‘Who is Shu Shu’s father?’

Blanche stared directly into Diel’s eyes. And saw what meaning was behind the question just asked.

The question of who her father was was something she had heard often when she was in Lekaf.

But unlike Jenny and Ellie who used to tease her for not having a father and then accused her of lying when she said she did, there was no sign of dismissal.

“Why aren’t you answering? Who is your father, I mean… the Earl of Boston’s husband?”

Simple curiosity without any hostility.

It seemed like he was just genuinely curious.

“Elder brother Diel! Why are you suddenly asking something like that out of nowhere? Don’t worry about it, Blanche.”

“Diel. Apologize to Blanche.”

Lirin and Eshurt intervened one after another.

Lirin stroked Blanche’s shoulder and glared at Diel.

Eshurt gestured for Diel to apologize as he led him away.

“No, did I tease her about not having a father? I just asked who he was.”

“Diel Kassen! Don’t be rude!”

Lirin shouted at Diel, who was speaking as if wronged. She was clearly angry, not calling him elder brother and even adding his surname ‘Kassen’.

Diel’s body stiffened, shocked by how Lirin addressed him.

To think the kind and gentle Lirin had this side to her.

Blanche felt like her heart was going to burst out. She wanted to stop the two from fighting but frustratingly couldn’t get her voice out.

‘Shu Shu is fine.’

She had no intention of telling who her father was anyway, and she knew Diel didn’t ask with bad intentions.

“Elder brother Diel. Get out right now.”

Nevertheless, Lirin scolded Diel while blocking Blanche’s view.

“Diel. Let’s go outside for a bit.”

Eshurt pulled out the still dazed-looking Diel.

When the door closed, Lirin took Blanche’s hand.

“Blanche. Are you okay?”

“……”

Lirin’s hand was so warm. Like a mother’s hand.

‘This is strange.’

It’s not like she was hurt by Diel, or that something she didn’t want revealed was exposed…

Why are tears coming out like this? Because Lirin took her side?

“Blanche?”

[Lirin, don’t hate elder brother Diel. It’s nothing.]

Holding back tears, she wrote what she wanted to say on Lirin’s palm.

‘And…’

Her voice still wouldn’t come out, but for some reason she didn’t want to convey these words in writing either.

‘Thank you, Lirin. Shu Shu is really okay.’

She mouthed the words while looking at Lirin.

Hopefully someday she’d be able to let Lirin hear her voice.

“Blanche. Don’t say you’re okay. I know you’re not okay at all right now.”

“……”

“Even if elder brother Diel didn’t ask to tease you, he lacked consideration. Why ask who your father is?”

“……”

“Blanche. Even if your father isn’t by your side, you have to live on strong.”

What to do.

‘Shu Shu’s father is alive…’

Lirin seemed to have misunderstood something.

[Lirin. Shu Shu’s father isn’t dead.]

As soon as Lirin saw the words written on her palm, she grabbed both of Blanche’s cheeks.

“I know! That it’s hard to accept right now! But he’ll always be watching over you.”

Lirin hugged Blanche tightly and patted her back.

“Anyway, don’t take elder brother Diel’s words to heart too much. I’ll scold him.”

Somehow feeling that the more she said her father was alive, the more Lirin wouldn’t let go, she stayed still.

“Blanche. Shall we go out and play?”

Lirin gathered the puppy doll and placed the rabbit doll in Blanche’s hand.

Diel and Eshurt were standing outside the door.

Diel immediately lowered his gaze when he made eye contact with Lirin.

“Blanche, Lirin. I scolded him harshly.”

“Hmph.”

At Eshurt’s words, Lirin crossed her arms and turned her head away.

“Diel. You should apologize to Blanche.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Diel mumbled, barely moving his lips.

“What are you sorry for? You think just saying sorry is enough? I don’t feel any sincerity at all!”

“Lirin. Diel says he didn’t ask with bad intentions. And this is for Blanche to ask about, not for you to get angry about. You stop too.”

Eshurt soothed Lirin in a gentle yet stern tone.

Diel slightly raised his head. He fidgeted with his fingers, glancing around.

“Blanche. I really wasn’t trying to tease you.”

I know.

There was a reason Blanche looked at Diel’s eyes first when she heard those words.

Somehow there was a hint of concern mixed in.

“I’ll only tell you this…”

Diel whispered softly so only Blanche could hear.

Whoever your father is, tell your mother to manage the assets well. So they don’t get taken by your father.

Blanche nodded silently and thought.

‘Mother has more money than the Marquis. But he wouldn’t take Mother’s assets.’

Moreover, the Marquis…

‘Should I give you this clothing shop?’

‘Are you serious, Jade? You’ll really give it to me?’

‘If you want, it’s possible right away.’

He was going to give Mother the clothing shop where they went to get the ball gown fitted.

‘Anyway, why is elder brother Diel telling me this?’

Somehow it seemed like he was saying this because it was his own story. So it would be better not to say things that didn’t need to be said.

Blanche waved her hand at Diel.

“Hand?”

She wrote on Diel’s palm thanking him for letting her know.

“Elder brother Diel. I’ll let it go this time because Blanche accepted your apology. But if you do it again next time-”

Lirin went to Diel’s side and nudged his shoulder. Diel’s earlobes started turning very red. Small drops of red blood were falling to the floor.

“Elder brother Diel! Nosebleed!”

Diel was having a nosebleed.

Then he closed his eyes and collapsed in Eshurt’s arms.

“Lirin! Blanche! Go call the adults!”

“Ah, okay!”

Blanche ran to the garden with Lirin.

“Lirin? What’s the matter, coming in such a hurry?”

Lirin was out of breath from running urgently and couldn’t speak properly to Baroness Lehr.

“Blanche?”

Blanche glanced around then went to her mother and whispered in her ear.

“Mother. Elder brother Diel collapsed while having a nosebleed.”

After hearing Blanche’s words, Mother immediately informed Viscount Kassen of the situation.

Viscount Kassen who heard the story hurried his steps, and Mother and others followed.

[This is the timeline separator]

I was surprised to see Blanche and Lirin running over urgently while having a conversation.

‘Did something happen?’

As soon as I heard from Blanche that Diel had collapsed with a nosebleed, I informed Viscount Kassen.

Because of that, everyone was now gathered around Diel who had been moved to Lirin’s bed, looking worried.

“Oh no. My son.”

Viscount Kassen knelt down and caressed Diel’s cheek. Knowing his anxious heart, even I felt heartbroken.

The doctor examining Diel put down his stethoscope.

“His heart is beating excessively fast. That’s probably the cause of the nosebleed too. It would be best to rest and observe for a while.”

It meant nothing serious was happening right now, but it could happen anytime.

‘How anxious they must be.’

Just then, Diel shook his head and grabbed Viscount Kassen’s hand.

“Father… Please don’t divorce Mother…”

Viscount Kassen’s face turned pale as he shed silent tears.

‘It seems the situation between Viscount and Viscountess Kassen isn’t very good.’

On top of collapsing with a nosebleed, hearing his son’s sleep-talking pleading not to divorce his mother, I could hardly imagine how Viscount Kassen must be feeling.

“How about we take the children to the villa in Luxembourg next week?”

Baroness Lehr suggested, to which Countess Terua replied.

“That sounds good. There’s no better place for Diel to recuperate, and he’d be lonely if he was alone.”

Since Diel’s recovery was the purpose, Viscount Kassen quickly agreed as well.

“Diane, you’ll come too, right? We haven’t all gone together since we were young.”

Baroness Lehr asked me as well.

From the context, the villa in Luxembourg seemed to be a place jointly owned by the sorority.

Blanche looked at me too, blinking her eyes slowly as if asking me to come.

‘It’s difficult to refuse because of Diel. Blanche seems to like it too.’

Anyway, I was planning to interact frequently for Blanche’s treatment, so it shouldn’t matter.

“Alright.”

Luxembourg wasn’t too far from here, but it wasn’t close either.

‘If we go to the villa, we’ll have to stay for a few days, so Blanche and Jade won’t be able to meet during that time.’

Eventually, we set the date to go to the villa so Diel could rest comfortably, and parted ways.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Blanche! See you next week! Take care!”

The child in the carriage stood up and waved to Lirin outside the window.

Some man came out and took Lirin and me inside.

“He looks similar to Lirin.”

“That’s Lirin’s father.”

“I see. Alright Blanche, let’s sit down now. It’s dangerous if you fall backwards.”

I sat the child down as the carriage started moving.

“Okay.”

The child sat up straight, pouting her lips as if disappointed.

“Good girl. How are your friends? Are they nice?”

“They’re nice. I like Lirin the most.”

“Is that so? I’m glad you made a friend you get along with.”

As I had initially expected, it seemed she quickly became close with Lirin since they were the same age and gender.

‘It’s good we came here. Sharlin didn’t come either.’

Somehow, there was a reason I didn’t feel uncomfortable about all going to the villa together.

“Shu Shu has something to ask Mother.”

“A request? What is it that you look so serious? Just tell me comfortably.”

“Well… Umm.”

The child even swallowed dryly, unable to easily speak up.

What could it be that’s making her so nervous.

“Can’t Mother marry the Marquis?”