Chapter 60
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 60
"Lady Rosalyn."
After a group of people finished their noisy greetings and moved on, a gentleman with neatly pomaded hair stepped forward. Unlike the men who had come before, his face still held a boyish youthfulness.
He spread his arms wide, as if greeting a dear friend, and took Rosalyn's offered hand with a theatrical flair. As the two shared a brief reunion, Vanessa narrowed her eyes, studying the man. He looked familiar.
Had she met him before? If he was a friend of Rosalyn's, they must have crossed paths at least once. While she racked her brain for his name, the man finished kissing the back of Rosalyn's hand and turned to Vanessa, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
"And... Lady Vanessa."
Flustered that he knew her name, Vanessa hesitated, her fingers bunching the fabric of her skirt. If Rosalyn hadn't nudged her gently in the ribs, she wouldn't have managed to offer her hand at all.
The man gently took her awkwardly extended hand. Vanessa noticed he held it a little longer than he had Rosalyn's. Finally letting go, he straightened up, his eyes crinkling playfully.
"Aren't you going to say hello to an old classmate?"
"Don't tease her, Logan," Rosalyn interceded, stepping between them with an elegant gesture that shielded Vanessa from his gaze. "You barely spoke to her at St. Louis. It's shameless of you to expect a warm welcome."
"Still, we were in the same class for three years."
"She's just nervous. She didn't sleep well last night."
The man's eyes widened at that before he let out a pleasant laugh.
"Well... she has a surprisingly cute side to her."
"Vanessa was always cute. What did you think she was like?"
"She seemed gentle, but not exactly approachable."
"That's only because you boys put her on a pedestal and worshiped her like some goddess."
"...What is that supposed to mean?"
Completely bewildered by the conversation, Vanessa hurriedly chimed in. The man just shrugged and answered her question readily.
"Well, consider the time. We were all trapped in that dreadful place, and pretty girls were in short supply. You were one of them, of course, Rosalyn."
"I'm deeply honored."
Whether he caught her sarcasm or not, the man just grinned broadly and scratched the back of his head as he continued.
"At first, a few guys tried to approach her seriously. But when they saw her startle and flee from Mason of all people, everyone gave up. We figured if she ran from a face like his, what chance did the rest of us have?"
"Vanessa had every right. You boys were rather intimidating."
"Well, after watching her from afar for a while, we all agreed she was untouchable territory."
Untouchable territory. She had known the boys whispered about her, but she never imagined it was anything like this. She had always assumed they were gossiping about her poverty or her uncle's reputation, so she had paid them no mind.
Back then, every day had been exhausting. Her entire life revolved around raising her grades. She would wake at the crack of dawn to go to the library and squeeze in volunteer work during lunch. All she cared about was proving herself with better grades, being selected as the student representative, and getting a letter of recommendation from the dean.
It was all for the hope that her uncle might allow her to take the entrance exam for Oltempoze University.
"I... had absolutely no idea."
Vanessa stammered, her voice trailing off as she averted her gaze. Even though it was all in the past, her cheeks burned with embarrassment.
Of course, even if she had known, nothing would have changed. Most of the boys at St. Louis already had their marriages arranged. They might have been sincere for a while, but as graduation approached, they were bound to put their families and fiancées first. Just like the sensible Blair.
"...Vanessa, look over there."
Just as Logan was about to say something, Rosalyn grabbed Vanessa's arm. Unlike her usual calm self, she seemed unable to control a sudden surge of emotion.
Vanessa turned her head in the direction Rosalyn indicated. The pair was hidden by the crowd at first, but as people parted to the sound of a clear, ringing laugh, she saw a man and a woman walking arm in arm.
"It's Ethan Harley and Miss Stanley."
Vanessa watched them with cautious eyes. In contrast to Ethan Harley, who looked weathered from his military service, Miss Stanley was stunningly fresh and beautiful. As the woman covered her mouth with a fan and whispered something to him, he leaned down to listen, a faint smile on his lips.
Rosalyn bit her lip, her face deathly pale. She looked utterly lost and, at the same time, furious.
"Ethan wrote to me about his leave. He asked if we could meet at this party, and of course, I said yes. I should have known he would bring Miss Stanley..."
"Are you going to tell Ethan Harley what we saw at the cafe?"
Rosalyn nodded, her gaze still fixed on the couple.
"I thought it would be best to tell him face-to-face, so I've been waiting for his leave. But how can she be so shameless after everything..."
Rosalyn raised a hand to her mouth, her expression anxious. She was about to bite her nails—an old nervous habit. Vanessa caught her hand mid-air and pulled it down firmly. Her friend looked at her, confused.
"Don't just stand here. Go to him, Rosalyn."
"...What?"
"You're just worried. Whatever is going on, it's better to talk to him. Just don't mention seeing Miss Stanley yet... there might be an explanation. This could all be nothing once you hear the truth."
After a moment's hesitation, Rosalyn lifted her chin with determination as Ethan Harley moved toward the deck. She then pushed Vanessa toward a bewildered Logan, as if handing her off.
"Could you look after Vanessa for me? It's her first time at an event like this."
"Oh, me?"
"I won't be long. Just take her inside and find a table. Please, Logan Dawson."
Dawson. At the name, something clicked. Vanessa looked up at Logan Dawson, her face brightening. A faint blush crept onto his cheeks at her intense gaze.
"Dawson? Are you that Dawson?"
"...I'm not sure what you mean by that Dawson, but if you're referring to the Viscountcy of Dawson, then yes, that's me."
Logan Dawson shrugged, a playful look on his face. The familiarity, it seemed, wasn't from him, but from his family name. For the past few days, she had been engrossed in old newspapers, searching for that lawyer's face.
"I'd like to see Mr. Benjamin Dawson. Is he here with you?"
"My great-uncle? You want to see him?"
He tilted his head, the question plain on his face.
"I heard he worked with my late father. I have some questions for him about when the will was drafted."
"Ah."
He nodded in understanding and glanced around. Then, he gestured confidently.
"He's probably inside playing whist with the other gentlemen. Shall I lead the way?"
"Really? You know the way?"
"I've traveled enough. The layouts of these ships are all quite similar."
"Thank goodness. I'm so overwhelmed..."
Vanessa hurried after him, her fingers tracing the necklace beneath her collar like a talisman. River Ross had told her it was a fake, that she could be careless with it or even lose it, but still… to her, it looked far too expensive. And expensive things that didn't suit one's station always aroused unwanted curiosity.
She had hesitated to wear it for that very reason, but she'd put it on in the end for one simple cause: gratitude. It was his wish for her to shine brightest in a place where she felt so isolated and plain, and she couldn't refuse such a kindness.
"Hey, Somerset."