Blackening the Affectionate Male Lead (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 81

“Duke Orleans, Bartolini greets you. I was surprised to hear you had come to see the performance.”

“I couldn’t believe it when I heard you were born and raised in Dietos. That such a talented singer emerged from Dietos! Thank you for allowing me to attend your performance.”

Bartolini smiled with her eyes slightly crinkled. The warmth in her manner was so genuine it made their fleeting glance before seem utterly forgettable. Whitney knew well enough that Bartolini wasn’t being sincere with her—only a complete fool would miss that.

“I sought you out to offer my apologies. Upon learning how Viscount Wigg, who had been acting on my behalf, managed Dietos, I was utterly appalled. You must have been deeply troubled by it all.”

“The House of Orleans has long been renowned as a noble family. Should word spread that such a distinguished house embezzled funds and drove its people to the brink of ruin, their honor would be tarnished in an instant. Nobles do love gossiping about others, don’t they? Yet even if I’d explicitly instructed him to use my money for a clear purpose, what power did I truly have?”

Whitney offered no rebuttal to her words. There was no falsehood in what she said, so Whitney could only nod in agreement. She turned to Bartolini and sincerely offered her apology.

“I’m truly sorry. Until now, I lacked the strength to act and could only stand by. I swear on my name—I’ll recover your money and ensure it’s used for its intended purpose.”

“……”

“If you don’t believe me, I have nothing more to say. That’s why I intend to prove myself through action. Won’t you watch and see as I work to restore the House of Orleans to what it once was?”

She was an opera singer famous even in the capital. Close enough to nobles to know what words might slip from her lips. Yet if she’d consistently sent money for Dietos, her feelings toward the region must be genuine.

“Truthfully, I tried to guess why Duke Orleans would come seeking me, but I couldn’t figure it out. I heard you arrived in the territory and immediately began repairing and overseeing the neglected parts of Dietos—I couldn’t believe it at first…”

Bartolini let out a brief sigh. So much weight lay within that sigh that Whitney’s cheeks burned with shame. She’d appointed a viscount who cared only for filling his own belly, showing neither the dignity expected of nobility nor compassion for others—it was only natural Bartolini wouldn’t trust her.

“This time seems different, though. Throughout my performance, your gaze never left me.”

“I couldn’t spare a thought for anything else, captivated as I was by your magnificent performance. It was a pleasure to focus solely on your show. Separately from that, I’d like you to accept my apology for all that’s happened.”

She was being sincere. Yet when Whitney extended her apology once more, Bartolini merely adjusted her posture with a calm expression.

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