The Fastest Way to Become a Successful Fan (13)
“Your Grace…?”
They sat staring at each other for a long time.
It wasn’t until Hades heard Aisha’s voice that he finally came to his senses.
“Ah!” He drew back in surprise.
Aisha quickly grabbed Hades’ arm, even though it wasn’t like Hades was going to be pushed over.
And for some reason, Hades felt flustered because his arm in Aisha’s hands felt scalding hot.
“Shh.” In contrast, Aisha seemed unconcerned by the touch.
She furrowed her brow slightly and lifted a finger to her mouth as if to warn him not to make a sound.
Hades nodded at her awkwardly.
Aisha slowly turned her gaze to Abel sleeping in his bed.
Thankfully, he was still sound asleep.
Her face broke into a wide grin as she gazed at Abel with eyes full of affection, and Hades paused and stared at her for a long moment.
‘Let’s step outside,’ Aisha mouthed at Hades and stood up.
Only then did she notice the weight on her shoulders.
An unfamiliar coat hung over her shoulders, and Aisha figured it belonged to Hades.
She handed it back to him once they stepped outside.
“Thank you.”
“Did Abel throw a tantrum to get you to stay with him?
That must have been inconvenient.
You should have just kindly rejected him and returned to your room.”
With a sigh, Hades took the coat from Aisha’s hand.
It seemed that he now had one more thing to be sorry about, as if he hadn’t enough already.
But to his surprise, Aisha shook her head.
“No, I told him I’d stay beside him.
And it wasn’t inconvenient for me at all.”
“….”
Aisha broke into a soft smile.
It was like she had already forgotten about the commotion that took place in the dining room with Agatha.
Hades said after a moment of hesitation, “About the countess… I apologize on her behalf for her remarks.
I’ve already asked her to apologize in person as well.”
“Hmm?
Why would Your Grace apologize on her behalf?
Also, it’s okay even if she doesn’t apologize.
I wasn’t all that offended in the first place.”
“How is it that you’re not offended after hearing all that?”
“Oh, umm…,” Aisha said, scratching her cheek in thought.
“I can’t say I agree with some of the comments she made against me, but… I understand where she’s coming from.
The countess is someone who places great importance on reputation.
I heard she was originally raised as a successor.”
“That’s right.”
“Had the countess inherited the duchy, I’m sure she would have placed the reputation of house Louvremont above everything else, be it choosing her successor or finding a partner for marriage.
Everyone has a different understanding of what’s right or wrong, and we all have to accept that we’re different in that regard.”
Hades’ brow narrowed as he listened to Aisha’s words.
How could she be so rational after being bombarded with such offensive insults?
“It’s unfortunate for her that due to the system in place of this nation, you had to inherit the duchy instead, but that doesn’t mean she can just sever her emotional attachments to this household all at once.”
“….”
“Which is why I understand.
It was plausible that she misunderstood and she has every right to dislike me.”
“But none of what she said about you is true.”
“Yes.
I know I wasn’t planning on becoming your wife out of selfish gains or greed, but it’s also true that I packed my belongings and came to the North just to see someone I cherish.”
Hades felt his face grow hot at Aisha’s frank confession.
He covered his cheek with the back of his hand and averted his gaze.
“Anyways, you shouldn’t have to put up with that kind of attitude, even from her.
And it wasn’t something you should apologize for either.”
“Hmm… well, I guess I understand.”
“And what was it you said?
You’d be fine if I went back on my proposal for marriage?” Suddenly, he recalled Aisha’s remark and asked with a frown.
“Such a thing will absolutely never happen.
I’ve told you once already that I’m not the sort of man who goes back on his word, did I not?”
However….
‘He’s really convinced that I’m dying to marry him, huh?
Well, I don’t blame him for thinking that, but….’
Aisha suddenly felt a surge of guilt, though it wasn’t like she lied to Hades or anything.
“What I’m trying to say is, it’s alright if you act a bit bolder and be a little more selfish.”
“Sorry, what?”
“You are to become my wife, that is, Duchess Louvremont.
That essentially means you will be a woman second only to the Imperial family in status.
You’ve no need to show mercy towards anyone who disrespects you.
You don’t have to be so tolerant.”
“But I’m not the duchess yet.”
“Ugh, for the love of God.
I’m saying that I will never….” Hades put both of his hands on Aisha’s shoulders and looked straight into her eyes.
“…Take back my intention to marry you!”
Basically, he wanted her to act like she already was a duchess because there was no way their marriage would be canceled.
Aisha noticed the determination in Hades’ crimson eyes and soon broke into laughter.
“Okay, I’ll do just that then.”
Act a bit bolder and selfish….
She wondered if he meant she should fight Countess Gasfelle without holding back should the countess try to demean her again.
Aisha did not want to go that far.
From a modern perspective, she partly understood why Agatha was so obsessed with her maiden name family’s status.
So, while she said yes to Hades, she didn’t think she’d ever act ‘a bit bolder and selfish’ like he said.
At least, not until that incident took place.
* * *
The next day, Abel was waiting for Agatha with a face full of determination.
As previously agreed, it was time for his lessons, and Agatha arrived at Abel’s room strictly at the promised time.
Her wrinkled face and stern expression always made Abel nervous.
He stood up from his seat and bowed to her.
“H-hello, Countess!”
“Sit, please.” Agatha blatantly ignored Abel’s greeting and raised her chin at the two maids who followed her into the room.
They each carried a stack of books in their arms, which they soon placed on Abel’s desk.
Agatha dismissed the maids and turned to Abel.
“It seems as though you have no concept of proper manners.
So I’ve decided that your first lesson should be basic manners and etiquette.
You will transcribe all these materials today and then be tested on them.”
“Yes, ma’am….”
Abel’s obedient voice agitated Agatha.
This small boy was always like this with her.
Thankfully he seemed to be an animal that seemed to know shame, as he knew well that his existence was a hindrance to Hades.
This was precisely why Agatha got angry every time she recalled how Abel defended Aisha yesterday.
The thorn on her side was defending another thorn.
Abel seemed to think of Aisha as his soon-to-be mother.
Agatha let out a scornful laugh.
“Young Master, you seem to have been quite taken with Lady Heathcliff.”
“Umm… Countess?” Abel called, as if he had been waiting for her to mention Aisha.
He bit his trembling lip and looked straight at Agatha.
“I would like to make a request, if I may….”
“What is it?”
“I-I beg of you….
Please don’t treat Lady Heathcliff badly anymore….”
“Ha….
What did you say?” Agatha was flabbergasted.
“I-It’s the request I’d like to ask of you… but in return, I’ll do my very best in your lessons, and… I-I’ll do whatever you ask.
So please….”
Abel suddenly felt tears welling up in his eyes but tried his best to suppress them.
Aisha had already told him she wouldn’t leave, but he didn’t know how that was going to turn out.
What if Agatha kept treating Aisha like she treated him?
He was already used to it.
But the same couldn’t be said for Aisha.
Abel was sure that a noblewoman who grew up in a loving household couldn’t possibly endure Agatha’s mistreatment for long.
At this rate, Aisha might, no, she will most definitely leave this place — he thought.
He clenched his fists and continued, “Can you treat her well from now on?
In turn, I’ll listen to whatever you say.
Both you and father….
And I swear that I won’t speak out of line like yesterday.
I apologize for my previous mistakes.”
Agatha’s expression was hard to read as she stared at Abel, who sat with his head down.
“Treat her well, you say….”
“….”
“You mean to ask that I not speak to her as I did yesterday?
But you must remember how rude you were when you shouted at me to not say such things to her, did you not?”
“I-I’m so sorry.”
“Childe, you were quite obedient before, so I do have to wonder where you might have picked up this nasty habit of interrupting adults in such an impolite manner like yesterday….
To tell you the truth, I couldn’t get any sleep while I pondered this last night.
You must have learned this from His Grace.”
“N-no!
That’s not true!
Father never acts like that.
It’s all because I…,” Abel continued, holding back his tears, “I am a bad child….”
“That’s true.
When I observed you yesterday, I couldn’t sense a shred of decency from you.
Even though I’m certain I’ve made myself clear countless times before.
You cannot sully the Louvremont name.”
Agatha stared at Abel with an emotionless face.
“It’s only right for you to receive proper punishment for your insolence, to ensure that you won’t think about committing the same mistakes again.
That’s how I was brought up.”
“I see….”
“His Grace dotes on you far too much, so much that he hasn’t properly taught you basic manners.
Isn’t that right?”
At that moment, Abel thought of Hades.
She was right.
He’d spent his entire life in the slums before Hades took him in, surviving on crumbs of moldy bread that he’d picked up.
A few years of living as a noble wouldn’t have changed him that much.
Yet Hades never tried to lecture him, nor did he ever lose his temper with him for acting foolishly.
Abel nodded.
“Yes….”
As soon as she heard Abel’s reply, Agatha summoned her maid.
The maid brought Agatha a small cane without even being told to do so.
“I will have to take some time to earnestly consider your request.
If you truly wish for me to change my tone with Lady Heathcliff, then you will need to show your own effort.”
“Yes, I will.
I’ll do that.”
“I presume you have no qualms on being punished, then?
I won’t punish you if you so desire.
It would be troublesome to His Grace if he found out that I punished you for something you did not wish to be taught, after all,” Agatha said with a smile.
Abel shook his head without hesitation.
“I-I’ll take the punishment.
Because I… I was the one… in the wrong….”
“Very well.”
Agatha rose from her seat and tapped the wooden desk with her cane.
“Take your shoes off.
Get up on the desk and kneel.”