Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 72
Ulysses chuckled lightly.
Just then, a gentle breeze blew between them, fluttering Cecilia’s hair in the wind.
“…”
He suddenly recalled a scene from a few days ago.
Outside the window, in a distance out of his reach, purple hair that had stolen his gaze.
As if enchanted, he raised his hand. Cecilia instinctively squeezed her eyes shut.
“Don’t.”
The small murmur was laced with annoyance.
But underlying it was fear.
Looking back, she had slightly flinched when he had reached for her forehead just now.
What? Had someone hit her before?
I’m not Nigel…
‘The Young Marquis had tormented her quite a bit.’
When Ulysses had been young, it wasn’t too bad. If Nigel’s attention and hatred were directed towards Cecilia, he could sit back and enjoy some peace.
‘Was I just a bystander?’
He was a bystander. Even worse, he exploited the situation. He had thrown Cecilia to Nigel as though he was feeding a wild dog and enjoyed peace within the comforts of a fence.
‘I shouldn’t have done that.’
He reflected. He had been reflecting for a long time, but suddenly it weighed on his mind again. The impulse brought on by a momentary emotion had made him call her name.
“Cecilia.”
“What.”
“Iâm sorry.”
“…”
She laughed as if it was absurd. Then, finally, she gave him the words he had asked for earlier.
“Safe travels.”
In other words, âPiss offâ.
He did not receive genuine forgiveness this time, either. With the relationship between Rosencrantz and Lasphilla cooling, perhaps they would remain like this forever.
Throbâ
A pain Ulysses had never felt in his life struck the left side of his chest.
It was an unfamiliar and unpleasant feeling.
***
Until the moment she climbed into the carriage, Guinevere glared at Cecilia.
“You have no idea how vile your parents are, do you?”
Look whoâs talking…
…Cecilia thought, as she feigned a frightened expression and bowed her head.
“Did Miss Lilith do something disrespectful to you again? I’m really sorry. I’ll apologize on her behalf, so please forgive her…”
As Lilith’s name was mentioned, Guinevere’s lips twisted mercilessly.
“Donât even make me think of what that woman did to me…”
Her teeth gritted mid-sentence. Her venomous glare directed at Cecilia.
“Stupid girl. You’ll just continue to be clueless and take what’s given. Well, it doesn’t look like you’re capable of much… Try your best, at least until your debut.”
“…”
All of Guinevere’s ramblings were like a comedy to Cecilia. She wasn’t angryâit was just amusing.
“I’ll try my best. Enough to make Father smile warmly even when he sees you, Aunt.”
Of course, mocking the loser was a separate matter from anger. As soon as Guinevere’s face turned frighteningly twisted, Cecilia quickly closed the carriage door.
“Have a safe journey!”
She waved sincerely.
Nigel saw her waving as he was about to climb into the carriage. He shook his head in disbelief at the sight. As Cecilia stepped a few paces away from Guinevere’s carriage, Nigel approached her as if he had been waiting.
“Hey half-breed, you’re really shameless.”
As if calling someone a âhalf-breedâ was any better.
Cecilia diverted the topic while keeping her gaze forward.
“Are you returning to the royal palace, Sir Nigel?”
Being part of the royal guard, Nigel spent more time in the capital than in the Rosencrantz territory. This must have been a short leave.
‘Why does he even bother coming here? Does he have a favorite maid at the Coffret Manor?’
While she was indulging in this unlikely fantasy, Nigel responded.
“Normally, I would return immediately. But this time, I’ll visit the territory. If I don’t speak up, all of your father’s testimonies regarding Ulyssesâs poisoning case will be covered up by that woman.”
Indeed, this man was also preparing for a new battle in his domain.
“I support you,” Cecilia said.
“The likes of you?”
His expression was dismissive.
“I mean it. I hope you reach a very high position someday.”
Because you’ll also become one of the chess pieces I’ll be sure to maneuver.
Cecilia turned to meet his gaze, causing a slight quiver beneath Nigel’s eyes.
The disturbance was brief. His lips, set in a straight and stubborn line, parted.
“Don’t do anything foolish in the meantime.”
“Excuse me?”
His knuckles tapped her forehead. In that brief moment, just like with Ulysses, Cecilia tensed up.
“You’re injured. It’ll be worse if it gets aggravated.”
It’s not that soft of a head… Cecilia rubbed her forehead, mumbling to herself.
“What? I can’t hear you.”
Nigel walked towards the carriage, digging at his ear.
Finally, the Rosencrantzes had left. The Coffret Manor quieted down again.
And yet, it was nothing but false peace, like being in the eye of a storm.
