IDIBC Chapter 80

The Notorious Villain of the Dining Table

After declaring her support for me, the Duchess’s actions became unstoppable. She took me everywhere to important events and repeatedly announced that she would maintain our engagement even after the saintess’s appearance. Though Ricardo never gave his permission in the end, the Duchess did not abandon hope.

“Do you know why high society is important?”

The Duchess asked quietly as we passed through the long corridor of Count Debron’s estate, which resembled an exhibition hall. Today wasn’t a banquet but a luncheon gathering.

It was a social gathering hosted by Countess Debron, who was said to be deeply devoted to poetry recitation, and I was exhausted from conjuring fake laughter and false emotion.

“No, I honestly don’t understand. Why is it important to fake smiles and have pretentious conversations in such lavishly decorated places?”

“Quite scathing.”

I bit my lower lip hard, harshly criticizing myself for babbling whatever came to mind out of sheer exhaustion.

“I don’t necessarily mean that in a bad way…”

“No need to try. Your impression is perfectly normal.”

Instead of adding more words, I obediently bowed my head.

“Nevertheless, high society is important. The words of those with money and power have a very high possibility of becoming reality.”

“Ah…”

“Without this culture, the art and architecture of Dermeier and Resotia would never have developed. Sometimes vanity and greed become the wellspring of great works.”

“That’s true, and the same goes for law and medicine. Though things don’t always get sorted out in the right direction.”

“You’re clever.”

As always, the Duchess’s evaluation of me was generous.

“Let’s hurry. There will be much to prepare for this evening’s dinner. The Duke and Ricardo both seem to be finishing work early.”

“It would be nice to have dinner together after so long.”

At my slightly excited answer, the Duchess smiled softly.

Since the day I went to see a play with Ricardo, the words he said in the carriage kept echoing in my ears.

[How could I possibly know things like how to share laughter with someone or exchange hearts?]

His lonely voice stuck in my throat, difficult to swallow. I simply wanted Ricardo to grow a little closer to his parents.

Even if by God’s machinations he truly did lead his father to death, I hoped they could gain strength to endure those terrible moments through memories of having loved each other.

Of course, this was precisely something I shouldn’t interfere with carelessly. Their relationship was that heavy and that intense.

“Yes, thanks to you, I hope we can.”

The Duchess’s sad voice as she answered with a smile also resembled Ricardo’s voice from that day.

Ricardo had already arrived at the mansion before we did. Seeing alternately the carriage he had taken out already returned and my face flushed bright red, the Duchess clicked her tongue and laughed.

****

The dinner setting wasn’t much different from last time. Except that I had grown somewhat accustomed to the silence that lingered around us.

Perhaps what was a little different was that Ricardo’s body leaned more toward me, and that the Duke and Duchess were watching us with warm gazes?

“How are things at the palace?”

Unusually, the Duke was the first to break the table’s silence.

“What could there be to palace work? Being dragged there against my will and handling whatever tasks they demand—that’s all there is.”

And the notorious villain of the dining table appeared once again. When the villain emerged, the Duke simply closed his mouth. He could have severely scolded his impertinent son, but he chose to remain silent instead.

I intuitively realized that these two father and son would never grow close this way.

The two equally stubborn men were running on parallel tracks.

Even though it was clear they loved each other fiercely.

One month—no, since I heard that story five days ago, only twenty-five days remained now.

The constantly diminishing number seemed to be driving me mad.

“I have something to say.”

Even while choosing my words internally, my heart pounded madly. Deliberately ignoring the gazes pouring toward me, I moved my lips.

“I think the Duke needs to explain things to the Young Duke.”

A heavy silence descended upon the table instantly. I felt like I had opened a box that should never be touched, but having deliberately opened it, I couldn’t avoid confirming what was inside.

“What… are you saying, Lienne?”

Even the Duchess’s gentle voice couldn’t easily calm my heart.

“Back then, ten years ago.”

“…”

“I know it was an unavoidable situation. But that’s something everyone knows. Of course I know this isn’t my place to interfere, but I think you could at least explain what really happened here back then and say one word of apology for sending him away. Because Ricardo… was really struggling.”

Everyone seated at the table froze without saying a word. But they couldn’t have failed to grasp the meaning of what I was saying. Since these were feelings they always carried, they couldn’t pretend not to know even if they wanted to.

Because the words that needed to be said went unspoken, conversations always skimmed the surface and resentment accumulated. While harboring misunderstandings about each other.

“Lienne…”

Ricardo called my name, trailing off, but I gave him a more resolute expression.

“You too, Young Duke, stop it.”

At my words, his mouth shut tight.

“Stop acting like something’s broken. Or what, are you just now starting puberty? I’m telling you this after all this time, but Young Duke, you’ve been overdramatic since childhood.”

I turned my gaze back to the Duke.

“I’m the person who protected your son by blocking him with my entire body, so I think I can make statements to this extent. I don’t mean to boast, but there were many times I was beaten nearly to death.”

“…”

“We can’t go on like this forever. You’re father and son.”

I didn’t have time, and Ricardo was deathly afraid of what would come after everything ended.

The Duke only moved his lips slightly, swallowing dryly. After agonizingly slow movements, the Duke finally broke the precious silence and answered.

“Rochester does not apologize, even to God.”

I shook my head. No matter how much less I had learned and lived than the Duke, I was certain of this one thing.

“No, even God must apologize when wrong.”

“…”

“Yes, perhaps you have nothing to apologize for. Then why didn’t you treat Ricardo more warmly when he returned?”

I know it’s presumptuous and meddlesome. Yet the words wouldn’t stop.

“If there was something misunderstood, why didn’t you explain it wasn’t like that and embrace him? Ricardo—the Young Duke, I mean—may look all grown up on the outside, but he’s actually quite lonely.”

At the continuing words, the Duchess lifted her head a bit more stiffly, but she couldn’t stop her hands holding the cutlery from trembling finely.

“That’s…”

The Duke took a deep breath and steadied his gasping.

“Because nothing changed.”

There was regret in the faintly trembling voice.

“Even if it wasn’t my intention, the fact that I separated Ricardo from my side didn’t change. Even though he was a son sent away as if tearing living flesh, the fact that I failed to protect him… left no room for any excuse. So I had no right whatsoever to offer any premature comfort.”

It was the first genuine words from the stubbornly unyielding man who could never apologize or make excuses. At the inner feelings his father revealed, Ricardo’s breathing became slightly disrupted.

“I thought that would be deceiving him instead.”

“No, that’s not true. That’s… I dare say, cowardly.”

“…”

“How Ricardo takes it is his burden to bear. But Duke, you must say what needs to be said.”

“What needs… to be said?”

The Duke made an expression like a small child who had lost his mother before his eyes. I never imagined that he, who always wore a cool expression while feigning some lightness, could make such a face.

I was momentarily startled with fear, but I slowly formulated my words internally.

“Apologize that you’re sorry for having to send him away even though you had no choice, and love him. If you say nothing out of worry about how the other person will receive it, that’s really, truly too much.”

I looked at Ricardo.

“You too, Young Duke. Don’t miss out on precious time together because you’re worrying about separation.”

Then came the scraping sound of a chair from across the table.

“Lienne.”

At the Duchess’s voice, my head automatically bowed. I thought I had done something terrible, but I felt no regret.

“Let’s give these two some time alone now.”

“Yes…”

I obediently followed the Duchess out, leaving only the Duke and Ricardo in that silent space.

As soon as we stepped into the corridor, I bowed my head to the Duchess.

“I’m truly… sorry. I overstepped my bounds. I was just so heartbroken. It hurt too much to just watch…”

“No.”

At the firm yet mercilessly trembling voice, I slowly raised my head.

“Thank you, Lienne.”

“Pardon?”

“Because I was afraid, scared of losing even what little I had… you did what I couldn’t do all this time.”

Incredibly, the Duchess was shedding tears. At the tears that could never be light, shed by the woman who was always perfect, I lost my words and floated there on the spot.