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Astina’s health has not been great lately.
Everyone on the estate of the Marquis Borneau was concerned about Astina’s condition.
The Marquis of Borneu had summoned all the most eloquent physicians to attend to his beloved daughter, but no one could figure out what was wrong with her.
Even Astina was unable to pinpoint the exact location of the pain.
She just felt weak and unable to eat. It was only natural for her to become malnourished due to a lack of food.
Everyone in the estate was heartbroken when they saw the once-brilliant Astina in pain.
Even Yohan Borneau, who had heard that Astina was ill, was reprimanded by the Marquis when he attempted to return from the academy.
The reason was that he shouldn’t miss class no matter how sick his sister was. Using the Conler brothers as an example, Yohan resisted giving in.
Marquis Borneau made a joke after hearing that, saying, “It is clear that one of the requirements for admission to the academy was loving their little sister so much.”
Astina normally would have laughed at the Marquis’ jokes, but right now she could only feign a smile.
The Marchioness skipped all of her social events and stayed by Astina’s side the entire time. She was completely engrossed in Astina’s nursing.
The Marchioness stroked Astina’s smooth brow and stated calmly that she needed to recover quickly.
Meanwhile, she couldn’t help but miss the salons organized by Lausanne.
Thinking it was only polite to explain the reason for not attending, they conveyed the news that Astina was not feeling well. Lausanne was genuinely concerned and sent her some herbs said to be beneficial to her health.
However, Astina’s condition did not get better even after taking the precious medicine.
“I guess my sincere prayer was heard.”
Then one day.
Like a lie, Astina put herself together.
She nibbled on every bite of food offered to her, as if to make up for not eating much the past few days.
Her body had previously felt as though it were being pulled downward by a force coming from the ground, but now it felt light and as though it could fly away, as if it had been freed from that force.
Astina’s cheerfulness returned. The Marchioness wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and said she went to a temple where an ancient god was enshrined to pray.
Astina believed that her mother’s prayers had been heard by the gods.
“We have received numerous letters wishing you a speedy recovery.”
Astina grinned broadly as she delightedly regarded the names spelled out on the letters. While there were some familiar names, such as Mary and Lausanne, there were also some rather unpleasant names, such as Sofia Bruno.
“Sofia?”
After a brief pause, Astina tore open Sofia’s letter first.
She was eager to complete the dreaded task, and even as she considered it, she reflected on her attitude toward the term “dreaded task.”
“What does it say?”
Astina’s expression changed strangely as she read the letter, prompting the butler to inquire carefully. Sofia Bruno was also an unexpected individual to him.
“Sophia says she’ll come to apologize to me.”
With a rather subdued voice, Astina spoke. She suddenly recalled what Mary had said to her when they were both very young.
Never forgive someone lightly. It was as if Mary had changed after she had hit her head.
Before that, she was…… So, from the very beginning, she hated her for no reason.
It was as if she had met the parents of her enemy. Everyone in the orphanage eventually came to despise Astina as a trend thanks to Mary, who was somehow the orphanage’s leader.
Astina didn’t find it significant that Sofia felt such animosity toward her.
She thought that Sofia would suddenly regret her actions and apologize to her one day, just like Mary had done before.
But Sofia didn’t open up easily.
Mary tried not to show it in front of Astina, but Astina also knew that Sofia apologized separately to Mary.
‘It’s exactly what I was hoping for, but why?’
Why is it so uncomfortable?
She wrote to Mary and Lausanne telling them not to worry because she is doing well.
She wrote an additional note to Mary about Sofia coming to visit her to apologize.
Mary might be bothered, but she wants to snitch a little.
The Marquis of Borneau’s table is once more bustling.
At the dinner table, the Marquis, his wife, and Astina were merrily conversing when the butler abruptly burst in.
“What’s going on?”
“We’re in trouble. The first prince will be visiting tomorrow.”
“What? Why all of a sudden?”
“It’s because of Miss Astina’s illness….”
Astina blinked. Cameron’s visit to the Marquis’ mansion was unexpected enough, but for him to be there due to Astina’s condition? Astina and Cameron had never interacted before.
The First Prince’s visit to a marquis’ daughter didn’t make any sense. If it were Lausanne, it would probably seem more plausible.
“The First Prince…… Do you know each other?”
The Marchioness trembled as she asked Astina in a shaky voice. Astina was also surprised and had a hint of fear in her eyes.
Astina shook her head. She didn’t believe it would be as terrifying if it were Demimore coming, despite the fact that they weren’t particularly close.
“No, what’s going on?”
Marquis Borneau exhibited similar unsettling behavior. He can’t believe he’s coming over the following day.
The Marquise had no time to explain that Astina was now healthy enough to look after herself, eat nutritious food, and go for walks.
The Marchioness touched her forehead. There were numerous things to get ready.
***
“I’m glad to hear that you’re doing well.”
Cameron said this while drinking tea. Astina could not help but feel nervous and stiff in the presence of the first prince.
On the other hand, Cameron appeared to be very at ease. She was desperate to cut through the nonsense and get to the point.
“They used to call you the sunshine of the salon, but it’s so chilly in here.”
“Oh… I’m sorry.”
“Just kidding, Lausanne was very worried.”
Astina said while sighing.
“My mother was very worried that we wouldn’t be able to properly welcome you.”
“Well, are you trying to make it look like I rushed to come here?”
“No! Your Highness, I’m delighted to have you here.”
You know it well.….
Astina, however, made a concerted effort to suppress her emotions and maintain her smile.
The title “Sunshine of the salon” came naturally to her in the company of the young ladies of the salon.
“Well, I’ll get right to the point since you seem uneasy.”
“……Yes.”
“I want to marry you, Astina.”
Astina’s heart began to race as she froze at the unexpected words.
It was a proposal of sorts, but instead of feeling happy, she felt somehow uncomfortable. The good Astina didn’t understand herself.
“I….”
Astina occasionally had dreams about the future. She aspired to dress elegantly like her mother and live happily ever after with her husband, who would be just like her father, in a large windowed mansion.
She imagined it would be lovely to have a son and a daughter, or even to adopt a child who exhibited characteristics of both her and her husband.
However, she sensed a tiny crack forming when she tried to picture Cameron in that scenario.
Leaving Astina in shock, Cameron stood up.
“Remember that.”
“Wait a minute! Why me?”
“Because I love you, and if that’s what you want to hear, you can live under that illusion.”
“Your Highness, I’m not the right person for you.”
“That’s up to me, Astina.”
Cameron gently held Astina’s shoulders and gazed into her eyes before leaving the mansion.
After some time of standing motionless, Astina hastily followed Cameron. It wasn’t a proposal; it was an order.
Astina accelerated her steps as she watched Cameron board the carriage.
“The prince is here?”
It was then.
Astina’s path was blocked by a mysterious figure dressed in a black robe, and she was forced to stand and watch as Cameron left.
Only then did Astina turn around to see who was blocking her path.
“…… Sofia?”
“What did you talk about?”
Sophia took off her robe, and Astina felt a little uneasy because Sofia’s eyes were empty.
The voice asking Astina also didn’t sound like Sofia’s voice, which she knew.
There seemed to be more noise mixed in…
“What did you talk about?”
“Oh, just….. He asked about my health after hearing that I was ill.”
Astina gave an evasive response because she felt she shouldn’t admit that Cameron had forced her to become engaged to him.
“Lies.”
“What?”
“Isn’t the first prince trying to get you engaged to him?”
Sofia laughed strangely out of the blue.
Astina hesitated for a moment before reaching for Sofia’s hand after quickly noticing that she wasn’t herself.
“Who are you to take everything away from me?”
Sofia’s empty eyes sparkled with glare. A sudden black mist emerged from Sofia’s body and soon engulfed both Astina and herself.
Astina recoiled in surprise, but she was unable to escape the dense fog.
“Mother, father!”
Astina’s desperate cry seemed to bounce off the black mist that surrounded Sofia and her. A wave of fear swept over Astina.
She couldn’t figure out why Sofia was acting in this manner.
Astina struggled mightily to move her hands through the dense fog, but it clung to her like glue.
‘It’s all over….’
She tightly shut her eyes. When she thought everything was over, she felt someone suddenly grab her by the neck.
Astina was pulled back abruptly and was so startled that she couldn’t even scream. She managed to escape the black fog, and when she opened her eyes, she was outside the mansion.
Astina slowly checked who grabbed her.
“Are you okay?”
It was Theodore Conler.