Chapter 6
Normally, Elaria would have apologized first and settled the matter, but for some reason, the words would not leave her mouth now. Perhaps it was because she had been tormented all day by a single proposal letter from him that a stubborn resistance had risen inside her.
“Why aren’t you apologizing to your sister right now?”
Her mother shouted at her when she remained silent. Held in their mother’s arms, Elisa’s eyes shone. As if she were naturally expecting an apology.
Still looking at the three of them, Elaria suppressed the stubbornness that had briefly risen and opened her mouth. She wanted to quickly say the apology they wanted and return to her room to rest.
“I’m sor—”
As she frowned slightly from the heavy fatigue, a carriage came to a noisy stop in front of the estate. The four of them simultaneously checked the crest on the carriage through the wide-open doors.
And they all inhaled sharply.
At the center of the splendid white carriage was the image of an eagle gripping a longsword in its talons. The moment he recognized the crest symbolizing the Asiel ducal house, her father reacted first. He strode toward the entrance.
A familiar face stepped down from the carriage. Daniel, Lucian’s aide, gave her father a respectful greeting.
“I apologize for the sudden visit, Baron Silvaris.”
“There’s no need for such words between us.”
Even though he was only an aide, Daniel came from a count’s family, so her father could not treat him carelessly. Watching the scene blankly from a distance, Elaria suddenly met Daniel’s eyes. He immediately stated his purpose.
“His Grace has sent gifts along with the wedding allowance.”
Daniel’s voice was not particularly loud, yet it seemed to ring clearly. Elaria suddenly felt her throat go dry. What if, as Elisa said, the name really had been written wrong?
She still did not know his intentions, but she did not want to accept that this proposal had been a mistake.
At that moment, her father asked in a cautious tone,
“May I ask… which of my daughters His Grace sent this to…?”
At the question, Daniel answered with a puzzled expression.
“Naturally, to Miss Elaria de Silvaris, who received the proposal letter. Is there some problem? If you are intending to refuse…”
At Daniel’s continuing words, her father waved his hands quickly and replied at once.
“That cannot be! I only wished to be certain.”
At her father’s awkward attempt to gloss it over, Daniel dropped his polite expression and became stern.
“Are you suggesting that His Grace sent the proposal letter by mistake?”
“Absolutely not!”
“How could something as important as a proposal letter be confused? Even if you are the father of the future Duchess, that is a disrespectful remark.”
At his firm words that would not be brushed aside, her father, visibly flustered even from behind, hurriedly added,
“Ha ha, it only feels like a dream, that’s all.”
“…Doubting a decision made by His Grace is unpleasant. I ask that you be mindful of that.”
“I understand!”
Daniel still looked unconvinced. To change the atmosphere, her father called for Elaria. She had no choice but to step forward.
Daniel was one of the ducal retainers she had seen fairly often, so she greeted him politely.
“It’s been a while.”
“It truly has. You’ve become even more beautiful.”
Speaking in a friendly tone, Daniel gestured toward the carriage and added,
“Would you please confirm the gifts His Grace has sent?”
“…Did Lucian really send these?”
Elaria finally asked what she could not hold back. Whether the proposal had truly not been a mistake, and whether she herself was really the owner of the countless gifts filling the carriage.
At her question, Daniel replied politely and in detail.
“Of course. They are gifts personally selected by His Grace, so I would be grateful if you would confirm them yourself, Miss.”
At his words, the coachman opened the carriage door. Inside, it was filled with wrapped gift boxes. Then Daniel took out a sealed golden envelope from the inner pocket of his jacket and held it out.
“This is the wedding allowance. His Grace wished to come personally, but he has been extremely busy recently in order to move the wedding schedule forward. He asks for your generous understanding.”
She knew better than anyone how busy he was. It was the reason she had been able to understand even when they could not go on proper dates. Elaria accepted the golden envelope and nodded.
Holding the golden envelope carefully with both hands, she looked into the carriage with a dazed mind.
She still could not understand his intentions.
But wouldn’t it be all right to hope, just a little?
That, after breaking up with me, he missed me too.
Just as I still miss him.
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