Chapter 48: What On Earth Did You Say About Me?
“My father had another lover even when my mother was alive. As soon as she passed away, he married that lover. My stepmother disliked me and tormented me in subtle ways. That’s why I ended up living with my aunt.”
“Oh dear, that’s unfortunate. Then, after moving in with your aunt, did your relationship grow close? Greengal City is quite far from the capital. Seeing how you followed your aunt all the way here, it looks like you two must get along well.”
“My maternal grandparents are always traveling abroad, and Aunt Lize and my uncle are all married with families of their own. So, inevitably, my youngest aunt had to take me in.”
Merran thought that what the marchioness really wanted to hear was the answer: ‘Yes, I get along with my aunt.’
But she deliberately avoided saying that outright, only giving vague replies, which made the Marchioness look displeased as she asked again.
“Ah… so you didn’t follow her here because you get along with her?”
Merran muttered as if embarrassed.
“I’m closer to her than the rest of my family. I have to be. I spent my whole life adjusting myself to her mood. She didn’t abuse me. Compared to my stepmother, she was much better. But still, she’s not my mother, so she could never treat me like one. I’ve always had to live watching the faces of the adults around me.”
Perhaps deciding she had to be more straightforward, the Marchioness asked directly this time.
“I see. Oh, by the way, I heard a strange rumor. There’s a story that your mother died because of Lady Classie… People really will spread any sensational gossip. It’s awful. If this is the first time you’ve heard it, I apologize. But if it’s a rumor you’ve already heard and know to be false, it would be good for you to deny it firmly yourself.”
At that question, something welled up inside Merran, her throat prickling.
She sipped her tea to soothe her dryness and organized her words.
The Marchioness of Gosville did not press her, waiting patiently through the silence.
After a few minutes, Merran finally spoke.
“I also hope my aunt isn’t that kind of person.”
The Marchioness gave a light smile.
“Hope? So you’re not certain?”
With an honest expression, Merran hesitated, fidgeting with her teacup, then continued.
“I’m also acquainted with Sir Kishin, so I’ll speak frankly…”
* * *
For another thirty minutes or so, the two women continued their conversation. The Marchioness of Gosville listened without interruption.
By the time the talk ended, the tea had gone cold. The Marchioness saw Merran sigh softly and spoke.
“Thank you for telling me. It must not have been easy to say out loud.”
After that, their conversation lightened, touching on more casual topics.
Yet, Merran’s expression sometimes clouded with melancholy, and the Marchioness noticed every shift.
At last, it was time to leave. The Marchioness personally escorted her to the door. When Merran had finished her goodbyes and was descending the steps, the Marchioness could not resist asking.
“You could lie for your aunt’s sake. Don’t you want to?”
Merran paused, then turned her head. Meeting the Marchioness’s eyes, she gave a clever-looking smile and shook her head.
“If you ask me whether my aunt is a good person, I can say she is. But I don’t dare lie in front of the Duke of Hayward and the House Gosville. If things go wrong, my aunt will be protected by the Countess Kalashi—but there’s no one to protect me.”
* * *
Classie had been sitting on the same sofa from the moment Merran left until she returned.
When she heard the carriage arriving, she ran straight out to the garden, catching Merran just as she stepped down from the carriage.
“How was it? How did it go?”
Before Merran could reply, Karen quickly answered from behind her.
“You wouldn’t believe how much our lady praised Lady Classie.”
“Really?”
Classie could hardly believe it. She had thought it would be enough if Merran just didn’t get in the way—but praised her?
But Merran also lifted her chin proudly and declared with confidence.
“Of course. I told her my aunt is a good person. So if things turn out well, you’d better thank me, Aunt. And if things don’t turn out well, that’ll be your fault, so don’t take it out on me.”
Classie still couldn’t fully trust Merran’s words, but for now, she replied.
“Thanks.”
‘We’ll see from the results.’
* * *
That entire day, and even into the next morning, Classie had no appetite.
Since that passionate man and the boy who had been her first love, this was only the third time a man had made Classie this nervous.
Merran, on the other hand, had looked positively happy ever since returning from Greengall City—as if her hometown had filled her with renewed brightness.
Even when the butler brought a letter from Kishin, she joked with a smile.
“It’s so cute watching two shy people date.”
‘Yeah, you two flirts. Your romance will be all tangled up and amusing.’
Classie grumbled inwardly as she tore open the envelope Kishin had sent.
Still, seeing the flower drawing on the envelope improved her mood a little. Since spring began, Kishin had been drawing flowers on the envelopes he sent.
Classie couldn’t help but smile as she unfolded the letter paper.
“!”
But inside was something entirely unexpected.
Startled, Classie shot up from her seat, and Merran quickly asked,
“What’s wrong? Did Sir Kishin say he can’t get his parents’ permission?”
Her face looked worried, but her voice was almost gleeful.
Normally, such an attitude would have annoyed Classie—but not today. Instead, she pulled Merran into a hug.
“Sir Kishin’s mother says she really likes me!”
Karen, who had been serving nearby, coughed awkwardly.
Classie hugged Merran tightly, shaking her side to side until Merran grew irritated and she finally let go.
But still overjoyed, she gripped Merran’s shoulders, beamed brightly, and met her eyes.
“It’s thanks to you. What on earth did you say to make the Marchioness of Gosville like me?”
“……”
From behind, Karen interjected impatiently.
“Oh, my. Didn’t I tell you yesterday? Lady Merran went on and on praising Lady Classie. Lady Classie, please treat our lady well. Don’t just do well for yourself—help her and Sir Dernick work out, too.”
“Of course! I’ll definitely keep that promise. You kept yours, didn’t you?”
Classie laughed boldly and gave Merran’s head another squeeze before letting her go.
* * *
Back in her room, Classie hurried to write a reply.
Kishin’s letter had not only said that the Marchioness of Gosville liked her. He also mentioned that the Marchioness wanted to invite her, asking whether she was free that evening or for lunch the next day.
Classie was, of course, writing back to say she was free.
‘Of course I am!’
And the next day at lunch, Classie received a formal invitation from the Marchioness of Gosville.
From that moment, she bustled about, rummaging through her wardrobe and jewelry box, trying this hairstyle and that one, fussing over her preparations to go out.
“Just wear a nice day dress, my lady. That’s enough. You can’t dress like you’re going to a ballroom.”
Anna shivered in exasperation, but Classie refused to yield.
“I’m not going to dress as if I’m going to a ball. But I want to look as good-natured as possible, that’s why.”
“What are you saying? My lady, you already look good-natured.”
“I have a mirror in my room too, Anna.”
Classie glanced into the mirror and immediately looked downhearted.
She did have confidence in her looks. Until those vicious rumors clung to her, adults used to marvel at her beauty whenever they saw her.
The girls all wanted to be close with Classie, and the boys, whenever they saw her, scrambled to find some way to strike up a conversation.
But Classie had no confidence in her own aura.
Her older sister Lize often said of her, “To put it nicely, you look dignified. To put it harshly, you give off a mean impression.”
“I’ll wear this beige dress. If I wear this, I’ll look intelligent and calm—someone who seems cold on the outside but warm on the inside.”
Just as her noisy preparations for going out were nearly finished, Kishin unexpectedly came in person to escort Classie.
Anna was delighted.
Classie, too, was glad for the chance, so she rushed down the stairs, spun in a circle right in front of Kishin, and asked,
“How do I look?”
“You spun one and a half turns.”
“The dress!”
When Kishin gave her a puzzled look—‘What about the dress?’—Classie grew anxious and pressed further.
“Do I look like someone who’s cold on the outside but warm on the inside?”
Kishin burst into laughter, making Classie flush red with embarrassment.
“No?”
She hurriedly asked again. If he said no, she was going to change into the light green dress that had been her last option.
“You don’t need to worry about that.”
“How can I not? You know the rumors about me… I want to look like a good person.”
“These people have seen my face their entire lives, Lady Classie—your warm-hearted self. They’re probably even more used to your cool expression by now. So rest easy.”
Why does he always say things so beautifully? When Kishin smiled, Classie’s heart suddenly fluttered. To hide it, she nudged him with her shoulder and turned away.
And when she did, she noticed Merran peeking out from behind a pillar, wearing an expression as if she’d just bitten into garbage.
* * *