Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 246
“No, no. You’re absolutely the most unfortunate.”
“Thank you for the consolation. Still, I know I’ve had happy moments in my life. When I gave birth to Christian—that was truly a happy time.”
“Yes, I’m sure it was.”
“But at least for today, I’m certain there’s no woman in the world more pitiable than me. I can say that with confidence.”
“Oh dear, what happened?”
Viscountess Lope’s responses were becoming disjointed as she mindlessly nodded along. But Duchess Pierce, lost in her own sorrow, didn’t even notice.
She spoke in a pitiful voice.
“Today, I received the worst punishment God could bestow upon a human being.”
“Really? That must have hurt.”
The Duchess slowly shook her head, pulling her lips into a faint smile, as though savoring her grief.
Finally, she spoke again.
“Mother, I think my son has been going to gambling dens.”
“Your son? Which son?”
The Viscountess completely missed the point. Her eldest daughter had only one son.
“Christian?!”
Her voice cracked sharply as she pieced it together, jolting upright.
“He’s gambling? Christian Pierce, gambling?”
“Yes. I saw inside his coat pocket recently. It was full of betting slips.”
“…Horse racing?”
“I also found a heart playing card.”
“He doesn’t even like poker, though.”
“And there was a die.”
“Why is his pocket so ridiculously big?”
“Mother.”
“Yes?”
“No matter how I think about it, this is your fault.”
“…What?”
“Well, it’s not entirely your fault.”
“That’s right. What did I ever do to him?”
“Alexandra is also a problem.”
“……”
“He must’ve picked up bad habits from both of you during his visits to the annex.”
“Wait—”
“I tried to tell him not to go, but he wouldn’t listen. He’s an adult now, so I can’t stop him.”
“Dear—”
“And now, here we are, at this point.”
Duchess Pierce placed a small note on the round table and stood up.
“Whether or not it’s a place he’d frequent, I’d appreciate it if you could intervene.”
Her eyes turned icy.
“If you and Alexandra keep having a bad influence on my son, I’ll have no choice but to separate him from the both of you.”
With that, she strode across the garden and left. It was clear that this had been her real purpose all along.
“You… You ungrateful little…!”
Viscountess Lope shouted belatedly, but her daughter didn’t look back.
‘This is a disaster. If I lose Christian, she’ll never even look at me again!’
Christian was the only bridge left between the two of them. Without him, there would be no one to console her daughter when she caused trouble or to help her clean up the mess.
Her daughter was always ready to sever ties with her family… If it ever came to that.
“My cash cow…”
The Viscountess immediately picked up the note and checked the location written on it.
It was the name of the gambling den Christian had been frequenting: The Greenhouse Club.
She had never been there, but she knew of it.
“Surely not… No, it can’t be.”
The Greenhouse Club was a private café and gambling den operated by the Odridge Viscounty.
***
“There’s no one who wastes paper like you do,” snickered a brown-haired man, elbowing Christian in the side.
Christian, clearly annoyed at having his work interrupted, lifted his elbow in a warning gesture.
“Go away. I’m busy.”
“Busy? It’s all the same thing anyway.”
“Handwriting is important. It shows effort, effort.”
“Effort, my arse. If that’s the case, just get them printed at a press.”
Ignoring the teasing, Christian continued writing.
“Who’s this one for?”
“Madam Vattler.”
“When did you even charm her?”
“I met her at a party. Lonely widows stand out a mile away.”
“What about that Lasphilla girl? You were putting in quite an effort with her, last I saw.”
Christian’s hand froze in the middle of that accusation. He grimaced as though he’d bitten into a whole block of salt.
“It’s over with her.”
“Over? You’ve already had your fill, huh?”
“Had my fill? Ha, I wish I’d even had the chance.”
Christian sneered bitterly.
Caroline had rejected him. She acted desperate, like she couldn’t live without him, like she’d do whatever he wanted—
“And then she stabs me in the back at the very end.”
Christian shook his head, exasperated.
“What a waste of time.”
His time with her had been duller than any other day of his life. How boring it must have been for him to take up a new hobby.
“All done. Let’s head down.”
He handed the letter to an attendant and walked down the stairs.
“I hope the numbers are better today. I lost way too much yesterday.”
