# 102
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“No, I don’t want to, I won’t come back.”
The Archduchess quickly expressed her refusal, as if repelling the Archduke's words.
But contrary to her stern words, her face was so pale that she looked like she might collapse at any moment.
"my lady . … ".
The Archduke sighed, as if he had already anticipated her answer.
Knowing the kind of decision my wife, who had been isolated for so long, made to leave the castle, I didn't think it would be easy to break her stubbornness.
He quietly began to persuade again.
“It's a long journey, even if you don't attend the graduation ceremony, Askart will understand...”
“I know, that's why I don't like it.”
“Askart is also my son, I felt sad that I was sent to the empire alone, but I still have to attend the graduation ceremony.”
Having spoken up to that moment, the Archduchess turned her head and exhaled slowly, as if she could say no more.
The eyes of the Archduke, the maids, and Bianca who were looking at this darkened.
In particular, Bianca, who had been excited for a while as she looked forward to going to the empire, immediately felt unbearable when she saw the Archduchess.
The Archduchess she remembered was not a black, lifeless dead person.
He was a brighter, more confident and always brighter person than anyone else.
But nine years ago, when she lost the newborn Archduchess, she changed completely.
No matter how much time passed, the mother’s grief over the loss of her child never subsided.
never.
* * *
“Leah, stop watching now and come sit down. The desserts are all ready.”
I was busy looking at the pink roses blooming in the Marquis's greenhouse, and I turned my head when I heard Askart's voice.
Warm cocoa and sweet treats were seen on the table placed in the middle of the greenhouse.
When I sat down, Askart asked in front of me with a smile in his bright eyes.
“Do you like it so much even though you drink it every day?”
“Yes, it's very pretty, it smells good too.”
It was true.
After Lucio and Ascarte returned, they had visited the Marquis' palace for a few days to look at the flowers, but no matter how many times they looked at them, they never tired of it.
'It was nice of you to come too. …’
Like the Duchess, Diana was often susceptible to colds.
The Marquis's greenhouse is warm, in contrast to the cold weather outside, and perhaps because it reminded me of the Duke's castle's greenhouse, I seemed to really like it when I last visited.
“You said the princess went out with Lucio today, right?”
I nodded.
For the past few days, Lucio has been busy taking up work seriously.
But for some reason, while we were having breakfast this morning, he offered to take his younger brothers on a tour of the capital.
And it's not just Diana, even Allen, whose face we rarely see these days, looks excited.
So I decided to stay away from Diana for the day.
'There must be times when siblings spend quality time together.'
Every day, when the family had a special meal or tea time, the intervention was only for a day or two, so people had to be aware of it.
Besides, I didn't have to be alone without Diana now.
This is because I was able to come to the Marquis's house to see the beautiful flowers and eat sweets.
The Diabelle Palace had a wonderful and generous atmosphere that was unique to the Moen family.
But from the first moment I walked in, I felt comfortable and somewhat friendly.
“It is also interesting to have a greenhouse with bright roses in full bloom.”
In a way, he reminded me of the Marquis de Diabelle, who was frank on the outside but gentle on the inside.
And above all.
“Now, try this.”
Ascart served me a cake topped with cream and raspberry jam.
When the cake came right in front of my nose, as if I wanted to feed it to him, I couldn't even think about turning it down, so I opened my mouth and took a big bite.
“Haha.”
Askart looked at me like this and smiled with a happy face.
That wasn't the case now.
Askart must have been sincere when he told me that he could come to visit me at any time, because every time he saw me, he gave me a smile that made me melt.
I noticed early on that he liked me, but I couldn't hide my blush.
Feeling embarrassed, I took a mouthful of cocoa and found myf gulping down the temperature, which was hotter than I expected.
"Are you okay? What if I drink it so quickly when it's hot?"
Ascarte immediately wiped my mouth with a tissue and looked concerned.
"sorry ."
“I didn't mean to hear an apology...”
While I was barely speaking with my eyes filled with physiological tears, Askart suddenly closed his mouth and looked at me blankly.
Then he opened his mouth as if hesitant to speak.
As I tilted my head in confusion when I saw that sight, I suddenly felt the greenhouse door open and someone enter.
“Young Archduke, this...”
“When I look at you, I think of my lost sister.”
Askart suddenly spoke with a sigh.
I was surprised and forgot what I was going to say and said: “...Yes?” I looked at him.
Askart frowned as if he was crying.
“I know I'm weird too...”
“I keep thinking about it, I wonder if I would have felt this way if I had a younger sister, and you must have been...”
“Oppa!”
At that time, a girl wearing an elegantly designed dress and long dark brown hair walked towards the table with a bright smile.
I stood up reflexively.
I know who is the girl who screams happily when she sees Askart.
It was Clara Amber, Ascart's younger cousin whom I had last seen at the Imperial Palace and the granddaughter of the Marquis Diabelle.
“I heard that you were staying at the Marquis’ mansion a few days ago? I don’t even know that...”
Clara, who was approaching with a happy face, stopped.
"You . … ".
I felt nervous for some reason at the look directed at me, so I quickly bowed my head and said hello.
“Ha, I asked where you saw her and she turned out to be Princess Elad’s maid. But why are you here...”
“I didn't even ask you to come, but you're acting arbitrarily, Clara. Did you learn that from the Countess?”
Clara, who had been speaking, stopped with a puzzled look on her face.
I too was startled by the cold voice coming from next to me and turned my head.
Ascarte was smiling softly as always, but for some reason, a sharp chill remained in the air.
I realized again that the voice I heard a moment ago was actually Askart's words.
There was a stifling silence inside the greenhouse.
While I was looking at him awkwardly, Askart suddenly turned his head and looked at me.
"Sorry."
"I'm fine . … ".
“Come on, let's sit down.”
". … Yes?"
I was speechless.
'I thought you were going to ask me to come home because you're sorry...'
Even Clara was still standing there.
But Askart smiled at me sweetly as if I couldn't even see the girl.
“You haven't eaten everything yet, it's all ready for you.”
“No, no, Young Archduke, I will go now.”
In the end, I couldn't stand this atmosphere and spoke first.
I could see Askart's expression darken, but I couldn't help it.
He quickly bowed to Clara, who was freezing, and quickly left the greenhouse.
* * *
Ascart clenched his fists and looked at Clara as he watched Leah disappear like the wind.
Clara's shoulders trembled at his fierce gaze, but her expression hardened as if her pride had been wounded.
But that was only for a moment, and she spoke again with a friendly smile.
“Oppa, it's been a long time since I've seen your face, why do you look like that? As expected, you were upset because I didn't come to see you right away, right?”
"impossible !"
Ascart let out a sharp laugh.
However, Clara paid no attention to this reaction and sat in the seat opposite Leah's.
“But Oppa, what should I do if you embarrass me like this in front of others? People misunderstand, Oppa hates me.”
Seeing Clara smiling sweetly, Ascart suddenly remembered an old memory.
My mother's younger sister, Countess Amber, and her daughter Clara began visiting the Duchy of Pylos when their mother began not to leave her room more and more.
Since his maternal grandfather, the Marquis de Diabelle, was in a position where he could not leave the estate empty for long, the factor was that he recommended Countess Ambre to visit on his behalf.
Although they were not very close sisters, she believed that her family would be more helpful in treating her mental illness than anyone else.
However, Ascarte was unfamiliar and awkward with the presence of Countess Amber, who had suddenly appeared and wandered around the Grand Duchy as if it were her home, and his cousin who was four years younger than him.
So, even though Clara kept coming and teasing me as if she wanted to be close to me, I pretended not to notice and stayed in my room and tried not to worry about her.
Several years passed like this.
At the age of twelve, Ascarte, who had reached precocious puberty and had become very sensitive, began to feel more and more disturbed by the Countess and Clara's wanderings around the Grand Duchy.
In the end, the accident happened.
<You ? Why are you in this room?〉
〈Oppa?〉
〈Leave your download now, this is for my little sister!〉
And he visits it for someone's sake. There's no one to use it anyway, so why shouldn't I use it? I am also your younger sister.〉
Clara spoke innocently, wearing all the precious jewelry her parents bought for his missing sister every year, and holding a beautiful doll in her arms.
At that moment, Ascarte's eyes rolled.
〈Who is your brother? You are not my sister! 〉