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“FATHER, Mother. You called for me?”
“Oh, you’re here. There’s tea in the pot, so pour yourself a cup.”
“There’s plenty of honey if you’d like some too.”
My parents had the same red hair and eyes as I—a trait found throughout the Rhuddlan family. My mother and father were, in fact, distantly related by blood, and I was so proud to inherit the color my beloved parents bore. They were kind, loving people who greeted me warmly despite all the trouble I’d just caused them with my engagement to Eddie.
Siraiya probably would have grown up to be a confident, happy person if he had parents like mine.
“Thank you.”
I sat down on the sofa across from them.
Aromatic black tea, a plate of cookies, and a familiar honey jar sat out on the low table between us.
The Rhuddlans’ main sources of income were our carbonic gas hot springs and our beekeeping industry. This honey was the specialty product of our territory. I scooped a big helping into my cup of tea, but that was when I realized my parents’ eyes were twinkling as they watched me.
What’s this? Is this some sort of special tea?
“Ahem. Do you have anything to say to us?” asked Father.
“You seem so eager to get to school these days,” Mother followed up.
Oh, I see. They already know. My beloved parents stared closely at their precious daughter.
I set my cup down quietly, embarrassed as my cheeks grew red. How could I even express the complex feelings inside of me? I tried my best to string some words together.
“There’s a boy I’m interested in. He goes to my school, and the two of us talk every day. Meeting with him makes me so happy, but also a little sad. It’s like I wish time could stop when we’re together, or at least, that we had more of it to share with each other. That’s been a daily part of my life as of late.”
I kept my eyes glued to the floor when I told them that, but when they didn’t respond, I finally looked up again. There I found my parents holding hands and smiling fondly at me.
I just knew they’d enjoy some good gossip about my love life.
However, their reactions were more subdued than I expected. Before I could ask them their intentions, they spoke to me, their voices brimming with affection.
“Thank God. We were worried, Cynthia.”
“Truly! We were so concerned for you, Cynthia.”
“We knew you were hurting underneath that brave face.”
“But now you’ve found a new love, haven’t you? How lovely!”
“My beloved daughter’s heart isn’t broken after all. How grand!”
I drew a deep, shaky breath.
I was the next generation’s viscount, and that came with expectations. I had to be strong. Something as trivial as being mistreated by my fiancé could never be enough to rattle me. That was why I had a duty to keep pressing forward, never letting anyone console me over the loss of Eddie.
But my parents had been watching me. They’d been worrying about me.
“Thank you…”
I knew I could have shown weakness in front of my parents. They would have accepted my feelings, no matter what.
For something so simple, somehow, I always found it difficult.
If only he could be here with the rest of my beloved family.
“Yes, for a time, I had accepted the fact that I would be marrying someone I didn’t love,” I confessed. “For the good of the family, I could choose a man with the skills to manage our territory, regardless of how I felt for him. But now I’ve realized that I want a marriage like yours, Mother, Father. I want to be with someone whom I can support and be supported by. I want to marry someone I love.”
This time, I took a deep breath before continuing.
“His name is Siraiya Brooke. He’s the third son of Duke Brooke.”
Even with parents as accepting as mine, it took some courage to reveal his name. Siraiya was an illegitimate child and was treated coldly throughout noble society. I didn’t know how my parents might react.
“I see. I remember his name being submitted when you first started looking for a fiancé. Before he enrolled in school, the duchess spoke of him as a violent, lazy, good-for-nothing. But the academy now showcases his hard-working demeanor and his top grades, so these days, most people know Duchess Brooke was only speaking nonsense.” Father stroked his chin as he spoke, but he didn’t seem to have a poor impression of Siraiya.
“Goodness. It’s not easy to earn the top grades in the academy. If he’s charmed you too, Cynthia, then I’m sure he’s a lovely young man.” Mother smiled kindly at me.
What a relief. Now I know they’ll both be accepting of Siraiya.
“I haven’t told him how I feel yet, nor do I know how Lord Brooke feels about me,” I informed them.
“I see. You ought to invite him to come and see us here at the manor, if he’ll accept,” Father suggested. “We want to take a good look at this young man for ourselves.”
“I hope it works out between the two of you, Cynthia,” Mother said, her smile gentle.
“Yes, Father, Mother.”
I had my fingers crossed for a positive outcome. I wanted to provide Siraiya with a loving family of his own. With him by my side, I was confident that I could grow even stronger and better as a person.