Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 294

“No. In form, it was closer to a political marriage. Since they were nobles, it was better to maintain appearances that way. Otherwise, if our family’s circumstances were revealed as they truly are… people would see that we’re no better than common riffraff.”

He emphasized the words. His voice, heavy with drink, echoed like a soliloquy.

“One pretended to be a man without a lover, and the other pretended to be a woman incapable of bearing children.”

“……!”

“Both of them fooled each other completely. They were swindlers.”

“……”

“Caroline, have you ever heard your father say you were ‘a child who should never have been born’?”

“No! Who would ever say that to their child!”

Caroline denied it quickly. It was a matter directly tied to her father’s honor.

But on the other hand, she thought, Was my father any different? A father who brought a mistress into the house and took a new wife immediately after the funeral of his first wife… Is he really any different?

Crrk—

She heard the sound of something cracking somewhere. She pretended not to notice.

“I see. Most parents don’t say such things to their children.”

Christian creased his philtrum, wearing a bitter smile.

“In that case, I must not be his child after all.”

“Th-that can’t be true.”

Caroline realized she had denied it too forcefully. She tried to recover, but it wasn’t easy. Fortunately, Christian didn’t seem to think much of it.

“It’s all right. Just because I didn’t receive parental love doesn’t mean I have no love myself…”

He snuggled into Caroline, rubbing his cheek against hers like a big child seeking affection.

“C-Christian?”

“You’re not going to abandon me, are you?”

“……”

“You’ll always be on my side, won’t you?”

“……Of course.”

She hugged his head and answered.

“I’m on your side, Christian.”

“Mm……”

Christian murmured softly, a word of love, and Caroline heard his confession clearly. Her heart pounded. For once, it felt genuine.

He asked again.

“You… won’t hide anything from me, right?”

Caroline promised she would hide nothing. Christian’s breath tickled her neck.

“Good. Then… there’s really something I want to know.”

Caught between sympathy and relief, Caroline said,

“Ask me anything. I won’t keep any secrets from you. I’ll answer whatever you want to know.”

* * *

It was finally time to return to the Lasphilla estate.

Even her father, who had been so preoccupied with Cecilia’s affairs, was beginning to pressure her through Bernarda since she wasn’t coming back.

Don’t go causing any trouble yourself. Bernarda delivered such messages in a soft, gentle way, as if she was simply passing on a father’s concern.

In times like this, Bernarda’s choice of words was similar to Louise’s. Are all scholarly women like this in how they speak?

Caroline wrote her reply without much thought.

She said she wasn’t feeling well and didn’t have the strength to endure travel sickness, or that she’d promised to pick out decorative flowers at a friend’s party and wanted to at least keep that promise before leaving.

Her excuses went on endlessly, but surprisingly, Bernarda didn’t strictly admonish her.

Even when faced with such obvious excuses, all Bernarda did was repeat, “As soon as you’re feeling better,” or, “Once you’re done with your appointments, come straight back.” It was as if she already knew exactly why Caroline was staying in the capital. As if… she was someone who didn’t want her to return.

‘It’s not as if rumors have spread that far yet.’

The only people sending letters to Lasphilla were Caroline and Louise. So Bernarda shouldn’t know about my love life yet. It’s not as if I’ve caused a huge scandal like Cecilia.

‘Could Louise have told Bernarda?’

No. That’s impossible. Louise is my person.

From the very beginning until now, she’s never once been anything but on her side.

Even now, Louise was the one supporting all of Caroline’s desperate efforts to keep seeing Christian.

She’s her only supporter. If not for her, Caroline might have been forced into the carriage with her family, simply for lacking a guardian or chaperone.

‘Louise has always been my reliable shield. I mustn’t doubt her.’

I must never doubt her…

And then.

The incident happened.

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