Please Be Patient, Grand Duke - Chapter 82

In the bathroom where the sparkling sunlight rushed in like the spring sun, Canillia, who had been soaking in the tub filled with spices, stood up, and Pepe came to her with a towel and oil.

After wiping off the water and applying oil, her white skin glowed like a pearl. The traces of the bruises were now quite faint and inconspicuous. It was thanks to Claude, who prescribed an ointment that was supposed to be good for bruises and applied it with utmost care.

After putting on her underwear, she stuffed the stocking garters and immediately tightened the corset and was surprised by the tightness that was different from the underwear she was wearing.

The dress Rosina gave as a gift was fortunately restored to its original shape by Pepe’s touch. He had meticulous sewing skills and even style.

“Pepe, why don’t you run a boutique?” Canillia asked. “I think you’ll do really well.”

Pepe, who was holding the dress, smiled bitterly.

“Where would I get the money for that? Right now, it’s hard enough to earn money for living expenses,” she replied.

“Then, when that happens, I’ll earn a lot of money and invest in you. I’m going to be a teacher,” Canillia said, “so you make my clothes for me.”

“Yes, yes, I hear you,” nodded Pepe, “First, you have to hurry because his majesty the grand duke just set off a while ago.”

“Yeah, okay.”

Even without lipstick, Canillia’s lips were as red as a ripe fruit. It was like a flower filled with morning dew. It hadn’t bloomed yet, but it was as luscious as a camellia just before it flowered.

Lia carefully tucked herself into her dress. The fabric hugged her body as if she had it custom-made and the jewels that were prepared for her were all beautiful. Her hair was elegantly curled and on top of her head sat a neatly fixed tiara.

Pepe and the other maids could not help but marvel at Canillia’s changing appearance. They whispered that she was the most beautiful woman in the world, or that she should have dressed like this before.

Lia laughed at those words and approached the mirror. As they had said, the person that stood in the mirror was different than before. Gone were the days when her womanly appearance was awkward; now she felt like the perfect woman.

Wearing high heels, Canillia slowly absorbed her still awkward self. She became the owner of a building so huge that it could not even be compared with the townhouse of the marquis, yet she was alone. No matter how many people, how many soldiers there were, to eat and sleep alone in such a large place… She understood why he had described this splendid mansion as desolate.

“The car is ready for you. Let’s go.”

The person who came into the room was the butler Owen. And behind Owen, a girl with lovely flushed cheeks was standing with her eyes full of anticipation.

Lia instantly recognized the child.

“It’s you, from…”

“It’s Arin!”

The girl was the one who helped her at Louvre three years ago. Living on the streets with her younger brother, she had to help Louvre’s criminals.

Lia approached the child.

“I didn’t know how much you grew up. I thought you were still a kid…”

As she stroked her hair wrapped in strange emotions, Arin bowed with a happy expression.

“Thank you, miss. Thanks to you, I am living in such a wonderful place with my brother.”

“Arin is not an employee. The grand duke is Arin’s guardian. This year, she entered St. Alessandro School for Girls as a scholarship student with top honors.” Owen showed off Arin with a proud expression. His affection for Arin could be seen from how he stood with his back straightened and how he gazed down at her with glimmering eyes.

Eyes twinkling, Lia grabbed her hand tightly. It was warm and soft. This child was born in Louvre and abandoned at Louvre, but she would grow up to be more lovely than anyone else.

“It’s such a relief you found a good guardian,” she said.

“Miss… No, Lady Canillia is my lifesaver.”

Her chest stung, and it was the first time she felt something like it. Was this what it felt to be moved? Canilia lowered her gaze and smiled brightly with Arin.

Two jewels twinkled. Owen thought their smiles were more beautiful than the diamond that caused the war.

“Let us go, Lady Canillia.”

***

The lines of carriages and cars stretched long from the main gate. The marquise’s servants gave away one side of the garden for parking space, but worried the grass would die from being trampled on.

Ladies and gentlemen, dressed lavishly like they were attending an imperial ball, handed out their visiting cards, and a footman came out to guide them.

Today’s dinner was to be held in a glass greenhouse connected to a large drawing room.

Plants collected from all over the world would grow green all year round in the greenhouse, which was the pride of the gardener Padric’s painstaking hard work.

In such a greenhouse, there was a table that could comfortably seat 50 people. And on top of that, tableware, colorful candlesticks, and name cards were arranged according to the owner’s will.

People were gathered in the drawing room and enjoyed a light drink before being guided to dinner. A famous singer sang arias to the melody of the piano, while young guests were listening to an explanation of the marquise’s history.

“As expected of the wife of the marquis. She probably didn’t want to be embarrassed.”

“But isn’t it strange? The grand duke was like Marilyn Shelby’s fiancé, but then out of the blue, had an affair with a man?”

“From what I heard, there was a time when Marilyn Shelby was kicked out to the Louvre and the grand duke went looking for her. But in the end, he couldn’t forgive her. I understand him. No matter how much you love someone, how can you forgive the daughter of a man who murdered your father?”

“Oh my, so it was because he was in shock? No wonder…”

“What? Did you hear something?”

“Someone told me before that they saw Marilyn Shelby in town. The clothes were plain, but it must have been that woman.”

“Oh, so the grand duke took Marilyn Selby out of the Louvre? Still, the affair with a man is a bit…”

“I agree. Between you and me, Sir Canillian is an illegitimate child, right? The face of an aristocrat is lost.”

The ladies spoke, oblivious to their loud voices.

Those steadfast in their conversation while receiving glances became quiet. The singers and the sound of the piano stopped all at once.

The door opened and Prince Wade and Claude entered. Kieran approached Rosina who followed him and extended his hand.

No matter how bitter the rumors were, the two of them were no less than war heroes. He had reclaimed vast territories of neutral ground and signed a nonaggression pact with Geore.

Everyone gathered in the drawing room were on their knees. The ladies who had talked loudly were no exception.

Upon hearing the news that the prince and the grand duke had arrived, Gliad and Anastasia dashed down from the second floor. In a blue dress, Anastasia looked so young and beautiful that she didn’t look like she was in her fifties.

“Prince, Grand Duke.”

Claude looked up at Anastasia, who smiled gracefully, and raised the corners of his smooth lips.

No matter how carefree he pretended to be, he was obviously disconcerted that he couldn’t find Canillia.

He turned his gaze to the second-floor railing and saw Ian Sergio holding a glass of champagne. The expression on Ian’s face as he leaned against the railing and looked down at Claude and lifted his glass of wine was composed and relaxed.

“Everyone, let’s all go get dinner. Guide the ladies.”

Everyone exchanged suspicious glances at this kind attitude of the marquis, who was usually cold and arrogant.

Eventually, Ian Sergio approached Claude, who was seated in his designated seat. The nobles who saw Ian was about to sit down, but got up and greeted the foreign guest.

“This is Grand Duke Ian Sergio of the Duchy of Geore. He helped us greatly in this war. He even saved my husband’s life. I am most grateful for him.”

Chuckling at the spiteful praise, Ian greeted the nobles of Kayan.

“I am Ian Sergio. It is a pleasure to meet the nobles of the Empire.”

Murmurs of excitement burst from here and there. Those who knew the rumors of Ian turned white, and the women were delighted with the appearance of a handsome new man.

“Now, now, everyone, please take a seat.”

When the bell on the table rang, the waiting servants began to deliver food. Everyone was talking pleasantly, but the atmosphere at the top seats where Claude was seated turned cold as if it were a completely different world.

Rosina was worried as she looked at Kieran, who had become haggard over the past few days. After that day, when they all rode together, Kieran completely cut off contact with the outside world.

“Sir, are you okay? You don’t look so good.”

Kieran smiled calmly at Rosina’s worried expression and shook his head.

“I’m fine.”

Rosina lightly wrapped the back of Kieran’s hand. The acts of the marchioness horrified anyone who saw her, so one could only imagine how Kieran felt.

Kieran, who looked down at Rosina’s hand, kissed her soft cheek and whispered.

“I’m really fine, Rosina.”

Rosina blushed at his kind voice.

Seeing the two, Wade raised a glass of wine and said to Ian, “Tell them when you return to the dukedom: the woman who came with you is not to my taste.”

“She’s one of the beauties from the land; what do you dislike about her?”

“Everything.”

Speaking in an ill-tempered way, Wade got up and offered a toast. All the nobles who were chatting happily raised their glasses.

“May the peace of the past, the beauty of the marchioness, and the prosperity of the Empire last forever.”

All of them toasted in the air.

Claude took a sip of the wine and checked the time. She would have almost arrived by now.

Anastasia stood up, raising a fork and tapping the glass. After receiving everyone’s attention, she looked around the crowd and made eye contact with each person.

“Thank you all for attending. As you know, I have prepared this place today to ask for forgiveness for my negligence.”

While listening to Anastasia’s abominable speech, Claude imagined Canillia walking to him.

She would open the back door of the car and get out, wearing the dress he saw last night and go up the stairs. Just imagining how beautiful she would be with the jewels he left behind made the cells in his body run wild.

Will the servant who opens the door recognize her? No. She was not the Canillia that they knew.

“Canillian…is the child of Louvre.”

The nobles exclaimed in surprise and broke into talk amongst themselves.

“But he is a child born from my heart. I was weak, so I asked the maid I loved to give birth to a boy for me. Kieran’s health was not good, so it was a decision for the family. However, the maid ran away because she didn’t want the child to be taken away, and I heard the news that she had died. So, my husband and I brought back the child who had been abandoned in the Louvre. That child is Canillian.”

Lies.

Anastasia told the story with a straight face and wiped her tears with the handkerchief she had prepared. Marquis Gliad jumped up and left. He wasn’t the only one who blushed with shame.

Rosina’s patience had reached its limit as she saw Kieran’s face turn to ash.

“For that reason, I misunderstood the child for a while. I must have been possessed with something… So I organized this event to apologize to Canillian, who must have been disappointed in me. But as expected, he didn’t come.”

Words of sympathy poured out to Anastasia, who wore a sad expression on her face.

“It’s not your fault. But a child from Louvre… You made a big decision.”

“You must be an angel. I will remember the saying that he was born with your heart. I’m impressed.”

“Sir Canillian is rude in many ways. To drive a nail into the heart of the one who raised him without being grateful!”

It was so arrogant that she could no longer stand it. How dare she brazenly lie in front of the imperial family. Glaring at the tableware, Rosina couldn’t bear it any longer and was about to get up.

Claude, who raised his eyebrows for a moment, met her gaze. He calmly blinked his eyes, as if telling her to sit back down.

Regaining her composure, Rosina clasped her trembling hands tightly and looked into the faces of the nobles one by one.

Claude, who saw this, smiled bitterly, put down his glass and got up. Ian, who detected something from him, also erased his smile and got up.

The two men exchanged dry glances and turned towards the entrance to the greenhouse. Their actions caught the attention of everyone speaking loudly.

A transparent glass door opened on both sides, and a woman walked in with a footman’s courteous escort. It was a woman with wavy honey-colored hair and green eyes that were incomparable to the greenery of the greenhouse. With every step she took, the jewel sparkled under the lights. The clear features of the small and slender face shook the hearts of men.

Everyone murmured with bewildered expressions at the appearance of the woman they had never seen.

When Anastasia recognized the woman and dropped the wine glass she was holding, Claude approached her, kneeled on one knee, and kissed the back of her lace-gloved hand.

“Lady Canillia.”