CH 7.5

Anna went to her office with a displeased look on her face. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.She was stunned to see Michael walk out with Lila without looking at her.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“You’ve got the wrong person. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.I’m just trying to be a little concerned…”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Anna gnashed her teeth at the thought of Lila, who had been responding bluntly to what she had heard and to her different looks.

“I’m going to have to call your mother. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.How could you put such a poor woman as the duchess?”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

She knocked roughly on the door of the office she’d arrived at, and opened it before they could say yes.

“This is really not it!”

Anna squealed as she entered. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.She was very familiar with the office. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.When her husband was alive, she’d come in here many times and verbally abused him.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

So being in a familiar place relaxed her, and her usual behavior kicked in.

But what greeted her were piercing mint-colored eyes. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Not her husband’s stony dark green eyes.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“I really don’t know what to make of you.”

Lucas sat down on the couch in the living room and tilted his head. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.He swept his hair back and let out a long sigh.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“I tried to be polite. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Since you brought her here as your wife, I was being polite! She’s wasn’t. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.If you know better, you shouldn’t bring in a woman like that.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Anna’s temper flared, and she blurted out the words like she used to with Lucas.

“I’m sure your mother will be against it too. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Even if she has a pretty face to look at, what about her freckles! The freckles didn’t go away even when I gave birth to Michael, but look, both of her parents have freckles! What is the sin of the child to be born?”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“So you neglected Michael?”

Lucas cut her off, letting out a long sigh before speaking.

“I have no say in the matter, of course. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.I’m just as guilty of neglect. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.He’s smarter than his peers, so I just assumed the servants would take care of him. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.He’s not my child, he’s my nephew. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.There’s a limit to how much I can care.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Lucas was uncharacteristically long-winded. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.He was shocked by Lila’s words.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“My wife knew that within days, and you didn’t.”

“…How would I know that, he has to tell me. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Do I have to know everything just because I’m the mother?”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Lucas said firmly, his breath coming out in short bursts, as if he were energized by her words.

“Please, if you have any conscience left… don’t come here anymore. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Go live happily ever after with your true love. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.This is the limit of what I can do for you, as my my sister-in-law. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Don’t mess with my temper anymore.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Lucas finished, drawing his hand to his side in the air. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Anna felt a surge of irritation at his changed demeanor.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Honestly, you weren’t interested in the family either, so why are you being so hard on me now?”

“You’re the one who wasn’t interested in the clan.”

“Don’t lie to me, you’ve been so busy wandering around that you haven’t even bothered with the dukedom.”

Lucas tiredly rubbed a hand over his eyes.

“Because I took care of the business in place of my older brother.”

Anna’s eyes widened at the thought of Lucas revealing something she didn’t know.

“My poor brother had no business talent, unfortunately. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.If you were even remotely interested in him, you would have known that. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.I’m not comfortable discussing this with you anymore, and before you start throwing away what little memories you have, go away.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Lucas thought of his brother, Anna, and Michael, who had gotten together every so often to share a meal. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.But it was only for a few moments.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Lila returned to the room with Michael. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.They drank the cocoa Vincent had made for them, washed up, and got into bed.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Ugly, why did you change your face like that? Are you sure you’re not a mage?”

“You’re calling me ugly again. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Well, it’s kind of nice to be called that by the young master.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“After washing, your face is prettier.”

“So you like my face?”

“Yes.”

When Michael, who she expected to squeal with delight, meekly affirmed, it was Lila who should have been embarrassed.

“…Um, thank you.”

“What.”

Michael was so grown up that sometimes she wondered if he’s really only nine.

“Do you want me to tell you a funny story?”

“What?”

Lila just wistfully dredged up an old memory.

“Once upon a time, a long time ago.”

“What is it.”

Despite the grumbling in his voice, Michael listened to her.

“There was a moon man who lived with my brother, and one day.”

As she began to tell her story in a casual tone, Michael watched and listened, and before she knew it, he was dozing off.

The next day, at Lucas’s summons, Lila headed to his office, wearing the same makeup and clothes as yesterday.

She knocked on the door and heard a voice inside.

Creak.

“You wanted to see me?”

Hearing her voice, Lucas looked up from his papers. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Owen, who was sitting at the desk next to him, also looked up.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Lucas turned to Owen.

“You leave.”

“Yes.”

Owen replied, pushing up his silver-rimmed glasses. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.He bowed to Lila and walked out the door.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Meanwhile, Lucas stood up and approached the couch. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Lila couldn’t take her eyes off him as he strode over, his long legs strutting.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

He was dressed in all black today, accented with blue sapphire cuffs and embroidered with blue hydrangeas.

“Please have a seat.”

“Ah, yes.”

Lila, who had been watching, sat down on the couch. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Lucas, who had sat down first and was observing her, asked.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Hmm, have you decided to be honest? That’s a shame, I was trying to figure it out.”

“Well, I’m not entirely honest yet, and if you’re a Duke, aren’t you being too honest?”

Lucas laughed, making a windy sound as he crossed his arms in front of her.

He felt his foggy head clear.

Lucas leaned his upper body loosely against the couch, inhaling her sweet, seductive scent.

“I’m sorry about yesterday.”

Lila blushed as she watched him speak with a languid expression. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.When she remained silent, Lucas spoke slowly.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“As you can see, my lady, we’re a bean flour family1. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.There’s nothing special about being a duke, and nothing special about being a duchess… The Montefeltra blood is strong, and every child born is a boy, and every child born has a face full of freckles and looks alike.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Lila listened, her eyes narrowing.

“And we were always plagued by family feuds. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.I’m sure other families are no different, but we were different from the ground up. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.The wives, even my mother, were so displeased with my father, my brother, and me, it was disgusting.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Lila, who had been listening to him, spoke up.

“I don’t think so, the Duke’s face is my favorite!”

Lucas burst out laughing at her outburst.

“What, why are you laughing?”

Lila was serious, and a little angry. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Then again, she really didn’t know the standards of beauty in the Vassium Empire.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“I really don’t understand, because you, the Duke, and the young master, from what I’ve seen, are very handsome. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Don’t you think so?”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Lucas let out a long breath as Lila looked him in the eye, her eyes narrowing as if she meant it.

Covering the corner of his mouth with a long finger, Lucas tilted his head slightly.

In truth, he didn’t feel inferior about his appearance. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.He was indifferent to the rudeness and gossip of the servants because he wasn’t interested in them in the first place.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

He apologized for yesterday’s incident, thinking that she should know something about the Montefeltras by now, but the reaction he got back was so amusing that he didn’t feel like clearing up any misunderstandings.

“Um…”

Lucas paused, considering, then straightened.

“I’ve never heard that before.”

“Never heard of it, the Empire has strange standards of beauty.”

Her words brought a smirk to Lucas’ face.

“Is that why you wear such peculiar makeup? Because you think it makes you look pretty?”1

a dysfunctional family