Spring in My Grasp - Chapter 79

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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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(79) The War Begins

I couldn’t discuss Alexis casually with friends here, so I decided to speak of the Temple instead.
“Interactions with the Temple, then…”
I paused to choose my words carefully, then laughed lightly.
“They’re simply family now, really.”
Yes. The High Priest, who visited so frequently that he was slightly bothersome, nonetheless loved and cherished Leonius more than anyone else. He poured his affection upon my son as though his remaining purpose in life existed solely for Leonius. How could I not think of him as family?
My casual remark sent a ripple through the surrounding air once more. Family? With the Temple? The guests were struck with shock again.
In that moment, Edel’s gaze wavered ever so slightly.
“Rowan.”
She called to me softly. I turned my head. Unlike before, Edel’s eyes were fixed on something in the distance.
“Over there.”
Following her gaze, I turned as well. Among the guests, not far away, a group of noblewomen stood deliberately apart, watching us. The moment our eyes met, they all turned away in unison as though by prior arrangement, their expressions hardening.
“What is it?”
I asked. Edel paused before speaking.
“Remember their faces.”
She answered briefly. In that instant, I let out a small sigh of understanding. High Society certainly harbored those curious about me, but there were undoubtedly those who bore me ill will. I nodded to Edel and withdrew my gaze from them. Even as I did, people continued to approach me with conversation.
“What do you typically occupy yourself with, Countess of Valerion?”
Seeing interest directed toward me on topics other than the Temple, the Holy Knight Order, or the Royal Palace, I turned. There stood a noblewoman of similar age, smiling shyly. My face brightened.
“I typically spend my time in the Glass Garden.”
Unlike my previous thoughtless responses, warmth flooded my voice.
“If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to invite you to our castle sometime. I’d love to show you the Glass Garden.”
At my sudden warmth, the young noblewoman’s face flushed crimson. Then others began to speak to me as well.
“A Glass Garden? I should love to see it.”
“The Glass Garden of Valerian Castle must be truly magnificent.”
I needed to discern among those who approached me who truly harbored goodwill and genuine interest. Edel, standing beside me, often whispered to me about who these people were and what they wanted. I was lost in the chaos of the party when it happened.
“The Countess Glister enters!”
The attendant’s announcement rang out from the hall entrance. In that instant, all the nobles beside me froze, their eyes darting nervously toward me.
‘Now it truly begins.’
I swallowed a bitter laugh. This was the real battle now. Edel squeezed my hand once, then released it. In that brief warmth, I found my composure restored.
‘I thought I had endured all of this alone until now.’
But I was surrounded by good people. Lea, the Butler, and… my eyes softened. Alexis. I had gained a friend, but my strongest ally remained Alexis. Though he was not here beside me now, his very existence gave me courage. Because…
-If you hate it, just walk out.
Alexis had said.
-Don’t worry about what comes after. I’ll handle it.
His words were reckless, but they gave me strength nonetheless. I knew they were not empty promises. Without changing my expression, I calmly watched Countess Glister—my former mother-in-law—and Maribel enter the hall.
Maribel was utterly transformed from when I first saw her. Then, she had come to me in humble dress, appealing to my sympathy. Now she entered with confident bearing, dressed in finery befitting the mistress of a great house. Her once-gentle face bore no trace of sorrow or shadow.
I noticed the silver-haired child entering while holding her hand. A flicker of darkness crossed Rowan’s eyes before vanishing. She turned back to continue her pleasant conversation with those who had approached her.
“Countess of Valerion.”
Then, a low and distinct voice suddenly interjected. The natural flow of conversation fractured subtly. Rowan turned her head. The crowd parted slightly, revealing the noblewomen—those same ones who had shown hostility toward her earlier.
“You are quite a unique person, Marchioness.”
Though her words sounded like praise, their true meaning suggested otherwise.
“Am I?”
Rowan replied without concern.
“You barely showed your face in high society, yet now you appear like this….”
She paused deliberately.
“And you’ve drawn attention by gifting sacred relics.”
Several nobles held their breath at her words. Rowan fixed her gaze directly upon them.
“It’s rather… surprising.”
Rowan’s lips curved upward.
“I’m glad to have surprised you.”
“Pardon?”
The expressions of the noblewomen facing her wavered slightly. Rowan smiled calmly.
“It will remain in their memories.”
At her words, the noblewomen’s faces began to contort.
“I understand the Marchioness lacks extensive experience in high society.”
One of them finally spoke up.
“Even so, is not the Countess Glister your mother-in-law? No matter how distant your relationship, failing to even greet her at an occasion like this is hardly proper etiquette, is it not?”
The surroundings fell silent in an instant. A forbidden remark. Rowan stared directly at the noblewoman who had spoken it.
‘I may forget everything else, but I will absolutely remember your name.’
Though I ground my teeth inwardly, my outward composure remained unshaken. I turned my gaze toward where Countess Glister stood. She watched me with a smile playing at her lips, clearly entertained. Beside her, Maribel also held the child’s hand while observing this exchange.
I understood immediately. The pitiful version of Maribel I had encountered before was not her true self. This was who she really was. The light in her eyes now….
Those were the eyes of someone facing an enemy. Rowan tilted her head as if considering for a moment, then slowly opened her mouth.
“Well.”
Rowan spoke deliberately.
“He told me to conduct myself as I normally would.”
Ordinarily, I find it distasteful to put Alexis at the forefront in such matters, but what choice did I have? If it was the most effective move to strike at the enemy’s heart, I would not hesitate to employ it.
“To eat delicious food as usual, to converse pleasantly with people—”
The people listening to Rowan’s words began to wear increasingly bewildered expressions.
“Why should I greet differently those with whom I have severed all ties and no longer know?”
At Rowan’s next words, everyone at the party wore expressions of utter astonishment. Those with whom she had severed all ties and no longer knew—she was speaking of Countess Glister herself.
Countess Glister’s face contorted with rage upon hearing this. That insolent creature. She had given the girl—who had been treated as a burden in the Hartwood household—to her son, and now the girl had grown wings and dared to spit in her face.
“Even if severed, Baron Valerion is unmistakably of Glister blood! How disrespectful!”
The noblewoman opposing her cried out with bloodshot eyes.
‘Her family must not be of high standing.’
By now, even Rowan could deduce this much. It was obvious to anyone that she was Countess Glister’s tool. A noblewoman from a distinguished family would never become her instrument and draw such attention at a party.
‘Then she has chosen her allies poorly.’
I exhaled silently and opened my mouth once more.
“His Majesty made this declaration publicly. I am merely following the King’s will—surely you’re not suggesting that His Majesty’s words hold no importance, Madam?”
“Ah, no! That’s not—!”
My rebuttal sent the Noblewoman’s face flushing crimson. She glanced around nervously and swallowed her words.
“That wasn’t what I meant to say…!”
Yet she found no other words with which to counter me. Her body trembled for a moment before something seemed to occur to her, and her head snapped up suddenly.

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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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