Chapter 75
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 75
The Count was gritting his teeth in disgust while putting on a show of intimacy. It seemed my warning during our last meal—that we should act like a loving father and daughter—had worked wonders. This should quiet the rumors about our poor relationship, at least to some extent. Of course, some would still criticize it as a superficial show for the public eye.
He had goosebumps on his arms, as if his own behavior was making his skin crawl.
"What took you so long?"
"Don't you think you left a bit too early, Father?"
In other words, he was scolding me with, ‘What were you doing instead of coming early to make an impression on the Duke?’ and I was firing back with, ‘If you wanted to blame me, you should have brought me with you.’
"Don't tell me Grandfather has already passed away?"
"No. He's still holding on. He's at your ten o'clock. You'll recognize him—he resembles you."
Looking past the Count's shoulder, I saw an elderly gentleman who looked so much like Evangeline that anyone could tell they were blood relatives at a glance. Duke Hosaquin, Evangeline's maternal grandfather, was an old man with slicked-back white hair and a fierce, overbearing aura. Contrary to the Count's claims that he was on his deathbed, he looked incredibly hale and hearty. See? I told you the rumors about his poor health were just that—rumors. The Count lowered his voice and got straight to the point.
"Today is your chance. Make sure you leave a proper impression."
"I'm well aware, you don't need to keep reminding me. That's our deal, isn't it? So, Father, make sure you're fully prepared to return to the estate."
"I have already sent word."
Since that was the only thing we had to discuss, our conversation died the moment we finished. What a sterile relationship. The Count then turned his gaze to Gabriel.
"So, you are Sir Gabriel?"
"Yes. I have visited Count Rohanson's estate a few times, but this is the first time we have met in person. I am Gabriel."
"I am Coleus Rohanson. To have caught my daughter's eye… you must have a rather tragic fate."
The Count patted Gabriel's shoulder, as if trying to assert his authority. Considering that even a Marquis's son deferred to Gabriel, the position of Commander of the Knights was hardly so low that a Count could look down on him. He was probably getting ahead of himself, thinking Gabriel might be his future son-in-law and giving him a premature taste of a father-in-law's meddling.
Gabriel gently brushed the Count's hand from his shoulder and countered.
"On the contrary, for the young lady to take an interest in me is my utmost honor."
"Ha! They said the pure knight fell in love and became a fool. It seems the rumors were true."
The Count sneered. Hey, why are you picking a fight with a guy who's already going through a hard time? It hasn't been that long since I rejected that 'love of the century' that supposedly turned him into a fool, you know?
Worried the Count might keep instigating, I decided it was time to send him away. We had done more than enough to show the public that our father-daughter relationship wasn't completely broken.
"If we suddenly start sticking together like glue, people might find it even more suspicious. Shall we part ways for now? Unless you plan on staying by my side the entire time, Father, I suggest you go mingle with the other guests."
I urged him to return to the group he had been socializing with before I arrived. Although he looked displeased at being ordered around by me, he had no excuse to linger. He left after muttering one last command to make a good impression on the Duke. As I watched his retreating figure, Gabriel spoke up.
"It seems your relationship with the Count is not as bad as the rumors say."
"Our interests simply aligned."
No matter how you looked at it, our relationship was terrible. The Count didn't even know I had possessed this body; he just thought I had amnesia. Yet he still treated me like this, which meant he and the original Evangeline had never been on good terms either.
Judging by the paintings of the Countess that filled the storage room, Evangeline had loved her mother dearly. There was no way she could have liked the father who made her mother suffer. Even I, who had only read her diary, got so angry that I ended up taking it out on him.
"Then is your mention of returning to the estate also tied to those interests?"
"No, that's purely for my own reasons."
"Then… do you plan to stay at the estate indefinitely?" Gabriel asked, his voice hesitant and laced with caution.
Why was he acting so melancholic today? Was he worried that I’d leave the capital for good, making it hard for us to see each other? How utterly desperate… This time, even I felt a slight flutter in my chest.
"I'm only going for a short visit. I'll stay for a few days and then return right here, to you, Sir Gabriel."
Since I pushed him away last time, it was time to pull him back in today. And if I was going to do it, I had to do it right. When I fed him those sweet words, Gabriel seemed secretly pleased, even though he tried to hide it. To survive, I had to keep playing with his heart and maintain this status quo… My conscience pricked. How was I any different from the Count, who had seduced Evangeline's mother for her money and entered a fraudulent marriage?
Just then, Madame Toten, who had briefly stepped away to make her entrance, returned to my side.
"Lady Rohanson."
It seemed she had come straight back to me after exchanging a few greetings with old acquaintances. Perhaps the small talk had put her at ease, as her earlier anxiety had vanished, replaced by her usual composure.
"Shall we go pay our respects to His Highness the Crown Prince now?"
"Yes, let's."
Following Madame Toten, I headed toward the head table with Gabriel. As we ascended the dais, a handsome man with glittering blonde hair came into view. Whoa. He's handsome? Wasn't the Crown Prince supposed to be a middle-aged man?
"Lord Oratorio is the Imperial Grandchild," Gabriel whispered in my ear.
Ah, right. The brilliant grandson whom the Emperor wanted to pass the throne to, skipping a generation. Since they called him a grandson, I had assumed he would be a child, but he was much older and taller than I expected. Was his "brilliance" referring to his face?
The Imperial Grandchild was a textbook-handsome man with platinum blonde hair. Blonde? Right. Timeline-wise, it was about time for another second male lead to appear. Blonde hair and the future Emperor—perfect.
"And the gentleman beside him is His Highness Crown Prince Laudes."
Looking to the side, I saw a middle-aged man sitting there with an incredibly faint presence. I—I hadn't even realized he was there. I almost jumped out of my skin, thinking a ghost had suddenly appeared.
The Crown Prince's presence was so weak it made me wonder how a father and son could look so completely different. It was enough to make even an outsider like me understand why the Emperor wanted to skip a generation. The contrast was even starker because Oratorio was blonde while the Crown Prince was a brunette. The Crown Prince was handsome, too, so why did he have zero presence? As I scrutinized them, trying to pinpoint the difference, a sense of déjà vu washed over me when I looked at his face.
Black hair, blue eyes, and a slightly cold impression… Wait, Gabriel?
My eyes darted back and forth between Gabriel and the Crown Prince. They looked alike. Could this be a secret of birth? It was more than a wild guess; they resembled each other far too much. Besides, in RoFan novels, matching hair and eye colors usually meant a high probability of being family.
Right. Having the male lead be a mere knight commander was a bit weak! Gabriel was royalty! Was the Crown Prince his biological father? They didn't seem to have a huge age gap, so maybe they were brothers… Though, given the titles, he was most likely a prince.
"And beside him are Lady Jeremia and Lady Tenebrae."
Did Gabriel know he was royalty? Seeing how calmly he introduced them, he seemed completely oblivious.
To the right of the Crown Prince, two women who looked identical sat like a painting. Gabriel explained that they were twins, Oratorio's younger sisters, Jeremia and Tenebrae. They might be your younger sisters too… or your nieces. I recalled hearing about these two. True to RoFan tropes, twins were considered an ill omen in this world. There was even a prophecy, leading to a massive uproar that one of them had to be killed at birth. The Emperor had apparently thrown a fit, calling it nonsense and declaring he would raise both, which was how they survived.
In these kinds of setups, one of them always ends up being discriminated against… Whoops, did I stare too long? I almost made eye contact. I wonder which one it was, Jeremia or Tenebrae?
I quickly memorized their names and offered my greetings.
"His Highness Laudes, congratulations on this glorious day."
"My congratulations, Your Highness."
"You may rise. Thank you, Marchioness Toten, Commander Gabriel."
The Crown Prince responded with a genial chuckle. Though I had thought he lacked presence, a subtle authority seeped through his brief words, likely born from the power backing him.
"And I believe this is my first time seeing the young lady beside you. Would you introduce her?"
Fortunately, there was no clichéd novel scene where they made me repeat my greetings over and over to torment me.
I gathered my dress and curtsied. The angle was perfect, down to the very tips of my fingers. Teacher Doline, I did it! Maintaining my posture with unwavering poise, I rose.
When I smiled, curving my eyes, I heard someone gasp. It wouldn't be a RoFan without that kind of reaction. Honestly, my greeting was so shockingly perfect that it was only natural for the onlookers to admire it. Once again, I dedicate this glory to Teacher Doline.
"It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness. I am Evangeline Rohanson."
"Rohanson?" Oratorio, who was standing nearby, repeated my name under his breath. "If you are a Rohanson, then you must be the one from the rumors…"
Just how far had the rumors about Evangeline spread for even royalty to know? The speed at which gossip traveled in a RoFan social circle was truly terrifying.
Oratorio was about to add something, but the Crown Prince cut him off.
"Indeed. I heard you have been unwell. I am honored that you still attended my banquet despite your condition."
The greeting concluded with me presenting my birthday gift to the Crown Prince.
"A sword?"
The Crown Prince murmured as he unwrapped it, but showing no particular excitement, he simply placed it atop the pile of other presents behind him. What? Is that all? He's not even going to draw it once?
"Thank you, Lady Rohanson. It will be perfect for the upcoming hunting season."
The Crown Prince offered a polite thank you. Excuse me, but what are you going to do with a blunt sword? It's literally an antique artifact. He must have thought it was a practical weapon because it was in such pristine condition.
Perfect for the hunting season? More like he'd get himself hunted if he took that thing out. I wanted to tell him to draw it and see for himself, but I held back, remembering my decision to behave. Whatever. He'd figure it out on his own later.