The Reason Why She Wanted To Leave - Chapter 35
“Then why is the Duke giving this to me?”
I hesitated to accept the flowerpot Jacob was offering. He looked flustered as he stared at it before responding.
“I understand that the Tieria flower is used to remedy the aftereffects of the Viscountess’s illness.”
“That’s correct.”
“So the Duke obtained the Tieria flower to help you, Viscountess.”
At Jacob’s words, I glanced down at the flowerpot in his hands. Now that I thought about it, ever since Ains learned about my illness, he had made efforts to help with its aftereffects. He even came to the mansion once to offer to teach me how to use mana.
And now, this Tieria flower he was trying to give me through Jacob seemed to reflect that same concern.
I couldn’t comprehend why Ains cared so much about my illness. If he had remained indifferent, I wouldn’t be feeling this way.
Could it be that he feels guilty toward me?
Ains Graham, of all people?
“Jacob.”
“Yes, Viscountess.”
When I called him, Jacob bowed his head. I looked at the flowerpot for a moment before lightly patting his shoulder.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t accept this. Please return it to the Duke.”
“What? But…”
Seeing Jacob’s flustered reaction made me feel a bit guilty. He might face Ains’ displeasure for not delivering the flowerpot to me.
Even so, I had no intention of accepting an unwanted favor.
“This isn’t something I should receive. I already have enough remedies, and as you know, Jacob, I’m currently learning to use mana. So I don’t need it. Besides, the Tieria flower has other uses beyond treating Trintz disease or its aftereffects. The Duke knows how to handle mana and will find another use for it.”
“The Duke will be disappointed. He went to great lengths to find this after learning about your illness. So…”
Jacob spoke in a pleading tone.
…Ains would be disappointed?
I pondered his words and smiled bitterly.
“Is there a reason I need to know that?”
“…I’m sorry.”
Realizing he had overstepped, Jacob quickly apologized. I smiled at him and then turned to Rachel, who had finally caught her breath.
“Rachel, can you hand me the jewelry box?”
“Yes, Viscountess.”
Rachel handed me the jewelry box she had prepared. I fiddled with it for a moment before taking out the fountain pen inside.
“Jacob. Instead, please return this to the Duke.”
I had initially intended to keep it, but now I felt it wasn’t something I should take. I handed the fountain pen to Jacob.
Not understanding its significance, Jacob blinked as he accepted it.
“Well, I’ll be going now.”
“Take care, Viscountess. Please visit again anytime.”
As I received Rachel’s farewell, I climbed into the carriage. Once the door closed, a small window from the coachman’s seat opened.
“We’re departing, Viscountess.”
“Yes.”
With the coachman’s announcement, the carriage began to move slowly.
I quietly gazed at the jewelry box as the carriage rattled. Returning the fountain pen to Ains felt like severing the last connection we had. I wasn’t sure if Ains would grasp its significance, but he would at least recognize it as the gift he had given me during our childhood.
Suddenly, cheers erupted from the capital’s direction. I looked out the carriage window and heard a sharp sound cut through the air, followed by a loud bang. The twilight sky lit up with colorful fireworks.
People had gathered in the streets to enjoy the festivities, exclaiming in awe at the display. The sparkling lights spread across the sky like blooming flowers, followed by another loud explosion of vibrant colors.
I committed the beautiful sight to memory as the carriage continued its steady journey toward the Marves Viscounty.
“Duke, I delivered the flowerpot to the Viscountess, but she refused it.”
Back at the mansion, Jacob handed the flowerpot to Ains. Ains, who had been watching from the window, frowned and glared at the flowerpot.
Jacob took a cautious step back, sensing Ains’s dark aura, and swallowed hard.
Cecilia’s refusal of the flowerpot was already enough to anger Ains, but if he learned that she had also requested the return of the fountain pen, it could lead to serious repercussions.
However, Jacob knew he couldn’t hide the return of the fountain pen. He understood that if Ains discovered he had concealed this, it would only invite greater wrath.
Taking several deep breaths to steady himself, Jacob finally revealed the fountain pen that Cecilia had returned.
“And the Viscountess also asked me to give you this.”
“What is it?”
Jacob handed the fountain pen to Ains. He took it and stared at it blankly.
At first, he didn’t recognize the pen and stared at it for a long moment. It wasn’t until he noticed the name “Cecilia Marves” clumsily engraved on it that he realized it was the gift he had given her during their childhood.
This fountain pen represented Ains’s feelings of comfort toward Cecilia.
He remembered when she first entered the Graham Ducal Mansion, unable to cope with the loss of her parents, spending her days in sorrow. When she wasn’t crying, she sat in her room, perpetually gloomy.
Even during meals, she barely ate before retreating to her room again.
Young Ains wanted to help her. As someone who had also lost a mother, he hoped to bring some light back into her life.
When he learned about Cecilia’s birthday, he bought a fountain pen, engraved her name with a small carving knife, and gifted it to her in hopes of cheering her up.
He still vividly remembered the small smile that had spread across Cecilia’s face at that moment.
Cecilia, who usually wore a blank or sad expression, likely didn’t realize how beautiful her smile was.
But now, that fountain pen had returned to Ains.
The meaning was unmistakable.
A gentle refusal.
Cecilia’s message was clear: she would no longer accept Ains’s goodwill.
“Jacob.”
“Yes, Duke.”
Jacob quickly responded to Ains’s call. Ains looked at him with a dry gaze and asked, “Did she say anything else when she returned this?”
“No, she didn’t.”
“…”
After hearing Jacob’s report, Ains tightly gripped the fountain pen.
If Cecilia was so determined to refuse Ains’s help, it was time for him to step back. Rationally, Ains understood this.
Yet, despite his understanding, he couldn’t accept it emotionally.
At that moment, fireworks erupted in the sky, creating stunning patterns. It seemed the Magic Tower’s fireworks display had begun.
Ains turned to watch the sparkling lights in silence.
Cecilia was likely watching the fireworks on her way back as well.
He clenched his teeth, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled, letting the heat rising within him dissipate with his breath.
Everything felt chaotic.
Before his divorce from Cecilia, nothing bothered him, but afterward, everything connected to her grated on his nerves.
Whether it was Viscount Moldovan lingering around Cecilia at the Emperor’s birthday ball or Master Cesare coming to the Marves Viscounty to train her in mana usage, all of it irritated him. Even his grandfather, Damon Graham, was a source of frustration.
‘Introducing her to someone new?’
Damon’s words during lunch kept replaying in his mind.
If he could, he would confront Damon and demand he take back what he said.
Yet, even as these thoughts swirled, Ains found himself confused, unable to fully grasp his own feelings.
Why did he want Cecilia so desperately now, when he had been indifferent to her before?
These bewildering emotions left him feeling lost once again.
“Have you discovered who Grandfather wants to introduce to Cecilia?”
“That’s still hard to confirm.”
“It’s fine if you can’t find out who it is. Just figure out when and where they’re meeting.”
Ains instructed Jacob, who nodded quietly, careful not to provoke Ains’s unusually sharp temper.
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T/N: Ains, my boi, what are you doing? LOL