapping around my back and shoulders, I closed my eyes tightly.
I wanted to enjoy this moment so much that I temporarily forgot that my father might misunderstand.
* * *
Getting into the huge, luxurious carriage, Layton was flustered.
Unlike when he got out of the carriage, he was moving hurriedly, which puzzled the servants.
The young butler outside, giving orders to the staff, tilted his head in confusion as he watched Layton leave in such a hurry.
“What’s going on?”
The servants shared the same thought as the butler, watching until the carriage disappeared before they turned away.
Inside the carriage, Layton pressed a hand to his pounding heart, exhaling deeply.
As the carriage rolled away from the count’s territory, Layton regained his composure, leaning his head and back against the carriage wall, closing his eyes.
The rhythmic noise and sway of the carriage calmed Layton, who had been so agitated.
Then, feeling the shame wash over him as he fled the mansion, Layton was filled with embarrassment.
“Damn it…”
With his eyes closed, Layton felt as if he could see a pair of reddish-brown eyes staring at him.
The contempt and disregard reflected in those eyes echoed in his ears.
For Layton, who had lived as a noble all his life, this was an unbearable humiliation.
How dare the insignificant Brilloxen family treat him like this?
Even if they were to offer him the highest hospitality, the fact that they pushed him away after he extended his hand was infuriating.
Layton had never known the meaning of rejection. Everyone welcomed his attention, especially women who scrambled for his touch.
He remembered that Sierra was no different from the rest.
There had been many times when he found her glances awkward and amusing.
Plus, with Belietta always around her, Sierra was hard to miss.
That’s why he thought it wouldn’t be difficult to win her over this time too.
But Sierra had coldly cut him off, and in his panic, he made a mistake. As a result, he had no choice but to leave like an unwelcome guest.
“This is troublesome. How dare a mere countess’s daughter treat me like this…”
Aside from Belietta, Layton saw all women as the same.
Everything he did—building his reputation, gaining popularity, maintaining his looks, proving his skills—was all to win Belietta.
Or rather, to back himself up with Bozbourne.
In the end, everyone else was just a tool or means for him to achieve his goals.
A means to gain the duke title.
That was all it was.
‘Ask Sierra first. If she’s okay with it, I’ll go too.’
Thinking of Belietta, who had disdainfully rejected his hand, Layton’s lips twisted in irritation.
“Both Brilloxen and Bozburone think they can laugh at me. Well, they’ll see. They can’t just reject me so easily.”
Layton’s eyes hardened coldly.
* * *
“What’s going on? I heard you were coming back tomorrow.”
“Flora felt bad about leaving the mansion in your hands, so she hurried me back a day early.”
As she talked with his father, they moved to the room where her mother was resting.
The long-awaited conversation made her feel strangely excited, and she couldn’t stop talking.
His father watched her with surprise but seemed to enjoy it, smiling.
“How’s mom? Is she feeling any better?”
“She’s improved a lot, but there’s still no real progress this time.”
“Is that so…?”
