Chapter 5.1 – Each Person’s Partner

“I’m sorry, Dowager Duchess. Actually, Wendy had an important appointment with friends today that was planned long ago. She is quite upset about suddenly breaking the promise.”

When Lucas’s marriage was mentioned, Wendy felt worried. 

No matter how much one tries to sort out their feelings, emotions don’t just end abruptly. Even after years, unexpectedly meeting an old lover on the street can stir up emotions, whether it’s longing, hatred, or lingering feelings.

The Countess of Rosewood, who was fortunate to meet the Earl and love only him, had seen many such cases around her.

Moreover, Wendy had been in love for six years. She had cherished her feelings for Lucas for six years, and half a year was too short to cleanly sort them out.

“Oh dear. I’ve made a big mistake. What should I do, I feel so sorry.”

“Oh, no. I’m the one who should apologize. I shouldn’t show it, but I’m curious about what they might be doing now.”

“If it’s okay, can Wendy leave after dinner?”

Wendy glanced at the Countess and then turned to the Dowager Duchess. When their eyes met, the Dowager Duchess smiled softly.

“Of course, she should go. At her age, friends are still more important.”

“Really? Thank you, Grandmother.”

Wendy’s voice brightened instantly. Her expression became much brighter.

She was happy to return early and relieved that the Countess helped her hide her true feelings. Everyone might have noticed, but at least she could cover it up on the surface, so it didn’t matter.

Wendy picked up a garnish and put it in her mouth lightly. Unlike before, she listened intently to the conversation going on. She nodded and joined in the conversation.

“…….”

Even though the topic of meeting a young lady for marriage kept coming up, Lucas acted as if it was someone else’s business and said nothing.

He kept looking at Wendy, but she never met his eyes. It was obvious she was avoiding him and pretending to be nonchalant, which felt awkward to him.

‘It seems to bother her.’

Pretending to have forgotten those six years completely.

A short smile appeared on his lips. Wendy was, after all, Wendy.

***

The next day. When Wendy returned from spending time with friends at Bestie’s house and was tidying up her desk in her room, the Countess quietly entered.

“Did you have fun?”

“Yes. It felt like going back to my childhood after a long time.”

“Is Bestie preparing well?”

“It seems so. They seem to fight occasionally, though.”

As she picked up the book she had left open, a dried flower she had placed in it fell out. It seemed to be a flower from a bouquet Lucas had given her once, which she had forgotten.

She picked it up carefully, but some petals crumbled and fell. It was inevitable since it had dried over time. After hesitating for a moment, Wendy threw the flower into the trash can.

The Countess, who had been watching her daughter’s actions silently, opened her arms to Wendy.

“Did it bother you?”

“What?”

“About Lucas.”

“…….”

Wendy was silent for a while. But soon, she gave a resigned smile.

“When I heard it, it wasn’t that I didn’t care. I was fine until then.”

“I see.”

“But now, well, it’s just so-so.”

“It’s okay. You can be a little sadder.”

“I’m not sad.”

“Then?”

“Hmm, I’m not sure.”

It’s not sadness. It’s not pain.

Should it be described as complicated? 

This strangely unsettling feeling that keeps bothering her.

“Time will solve it. Today will be better than yesterday, and tomorrow will be better than today. So after a long time, you’ll laugh and think, ‘There was a time like that.’”

How much better is Wendy now compared to when she ran away to the south?

Wendy, who was in such a hurry to leave the villa and raised her hand to go down south, was pitifully downcast. She guessed that Wendy had confessed to Lucas and been rejected or was sure she would be rejected, but she pretended not to know because Wendy didn’t want it.

She knew that comforting her as a fellow woman rather than as a mother wouldn’t help much. Emotional wounds related to the heart must be embraced by oneself.

All she could do was pat her back, say a warm word, and pretend not to know what Wendy wanted.

“But Mother.”

“Yes?”

“Is it unreasonable to want to marry before Lucas out of spite?”

Ah, somehow it makes her want to laugh.

The Countess gently patted Wendy’s back.

“I understand how you feel, Wendy. But you can’t decide out of spite when there’s a longer life ahead than you’ve lived. You have to take it slowly.”

“But Lucas is quick.”

“The reasons for deciding on marriage are different. For you, it’s important to build emotions with your partner step by step, and Lucas….”

Hmm, how should I explain this?

The Countess had never explained things like family benefits to Wendy. The Countess herself didn’t want such a marriage, and she didn’t think it suited Wendy.

“Lucas needs a partner to jointly lead the Devon Ducal Household.”

“Will such a marriage make Lucas happy?”

“The criteria for happiness are different for everyone. One might feel satisfied with what they gain from marriage rather than love.”

“…….”

Did the Dowager Duchess think I wasn’t suitable because of that? Because Lucas and I want different things? Because he’s not the type to pursue the little happiness I want?

Oh, come to think of it, since I left the formal dinner the Dowager Duchess invited me to, I should meet her properly.

“Should I go see the Dowager Duchess? I left early yesterday.”

“You don’t have to go if you’re uncomfortable.”

“Hmm. No, I think it’ll be okay. Grandmother is kind and a good person.”

“Is… that so?”

“Yes. I want to get along well with her regardless of Lucas.”

That was Wendy’s true feeling. Her first impression was a bit scary, but after talking, she felt like she was a real adult who would generously give reliable advice, different from her parents.

“Okay, do that.”

The Countess stroked Wendy’s head, blaming herself for not readily agreeing with Wendy’s words that the Dowager Duchess was kind and a good person. Along with that, she felt proud of Wendy for dealing with the Dowager Duchess confidently without being swayed by her feelings for Lucas.

Thus, a few days later, Wendy had a meeting with the Dowager Duchess at the Devon Ducal Household.

Unlike Wendy, who was awkward and somewhat stiff, the Dowager Duchess was surprisingly kind to Wendy, so much so that Madame Madeline, her closest confidante, was surprised.

For example, she went to greet her at the entrance even though it wasn’t necessary, and she leaned on Wendy even though she usually hated being supported due to her pride.

Although her expression and tone were still strict, these actions showed that the Dowager Duchess was very favorable towards Wendy.

“Were you surprised? Because I’m Lucas’s grandmother.”

“Yes. Why didn’t you tell me when we first met?”

“The first reason is that I didn’t think you wouldn’t know me. The second, well. Why did I do that? Maybe because everyone freezes boringly when they know my identity.”

“…….”

“Look. Unlike last year, you’re stiff in front of me.”

Since it seemed like the Dowager Duchess was teasing her, no, she was definitely teasing her, Wendy pursed her lips.

“That’s because it’s embarrassing.”

“Embarrassing? Why?”

“Because I told you everything without knowing you were Lucas’s grandmother.”

Her face suddenly felt hot. She wished she had served a cold drink instead of tea.

Unaware of Wendy’s feelings, the Dowager Duchess laughed softly.

“Oh, yes. I was quite surprised too. Who would have thought I’d give love advice related to my grandson?”

Because of this, Wendy’s face turned bright red. Embarrassed and ashamed, she wanted to bury her face in the sofa right now. Or at least cover it with a cushion.

But she couldn’t do that in front of the Dowager Duchess, so all Wendy could do was cover her red cheeks with her hands.

The Dowager Duchess, who was smiling as she looked at Wendy, continued her explanation slowly.

“There’s no need to be so embarrassed. If you were upset because I said another man might suit you better than Lucas, there’s no need for that either.”

“…….”

“You and Lucas have different values, so you don’t match. I just thought Lucas was lacking in handling your feelings.”

There are people who speak like this. Most people thought like those young ladies who were gossiping back then.

The miserable feelings eased, and she felt sorry for misunderstanding the Dowager Duchess.

“Moreover, the Devon Ducal Household is stricter and more demanding than you think. It will be very tough.”

“But neither you nor Lucas seem like that…….”

Yes. Originally not kind at all, but why is this child an exception? Perhaps because there’s nothing expected from the Devon Ducal Household.

For example, unlike others, she has no interest in worldly things like money, status, or honor. Hence, there’s no slyness to gain benefits or cunning to try to look good.

“Neither I nor Lucas are the entire Devon Ducal Household. Countless families are intertwined. Why Lucas’s mother… um. Anyway, being the Duchess of Devon is quite challenging.”