Honey, I Believe That’s Your Misunderstanding

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Translator: Yonnee

—

‘What to do.’

Julie quickly thought of how to answer.

Jaime, who looked quite simple, was actually quick-witted. He noticed that the young lady’s cheek was swollen.

The fact that the lady was slapped across the cheek was not Julie’s personal matter.

‘But the problem is, it’s Lady Grace’s personal matter entirely.’

Julie hesitated before answering. She knew that this might become a flaw for her lady’s part.

At the same time, it also occurred to her that maybe, just maybe, this could be a good opportunity to pull Duke Lucas Blacke’s heartstrings regarding Lady Grace.

‘But I can’t act rashly.’

After much contemplation, Julie chose to divulge a little of it furtively.

The rest would be up to the judgment of Duke Blacke’s aide.

If needed, you’ll be filled in. If not needed, then just forget it.

“Correct.”
{ * t/n: the Korean word has the double meaning of ‘hit’ }

“She was hit? By whom?”

With a slight shrug, Julie answered.

“By someone who wouldn’t get any consequences even after doing something like that.”

Jaime tilted his head to the side, perplexed.

“Let me get this straight, you’re saying that Lady Grace got hit, right?”

“I’ve got no comment on that, Jaime! Now, besides that! You asked me two questions. May I ask you one more question in turn?”

“You have something else you want to know?”

Julie nodded, nodding her head vigorously.

“Of course! Actually, there are numerous questions that I would like to ask. For instance, there are rumors that Duke Blacke and Milady might get married!”

Smiling widely, Julie scooted a little closer to Jaime.

At this, Jaime froze and stared back at Julie.

“In that sense, I’m truly lucky to have the opportunity to talk to you like this. To be honest, I was very nervous earlier, and I was thinking a lot about how I could strike a conversation with you. You were steering the carriage so seriously that I couldn’t even think of talking to you.”

Julie spoke in a joking manner, but her voice was nonetheless laced with a persuasive tone.

As expected, after just a small compliment on Julie’s part, Jaime pumped up his shoulders like a dancing whale.

“S-Serious. Of course! Hah-hah-hah! Right, yes, what would you like to know?”

“Um, it’s just, may I know why His Excellency is marrying somewhat late? I know that it’s a political matter as well, but His Excellency is actually a little behind the average age of marriage, so…”

“Ah. The answer behind that is a bit complicated, but… Truthfully, even though His Excellency looks so menacing, he’s quite the romantic… He doesn’t intend to marry if it’s not for love. Ack, I’d surely lose my neck if it’s found out that I told this to someone else, Julie. So please, keep this between us.”

Julie thought that she’d hear just a simple answer as to why the duke didn’t want to get married, but she instead got information that was so far off her expectations that she was rendered speechless.

‘A romantic who would never think about marrying if it’s not for love!’

…YES!

Silently, Julie clenched one fist.

Just as she thought, her eyes weren’t wrong.

Amongst all the types of men out there, Lucas Blacke was such a man who belonged to the axis of ‘good men’—unlike House O’Ellin’s dogs.

‘I knew it.’

After all, this was Julie, the fourth of six sisters.

She had three older sisters and two younger sisters.

Because she grew up watching love blossoming around her, while listening to all their love stories to the point that she’s already sick and tired of them all, Julie was proud to have developed such keen eyes when it came to men.

Before, she hadn’t been perfectly certain whether Duke Lucas Blacke was a good man or not because she did not yet have the chance to observe him more.

But as soon as she saw the absurd act he did in front of the fountain pen shop, Julie became convinced.

‘As long as it’s him, then it’s fine!’

He was an esteemed man with the peerage of a duke.

Such a man willingly shut those people’s mouths in a way that would embarrass himself for Grace’s sake.

Although his facial expressions and the way he spoke were ferocious, that didn’t matter.

On the contrary, Julie felt reassured.

‘He’s got the nerve and boldness to put himself out there just to protect Milady, and he doesn’t even mind going through hoops just to make her smile.’

Although his past reputation was filled with brutality, he had already given up his post as a knight commander, and it’s said that he would now only focus on managing his provincial territory.

He seldom ever stayed at his townhouse in the capital, and the rare chance that he’d be there was usually just due to a royal summons or because it’s the special administrative period.

This was a rare thing amongst high nobles.

Most would do their damnedest to attach themselves to the royal family, fancying themselves as part of the royal court. But on the other hand, the duke was someone who’s actually adored by the royal family yet also enjoyed staying in his own domain.

‘If Milady lives in House Blacke’s territory after marriage, that father and son of House O’Ellin won’t be able to harass her…’

Julie couldn’t stop thinking that, much better than she had initially expected, Lucas Blacke was going to be such a good future husband for Grace.

“So he’s a romantic… His Excellency seems to be a much more wonderful person than expected.”

To the point that it’s enough to call him a fool.

Julie witnessed it firsthand.

Just what kind of look in his eyes Lucas Blacke had whenever he gazed upon Grace.

Even though they hadn’t officially tied the knot yet, he looked at her with such happiness and contentment as though Grace was a precious person of his.

“Ahh… He truly is a good man.”

“…Huh? His Excellency?”

“Is he not?”

“Oh, I’m not saying that. What you said is true, but… Oh, me too! I actually agree with him, too.”

“Hm? About what exactly?”

“Marriage without love is futile! Of course, it’s only right to marry someone you love!”

‘…Ah, so you want me to compliment you, too, huh.’

Julie nodded, her round eyes curving finely.

For a moment, she was almost compelled to pat Jaime on the head. She barely resisted the urge.

“Right? As expected, you’re also a great man, Mister Jaime. Are there only wonderful people in House Blacke?”

“Hah-hah-hah! The men in House Blacke are famous for being romantics.”

“Hohoho! I’ve never heard that before, but it does seem so!”

As Jaime and Julie became closer while they exchanged mundane stories, the carriage carrying four people quickly arrived at House Blacke’s townhouse.

* * *

“Thank you for coming all the way here. I am Gabriel, the butler in charge of the manor’s administration.”

Gabriel, the overseeing butler who was in charge of House Blacke’s townhouse, politely greeted Grace and Julie. Then, he led them to the second floor’s drawing room.

Lucas and Jaime left their side first at the lobby, saying that there’s somewhere they had to stop by for a moment.

The butler opened the rightmost door of this hallway on the second floor, and he briefly gave an introduction of the room.

“This is called the ‘Sunset Room’ due to its spectacular view of the sunset over the horizon. Warm tea has been served at the terrace, so for the moment, please enjoy teatime, along with the scenery.”

After the butler, whose hair was neatly combed, guided them courteously, he soon went back downstairs.

And when the door closed behind him, Julie rushed to the terrace and pushed the doors widely.

Just as the butler said, the scenery beyond the terrace was spectacular.

“I didn’t know that House Blacke’s townhouse was so far away, but besides that, it’s surrounded by such a huge landscape.”

Going through the terrace doors, Grace relaxed a little and looked outside the doors that Julie had opened.

She saw the tea table that had been set up at the terrace, but the carriage ride had taken more than two hours. She didn’t want to sit back down again.

Leaning against the terrace railing as she took in the vast plain, Grace recalled Lucas.

‘He wasn’t as frightening as I thought… But I’m still terrified of him.’

Grace could not understand Lucas at all.

However, one thing’s for sure: that frightening man seemed to favor her to some extent.

And, this conviction became even more solidified after their exchange just before they got out of the carriage earlier.

‘Grace, have you heard that you’re not very good at hiding your feelings?’

‘…How do you know, Your Excellency? Are my feelings apparent to you?’

‘Yes, to be honest, I didn’t know at first… But once I noticed, I kept on seeing it. And Grace, really, I think you’re a lot more honest than I had expected.’

This was something that truly surprised her.

‘Was it too obvious that I’m scared of him?’

Well, she had to admit—who wouldn’t know when she kept on trembling like that?

Baffled, she answered.

‘I apologize, Your Excellency. I didn’t mean to… I feel too ashamed to face you.’

‘Oh, no no. People don’t usually have full control over how they feel, so I completely understand. It’s not something that you should apologize for.’

…He was more gracious than she thought.

This made her feel relieved.

And she was a little touched.

About the panoramic view before her as well, she felt sentimental.

She also couldn’t help but reflect on herself. She might have been too biased against him.

However, things took quite an odd turn with what he said next.