Episode 32
Clang!
Just then, the sound of breaking dishes rang out from a distance. When I turned my head in the direction of the noise, I caught a glimpse of Mother’s skirt before it quickly disappeared.
She must’ve been hiding somewhere, eavesdropping on our conversation.
But the sound of shattered dishes was nothing compared to the enormous bomb that had just dropped on our table.
‘W-What? What did he just say?’
Suddenly feeling flushed, I squeezed my eyes shut.
Of course, I wasn’t the only one flustered.
“Your Grace… what did you just say…?”
Nathan turned pale and his hands trembled. Clearly shocked, he blinked rapidly and looked back and forth between me and Jerlach.
Oliver, too, looked incredibly startled. He’d been sitting quietly this whole time, simply observing the mood, but now he had a look that said, Something big just happened.
But could anyone here be more shocked than I was?
“I didn’t want to rush things, but if I want to protect my Libe, I have no choice.”
Huh? What? My Libe?
“Wait, are you saying Lady Bernadette and Your Grace…”
Nathan trailed off, unable to finish his sentence. He started shaking his head rapidly.
He must’ve thought he had made a terrible mistake.
“I had no idea. Truly. If I had known, I wouldn’t have made such a blunder earlier. My deepest apologies, Your Grace.”
Just as I was about to open my mouth, unable to bear it any longer, Oliver reached under the table and grabbed my wrist.
“!”
I looked at him, and he silently mouthed, Shh.
Just from the tension in my brow, he seemed to know exactly what I was about to say.
“……”
Okay, calm down. Think rationally.
If I were to deny Jerlach’s words right here, that would be a problem in itself. Maybe if it were just the two of us, it would be different.
But Oliver and Nathan were both here. And beyond the sitting room, Mother was likely listening too. There were too many ears and eyes around.
To deny the Grand Duke’s words to his face would be akin to insulting him.
Besides, Nathan wasn’t exactly known for keeping things to himself. He wouldn’t just walk out of here quietly—he’d probably spread it everywhere, down to the cats and dogs in Muten.
But if I stayed silent?
That wouldn’t be an ideal situation for Nathan. He’d probably keep his mouth shut.
After all, to say that the Grand Duke confessed to me, he’d have to explain the context. And that would mean admitting that he came to my house, offered to compose a piece for me, and was rejected.
Right. I need to reject Jerlach when we’re alone. This isn’t the way.
At the very least, I owed him that much courtesy.
And Jerlach wasn’t just anyone—he ruled Muten.
I couldn’t afford to make him look like a fool. It wouldn’t matter if it were me being made to look silly, but this was different.
Just as I finished organizing my thoughts, Nathan cautiously opened his mouth again.
“I apologize, Your Grace. Then let’s pretend the love dedication piece for Lady Bernadette… never existed.”
He made a motion to kiss the back of my hand out of habit but hastily withdrew it.
“Very well.”
Jerlach finally looked satisfied.
“Then I’ll be taking my leave.”
Nathan stood up awkwardly, visibly uncomfortable. Oliver also rose to his feet, giving an awkward smile.
He bowed politely to me, placed his hat over his heart, and began a long, dramatic farewell.
“Lady Bernadette, I regret not being able to share my inspiration with you. Nevertheless, I wish you happiness and health. Should you ever need my musical—”
“I think that’s enough.”
Jerlach’s cold voice drifted in from behind, and Nathan clamped his mouth shut and hurried out.
With Nathan and Oliver gone, only the two of us were left in the sitting room.
Alright, now was the time.
The words I’d kept to myself—I had to finally say them to him directly.
I don’t like you.
I’d kept quiet out of fear, but now I had to speak up.
I have absolutely no intention of becoming your woman, and if it ever came to that, I’d rather enter a convent and live alone forever.
…Okay, maybe that’s a bit too much.
Forget the convent—I’d rather marry Nathan!
Alright. I can do this.
After taking a deep breath, I met Jerlach’s eyes—only for him to suddenly say something I never expected.
“…I’m sorry.”
“……”
Those two words startled me more than a confession of love would have.
Everything I’d prepared in my head crumbled like a sandcastle.
“Your Grace.”
“You must’ve been surprised by what I said.”
“Yes, well… I—”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to say it like this.”
Jerlach raised his hands once, then stood up. I just watched him blankly.
He looked a little anxious, sticking one hand into his pocket and rubbing his lips with the other.
That was a look I’d never seen on him before.
He furrowed and relaxed his brow repeatedly, then finally—
“Why do you have so many men around you?”
“…Pardon?”
“Yes. Last time it was the brown-haired one, and now it’s a blond?”
Brown hair… Does he mean Adrian?
“Sir Adrian Watford?”
When I mentioned Adrian’s name, Jerlach narrowed his eyes and stared at me directly.
“Yes, that one. I heard you’ve known each other for a long time.”
“Well, yes… but I don’t really remember him. He lived nearby when we were little, but he doesn’t live in Muten anymore. I heard he’s only here temporarily for work.”
“And today, some composer showed up? A ‘love dedication’ for Lady Bernadette?”
“But that was the first time Sir Palamedes ever came to the house! I was surprised too!”
“Are there any others I don’t know about?”
“Excuse me? What do you mean?”
“Since we’re on the topic, might as well clear it all now. If there are more, tell me.”
“What are you even saying? There’s no one! Really, no one!”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes! Absolutely!”
I flailed my hands in denial, then suddenly realized something strange.
Wait a minute.
Why am I explaining myself to Jerlach?
This isn’t what I’m supposed to be doing!
Geez, I really need to pull myself together, or I’ll end up getting swept up by this man.
“No, that’s not what’s important right now.”
I slowly lowered my waving hands and looked him straight in the eye.
“Your Grace, I have something I need to say.”
“Go ahead.”
“Then promise you won’t interrupt until I finish what I’m about to say.”
When I spoke with a surprisingly serious tone, Jerlach removed his hand from his pocket and looked at me directly.
“I promise.”
I don’t like you.
So please stop doing things I didn’t ask for.
It makes me uncomfortable.
I pressed my lips together, ready to speak—when suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed loudly.
“Your Grace!”
Jerlach’s aide, Sir Orie, burst in, face pale.
“Your Grace, it’s an emergency.”
Jerlach twitched his nose and held up a hand toward Orie, then kept his gaze on me.
“Go ahead.”
“……”
“What was it you wanted to say?”
“N-No… it’s nothing important.”
My words disappeared completely.
With Sir Orie’s urgency hanging in the air, there was no way I could say something like I don’t like you or leave me alone.
“Alright then. I’ll come pick you up on the 11th.”
“The 11th? Oh—no, that won’t be necessary.”
“There will be a line of men outside your door. Of course I’ll come for you.”
After he said it, I remembered what day that was.
It was the first day of a three-day festival.
Until now, I’d always dreaded that time of year and never cared about what actually happened during the festival.
Right, it’s the celebration around the awakening of Saint Obenri.
I still had no intention of attending with Jerlach, but now I was a little curious about what happens on the first day.
“So… what happens on the 11th?”
“What happens?” he repeated with a faint smile as he turned around.
“Look forward to it.”
With those parting words, Jerlach left.
Once his footsteps completely faded, I slumped into the hard chair, forgetting how uncomfortable it was.
“…God, this is driving me insane.”
