Sincerely, Vanessa [EN]: Chapter 107

Vanessa sat in the drawing room of Valder Castle, waiting for Gideon. She felt self-conscious in her carefully chosen outfit, constantly adjusting it. Lately, she felt like she should be meeting him in her uniform instead.

Today, the drawing room of Valder Castle was decorated with white birch branches, creating a wintery atmosphere. Vanessa glanced out the window, checking the time.

“The Duke is a little late.”

Ramona placed a teapot adorned with golden flowers on the table. Vanessa gratefully accepted a teacup.

“It feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you, Miss. Have you been very busy lately?”

At the slightly resentful tone, Vanessa chuckled.

“I’ve been deliberately avoiding Valder Castle lately. I’m working with Gid now! It would be a big problem if I got caught.”

Ramona smiled, watching Vanessa savor the delicate scent of the tea leaves.

She’s such a nice young lady. The Duke shouldn’t let her go. She’s even capable; so many people must be coveting her.

“May I fix your hair a little?”

Ramona, hiding her true feelings, sat beside her and smiled kindly. After a moment’s hesitation, Vanessa nodded.

“I’d appreciate it. Was my hair a bit messy?”

Vanessa smiled sheepishly, but Ramona waved her hand.

“Not at all. I just wanted to do it for you.”

Ramona gently loosened Vanessa’s long hair and removed the hairpin. As the flowing hair cascaded down her back, Ramona began to braid it.

“That’s a pretty hairpin. The craftsmanship is so delicate; it looks just like a flower.”

Vanessa nodded.

“Gid gave it to me, but I’ve never had a chance to wear it. I wanted to show it to him today.”

“Oh my. He must have chosen it himself. He usually entrusts gifts to Peres or me.”

Ramona smiled broadly, her eyes crinkling, and Vanessa carefully touched the delicate ornament she had received.

The petals of the hairpin were adorned with red jewels, and the leaves and branches were made of something that shone pure white.

She remembered the day he gave it to her at the graduation ceremony and how flustered she was when she realized it was something very expensive.

“Like this, braid only the top part slightly, then tie it together at the bottom—like folding the hair like this.”

Ramona quickly finished the hairstyle and placed the jeweled flower on the back.

Afterward, she naturally touched it up here and there and even adjusted her clothes before smiling with satisfaction.

“Hmm, perfect.”

“Thank you. Actually, it’s my first time going out with him, so… I was a bit nervous, wondering if my skirt was too short.”

Vanessa smiled shyly, but Ramona’s expression turned serious. Vanessa’s eyes widened at the sudden change, but her stern face showed no signs of softening.

“Together, you’re saying you’re going out for the first time?”

Vanessa blurted out the truth with a bewildered look.

“Yes? Ah, yes.”

“The first time…? The first time…?”

As Ramona’s expression darkened, Vanessa quickly racked her brain. Did she say something wrong?

But no matter how much she thought about it, all she did was answer her question.

“Oh dear, the Duke is late. It seems the meeting is running long.”

Peres, carrying a few small desserts, entered and placed the tray on the table. Ramona grabbed him with a strong grip. Peres looked at her with a bewildered expression, but his eyebrows were still raised.

“Peres, have you ever seen the Duke and the Miss go out together?”

“What? I don’t know… I’m sure he’s been doing well enough.”

Ramona cut through his hollow laughter.

“She says today is their first outing.”

Peres and Ramona’s eyes turned to Vanessa simultaneously. Vanessa flinched.

“The first time, you say? It’s been months since you came to the castle that night!”

Peres exclaimed as if screaming. Vanessa coughed. That night was clearly referring to the day Vanessa stumbled into Valder Castle drunk.

“We’ve both been busy, so we haven’t had time to go far… It’s not really the first time; we just wandered around Püdom…”

The mumbled answer was cut off sharply.

“What could be so busy! How can you not go out properly together during the best time!”

Peres beat his chest, and Vanessa just rolled her eyes. Ramona also shook her head.

“Of course, Püdom is beautiful, but you should go to many other places. Work can be dealt with, but the Duke is accepting it all.”

“He must have been too busy lately to do that…”

Vanessa tried to defend him timidly, but the two coldly turned their gaze away from Vanessa and whispered.

“To Miguel—”

“A little later—”

The two left Vanessa in the drawing room, whispering as if plotting something. Vanessa looked around the empty drawing room in dismay and scratched her cheek.

Well, I don’t know.

The tea was still fragrant and had a good aftertaste. Vanessa decided to enjoy this peaceful rest. They’ll probably say something to Gideon anyway.

Gideon returned to the castle not long after. He entered the drawing room with a deep frown, and Vanessa pretended not to notice and tilted her head.

“What’s wrong? Was there a problem at the meeting?”

At Vanessa’s question, Gideon finally came to his senses and gave a bitter smile.

“No. As soon as I came in, Peres and Ramona dragged me away and scolded me… But it’s my fault, so I couldn’t refute anything.”

He sat next to Vanessa and stretched out. Today, he was dressed quite casually.

The sight of him using a silk tie to tighten his neck was gone, and the pure white collar was comfortably loose. However, he was wearing a fitted light gray vest with simple silver embroidery.

As his large body leaned back loosely, Vanessa playfully smiled, gently stroking Gideon’s eyes. He caught Vanessa’s hand as if ticklish.

A faint smile spread as the small hand trapped in his large hand wriggled.

Gideon looked at her with affectionate eyes, then noticed the hairpin Vanessa was wearing and began to laugh.

“Ah, it’s been a while since I’ve seen that. I’ve had that for quite a while.”

“When did you buy it?”

“It was when you hadn’t replied for a long time… I think it was around October 1311. I bought it because I wanted to send it on Saint Barando’s birthday [a fictional saint’s day].”

Gideon gently caressed the bright red petals and whispered softly.

“But I couldn’t send it… I kept it for almost a year. I was going to give it to you instead of a bouquet at the graduation ceremony…”

The events of that day were still vivid in his mind. He was disappointed that the teacher didn’t come, and his emotions were stirred up by seeing Gideon after a long time. In the end, he went to the clock tower with teary eyes and met Gideon.

“You didn’t even look at me.”

The man spoke lightly, as if joking, but it seemed he hadn’t forgotten the bitter feelings of that time. Vanessa decided to ease those feelings.

“I was afraid someone would find out if they saw me.”

“Find out what?”

He tilted his head in confusion. Vanessa smiled faintly.

“That I like Gid. I was afraid someone would laugh at me if they found out.”

The only Duke in Fribae and an orphan. It was still a bewildering thing sometimes. Back then, even Lina and Chebati, who always cheered her on, didn’t know how to comfort her, so it was truly an amazing thing.

“Why would you think that? From what I heard, you were very popular at the academy. I should have known that the Duke, who was always holed up working, would fall for you.”

As Gid smiled, his eyes crinkling, Vanessa pouted, her cheeks flushed.

“No matter how popular I was, I wouldn’t have been as popular as Gid. I hear a lot even while working!”

“Is that so? I’ve heard a few things too.”

“Like what?”

“Like someone from the Ministry of Finance liked someone from the Ministry of Magic. But the girl from the Ministry of Magic went to the Special Forces and shed tears.”

Vanessa was momentarily bewildered by the story she didn’t even know.

“Really?”

“Yes. I don’t know who that man is, but he must have been working hard walking around the hallway instead of working. How else would he have seen you inside the Ministry of Magic?”

It was a biased statement full of displeasure. Vanessa somehow felt wronged.

She couldn’t lose in this matter. How many times had she suffered because he was so handsome?

There wasn’t a single person in the Cabinet who didn’t know the name ‘Gideon Sol Valder’! Even married officials would gape and drop their documents when they encountered him.

“That’s just what you heard. I saw it myself? Do you know how many people gathered to see your face when Gid passed by the Second Castle hallway last time? Everyone’s eyes were like—!”

As Vanessa gestured to describe the people’s wide eyes, Gideon pulled her waist. Before she could be surprised, Vanessa was facing Gideon, sitting on his lap.

She felt his large hands wrapped around her waist to steady her. She was so used to looking up at him that his face, seen head-on, felt very unfamiliar.

Gideon curved his lips as Vanessa’s eyes trembled as if an earthquake had struck at the solid thighs she felt beneath her.

But somehow, unlike his raised lips, his eyes were cold.

“Evan Riass?”

Vanessa flinched at the affectionate voice.

“E-E-Evan, what about Evan?”

“Ah. Pretending not to know…. Then your friend, Chebati’s family was in the Magic Technology Department. Cezar Milo Doti, was it? He seemed to visit you quite often.”

“H-how did you know… No, and it’s nothing! We just chatted a bit, and he gave me technical advice.”

“You should get advice from the people in the Technology Department. Why from you? Is it related to the Ministry of Magic? And why did he bring a small flower?”

Vanessa startled and flinched as Gideon tilted his head.

How did he know? He doesn’t even come to the Second Castle often.

An excuse that she didn’t even realize she was making popped out.