Extra - 6
Odelli asked if she was okay, but Celine nodded firmly. Cutting blood ties wasn't as easy as she thought. However, it was clear that if she continued her relationship with Viscount Volne, it would never be good for Odelli.
The spirit of downfall loomed over Viscount Volne. He was an outdated waste that remained unaware of that fact, but he only shouted out loud without even knowing it.
Celine was the only daughter of Viscount Volne, but given Viscount Volne's mindset, it was unlikely that she would succeed the family as a woman. Furthermore, the affection for Viscount Volne, which had remained in Celine's heart, had also crumbled. Although it was obvious that it was a difficult path, there was no affection left to traverse the thorny bushes.
If she had to choose between Viscount Volne and Odelli, Celine had only one option.
"I will continue serving Her Majesty. To the Viscount... I mean, my father, I will tell him to adopt some cousin he likes."
"That's not a bad decision."
Bianca nodded. Bianca fully agreed that there was no need to force oneself to do something that shouldn't be done. Since it was a parent-child relationship, there were many who said that if you strive, you will be rewarded as much as you do. Bianca was also one of those cases who restored her relationship with her family.
But she also knew how exhausting it can be to keep talking to someone who can't communicate with you. And one knows their family better than anyone else. If Celine thought that way, Bianca thought that the choice would be the right one.
In response to Bianca's favorable response, Celine involuntarily stopped and looked at Bianca. A strange current ran between the two, but no one mentioned it.
The conversation ceased and silence fell. Tap, Tap, Tap, tap. The sound of footsteps walking on the stone floor echoed in the hallway. The memory of the moment Bianca was heading to meet Odelli overlapped with the present.
"... God."
At that moment, Celine, who was walking silently, spoke again. Bianca, who thought that Celine wouldn't want to talk to her, was surprised.
"I was very surprised to hear that God had chosen the Duchess. Then I thought that my future had changed because of His choice, and maybe God wanted me to change my destiny."
It was an absurd comment, but Celine was speaking earnestly. If others had heard, they might have laughed at her for giving too much meaning to a mere coincidence, but no one in the room laughed. It was because everyone had similar thoughts to Celine in a corner of their hearts.
They wondered if the happiness that meeting Bianca had brought to their lives was given by God... Yvonne, Lucy, and even Gaspard. Only the person involved, Bianca, was perplexed.
Celine smiled bitterly at Bianca's unwillingness to speak. It now seemed that Bianca knew something about it. When attacked, she responds with more coldness and harshness than anyone else, but when receiving compliments, she finds it very uncomfortable, not knowing what to do. Perhaps she wasn't accustomed to receiving positive feedback.
Celine had been busy degrading her when they first met. Her hostile attitude and blunt words and actions. It felt like a gap between Bianca and herself. Bianca belittled them and said she didn't want to walk with them, so Celine tried to crush her even more...
Now that she thinks about it, Bianca never showed any particular hostility. It was only Celine's feelings of inferiority in her heart. It took her a long time to admit it.
"You can think of it as an absurd self-rationalization. But one thing is certain, Madam, you changed my life. You can have confidence in that. Thank you for that."
Celine bowed her head and thanked Bianca. When she first met Bianca after becoming a servant, it was a gratitude she couldn't convey due to the useless pride she still held.
The eyes of Celine and Bianca met for a moment. In that moment, the two could see that the sediments they had for each other had completely disappeared.
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The place Bianca was led to was an unfamiliar place. The last time she had an audience with Victor II was in the reception hall that dealt with foreign affairs, and this time Bianca entered the private reception room where those who had a personal relationship with the king were invited.
The heavy door opened, and Bianca entered the room with light steps. Odelli, who had been sitting in a chair working and waiting for Bianca, stood up and greeted her as soon as Bianca entered.
"Your Majesty."
"Oh, Duchess of Arno. You have come a long way. You've worked hard."
"No. I apologize for not being able to see you until now."
Odelli rushed towards Bianca and took her hand.
They looked at each other's faces for the first time in a long time, holding hands.
Odelli remained beautiful as if the years hadn't passed. The crown fit as if it had returned to its rightful place, on her shining blonde hair braided into a fine plait, just like the cloak embroidered with the royal family's pattern over her round shoulders. The feeling worthy of being a Queen like never before blended with her unique dignity, and it was difficult to take one's eyes off the majestic beauty resembling an artwork created by a craftsman.
Odelli took Bianca's hand and led her to her seat. Odelli's voice as she spoke held an emotion that couldn't be erased.
"I thought I would see you, so I prepared these and other things, do you like them?"
"It's too much... Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."
"No need to say that between us."
Bianca blushed at the excessive hospitality, not knowing what to do. Odelli casually waved her hand as if it was nothing.
Behind the two people greeting each other, Lucy stared at Odelli.
Odelli's old friend, Bianca, and others couldn't help but admire her appearance, but Lucy, seeing Odelli for the first time, was absolutely impressed.
She looked at Odelli with eyes as if she were seeing a miracle descended from heaven, without even thinking of closing her eyes. Odelli immediately noticed Lucy's gaze.
"For some reason, you hired a new maid. I thought you weren't the type to easily relate to people."
"Alex is a difficult child to handle with just Yvonne."
"Oh, is this the next Lord of Arno?"
While Lucy, realizing her lack of respect, bowed her head, Odelli's gaze turned to Alex, whom Yvonne was holding. It was Alex's usual appearance, smiling brightly even when meeting a stranger in an unfamiliar place.
Yvonne took a step closer, holding Alex so that Odelli could see her better. Alex rolled her pale green eyes and looked at Odelli, then burst into laughter.
Having witnessed the birth of her half-sisters and her nephew Albert, this wasn't the first time Odelli had encountered a newborn baby. But she had never seen a child laugh so well. Odelli looked at Alex for a moment, then murmured curiously.
"She really looks like you."
"It's the first time I've heard that. Everyone says she looks like the Duke."
"No. The eyes that resemble yours are very intelligent and kind."
Odelli shook her head as if she was right.
To be honest, Bianca, Alex's mother, didn't resemble Alex much except for the color of her eyes. So it wasn't that it was disrespectful or anything. Internally, she was worried about what would happen if the girl was sensitive and weak because of her resemblance, so she felt relieved inside because she was more energetic than usual.
Anyway, what was dissimilar was dissimilar. Besides, being kind. Wasn't that an element that didn't have to resemble Bianca in the first place? That's why it was impossible to refute every single word of Odelli's, so Bianca responded with an awkward smile.
Odelli looked at Alex with benevolent eyes. As much as she made eye contact with Alex, who was smiling like that, Odelli's eyebrows slowly rose and her eyes narrowed. Odelli looked at Alex for a long time, as if measuring Alex's size, and then asked, unable to clear her doubts.
"But didn't you say she's one year old?"
"Alex's growth is a bit unusual, Your Majesty."
In response to the sincere question, Bianca responded with a suppressed smile. It was incredible that she looked one year old no matter how you looked at her. Odelli clicked her tongue and then approached Yvonne.
"Bring her closer."
"She's heavier than she looks, Your Majesty."
"I'm stronger than I look, so don't worry. There's no way I could drop a child who is God's will."
"However..."
"I mean, I want to hold the daughter of my close friend."
Yvonne froze as she looked at Bianca. After Bianca nodded, Yvonne gently placed Alex in Odelli's arms. The weight in her slender arms was heavier than she expected. Odelli inadvertently groaned.
"It doesn't make sense that Bianca can hold her like this."
"I can't even hold her for very long. The nanny here and the Duke are constantly making a fuss."
"Hmm. Hearing that story makes me feel more at ease."
Odelli gently patted Alex's bottom. Alex smiled softly even in Odelli's arms.
"Considering her great appearance, it seems she will become a great person in the future. She will be difficult to raise."
"There are many ties I've been carrying since I was born, so I'm trying to raise her without oppressing her. She will be a child who will somehow go down the right path."
"That's not bad either."
It didn't take long before Alex squirmed in Odelli's arms. The arms of a stranger seemed uncomfortable. Yvonne hurriedly took Alex back. While Yvonne examined Alex, Odelli and Bianca began to openly talk about the past.
How long have they been talking like this? As the sun set, the room was tinged with a reddish sunset. It was time to finish the story. Odelli got lost in the conversation and remembered something she had forgotten for a moment.
"Oh, now that I think about it, I prepared a dance (ball) to welcome you to Lahoz and to honor the fulfillment of God's will."
"A dance?"
"Yes. When you came to the capital last time, you couldn't enjoy a dance because you had to rush back to the territory. I thought the first banquet to be held since I ascended the throne should be for you."
Tags:
TWB (Novel)