# 83
---
The air between Grace and Ares warmed up lightly and warmly, like a summer afternoon. As Jesse followed behind the two, it suddenly occurred to him that perhaps, just as Ares had said… Grace might have cried last night.
Ares had been watching Grace the whole time. Even when he turned his gaze straight ahead, his eyes eventually met Grace, and each time, the corners of his lips were slightly visible, pulled up long. His stride never exceeded hers, so the hem of her green skirt kept wrapping around his long legs.
If Grace cried, why didn't I notice her tears? I look after Grace just as much as Ares does.
The answer to that question was found surprisingly quickly. When Jesse reached the Chandelier Room, he heard Ares whispering to Grace.
“Cry if you want to cry, and laugh if you want to laugh.”
“…….”
“Just holding back won’t solve anything. No one will look down on you anymore.”
Grace remained silent.
As the door to the chandelier room opened, Ares gently led her, who did not even smile out of habit.
“Let’s go, Grace.”
The door closed, and Jesse closed her eyes.
A tidal wave of conviction washed over me, convinced that Grace must have swallowed her tears alone for countless days. But now that I think about it, wasn't it only natural? She, too, was young, and she, too, had lost her parents.
If you want to cry, cry; if you want to laugh, laugh.
Tears streamed down Jesse's eyes as he realized that he had never once said those lighthearted words to her.
* * *
Eliza listened to the story of Ares and Grace's marriage with a nonchalant attitude. She remained silent throughout the conversation, but spoke in a very light tone to the two people seeking her permission.
I guess I'm going to be a bit busy for the first time in a while.
Grace, worried that he was speaking of such a momentous matter too lightly, asked cautiously.
Are you okay?
Then Eliza raised her eyebrows as if to ask what he was asking.
“I didn’t like that name ‘Lover’ from the start. It’s such a half-baked and pathetic name that I wasn’t even protected within my own castle. If you’re going to fight in the capital, you need to at least carry the name of Richmond.”
“…….”
I am only worried about your honor. This matter will always follow you.
Grace spoke softly but firmly to her concern.
I determine my own honor, Madam.
At her answer, Eliza widened her eyes slightly and laughed heartily.
“Haha, I guess I’ve been talking about honor only to you.”
That’s not what I meant.
"know."
“…….”
If you're okay with it, that's all that matters.
Eliza's eyes curved gently. Then, she sincerely addressed the proud being who had appeared in her life like a comet one day.
I will lend you the name and power of Richmond.
Grace Richmond.
I never knew that sharing a name would be this joyful.
Use it to your heart's content.
Grace, having read Eliza's sincerity, bowed respectfully toward her.
"thank you."
“Since I received this power and name entirely thanks to you, you are worthy.”
Eliza gazed intently at Ares and Grace, sitting side by side, in a single frame. The young man and woman, brimming with the fresh vitality of midsummer, were dazzlingly beautiful. Living in the Richmond territory, she had come to love midsummer. Perhaps that was why, as she looked at the two people who were like midsummer, an inexplicable joy and excitement welled up in her heart.
Eliza, who had been giggling, called the maids in a clear voice.
“Arwen!”
"Did you call me, Madam?"
Take out the wedding dress I wore and start altering it to fit Grace's measurements.
“!!”
“!”
In the Deccan, passing down a wedding dress signified deep love and blessing. Therefore, it was customary for a mother to hand it down to her daughter. Eliza's dress was also received from her mother, but Grace had no mother to pass down a dress to, and Luciana Taylor's wedding dress had long since disappeared from the hands of the current Duchess of Taylor.
The ladies-in-waiting and Grace widened their eyes in surprise. However, the self-righteous Queen was not a person who cared about the surprise of others.
“Hurry up and get moving! Do you think wedding preparations are something that can be done overnight?”
“The wedding dress the Grand Madam wore? That can’t be.”
“Have you forgotten how I told you to answer when I give you something? I told you to just say yes.”
“Madam.……”
“Just wear it. It takes months to have a wedding dress made from scratch. Do you think I would wear that dress again at my age? And surely you aren’t thinking of wearing just any dress to the Richmond wedding, are you?”
At that point, the maids quickly helped Grace up.
“I was actually wanting to see that enchanting dress again, and now this is such a wonderful thing!”
Please get up. We don't have enough time to repair it precisely.
Grace expressed her gratitude to Eliza once again.
"thank you."
Go ahead and start.
As Grace was led out of the room by the maids, Eliza rolled her eyes toward Ares, who had been sitting there like a borrowed sack. At the strange gaze, Ares instinctively tensed his stomach.
“…….”
“…….”
“…Why are you doing this?”
“…Hmm.”
The young and cunning tiger responded to the old tiger's knowing gaze with a brazen look. However, the young tiger's brazenness crumbled miserably at the old tiger's muttering.
"Well, I guess... married couples don't necessarily have to share a room."
“Ah, what on earth are you thinking?!”
“When you approach sixty and gain experience in human affairs, you become able to see the invisible.”
"under!"
Ares let out a sharp sigh, but Eliza noticed that the back of his neck had turned red. As Eliza began to snicker at the sight of him, Ares chose to remain silent instead. He realized that no matter what he said now, he could not win against Eliza.
Eliza, who had been laughing for a long time, took a sip of tea to wipe the laughter away. The moment the look in her eyes changed as she gazed at Ares, the relationship between the two transformed from that of grandmother and grandson into that of emperor and subject.
"The First Emperor said that there is a way for everything."
“…….”
“As long as the one walking the path does not believe there is no path, there is a path everywhere and at every moment. I recently remembered a saying that I had forgotten for a very long time.”
Eliza spoke to Ares with a serious expression.
“Use Richmond’s power and name to your heart’s content. As I told you, everything I have will be used for Your Highness.”
Ares took a slow breath, straightened his posture, and answered politely.
Thank you.
As if Eliza's faint smile had drifted back to Grace, she brought up a topic unrelated to the flow.
“The late Duchess of Taylor became very frail after giving birth to her first daughter. Perhaps that is why the late Duke of Taylor seems to have raised his daughter as the heir. If he had raised her merely as a pretty daughter, Grace would not have grown up to be the way she is today.”
“…….”
“Taylor. Father said that beneath the lithe exteriors of that family, there is a heart of steel hidden. I wondered what that meant… but I like it.”
A steel-like resolve hidden beneath a lithe appearance.
Ares felt that those words described Grace well. For hidden within those verdant eyes was clearly an unyielding resolve that no one could break.
Just then, Eliza, who had arbitrarily reverted to her grandmother's appearance, leaned back on the sofa and spoke leisurely.
"Well, anyway. I couldn't tell Grace, but there is something I really want to convey to the Duke."
“Why are you telling me the words you couldn’t tell Grace? Please do not tell her.”
Ares, convinced that it was by no means pleasant to hear, refused without hesitation, but Eliza was not one to remain silent.
“Congratulations on your marriage.”
“…….”
“Even thinking about it now, I think I was pretty quick-witted yesterday. It was very timely.”
Even though Ares had risen from his seat without a second thought, Eliza's eyes were not filled with anger. Instead, she simply burst into hearty laughter as he walked away with a steady gait.
“Hahaha, even the Duke is shy! I’ve lived long enough to see this! Hahaha!”
“Ha! Say as you please!”
Ares responded fiercely, but he did not confront Eliza any further. It was obvious that fighting back would only result in a devastating defeat.
“Hahahaha!”
Ares, who had been shuddering at Eliza's laughter as she patted his back hard, suddenly turned around, and Eliza stared at him with a smile in her eyes.
What will you do about Ivanka Tyrien?
At that, an aura colder than the north wind settled in Eliza's dark eyes, which had held a light smile. The old tiger wore a cruel smile.
This old hag will take care of that, so you do not worry, Duke, and go handle your busy business.
As the smile gradually faded from Eliza's face, the thick murderous intent lurking deep beneath was revealed.
“How dare you bring such filthy things into my house? I will unleash slaughter.”