The Bad Ending of an Otome

“…Did you deliver the gift you chose based on my advice?”

It appears that it was not about Elodie. 

Alston probed Raretis gingerly, but he remained mute.

“…No. There was no opportunity.”

“Did she refuse?”

“No, we just didn’t meet.”

Then it wasn’t indeed about Elodie. 

Alston’s suspicions were validated. 

Who could it possibly be? 

Indeed not the princess… 

Then there’s the Black Tulip. 

Raretis’ strangely quiet demeanor worried Alston. 

After all, they shared the same house. 

It should have been as simple as passing something to Elodie as eating cold porridge. 

But the fact that Raretis was disappointed at being unable to meet was a different story.

“It’s the social season, after all… The ladies must be incredibly busy.”

“I plan to visit again.”

“Yes…”

Had Raretis ever displayed such an attitude for a woman? 

Of course, he had witnessed complex realities outdoors since his boyhood and had always remembered to offer gifts while returning to the city. 

But he’d never seemed so enthusiastic or remorseful about anything before. 

In many ways, the issue was problematic, but Alston wanted to encourage his deputy commander’s romantic ambitions.

“…What if she avoids me?”

It was genuine. 

Genuinely sincere. 

Raretis Hope, of all persons, was speaking hesitantly, unsure what to do if the other side ignored him. 

Alston was confident that the young knights of the order, who revered Raretis as a god, would be astounded by this scenario. 

Men respected Raretis for his greatness, skills, and flawless demeanor, but he was always sharp with women. 

Would he have acted so strangely if he had read even a single sentence from each love letter he had used as kindling throughout the years?

“If she dislikes you, Sir Deputy Commander, I can’t support it… But, if that’s not the case, shouldn’t you confront her?”

“…”

Alston rubbed his cheek as he felt Raretis’ eyes on him. 

He was already married. 

Their bond was built on mutual trust and belief in each other’s skills. 

They referred to each other as ‘the most stable investment.’

“Confront her?”

“Sir Deputy Commander, why don’t you use that face of yours?”

“…What?”

Alston heard Raretis talk in a disoriented tone for the first time in a long time.

“Why are you being so hesitant when there are people who would die just to hear Sir Deputy Commander’s voice? Some ladies might faint if Sir Raretis only shouted their name.”

“…”

Raretis remained mute.

“Does she genuinely dislike you, Sir Deputy Commander?”

“It’s not that, but…”

“Is there an arranged engagement, or does her family oppose it?”

“It’s not that either, but…”

“Is it awkward because you haven’t seen each other for a while?”

“It’s something like that.”

“Then you can just get closer again, right?”

“…”

Alston was frustrated as he faced his superior, who stared helplessly at such a clear idea.

“You’re not one of those knights in black armor who show up unexpectedly at a lady’s house with roses and serenade her loudly at all hours. She’ll tell you if she doesn’t like it.”

“No, I’m just worried that if I approach her too hastily, she might…”

“Love is all about giving and receiving pressure.”

This could not be refuted by the kingdom’s proud hero, who had little experience with love.

“What will happen if you don’t approach her because you’re afraid of being perceived as a burden or disliked? Will you just keep circling and then, after everything is settled, wish you had taken the chance?”

“…”

“Why give up before even trying? That is not typical of you, Sir Deputy Commander.”

People, they say, change when they fall in love. 

It seemed true that a man who appeared to be perfect in every aspect could be so troubled. 

This concept changed Alston’s perspective on his supervisor, who was always younger but respected. 

Raretis Hope, who had always acted maturely beyond his years, now appeared to be a young man. 

The lady who could make Raretis appear so young must be something special. 

Alston was perplexed. 

Even the silver lily lady, whom they saw every day and went to social events with, did not come out on top in this category.

“…Right. Sir Alston, I appreciate your advice.”

Finally, Raretis appeared to have decided, his face breaking into a sardonic, relieved smile.

“If I don’t even try… yes, it will remain a standstill forever.”

“Exactly.”

“Do you know a good florist?”

“Excuse me?”

“I’d also like suggestions for other stores. Preferably soon.”

“What kind of store?”

“Any type. Anything that is commonly preferred by women.”

“…What about the jewelry store I recommended last time?”

“That was a wise decision. Something along those lines would be ideal.”

Alston resigned himself to assisting his superior, who had recently discovered love. 

He reasoned that he should question his wife about the city’s hot spots.

* * *

Meanwhile, when Emilia returned his letter, Edmund got visibly upset.

“That audacious woman!”

Edmund threw whatever was in his hand against the wall in rage. 

It was a handcrafted pen made by an artisan. 

When the pen collided with the wall, it broke in half and rolled across the floor. 

Edmund’s behavior did not surprise the butler, Willard Cain. 

He had lived in Count Gloucester’s mansion since Edmund’s birth. 

He had served at the royal palace, attending to the monarch in his youth, before arriving at the Count’s mansion, demonstrating his competency.

“What? She didn’t even read the letter before returning it? What’s this about manners? How dare she treat me this way after saying such things!”

“…What are you going to do, my lord?”

“…”

Edmund appeared to be on his way to the Brahamdorff family’s townhouse to face Lady Emilia based on his statements, but he paused.

“If I act rashly, it will reflect poorly on Elodie…”

“Shall I revisit her?”

“No, no, that’s it. She’s a woman with a hot temper. Even if you go again, you’ll be mocked. Oh, no! I was well aware of her personality all along. Since Ophelia was around, she’s been arrogantly self-assured…”

Bang! Edmund slammed his fist into the table, unable to control his rage.

“Even if she had realized her place and lived among the commoners for a while, her temperament would have remained the same! Oh, no! I thought she’d vanished, but she’s holding Cassio’s hand and sprinting away in the blink of an eye!”

The butler made no mention of Edmund’s absurdity. 

Although few were aware of it, Edmund Gloucester’s method of thinking was unusually irrational. 

He would become irrationally angry and strangely silent in situations that elicit rage.

“If she knew her place, I thought I could later place her beside Ophelia’s grave as an ornament!”

Edmund was in a crazy environment. 

Unnecessary seats were strewn about, as were bottles filled with dried flower petals, childish accessories, and mounds of ragged clothing. 

Even some diamonds Emilia had disposed of when she left the Marquis’s mansion were in that room, unbeknownst to her.

Edmund was the first to destroy all signs of Emilia when she vanished, terrified that others might find out. 

Even Raretis and Cassio couldn’t have predicted Emilia’s departure the next day, but Edmund had been worrying about it all day. 

Emilia was the most visible relic of Ophelia to him. 

What if she went somewhere irresponsibly and got hurt or killed? 

He may not have liked that arrogant woman, but Ophelia had treasured her, so he thought she was valuable. 

He had planned for the worst, but Emilia did leave that night. 

She had no idea Edmund’s servant was following her.

As a result, Edmund cleverly maneuvered. 

He returned the diamonds to the merchants and quieted them. 

He recruited workers to guard the area after settling in a run-down section and purchasing a building. 

He mocked her for believing she could survive alone in such a hostile environment. 

He thought it was humorous that both the accomplished Raretis and the intelligent Cassio were desperate to find this one woman.

He had no intention of paying her a visit. 

It was only a precaution in case something terrible happened, because of Ophelia. 

Knowing Emilia’s whereabouts, which was unknown to others, was sufficient. 

Despite her airs of superiority among the commoners, she had to work hard every day. 

He could have saved her from that life if he had chosen to, but he chose not to. 

She needed to figure out where she fit in. 

She could have pretended to be superior when Ophelia was alive, but the situation was different today.