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nChapter 60

nProofreader: xoxomonami

nAubrey clenched and opened her fists in front of the corridor leading to the room of the Grand Duchess.

n“Who’s going to admit a woman like that as the Grand Duchess?”

nShe muttered to herself.

nBefore sending Aubrey, Margaret said sternly.

nDon’t say false things in your mouth, don’t think in vain, don’t even dream about it. She is the Grand Duke’s choice, the Marchioness of Rosan. Originally, our house, which is just a county in the region, is not worthy of serving her.

nMom.

nNevertheless, to make you her first lady-in-waiting and to keep you close is to show her blessing in consideration of the fact that our family has been loyal to the Grand Duchy.

nMargaret seemed to be worried about her. She felt like she did not want to let Aubrey go.

nHowever if she did not send Aubrey, it would have been more suspicious.

nShe just hopes that Artizea has as much compassion and understanding as she has wisdom.

nShe wanted her to know that Aubrey was just a stupid kid, and that Jordyn was not disloyal.

nThe Grand Duchess is someone who you can tell is intelligent with just a few minutes of conversation. Aubrey, please don’t mess with her with your immature behavior. Not only you will be in jeopardy, but it’s also your family’s honor.

nHer eldest sister threatened to shave her head and send her to a convent if she did anything stupid.

n‘It’s ridiculous to become the Grand Duchess. She’s a prostitute’s daughter.’

nAubrey thought.

nShe doesn’t know what made Cedric marry that woman. She heard rumors of a love marriage, but Aubrey didn’t believe it.

n‘She’s not even pretty.’

nShe was wondering how beautiful she was because she was the daughter of the mistress that the Emperor loved.

nHowever, by Aubrey’s standard, Artizea fell short of her expectations.

nHer body was so thin that she couldn’t find a healthy curve. Even considering that she had been on a ship for a long time, she looked shabby.

nHer skin was fair but it was as pale as if she were diseased.

nCedric once said that he would marry someone worthy of Grand Duke Evron.

nAnd, in Aubrey’s opinion, a sickly foreigner who couldn’t get out of the room properly wasn’t qualified to be the Grand Duchess.

nEither the Emperor’s influence entered, or perhaps there is such a situation. She may have had some other insidious means. Her mother is the Emperor’s mistress, so her daughter can do such a trick.

nBut Cedric is a smart man. He may be obsessed by the fox-like trick now, but sooner or later he will wake up and escape.

n‘I’m much better.’

nAubrey thought so.

nShe can often see Cedric when she is the lady in waiting of the Grand Duchess. That was one good thing.

nShe may have a chance to come to him someday. She thought so, and from the morning she got dressed up and came out.

nAubrey exhaled a big sigh, straightened her posture, and stretched her chest. She was thinking she was pretty today.

nWith a confident walk, Aubrey headed to Artizea’s Tuvalet room.

nNo one responded when she knocked on the door. Aubrey opened the door slightly with her hand.

n“Jordyn’s Aubrey…”

n“Try it on!”

nAubrey’s words were buried in the cheers bursting from the inside.

n“It’s the coat that the master sent you in the morning. It’s a little long, but I think you can wear it if you just fold the cuffs!”

nSophie said happily.

nArtizea was buried in the fur of pure white.

nSophie shortened the sleeve by basting it briefly.

n“Isn’t this originally men’s clothing?”

n“What do you think? You look good. The sleeves are long, so I don’t think you’ll have to wear gloves. Even if you wear gloves, this might be better because your hands won’t get cold.”

n“I don’t think even the Marquisate has such precious marten fur?”

nAubrey was astonished.

nThe sable coat was Cedric’s.

nWhen three white martens with no fur of different color mixed together were found at once, the adults were making a fuss, saying it was auspicious.

nCedric shot and caught them without a scratch. A simple celebration was also given.

nIt was such a valuable item.

nAfter seeing Aubrey, Rize asked with a cold attitude.

n“What are you doing, Miss Jordyn?”

nAubrey was furious by the rude maid. But before she shouted, Artizea turned over.

n“Stop it, Rize. Come in, Aubrey.”

nThe voice was calm and dignified.

nThe white face looked smaller because the coat she was wearing was large.

nAubrey felt defeated and bit her lower lip.

n“Greetings Your Grace Grand Duchess….”

nRecalling Margaret’s stern warning, Aubrey effortlessly bowed her head to greet Artizea.

n“Yes, I think you must have heard from Margaret.”

n“Yes.”

nArtizea turned her head back from the mirror to Aubrey.

nOriginally she wanted to properly check Aubrey and give lessons. But now she didn’t feel like it. She didn’t even have that spirit.

nLast night she couldn’t sleep until dawn. Yesterday’s kiss didn’t leave her mind.

nAt best, he only touched her slightly. Rather, holding his hand to dance was a much deeper contact.

nHowever, the sense of that moment has revived. It is unlikely that any one of it will be forgotten in memory, including a friendly look, a rough hand, and a light trembling breath.

nIt seemed that her body was floating in the air.

nAubrey, who thought she had been ignored by Artizea, trembled.

nThe mistress lost her mind to give a lesson to Aubrey, but the maids were different. Alice held a jewelry box in Aubrey’s hand.

n“What?”

nThinking that the maid dared to pass her goods, Aubrey was angry. Alice smiled lightly.

n“This is the original role of a lady-in-waiting, Miss Aubrey. Until now, I was holding it because the Madam didn’t have lady-in-waiting, but now Miss Aubrey has to do it.”

nThere was nothing she could forgive, from the rudeness of calling her name to the cheeky expression.

nHowever, Aubrey could not overturn the Grand Duchess’ jewelry box.

nPaula, the new maid, gathered Artizea’s hair to one side and braided it.

nArtizea looked in the mirror.

nShe wondered if the under eyes were too dim. It was the first time that she wondered if her cheeks were too slim and her cheekbones came out.

nShe wanted to look pretty.

nArtizea recalled the early summer days.

nShe returned from a long, dire future, and that’s the day she went to see Cedric.

nFor the first time then she looked straight in the mirror. Sophie would make her pretty, so she told her so.

nThinking if he liked her hair….. she felt some kind of anxiety and guilt.

nPerhaps at that time, she was already predicting the feelings of today.

nKnock, knock.

nThey heard a knock on the door.

n“Oh, he must have come!”

nRize shouted with a voice twice as bright as usual and ran to open the door.

nCedric made eye contact with Rize and smiled.

n“What about Tia?”

n“She is almost ready.”

nRize blushed her face as if she was shy and cleared the way.

nArtizea glanced through the mirror and she saw him. She took a deep breath and turned.

nShe thought she wished she wasn’t too shivering. She thought her cheeks shouldn’t be red.

n“Did you sleep well?”

n“Yes. I slept in a bed that does not shake after a long time.”

nThe voice came out as calmly as she thought.

n“Is the weather outside a lot colder? I have a winter coat, too… They sent me Cedric’s clothes. It must be very precious fur…”

n“It’s precious, that’s why you wear it. It’s a waste to wear when I’m active, so I can’t wear it anyway. Even though I told Ansgar to save it, Ansgar made it as clothes, so it hasn’t ever left the closet.”

n“But it looks like I’m covered in a blanket…”

nSophie and Alice both opened their mouths in surprise. Because there needs to be someone else who would say no.

nCedric shook his head.

n“It suits you very well as I thought.”

n“…..”

nArtizea bowed her head without saying a word.

nPaula consciously made a cheerful voice.

n“It was time to choose a headdress.”

nPaula turned to Aubrey. Aubrey was startled.

nCedric seemed to notice that Aubrey was there only then.

n“Aha, you are Tia’s first lady-in-waiting.”

n“Your, Your Grace.”

nAubrey couldn’t speak like before.

nCedric’s face was still sweet, but he felt like a completely different person.

nAubrey didn’t know this face. Even with the same soft face, the face of a man who treats a woman and the face of an adult who treats a child were completely different in the color of the emotions in them.

nHe never had a face like that when he took her young hand and took her to her mother.

n“Tia’s body is weak and she gets sensitive to cold, so please take good care of her. It’s probably different from being around someone who’s familiar with this place.”

n“Your Grace….”

nAubrey called him in a trembling voice. Tears welled up.

nCedric tilted his head strangely. It was because he hadn’t noticed why she did that.

n“Paula. Anything is fine.”

nPaula took a blue velvet ribbon and tied a knot at the end of her hair.

nHer shiny white blonde and the color of the ribbon dangling over her pure white coat were accentuated.

nCedric stroked the corner of his mouth once. He took a small sigh.

nArtizea looked up at Cedric gently.

nA smile soon returned to Cedric’s face, after a brief resignation.

n“Shall we go?”

n“Yes, I’m ready.”

nArtizea replied. And she told Aubrey.

n“Aubrey, I’ll leave my jewel to you in the future. Alice, please tell Aubrey the original place.”

nAubrey hesitated and left.

nCedric tapped her shoulder with his palm, as she seemed somewhat stiff. It was a consolation.

nAubrey became more angry and bowed her head. She felt like tears were coming.

nCedric reached out to Artizea. Artizea hesitated, then she put her hand on his palm.

nThe two slowly stepped outside. The maids who would not come as they went out then greeted them from inside the Tuvalet room.

nWhen the listeners disappeared, Artizea asked.

n“What’s bothering you so much?”

n“Me?”

n“Yes, you have a look on your face.”

nThere was nothing to say. Was it Aubrey’s fault? She thought for a moment, but she didn’t think Cedric was giving Aubrey an eye.

nCedric sighed a little.

n“No big deal. I think you and Aubrey…”

n“Yes?”

n“I remember you two being of similar age. I just realized it because it didn’t feel that way at all.”

nCedric turned his head to the other side. It was a shameless face.

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