Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 12
***
By night, her doubts naturally cleared. The Count called for Cecilia.
“Lady Cecilia Lasphilla, His Lordship summons you.”
It was rare for him to call her separately. It certainly wasn’t to belatedly give a birthday gift.
‘He must have heard everything.’
It would be stranger if he hadn’t, considering the volume of the shouting.
Cecilia put down her book and stood up, already prepared.
“Alright, I’m coming.”
***
Entering the Count’s office, Count Adam Lasphilla turned to look at his daughter.
He was unwrapping the straps of his hunting leather gloves, biting the cuff to loosen the button.
Adam often went hunting in the manor’s forest when displeased.
And his prolonged hunting meant…
‘He must be in a particularly bad mood.’
Cecilia breathed in quietly, so as not to be heard.
“Cecilia Lasphilla.”
He called her name, clearly stating her full name and title.
Unlike other illegitimate children, Cecilia was not saddled with her mother’s lowly surname but carried the prestigious Lasphilla name. It was a reminder to be grateful and solemnly bear whatever was to come.
‘As if I begged to be born into this family. Ridiculous.’
A twisted smile briefly appeared, then vanished.
“Why did you call for me?”
Perhaps due to her recent defiant thoughts, Cecilia’s demeanor was slightly insolent.
Adam, not one to miss such nuances, showed a crack in his usually wrinkle-free face.
“I called you here because of what Margaret said. Regardless of all else, the fact that you spoke insolently is clear and undeniable.”
“Ah.”
Cecilia thought.
‘What a long introduction. He really tends to be so wordy.’
“That child must have felt so wronged to come to me twice to vent her frustration.”
‘How amusing. Since when has he been so caring and attentive to his youngest daughter?’
That couldn’t be his true sentiment. He was like a serpent, twisting his real intentions into his words, hiding his true motives.
“And I hear you dismissed your nanny without my permission?”
Normally, such a matter would have been ignored and overlooked.
“…….”
Cecilia remained silent, leading Adam to cough into his fist.
“Your rash actions are what caused Lilith to create a scene in the hall, isn’t it?”
Yes, this was the real point he wanted to address.
Cecilia finally spoke.
“It wasn’t for long. Nobody saw it.”
“The servants saw.”
There were always unseen eyes in the mansion. Annoyingly so.
But this time, it wasn’t the servants—his eldest daughter had seen it.
‘In reality, it wasn’t the servants but Sister who tattled on me, right? Why do you scold me yet protect her? Perhaps, deep down, you also acknowledge that this situation unfair?’
But saying this wouldn’t change anything immediately. Better to endure quietly than to suffer for pointing out trivialities.
“……I wasn’t aware of that.”
Hearing Cecilia’s barely audible response, Adam shook his head, chiding Lilith.
“You should always be mindful of others’ eyes… Even at her age, she hasn’t corrected her temper.”
‘But you like that about her.’
Cecilia suppressed the sudden urge to rebel. It was too early. Not yet. Biting her lower lip, she endured the sound of Adam’s clicking tongue.
“Being busy lately, I’ve neglected things, and it’s gotten out of hand. With the holiday season approaching, and your fiancé due to visit, wouldn’t it be troublesome if Lilith caused an incident then?”
Ah, the fiancé!
Though she tried to remain composed, her demeanor cracked at the mention.
Cecilia was currently in a verbal engagement with Logan. There was no formal agreement; they hadn’t even met before the engagement.
Memories of her girlhood, adoring him based only on a portrait, resurfaced. She hadn’t known then about his true love, to whom he had given his heart.
Marrying him again would be akin to a foreseen hell. Even if Cecilia’s mother didn’t kill his lover, a happy marriage with him was impossible.
She must break off this engagement. There’s no need to once again be entangled with an ill-fated match.
‘It’s a pity. If only I had gone further back before the engagement was settled, it would have been easier to cancel.’
She couldn’t break it off right now. Cecilia lacked the right to do so.
For now, surviving in the precarious world of Lasphilla was the priority.
Cecilia, clearing her thoughts, spoke brightly.
“Didn’t you say the Harpers wouldn’t be visiting until the end of next month? Perhaps we could wait until then, as Miss Lilith only made a one-time mistake?”
“A one-time mistake? You’re not stretching out all ten fingers and calling it ‘one time’, are you? I thought only Margaret was bad at arithmetic, but you’re no better.”
Adam looked at his daughter disdainfully.
“Cooperate, would you. Ultimately, this is all for your own good.”
