Chapter 18 (Part 1)

After Grace began her formal training as the heir, peculiar rumors started circulating in high society.  

These were rumors she wouldn’t have heard had she continued her routine of going back and forth between the Knight Order as before.  

However, now that she was involved in the family’s affairs through her training, avoiding high society was no longer an option.  

Thanks to this, or perhaps because of it, she started hearing rumors much faster than before.  

“…They’re saying I used him and ran away?”  

Becky, who was assisting Grace with her duties, pouted as she replied.  

“Yes, that rumor is everywhere!”  

Feigning ignorance, Grace had asked Becky just in case—and Becky immediately nodded as if she knew everything.  

“No! What could you have possibly done for them to spread such a rumor about you using and abandoning him?!”  

Becky, who was lamenting that her young master had probably never even held a man’s hand before, caught Grace’s awkward gaze as she avoided her eyes and mumbled.  

“Well… that’s…”  

It wasn’t that she had never held a man’s hand before. In fact, she had seen everything there was to see with Leonardo.  

But there was no way she could tell Becky all those details.  

That said, the rumor about her using him and running away was a bit exaggerated—or at least, that’s how Grace felt.  

Besides, it wasn’t as though she had completely cut off contact with Leonardo. She had been diligently sending updates about her well-being morning and night.  

‘Well… except for the times I fell asleep in the middle… or when I was busy and had to cut things short.’  

It wasn’t like she had ghosted him, as some noble ladies were known to do to their lovers.  

As Grace thought about this, she froze mid-buttoning her coat. Becky, noticing her stillness, looked at her curiously.  

“Did I… maybe… forget to tell him… that I became the heir?”  

“To whom?”  

Becky asked innocently, and Grace’s mouth opened and closed without a sound. She couldn’t bring herself to say the name “Leonardo.”  

Unaware of her young master’s frozen state, Becky hummed a little tune and added cheerfully:  

“The news that you’ve become the future head of the Marquisate of Lowell is so widespread in high society. Even if you didn’t tell him directly, I’m sure he already knows!”  

Becky went on to say that she herself had become somewhat of a celebrity lately because of it.  

Hearing this, Grace suddenly remembered that on the day she had been agonizing over the matter, she had ultimately said nothing.  

And after that, she had been so busy she hadn’t even thought about it again.  

‘Ah… I’m doomed. He’s probably angry, isn’t he?’  

Grace began to worry that Leonardo might revert to his old self—the cold, distant man who once looked at her with nothing but disdain.  

Recalling the image of Leonardo staring at her with icy contempt, Grace shuddered.  

“Young Lady?”  

Becky, startled by Grace’s involuntary shiver, froze in place with a worried expression.  

Feeling guilty for troubling Becky recently, Grace quickly composed herself, smiled, and waved her hand.  

“It’s fine. I might come home late today, so don’t wait up and go to bed first.”  

Aside from her duties with the Knight Order, there were many elders in the family she needed to meet and speak with.  

‘I’m sure they’ll bring up Leo before anything else, though.’  

Grace shook her head, thinking of her stubborn grandmother who would undoubtedly be at the council meeting.  

As she thought about how to respond, Grace fastened her sword to her belt. Then, she deliberately brightened her tone and said goodbye.  

“Well then, I’m off, Becky.”  

After exchanging farewells with Becky, Grace took the reins handed to her by the stablehand and mounted her horse.  

‘Yes, I’ll talk to him. Things will work out somehow.’  

She hadn’t intentionally made things so complicated, so if she explained properly, Leonardo would surely understand.  

Resolving to finish her tasks quickly so she could have a proper conversation with Leonardo, Grace passed through the side gate and left the estate.  

At that very moment…  

“…Who did you say you were?”  

“My name is Leonardo Fernandez.”  

Unbeknownst to her, someone had come to the estate.  

Unlike the startled guards, Nicholas appeared calm and composed, as though he had been expecting this.  

Amelia stood beside him as well.  

Guided by the guards, Leonardo arrived at Nicholas’s office and adjusted his attire one last time.  

“What are you fussing over your outfit for? If you’re here, come in.”  

Perhaps sensing his presence, Nicholas’s brusque voice rang out.  

Leonardo’s face stiffened slightly at the evident displeasure in Nicholas’s tone, but he quickly replaced it with a soft smile.  

When he stepped inside, he was greeted by the sight of Nicholas’s sullen expression.  

‘…He’s the male version of Grace Lowell.’  

It was clear to anyone that the two were a spitting image of each other. Leonardo, momentarily dazed, forgot to offer his greeting.  

Nicholas, noticing this, snapped coldly.  

“So much for being a Grand Mage—you must not be very bright.”  

Startled back to his senses, Leonardo quickly bowed and greeted him.  

But Nicholas, already annoyed, did not soften his sharp gaze.  

Leonardo apologized again, saying,  

“I was momentarily distracted because you bear such a striking resemblance to your daughter. My apologies, Your Lorship.”  

Nicholas cleared his throat, while Amelia smiled faintly.  

It wasn’t as if Nicholas could get angry at someone for saying his beloved daughter resembled him.  

Satisfied with himself for having the upper hand, Nicholas said,  

“My daughter is quite charming, isn’t she?”  

“Yes, she is.”  

When Leonardo readily agreed, Nicholas raised an eyebrow.  

From what he knew, Leonardo Fernandez and Grace Lowell had a notoriously bad relationship. It was practically ancient history, an irreparable feud.  

‘But that expression… it almost looks like he has feelings for our Gracie.’  

Nicholas subtly glanced at Amelia, who wore an enigmatic expression.  

Feeling a sense of foreboding, Nicholas turned back to Leonardo, who stood there like a statue, wearing a faint smile.  

“Since we’re not close enough to exchange pleasantries, I’ll get straight to the point.”  

“…”  

“Have you heard the rumors?”  

At Nicholas’s question, Leonardo thought of the rumor he had started himself—that Grace Lowell had taken his innocence and abandoned him.  

“Indeed, I have.”  

Of course, he knew.  

It was a petty move, one that others might call disgraceful, but it had brought him to this point.  

Without it, he might still be waiting for Grace to reach out to him.  

And that wasn’t what he wanted.  

So, this situation was rather satisfying.  

Nicholas frowned at Leonardo’s calm response.  

“Then why haven’t you taken any action?”  

Leonardo stared at him with genuine confusion, as if he truly didn’t know what he meant.  

Nicholas, frustrated by his unblinking gaze, furrowed his brow and elaborated.  

“As a knight, why haven’t you defended the honor of a noble lady whose reputation is being tarnished?”  

Realizing that Nicholas was suggesting he should have publicly denied the rumors, Leonardo’s lips curled into a slight smirk.  

But he quickly suppressed it, tilting his head as if in thought, before answering in a small voice:  

“…Because it’s true. My apologies, Your Lordship.”  

The hesitant, murmured response made Nicholas leap to his feet.  

The harsh sound of the chair scraping against the floor filled the office.  

Nicholas, wide-eyed with a mix of shock and disbelief, pointed a trembling finger at Leonardo.  

“Do you… do you even realize what you’re saying?!”  

Forgetting his usual formality, Nicholas shouted, his voice filled with outrage.  

Behind him, Amelia let out a quiet sigh, as though she had expected this.  

It was clear that Leonardo had acted on his own without Grace’s knowledge.  

“I apologize, Your Lordship.” 

Leonardo said again, confirming that Nicholas had heard him correctly.  

Nicholas, whose bl＊＊d pressure suddenly spiked, grabbed the back of his neck and shouted furiously.

“This, this, this brat!”

What kind of behavior has she been carrying on with, that a sturdy man would come to me, her father, with a deeply sorrowful face, claiming he was used and abandoned? 

Nicholas, his face flushed red with anger, yelled.

“Head Butler! Summon the young master immediately!”

The butler, who had been waiting by the door, bowed his head with a deeply apologetic expression.

“The young master left for work a short while ago.”

“Ugh, this brat, truly!”

To leave for work after causing such a mess! How does she plan to clean up the rumors that have already spread?

The stern face of Raymond Fernandez flashed through Nicholas’ mind and then disappeared.

‘If that man hears about this…’

He might demand an enormous amount of compensation, claiming his honor has been damaged. That money-obsessed ghost would definitely do so.

Amelia, observing her husband’s helpless state, asked in a calm voice.

“Does your father know about this matter?”

At Amelia’s question, Leonardo lowered his head and answered.

“Yes, he is aware.”

“What did he say?”

After hesitating momentarily, Leonardo glanced at Nicholas, who was still trembling with rage, before replying.

“He called me an idiot.”