Spring in My Grasp - Chapter 69

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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(69) Confrontation with Family

When Alexis turned toward Audrey, his eyes froze over with cold fury. Beside her sat Maribel and the child. Maribel’s gaze trembled as she looked at him.
“Alexis…”
At Maribel’s call, Alexis’s face twisted with profound disgust. As if unwilling to acknowledge her existence, he turned away from her and faced the Count and Countess instead.
“How generous of Baron Valerion to grace us with his presence. Truly, we are honored beyond measure.”
Count Glister spoke with a sneer. Alexis’s eyes, fixed upon the Count, held not a shred of emotion.
“I suggest you refrain.”
The words were brief and low. Then he turned to face the Countess.
“I will not tolerate another disparaging word spoken of my wife.”
At his words, the Countess’s lips curved upward on one side.
“Why would you suspect me? Do you truly believe I would spread rumors about your wife?”
“….”
Alexis’s gaze upon the Countess darkened. The Countess had not, in fact, spoken ill of Rowan directly. Yet she had invited noblewomen to the Count’s Residence and deliberately displayed herself tenderly caring for Maribel and the child.
The delicate appearance and sorrowful face of Maribel, coupled with the Countess’s solicitous attention toward her, was more than sufficient for gossip to swell and flourish unchecked.
“Do you wish to escalate this beyond estrangement?”
At Alexis’s words, the Count laughed softly.
“Still ignorant of propriety, I see.”
Had anyone witnessed this scene, they would have found it impossible to believe these two shared the same blood. Even before the estrangement, they could scarcely be called a family. Twisted and warped by the Countess’s peculiar hatred and the Count’s indifference, their household had festered in dysfunction.
And having cast Ureia into the East Annex as though discarding refuse, Count Glister could never be regarded by Alexis as a father.
“You abandoned the Glister name, yet we have cared for the son you left behind. Who, then, is truly heartless?”
“My son?”
Alexis spoke.
“My son is thriving at Valerian Castle.”
“Alexis!”
At his words, Maribel rose abruptly. She clasped her hands together and gazed at Alexis with desperate eyes.
“This child is truly yours.”
She took a step toward him.
“Look at him. See how much he resembles you….”
Then she raised a handkerchief to shield her eyes. Yet Alexis’s expression remained unmoved.
“There is no need.”
His voice was calm.
“He is not my child.”
Maribel’s face drained of all color.
“No! You may not remember, but we truly spent that night together-”
“Silence.”
Maribel’s words cut off abruptly. Her mouth froze shut.
“No matter what, there’s no way that could be true.”
Alexis turned to regard Maribel with eyes full of contempt.
“And even if I had embraced another woman, it certainly wouldn’t have been you.”
“….”
“You’re not my type.”
Those words were more than mere rejection—they were complete erasure. At Alexis’s words, Maribel swayed as if the world had tilted beneath her feet. Had Audrey not quickly caught her with a sharp gasp, she might have collapsed entirely where she stood.
“How cruel you are!”
Audrey cried out.
“To treat a woman who bore your own child with such callousness!”
Alexis stood unmoved, his expression blank. It was clear he didn’t consider Audrey’s words worthy of a response.
“Think about it! How many hours did Young Master spend intoxicated at the Party Venue!”
Audrey continued shouting at Alexis, her voice trembling with fury.
“So how can you be so certain? How can you claim that during all those years of dissolute living, you never once made a mistake with a woman?”
In that instant, Alexis’s violet-blue eyes flashed with recognition.
“It was you.”
Audrey’s mouth snapped shut with an audible gasp. She took a step backward.
“It was you.”
Alexis spoke again, then turned to regard the Countess.
“The Countess was undoubtedly complicit as well.”
As if the truth had finally crystallized, Alexis nodded slowly. Audrey, trembling with fear, gripped Maribel’s arm tightly as she stared at him.
“The rumors have already spread far and wide.”
Her eyes gleamed with subtle intensity.
“The child is Young Master’s. If you continue to deny it, people will learn that the Holy Knight and his wife abandoned their own child.”
Alexis’s gaze upon Audrey had turned glacial. He looked at Maribel, who stood barely upright, her face ashen.
“Confess now, and I’ll show you special mercy.”
“Y-yes…?”
Maribel’s voice trembled.
“I don’t know what scheme drove you to conspire with House Glister to orchestrate this, but speak now.”
“W-what are you saying…?”
Maribel shook her head.
“You may not remember…you may not have seen my face before. But I swear to you, we were together that night. Please believe me.”
Her voice carried genuine sorrow.
“You had drunk so much that evening…you leaned on me. I was supporting you, and then—”
“Enough.”
Alexis cut her off immediately.
“Your words aren’t worth hearing.”
“….”
Tears pooled in Maribel’s eyes.
“What a pathetic wretch you are.”
Just then, Francis suddenly interjected. His voice was slurred—he had been drinking before Alexis arrived.
“You abandoned your family, abandoned your parents, and dragged me down with you. Now you’re even abandoning your own child! Truly, what a righteous Holy Knight you are!”
“….”
The Francis I knew—always composed, always playing the role of the virtuous older brother—was nowhere to be found. No matter how gently he treated me, I knew his hypocrisy better than anyone.
He had never once taken my side against the discrimination I faced at the Count’s Residence. Instead, he lived in fear that I might surpass him. Though I was known for my dissolute ways, there were those who admired my striking appearance and exceptional character.
He had found solace in watching me gradually lose hope and wander aimlessly at the Count’s Residence. He despised being compared to me.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I said flatly.
“If you’re referring to my dismissal from the Royal Palace, that was entirely due to your incompetence.”
I no longer bothered with formal speech. Francis’s jaw clenched at my words.
“That’s a lie!”
He staggered to his feet.
“You orchestrated it! Why are you lying?”
Swaying with drunkenness, Francis glared at me as though he wanted me dead.
“You’ve always been jealous of me, haven’t you? You’re the second son—you can’t even inherit the title—but I was the heir apparent, working in the Royal Palace! You were living miserably while I thrived, so you envied me!”
I let out a hollow laugh at the absurdity.
“Don’t delude yourself into thinking you’re inherently superior just because you gained some holy power! You’ve lived recklessly and constantly tarnished our family’s reputation!”
“Very well.”
I waved my hand dismissively, as though brushing away an insect.
“I should have repaid the debt of your upbringing. I was thoughtless.”
With those words, I left the Count’s Residence.
“You should have chosen your opponent more carefully.”
***
This affair dragged on far longer than expected. There was simply no way to verify whether Alexis and Lionel were truly father and son. Word spread that Alexis was vehemently denying Lionel’s existence.
High Society’s gaze upon Maribel was filled with sympathy. Countess Glister began conducting social activities in earnest, bringing Maribel along with Audrey.
It was the first time since Alexis and I had officially severed ties. Initially, Maribel had been intimidated by Alexis’s intensity, but the social activities alongside Countess Glister were utterly intoxicating. It was a world apart from her former life confined to the Outer Territory.
Moreover, Lionel was welcomed wherever they went. People’s eyes upon the child brimmed with admiration and pity.
“How can they be so alike?”
“The silver hair and violet eyes are identical.”
Countess Glister paraded Lionel about like a prized ornament. The child was extraordinarily taciturn. Though young, he was remarkably gentle and well-behaved.
Eventually, a Holy Knight was dispatched from the Grand Cathedral. They would verify his holy power, as he might be Alexis’s biological son. The result: he possessed no holy power. The High Priest lost interest in Lionel thereafter, but ordered his subordinates to keep watch over the child for some time.

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