Refusing Your Ex-Husband’s Obsession: A Guide - Chapter 244

RXO has been completely translated on Patreon

Chapter 244

Translator: Yonnee

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“Oh my, Dei…”

“Ahem— I’ll have to send a proposal gift soon, too. Keep that in mind.”

David awkwardly finished what he had to say and promptly dashed out of the dining room. Before leaving, he said to me,

“Rin, sorry, but can this older brother of yours go first?”

Trying to sound casual but with a face flushed red, David left us stunned and exited the dining room.

“…Honey, did I hear that correctly? This isn’t an auditory hallucination, right?”

“…It seems so?”

Mom and Dad were flustered and stood up from their seats.

“David!”

Dad quickly went outside, and Mom followed him. Then she suddenly stopped, turned to me, and asked,

“Rin, is it okay if David has his wedding first? When did the Grand Duke say would be a good time?”

Though I was surprised, I thought it would be unthinkable to leave Hans’s steak unfinished.

So, holding a fork and knife in each hand, I responded,

“I don’t mind if Brother goes first.”

At my answer, Mom looked deeply troubled, more so than when she pondered the residents’ relocation.

“…Having it one day apart might not be a bad idea. We might as well do it big and accommodate the guests in the mansion. Then moving would indeed be better.”

Mumbling to herself, Mom left the dining room. I watched my family leave in a daze and then burst into laughter, unable to contain it. As I continued cutting the steak, Hans came into the dining room, which wasn’t an everyday occurrence.

With a distant look, he glanced at the steak left by my parents and said,

“Your Ladyship, shall I grill another cut for you?”

Seizing the opportunity, I quickly requested,

“This time, instead of sirloin, please prepare tenderloin. Preferably with a bit of shrimp too.”

“As expected, our Lady knows her food.”

Pleased with my order, Hans returned to the kitchen with a satisfied look. I chewed on my remaining steak, wondering how Ciel would react to all of this.

16. Second wedding

Ciel prepared the proposal gifts even more lavishly and meticulously than when he had sent them impulsively before. Satisfied, he climbed into a carriage filled with gifts, followed by ten more carriages.

Aiden followed him, with a carriage filled with gifts he had prepared for Rose trailing behind them.

“I’ll get married after you do, Brother. But I want to get engaged first.”

“Sure, Aiden. Do as you wish. You’re the duke now, after all.”

“But you’re still my guardian until then.”

Ciel had willingly agreed to take responsibility for both the Grand Duchy and the Duchy for Aiden, who would not reach adulthood until the year after next. It was mostly to prevent any unsuitable person from becoming his guardian.

“Is Count Ashur still sending you letters?”

Count Ashur had tried to bribe Irene with gold so that she’d send him updates on the situation at the duchy—basically paying her to be his spy. However, after he had been firmly and harshly rebuffed by her, he had since shifted his target to Aiden. He thought underestimated Aiden would still be the same boy, underestimating his capabilities.

“I really hate Uncle Ashur. He once secretly came with Aunt without you knowing. The difference between his demeanor in front and behind was stark. It reminded me why I used to dislike people.”

“Hmm, he’s still the same.”

“So, Brother, I’ve been thinking.”

“Yes?”

“Maybe I should use my ability.”

“…Hm?”

Aiden explained in detail to Ciel.

“Lady Closch told me something before. If my ability improves, I can do more than just read minds—I can plant thoughts in others’ heads.”

“…That’s true, isn’t it?”

Ciel recalled the psychic Espers of the past and nodded.

“Especially with a Guide, I heard that the chance of my abilities improving is higher. I’ve been with Rose for a long time, and I’ve been guided by Lady Closch as well. I’ve never tried it, but somehow I think it might be possible.”

“…So, what thought do you plan to implant in Count Ashur?”

Ciel too had suffered many unpleasant things from Count Ashur. However, because his aunt was involved, he often kept silent about it. But at this point, he couldn’t spare a thought for his aunt.

The plan that his younger brother was proposing intrigued him.

“I’m going to plant our household’s coat of arms in his mind.”

“The coat of arms?”

“Yes. I’ll plant the image of the blue flames you spread into Uncle’s head. Then, whenever he thinks of Leopardt, it will be associated with him being engulfed in those blue flames.”

“……”

Ciel was momentarily speechless at his younger brother’s uncharacteristically aggressive approach. Aiden, sensing his brother’s hesitation, asked,

“Why? Is it too harsh? Should I make it so that only his lower half would burn?”