Chapter 67

Lady Nordic, who was listening to the conversation, became angry and said

“Young Lady, how could you suggest an assassin disguise! These are my children.”

Meia turned her head and smiled at Lady Nordic.

“Are you unable to grasp the essence of what I’m saying? If so, let me make it clear.”

Meia took a step closer to Lady Nordic as she spoke.

“Lady Nordic, someone could kill your family without a trace, hide the bodies, and then assassins could disguise themselves as your family.”

Lady Nordic, who was much older than Meia, instinctively stepped back at the young lady’s cold gaze. Every step Meia took forward, Lady Nordic took one back.

“Such a thing would never happen, would it?”

“You seem to know little about assassins.”

Lady Nordic eventually raised her voice.

“A common noble like me would never encounter an assassin.”

“Of course, a common viscount family wouldn’t. But Grand Duke Theodore might.”

Meia spoke with an even firmer tone.

“Lady Nordic, you seem to have a different understanding than others, so I won’t speak in difficult terms. Listen carefully. As a retainer family serving the Florence Grand Ducal residence, even if the knights invite you in, you should refuse and ask them to inform the Grand Duke of your visit. That is the mindset of a retainer.”

Meia glanced at Diana next to Ash. Her expression was worth seeing.

First impressions are crucial.

The dress that Diana, the viscount’s young lady, wore was a designer piece by Clairira, which Lady Nordic would have to save a year’s salary without spending a penny to purchase.

The brooch, gloves, and everything from head to toe were beautifully adorned.

She must have imagined a thrilling first meeting with Theodore and dressed up for the occasion.

However, her meticulously adorned appearance not only failed to reach Theodore but also left the worst first impression on him.

“Lady Nordic, Young Master Ash, and Young Lady Diana. The three of you should return home immediately, reflect for a week, and then revisit.”

Meia continued speaking.

“If you make the same mistake then, it won’t end with just reflection.”

With those words, Meia left the scene with Theodore.

In the end, Lady Nordic, Diana, and Ash were virtually escorted out in a carriage back to the entrance of the Grand Ducal residence.

“What on earth is this!”

Diana vented her frustration.

She had starved herself to maintain her figure for this day and purchased an expensive luxury dress. She endured a suffocating corset that made it hard to breathe, keeping her waist straight all the way here. Yet, she was turned away right at the mansion’s entrance!

She imagined Theodore being mesmerized by her beauty.

But it all ended in her imagination.

She couldn’t wear today’s dress again. She had to order another expensive dress and starve to maintain her figure. It was infuriating.

“Why did you kiss that woman’s hand, brother!”

Diana directed her anger at Ash.

“Do you realize how much embarrassment your actions brought to me and mother?”

Diana’s whining didn’t reach Ash’s ears.

The radiant silver hair shining in the sunlight, the white skin that matched, the beautiful face, the noble gait, the haughty gaze, and the charismatic presence—all made Ash’s heart race noisily.

“Brother, are you listening to me!”

“Diana, we did make a mistake.”

“Are you siding with that lady now?”

“I’m speaking realistically. Mother, it’s frustrating, but it can’t be helped.”

“Since Sir Chesser and I are close, I forgot the basics. Yes! We made a mistake. But there’s no need to expel a retainer who has been dedicated all this time!”

Lady Nordic was utterly humiliated in front of the servants by a much younger noble lady.

She spent sleepless nights for several days. Diana controlled her appetite with water, a bit of thin soup, and fruit before visiting the Florence Grand Ducal residence. But the fact that she had to continue doing so for another week stressed her out, leading to a binge.

Exactly seven days later, Lady Nordic, Diana, and the young master arrived at the entrance of the Florence Grand Ducal residence.

New knights stood before them.

“Who are you?”

“I am Amanda of the Nordic family.”

The knight opened the entrance door without a word. Lady Nordic recalled Meia’s words.

<If you make the same mistake then, it won’t end with just reflection.>

Her hands trembled, and she couldn’t shake the feeling of being bested by a younger lady, but she had no choice. She couldn’t return home after making the same mistake again.

“Please inform the Grand Duke that Amanda of the Nordic family and her children have arrived. We will enter once we receive permission.”

“Then I will guide you to the drawing room.”

Right next to the main gate of the Florence Grand Ducal residence is a space where the knights guarding the entrance can rest.

On the first floor of that space, there is a small drawing room for visiting guests and servants always on standby to attend to guests.

Lady Nordic spoke to one of the knights standing at the entrance.

“Guide us to the drawing room.”

It would take at least 30 minutes to reach the mansion entrance, 30 minutes to come back, and surely an hour in total. It was better to wait in the drawing room with a refreshing cold tea brought by the maids.

“I’m hungry.”

“Diana, hold on until you can greet His Grace the Grand Duke prettily.”

Diana was in pain all over as if she had been beaten due to the tight corset and high heels.

Above all, the Florence territory itself is a very hot place. It was only natural to be irritable when it was hot and hungry.

Every step she took made her tailbone and spine scream, but she had to endure. To become the Grand Duchess, she had to bear this level of pain.

However, Diana’s body and mind were utterly exhausted.

An hour passed, but the knight who went to get permission from the Grand Duke did not return.

Two hours passed.

“When can we go in!”

Diana, starving to the limit, was nothing but irritable. A maid, hearing Diana’s voice, entered the drawing room and spoke.

“Shall I prepare more refreshments?”

Diana snapped irritably.

“Do I look like I can eat right now? Act with some tact!”

The maid bowed her head in embarrassment.

“I’m sorry, Young Lady Nordic.”

“Do you think sorry is enough?”

Lady Nordic, standing next to her, soothed the irritated Diana.

“Diana, don’t be like that to the servants.”

“I’m annoyed! I’m starving, yet I have to keep sitting in this drawing room!”

Ash, next to her, frowned as he listened to his sister’s whining.

And as time passed, in the late afternoon, when the knight Leslie informed them that they could enter with the Grand Duke’s permission, their wait was finally over.

*

Since Meia accepted Theodore’s embrace once a few days ago, he started hugging her every chance he got, not twice or thrice. When she told him to stop with a smile, Theodore immediately looked dejected, and her heart softened. It somehow felt like she had taken away a child’s snack.

Was I always this soft-hearted? 

Pondering over it, she realized it was all limited to Theodore. Looking into Theodore’s large, innocent black eyes, she thought, ‘A hug should be fine, right?’ and found herself accepting his natural hand-holding and his approaching large arms.

And lately, he was becoming more and more shameless. In the past, his face would turn red just from touching her hand, and he would run away, but now he seemed eager to touch her more.

Where did that pure man go? Did I give him too much leeway?

Above all, whenever he embraced her, she felt strange.

“Stop hugging me.”

“…I’m not hugging you.”

“What is this if not a hug?”

“I’m leaning on you.”

“Anyone would say you’re hugging me.”

“No, I’m merely leaning my tender heart on you, my lady. It just feels like a hug to you. They say when a person leans their heart, it feels like a hug.”

“Are you using that as an excuse?”

“To tell the truth…”

His hand held her chin, giving her a persistent gaze, and he gently swept Meia’s lower lip and chin with his thumb as he spoke softly.

“It’s because you don’t reject me, Lady Meia.”

Theodore smiled gently. Meia lightly bit the tip of his thumb that was sweeping her lower lip.

Theodore, startled by her sudden action, froze like a stone. Of course, his face turned as red as a ripe plum.

“Lady Nordic, Young Master Ash, and Young Lady Diana will arrive soon.”

At Meia’s words, Theodore cleared his throat and composed himself. He was provoked, but he wanted to be provoked more.

“Understood. Then may I lean my heart on you again, Lady Meia?”

With those words, Theodore happily embraced Meia’s shoulders again.

After two hours, Lady Nordic, Ash, and Diana could finally reach the door of the Grand Ducal residence.

The door opened, and Deputy Butler Kelvain greeted them and guided them to the drawing room.

Seeing Diana, who was frowning and sitting weakly on the sofa due to hunger, Lady Nordic poked her daughter’s side, warning her to manage her expression. Ash glanced at the door, wondering if Meia would come in.

A knock was heard, and Theodore and Meia entered. Lady Nordic, Ash, and Diana, who were sitting on the sofa, stood up, bowed, and greeted them.

Lady Nordic glanced at Meia and cautiously opened her mouth.

“The lady is here too, hoho.”

“Yes, I was concerned about how we parted last time.”

“Thanks to you, my lady, I learned a great lesson last time.”

“Thank you for putting it nicely, Lady Nordic.”

“Yes…”

Feeling the thorn in the words, Lady Nordic trembled her lips and drew a curve on her lips.