25.

The boy opened his closed eyelids and lifted his leaning body. The rain had stopped a while ago. The table and documents glowed red as if scorched in the setting sun.

He remembered the blond hair scattered on the table from earlier. He wondered how it would change under the sunset light, not bright sunlight. He ruffled his hair restlessly at the thought of her. His neat black hair spread over his forehead. Saying this is useless, he tried checking a document, but he heard a knock.

Its Clifton. May I come in for a moment?

Come in.

With simple permission, the gap in the door slowly widened. Clifton walked in, without a sound. He put one arm in front of his stomach and deeply lowered his head.

Its a message from Madam that youll be visiting the Marquis with her in two days.

If its the Marquis, do you mean Mothers family?

Yes, thats right.

Vicentes brow was wrinkled. It was an opportunity to see the Marquis Visaride he had been curious about. He found it difficult to reject this attractive offer.

Suddenly, Ercella smiling brightly and asking him to go together appeared in the back of his mind. That woman always makes fun of me to the end as if she possessed my head. He couldnt understand himself even more as he cant brush her off his mind. He felt terrible because of it.

Tell her Ill be there.

It irked him that his clearly defined feelings for his mother were being stirred.

But he doesnt reject her. Why on earth doesnt he? Beats him. No, it would be right to say that he refused to know.

* * *

Marquiss manor was a little farther away from the city square. Therefore, Ercella felt a little awkward with Vicente because this was their first long ride in the carriage together.

Vicente was looking out of the window, but he seemed a little surprised by the unfamiliar scenery, perhaps because he was usually only at home. Of course, hes been outside before. He regularly goes to inspect their territory along with Harsen.

However, it mustve been a while visiting another family. Ercella was somehow nervous because the house used to be her home.

Was the Marquis interested in maintaining the house? I hope we have the tea from the Sansche region.

Vicente wont mind anything, but Ercella started to worry about this and that. Vicente turned his head and looked at her, perhaps noticed Ercellas expression.

Is something the matter?

What? No

You seem restless from before.

He kept looking out the window, yet he noticed. Ercella confessed honestly what the matter was.

Actually, Ive been worried that you may not like the house. I hope you like it because its my familys home.

I didnt know you cared about my opinion. [T/N: Chill dude]

Of course, I do. Ive already lost plenty of points, what if I lose more here?

.

What is it?

I didnt think youd say that out loud

Vicente seemed perplexed by Ercellas honest innermost thoughts. A bitter smile crossed Ercellas lips.

I dont want to pretend that nothing has happened so far. How can I shamelessly pretend to not know anything? I wont forget any of that and live every day feeling guilty towards you.

.

Its okay if you dont forgive me. Honestly, you dont need to forgive me. But I dont want to stay like that with you. Well, I really want us to get along like any other normal family. So that when I die Right, after I die, I dont want you to suffer when you think of me. But then, I may as well be selfish from your point of view. Trying to remain a good memory for you now Im sorry. I made you uncomfortable again.

Ercella mused about what she had just said. Again, I was careless with my words. I want to remain a good memory to him. Its pure selfishness. What am I going to do if Vicente doesnt accept me at all now..?

Think before you speak! She felt her head spinning. She frequently uses the wrong words in front of Vicente. She beat herself up once again inside. Her son, as always, gazed at Ercella and let out a murky sigh.

Do as you please.

Ercellas eyes opened wide at his words.

Also, youre already doing more than enough.

Vicente

Mother has been the one Im seeing the most frequently these days anyway.

He frowned to see something about it bothered him. Ercella looked at his face with surprise. This frown looked different from usual.

The walls with which he had surrounded himself had fallen away for the first time. It didnt matter if it was a positive or negative change. The change itself brought her great joy.

Vicentes face wrinkled more, perhaps he didnt like Ercella looking at him with such a thrilled look.

Why are you looking at me like that?

Because its cute seeing you whine.

Hell get mad if I say this, right? Ercella put her innermost thoughts behind her and just grinned. Vicente said with resignation.

What kind of man is the Marquis?

Perhaps, he was trying to change the topic. Even that felt cute. If he knew what Ercella was thinking now, hed jump out of the carriage right away.

Ercella calmed down her excited mind and carefully considered what to say about Caron. How should I explain this?

Hes a bit different from your father.

Caron was very different from Harsen.

How so?

First of all, his appearance is completely different. My brother has platinum blonde hair and green eyes. His look is different from your father, who has black hair and black eyes, right? In short, he has a kind profile that welcomes everyone. Hes really easygoing. I dont know what hes like in the palace, but at least thats how he is at home. Oh, I dont mean for you to misunderstand that. I like your father better. Hes handsome.

Ercella honestly expressing his handsomeness troubled Vicente.

I didnt expect you to value appearance.

Ercella heard him and looked at Vicente rather strangely.

Look at him! Tell me, is there anyone who doesnt like a good-looking person?

.

You cant nitpick nobles like an outsider. And as shocking as it sounds, food and wives dont lie. [T/N: IDK TBH]

It was actually so. Nobles didnt talk about looks in public in order to save face. But everyone does behind the scenes.

Nevertheless, she kept her aristocratic dignity and refrained from remarks that undermined a mans appearance. It wasnt polite to do so. They simply exchanged information by saying that a familys young lord was handsome.

That may seem a little unpleasant to some people, but what can I do. The first thing you notice when you meet someone is their face. Ercella and her friends thought it was only natural.

Vicente, however, was looking at Ercella with a face she had never seen before, as if what she said was outrageous. She wanted to say something, but she deliberately swallowed her words.

Ercella felt wronged for no reason. Its because you havent been to society. She wanted to shoot back like that right away.

Hmm. Anyway, you know it when you see him for yourself.

Are only their looks different

No.

Really, look at him! Someone might think its me whos obsessed with looks.

Ercella glared at him.

Other than that, they have different personalities. Your father is a stern man, so he has a serious and scary impression on people, but my brother is a politician. He cautiously does his work behind the scenes.

Behind the scenes.

Vicente brooded over Ercellas last words. And that made Ercella undergo another internal distress.

Well, I want to make a good impression of Caron, but was my choice of nuance bad?

But those were the perfect expressions to describe Caron. Still, an explanation is due. At this rate, it will completely ruin his first impression of Caron. Ercella went on to add more because she didnt want that to happen.

My brother inherited the title when he was 20 years old. Then and even now, there are many enemies in Visaride, so its hard to remain naive. If he still retained that attitude, our family would have suffered by those who envy us.

I see.

My brother is a man who values his family. He will do anything to protect Visaride.

Ercellas face saying so looked a little bitter.

Is that what the successors position is like?

She turned her eyes out of the window and opened her mouth.

Someday, you may get involved in a political dispute.

Even so, I wont blame Mother.

Although Bernhardt was politically neutral, they formed an alliance with Visaride through marriage and tacitly supported the current monarch.

In actuality, she still has no idea why the predecessor Duke Bernhardt sent a proposal to her family. Such a family usually forms an alliance with other neutral families, even if they were somewhat less powerful, but the previous Duke united with her family.

It was a great feat attracting a Bernhardt, so obviously her father agreed.

Therefore, if Vicente was later embroiled in politics, chances were high that it would be because of her family. I think we should also have a defense against this. For example, marriage with another neutral family

If Vicente marries and inherits the title, his relationship with Visaride will be cut off to some extent. The relationship between the couple would be stronger than between cousins.

However, something in her heart squeezed at the thought of Vicente going through a political marriage. If he loves someone, I want him to marry her regardless of her conditions, but I wonder if such a person would appear to Vicente. Vicente needs to be a little happier.

I wish he could marry someone he loves. I really want him to. Not a marriage based on calculations like mine and Harsens, but a marriage based on true love. A love marriage

She recalled her situation. Harsen and she obviously had no love for each other. Still, because they were faithful to each other, she was satisfied with her marriage.

Unlike most nobles, Harsen neither had an affair nor had an illegitimate child. Ercella, too, never had an affair and lived only looking at Harsen. Even if there was no love.

Ercella suddenly became curious. What would have been like for us to be married because we loved each other? I never thought of this before. But its useless thinking about it now. Realizing that she soon shook her head.

What are you thinking?

Vicente was looking straight at Ercella. She felt guilty for nothing. She shook her head and looked out the window. Ercellas lips unconsciously opened seeing the familiar landscape.

Weve arrived.

The Marquis mansion where she was born and raised began to appear from afar.

* * *

To people stealing my tl, I hope you have a very poopy day.

Please support me on my kofi. My butt hurts from sitting for long hours.