81 - 85

< — Realization — > (2)

TN: LMFAO, I didn't realize I left the dancing bunny up. OMG. . Short one. I'll try to get the next one out asap~

Katherine wanted to tease the Duchess who had an innocent look on her face.

"He's just caring? Even in bed?"

"Huh?"

Katherine swallowed her laughter as she watched Lucia's face flush red in surprise. It was a fresh reaction that she hadn't seen in a long time. Katherine was single but she was a woman that enjoyed the night. Even if she didn't play around promiscuously, she had a few experiences and didn't blink an eye at mild dirty talk.

"You didn't hear this sort of thing at tea parties, did you? There are only stiff noblewomen there."

Lucia nodded her head. Even though she went to a lot of balls in her dream, she didn't hear such talk. There was no one she was close enough to have such an explicit conversation with and she usually attended the parties before midnight.

A ball that occurred from late night until dawn was a liberated zone of desire. In particular, a truly wild party began from midnight. Past midnight, the conversation of women who were moderately drunk on alcohol and drunk on the mood were highly inappropriate.

After getting married, Katherine, who was the Countess of Alvin, played her role as a gentle Countess. In the mansion, she held the tea parties she hated so much and did not go out to midnight balls. Even though Lucia attended numerous balls in her dream as a Countess and as a maid, she had never experienced a midnight ball.

"Although, if you don't stay in a ball till dawn, you won't hear such talk. Still, just in case of another time. If you hear such talk, just pass it over with a smile. Like it's nothing. Don't blush or look embarrassed." (Katherine)

"Okay."

"This is advice for the sake of your husband. If a married noblewoman is bashful, people won't take it as virtuous. They'll just gossip away as they like. That's how rumors are made."

"…What rumors?"

"His Grace the Duke isn't able to get it up at night."

"What? No!"

"No?" Katherine smiled in response.

Lucia's face screamed red. She remembered the night before and her face heated up. He was never a gentleman. Especially in bed, he was both tender and merciless. The more she thought about it, the redder her face got. Katherine laugh cheerfully as she watched Lucia who was unable lift her head.

"This won't do. Do you want me to teach you a few things?"

"…What things?"

"It's all helpful knowledge if you listen."

Katherine's knowledge was at an expert level compared to her experience in the nightlife pleasure between a man and a woman. Katherine was not thoughtless enough to have such conversation with just anyone. It was just that she felt intimate affection towards Lucia.

They were both in important positions so they could not be absent and chattering for long. After some time, they left the break room and Lucia's expression was flushed. She had really learned a lot in a short time today.

As they were heading back to the party hall together, Katherine discovered someone and her eyes grew sullen.

The woman stopped walking, waiting for the Princess to pass and when Katherine approached her, she bowed her head.

"It's been long time since I saw you, Countess." (Katherine)

"…Yes. Greetings to the Princess." (Countess)

"Is it that you don't know who is by my side?" (Katherine)

Her words were sharper than necessary. Sensing this, Lucia secretly glanced at Katherine's expression.

"…Greetings to the Duchess. I am Anita Falcon."

Lucia didn't know she would end up greeting the woman this way. She hid her deep discomfort and accepted the greeting.

"What brought you out? Did you need a man to warm the bed?"

Lucia felt Katherine's words were too much. She saw Anita's lips trembling as she bowed her head.

"Are my words unpleasant?" (Katherine)

"…No. Princess. As a subject, I just wanted to congratulate His Majesty, the King on becoming the Lord of our country…"

"Enough. That's obvious. Go."

With her head bowed deeply, Anita quickly walked away.

Lucia was unfamiliar with Katherine's hostility. It was her first time seeing Katherine explicitly dislike someone. In her dream, Katherine confronted the Duchess of Taran but she did not insult her to her face.

"I don't think there's much chance of this happening but that woman. The Countess of Falcon. Her third husband, the Count, is dead so she's an unmarried Countess. Don't get close to her. There's no need to even say a word to her."

"May I ask why?"

"She is a vulgar woman. Just know that there is nothing to gain from associating with her."

Katherine didn't think it was bad for a man and a woman to enjoy themselves freely. Even if the person concerned was a married man, she wasn't one to point fingers at what others were doing. However, for a noblewoman to throw herself at another to get something was unacceptable to Katherine's standards. It was the act of a cheap prostitute. The Countess of Falcon was a woman who did such a thing.

It was after Katherine's 18-year-old birthday that her older brother began to allow her to enjoy late night parties. The woman who was acting as queen bee before Katherine began to earnestly rampage through ballrooms was the Countess of Falcon. Katherine was also unhappy with this fact. She would rather have crushed the woman in a head-on collision but the Countess suddenly fell off the surface one day and did not show up in the social circle after that.

The biggest reason why Katherine was antagonistic towards Anita was because of her scandal with the Duke of Taran. She thought that the woman waved her cheap body around and seduced the Duke of Taran. But she couldn't tell that fact to the Duchess so she vaguely glossed over it.

'Don't tell me the Duke of Taran is still meeting with her?'

If so. Katherine couldn't do anything to the Duke of Taran with her own abilities but she was prepared to embarrass the Countess of Falcon so much that she couldn't show her face anywhere again.

< — Realization — > (3)

When Katherine and Lucia returned to the party hall, the Queen made her entrance. Beth was more than a little surprised to see the two sisters coming to greet her together. It was an odd combination. Inwardly, she was worried that the two of them might have had quite the rough start when they met. The Duchess' character didn't worry her, Katherine was the problem.

"Duchess. Princess Katherine is used to speaking comfortably. Please understand."

Beth tried to excuse Katherine's mistakes; she didn't have to see it for herself, it was obvious. Katherine's counterattack came right away.

"Your Highness the Queen is lacking in energy these days. Yesterday must have been hard, I see wrinkles under your eyes."

"Ho…ho-ho. Of course. I'm older now."

Lucia suppressed a smile as she looked at Beth who was forcefully smiling with a protruding vein on her forehead.

The atmosphere of the party ripened in earnest. The musicians took their place and began to perform pavane, minuet and passepied in rotation. Every time the music changed, the men and women formed pairs and went to the vacated center of the dance hall to dance. One after another, the noblewomen who were gathered around Lucia and the Queen, stepped away after receiving a dance request. Katherine also stepped away after receiving the request of some young man.

"Would you please give me the honor of having a dance with a beautiful lady?"

Lucia looked at the hand held out to her then she looked up. It was a man she had never seen before. He looked like he was in his middle twenties. With black hair and a gentle smile, he was an attractive man that gave a moderately favorable impression.

In a ballroom, accepting a dance request and dancing was nothing more than having a simple conversation, there was no need to reveal one's specific status. The noblewomen at her side began encouraging her when they saw that she was still just looking.

"Go ahead. Duchess should have a dance on a day like this."

"Oh yes. The Duchess' elegant dancing will make the ball more interesting."

"He's Count Yungran, very popular with the single women."

Whether he was popular or not didn't matter to Lucia. She was only just attending but she didn't think it would be very good to be too passive in the party. Lucia took the unfamiliar man's hand and stepped out onto the dance hall. A minuet was played. Lucia placed her arms on the man's shoulders and began to move slowly to the music.

"You, my lady, are shining like the brightest and most elegant flower today. You are really beautiful."

"…You flatter me."

The man's stereotypical compliment didn't sound very interesting to Lucia. The man's hand on her waist kept bothering her and the smell of his perfume was unfamiliar. She kept comparing him to her husband. And her husband seemed to have a bigger lead.

'It looks like I stepped out for nothing.'

Lucia was already regretting it before the music verse ended. It was too boring. Moreover, her shoe was chafing and hurting her heel. Because she moved more often as she danced, she seemed to have bruised herself. Every time she took a step, it throbbed with pain so Lucia gradually voided her face of expression.

The atmosphere of the ball was ripe. When the King and other important figures arrived, people stirred. They bowed deeply to the King as he passed, showing their respect. The King walked through the path made by the crowd and approached the Queen. The Queen payed her respects to the King and greeted the retainers of the King.

Hugo quickly looked for his wife but no matter where he looked, he couldn't see his wife near the Queen.

"Where is my wife?"

At his side, Kwiz squeezed out a wry smile. The sight reminded him of his son when he was looking for his mother. Beth smiled softly and turned her head towards the center of the hall.

"Oh no, Gong. Your wife has been stolen." (Kwiz)

Kwiz cheerfully explained the situation.

"…I see."

'I'm definitely firing that woman.'

Hugo had never changed his mind so often in a short period of time when hiring someone. He firmly made up his mind as soon as he saw his wife's dress. As of today, the designer was fired. To think she'd make his wife wear such a piece of cloth. It was unacceptable.

Compared to other noblewomen, Lucia's exposure was definitely not too much. However, even if another women were to dance naked, it was different for Hugo. His eyes only saw her exposed chest and the fair skin on her back. The sparkling necklace was almost covering her neck, hindering the exposure as much as possible, but it was not enough for his standards. Rather, the bright skin beneath the necklace seemed more conspicuous.

His wife was beautiful. She looked noble and grand. But at the same time, she made him aroused. Hugo reach a judgement according to his very selfish principles. This was a definite no-no.

If it wasn't for the bum with a hand on his wife's waist and spinning her in a circle, his mood wouldn't be so terrible. Hugo quietly stared at one pair ―to be exact, the man― out of the several pairs that were dancing in the center of the hall. The first minuet was stolen from him. To an act that nobody gave meaning to, Hugo gave significance and burned with anger and shock.

Kwiz's expression was strange as he watched Hugo whose gaze was transfixed at the center of the hall. The Duke's expression was cold as always as he stared at his wife. Kwiz thought that the Duke of Taran may be someone whose emotional part of the brain was missing. The man was stingy with emotions and his expression was always indifferent and cold. However, recently, the Duke's mask weakened when the Duchess was involved. His expression was outwardly calm but something was obviously roaring from within.

'This is completely serious. What the hell happened in the north this past year?'

Kwiz carefully scrutinized the Duchess in the blue dress. No matter how he looked at her, he couldn't find any clue. She wasn't ugly but he didn't feel the charm of a temptress from her. Her slender figure may stimulate the protective instincts of young men new to the fairer sex, but for men who knew a fair amount of women, they were more attracted to voluptuous and captivating women. This was exactly the kind of women that the Duke of Taran had dated in the past.

"What are you thinking about so seriously?" (Kwiz)

"I am debating whether to kill that bastard." (Hugo)

The atmosphere in the vicinity instantly went cold. The Duke's grandeur when he handled the 'Mad Dog' Krotin yesterday was still firmly impressed in people's minds. Within those casual words of his, people felt the threat of death. Their expressions turned ghastly pale.

'Taran Gong is going crazy.'

Kwiz was nervous. His reign was just beginning and it was already facing a crisis.

"…Gong. Calm down. Do you mean to see blood on this King's crowning celebration?"

When Kwiz spoke seriously, Hugo turned to look at Kwiz slightly then he returned his gaze to the dance hall. The damn minuet was taking too long. His patience was gradually wearing out as he waited for the dance to come to an end.

"I'm joking." (Hugo)

"…I'd rather you don't joke like that."

It was so scary that he got goosebumps.

"The highlight of the ball is the dance. Why are young people so conservative?" (Kwiz)

"I know right? It would seem I am conservative. Perhaps I should throw down the gauntlet once." (1)

Hugo had never challenged someone to a duel for such a ridiculous reason. He thought it was a very useless endeavor but he was tempted to try it.

"…"

That was no different from saying he would kill the man. Kwiz cleared his throat a few times to clear up the dreary atmosphere. Just in time, the minuet came to an end. He couldn't be more thankful. Looking at the Duke of Taran quickly heading towards the Duchess, Kwiz put on a sour face.

A world that moved according to plan was quite boring. Variety to some extent was the vibrancy of life. It was only just yesterday that Kwiz found the Duke's change to be interesting. However, as time went by, he felt that this wasn't good. It was too big of a variable. It wasn't predictable at all.

'It isn't good if he's too carried away by personal feelings…'

While worrying, Kwiz's eyebrows were raised as he looked over the crowd.

'Who is that bastard?'

His sister, Katherine, did not even come to greet her brother when he arrived yet she was chatting with some shameless bastard at the corner. Kwiz called a servant immediately.

Translator's corner:

1. Remember: throw down the gauntlet means issuing a challenge.

After the music ended, Lucia and the man she was dancing with bowed to each other. Lucia was hypersensitive about her smarting heel so whatever the man was saying was flowing out through one ear.

'I have to ask the maid to bring me another pair of shoes.'

In the case of an emergency, items such as gloves that dirtied easily and heeled shoes that could break were kept in the carriage for basically, emergency use. When her feet hurt a little earlier, she should have gone to change it.

Lucia's eyes widened when she saw the man(a different one) who was quickly approaching her.

"When did you arrive?" (Lucia)

Her dance partner, Count Yungran, was frightened out of his wits when he saw the Duke of Taran heading towards him with a vicious look and he immediately fled.

To Lucia, her dance partner, who was just here a minute ago, suddenly disappeared. She was happy to see her husband again after a few hours. Happy enough that she would have hugged him if people weren't around.

"Just now. Did you get hurt?" (Hugo)

"Huh?" (Lucia)

"You aren't walking properly."

Lucia wondered how he knew.

"My shoe is a little…I don't think it fits me right. I have to change out of it."

"Can you walk?"

"Of course. It's not that bad."

She took his outstretched hand and as soon as she took a confident step forward, her foot wavered from the throbbing pain and he helped her to stay firm. If she was alone, she would have likely walked as if there was nothing wrong. But because there was someone to lean on her beside her, her heart grew weak. Lucia felt like she was making too much of a fuss so she looked at him with an embarrassed smile.

"It's just smarting a little. I'm fine."

Hugo looked at her quietly then he embraced her. Lucia felt several gazes gather on her.

"I…I said I'm fine."

When he began to walk as if he didn't hear her, Lucia couldn't face the crowd at all so she buried her head in his chest.

With her in his embrace, Hugo took her to the King and asked to be excused, "My wife is hurt. I'll be away for a while."

"…Go ahead." (Kwiz)

People's expressions varied as they watched the ducal couple leave the party venue. It was either astonishment or envy.

Kwiz had a feeling that such unseemly acts would happen more and more often with the Duke of Taran. He wasn't that happy about unpredictable variables happening but;

'Still, these days, the Duke seems a little human.'

Kwiz chuckled.

* * *

Hugo came out of the bustling party venue with Lucia in his arms.

"This way, please."

A handmaid guided the two. Following the handmaid, they arrived at the princess' break room where Lucia and Katherine were at earlier. Lucia realized that the person who sent the handmaid was Katherine causing her to remember the embarrassing scene from earlier again and her face grew hot.

As soon as they entered the break room, Hugo sat her down on the biggest sofa in the middle of the room and squatted at her feet. Before Lucia could say don't do that, he had already taken her right foot, peeled off the shoe and was looking at her heel. There was blood showing on her peeled skin.

Tsk, he clicked his tongue and lifted his hand in a gesture calling the handmaid then he gave a brief order.

"Medicine."

The handmaid gave a quick bow and promptly disappeared.

"Why is the shoe like this?"

Hugo got another justification to terminate the contract with Antoine. In his mind, the contract he signed with Antoine was already ripped to pieces.

"It happens sometimes. You can't tell if a shoe fits you well until you walk to some extent."

"Isn't that why an expensive designer is hired to get rid of such things?"

Noticing his intent to criticize Antoine, Lucia held her tongue. Just as she expected, it was clear that he didn't like the dress. No matter how one looked at it, he was being nitpicky. Lucia felt weird when he overreacted to her exposure. She had never thought he was a conservative man. All his women that she saw in her dream wore clothes that revealed their chest as if they were trying to attract attention to it. Compared to them, Lucia's dress was very virtuous.

When the handmaid came in with medicine and bandages, followed by her maid, Lucia couldn't afford to keep thinking quietly. She ordered her maid to go to the carriage and bring her spare shoes.

"Will you be okay? Do you want to go back?"

Hugo carefully applied medicine to her wound then he asked her when he was putting the bandage on her foot.

"It's not to the extent where I can't walk. Plus you just arrived. I haven't even greeted His Majesty."

What's new about greeting the king? They did it every time they saw him. Hugo just wanted to take her home. But it wasn't a problem that could be solved in such a way. In the future, there would be many events where she had to appear in front of people and he could not accompany her for all of it. He felt anxious like he was being chased. He wanted to lock her up in the top of a high tower where no one could see her. It didn't matter if she didn't know what was going on in the world. He wanted to be the only one to see her clear smile.

"Is everything done? Get up, quickly." (Lucia)

Seeing the closed door, she was restless and worried that someone would come in. Hugo was unhappy that she kept being conscious of other people. Was it because she didn't want to show their intimacy? He was secretly feeling bad so he wanted to tease her a little. He took her bandaged foot and lifted it up.

When her center of gravity suddenly moved backwards, Lucia supported her body so she wouldn't fall on her back. She was startled out of her wits and looked at him with wide eyes.

Hugo looked into her eyes and kissed the top of her foot. She looked cute with her eyes and mouth wide open with astonishment. Her face was completely red.

"Hugh!"

He didn't seem to care, rather he laughed mischievously and raised the train of her dress to her lap then he kissed her calf and bit it.

"Ah!"

Lucia screamed in frustration.

"Who is he?"

"Who?"

"The man earlier. Minuet."

"What? Ah…I don't really know. They said he was Count Yungran or something."

"You're saying you danced with a man you don't know?"

"People dancing with people they don't know happens a lot. It's not like you don't know that."

Lucia struggled to remove her foot from his grasp.

"Refuse them in the future."

"Alright. I got it so let me go."

He let go of her ankle but she only got a moment of relief before he sat right next to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Then he brought his lips to her ear and whispered to her.

"Is your foot really okay? Should I carry you?"

"You seriously–. I told you to look at the time and place!"

Even if she replied with, 'Will you?' as a joke, if it was this man in front of her, he would really do it. Lucia was alarmed and pushed away from his chest. The more she pushed, the firmer he held her waist. His flirting increasingly disregarded time and place. It had been a long time since it deviated from the bedroom.

Hugo hugged her tighter as she kept twisting to try and escape then he grabbed her chin and kissed her lips. He looked into her eyes that were filled with surprise and smiled. He promptly invaded her small mouth with his tongue and swept through to the deep ends of her mouth. When he removed his lips, she was blushing to her neck and looking at him in a daze. She looked so cute that he descended for her tender lips again, sucking her upper and lower lip interchangeably.

Lucia was caught in his grasp and had given up halfway but when she found the door moving, she was startled and pushed him as hard as she could.

"Someone is here." (Lucia)

Hugo was annoyed and stared at the slightly open door.

"What is it?"

When Hugo raised his voice, the door opened cautiously and a servant hesitantly entered. The servant had asked for permission from outside several times but because there was no answer, he opened the door, poked his head inside and jumped back in surprise. If he was a servant of the Duke, he would have given up when there was no answer and gone away.

"His Majesty was concerned about the Duchess and sent an Imperial doctor." (1)

What a useless interruption. Hugo was annoyed at King's excessive thoughtfulness.

"It's fine. There is no need for an Imperial doctor. Tell His Majesty that I will be there soon." (Hugo)

The servant affirmed and withdrew while Lucia's maid came in with a pair of shoes. Hugo watched Lucia change her shoes with an objecting expression. He really wanted to go home. Was there any trick he could use to get out of here quickly? He thought really hard about it.

"Milady. Some elderly nobleman entrusted me with an item to give Milady."

The maid carefully watched Hugo's expression as she informed her Madam. Hugo knit his brows.

"Are you saying you're delivering something with an unknown identity? Do you do things like normally?" (Hugo)

The maid who was being criticized hunched her shoulders. She did consider that she might get scolded. However, the eyes of the elderly nobleman hanging onto a mere maid was so earnest that she couldn't disregard it.

"She isn't a careless child, I want to hear what happened." (Lucia)

Hugo asked the maid to bring the item she had to the table. The item that the maid took out from her inner pocket was a handkerchief. Hugo's expression was getting worse as he looked at the suspicious object which was a man's handkerchief.

"I was told to ask if Milady knew this by any chance."

The maid spread out the handkerchief and showed one side of it. Hugo picked up the handkerchief to check it. The seal of a noble family was stamped on the handkerchief. The head of an eagle.

Hugo couldn't remember any family with such seal. He made sure there was nothing suspicious with the handkerchief then he handed it to Lucia.

Seeing the seal, Lucia's eyes shook tremendously.

"This…a nobleman asked you to deliver it? Did he say anything else?"

"He said he is the Count of Baden." (2)

< — Realization — > (4)

TN: One more chapter till book 6! Also, I'm sorry, I dozed off.

Gio Baden, head of the Count Baden family, and nobleman of the southern frontier, devoted his entire life to restoring his collapsing family. The household was not in that much difficulty during the childhood of the Count. Because it was family with deep history, they maintained their local influence and lived exercising small influence over their region.

His late father overdid himself trying to do business and it went wrong, causing their financial status to decline greatly. His late father was tormented with self-reproach at destroying the foundation of the family; his heart grew weak and passed away leaving the responsibility of settlement to his son. The inheritance taken over by the Count of Baden was a title, an old mansion that existed for generations and a tremendous amount of debt.

It took a lot of money to retain the title. He had to pay a considerable amount of tax to the king every year. The debt increased without him doing anything. But when he thought of his father who passed away with regrets, he couldn't give up the title at all.

The Count busied himself in trying to save his family. Because he was running around here and there, he had no time to take care of his family. He reduced the debt and went out only for the revival of the family. His wife quietly supported her husband, and raised their two sons and one daughter by herself.

One day, his wife suddenly collapsed. The Count was not even at his sick wife's side and could not protect her properly. He thought she would recover soon but his wife left the world sometime after. The absence of his wife who had always been there was too big. His two sons understood their father within reason but his young daughter resented her father for the loss of her mother.

The thing that made him get back to his feet after he was drowned in the sorrow of losing his wife was ironically, his family's debt. He believed that it would be beneficial to his children in the future if the family was brought to prosperity. The Count had no time to comfort his wounded daughter's heart. He believe that his eldest son would take good care of his siblings, in the place of their mother.

When he was away on an important business and couldn't come back home for a while, his youngest daughter ran away. His sons didn't want their father to worry so they didn't tell him. When he asked where the immature child was, they told him she was sleeping at a friend's house for a few days so he didn't look for her and left it alone for a few days. When her brothers couldn't find her after combing through every place they could think of, they finally realized that this was a serious matter. The Count only came to know that his youngest daughter was missing, a month after she had disappeared.

Alone with his son, the Count searched for his daughter for nearly over a year, but he couldn't find a trace of her anywhere. To make things worse, the high-end business he invested in went bankrupt. The family that had risen a little bit, fell back to the ground. As things stood, he wanted to just embrace his sons and pass away but eventually he gave up looking for his daughter.

Over the next 20 odd years.

The Count of Baden lived life diligently. He could confidently tell anyone who asked that he had worked hard. But the heavens did not reward according to the effort put in. Everything he did kept running off course. When he thought things were improving, they would go back to how they were.

During the height of the war, the south enjoyed the peculiarity of war because it was not that far from the battlefield. Everyone was earning money but Count Baden was in the minority that couldn't.

His debt increased. The mansion passed down in the family for generations was about to collapse. The Count, who had never asked anyone for a favor even though he had been living a hard life, made a big decision. He decided to ask his friend in the capital for help.

The Count had lived in the capital for some time when he was a child. There was a friend he had been in contact with since back then. It was the only cord he could lean on.

Because he couldn't afford to take the expensive gate to the capital, the Count of Baden gathered his old bones and arrived at the capital after several months of traveling. When he arrived, the capital was in great excitement over the coronation of the new King. When he found his friend, he was received with great delight and given a room to stay. He hadn't been able to ask his friend for help yet.

His friend was the son of a Count with decent influence. Even if he didn't inherit the title, he was able to receive an invitation to the celebration party in the Inner Palace. Thanks to his friend, the Count of Baden was able to enter the palace for the first time.

At the celebration party, the Count was able to see high-ranking figures that he had only heard of before. He even saw the face of the King. While enjoying a luxurious party for the first time in his life, the Count poked his nose here and there and heard people talking about ducal couple of Taran. The Count was curious because the Duke of Taran was a famous person that he knew about as well.

The Count squeezed into the crowd that gathered at the news that the ducal couple of Taran had arrived. And as soon as Count saw the Duchess, his heart stopped.

There was a noblewoman there, resembling both his pitiful wife who was buried deep in his heart, and his lost youngest daughter, as if he was looking at the two of them together.

How could someone look so similar? The Count kept stealing glances at the Duchess then he asked his friend and was informed about her.

[I heard she was a princess. I think she's been married to the Duke of Taran for a little over a year? It wasn't too long ago. She's famous in the social circle. Whether it's my wife or my daughter, once they open their mouth, they're talking about things like that, it's very annoying.]

A princess of all things. The Count's expecting heart died down with a thump. It was a status that had no relationship with his daughter at all. His heart hurt and perhaps because he was remembering his daughter after a long time, that night, he saw his daughter in a dream. She looked like a young lady, just like he remembered her.

But when he woke up, he couldn't tell whether he had seen his daughter in the dream or had seen the Duchess from earlier in the day. The memory of his daughter that was vivid enough that he could draw a picture of her, was mixed up in his head. The Duchess resembled his daughter to that extent.

[Can you get an invitation to the ball today too?]

The Count asked his friend. His friend happily agreed stating it wasn't a difficult matter.

Seeing the Duchess again today, the Count felt his heart stop, again. She looked more like his daughter today than she did yesterday. A stranger wouldn't resemble his daughter so much. He passed by a few times, secretly looking at the Duchess who was talking to other noblewomen.

She was the exact image of his daughter when she smiled. The color of her eyes that couldn't be seen from afar were clear amber. Girls in the Baden family with amber eyes were said to be symbols of good fortune so they received a lot of love. The Count fell for the color of his wife's eyes, and was delighted at the birth of his daughter who resembled his wife and had an eye color of good-luck.

The Duchess who had the same amber eyes as his wife and his daughter. The Count felt overwhelmed and his heart hurt like it was being pierced.

Could it be? It can't possibly be. Maybe? There's no way. The Count was agonizing and indecisive. Even if he wanted to approach her and talk to her, there was no chance. There were people densely gathered around her and it was not an atmosphere where an unfamiliar old man could approach her. He saw the Duchess dancing in the hall and the heart was moved. It overlapped with the scene of his daughter dancing at her first ball.

Later, the Duke entered, hugged the Duchess and left the party venue. The Count followed from a distance. As the Ducal couple moved to an increasingly secluded area, he couldn't follow any longer. He snooped around inside the hallway where the ducal couple disappeared and paced around for a while. Then he discovered a familiar maid coming out and his eyes opened wide. He saw the Duchess talking to the maid several times, both today and yesterday.

He took his seal from his breast pocket and stamped it on his handkerchief then he squeezed it in into the hand of the maid, making a request. If the Duchess had anything to do with his daughter, she might know of the Baden family. It was a tiny sliver of hope.

The maid looked troubled but thankfully took the handkerchief. After a while, the maid came back carrying a bag and bowed to the Count who was still standing there then she went inside the room. The Count was anxious and could not turn away from the direction the maid had gone.

< — Realization — > (4)

Lucia looked at the handkerchief and her mind went back to her memories in the dream. According to her uncle whom she met a few years from now, her grandfather died when Lucia was around 21 years old. So, the low-ranking nobleman who introduced himself as the Count of Baden was definitely her grandfather.

[My father was devastated. The mansion that he thought to be his last fortress until the end, went into other people's hands. He even went to the capital to get help but it didn't work out. In addition, he was old and his body was weakened by the long journey.] (Lucia's uncle)

Her uncle, who succeeded her late grandfather and inherited his title, was her grandfather's second son. In other words, he was Lucia's mother's second older brother.

The eldest son who should have originally inherited the title, was injured in a carriage accident a little while after his father passed away. He ended up unable to use his legs because he could not get proper treatment. Her uncle said that his elder brother was pessimistic of his own situation and spent his days drowning in alcohol, then took his own life.

At the time, Lucia thought that she was an orphan with no family so she was glad to have a relative. There was a feeling of warmth in her empty, lonely heart. She felt bad about the difficult situation of her maternal family so unknown to her husband, she provided money for her uncle who was asking for help. When he asked her to introduce him to Count Matin, she provided a bridge in the middle.

[I want to protect my family in any way I can. I can't lose the title.]

Her uncle said that there was nothing he wouldn't do to protect his family. From the perspective of her uncle who bore the responsibility of a Count family with nothing but its name, the Count of Matin must have seemed like a high-ranking nobleman with enormous power.

Her uncle settled in the capital and went to meet Count Matin on a daily basis. He didn't give Lucia a lot of details but even without knowing what he was doing, Lucia could see vigor gradually return to her uncle's face.

However for Lucia, life as the Countess of Matin was becoming too much to bear. So she asked her uncle to help her get a divorce.

[I'm sorry. I have no power to help you. I need your husband's help. Can't you endure?]

The rejection of her uncle came as a great shock to her. It had been Lucia's one-sided delusion, believing that he was the only hill that she could rely on. Her uncle did not see Lucia as his niece, he saw her as the Countess of Matin.

Lucia knew, realistically, that her uncle was not capable of helping her. Even if she understood it in her head, she felt a sense of betrayal. Who knew how much she had suffered because she gave money to her uncle several times without her husband's knowledge. When she thought that she was the only one who was worried about her maternal family, she felt stupid and resentful of her uncle.

When her uncle began to talk about money again after refusing to help with her divorce, Lucia gave him money for the last time and broke off their relationship. Even though her uncle visited the mansion frequently, Lucia did not meet her uncle again after that.

The Count Matin family was exterminated for treason and Lucia learned later on that her uncle was also caught up in it. The Count Baden family was on the list of traitors.

When Lucia found out about this, she sat down and soullessly looked at the sky. She resented her uncle but she didn't want him to die. She saw firsthand how much her uncle had tried to save his family. When she remembered the figure of her uncle groveling as if to lick the feet of Count Matin, tears fell from her eyes.

She wondered if her uncle who had died in the disgraceful plot of treason was able to close his eyes in death. If they had lived without knowing each other, such a tragedy wouldn't have occurred. In her dream, Lucia hit her chest with remorse. So, in reality, she vowed to never make a tie with her maternal family.

"Vivian." (Hugo)

Lucia flinched and lifted her head. She had fallen too deep into thought.

"Who is it?" (Hugo)

"…I don't know who it is." (Lucia)

A strong hand caught her chin when she tried to avoid his gaze. His red eyes were unusually bright causing Lucia to take a sharp breath.

"Do you know what your expression looks like? I've said this before. You are a poor liar."

Her expression as she looked at the handkerchief kept changing in various ways. Hugo sent the maid out and waited for her to get herself together. However, he couldn't keep watching when she looked like she was about to cry. Hugo looked at her trembling eyes and continued speaking.

"Tell me. Who is it?"

"…"

She stubbornly shut her mouth. Feeling the solid wall she had built around herself, Hugo's insides were boiling.

"You don't know who it is?" (Hugo)

"…"

"He has nothing to do with you?"

"…"

No matter how hard he pressed, Lucia couldn't give any answer. She was confused at the sudden appearance of her grandfather. She wasn't in a state of mind to explain this and that to him nicely.

When she found out about her grandfather in her dream, he had already passed away so she never thought that she would actually meet her grandfather. To her, her grandfather felt like someone who died and come back to life.

"He'll have to pay for his crimes then. He dares to send such a dangerous thing to the Duchess."

"A dangerous…thing?"

"He has nothing to do with you. You don't have to worry about it, right?"

His crimson eyes shone brutally. His icy manner of speaking was scary and Lucia was terribly frightened. It was as if he would change someday and have a cold and cruel expression like he did now. Tears rushed to her eyes from deep despair.

When her amber eyes surged with tears, Hugo was caught off guard. His mind was disturbed and his agitation subsided in an instant.

"Vivian. I was wrong."

Hugo hugged her. She burst into tears and twisted her body, pushing him away as if rejecting him but he hugged her tighter.

"I'm sorry."

Hugo repeated he was sorry many times in her ear. After sometime, Lucia's crying subsided. Hugo lightly patted her back as she calmed down.

"…Don't talk like that. It's scary." (Lucia)

"I won't." (Hugo)

He didn't intend to scare her. He only felt remorseful towards her. Hugo was depressed to hear her say that it was scary. Hugo sighed a moment later and spoke.

"If you don't want to say it, you don't have to. I won't ask."

Hugo felt his cowardice was pathetic. How petty of him. He couldn't tell her his deepest secrets yet he couldn't tolerate her secrets.

"It's not that I don't want to say it. I just…don't know how to say it…" (Lucia)

Hugo waited patiently when she went silent for a while.

"That person is likely…he's likely my maternal grandfather." (Lucia)

"Didn't you say you didn't have a maternal family?" (Hugo)

"I tried to think I didn't have one. My late mother wanted it that way."

Lucia's mother didn't tell of her maternal family's existence until the moment she died. Lucia only found out after meeting her uncle in the dream. Why did her mother do that? It was something Lucia always wondered about.

< — Realization — > (5)

When Lucia was very young, she used to constantly ask her mother why she didn't have a father. And when she saw her mother crying, she would say sorry, hug her mother and cry along with her. When she apologized and said she was wrong, her mother said:

[I am crying because I want to see my father too. My child, I'm not crying because you made me sad.]

It was likely that her mother felt guilty for leaving her house in her immature days and giving birth to an illegitimate child so she couldn't bear to contact her family. And because she knew the difficult circumstances of her home, she decided it would be better to send Lucia to the royal family.

Most of all, the real reason why her mother didn't contact her family till the end was because she didn't want her family to know of the tragedy of their youngest daughter who gave birth to a child, raised her child alone and then died; that was how Lucia understood her mother.

"You don't want to meet him?" (Hugo)

"I was going to, but now I don't know. How did he find out about me?" (Lucia)

"If he is your grandfather, then he knows your mother. You must look a lot like your mother."

"No. My mother was much more beautiful than I am."

"No way. You're prettier."

Lucia lifted her head that was buried in his chest.

"How do you know? You've never seen my mother."

"I know without seeing."

Lucia smiled faintly at his unreasonableness then she buried her face back in his bosom.

"Take your time and think it over. I'll look into a way to get in touch with him. Whenever you make up your mind, tell me. If you don't want to meet him, I'll take steps to make sure he doesn't approach you again and if you want to meet with him, I will arrange a meeting." (Hugo)

"…Okay."

Lucia lifted her head to look at him. As she stared at him silently, he brought his eyes to meet hers.

A caring husband. She was so glad to have him by her side. The fact that were someone to lean on when she was having a hard time made her feel overwhelmed and her eyes felt sore. His red eyes were warm and her heart felt tingly. She was happy.

'I love you, Hugh. I love you.'

She wondered if his eyes would cool the moment those words left her mouth. She was too scared that one word would ruin everything. In the past, she was only afraid but as time passed, her fear worsened. (1)

'I can't live without him.'

She would dry up. Like a potted plant abandoned in a dark warehouse with dried up leaves and stems.

She wanted to confess to him several times a day. She wanted to know how he felt.

-He might love me too.

-That is not true.

Two conflicting opinions battled in her head.

But she could not gamble. She could not follow Norman's advice and scream it out loud. Because she knew that if that gamble failed, she would hit her chest in regret.

Lucia was startled when he suddenly frowned. She wondered if he had read her thoughts and her heart pounded fiercely.

"Vivian. Did I do something wrong again?"

When he wiped her eyes, Lucia realized that she was crying.

"…I thought of my mother. I think I'm feeling a little emotional."

Hugo felt uncomfortable as he watched Lucia wipe her tears. Looking at her crying made his stomach churn. He wondered if motion sickness felt like this; he had never experienced it in his life.

"Will you be able to go to the party?" (Hugo)

"I'm fine. Don't worry. I won't make a mistake." (Lucia)

"I'm not worried about you making a mistake. You don't have to struggle if it's difficult. You don't have to do it if you don't want to. I will take care of the rest."

"Don't indulge me so much. Do you want to make me a child that can't do anything without you?"

That's a really good idea. Hugo thought to himself.

"Please." (Lucia)

Lucia took a deep breath because she felt like she was suffocating. Her lips moved slightly then she swallowed, taking back the words that were about to leave her mouth. I love you. Those words almost came out.

Hugo who was looking at her felt like he had just missed something important.

"Vivian."

"Yes?"

The knocking on the door dispersed the ambiguous air of something that hovered around them. Seeing her eyes move towards the door with a start, Hugo was very annoyed.

"What is it!"

He raised his voice at the door. The servant that came before hesitantly entered and looked on warily. The servant's body shrunk under the Duke of Taran's fierce gaze.

"His Majesty asked this one to find out when the two of you will be coming out."

"Now!" Hugo suddenly snapped then he took a breath and spoke through clenched teeth.

"…Go and tell them that we are coming."

Lucia fixed her makeup that was ruined from crying then they left the break room. She carefully checked the corridor on the way back to the party venue but she didn't see anyone who looked like an elderly nobleman.

To the people around, Lucia was smiling with them but her mind was entirely elsewhere. Sometimes, she lost focus and spaced-out, and several times, he gently hugged her waist or placed his hand on her back to wake her up.

She felt sorry and looked at him with an embarrassed smile. He didn't criticize her. Rather he asked with a concerned expression, "Are you okay? Do you want to go back?" and Lucia firmly replied, "I'm okay."

Lucia went to rest in the break room for a while again and on her way back, she met eyes with a certain old man. The old man quickly turned away and disappeared among the crowd. For some reason, the strange old man felt familiar to her.

'That's him, isn't it?'

It was strange. She thought that her grandfather wouldn't have any special meaning to her, just like her father whom even when she heard he was dead, she felt nothing. But she felt stifled to pit of her stomach and her heart crashed against her chest. She felt choked up and her throat felt dry. Lucia took a deep breath and straightened her back. If not for her experience in the dream, she probably wouldn't be able to stop herself from crying.

Lucia smiled at the noblewoman approaching her. She had to portray her image as the Duchess. She pressed down her agitated and complex heart.

Translator's Corner:

I love you is [one word] in korean.

*Say it already!

(┛ಠ_ಠ)┛彡┻━┻

< — Realization — > (5)

His manhood broke through her tender flesh and pushed its way in. It filled her to the extent it took her breath away, then it roughly left her body. He repeatedly moved his waist back and forth; the sound of flesh slapping together echoing with every movement.

Today, he was a little rough. Lucia squeezed her eyes shut every time his penis penetrated her delicate insides. He interlocked their fingers together and kept pushing up their meshed lower abdomen.

With both of her legs wrapped around his waist, Lucia's body swung up and down. The heat from him was so hot that it felt like her skin that was touching his would burn. Her coquettish cries increasingly became screams.

[He's just caring? Even in bed?] (1)

The joke that Katherine made flashed in her mind for a moment. The him right now was definitely not tender. He was dominating her like a tyrant.

He mercilessly entered her and occupied deep inside of her. Her narrow vaginal walls acted fickle, tightening as if resisting him then clinging tightly to his exiting penis. His eyes narrowed briefly then he rammed in even stronger.

"Huu!"

As she reached her climax, her inner walls squeezed his thing tightly and tugged after it. Following his fierce moan, something hot gushed into her womb. Lucia's entire body went through a bout of spasms. As the tidal wave of pleasure subsided, Lucia felt weak all over her body and gasped for breath. But he didn't give her time to rest. He pulled out from her hot inner walls and grabbed her by the waist, turning her upside down. He lifted her hips and from the outside of her thighs, he thrust in deeply at once. Her sight flickered briefly.

"Hk!"

He dragged his lips along the line of her spine, kissing it desirously.

"Ah!"

His hard member came in strongly from behind. Lucia's hands squeezed the sheets. Her butt was held firmly in his hands and distorted in his palm. He pulled out and rammed in so hard that the sound of their flesh slapping together could be heard. Her body trembled intensely and her arms wobbled. A tingling sense of pleasure climbed up her spine. Her body was sensitive today. Her vagina tightened and squeezed him tightly as he ravaged her. His breathing became rougher and more excited.

* * *

Lucia lazily lost herself in the soothing afterplay.

'There's no need to think too hard about it.'

Her heart had grown more inclined after getting a glance of her grandfather earlier.

"I want to meet my grandfather." (Lucia)

"Alright."

He gave a simple reply and didn't ask any questions. And Lucia was thankful for that. He used his arm that was wrapped around her back and pulled her into a strong hug. She could feel him very closely and the moderately overwhelming sense of stability made all her anxiety fly away.

"And…I don't want to go to the party tomorrow." (Lucia)

Tomorrow was the last day of the crowning celebration ball. It was said to be a masked ball but Lucia didn't feel up to it. She went to the party for two consecutive days and she was tired. Meeting with unexpected people was stressful. She was more mentally tired than physically tired.

"Do whatever you want."

She expected him to allow her but his reply was faster and easier than she expected.

"Is that okay? It's the crowning celebration…"

"Apart from the first day of celebration, the ball is just a playground for nobles to enjoy. There is no need for everyone to go. In the future, whether you want to go to a party or not, you can do as you please."

"…I can stay at home and not go out at all?" (Lucia)

"You can." (Hugo)

In fact, that was his wish. He would be thankful if she did that. While thinking to himself, Hugo pushed his head under her jaw and kissed her there.

"If social activities are difficult, don't do it." (Hugo)

She didn't enjoy social activities. Hugo could guess from their stay in the North. She enjoyed a simple life that looked boring to others. And Hugo liked her introverted aspects. The thought of her going to all kinds of balls and laughing with other men was unpleasant.

"But if I do that…" (Lucia)

"I don't care about rumors. What do you want to do?" (Hugo)

"Tea parties are okay. It's not stressful because it's just light conversation. But balls have so many people…"

"But in exchange, tea parties have a lot more bickering than balls do."

"Who is going to bicker with me?"

"If someone happens to hurt you, tell me. Don't keep it to yourself."

"…You're saying if something happens, I should run to you and tell you?"

"I'll scold them for you."

Lucia burst into laughter. Hugo kissed her lips and began to kiss all over her face. She shook her head, laughing endlessly and saying it was ticklish but he ignored her refusal and continued to pour small kisses on her face.

"Well then, tomorrow I'll send Antoine back." (Lucia)

'Antoine. That problem has to be solved.'

Hugo hardened his heart. He had to send someone to the boutique tomorrow and tell the woman that she didn't have to come, not only tomorrow, but in the future as well. Throughout the party today, his nerves were alert with worry that men would leer at his wife. It was really tiring and uncomfortable.

"She said it's a red dress for tomorrow. Apparently, it's a passionate dress that matches the red diamond necklace you gave me. It makes me a little curious." (Lucia)

A passionate dress. Hugo was not curious at all. Without seeing it, he could guess how much the dress would increase his blood pressure.

"You said you're not going tomorrow." (Hugo)

Hugo was afraid her mind would change so he reconfirmed. And he lifted his body and towered over her.

Lucia forgot what she wanted to say and stared at him in astonishment. Don't tell me…again? She watched him suspiciously as his hand slid down her abdomen. He rubbed the area between her legs and inserted his fingers inside, fumbling around.

"It's still tender inside." (Hugo)

Lucia turned away with a reddening face.

"I'll put it in." (Hugo)

"Eh?" (Lucia)

His two hands held her thighs wide apart and plunged in just like that. An overwhelming sense of pressure came up from her lower body.

"Uu…"

It was thick. She felt a stinging pain.

"Does it hurt?"

"A little…bit."

But he pulled his waist back and pushed his way in again. The feeling of him rubbing against her delicate inner flesh was so vivid that it brought tears to her eyes. Lucia slapped his arm as hard as she could.

"It hurts!" (Lucia)

"Hold on." (Hugo)

Lucia looked at him in disbelief. Sometimes he was gentle beyond measure and other times he was merciless. Hugo chuckled softly when he saw her get angry. It was always fun to draw out various emotions from her. When he pulled out and entered in a single thrust, she furrowed her brows and groaned. It certainly looked like it hurt a bit. He was also a little sore.

Her inside was too tight. Since they had done so much already, shouldn't it be a little loose? No matter much he loosened it with thick caresses and caused juices to flow, it was always tight enough to pinch his finger. It was insanely stimulating to him.

As he moved a few times, her slick juices wrapped around his meatrod. She didn't wrinkle her forehead anymore, showing that it no longer hurt. Every time he thrust in, she gave a sigh that was closer to a sob. Her refreshing scent paralyzed his sense of smell.

Hugo wanted to go back to the north. He wanted to live forgetting the flow of time, in the castle with just two of them and no one could come in. Hugo couldn't tell how things would go with her finding her maternal relatives. What could he do if she had more exchanges with her maternal family and began to depend on them more than him? It was an uneasiness he couldn't reveal to her when she was already restless over meeting her grandfather.

END OF BOOK 5.

Translator's Corner:

The word used here means caring/tender if that didn't make sense.

< — Memories of Mother — > (1)

BOOK 6 BEGINS.

"…Sorry."

She felt like she vaguely heard his voice. Something pointy kept touching her face here and there. It was ticklish but it was also disturbing her sleep so she frowned and swung her hand in the air. Her hand was caught and she felt a pair of lips kissing the back of her hand and fingertips. Lucia opened her heavy-lidded eyes. She blinked a few times, driving away the sleepiness.

"…Hugh?"

Lucia identified him with her slightly clearer vision. The bedroom was already bright, and he was already dressed up. He smiled and lowered his head, kissing her lightly on the lips.

"It's past noon. You should get up." (Hugo)

"…This is your fault though."

Lucia fell asleep at dawn today. He was so persistent in not letting her go that she didn't even know when exactly she fell asleep. She looked at the refreshed expression on his face and closed her eyes.

"I want to sleep a little more." (Lucia)

"You have to get up now to be able to meet your grandfather. He'll be here in about two hours." (Hugo)

Her sleepiness instantly disappeared. Lucia widened her eyes and unconsciously sat upright.

"Who did you say is coming? My grandfather?"

"You said you wanted to meet him. Have you changed your mind?"

"Ah…No. It's not that but…how did you contact my grandfather?"

"I asked the maid to find out where he was staying yesterday."

No matter what decision she came to, whether it was to meet her grandfather or to not, it was essential to first know how to contact the other party. It was a matter of course to Hugo but Lucia didn't think of it at all. When he told her that he would find out how to contact her grandfather, she vaguely thought that with his capability, he would be able to find her grandfather after asking around. But there was such a simple way.

"…But my mind isn't ready yet…" (Lucia)

"There's no need for that If you drag it out, you'll only get sentimental. Why did you want to meet your grandfather?" (Hugo)

"I was curious about what kind of person my mother's father is. I also thought I should let him know about my mother."

"Then meet him with that in mind. Don't bother yourself with too many worries."

Lucia was surprised by him. He was sharp about the point that she hadn't thought of at all. It was natural that worries would increase the more time passed, but the fact that he knew that was fascinating to her.

When she married him, she was impressed by his rapid driving force. He had a personality that pushed forward without hesitation when he made a decision. He seemed like a man that would never waste his time on thinking for too long.

'Does he ever worry? Has he ever regretted a decision he made?'

These days, Hugo worried almost every day. But the cause of this had absolutely no idea that he spent his days worrying and regretting.

* * *

Jerome received his master's order and personally escorted the old man. Externally, he acted secretly in order to avoid revealing the fact that the Duke of Taran brought the Count to his mansion.

Hugo ordered Jerome to be cautious. He hadn't yet decided how to establish their relationship after his wife met her grandfather. Once it was known that the man was the relative of the ducal house by marriage, there were a lot of hungry wolves that would come running.

Hugo didn't have any special feelings for his wife's maternal family. He could respect the man because he was his wife's grandfather, but it was only up to point she wanted.

In the receiving room, Lucia waited for her grandfather. Seeing her sitting anxiously, Hugo wrapped one arm around her shoulder and hugged her. Lucia didn't come out to greet her grandfather and was waiting in the receiving room so that the old man's visit would not look special, even to the servants.

The closed door of the receiving room opened, and Jerome came in, escorting a gray-haired old man. As if frozen, the Count stood at the entrance for a while looking at Lucia. Then with shaky steps, he slowly walked towards Lucia.

Lucia saw the face of her uncle from her dream in the old man's face. And she also saw the face of her late mother.

The two of them, grandparent and grandchild, stood a few steps apart and stared at each other silently.

"Please sit down. You sit too." (Hugo)(TN: He refers to grandpa with the first one and Lucia with the second.)

Hugo stepped in and dissolved with the tense atmosphere. Lucia sat down on the sofa after the Count sat down.

"Is it better if I leave you two alone?" (Hugo)

Lucia shook her head and grabbed his hand. Then she took a deep breath and opened her mouth.

"It's nice to meet you. I am Vivian…Grandfather."

The Count's eyes shook violently. He looked at Lucia with a very sorrowful look in his eyes. He moved his lips a few times but didn't say anything. Then after a good while, he managed to say one word.

"Amanda…?"

As soon as the Count entered, he quickly looked over the receiving room. When he didn't see Amanda, his heart sank with anxiety. Even though he was meeting his granddaughter for the first time and she looked lovely like his daughter, could the keen affection be compared to his own child? He chose to believe his daughter couldn't make it due to unavoidable circumstances. No matter how anxious he was, he couldn't abandon hope.

Lucia's chest surged with heat. This person was a father who missed his daughter. Who knew how much her late mother wanted to see her father for the last time? Lucia's heart ached when she thought about her mother.

"…She passed away."

Lucia saw a mixture of many emotions run through the old man's eyes. Surprise, shock, disbelief, anger, sorrow, despair. Seeing many painful emotions flash by in an instant, Lucia began to sympathize with the pain of the wounded old man. The grief of a parent who lost their child was shown in the teary eyes of the old man.

The Count covered his face with his hands, lowered his head and began to cry.

Tears also fell from Lucia's eyes. She leaned into Hugo's embrace and buried her face in his chest.

< — Memories of Mother — > (1)

Translator: Miss Ruby

There weren't many things to talk about between a grandparent and a grandchild that were meeting each other for the first time. After greeting each other awkwardly, they began to converse relatively easily through the common topic of 'Amanda'. The father remembered his daughter, and the daughter remembered her mother. They found commonalities and differences, and even laughed occasionally.

"The pendant. Are you looking for it?" (Lucia)

Lucia thought her grandfather would ask her about the pendant. But even after they had been talking for a while, he hadn't said anything so she brought it up first.

"…Do you have it?"

The Count looked a little surprised but his reaction was calmer than Lucia expected. The problem pendant that her mother took with her when she ran away. It was the reason why Lucia was able to meet her uncle in her dream.

[The pendant is an heirloom passed down in the Count Baden family for generations. I found out later on that my sister took it with her when she ran away from home. Maybe because she felt sorry for taking pendant, she left a short letter in the safe.] (Uncle)

[What did the letter say?] (Lucia)

Her uncle cleared his throat as if he was embarrassed and said.

[It said that she was going to bring back a nice husband.]

So there was a time when her mother was immature. Lucia was fascinated by the stories that she didn't know about her mother. So, she met up with her uncle a few more times and soon, she invited him to her house.

The mansion of Count Matin was quite large and fancy looking. Her uncle looked awestruck as he looked around the mansion. It was perhaps from then on that he started looking at Lucia differently.

"I don't have it right now." (Lucia)

When Lucia was a child, there was a time when she fell off a tree and got seriously injured. Her mother entrusted the pendant to a pawn shop to pay for her daughter's medical treatments. But her mother could not pay back the borrowed money so she was unable to pick up the pendant on the promised date. This was Lucia's guess of the situation after putting things together later on.

One day, on the way to go shopping with her mother, Lucia discovered a pendant on display at a pawn shop's window.

[Mom, this is yours, isn't it?] (Lucia)

[Mhm. You're right. I'm leaving it there for a while.]

[Why?]

[Because it's precious to me. I don't want to lose it.]

After that, Lucia sometimes saw her mother pause in front of the pawn shop. Her mother looked sad when she saw the pendant with a price tag attached to it.

With her innocent, childish mind, Lucia thought that her mother would be upset if she asked her more about the pendant. So she decided that when she grew up and made money, she would buy the pendant and give to her mother as a gift. But after her mother died, she forgot about the pendant.

Then, there came a time when she had to go to an auction house on an errand for Count Matin. It was antique auction day for nobles with uncommon hobbies. Count Matin asked her to bid and win a uniquely designed jewelry box that would show up there. It seemed like it was a present for currying favor with someone.

Why did they have to compete to buy all these old stuff? Lucia couldn't understand. The jewelry box that she was supposed to bid for was scheduled to show up later, so she watched the fairly long auction with boredom. When the pendant showed up as an auction item, Lucia sobered up. She immediately knew that it was her mother's pendant.

Lucia forgot her real purpose for coming to the auction house. She had no thought other than regaining her mother's pendant at all costs. She actively participated in the bidding and eventually won the pendant. Because there were competitors who coveted a pendant with a unique design, Lucia only managed to snare it for a considerable price.

She used most of the money that Count Matin gave to her for the jewelry box but because she was so moved to have the pendant in her hands, the fear of the aftermath flew to the back of her mind. The pendant vividly brought back long-forgotten memories with her mother. In that moment, Lucia felt joy, something she hadn't felt in a very long time, enough to forget all her sorrows.

[Lady. Would you please resell that to me?]

A middle-aged man approached her, blocking the road and abruptly asked her to resell the pendant to him. It was her first encounter with her uncle.

[That pendant is my family heirloom.] (Uncle)

[I'm afraid I cannot. I have no intentions of reselling this. It's a keepsake of my mother.]

The middle-aged man was persistent. While Lucia argued with the middle-aged man, they eventually came talk about how the pendant somehow came to be at the auction house. Then they realized that the two of them knew the same woman as sister and mother. It was the first meeting of uncle and niece and it was through an unbelievable coincidence.

Her uncle was distressed and unable to speak for a while after hearing that his younger sister had passed away. His nose was slightly red but he didn't shed bitter tears like her grandfather had. It was the difference between a brother and a father.

[The pendant is a legendary treasure. According to the words passed down in my family from generation to generation, when the family is in crisis, it will save the family and keep the family alive.]

Since it was such an important heirloom, Lucia couldn't insist on keeping it. She figured that if her mother was alive, her mother would also want her to give it back. So she gave it to her uncle.

"My mother needed money urgently so she had to sell it. It's a uniquely shaped pendant so I can find it easily." (Lucia)

Although Lucia didn't have it now, she knew when and where it would be at the auction. She was originally going to wait but she changed her mind. The future she saw in her dream was changing. The pendant might not be at the auction. So she was thinking of asking around and looking for it in antique markets. The present Lucia had the power to task someone with looking for something.

In her dream, her uncle was very happy to get the pendant back. It seemed he was weighed down by the responsibility of the family and wanted to lean on a superstitious family legend.

But her grandfather's reaction was different. He smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"You don't have to do that. If your mother made good use of it, then it has done well enough."

"I heard it's a family heirloom. Isn't it precious?" (Lucia)

"Did Amanda say that?"

Lucia didn't hear it directly from her mother but she replied, "Yes."

"What heirloom. It's just an old thing."

Anyone from the Baden family grew up listening to the legends woven around the heirloom. When others heard it, they seriously believed the ridiculous story and kept the old pendant as a treasure.

At an early age, the Count also believed the legend surrounding the heirloom. However, his father regrettably passed away, he lost his wife, and he buried his daughter in his heart. What was the point of a legend?

For the family's crisis? There had been numerous crisis already and there was an ongoing crisis even now. When the Count reached his twilight years, he realized the indifference of the heavens. He was too old to believe in legends.

"It's just…What good would it be?" (Count)

The Count came to the capital to get back his mansion that fell into other people's hands. He made up his mind to ask for a favor, something that he had never done before in his life.

But as soon as he knew of his daughter's death, everything became futile. The years that passed without him knowing of his daughter's death had passed in vain. What had he been striving to live for? It was all in vain.

"You grew up beautifully. Thank you for growing up well."

The Count was comforted to see the flesh and blood and only trace left by his daughter. He consoled himself that even if it was now, he was able to hear about his daughter and see his granddaughter that he didn't even know about.

'I'm sorry, father. I'm tired now. I want to rest.' (Count)

The Count let go of everything. He folded his plan to ask his friend for money. He gave up on the mansion that was passed down in the family for generations.

'Let's sell the title.'

If he used dark channels, he would be able to find someone to buy the title. Title trading was strictly forbidden by law, but trading between acquaintances was still done. A count title would be able to fetch a good price. It would be enough money for his two sons to make a living. He didn't want to hand over the burden that he had carried his entire life to his sons.

"I should get going."

When the Count stood up, Lucia was surprised and stood up too.

"You're going? At least, stay for dinner…"

"It's alright. I have an appointment in the evening. I'll see you again next time. We know each other so we can meet anytime, isn't that right?"

"…Yes."

As Lucia watching her grandfather turn around and walk towards the door of the receiving room, her eyes filled up with tears. She met him for the first time in her life, and they only talked for a while but he didn't feel like a stranger; it was as if she had known him for a long time. It was not a sad thing yet why did her heart hurt so much?

Hugo hugged her and spoke into her ear.

"I'll see him off and be right back."

Lucia nodded with tear-filled eyes. She wiped her tears as she watched Hugo walk away. She was thankful that he was here with her. Right now, she was just thankful for everything.

< — Memories of Mother — > (2)

Hugo caught up with the Count who had already walked out of the mansion in no time. The old man was quite the fast walker.

"I'll take you back." (Hugo)

"No, it's fine. The weather is good today. I can walk." (Count)

"I have something to discuss with you."

The Count looked at the imposing man with a tall and dignified frame. The Baden family was originally a military family so the Baden men weren't on the smaller side due to inheriting their ancestor's frames but the Count still had to look up.

There was no one among Xenon's nobles that didn't know the Duke Taran family. Especially in the south where the atmosphere of the war was felt closely; even the commoners talked about the Duke of Taran as they went about their chores.

'I'm glad, it seems she met a good man.'

At the crowning celebration party, and in the receiving room earlier, the attitude of the Duke towards his granddaughter made him feel satisfied and relieved. The Count could see that the Duke was sincerely looking out for his granddaughter. And he was glad that his granddaughter who was alone without any relatives looked happy.

The Count didn't refuse Hugo's invitation and entered the carriage with him. The carriage left the ducal residence and after traveling to some extent, it pulled to a stop.

"How long are you planning to stay in the capital? I will arrange a place for you to stay." (Hugo)

"It's alright. I have a good friend so I'm not worried about where I'll be staying in the capital." (TN: He's using polite/formal speech)

"Please lower your speech, Elder. You are senior to me."

The Count smiled bitterly.

"How can a grandfather who never saw his granddaughter till she's grown up, come now and act like an elder? With what decency? It is good enough for me to hear that she's doing well from time to time."

Hugo looked at the elderly man with an odd expression. The man had a clean nature. The character of the old man could be seen from his face. The man's face had deep wrinkles showing the weariness of time and his skin was coarse but he gave off a warm and pleasant aura.

Did having no greed run in the family? Hugo thought as his mind wandered to his wife.

"Do you have any intention of moving to the capital?"

Hugo was making an offer that was unlike him. He was saying that he would support the Count Baden household. If the Duke of Taran actively supported them, the crumbling Count family of the frontier would quickly rise as an emerging power in the capital.

"I am grateful for the offer but one should live within their limits. It is too much for my children to handle." (Count)

The Count refused without any hesitation. The Count didn't overestimate his sons. If they had been born into a family with power, then maybe but up till now, his sons had only lived as nobles in name only. His eldest son was too uptight and his second son was good with his head but he had a narrow mind. They both lacked the ability to engage in power play. He was worried about his children and couldn't close his eyes peacefully.

"If so, is there anything you need help with? Feel free to tell me." (Hugo)

"Even though I have lived to this age and haven't done anything to be respected for, I have lived with a clear conscience. I am not atrocious enough to ask the granddaughter I just met for money." (Count)

"I won't let my wife know." (Hugo)

The Count laughed heartily.

"Thank you. For caring for that child." (Count) (TN: re:Lucia)

It was Hugo's first time receiving the gaze of adult looking at a younger person so he was taken aback. Up till now, he had lived with the arrogance that there was no one above him but to his surprise, he didn't feel bad receiving this kind of gaze. (1)

"…She is my wife. It's a matter of course."

"I was unable to do what you call a matter of course. I hope you don't make the mistake of losing someone precious to you like I did. Please love and care for that child for a long time. Please make her happy. That is the only thing this old man wants."

The Count already loved her even when he didn't know that she was his granddaughter. His granddaughter. Her smile was an exact replica of his daughter's smile and she was poignantly lovely. He was only sad that he was unable to see her grow up beautifully.

"Would you do me favor for that child?" (Count)

Seeing the reddened eyes of the Count, Hugo felt like his heart stung a little. It was a really strange feeling.

"I promise you. I will love…and make her happy." (Hugo)

She had already been his wife for a long time. But seeing the Count nodding his head in satisfaction, Hugo felt like his relationship with her was truly recognized. It was a feeling of reassurance as if he had gotten an ally.

Hugo made the Count promise to definitely tell him before he left the capital. The Count maintained that he didn't need anything till the end. His wife would be very sad if her grandfather left all of a sudden without notice.

After escorting the Count back to the mansion of his friend whom he was indebted to, Hugo came back and asked his wife about her intentions.

"What do you want to do? If you want to help out your maternal family, that will be done." (Hugo)

Lucia thought for a moment and shook her head.

"The position of in-laws of the Duke is too much for my maternal relatives to handle. They'll be caught up in all kinds of gossip. It'll give you a headache."

The fact that both grandparent and grandchild said the same thing as if they were matching their words was amazing. Hugo felt the novelty of blood relation. They both met for the first time today but they were very alike.

"I'm fine with it." (Hugo)

"I'm not fine with it. I don't want to impose on you." (Lucia)

"Impose? How can you say that?"

Seeing him frown, Lucia wrapped her arms around his waist. She settled her head on his chest, looking up at him and smiled.

"I don't want the fact that they are my maternal family to be known. My maternal family is having financial difficulties. Please help me a little with that part. Can you do that?"

"Sure."

His expression was sulky as he replied. He was still unhappy because she said she didn't want to impose on him. Lucia thought he was cute at times when he was pouting. And this side of him was only shown to her.

After going to parties for a few days and seeing him in an official setting, Lucia was somewhat shocked. At first, she thought he was angry. She wondered why he had a cold expression and an icy gaze but when she saw people behaving naturally and unsurprised, she came to a realization.

That was how he looked normally. It was how he looked when she saw him in her dream, and when she made up her mind to marry him. At some point, she had forgotten about it.

She was used to him smiling softly at her and looking at her with warm or passionate eyes. It was then that Lucia realized that there was a side of him that only she knew.

"I don't think I've said this, have I?" (Lucia)

"What." (Hugo)

"Thank you for marrying me."

Lucia's heart raced as she watched his red eyes tremble. She wasn't joking about what she said but she said it with a light heart. However, seeing his eyes full of joy, she felt touched somehow.

Hugo wrapped his arm around her back, put his other arm under her thigh, lifted her into his arms and looked into her eyes.

"Do you mean that?" (Hugo)

"Of course." (Lucia)

"Then prove it."

"How?"

"Do what you think will impose on me. It's also good if you cause trouble that I have to clean up later."

"…How does that prove anything? Before that, where are you going?"

Hugo had left the receiving room carrying Lucia and was climbing the stairs to the second floor. A few of the servants flinched but they turned away and focused on what they were doing as if they didn't see anything. It had reached the point where she couldn't feign innocence in front of the servants.

"Let's have dinner a little late today." (Hugo

"You seriously!"

Seeing her red-hot face, Hugo loudly kissed her lips. It was always fascinating to see her red face get even redder. And it was very adorable.

Due to canceling the scheduled party, he suddenly had a lot of time. It was a holiday for a change.

Translator's Comments:

1. My mom gives me this look everytime. That said, I should start using footnotes for the stuff.

*In-laws of the Duke: The raws literally translate to: 'relatives of the Duke by marriage'. But that's a mouthful. 'In-law' works.

< — Memories of Mother — > (2)

A few days later, Lucia had lunch with her grandfather. Her grandfather sent her a short letter, saying that he would be going back to the south. Lucia wanted to treat him to a last meal before he left so she arranged a lunch.

On the second meeting between grandparent and grandchild, they was a little more comfortable with each other. Lucia felt at ease as if she had known her grandfather for a very long time.

Was it because they were related by blood? But her father who was closer to her by blood was farther than anyone else. Now, she didn't even have leftover hate for her father. It seemed like she would have been happier if her mother sent her maternal home instead of the palace.

"So you're saying I already have a nephew." (Lucia)

Lucia came to know of her many relatives. Her two uncles were married; her first uncle had two daughters, and her second uncle had two sons. Her first uncle's two daughters were older than her and his eldest daughter was already a mother. Lucia had two uncles, four cousins and one nephew.

Lucia remembered briefly hearing in her dream that her first uncle had two sons. But she couldn't ask about her first uncle who had died tragically, and her uncle did not talk about him.

"I believe the boy just began to walk. By the time I return, he would have grown up a lot. I mean, that child grows up in an instant.. (Count)

Her grandfather said that he would send her letters from time to time and give her updates about the house.

"I'm sorry, grandfather. I can't promise to come and see you."

Lucia felt guilty to her grandfather for only asking her husband for financial help. She was sorry because even though she could be more helpful, she was being too stingy.

"Even if you said you were coming, I would have stopped you. I have no intention of telling your uncles about you. I'm also keeping the news about your mother to myself."

Seeing his granddaughter's eyes widen in surprise, the Count smiled gently.

"I don't want your uncles to have false hope. Even though we don't have enough, our family is harmonious. I am blessed with kind-hearted daughter-in-laws. I would simply like it to remain that way. Even if you're upset, please understand."

"No, grandfather. What do you mean upset?"

Lucia could tell what her grandfather was thinking; he didn't want to burden his granddaughter. She felt sorry and thankful to him. Her uncle must have been very bitter to lose such a father. Lucia could fully understand her uncle's feelings of desperation.

"When do you leave?" (Lucia)

"I'm going back today. I came after saying goodbye to my friend." (Count)

The Count was indebted to his friend and realized that his friend's situation was also not very good. After their father died, his elder brother inherited the title along with most of the assets and didn't seem to treat his friend very well. The Count was glad that he had changed his mind and did not make a difficult request of his friend.

"Then you're leaving right after the meal? What's the hurry? You can stay a little longer." (Lucia)

"Your uncles will be very worried after sending off their old father to the capital. Plus the capital is too busy for an old man like me. Don't worry about my travel. I'll be taking the gate. Thanks to my granddaughter's husband, I'll be enjoying the luxury of a lifetime."

Lucia smiled when her grandfather shrugged with an exaggerated attitude.

"Come visit anytime you want. The way here isn't that far anymore." (Lucia)

"Alright, alright. Don't treat me coldly when I come too often." (Count)

"What do you mean coldly? That won't happen."

The Count rose from his seat.

"You and your husband get along very well. He is a good man. He cares for you a lot. Because of that, my mind is at ease." (Count)

"Yes. He is a good man."

Lucia was proud that her husband was being praised for being a good man. It was said that the best present for a parent is to see their child living happily. She was really glad that she could show her grandfather that her present self was doing well.

"May I hug you?" (Count)

"I was going to say that." (Lucia)

They both hugged each other and regretfully said goodbye. They didn't know when they would see each other again but it wasn't an eternal parting. So Lucia was able to calmly send off her grandfather.

Antoine visited in the afternoon after Lucia sent off her grandfather. The Antoine who used to come with an entourage of assistants and workers came simply alone. Since her purpose wasn't a dress fitting, it was natural that she came alone but today, she looked intimated by the majesty of the ducal residence. She looked weak like a disarmed soldier.

'Is Antoine's weapon the props that her assistants and workers carry around?'

It was interesting to see the ever confident Antoine looking restless. Lucia controlled her expression. The woman was fundamentally a merchant. She would make a path herself so there was no need to give her a chance to worm her way in.

"What brings you here? Without any notice." (Lucia)

"I apologize for visiting you suddenly, Duchess. Please forgive my rudeness. I hope I have not interrupted your schedule." (Antoine)

"It just so happens that there's nothing special at the moment. Do not do this in the future." (Lucia)

"Yes, Duchess."

In the receiving room, the two of them sat facing each other. Unlike Lucia who unhurriedly drank her tea, Antoine kept checking the Duchess' complexion.

A few days ago, Antoine received a notice that was like a thunderbolt from the sky. The Duke of Taran sent someone to announce that she wasn't entrusted with making the Duchess' future dresses anymore. He said that as promised, he would pay the cost of the dress that was already made but that petty change wasn't the problem here. The problem was that the fortune in front of her had disappeared like a fog.

After a few days of sleepless nights and distress, she came to visit the ducal residence. Sending someone in advance to make an appointment was the correct procedure but if she was rejected, her justification to visit completely disappeared. So she visited recklessly. She thought that the Duchess would meet her a least once and fortunately, her thought proved correct.

"What is the matter?" (Lucia)

"I heard you didn't need the dress for masquerade ball so I was worried you might be unwell." (Antoine)

"As you can see, I am healthy and fine. I was tired so I canceled my plans for the day. Is this what you came for?"

Antoine broke out in cold sweat. The Duchess was different from other noblewomen in many ways. She wasn't someone to beat around the bush nor was she someone that could be easily led in a conversation. The Duchess was strangely experienced for her age. Rather than giving an oversophisticated feeling, she gave a relaxed feeling of dignity. Antoine chose a straightforward attack instead of changing the subject.

"Duchess. To be honest with you, I came because I wanted to know why. Did I make a huge mistake?" (Antoine)

"I don't know what you mean." (Lucia)

"Please tell me if I have done anything wrong to you, Duchess."

"There is no such thing."

"Then why was I told not to make any dresses for the Duchess in the future? Did you not like the dress?" (Antoine)

Lucia had no idea about this. But she could make a guess. Her husband was unhappy with Antoine's dress and seemed to have sent a notice of cancelation for their future contract.

Lucia couldn't stop the giggle that escaped her mouth. She didn't know what to do with this man of hers that grew increasingly childish. In what noble house under the sky was the husband involved in changing their wife's dress designer? They were more concerned about their wife's expenses. The matter of deciding which designer would make the dress was completely left to the woman.

Lucia liked the Antoine's dresses. Antoine was able to draw designs that enhanced Lucia's body shape and her charm. Even if she hired someone else, they would likely not be better that Antoine.

However, there was a need to take her husband's conservative mind into account.

"I like your dresses. But…" (Lucia)

When the Duchess dragged out her words, Antoine swallowed tensely.

"It's difficult to wear a dress that my husband doesn't like." (Lucia)

"Do you mean to say that His Grace the Duke didn't like the dresses I made? Did he say that?"

"He didn't say it directly, but he said your dresses are a little… loose."

"…"

What is this bullshit she was hearing? If it was modest, it wasn't a dress. If you want that, go wear a priest's robe and button it up to the neck. Antoine had made countless dresses for noblewomen until now but she had never heard anyone make such complaints.

Antoine thought hard about it. And she thought back to all the dresses she had made for the Duchess. She contracted the summer dresses first, and then she renewed the contract with the coronation dresses. It meant that there was no complaint with the first dresses. Then what was different?

'The first summer dresses were made for light outings so they were casual. The coronation dresses were undoubtedly bold. They were going to be worn to a ball after all.'

Is that it? Antoine came to a realization. And she was speechless. If he didn't want exposure to that extent, it was a disease. Look at other dresses. Half of their chest was exposed. Compared to those dresses, the dresses she made for the Duchess were very decent.

'Is it really as they say, that the Duchess living in captivity?'

Antoine entertained doubts in her heart and clasped her hands together with pitiful eyes.

"The foolish me couldn't fathom how much His Grace the Duke loves the Duchess. In the future, I will try harder to make dresses that please you. Duchess. Frankly speaking, it will be difficult to find a designer of my caliber anywhere."

"I also agree. Like I said, I am happy with your dresses." (Lucia)

Antoine's eyes sparkled as if she had met her savior.

"So make a contract with me." (Lucia)

"Yes! Duchess." (Antoine)

"I will say it clearly again. You are making a contract with me."

"…Yes? Of course…"

"I will not ask what kind of contract you previously had with His Grace the Duke. There will be no such contract in the future. Do you understand?"

The Duchess' smiling face was water-tight. Antoine inwardly cried bitter tears. The jackpot was gone!

"When I looked into it, I found that it's usually enough to make two to three dresses per quarter, and one to two ball dresses as needed. I don't have a lot of dresses already made for me so I will commission five dresses each for the fall and winter."

Compared to the past where she had sold nineteen outfits in the summer, the plummet was a shame. But Antoine was still very grateful. Even five was something.

The title of exclusive designer of the Duchess of Taran would bring her more value. The river of gold that flowed before Antoine's eyes had disappeared into thin air but she could pick up the gold dust on the floor. Antoine readily accepted the proposal.