Side Story 5: Roxana's Wedding (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Side Story 5: Roxana's Wedding (2)
“I heard you faced quite an ordeal while I was away in Candia. Are you alright?”
The moment they met, his first instinct was to check her for injuries.
“It was nothing. More importantly, I heard you were supposed to stay there longer. You’ve returned much sooner than expected.”
“Nothing? You nearly lost your life!”
He didn’t seem to hear her second sentence. Roxana felt a strange flutter of warmth, realizing his concern for her well-being was genuine.
“Lady Fellon was in far more danger than I was. It was a truly narrow escape.”
“Haa… I feel utterly powerless.”
“Why would you say that, Sir Gray? Everything is fine now, so please, do not worry yourself.”
“Yes. I suppose there’s no reason for me to feel this way…”
His lips pressed into a thin line, attempting to form a smile that wouldn't quite reach his eyes.
“I heard you’ve been named the successor to House Fellon.”
“Yes. I know it is a position far beyond my station, but it was the only way to protect Lady Fellon.”
“You know better than anyone how keen Lady Fellon’s judgment of character is. You will do well.”
His voice, though congratulatory, lacked its usual strength.
That was the end of their meeting that day. In truth, it remained unclear why he had even asked to see her in the first place.
Then, a few days later…
“Count and Countess Gray must finally be able to breathe a sigh of relief.”
Trisha spoke with a pleased smile, setting down a letter she had just finished from Countess Gray.
“Did something happen?”
“Their third son had been rejecting every marriage proposal sent his way for no apparent reason. But he suddenly returned from Candia and announced he’s finally willing to meet with women.”
“The third son… do you mean Sir Colin Gray?”
“That’s the one. Countess Gray was apparently worried sick, thinking her son might run off to become a priest. It’s wonderful news, isn’t it?”
Roxana couldn’t bring herself to echo Trisha’s sentiment.
How could she describe the sensation that washed over her in that moment? It was absurd, really, but she felt her heart break—even though she had never once experienced a proper romance.
But what could she possibly say? She had no right to interfere in his life.
Time marched on. Fortunately, Roxana had no leisure to dwell on him, occupied as she was by Lauren’s trial and subsequent death. Even after those matters were settled, she remained busy nursing Trisha, managing the household affairs, and helping Harriet prepare for her wedding.
No—to be honest, she pretended to be busy on purpose.
Whenever she allowed herself a moment of stillness, she was tormented by a truth she had realized far too late.
‘I liked him, too. I just gave up before I could even try, simply to avoid getting hurt.’
She didn’t know exactly when the feeling had taken root.
Looking back, among all the Imperial citizens she had encountered at the Academy in Candia, Colin was the only one who had ever treated her as an equal. Other Imperial nobles had loathed seeing a commoner like her consistently take the top rank. Even the students from her own country offered no praise, only sarcastic barbs, despite the prestige she brought them.
But Colin—only Colin—had been different.
“Top of the class again? You truly are extraordinary, Miss Valbenus.”
“Here is a congratulatory bouquet. The language of these flowers is: ‘Enjoy it while it lasts, for one day, that spot will be mine.’”
“What do you hope to achieve by studying so relentlessly? A commoner graduating from the Academy will become a lawyer’s secretary at best. There’s no need to cling to the top spot so desperately.”
At the time, she had taken his words as mockery. Looking back, they were signs of genuine interest.
She remembered how she, who usually ignored the taunts of others with cold indifference, had always found a sharp retort for him.
What was the reason for that?
‘What’s the use in thinking about this now?’
It was too late. We weren’t meant to be, Roxana repeated to herself like a mantra.
However, the moment she locked eyes with Colin at Harriet’s wedding, she realized she hadn't let go of her lingering feelings at all.
“Congratulations. I heard Viscount Listerwell is your nephew, Miss Roxana.”
“Yes. It is a strangely intertwined fate.”
Colin had approached her where she sat with the bride’s family. He offered his polite congratulations to Trisha and Roxana, then immediately turned to make his exit.
She didn't know how much she agonized in that split second. Just as he turned away, she reached out and lightly grasped his forearm.
As he looked back in surprise, Roxana forced an awkward smile.
“Let’s meet soon. There is something I’d like to ask you.”
“…Alright.”
Despite the sudden request, he didn’t seem shocked. Nor did Roxana feel the embarrassment she expected.
Some time later, Roxana sat across from Colin at a restaurant in the city. After a few minutes of feigning interest in small talk, she finally slipped in the question that had been haunting her.
“I heard there are marriage talks. Will I be receiving a wedding invitation soon?”
“It hasn’t reached that stage. I merely told my parents I would be willing to meet a woman, provided she didn't mind marrying the aging third son of a Count.”
“Countess Gray must have been very worried. She must be relieved now.”
“Perhaps.”
A bitter smile touched his lips.
Roxana found herself hoping against hope. Even though she knew she might be overstepping, she pressed him.
“I heard your heart changed after you returned from Candia. Did something happen?”
“Nothing happened there.”
Colin avoided further explanation, picking at the food in front of him.
She had to read between the lines. If ‘nothing happened there,’ did that mean something had happened elsewhere? That ‘elsewhere’ was likely the capital, and the only thing that had changed here was…
‘Could it be because of my adoption?’
Hesitating for only a moment, Roxana decided to be brave. Wasn’t it the same courage Colin had shown when he first confessed his feelings to her?
“If I am speaking utter nonsense, please correct me. Does my becoming a noble have anything to do with your change of heart?”
“…”
“Colin.”
At the sound of her voice—low, soft, and familiar—he clenched his jaw. He looked as though he were in pain as he finally confessed.
“Because it felt like I truly had to give up now.”
“What do you mean?”
“You are to become the Countess Fellon. And I… I am just the third son of House Gray, am I not?”
A heavy silence fell between them.
It was Roxana who finally broke it.
“Shall we get married?”
At the sudden proposal, Colin’s brow furrowed. His expression was a mix of shock and confusion, as if asking what kind of cruel joke she was playing.
But Roxana’s mind was made up.
“You and I are both past the typical age for marriage, and there doesn’t seem to be much hope for either of us in that regard… so I thought, why don't we rescue each other?”
“What are you talking about? You are the heir to a Count’s estate; how can you say there is no hope for you?”
“What noble family would welcome a woman with little chance of bearing an heir? Unless, of course, the man had a similar flaw himself.”
While Colin stared at her in bewilderment, Roxana ordered a bottle of wine. Something expensive.
As the fragrant alcohol began to flow, the honest feelings they had kept locked away finally began to follow.
*
“Aunt! You’re surprisingly bold, aren’t you?” Harriet exclaimed, having heard the entire story.
Roxana merely shrugged.
“Fortunately, thanks to the warm welcome from the Gray family, we were able to expedite the wedding.”
“I heard they were desperate for their son to marry. Of course they’d want to rush it.”
“No. I was the one who requested it.”
“Why?”
Roxana smiled faintly at Harriet’s question.
“At your wedding, Harriet, Mother said, ‘Now all I need to see is your wedding.’"
“Aunt…”
“Of course, it’s what I want as well, but I thought it would be best to do it while Mother is still feeling healthy.”
Harriet felt once again that it was only natural that Roxana, not herself, had become Trisha’s daughter. There was clearly no one in this world who loved Trisha as much as she did.
*
Roxana and Colin’s wedding, held in April of the following year, was modest yet beautiful. As the couple wished, the guest list was small, consisting mostly of close relatives and friends.
“You look so beautiful, Aunt.”
Harriet praised Roxana, who was radiant in her white dress and veil. Roxana, who had been called the ‘Lioness’ and even the ‘Wolf’ of House Fellon for her fierce protection of Trisha, was today nothing but a dazzling bride.
“Not as much as you were, Harriet, but I suppose I’m not entirely unpresentable, am I?”
Seeing her grin so happily brought a stray tear to Harriet’s eye.
If Harriet felt this way, how much more so did Trisha? Trisha, who had held back her tears at Harriet’s wedding, couldn’t contain them this time.
“Now that I’ve seen both my daughters find happiness, I have no regrets, no matter when my time comes.”
It pained Harriet to see the usually stern, cold woman shedding such endless tears, even if they were tears of joy. Harriet stroked the back of the woman who had saved her life and become her most respected elder, offering comfort.
“Don’t say such things yet. You still have babies to see.”
“Oh, how much longer do you expect me to hold on?”
Harriet leaned in and whispered softly.
“Well… you might be seeing your first great-grandchild very soon.”
Trisha’s eyes widened. Then, a broad, radiant smile spread across her face.
“In that case, I must certainly gather my strength!”
True to her word, Trisha didn't complain of fatigue once, enjoying the reception to the very end.
A family woven together from lonely souls was finally harvesting a bounty of happiness.