A World Where You All Are The Villains - Chapter 28.2
Just as I finished my conversation with Eston, it was nearly time to depart.
With the butler escorting me, I hurried down to the lobby.
“Edith.”
“…Father?”
For some reason, the Duke was waiting for me.
‘Surely he’s not coming with me, is he?’
I forced myself to hide my unease and approached.
“It suits you quite well.”
His gaze was fixed on my necklace.
‘Still, he says things like that because I’m his daughter.’
For some reason, I felt both embarrassed and awkward.
“…Thank you for the gift.”
“It’s a reward for behaving yourself these past few days. Don’t go off and do anything reckless that would disgrace the family.”
“……”
“Don’t forget the warning I gave you last time.”
Of course.
It was always best to shatter any expectations or delusions right away. Otherwise, I’d just end up getting blindsided again.
While I nodded indifferently, I suddenly looked at the Duke again.
He wasn’t wearing formal evening dress.
“…You’re not coming?”
“What would I do, joining in with a bunch of young people? They didn’t even send me an invitation in the first place.”
He grumbled.
That was something I hadn’t known.
‘No old people allowed?’
Well, this was a romance fantasy at heart, so it wasn’t entirely unreasonable.
“And… what about Ethan?”
“He probably went to pick up his partner.”
The Duke answered indifferently.
‘Right. Every time there’s a banquet episode, there’s a big competition for the female lead.’
But today’s winner would be Male Lead #4, so Ethan would surely come up empty-handed.
Serves him right, honestly. And I was just glad I didn’t have to go with him.
As I quietly sighed in relief, the Duke suddenly asked,
“Don’t you have a partner?”
“No.”
“Good grief…”
He looked at me as if I were hopeless, but I wasn’t bothered.
“Well, I’ll be off then.”
Ignoring him lightly, I took the butler’s outstretched hand and walked toward the entrance.
“Edith.”
Suddenly, the Duke called out to me.
I turned back, puzzled. I’d expected he’d already gone into his study.
But he was still standing there, staring at me.
And then he said,
“…All dressed up like that, you look just like your mother when she was young.”
“……”
“Ahem! That’s to say, you look pretty. Ahem, ahem!”
He blurted it out in a flurry and immediately turned away.
He hurried off so quickly that I didn’t even have a chance to thank him.
“Uh…”
“I wondered why His Grace came out to see you off in person… It seems he wanted to see you wearing his gift,” the butler said with a pleased smile as I stood there, dazed.
It didn’t quite hit home for me.
‘Maybe it’s because it doesn’t really feel like it’s my life…’
But for some reason, my heart was beating uncomfortably.
I didn’t know why.
And I didn’t want to know.
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By the time I stepped outside the mansion, the sun had already set and dusk was falling.
The butler respectfully escorted me all the way to the carriage waiting out front.
“Thank you, Butler.”
Just as I was about to step onto the carriage and thank him—
Thwack—!
Suddenly, someone snatched my hand off the butler’s arm.
“What…!”
“From here on, the escort should be the partner, not the butler.”
Startled by the sudden figure, I heard a familiar voice at my ear.
“What took you so long, Edith? I thought I’d turn to stone waiting for you.”
“Y-Young Marquis…?!”
The butler was shocked, and so was I.
Playful tone, soft, wavy blue hair.
Golden eyes glinting in the dim lantern light as they looked me up and down.
“Been well? You look great tonight.”
Male Lead #2.
Vincent Leandro.
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