Chapter 29
“I have an appointment.”
“What kind of appointment? Surely, you’re not planning to attend a party, are you?”
The Marchioness of Ravello narrowed her eyes, her crossed arms emphasizing her irritation. Seeing the malice etched on her face, Claire immediately pieced it together.
Ivy and Matilda must have tattled on me.
As expected, the Marchioness had received a full report from the maids about Claire’s plans and had come to interfere.
“Claire, why are you so impulsive and thoughtless?”
The Marchioness sighed deeply, as if addressing a troublesome child. However, the venom in her eyes betrayed her frustration and growing rage.
Since Claire and Theodore’s sudden public announcement of their courtship, the Marchioness had been unable to contain her fury.
The revelation that the illegitimate child she had hoped to use as a pawn for political marriages had become the untouchable lover of the Crown Prince had sent her over the edge.
She had screamed and cursed, throwing fits and pounding the floor in a rage.
“The Crown Prince must have lost his mind! How could he pick such a halfwit? Oh, my poor heart!”
Despite her fury, there was nothing she could do. For days, the Marchioness had simmered in quiet resentment.
If she had stayed silent, things might have remained peaceful, but instead, she decided to sabotage Claire’s future at all costs.
There’s no way I’ll let that illegitimate child become Crown Princess!
“Instead of basking in the honor of being the Crown Prince’s lover, you should behave yourself and stay out of trouble!”
The Marchioness raised her voice, her eyes glaring.
“Do you not realize that your frivolity reflects poorly not only on the Crown Prince but also on our family’s reputation?”
“Don’t worry, Grandmother. I’m not indulging in frivolity or idling. I’m making my formal debut in society.”
Claire smiled smoothly, countering the Marchioness’s accusations.
The Marchioness, intent on cutting Claire down, faltered at her calm response.
“That’s not something you should decide on your own! I’ve already arranged for an excellent tutor for you—Lady Garner, renowned for transforming young noblewomen into paragons of virtue.”
At the familiar name, Claire furrowed her brow.
Lady Garner was a nightmare from her past, a tutor who had subjected her to “education” through violence.
If anything displeased her, she would strike Claire’s hands and legs mercilessly with a cane, pushing her to the brink of rebellion.
You’re bringing her back into my life?
Not a chance.
“Such education is unnecessary. I’ve already received all the training I need before coming here.”
“What?”
“I entered this house under the impression that I’d be trained as an heir. Was I mistaken?”
“Are you out of your mind?!”
The moment the word “heir” left Claire’s lips, the Marchioness’s expression contorted. She pointed an accusatory finger at Claire.
“How dare you, of all people, aim for the position of heir? That belongs to our Alex!”
“Yes, after Grandfather. But if Uncle remains unmarried and childless, wouldn’t it naturally fall to me?”
“You, you…!”
The Marchioness’s blood pressure spiked, and she clutched the back of her neck.
What a venomous girl—just like her aunt!
Seething, the Marchioness snapped back.
“Your shameless remarks reek of poor upbringing. Until Lady Garner’s lessons are complete, forget about socializing! You’re forbidden from attending today’s party!”
“That won’t do.”
At that moment, an unfamiliar voice cut through the tension.
The Marchioness’s face paled as Theodore entered the room.
“W-why is the Crown Prince here…?”
“To escort me, of course,” Claire replied nonchalantly.
Theodore wore a tailored cream-colored uniform that perfectly matched Claire’s attire, as though they had coordinated beforehand.
“What? You…!”
Finally realizing that Claire hadn’t intended to attend the party alone, the Marchioness’s face turned various shades of red.
That cunning little snake deliberately kept quiet!
Grinding her teeth, she hastily turned to Theodore, her tone suddenly soft and pleading.
“Your Highness, it’s an honor to see you. Forgive me, but Claire still has much to learn. She needs more time to prepare before—”
“Marchioness of Ravello,” Theodore interrupted, his sharp gaze narrowing. “You speak too harshly of someone I care for deeply.”
His words carried a weight that caused the Marchioness to flinch.
“Are you implying I made a poor choice? Are you questioning my judgment?”
“N-no, that’s not what I meant…”
“Of course not. After all, where else would you find someone as lovely as Lady Claire?”
With a smirk, Theodore tilted his head affectionately toward Claire.
“Isn’t that right?”
“…Perhaps, especially in Your Highness’s eyes.”
Suppressing her embarrassment, Claire looped her arm through Theodore’s.
“By the way, Your Highness, what would you think if I were forced to learn under an abusive tutor?”
At Claire’s pointed question, the Marchioness visibly recoiled, her shoulders jolting.
“I wouldn’t stand for it,” Theodore declared coldly. “Not for the tutor or the one who dared assign such a person to my beloved.”
The tension in the room grew palpable as Theodore’s words echoed ominously.
Theodore replied in a chilling tone. The smile vanished from his face, leaving it eerily cold.
“Why? Did someone say they would do that to you?”
“Uh, well, about that…”
Claire deliberately hesitated, pretending to be about to say something, making the Marchioness grow anxious.
“Th-that’s absurd! Claire, hurry along and attend the party with His Highness.”
“What about Lady Garner’s lessons?”
“Oh, why would you need those? N-never mind them and just go.”
The forced smile on the Marchioness’s lips twitched visibly.
Facing her, Claire also smiled. Since this exchange happened in front of Theodore, the Marchioness likely wouldn’t dare mention lessons or education again.
Holding hands, the two left the Ravello estate and boarded the carriage. Claire, looking satisfied, remarked:
“I’ve noticed this for a while, but Your Highness is surprisingly good at saying cheesy things.”
Though he’s skilled at using words, he isn’t bold when it comes to physical contact.
Even earlier, when she looped her arm through his, she could feel him stiffen slightly.
Claire was the exact opposite. She found it much harder to articulate her thoughts aloud.
“Really?”
“Yes, I didn’t think you’d be so good at it.”
Theodore crossed his legs, his expression inscrutable, and muttered as if to himself.
“There were times when I regretted saying the wrong things. I’ve learned not to make the same mistakes.”
Claire paused, sensing the weight behind his seemingly casual words. Then, as if to shake off the somber air, he raised his chin confidently and smiled broadly.
“When I do something, I do it right. So, you can look forward to more from me.”
There was a hint of pride and amusement in his tone that made Claire slightly uneasy.
To her knowledge, Theodore had no prior experience with romance. Even during her time as Priscilla, she had never seen him interact closely with women.
The Crown Prince, who treated women as if they were stones.
Could someone like him convincingly act out a passionate romance?
Since I don’t have experience in romance either, I’m probably worrying unnecessarily…
If Theodore faltered, Claire would have to step in to cover for him and manage the situation.
Theodore, noticing her thoughtful expression, spoke leisurely.
“Don’t worry. You only need to do one thing.”
When their eyes met, he gave her a dazzling smile that could make any admirer fall deeper for him.
“Enjoy.”
***
The Mitchell Marquessate’s party was attended by several notable nobles from the capital.
Being a distinguished family with the Marquis’s younger son serving under the Crown Prince, many sought to establish connections.
Theodore and Claire were the last to arrive.
“The Crown Prince and Lady Ravello…!”
“They attended together, so their relationship must be serious.”
“I can’t believe it, even seeing it with my own eyes.”
All eyes turned to Theodore and Claire’s clasped hands.
Their closeness was evident.
Among the nobles, many had privately doubted the couple’s relationship.
Some had hoped it was either a prank or a fleeting affair. Even though they knew better, they clung to the faint hope.
For such skeptics, seeing Theodore and Claire arrive in coordinated attire was nothing short of catastrophic.
Through the murmuring crowd, Jake approached with his parents.
“Greetings to His Highness, the Crown Prince. How have you been?”
“It’s been a while, Marquis Mitchell. Marchioness.”
“My apologies for not visiting more often after entrusting you with my inadequate son.”
The Marquis smiled warmly, his face a mirror of his son’s.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Ravello. That dress suits you beautifully.”
“Thank you, Marchioness.”
Claire returned the sincere compliment with polite grace.
After exchanging a glance with Theodore, Jake raised his voice.
“I heard that His Highness confessed to Lady Ravello at the National Theater and that you are now courting. Have I misunderstood?”
Jake’s deliberate question was intended to drive home the reality of their relationship to the crowd.
Hoping desperately that Jake’s information was wrong, the skeptics turned their eyes to Theodore, who answered leisurely.
“You haven’t.”
“So, Your Highness and Lady Ravello are…”
“In a serious relationship…”
“Darling.”
Before Claire could shyly answer, Theodore declared boldly:
“We are each other’s darlings.”
The word, more intimate than any term for lovers, sent shockwaves through the room.
Claire nearly bit her tongue, and Jake turned to look at her incredulously.
“So, I’d prefer if no one doubted our relationship from this point onward.”
Theodore addressed the room sternly, his warning clear.
One of the stunned onlookers, unable to process what had been said, stammered.
“Did you say… ‘darling’?”
“Darling.”
“Did you mean… ‘dearest’?”
“Darling.”
“I thought you said ‘baby’…”
“Baby? That works too.”
Theodore’s mischievous yet affectionate smile lit up his face. At this moment, he resembled more of an actor than a prince.
His usual wolf-like sharp eyes softened as he gazed at Claire.
“What do you think, darling?”
…Your Highness, you’ve gone mad.
—
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