Ian flinched for a moment. Else took advantage of the gap and snatched the necklace in his hand and held it in her arms. Ian, his face visibly frozen, looked down at her. Else, who had raised her gaze that had been downturned, stared blankly at him. His eyes, dark and set like minerals that had lost their light, cut into her heart.
“This is...”
She wanted to clear up his misunderstanding by licking her lips. 'Actually, I don't like this necklace either, but since it's an engagement gift, my father told me to keep it well, so I should take good care of it.' Or, regardless of whether she likes the necklace or not, since it was a gift, she should make sure it isn't damaged.
She tried to say something with her lips, but Ian turned away before she could. Else, unable to hold on to him, stared at his back as he walked away with a dry face. Soon, Else’s gaze groped for the spot where he had disappeared without a trace. The sound of steady footsteps faded from her ears, and only the soft touch of the ruby in her hand weighed her down.
***
Sir Roxanne was the 8th cousin of her father, the lord of Lugdun, and was, in fact, a very distant relative with the same last name, 'Roate'. Even though he was a distant relative, he was the closest companion of her father when he was studying abroad in the royal capital, Siena, and he said that he was the first person that came to mind when he was looking for a fiancé for Else.
If he was the son of someone he was close to, wouldn't he be a good father for the grandson who would inherit this territory? Sir Roxanne, a collateral branch of the family, was a low-ranking noble with no foundation. His father had a narrow position in the family, and he lived a life like a buoy without receiving anything from his superiors.
Fortunately, Lady Griz, Sir Roxanne's wife, was a collateral descendant of a fairly well-known family in the capital, so she had inherited quite a bit of wealth from her family. And with that wealth, Sir Roxanne said he started a business by obtaining mining rights in Kalagore, where many mines were located. The scale of the business was not large, but it was substantial enough to allow him to marry a noble's daughter. As a result, it was a family that was not bad for Else, the daughter of a small lord, to marry into.
Elliot looked at his daughter, who had finally dressed up for the first time in a while. Her hair was long and beautiful, like cherry blossoms in full bloom in spring. Her beautiful hair was braided behind her ears, and peonies and bellflowers were placed on the back of her head with a ribbon. She was dazzlingly beautiful. He stared at his daughter, who was elegant and fresh today.
Just like his wife, her neat eyebrows had refreshing green eyes that were as blue and beautiful as a summer field, and her cheeks were the color of ripe apples, less pale than those of patients who often suffer from fever. Her plump lips were also red and beautiful, making her a beauty beyond compare.
She was definitely a beauty. She must have been a great beauty, one that could be counted among the best in the capital. No. At least, even during his time studying abroad in the capital, he had never seen a great beauty like his daughter. Else would subdue all the noble maidens in the capital in one breath. His daughter was a beauty worthy of being recorded in history. She was a beauty that surprised even him, who had her as his own child. How would the noble young men of his daughter's age see her?
“Father, what is on my face?”
"...No."
Else, who was beside him with her hands clasped together, raised her head. Elliot shook his head, looking away from her. Suddenly, he remembered his wife’s maiden days. Rosaline was a famous beauty on the eastern border. The family, Baron Gerjon, was a vassal of the Marquis of Aperato and was not a family that could be called prestigious, but if you were to be judged by that, his family, Roate, was not famous either.
However, Rosaline was a beauty that was hard to find in the royal capital or anywhere in the world, and during her maiden years, she was a beautiful and kind lady who attracted many suitors to the frugal Baron Gerjon family. Among his suitors was the eldest son of the Marquis of Aperato, the master of her father, Baron Gerjon. Although they were young, it is known that there were quite deep and heavy feelings between the two.
However, the Marquis and the Baron were families of different ranks. From the rank to the size of the family. Even if the two families existed within the large fence of the nobility, it was impossible to know whether the Marquis of Aperato would consider the Baron of Gerjon as a fellow noble.
It is not known exactly what Rosaline's feelings were for the eldest son of the Marquis of Aperato. Perhaps it was feelings. Or perhaps Rosaline was too young to have feelings that could be called love. As a result, it was not Rosaline but her father who chose him over the eldest son of the Marquis of Aperato among the many suitors.
“Else has become even more beautiful since I last saw her.”
Sir Roxanne, sitting across from him, opened his mouth happily as he looked at his daughter. Else was more graceful and beautiful than Rosaline in her youth, when the son of the High Lord had hanged her. It was a face he saw every day, so he shouldn’t have been moved, but looking at his daughter, who was as beautiful as a painting, sometimes made him feel sorry for everything.
“Isn’t your personality much better now?”
Else smiled faintly at the joke that was thrown to lighten the mood at the table they were sitting at. In order to erase the dirty marks, she applied white powder to her already white neck, so it looked lifeless, like a dead person's neck. However, with the diamond necklace with a large ruby attached, it didn't look too messy.
“Father too... Elsie was always an angelic child.”
Millium, sitting next to Sir Roxanne, looked at Else and parted his lips. Else, who had been smiling gently, withdrew her smile in front of Millium. Then, her long eyelashes twitched slightly and she soon lowered her gaze.
“Yeah. Else has always been like an angel.”
“There is no place that can be more beautiful.”
“Haha. That’s right, Else couldn’t be prettier. I haven’t seen such a beautiful girl in the royal capital.”
Sir Roxanne said with a satisfied laugh. Elliot smiled along with him. Sir Roxanne and Milium smiled with satisfaction, saying that even in the vast capital where the King resided, they had never seen such a great beauty as his daughter. The smiles on Sir Roxanne’s and Milium’s faces were like those of someone who owned a rare and beautiful bird, the only one of its kind in the world.
Elliot raised the corners of his lips and stared at his beautiful daughter. To Roxanne, his daughter was nothing more than a rare attraction that others did not have. She was a great beauty worthy of being called a landmark in remote and insignificant countryside, so it was natural for him to feel proud of owning such a beauty.
It was even more so for Roxanne, who barely managed to obtain mining rights with the help of her wife's family in the royal capital where many big shots were competing to become the King's confidant and maintain his position as a noble. It was like gaining one thing that others did not have.
“She will make a great pair with Milium.”
Elliot said with a bright smile as he cut into the tender flesh of a young calf.
“Ahem. That’s right. Our Millium isn’t a kid who has any flaws.”
Roxanne, who had been chatting with the seemingly ordinary Millium, raised her wine glass. Elliot followed suit and raised his wine glass. The glasses that had gathered to celebrate the future of the two young people clinked and made a clear sound.
“But how many years have passed since you two met?”
“It’s been two years.”
Millium answered Roxanne's question. Millium smiled gently at Else. Else didn't smile back at all and looked away. When she looked at Millium, it felt like a weasel was crawling inside her mouth. It was even more so because she remembered the last time she saw him.
“It hasn’t been that long.”
“It’s been a long time, Father. I haven’t seen my lovely fiancée in two years.”
“I see. Haha. That guy is really...”
Roxanne shook her head as if she couldn't stop himself and took a bite of the veal. Millium was still looking at Else. Else lowered her gaze to avoid the persistent brown eyes. She felt nauseous because of the thin lip she had bitten two years ago. She wanted to somehow hold on to her position, but it was hard to endure because of the dull, dull pain spreading through her head.
“What’s wrong? Your expression...”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Else moved her lips quickly. Millium looked at her fiancée. Just like two years ago, she was a stunningly beautiful woman. Else was a woman who stimulated possessiveness. She was the kind of woman who made men want to be greedy. For example, a woman with a fragile beauty that seemed like it could break was more elegant and proud than any of the noble maidens of the royal capital.
If such a great and perfect beauty had been the daughter of a high-ranking lord like the Duke of Touro or the Marquis of Aperato, she would not have aroused such greed. She would have been so noble that it was impossible to desire her. Perhaps, sexual desire would not have arisen in front of such a high status. It would have been impossible for a mediocre man to even dream of it.
But Else was the unloved daughter of a poor lord. She had nothing but beauty. Even with her blinding beauty, Millium was the limit to her level.
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