CH 28

“If an unworthy person covets something too much, they will have to pay the price. As we are but a Viscount family, how can we dare to covet the position of hostess of the Grand Duke’s family?”

This is a mere homebrew bullsh*t. 

[T/N: Homebrew bullsh*t meaning lies that they made up, even if it has some logic to it, it’s being used in their favor to get out of an unfavorable situation.]

Benelucia felt a moment of déjà vu from those words. 

“Don’t you think that I will accept her?”

“I am grateful for the care you have shown my daughter, who had no connection to the capital.”

As a parent protecting her daughter, there was some mockery and ambiguity in the way she expressed her gratitude for Benelucia’s so-called ‘care’.

It was especially clear as people like the Viscount of Daphnen and his wife were not ones who requested for personal favors when Senelia lived with the duke. They’d never thought to use their daughter, nor did they have a desire for power. 

“My daughter must have learned a lot in the time she spent with you in the Capital. Even if it was a little bitter.”

As expected, though the words of the Viscountess seemed pure, the true intentions hidden inside them were easily revealed if one listened carefully. 

The Viscountess meant that Senelia had not been happy while she resided in the Capital, and the main cause of her unhappiness was due to her insistence on being with Benelucia. 

“So, it would be good for you to reap the reward of that time at this point.”

This is your fault, it’s because you made her miserable. So now, stay away from my daughter.

[T/N: Mommy Daphnen is so lovable, honestly. ^^

Still angry with her daughter but knows to protect her until she’s dealt with the main problem.]

Viscountess Daphnen’s gaze glinted directly into the Grand Duke’s. 

She had absolute belief that the man in front of her, if given the chance, would make her daughter suffer again. 

Benelucia’s mouth snapped shut, if he had to ask Senelia if she had been truly happy with him, he couldn’t be sure the answer would live up to his expectations. 

He was convinced after he was reminded of the scandals he’d caused over the last two years. 

The Grand Duke involuntarily turned to Senelia, hopefully expecting her to help him. 

The futile desperation that Senelia might choose him despite her mother’s objections.

Benelucia unwittingly called out to Senelia in a heart wrenching voice.

“Sally.”

But upon seeing Senelia’s face, Veneruccia’s expectations were shattered.

As much as he was embarrassed, her complexion was also pale, Senelia didn’t have the skills to beat her mother.

To her mother, Senelia had most likely become a rotten existence especially since she claimed she found love with the duke. 

Nevertheless, she had tolerated it as just Senelia being a child and played the role of a semi-opponent. 

[T/N: Meaning that she was partly an enemy of their relationship progressing and continuing as the years went by.]

To be honest, Senelia was in a state of panic.

I had no idea that my mother would oppose Benelucia so resolutely.

Because Senelia, after her terrifying encounter with the emperor, had never once thought of anyone other than Benerucia as her marriage partner.

She had long passed the age of marriage, and there was still her image that was created by her position at Benelucia’s side. If she had been the lover of the Grand Duke for about 1-2 years it would have been acceptable, but it was six years.

Most of the Young Lords were worried that they would become enemies of the Grand Duke by taking an interest in Senelia, his ex-lover.

Objectively speaking, it was a long way off for Senelia to marry anyone other than Benelucia.

There was no way the Viscountess would not know that.

But to oppose him was like a promise that the Viscountess would rather let her daughter live alone for the rest of her life than marry the Grand Duke.

In other words, it also meant that the Viscountess deeply hated Benelucia.

“…Viscountess, what if I, despite your objections, marry Sally?”

The male lead questioned with a heavy voice. 

He’d rejected Lucalina, clinging to Senelia, he had done things he had never thought would never take place. 

It was after he realized that he loved Senelia so much that it became almost impossible to turn things around or take back his past mistakes, did he know there was no place to retreat.

“I don’t know how many children will be able to enjoy a marriage with a partner their parents don’t acknowledge.”

This time, Senelia’s mother didn’t hide her intentions. 

She had no plans of backing down, it didn’t matter that her opponent was the Grand Duke. 

And the more determined the Viscountess was, the worse Senelia’s complexion grew.

And the more determined the Viscountess was, the worse Senelia’s complexion grew.

The worst assumptions came to mind.

The emperor… Will he tolerate mother? Will he harm her too?

Senelia worked hard not to tremble.

A seasoned emperor, such as himself, would quickly discover that she cared very much over her mother’s disapproval.

Senelia knew deep down, breaking away her bravado, she could never turn her back on her mother’s sincere wishes. 

Cliff de Helios would, without a doubt, be offended should he learn that she obeyed her mother instead of him. 

It is an unacceptable problem for an emperor who is obsessed with perfection.

To have someone other than himself wield his dog was unacceptable.

Senelia Daphnen was terrified. 

So Senelia was afraid.

The emperor would dispose of my mother immediately for objecting to today’s marriage.

Senelia’s thoughts reeled as she sputtered.

“I don’t want to marry if my mother is against it.”

Instantly, the joys and sorrows of the emperor’s brother and the Viscountess were sharply divided.

Senelia had only one calculation in her mind.

Even if the Emperor found out about her mother’s disapproval, the thought that it might be all right if Senelia pretended that even this was a calculated situation filled her mind.

She could protect her only surviving parent if she just timed her actions right.

What Cliff disliked was his plans going awry, he wasn’t interested in her personal relationships and work.

“Are you serious, Sally?”

Benelucia’s words were rough.

It wasn’t a marriage proposal she accepted with delight, Senelia couldn’t be happier to give up on marrying him so easily.

“My husband would like that too.”

However, the Viscountess did not miss the opportunity to add some side commentary.

Even the dead Viscount Daphnen was mentioned, the situation quickly turned against Benelucia easily, his pride cracked.

Neither the Viscountess, nor Senelia, nor even the dead Viscount Daphnen, seemed to welcome him, it was a treatment he had never experienced before.

The marriage proposal that the Viscountess was given from Benelucia’s own hand was mercilessly crumpled. The ball was now in his court. 

[T/N: Ball in his court — the next deciding move is his to make.]

He loved Senelia.

But did he love himself more?

Enough to insist on getting married even after being treated like a rouge?

“If you don’t want to, do as you please.”

The Grand Duke rose from her seat.

The countless regrets he harbored in his heart faded away in the face of his wounded pride.

Before he left Senelia’s room, he looked back at her one last time.

Unfortunately, Senelia didn’t change her words, she was her mother daughter before she was his ex-lover.

“Sally, you’re always like that.”

Benelucia felt his eyes sting, quickly, he spat out those words and wanted to leave.

Had Senelia asked him to wait for the Viscountess’ permission, he would have gladly done so.

However, as always, she did not ask for anything from Veneruccia, nor did she hold him back.

He didn’t want to be in this space for a second longer. He strode over and opened the door.

Bang.

As if to represent Benelucia’s broken heart, the door slammed shut loudly behind him as he disappeared into the hallway.

***

Senelia sided with the Viscountess because she thought she had to protect her mother, but when Benelucia left in anger, Senelia’s reason flashed a warning light.

How will you get the chance to marry Benelucia?! You’ve already blown away and eaten your last chance now!

It couldn’t be.

Senelia was about to speak out of her nervous thoughts in order to convince her mother.

“Sally. Have you ever been partnered with Young Master Pendragon?”

Senelia’s body trembled.

These were words I had never heard from mother.

What happened between her, the Grand Duke, and Pendragon’s Young Lord at the banquet hall had stirred up the capital.

However, Viscount Daphnen and his wife did not want to hear the rumors about the scandals in Capital, nor the gossip about their daughter who was past the age of marriage.

Besides, there was no way anyone would dare to say anything to this small manor.

Because of this, Senelia wondered how the Viscountess knew about her affair with Pendragon’s Young Master.

“…Yes I have it, but how does your mother know about it?”

Senelia nodded cautiously, nervously.

I was worried because I didn’t know what kind of tales entered my mother’s ears and made her aware of the Young Master.

“You, take this.”

The Viscountess handed her daughter an item she had kept aside, separated, from the marriage proposal given by Benelucia.

After accepting it, Senelia’s actions froze.

A marriage proposal.

“Daughter, I didn’t return the Grand Duke’s marriage proposal because I wanted you to live alone for the rest of your life.”

As for how she interpreted her daughter’s reaction, the Viscountess ignored it for now and continued smoothly.

“If you are going to get married, I want it to be with someone who will make you happy. Pendragon’s Young Master said he wanted to come to the funeral and pay tribute to your father. I said yes.”

Senelia involuntarily raised her voice.

“Mother!!!”

The reason why the emperor put the Young Master Pendragon and Senelia together to hint at them to stick together.

It was unexpected that Pendragon’s Young Lord sent me a marriage proposal.

And, honestly, it did not benefit the Viscountess and Senelia at all.

“I’ve left your marital problems here!”

The Viscountess did not back down either, her tone was quite agitated.

“I found out that, except for the slightly bad relationship with the Grand Duke, the rumors about Pendragon’s Young Master are purer and better.”

The Viscountess’ tone was very rarely forceful.

In other words, it revealed that there is no room for the Viscount to rethink and change her mind.

“Come now and take this marriage proposal… Ha! That man, that Grand Duke, will never be accepted as a marriage partner.”

The viscountess shouted, her body trembling with barely concealed rage.