CH 224

Extra 3. The End of First Love (2)

He opened the heavy door and came out to the hallway. The hallways of Marquis Spencer were quiet because it was late at night. Daniel walked down the stairs slowly so that there was no sound of footsteps. In the hallway leading to the kitchen on the first floor, Daniel was heard calling.

“Daniel?”

It was Marchioness Spencer.

“Oh… Grandma.”

“You haven’t slept at this time?”

“No, I’m not. I’m just… I woke up because I was thirsty. So I’m going to drink water.”

Afraid that eye contact would read his mind, Daniel evaded the eyes of Marchioness Spencer. It was an unconfident tone unlike him, who always spoke firmly and accurately, but the ending of the man’s words, which had many facts he wanted to hide, was clouded.

“Come to my room. I was just making tea.”

“……yes.”

Daniel, who had never disobeyed his grandmother, followed Marchioness Spencer’s footsteps, suppressing his desire to run away immediately.

“You haven’t been eating a whole meal lately.”

“It’s because I ate outside. I’m sorry I missed the family meal.”

“Just because I’m old and my eyes are dim doesn’t mean I’m a fool to in mind.”

This means that Daniel’s lies have already been seen. Daniel blushed at the words of Marchioness Spencer. Marchioness Spencer beckoned to him, who hesitated as if he had been caught doing something wrong. To Daniel on the other sofa, Marchioness Spencer gave him the tea.

“It’s a crock. It’s better to eat on an empty stomach.”

“…thank you.”

The teacup was just the right temperature. Marchioness Spencer, who had always been boiling black tea so hot that his tongue burned, is unlikely to have been brewing a warm tea that Daniel could drink by chance today.

She’s probably been working on this curve ever since she found out Daniel was skipping meals.

To make him drink when talking to Daniel.

“I’m sorry to have troubled you, Grandma.”

“Daniel, Duchess Ezet of Jaxen loves her husband very much.”

“I know.”

“…will you meet Miss Erit?”

Daniel shook his head. It doesn’t matter if it’s not her.

When Ezet was still known as ‘Erit Jaxen,’ Daniel just said he would meet her because it was his grandmother’s command, but his heart was already set on her.

Her name, Erit, didn’t matter if it was Erit.

Daniel was utterly captivated by Maria, who he met at the big theater that day.

If he knew this would happen, he wouldn’t have gone to the opera. He would have stayed with Philip in the back garden and not study flowers. Daniel’s hand, holding the teacup, trembled finely.

“Daniel, a man’s heart doesn’t go his way.”

So are the minds of others.

To capture someone’s heart, to hold one’s heart that has fallen for someone.

“I let it heal over time, but before that, I’m afraid your body will go bad.”

“……I’m sorry.”

“Forcing you to meet a girl from another family would be counterproductive.”

Marquis Spencer was well aware of Daniel’s tendencies. If his first love had been rather a flame, it would have burned in an instant and gone out without leaving any ashes. Daniel’s love was like a ripple in tranquil water. That’s why a single drop of dew causes a constant wave.

“The other day, the Duke and Duchess of Jaxen said they would invite our family to a tea party.”

“Grandmother, I’m…”

“I’ve been thinking a lot. Should I take you or not?”

Marchioness Spencer was worried that Daniel, who still has lingering feelings and has not given up, would be more hurt if he faced Ezet again.

But she didn’t think Daniel would forget her just because he was blocked from meeting Ezet.

Instead, he will miss her more, grieve more, and suffer from the nightmare of love fever and become ill.

“Do you want to meet the Duchess of Jaxen?”

“……”

Daniel couldn’t answer. He wanted to see her. He wanted to meet her. He wanted to see that lovely smile, bright eyes, tickling laughter, and fragrant gestures.

But he didn’t want to double-check that there was already another man next to her. He was afraid that Edmond would even take ‘Maria’ from the fantasy.

“Grandmother, I’m… I don’t know what to do.”

Putting down the teacup with trembling hands, Daniel clenched his fist. Until the coming of age ceremony, it was a vague concept for Daniel to be in a relationship or marriage. There were beautiful women, wise women, elegant women, and noblewomen around him. He treated each of them with respect, but he has never had his heart-flutter.

But the moment he met her at the big theater, the image was strongly imprinted.

Until then, Daniel didn’t know he had a crush on her. An innocent young man who did not know what love was just remembered ‘Maria’ as if he had seen an impressive artwork.

However, Daniel found out the moment he ran into her again, who came for the coronation of Crown Prince Philip.

What’s in his head, what’s so painfully imprinted on his heart.

“I don’t know how to forget…”

Daniel, who bowed his head like a sinner, confessed in a wet voice. It was like penance, like pleading. Marchioness Spencer sat opposite Daniel, stroking the teacup.

In the midst of blooming as beautiful as flowers, the wind and rain were too strong. She didn’t know what to do with her grandson, who couldn’t get up again even though the sun was shining and was half bent and ill.

“Getting older doesn’t make you wise on your own.”

If Daniel had been selfish, if he had put his desire first, if he had been a jerk who didn’t hesitate to do mean things to achieve what he wanted, she would have educated him severely.