Chapter 35
“Yes. Of course, my father’s reaction would depend on the reason, but for me, it doesn’t matter.”
Claire detected genuine determination in Nina’s voice, growing stronger toward the end.
She really intends to break off the engagement.
“If he’s having an affair with another woman, would that be a reason your father would accept?”
“Oh… yes. My father despises people who don’t honor their commitments. He absolutely loathes infidelity.”
This was an encouraging response. Claire fell into a brief moment of deep thought.
She was weighing whether it was the right time to tell Nina about Alex’s affair.
Unaware of Claire’s thoughts, Nina looked around nervously.
“Um, Lady Ravello.”
“Yes?”
“If I break off my engagement with Alex… what happens to us?”
If Nina and Alex’s engagement fell apart, their friendship would inevitably be affected.
Having just become friends…
Nina, unwilling to lose such a rare and meaningful connection, fidgeted with her fingers and muttered gloomily.
“I’d hate for us to end our relationship…”
“That won’t happen. We’ll remain friends.”
Surprised by the unexpected question, Claire smiled warmly as she answered.
“Really?”
“Of course.”
Back when she was Priscilla, Claire didn’t have many friends in social circles. To her, Nina was a meaningful first friend.
Even if they met through Alex, she wanted to keep this friendship as long as possible.
‘I like Lady Merison. She’s kind, cute, and reminds me of a small animal.’
Having made up her mind, Claire spoke decisively.
“Lady Merison, don’t be shocked and listen carefully.”
“Yes.”
“The truth is, my uncle has a secret lover.”
“Oh… Yes… What?!”
Nina’s eyes widened, and her jaw dropped at the shocking revelation.
“Is… is that true?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
“How could he…? To be having an affair while saying such horrible things to me…”
The sense of betrayal was overwhelming, as though she had been struck in the back of her head.
Tears welled up in her large, round eyes, threatening to fall.
“Don’t cry. It’s not worth shedding tears over someone like him.”
Claire patted Nina’s shoulder, glancing around for something to use. Theodore, who had been silently observing, slid a handkerchief across the table toward her.
Claire used the handkerchief to gently wipe Nina’s tears. Once she calmed down, Nina sniffled and asked cautiously.
“Do you… know who Alex is having an affair with?”
“That would be…”
“Countess McQuarry.”
The low, firm voice interjected naturally from the side. Both Nina and Claire turned to Theodore in surprise.
“How does Your Highness know…?”
“I happened to witness them meeting in secret.”
“Oh…”
With Theodore corroborating Alex’s affair, Nina bit her lip hard.
Once, she had truly liked Alex, and now the humiliation was unbearable.
“How much must Lord Ravello have looked down on me…?”
“Lady Merison.”
“I’m going to go straight home and tell my father. I’ll start the process of breaking the engagement.”
Nina’s lips trembled as she spoke, overcome with emotion. Claire looked at her sympathetically but calmly stopped her.
“Wait a moment. We don’t have solid evidence of my uncle’s affair.”
The investigation by the Episteme Guild wasn’t substantial enough to be considered objective proof.
“We need to gather evidence before making any moves. Otherwise, my uncle’s side could paint you as irrational or accuse you of being paranoid.”
Especially since Phoebe Ravello would go to any length to defend her son.
“Then… what should I do…?”
Nina’s face fell in despair. Claire held her hands firmly and spoke with determination.
“I’ll help you, Lady Merison. So please trust me and follow my lead.”
Nina hesitated before asking softly.
“Is it really okay for you to help me?”
“Of course. We’re friends.”
For most families, the idea of staying close to an uncle’s former fiancée would be unthinkable.
But in a dysfunctional family like the Ravello Marquisate, it was entirely plausible.
Watching Nina, her face puffed and flushed, nodding earnestly, Claire thought to herself:
‘Just wait a little longer. I’ll make sure you never have to see that bastard again.’
***
After ordering their dresses and leaving Darling Atelier.
As before, Claire shared a carriage with Theodore. She spoke cautiously.
“Your Highness, could you keep today’s conversation at the atelier a secret?”
“You make an unusual request. Do I seem like someone who talks lightly?”
“No, it’s just that I worry a lot.”
Theodore stared intently at Claire’s faint smile before turning his head slightly.
“Don’t worry. I never betray my own people.”
“…Am I already considered one of your people, Your Highness?”
“Given that we’re in a fake relationship, isn’t that obvious?”
At those words, Claire felt an odd emotion stir. Never had she imagined she’d grow this close to Theodore when she was still Priscilla.
‘If I had remained Priscilla Muton, would the Crown Prince have ever called me one of his people?’
Perhaps, by revealing his affair, she repaid the favor he owed from their youth, but they may never have gotten to this point.
Pushing aside such useless thoughts, Claire lowered her head politely.
“Anyway, thank you for accompanying me today and for everything else.”
“It’s too early to thank me.”
Theodore’s enigmatic smile deepened as he reached inside his jacket.
A long, luxurious velvet box slowly appeared.
“Here.”
“What is this?”
“My gift.”
Caught off guard, Claire accepted the box and opened it. Her eyes widened in surprise.
Inside, diamond earrings and a necklace shaped like daffodils sparkled brilliantly. The centerpiece of the necklace was a radiant aquamarine gem.
‘Daffodils are also my birth flower…’
Momentarily captivated by the dazzling jewels, Claire spoke, her voice tinged with astonishment.
“I wasn’t expecting this. I didn’t think Your Highness would prepare a gift…”
“I’m not the kind of person who only takes without giving back.”
“But there was no need to go this far.”
Even after having been married once, this was the first time Claire received such a gift from a man, and it felt unfamiliar.
Most men only gave jewelry to the women they loved…
‘Am I even allowed to accept this?’
Noticing her hesitation, Theodore crossed his legs and spoke indifferently.
“It’s not a proper relationship if nothing is exchanged.”
“Oh…”
“Even if you prefer to give without receiving, that won’t do.”
“…That’s not it. I’ll accept it gratefully, Your Highness.”
Claire carefully held onto the velvet box, a bright smile spreading across her face.
Watching her, Theodore’s lips subtly curved into a faint smile as well.
Theodore dropped Claire off at the Ravello Marquisate and left.
Claire crossed the central hall alone. Despite her return, none of the maids came to greet her.
It was far from surprising. Ever since she became the Crown Prince’s lover, they avoided direct confrontation but expressed their discontent through such passive treatment.
‘Even so, I thought Becca might come out.’
No matter how obedient she appeared, Becca was still the Marchioness’s maid at heart.
Resigned to this reality, Claire had made it halfway up the stairs when—
“Hey.”
A rough, insolent voice called from behind. She turned slightly to see Alex standing there with a crooked posture.
Her arrogant half-brother gestured toward her with his chin, as if pointing at an object.
Claire looked down at him coldly and ignored him, continuing her ascent. Alex grew visibly irritated.
“Hey, bastard! Are you ignoring me?”
“It’s difficult to have a conversation with someone who can’t even remember a person’s name properly.”
“What? Unbelievable…”
Alex scowled at her calm retort, stepping closer to the base of the stairs and glaring upward.
“I’ve heard you’ve been getting close to Nina Merison lately.”
“Have I?”
“I know about the letters you’ve been exchanging.”
Claire’s eyebrows twitched ever so slightly. It was obvious Ivy and Matilda had tattled again.
‘It’s about time I dealt with them.’
She had no intention of letting leaks go unchecked forever.
Lowering her eyes briefly, Claire tilted her chin upward and replied.
“And?”
Her demeanor was not only physically towering but also psychologically belittling, as though looking down on him as inferior.
It was the same attitude Priscilla had often taken toward Alex, causing him to flinch unconsciously.
The disdainful look in her eyes was identical, wounding his pride.
“What do you mean, ‘and’? Stop poking your nose where it doesn’t belong. Bastards like you should know your place and stay quiet.”
Alex climbed a few steps, raising his hand threateningly.
“Unless you want to get punished.”
Claire scoffed, amused by his bluster.
“You should be more concerned about your own behavior, Uncle. Don’t try to intimidate me when you don’t even have the qualifications to do so.”
—
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