Chapter 220
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
“We’ll need to deceive everyone. Do you think it’s possible?”
“It seems you didn’t notice. The two of them are closer than expected.”
“That’s probably because she was someone he had to protect.”
“That could be true. But Dahlia is a smart girl. She knows better than anyone how she should appear to others.”
“It was an unfavorable proposal for Sir Byne, though.”
“When considering the candidates, Byne himself mentioned it, so it wasn’t forced.”
That was an aspect she hadn’t thought of. Looking back, Byne had quietly taken care of Dahlia.
Even when she struggled, he steadfastly did what he needed to do. Didn’t he once stand by her when she refused to go to the annex?
“…Come to think of it, there’s no one as good as Sir Byne.”
She was not sure if it’s the right thing, but at least the two of them wouldn’t hate each other, so it’s not the worst outcome.
“The royal family won’t stay quiet about it.”
“That’s why I’m planning to have the debutante and engagement announcement tomorrow.”
“It might be better to get it over with quickly.”
“I couldn’t tell you earlier because you were sleeping so soundly.”
Mikhail added that as an excuse.
“It doesn’t matter. I didn’t expect you to ask for my opinion. I just asked because I was surprised. After all, I’m just a Duchess in name only, nothing more.”
There was nothing new to say. From Emilia’s perspective, his actions seemed awkward.
“Get used to it from now on.”
“You know this is really strange, right?”
“I know. Are you not going to ask about your father?”
“I know it wasn’t something you did.”
His eyes widened.
“I thought you wouldn’t behave as though it was for show, just to be seen by others.”
“Won’t you hold a funeral?”
“…Will you let me?”, Emilia asked him in return.
She thought his words about her mother’s funeral were just something said casually. It was surprising that it wasn’t something meant to keep her trapped in the Duke’s estate again.
“Yes.”
“I want to hold it quietly.”
“Do that. Just tell Kartho what you need.”
“…Thank you.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve made sure the funeral can be held right away.”
She had thought about how she would face her parents’ faces.
She wasn’t sure if she could face the death of her mother and father directly. Emilia nodded lightly.
“By the look of it, you came straight to me without eating.”
“…I didn’t have an appetite.”
“Still, you should eat. The doctor said your health has greatly weakened.”
“I ate well while I was there.”
“Then what’s the point? Even if you say you ate well, who would believe that you were doing okay in a place like that?”
“You don’t know where I was.”
“I found you in the back streets of Delphora, so it must have been there.”
“Do you think I sold my body? The back streets of Delphora are full of brothels.”
“Is that what you want me to think?”
That wasn’t the case. But it was clear that everyone would view it strangely.
“I heard that newspapers came out of that building.”
“….”
“Let me ask you one thing. Did you see who the owner of the Spiegel newspaper is?”
“… I can’t tell you.”
“Because I was hoping the royal family won’t collapse?”
“Yes. You want the royal family to stay strong. You want Dahlia to sit in that position.”
“Who says so?”
It wasn’t about who said it. It was just what she saw.
But the way he looked and spoke made her feel like her thoughts were wrong.
“If you ask anyone passing by, they’d think the same.”
“So, you’re saying that you and they share the same thoughts?”
“That can’t be helped. It’s not like I know you better than anyone else.”
In fact, lately, she even wondered if what she thought she knew was all wrong.
He had changed so much since she left the Duke’s estate. How could she accept this change?
“Get to know me from now on.”
“It’s too late. I don’t want to anymore.”
“Stay by my side and keep watching. Things might be different.”
“….”
Things were already different from before. But that didn’t mean the things that happened between them could be forgotten.
“What if I can’t do that?”
“Then I’ll have to wait.”
“You’re stubborn.”
“You’ve known that about me. I’m good at waiting and enduring.”
“I know. You endured more than anyone else to drag me into hell.”
“Emilia.”
Mikhail’s voice became softer. In truth, she wasn’t unaware of it.
She could see it in the way he looked at her; no matter how much she tried to ignore it, it was obvious.
There had been signs of it for a long time. Even though Emilia had continued to ignore it, he had somehow settled in her heart.
No matter how much she pushed him away, he kept finding his way in.
Maybe now Mikhail was experiencing the same change in emotions that she had gone through.
“I’m not sure of Your Grace.”
She didn’t want to be frustrated, disappointed, or sad again.
She didn’t have the courage to keep going with him, knowing that he might pull her down again at any moment.
“So watch me. Stay by my side until you believe in me and see how I change.”
Emilia didn’t answer.
She did want to believe, but she was still scared. What if even the baby inside her became at risk?
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