I Made a Mistake in my Confession. Can I Cancel it? - Chapter 13

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 13

‘What kind of situation is this?’

Looking at the bouquet Kartan was offering, she wondered if this was a dream. But the white freesia with water droplets was emanating a fresh, vibrant fragrance.

‘His Grace the Archduke giving me flowers is absolutely ridiculous!’

At this sight that was impossible to believe even while seeing it, Lillian froze completely.

“My arm’s going to fall off.”

At His Grace the Archduke’s complaint, Mother hit her own forearm.

“Oh my, Lillian. His Grace the Archduke is bestowing this upon you, so why aren’t you accepting it quickly?”

Then she covered her mouth with her fan and smiled elegantly.

“Our child must be very surprised. Actually, I forgot to tell her that Your Grace would be visiting.”

“Ah, I see.”

It was a brief but polite response. Come to think of it, she didn’t think she had ever seen him speak formally to anyone.

‘What is this inexplicable sense of foreboding…’

Lillian, whose feet had gone numb, wanted to immediately interrogate him about why he had come here. But with her parents watching, she couldn’t bring herself to speak. If even the letter ‘c’ of ‘confession’ came out of his mouth, it would be the end.

“Th-thank you.”

She accepted the bouquet while subtly gauging her parents’ reactions. Fortunately, her parents were watching this scene with satisfaction.

‘Phew.’

She let out a small sigh and looked up at Kartan. Unlike her anxious self, he seemed completely nonchalant. Father approached him as he looked around the home.

“Your Grace, it’s humble, but please come inside.”

As soon as His Grace the Archduke went in, Mother poked her side.

“Can’t you act a bit more gracefully? His Grace the Archduke has personally come, so why do you look so gloomy?”

“I’m sorry…”

“Really, there’s not even a speck of likeable quality about you. Just try making a mistake, I won’t let it slide.”

The Baroness, having made her threat, quickly followed the two men. Then, all the way to the reception room, she expounded her opinions about the gossip circulating in the social circle. He didn’t seem particularly interested, but he didn’t stop her either.

When the proper meal began, Baron Dante was the first to speak.

“Your Grace, is the food to your liking? My wife prepared it, but please understand if there are any shortcomings.”

A nervous tone could be felt in his voice. Only then did Kartan look down at the plate in front of him with an expressionless face.

“It’s delicious.”

But contrary to his words, he continued cutting at the same spot. Lillian couldn’t concentrate on their conversation at all. Her mind was filled only with thoughts about the purpose of his visit.

Just then, Kartan, whose gaze met hers, chuckled softly. Then he tapped the corner of his mouth with his index finger. Wondering if it was some kind of signal, she mimicked his gesture with trembling hands. Then he shook his head and pointed to the opposite side.

“Not that side, the other side.”

“Ah.”

Only then did Lillian wipe the corner of her mouth with her napkin. When dark red sauce came off, her whole face burned with embarrassment.

“As you’ve probably already noticed, I would like to formally court Lillian.”

At Kartan’s bombshell declaration that came out of nowhere without warning, Lillian choked. As she kept coughing, Baron Dante looked at her as if she were pathetic.

“Hmm, but as you know, our child already has an arranged marriage. We’ve already received the dowry too. This is quite troublesome.”

“Dear, we can just return that dowry. Isn’t the feelings of the two people more important?”

“But… we’ve already spent all the dowry money that we’d need to return.”

Something was going strangely wrong. Before Lillian could say anything, the corner of Kartan’s mouth twisted upward.

“Actually, just recently Lillian asked me to lend her money. I wondered what was going on, but I never imagined there were such circumstances.”

Then he looked intently at Lillian. When their gazes met, some indescribable sense of intimidation pressed down on her body.

“You must have suffered quite a bit in silence all this time, unable to say anything.”

Kartan continued speaking as he took out a business card from his coat’s inner pocket.

“If you take this, Bank President Whitton will give you as much as you need.”

The Baroness’s face immediately brightened as she quickly snatched the business card.

“Oh my, you really don’t need to do this. Since His Grace the Archduke has resolved everything so cleanly, you should bless the two of them as well.”

Then she chattered on about how she never liked Count Gewin from the beginning, and how his gaze when looking at Lillian was strange. The Baron began to agree with her, and the atmosphere at the dining table quickly became harmonious.

Lillian was confused by her parents’ suddenly changed attitude. Clearly, her parents had said she should become Count Gewin’s second wife. They said that was the only way to repay the debt of gratitude for raising her.

‘This doesn’t seem right somehow.’

For a moment, Lillian hesitated as she was about to stop her parents.

‘But there’s no need to force the marriage through, is there…?’

First of all, she had no feelings for Count Gewin. Since the unwanted marriage had fallen through, it was actually fortunate. Moreover, her reckless confession hadn’t been exposed to her parents either.

‘What should I do? But dating His Grace the Archduke is a bit…’

If she hesitated any longer, things would become uncontrollable. While Lillian was unable to do this or that, the Baron laughed heartily.

“Since His Grace the Archduke has gone this far, I simply cannot match it. I will explain well to the Count.”

At this, the Baroness even clapped her hands in joy.

“This really worked out well, Lillian! Congratulations, dear!”

She wondered if it really had worked out well. Somehow she couldn’t shake the feeling that in trying to remove a speck of dust, she had walked herself into an even bigger quagmire.

‘But right now, it’s a good opportunity to overturn the marriage…’

She could break up with His Grace the Archduke anytime. The moment she confessed honestly, His Grace the Archduke would abandon her. Of course, the financial problem remained, but perhaps she could escape from marriage.

“Th-thank you.”

As soon as Lillian’s answer fell, the Baron brought the champagne that had been on display.

“On such a good day like today, we must have a drink! I’ll pour for you!”

It naturally led to a drinking session. Kartan didn’t refuse the glass that was offered either.

Not long after, when the Baron collapsed completely drunk, a servant carried him to the bedroom. Only then did Kartan get up from his seat. He didn’t look drunk at all.

“Since it’s late today, I should be going now.”

At this, the Baroness escorted him to the gate.

“You must be busy with your duties, I hope this child didn’t keep Your Grace too long.”

“Not at all.”

Kartan’s gaze turned to Lillian, who was following from a distance.

“Let’s see each other again next time.”

Lillian just bowed her head. For some reason, it was even harder than usual to meet his gaze. Perhaps because she didn’t feel confident.

When the carriage Kartan rode in disappeared into a dot, the Baroness finally took out the business card she had tucked away. Then she even kissed it repeatedly.

“Oh my, precious thing! You’re finally worth the cost of raising you.”

For the first time in her life, Lillian received praise from Mother. But rather than feeling good, she only felt complicated.

“From now on, make sure to please His Grace the Archduke well. You know what I mean, right?”

After giving her a stern warning, Mother went straight inside the gate.

* * *

“Excuse me, are you Lady Lillian by any chance?”

Lillian, who had been busy cutting grass, took off her goggles.

“Yes, that’s right. What can I do for you?”

His manner of speaking—neither formal nor informal—was the tone frequently used by high-ranking government officials. The man explained about a business proposal he was supposedly promoting, just as Lillian had expected. This was the fifth person today. People who were usually difficult to meet had come to visit, and every single one of them had made requests of her.

This was all because of the rumor that she and His Grace the Archduke had become lovers. And all in just one night!

‘I know rumors spread fast, but this is too much!’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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