Ch#68
Ch#68
Ch#68
Chapter 68
~Chapter 68~
“Revenge?”
“Yes! I really want to see that bastard crumble in front of everyone.”
Albert gritted his teeth as he thought of Cedric, who had openly ignored him and his father ever since becoming duke.
‘Does he think he’s some noble, untouchable ice flower? I’ll make sure the whole world knows that guy’s just as full of flaws as we are. I’ll make it happen no matter what!’
He was convinced that with Angelique, it wouldn’t be hard to make it so. A vile smile spread across Albert’s face.
Even after festival week ended, the cathedral was still crowded. People were gathering again to offer their first prayers of the new year.
“Daphne, are you really all right?”
Even after the carriage stopped in front of the cathedral, Countess Laurel gazed at her daughter with eyes full of deep worry, asking the question over and over.
“Don’t worry, Mother. This is the cathedral. No one would dare mock me openly here, right?”
“Daphne….”
“I’m joking. I’m really okay now.”
Daphne smiled brightly to reassure her parents. But watching her only made the Laurels’ hearts ache even more.
“What wrong did you ever do to deserve these looks even during new year prayers…!”
Count Laurel couldn’t continue, turning his head away with his jaw clenched tight.
But Daphne calmly affirmed her father’s words.
“You’re right. I didn’t do anything wrong. So there’s no reason for me to hide away or skip new year prayers. Come on, Mother, Father.”
The Laurels looked at their daughter with slightly surprised eyes. They wondered if she was forcing the smile for their sake, but her expression seemed as bright and genuine as it had been before the broken engagement.
“R-right. Let’s go, then.”
Count Laurel pulled himself together first, stepping down from the carriage and helping his wife and daughter down one by one.
The Laurel family’s reappearance in society after several months wasn’t all that surprising. But many who saw Daphne’s famous silver hair in person couldn’t hide their shock.
“Gasp! That’s Daphne Laurel!”
“The lady who got dumped, right?”
“How long’s it been since we last saw her?”
Daphne couldn’t hear their whispers, but she could feel the persistent stares clinging to her.
It would be a lie to say she wasn’t tense.
But she wasn’t as scared as before.
‘Why should the victim have to skulk around like a criminal?’
‘The more you hide, the more arrogant Bella will get.’
Those were Harriet’s words.
‘She’s right. The one who should be hiding isn’t me.’
Daphne took a deep breath and smiled confidently.
Every step the Laurel family took into the cathedral drew stares laced with surprise.
To support their daughter, the Laurel couple maintained calm, dignified expressions. Their daughter was doing her best to be strong; they couldn’t afford to look gloomy as parents.
That was when someone greeted them.
“Long time no see, Count and Countess Laurel.”
“Oh! Isn’t that the Rilbun Countess!”
It was the Rilbun Countess, chairwoman of the ladies’ association at Saint Paolo Cathedral.
It was fortunate that she had approached them first. Sociable and well-connected, she knew how to ask even personal questions with politeness.
“Have you come for new year prayers? It’s been a while since I’ve seen your daughter, too. How have you been, Miss Laurel?”
“Thanks to your concern. I took some time to recover, but I’m much better now. I came to offer prayers of thanks along with my new year prayers.”
“Oh my! What a devout young lady—how admirable. You’ve raised her well, Count Laurel.”
“Haha! You flatter me. But I know there’s no better marriage prospect than my daughter.”
The Rilbun Countess laughed heartily at his response.
“Hurry inside. It’s already packed; if you’re late, you might not get a good seat.”
“Thank you. May God’s blessings be upon you as well, Madam.”
After their brief exchange, the Laurel family hurried toward the nave.
As the Rilbun Countess had said, the good seats were all taken, and the hall buzzed with people exchanging greetings.
“Phew. I’m supposed to meet Count Sheldon… but finding him in this crowd won’t be easy.”
At Count Laurel’s words, Daphne thought of Harriet.
‘I wonder which cathedral Harriet attends?’
She wanted to apologize for not replying to Harriet’s letter, but with her parents’ overprotectiveness intensifying, it hadn’t been easy. Maybe they’d run into each other here by chance.
‘I’ll make sure to tell her I’m sorry if we meet at a party later.’
Pushing aside her regret, Daphne focused on responding to the acquaintances who recognized her and offered greetings.
Because of the symbolic nature of January 1st, by the time mass began, the church was packed to the brim.
But the new year prayer mass wasn’t all that long.
It consisted of a 20-minute preparatory prayer ritual, a 30-minute new year sermon by the high priest, followed by a 10-minute choir performance and free prayer time. Including seating and wrap-up, it took about an hour and a half in total.
“The way out will be rough, too.”
Count Laurel glanced toward the exit while listening to the choir’s final hymn.
Since they were seated up front, they’d have to wait a good while to leave.
“You can chat with people you know, Father, and time will fly by.”
“You’re right, Daphne.”
He smiled proudly at Daphne’s positive tone.
He’d been worried she might collapse from the stress of facing the public after so long. But Daphne had instead comforted her worried parents and shown the calm demeanor she used to have.
The wound might have left a scar, but it no longer seemed to bleed.
‘Feels like I can finally breathe a little.’
Last year had been a nightmare.
He could ignore the mocking stares aimed at him and his wife, but watching his young, beautiful daughter’s future shatter had been unbearable agony.
Above all, the hardest part had been watching her spend nights crying until dawn. It felt like his heart was being torn apart.
But that painful time had passed, and now they were slowly returning to peaceful everyday life.
Still, Count Laurel didn’t know what had brought about this change. He only remembered that one day, after Daphne had gone out briefly, she’d started regaining her will to live.
“Watch your step, Daphne.”
“I’m fine, Father. You take care of Mother.”
Just as Daphne teasingly wrinkled her nose and scolded her father….
“Miss Daphne?”
At the sound of someone calling her name, the count couple stiffened and looked up. Daphne’s face lit up in surprise at the familiar voice.
“Miss Harriet!”
It was Harriet—the very person Daphne had secretly hoped to run into.
Count Laurel and his wife flinched at her appearance. Especially since Trisha Felon was standing right beside her; they didn’t want their daughter getting involved with Harriet.
“Nice to see you. I’m Harriet Listerwell. I wish Count and Madam a new year filled with blessings.”
Harriet greeted them very politely. There was no hint of mockery, and her courteous manners seemed straight out of a noble etiquette manual.
“Oh, Miss Harriet. And Countess Pellon, long time no see.”
“Indeed. At my age, it’s hard to get around, so I can only make it out on days like this.”
Trisha gently took the blame upon herself, as if apologizing for the Laurel family’s absence from society. That small consideration touched Count Laurel deeply.
Trisha always maintained a dignified air, but she could be ruthlessly cold to those who tried to use her.
Not mentioning the rumors and pain the Laurel family had endured—that was the mark of a true noble. It was something many had forgotten.
“I hope to see more of you in the future. We’re thinking of holding a few gatherings this year ourselves.”
“If I show up, they’ll just say I ruin the mood, so I’ll send this child instead. Treat her well, as you would me.”
“Ah… haha… yes, of course.”
Count Laurel answered awkwardly, though he wasn’t thrilled.
In the meantime, Daphne approached Harriet and whispered low enough that her father couldn’t hear.
“I really missed you. I’m sorry I couldn’t reply to your letter. You must have been so upset? I even wrote a thank-you note for the lavender perfume you sent… but circumstances came up, and I couldn’t send it.”
Harriet glanced at Daphne, who was furtively eyeing her father with unease. Just from that, she could guess what the ‘circumstances’ were that had kept her from sending the letter.
So now was her chance. Especially while Trisha had the Laurels’ attention.
“Great-grandmother, I just ran into an old friend—may I talk with her for a moment?”
