Chapter 58
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He probably held her all night, until just a moment ago.
He felt the urge to bring Odelia, who had left the room, back inside, embrace her, and fall asleep together again.
'…This is probably why people say I'm crazy.'
He sat still for a long time, covering his face with his hands.
The warmth remaining on his fingertips lingered for a long time.
* * *
Not long after the Grand Duke's Ducal Palace's main gate opened, a never-ending procession of carriages followed.
Starting with the delegation bearing the imperial crest, representatives from the central noble families, and even the northern collateral nobles.
The palace entrance, which was usually deserted, was now bustling with people as if a festival was being held.
Odelia stood by the window, quietly watching the scene.
The footsteps of the servants, busy preparing for the wedding eve party for the guests, echoed back and forth from below.
And…
One carriage slowly stopped on the red carpet in front of the gate.
'She's here.'
A woman wearing a black fur cloak stepped down.
Castilla Excepcion.
The previous Grand Duke of the Excepcion Family.
A woman with the cold dignity and steel-like fortitude typical of northern nobles.
She was once at the forefront of the cavalry that roamed the borders, and at another time, she was the de facto ruler of the Grand Ducal Family.
She preferred mobile attire over fancy decorations, and when necessary, she drew her sword before anyone else and stood at the forefront of the battlefield.
She was someone who overwhelmed her surroundings with just a look or a word.
'I didn't see her in my previous life.'
Because she was already estranged from Ludville.
'…No, should I say betrayed?'
From the moment Ludville was adopted into the Excepcion Family, he didn't treat her as a human being.
No matter how much blood is thicker than water, Odelia couldn't defend Ludville on that point.
He was very ungrateful.
From the perspective of a thousands-times-over returner, the previous Grand Duke was merely a means to obtain the title of Grand Duke.
Ludville, the iron-blooded Grand Duke who only moved to save Odelia, didn't care about the previous Grand Duke he used as a 'tool' and cast her aside.
And confined her…
To pass on all the Excepcion Family's assets and titles to Odelia after his death.
From the perspective of the returner Ludville, everyone except Odelia seemed to be just extras or meaningless letters in a novel.
Ludville may have been a savior to Odelia.
But objectively, he was a villain.
Without blood or tears.
'I apologize on his behalf…'
It had already become something that never happened, but still.
Odelia felt like she should apologize, even if only in her heart.
'Perhaps he lost all emotions while repeating the regression.'
Odelia was relieved that her previous life had now become 'something that never happened.'
"Where is that child?"
It was then.
A cold voice echoed from beyond the hallway, along with the rough sound of military boots.
Odelia snapped out of her thoughts and straightened her posture.
"I will guide you right away, Your Excellency Castilla. The Princess is preparing her dress."
Theodore, the head butler, responded in a low and calm voice.
But as the opponent was who she was, a subtle tension permeated Theodore's calm tone.
"…"
The thought of having to make a good impression made her body react first.
Odelia reflexively went to the mirror and looked at her face.
'An appearance that will gain favor…?'
She didn't know.
It had been a very long time since she had even faced a mirror.
Looking at it like this, she generally had pale coloring, making her look like a ghost.
'…I don't think I can gain favor.'
From the perspective of older people, she looked too weak and feeble to be praised.
Anxiety slowly tightened around her body.
'There's nothing I can do about it. I can't fix my face.'
Just do as usual.
For Ludville, the previous Grand Duke was always a 'troublesome existence to be removed.'
The reason he became her adopted son in the first place was only a means to obtain the title of Grand Duke.
'Honestly, I don't even expect Ludville and the previous Grand Duke to reconcile.'
Could this life be any different?
Ludville was calling people from all over the empire and holding banquets every day to find the Blue-Eyed Woman.
But at least.
'I hope she won't be confined in this life…'
Even after Odelia died, Ludville had to continue living, and as long as he survived, he had to maintain his relationship with them.
She didn't expect Ludville to have feelings like 'family love' for her.
Even if it's not family love, just… just be a little more human.
He could be cold-blooded, but abandoning morality was too much.
If he removed everything that bothered him, no one would be left by his side.
It was a long time ago, but there was a time when Ludville was more delicate and fragile than anyone else.
A smile like a radiant ray of sunshine.
Eyes that showed everything inside.
In his immature days, his face brightened at her slightest word, and he gave his whole heart with a single, casual touch.
There was such a time.
So…
She hoped he would pay attention to someone other than her.
Odelia took a breath in front of the mirror and carefully opened the door.
She saw two people approaching at the end of the hallway.
As the woman walking ahead came into view, she reflexively took a step forward to greet her.
And that one step brought disaster.
The hem of her dress caught on her toe.
"…!"
Her foot faltered slightly, and her body leaned forward in an instant.
Fortunately, she managed to regain her balance by grabbing the door frame, but all eyes were already on her.
"…"
Castilla stared at Odelia, who was frozen in place.
It was a gaze as if she was observing something strange.
Odelia smoothed her dress with her sweaty hands and hurriedly opened her mouth.
"It's a pleasure to meet you for the first time, Your Excellency Castilla."
"Hmm…"
But Castilla responded to her greeting in a rather peculiar way.
She scanned Odelia up and down without saying a word.
Then, she clicked her tongue and said, "Tsk."
"…Taste, indeed."
"Excuse me?"
Odelia was startled and raised her head.
"It's nothing."
No, she heard it too clearly.
Didn't she just click her tongue while looking at her face and mention Ludville's taste?
Suddenly, what Ludville had said to her a while ago came to her mind.
"The previous Grand Duke? She is a troublesome, annoying, and unpleasant person, so you don't have to pay attention to her."
"…"
She had a feeling that it wouldn't be easy to get close to her.
"…I should have come out to greet you, I was very rude."
Odelia greeted her with courtesy for now.
Anyway, as the person who would become the mistress of the house, it would be better to maintain a polite attitude towards her elders.
Then, Castilla looked at Odelia with eyes as sharp as a hawk, as if piercing through her, and asked.
"I heard that the third Princess of the Cardel Family is weak, and she certainly looks like it."
"…"
"Still, I expected her to be better than the rumors since she came from a family of heroes. Hmm…"
Did that mean she was below expectations?
It had been a long time since she had been openly criticized like this, so it felt new.
