My Dear Grand Duke on a Leash - Chapter 91
Chapter 46.1 — Chalonné’s Man (7)
“Princess Lariette resembles His Majesty the late King Chalonné.”
Both Riette and Ceres tilted their heads in the same direction simultaneously.
Anyone could see that Riette was a spitting image of Ceres. With her lush, wavy wheat-colored hair, puppy-like green eyes, round forehead, and small, sharp nose, even Cain felt as if he were seeing Riette’s face twenty years from now throughout the entire dinner. Of course, the future would be turbulent for the next twenty years.
On the other hand, Bea was unmistakably King Chalonné’s daughter, even just by looking at her portrait. It was also said that her moodiness and calm personality were a perfect reflection of her father.
However, to say that Riette resembled her late father?
“Princess Lariette is a strong and wise person. Isn’t a person shaped by their upbringing? It seems that the one who raised the Princess was the late King Chalonné himself.”
Cain placed the cutlery he had been holding for a while on the table with a clatter. It was a gesture of warning.
“I sincerely respect Your Majesty the Queen of Chalonné, whom I’ll serve as the elder of the family after marriage. However, if you cross the line under the guise of humility when dealing with my wife, I’ll respond with appropriate courtesy as well, Your Majesty.”
“….”
This was the most polite warning he could muster.
They had already spent the night together and had formally informed the family elder. From now on, maintaining courtesy was solely because Queen Chalonné was Riette’s mother.
Just because the words exchanged were refined didn’t mean the content was dignified. Even an ordinary commoner wouldn’t insult his own daughter like this at a dinner discussing marriage with her prospective son-in-law, much less to the man’s face.
Ceres, who had been stiffened, cleared her throat and took a sip of wine.
“I didn’t mean to disparage your choice. There must be certain standards for selecting a grand duchess in the grand duchy, and my daughter was fortunate enough to meet them. If it had been Bea, she would’ve passed more easily. Unfortunately, she has always been unlucky… So, Grand Duke Acheron, I hope you’ll understand and cease your anger.”
Ceres was completely unaware that she was babbling incoherently.
The more she tried to explain herself, the more displeased Cain became.
She didn’t even realize how much she was belittling her own daughter. If he followed his heart, he would grab Riette’s hand, storm out of the royal dining room, and board the next train to Katak without hesitation. However, the reason he didn’t make such a choice was because of Riette’s reaction, glancing around nervously in the suddenly chilly atmosphere.
Looking at his cheeks flush red, it was clear she was very embarrassed.
Cain forced himself to calm his frayed nerves.
“… I’d also request that Her Majesty the Queen pay special attention to the wedding preparations, including the list of maids to be sent to Katak.”
“There’s no need to ask. If Princess Chalonné becomes the Grand Duchess of Acheron, it’ll surely be a great celebration for the kingdom as well. We’ll make an official announcement of the engagement, so you need not worry. Lariette, if there’s anything you desire, feel free to say so.”
“I, um…”
Riette looked at Ceres with a slightly flushed face.
“I would also like to pick out my dress with Mother, just like my sister did. Is that alright?”
“Okay. Well, I’ll consider it.”
A look of anticipation that couldn’t be hidden appeared on her face as she pursed her lips.
Cain gazed at Riette’s profile. As his broad chest swelled even more, he let out a deep sigh and then turned his head away before quietly picking up the cutlery he had set down on the table.
̊ · : * ✧* : · ̊
It was a calm evening with not a breath of wind. The fragments of stars sparkled in the night sky like gold dust. As the sunset disappeared completely beyond the horizon, it was a night of silent romance, unlike yesterday when laughter and the orchestra filled the air.
After dinner, Cain, with Ceres’s permission, escorted Riette to the princess’s palace. Since they walked with Ceres, they didn’t have much conversation.
Riette’s heart pounded as she walked with him up the stairs and across the hallway.
Her face was burning hot, as if she had kissed a ball of fire. In addition, her pulse was so strong that it throbbed at the nape of her neck.
‘I never imagined that the dinner would be this successful.’
Her mother asked for her opinion. It had been so long since that had happened.
To Riette, her mother today was just as usual. She had braced herself for the palace to be in upheaval for days, so this felt like heaven in comparison.
Perhaps it was due to her innate sensitivity to emotions. Riette had always lived understanding her sister’s loneliness and her mother’s anxiety a step ahead of them. Her mother’s irritability had become so familiar that she no longer thought much of it.
“….”
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