Chapter 236 - That Was His Way of Doing Things

[Side Story: The Tenth Episode]

“Oh my, my eldest child?” she asked him in a voice that clearly revealed she had never imagined this would be his purpose, “Do you know my Nil?”

“I met her yesterday.”

“Ah, so that is it,” As if she could guess everything from his answer, the Marchioness of Grochester continued with a strange smile on her lips, “Please follow me. Nil is on the second floor. Let us go together.”

—

“Why exactly are you looking for Nil again?” The Marchioness of Grochester suddenly asked as she was going up the stairs.

Rothesay was briefly puzzled by her question, but soon answered with the truth, “The meeting I had with your daughter yesterday had a lasting impression on me.”

“In what way?”

“She was just absolutely beautiful.”

“Ahaha! Is that so?”

“Yes. Today, I have realized that your daughter resembles you, my Lady.”

“Oh my, this compliment is with some explicit intent, Young Lord?

“I just want you to feel good about these words, my Lady.” As he continued to exchange words with her, he noticed they were already standing in front of the door to a room. As he was seriously wondering if he should just run away at that moment, the door opened as someone appeared.

She exclaimed in a slightly surprised voice, “B…radington, Young Lord?”

When he heard her voice, he realized that all the instances when he had hesitated were all for nothing. Rather, he rebuked himself for being so foolish for not having had the courage earlier. He naturally smiled as he greeted her, “It has been a while, my Lady.” ‘No, it has not been a long time. Because we clearly saw each other last night,’ Rothesay reminded himself as he stared at Petronilla with a thumping heart.

Petronilla stared at the Marchioness of Grochester, her expression asking how this had all happened, but the Marchioness just maintained her smile as she only said, “The Young Lord said the meeting he had yesterday with you was quite impressive. That is why he has visited to see you again.”

“Mother, but I…”

“If you are feeling uncomfortable, I will take my leave, my Lady,” Rothesay quickly stepped in to reassure her.

The Marchioness of Grochester had left smoothly; Petronilla could only stare at Rothesay with a dismayed look on her face. Petronilla asked him, “What would bring you all the way here… No, I am a little busy. I hope you can simply state the reason and be on your way.”

“Ah yes, you are a senior maid at the Empress’ Palace. I had forgotten.” Rothesay smiled as he handed something to Petronilla.

It was a bouquet. He had not purchased it deliberately, rather he had bought it on impulse, on the way to see her.

“I was going for a walk today when I saw that there were these flowers that resemble my Lady…”

He had not actually taken a walk, but it was true that he had seen these flowers that resembled her in front of a flower shop. That was why he had unconsciously bought a bouquet that he would not normally buy.

“So I bought a bouquet.”

“…Thank you, Young Lord. But why give something like this to me…”

“I have already told you, my Lady,” he replied with a charming smile. Everything about him was sincere as he told her, “I do my best, and give my all, to someone I love.” That was his way of doing things. “I attempted my very best in my own way, and I hope that it is to your liking, my Lady.”

“…”

“Do you not like it?”

“It is not that… Thank you, Young Lord.”

Rothesay’s face lit up at her mostly positive answer. Petronilla broke into a grin seeing his reaction. Rothesay was encouraged by this response, and asked a question that he had hesitated to bring up, “Why did you leave so abruptly yesterday?”

“… I was distracted by the disturbance that had occurred yesterday. I am really sorry if I made you wait.”

“No, I understand. I would have forgotten if I had been in that situation as well. Well done on that.”

“…”

“Then maybe I can…” he trailed off.

“Please speak on.”

When Petronilla urged Rothesay to continue, as he seemed shy and unable to finish his thought, he spoke as if he had been waiting for the opportunity to do so. He had decided not to leave any room for regret now, “Because we could not share a dance together yesterday… If you are alright with the idea, will you go on a date with me?”

‘Done! I did it!’ Rothesay waited for her reply, not even trying to calm down his thumping heart.

But there was a problem; her expression was dark. ‘Am I going to be rejected?’ The outcome that he did not want to think about the most kept lingering in his mind. He was assuming all sorts of negative situations internally, but an unexpected answer came to him.

“That sounds good.”

With those words, the dead expression on Rothesay’s face suddenly came back to life. ‘God, thank you so very much! I will live better in the future.’ He asked joyfully, “Do you really mean that?”

“I do not speak conflicting things with one mouth. Instead, I will lay down the condition that I will be sent home before the sun sets.”

“Of course, my Lady. I am not such a promiscuous person.” Of course, it would have been different for someone like Walter, but Rothesay also added this sentiment for himself. “When would be a good time for you, my Lady. If only my Lady is alright with it, even right this very moment…”

“Ah, I am sorry, right this very moment would not work for me… I will send someone to the Bradington estate. How does that sound?”

“That sounds wonderful,” Rothesay replied with a big smile, as if it did not matter to him when that would be. Anyway, the important thing was that he and she would be going on a date. Even if it was not that day, they would sooner or later.

At that moment, Petronilla burst into laughter in front of Rothesay’s eyes. Of course, there was no way that Rothesay would miss this. He raised one end of his mouth all the way up as he asked with a childlike expression, “Huh? You just laughed. Am I right?”

“…Is that important?”

“Yes, it is important,” He explained the reason, his voice going deep, “Because this was the first time you were looking at me as you laughed.” ‘What a fascinating thing this is. She looked right at me with a smile and laughed!’ Rothesay did not hide his excitement as he prepared to take his leave.

Seeing this, she asked him, “Are you going to leave already?”

“Did you not say that you are busy today? I have no intention of taking away my Lady’s precious time.” So, for today, this would be it. After Rothesay said these words, he knelt on one knee as he settled down in front of Petronilla. As Petronilla stared at his action with a dazed expression, he placed a kiss on the back of her right hand. ‘This is never done without an ulterior motive… it is a kiss full of it. Although it was packaged with courtesy.’ Rothesay smiled and stated in a sweet voice, “Then, I will be seeing you again soon, my Lady!”

It was the first time he was looking forward to the future so much. Rothesay smiled brightly at the thought.

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Translated by Haeli

Edited by RED