Chapter 4. Father’s Dress

6375992f483e4e4fb775“What circumstances? Nonsense.”

222764cbd2fbb523b9a1“…Regardless, he’s still a war hero, isn’t he?”

f7154d6c57be70f25a6eAs Grace cautiously added another remark, Count Helio let out a scoff of disbelief and snapped at her.

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45558154a01cf57eb33c“That’s the result of a man who relied solely on his noble birth and failed to plan for the future. He should have accepted the Empress’s offer for military exemption. Instead, he foolishly went to war and ended up like that. Tell me, isn’t it laughable? That arrogance tripped him up in the end, and now he’s paying the price.”

552778b312332ed8244fHis words were brutally sharp—as if he were speaking about a sworn enemy rather than a fellow noble.

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9449b8769bbbe9321124And yet, it was Count Helio himself who had moved to the capital seeking a higher status.

33d35d3d3d8084455248Besides, how was joining the war an act of arrogance?

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4d356d77a0c1e381974dIf anything, it was the most noble and dutiful action a high-ranking aristocrat could take.

4b66e8ecbfda79d0d402Wasn’t it for the same reason that her father had sent her to war as a field nurse?

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da7cbcc3971724b0684bGrace had many things she wanted to say, but she hesitated.

74c344bd9bc52153b2daHer father detested being contradicted.

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78805086c03e8da986ddIt was then that Valentina interjected.

64b220986765479d2567“Oh, Father, come on. You know our sweet sister—she doesn’t think anyone is truly bad. She’s kind to everyone! No wonder Peter got the wrong idea and even proposed to her!”

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d08608ffee6903c9d8ebShe had meant to defend Grace, but all she had done was pour fuel on the fire.

2bd100db76c8508e5413Grace immediately tried to stop her.

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1c92b865a9f9cc371bb5“Valentina, that’s—”

d8c68875db53c80cb3beBut it was too late.

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d1e6627341a24d8a3e8dHer father’s expression darkened instantly.

2565ce36d1724f797ef1“That’s exactly the problem with you, Grace! Not only do you question your father’s words, but you also lead on just any common fool you come across! If you inherited my looks, then at the very least, you should behave properly! How could a young lady act so carelessly that a man would mistake her kindness for an invitation to marriage?”

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d4368ce27551ac2d034e“Father, that was a misunderstanding—”

2d3c004ebe4865cf6db2Her attempt at an explanation was cut off.

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06c42ab78c9a155d245f“I don’t want to hear excuses! I’ve told you before—I will erase you from the family registry before I let any man just waltz into this household!”

fc287271d61f24c2d50e“I’m sorry.”

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f101963b97f646dfa8f4In the end, Grace bowed her head without protest.

d197bf9cee02cce232efWhen Peter had confessed his feelings, their household had been thrown into chaos.

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a37996e660b529ad94afShe had paid the price for it.

9253264e7bffab1a8888Her hair had been cut, and she had been forbidden from leaving the house for weeks.

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bf89ae176a6dfc3f5d5eJust the memory of it made her sick to her stomach.

ec3444f7a0df2609cbffMeanwhile, Valentina stuck out her tongue playfully, clasping her hands together in a mock apology.

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df8c610e59c730db6afeAs if a simple “Whoops, my mistake!” would make up for it.

7a5fc1cefdb33434210eGrace found it impossible not to find her irritating.

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b721ba12f262d29be066Moments later, their father, still fuming, issued a warning.

790ea06d89691e54d32d“If I ever catch you behaving that way again, it won’t just be your hair—you’ll be sent straight to a convent!”

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ff7ad19f6d88cb84e540A tense silence settled in the room as Grace lowered her head, enduring his anger.

da4c90daf8f6c5b3b124Then—

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bd2b0e6aafb9eb777b46“Oh, come on, Daddy! If you keep scowling, you’ll get wrinkles, and that will break my heart!”

74222d3672b74d1a3ec9Valentina switched tactics, draping herself over their father’s shoulders with a sugary sweet voice.

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d9ea2eee89285ba94e38She kneaded his shoulders playfully, attempting to soothe him.

ab3e66eff667e94749fe“Do you really think I couldn’t be angry after what your sister has done?”

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dad7c44ebb01f1b31709“Grace is just too innocent and kind, that’s all. Now that we’re in the capital, maybe once she experiences the real social scene, she’ll change a little?”

9d8795d6503b4fbe33bf“Ahem!”

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ac4940e863c6dbb40d5a“Anyway, I just can’t wait for the banquet! It’s an official summer gathering, perfectly timed for the blooming season of the roses! Imagine meeting the one in such a romantic setting—how wonderful would that be?”

72abe277c76a7af3e0b3The youngest, Valentina, clasped her cheeks with an expression of pure excitement.

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f1131c326d5baf933551It was almost impressive how she could behave as if she hadn’t just caused a commotion moments ago.

02864f4753b89ddf5c2eAnd yet—surprisingly—the count’s irritation melted almost instantly.

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2931ce38baf8e1ed0abcWith just a single act of affection from Valentina, he had already forgiven her.

6cf1a52b087c766c4535“Why don’t you just stay with your dear father forever, my little Lettie?”

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88697f6a5428a538b5a0“Oh my, no way! I’m going to marry a handsome prince like the ones in fairy tales!”

0789176793d31a411107“But you always called me your prince before.”

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2a9cbc4905cca7917a9d“Oh, Daddy, you’re not a prince anymore—you’re a king! How could I compare you to a mere prince?”

b3a8b817122e38641f11“Ah, you sly little thing! That sweet tongue of yours always knows just what to say!”

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1462dfab2166e1b74056Count Helio burst into laughter, the once-tense atmosphere turning pleasant and warm.

a99fbb741bef233e4504That, more than anything, made Grace fall silent.

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7c21d1d48434c16e027eShe and Valentina were both his daughters.

d4bcc6d73184a933d303And yet, her father had always treated them differently.

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788916c2cf76e3f6552eGrace knew very well which daughter was less cherished.

eaf92e66d3d885646097“Hahaha!”

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fa4706cb611b40ae6743Whenever Grace spoke, her father only ever scowled in irritation.

04d03d21f04b4cb14bc6But with Valentina, his face was alight with joy.

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50dbaa743302907e55e4Watching them, Grace couldn’t help but feel bitter.

e9b783db159a5d2bc72eHer father doted on Valentina because she looked so much like their late mother.

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c81bbfe56bb6964b5f79And beyond that—she was objectively beautiful, effortlessly charming.

ac7296516f9543252eabIt was natural for her father to favor her.

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5f98b9b56a120d7d2b2bGrace, on the other hand…

67ebcdf93289719ad178She had been forced to grow up too quickly.

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830a18488ded1694d683After their mother’s passing, she had taken on the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings.

29cb73f77c12051f5c52Her father had come to expect her to manage the household, treating it as nothing more than her duty.

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540d13a9e1f9bde9e4a8Her younger brother, Anthony, was the heir—so he was spared from such concerns.

d93837753adbc623f34cAnd Valentina?

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c753e08b48269a7becd6Simply by existing, she was pampered and adored.

c589b5db589ae31ea980It was as if her father forgot that Grace and her siblings were only a few years apart.

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6d4acfb01da4bc000010She should have grown used to it by now.

9083e2acee16d49f498fBut every time she witnessed these tender father-daughter moments, a part of her couldn’t help but feel… left out.

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3132cdcb44905f12a90fAfter their mother’s death, her father had never once softened toward her.

4c53274af3cf6d9a50a4Instead, he had relentlessly trained her to be the perfect lady of the house.

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5f194adaea84f7b8638eShe had been only seven years old.

7a36125d11a5dec6a68cJust then, Valentina caught her gaze.

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4cb2526400b27f6098c1Grinning mischievously, she winked before silently mouthing:

f4d00deccd50bf3086d0‘I just saved you.’

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549806758c3bfcc9afe7Did Valentina even realize how contradictory her actions were?

0bab75b1e8102b4a0a9aDid she know that she was the type to cause a wound and then soothe it immediately afterward?

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32a13329051d18ce6f4fGrace doubted it.

e51dbf6c252ab1b83476And perhaps because her sister’s actions were so innocent, she felt even heavier.

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ae01fbf95f4ca583cc0aNo matter what she said now, it would only make her seem petty.

112349b217ec3a783f8fShe felt ashamed of herself for even feeling jealous.

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a989a7df84ea705a3f79‘I can’t believe I was jealous of Lettie. To Father, both of us must be the same—his daughters.’

6f0b89cb64a7abfa34f3Pushing aside the shadows in her heart, Grace forced a brilliant smile.

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133385bd55cfbd09e3b5Just then, Valentina looped her arm through Grace’s and chirped,

67afd460c739649b9d80“You’re coming to the banquet too, right?”

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30e2c5311e6a0e9175d8“I’m fine. I’d rather focus on learning my way around the city first—”

67be540d2ee015117694“Oh, come on! You can do that later! It’s a royal banquet! They only hold them four times a year! And you’re just going to let it pass by?”

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b7968ccf05ee1ed0aadb“I don’t even have a dress to wear.”

a3135740fbde99f4172fIt was a half-hearted excuse, but to Grace’s surprise, her father responded instead.

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2cf39efffebd21eae37f“You don’t have to worry about that.”

5d6816f1d3ca65b8cc63“…Pardon?”

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e045e21db0c9dfb019d0“Your dress has already been prepared. So don’t even think about skipping the banquet—you’re attending.”

a260fb7483f219b3c14e“Really?”

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b8cbde1ac12bc7baca1fGrace’s eyes widened in disbelief.

b32ab0e510cbeb345325Never before had her father gone out of his way to prepare a dress for her.

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52380f3a3701c3711632Feeling a twinge of guilt for resenting him earlier, Grace lowered her head and murmured,

9ca85377fcda4dad13dd“Thank you, Father.”

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edfb51ef37b90e01987c“What is there to thank me for? What kind of father would I be if I couldn’t buy my daughters a dress?”

7d29b8f593c1f9adee10Today, her father seemed oddly generous.

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cdc9c1a25044c70731edAt that moment, Valentina puffed out her cheeks in protest.

ae6c18a99b8cb88d8332“Daddyyy, what about meee?”

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1b2b2aa900a9500987d5“Of course, my dear Valentina’s dress is ready as well.”

a517470181e10e5b48f2“Really? Thank you, Daddy!”

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84bfb0871266570c73d0Smooch!

b159e528d6ccef7054a8Valentina planted a kiss on his cheek, making her father beam.

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56be5bcb1737281c5db6“Hah! That was quite the expensive reward for buying a simple dress.”

07c12e9eab4840ca92d8“Then… does that mean you’ll also buy me those Elérémont brand earrings that just came out…?”

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c5c520c381c30e14ca63Taking advantage of the moment, Valentina pressed her luck, batting her eyes dramatically.

ce5eee3eb611b2d315acAnd, of course, when her father nodded in approval, she bounced in her seat in delight.

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b9ddf344ef4b465ed4cdThen, turning back to Grace, she leaned in with sparkling eyes.

32527dd22040fba472c8“That means you’re definitely coming, right?”

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da34760aeb749ab7ef5bHer father had gone out of his way to get her a dress.

e1c29adc3fedf71f4402Surely, she could afford to enjoy herself for one evening.

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5b39bb440dbfc4a55910And truthfully…

e1e799c3e9f3d7164956She was a little curious about the banquet.

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eab92173066af64e434aShe had heard that the Summer Rose Banquet included a special opening of the royal greenhouses, where the Empress’s personally cultivated roses were displayed.

184dc4f829e0f08f98d3Grace had always loved flowers.

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47e523039394b3b44ae7It was an irresistible temptation.

18ffce8af76ddd1d3198Finally, with a small blush, she relented.

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e01aae77e0125a9297bf“…Alright. Let’s go together.”

9b63ac50389c74a28724“Yay! This is going to be amazing!”

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b6c3c4b16e7984026874With a squeal of delight, Valentina practically jumped into Grace’s arms.

adb818ebd7344a544366* * *

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0bb59abc73e6baa0a82bThe next day, Grace found herself at a loss as she gazed at the dress her father had gifted her.

0d0a365b24d84d9e06acIt was far more extravagant than anything she would have chosen for herself.

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a9728a9509945916820bOf course, it wasn’t surprising—her father had never bothered to learn her tastes.

cf22abe934e5d4daaf2dStill, it was undoubtedly an expensive gown.

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cdea00feae1bfdae7a5eThere was no questioning his sincerity.

2f07d442cf15cb845b23What troubled her, however, was the scandalous design.

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248039421efc15baeb69‘This is… quite revealing.’

803bfae03fa2ffb3849fThe off-the-shoulder dress laid her collarbones completely bare.

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d7793629579ebe50f7d5‘I feel like my cleavage would be on full display.’

ead131d6a18ab2971873Worse, the back was cut daringly low.

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48fde4436e0ed40ad8a8If she danced, there was a very real possibility of bare skin pressing against someone else’s.

35e4abf27d40649dbb77On top of that, the dress was tight around the waist, emphasizing every curve.

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8890a39528117020be07As she hesitated to try it on, Valentina suddenly walked into the room.

ed3280c2eeba19de3cf8“Sister, what are you doing?”

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e69ac9d6ab3c2ff07579Then, catching sight of the dress on the hanger, her eyes went wide.

26a77a4e385d2f757d13“Oh my gosh, did Father really give you this?”

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c1ccf55ed782a5ebb145“So, you think it’s too much, too—”

2018324e714bcdd89aab“It’s gorgeous! He bought me a suffocating, nun-like dress, but you get this beauty?!”

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a8bce9ec741280f608f9Her reaction was not at all what Grace had expected.

0281aa6f051a493969a2Blinking in surprise, she watched as Valentina inspected the gown closely.

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a81adc5cc4a53e77a99fAnd soon enough, her true intentions surfaced.

a04d4b066a2a392dd5dc“Honestly, this dress totally doesn’t suit you. Father really has no sense.”

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43e35f6144dc2b2eb4b9It was obvious that she wanted the dress for herself.