TDWO Chapter 33

“……”

Anri clenched her teeth as her father’s embrace pressed down on her once more.

Even without asking, it was clear what he had been busy with all this time.

He must have been eating well and living comfortably, far better than she had.

He would say it was all for survival, but he hadn’t even contacted her once in over four months.

This wasn’t just a matter of days.

Right after her mother passed away, both her father and Anri were going through their own struggles and had no time to care for each other.

But when her father wandered outside and it became difficult to reach him even in moments of need, Anri felt as if she had become an orphan.

She wondered if he didn’t want to see his daughter.

There were many days in her younger years when she cried because she missed him so much.

She worried about whether he was doing well.

Then suddenly, he brought home a stepmother and stepsisters.

The sense of betrayal she felt was indescribable, as if the ground beneath her was collapsing.

He hadn’t been there when she was sick and hadn’t even sent a letter on her birthday, yet he was spending happy times with his new wife and stepdaughters?

Anri still remembered the scene when the three women first came to their home.

She had eagerly awaited that day, excited about her father’s return, but what was this…?

Anri wanted to turn the Wentworth household upside down.

She lay on her bed and cried for a week, day and night. Out of sorrow and injustice, and because she missed her mother.

Her father said that meeting various nobles and dignitaries was his job.

He apologized, saying that he didn’t have time to stay at home.

‘But you’re going to start a new life? Without saying a word to me?’

Every time Catherine flaunted her status as her father’s wife and mistress, or Candice boasted about being her father’s cherished daughter, or whenever Eunice caught her eye, Anri felt her anger rising.

She felt as though her father had abandoned her.

She did write a letter to her father after the ball where she decided to marry Edwin.

Of course, she received a reply from him, granting permission and blessing her marriage to the Duke of Briston. It was hastily scrawled.

He mentioned having already heard rumors in the capital that “Anri Wentworth” was to become the Duke of Briston’s wife.

Everyone he met congratulated him so much that he was bewildered and didn’t know what was going on, but he was still happy for her.

Morris pulled Anri away from his embrace, wiping his tears.

Then he grabbed her shoulders and proudly shouted.

“Congratulations on your marriage! How wonderful, my daughter! My daughter is going to be a Duchess!”

Anri smiled widely.

“I’m not becoming a duchess just to make you happy, but thank you for the congratulations. I’ll live well now.”

“Huh? Hahaha! You little jokester.”

“Ow!”

Morris playfully pinched the tip of Anri’s nose.

Startled, Anri swatted away his hand, shaking her head.

“Ha! You must have been busy with your own affairs, Father. Hahaha!”

Anri glared up at Morris in annoyance, her nose turning red.

How many years did he leave her alone, and why is he pretending to be affectionate now?

That dark blue coat is the same one he wore five years ago, and he’s still wearing it. Hmm.

The smell of her father, whom she recognizes after a long time, seems to be due to that old, worn-out coat.

It wasn’t dirty, but it was a shabby, outdated coat.

Anri bit the inside of her lip, her round eyes filling with tension.

She couldn’t fully hate her father, and the mix of affection and resentment only made things more complicated.

Morris gently stroked Anri’s face, which was glaring at him like an angry puppy.

“Look at my little Anri, all grown up and already getting married.”

His eyes quickly became moist, as if he might burst into tears.

When Morris first heard the rumor in the capital that Anri was marrying the Duke of Briston, he was half in doubt.

But no matter how much he thought about it, there was no other noble lady named Anri Wentworth with pink hair than his Anri.

Then he received letters from Anri and Catherine, so he hurried back to the Wentworth estate to confirm the truth.

Sure enough, Anri was the lady who would eventually become the Duchess of Briston.

The shock hit Morris like lightning.

He was astonished to realize he had known nothing about Anri’s significant decision regarding marriage.

It seemed that Anri and the Duke of Briston had been acquainted and dating even before the ball.

In fact, the duke had even visited the Wentworth estate.

Of course, Morris had no reason to oppose Anri’s becoming the mistress of such a prestigious ducal family.

So, he had no objections to Catherine granting her consent for the marriage.

On the contrary, he felt as if he had been showered with countless shooting stars of fortune, amazement, and delight.

From now on, Anri wouldn’t have to suffer anymore.

However, it was hard to believe that Anri, whom he had always expected to live with at the Wentworth estate, was leaving home.

Of course, he had thought that Anri would get married someday, but so soon… 

Morris felt regretful for not spending more time with Anri while raising her as his daughter.

He wanted to create a new family for her, especially since she spent most of her time with the servants.

Due to his noble status, he couldn’t work, so he was solely focused on political campaigning that required support money.

There was no other way for Morris to make money.

But now, it felt like all his efforts had come to an end with Anri’s departure.

Facing this situation for the first time, Morris was overwhelmed with regret and sadness, flooding his heart and eyes.

Ever since he learned about Anri’s marriage, it felt like a void had opened up in his chest.

He was flustered.

Naturally, he wanted to celebrate Anri’s marriage, but why did it feel like this…?

“Father!”

Suddenly, Candice, who had been sitting on the sofa, approached and put her arm around Morris.

Then she shot a sharp glance at Anri.

“I’m not getting married; I’ll live with Mom and Dad forever. We don’t need Anri!”

“Oh, that’s wonderful, sister. You must keep that promise.”

Anri smiled at Candice like a flower, then turned to smile at her father.

“I don’t have to worry about Father anymore. My big sister says she’ll take care of you and not get married.”

Morris blinked in surprise, his eyes wide open.

The words that he wouldn’t have to worry about him felt like a complete severance.

Morris’s heart ached fiercely.

“Anri.”

“You don’t have to worry about me, Father. The Duke is treating me very well.”

As she spoke with a smiling face, she felt relieved that Edwin hadn’t heard the last sentence.

It was such an absurd lie.

“My goodness, Anri!”

Catherine, who had been silently watching, approached with her sharp voice.

Then she gave Candice a hard slap on the back of the head and grabbed Anri’s hand tightly.

“Ouch! Mother!”

Catherine didn’t even glance at the pouting Candice.

She just held onto Anri’s hand.

“Don’t say that! How can your father not be worried? We’ll only be worried about you, always!”

“……?”

Anri blinked in confusion, her eyes wide open.

Hearing such serious nonsense for the first time left her head feeling dazed and unsteady, as if a hammer had struck her.

Catherine wouldn’t say something like that unless she had eaten something wrong, right?

Ah, is it because I’m going to become a rich duke’s wife that she wants to make a good impression on her?

No way!

“With two older sisters, it must be hard for you to worry about me, Father and Mother.”

Anri’s eyes curved into a gentle smile.

It was useless to change her stance and regret it now.

She was strangely relieved that the Wentworth estate was far from the Briston estate.

Just thinking about cutting ties with them made Anri feel refreshed, and a smile spread across her face.

“Thank you for taking care of my things, Mother. I won’t need anything from my old room anymore.”

“What do you mean you won’t need it, Anri? If you need anything in the future, just let me know.”

“I can find everything I need here.”

“Didn’t you like the dishes Eva made? If you want them, I’ll have Eva come right away.”

“Oh, I’d appreciate that. However, there are many French chefs here, and they make delicious French food. It would take me years to try everything.”

Anri was not swayed by Catherine’s attempts to manipulate her.

Candice was getting very frustrated with the endless back-and-forth conversation between Anri and Catherine.

Morris continued to gaze at Anri with moist eyes, lost in sad reminiscence.

‘My daughter Anri…’

Meanwhile, Eunice was tightly clutching her skirt, carefully alternating her gaze among the family members.

After such a long time, the Anri she saw seemed to exude a different level of grace, as if she were already a Duchess.

The unique elegance of those who enjoy wealth suited Anri perfectly.

She even seemed more beautiful than before.

As Eunice rolled her eyes, she suddenly gasped in surprise.

‘…?’

In the distance, the door had opened, and Duke Edwin had entered.

He has softly tousled black hair and indifferent eyes.

His tall and lean physique made him look like a young man carved out of marble.

He seemed to match Anri perfectly.

Edwin had followed Anri in but stood there, unnoticed, like a person with no presence, quietly waiting for the ridiculous and desperate conversation to end.

Edwin’s indifferent gaze then shifted to Eunice.

It was as if he had sensed her gaze.

“…”

Their eyes met.

Flustered, Eunice held her breath, and as Edwin looked at her, he suddenly recalled the time he had visited the Wentworth estate.

He almost laughed again at the memory of Anri and Candice fighting in such a childish manner.

It was a crisis. Edwin bit the inside of his lip hard.

He felt as if his vulnerabilities were exposed to Eunice, with whom he had never really had a proper conversation.

Eunice’s eyes darted nervously at Edwin’s tense expression.

Then she subtly lowered her gaze.

‘What a truly strange family.’

Edwin clenched his teeth, feeling frustrated and rubbed his temples with one hand.

 

ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚

 

“Well then, please rest comfortably.”

Anri smiled and bid farewell as she led the Wentworth family to the guest room. She hoped they wouldn’t come out and look for her. She was truly exhausted.

As Anri stepped into the hallway, she looked up at Edwin.

Edwin silently played the role of the fake son-in-law, engaging in various conversations with his father.

He was completely expressionless and unfeeling.

Anri was anxious, fearing that a political disagreement might suddenly arise between her father and Edwin.

She worried that if he upset Edwin, it could lead to concerns about the family’s survival.

Fortunately, such conversations did not occur.

Anri kindly expressed her gratitude to Edwin.

“Thank you, Your Grace, for spending time with my family. Please go in and rest comfortably now.”

Being with her carefree, easygoing father, her talkative stepmother, and the overly dramatic Candice was overwhelming for Anri as well.

She wondered how much more difficult it must have been for that distinguished man.

“…”

Edwin watched Anri intently.

Since they shared a meal together at least once a day, he was used to seeing her regularly.

But today, Anri seemed somewhat different to him.

As he quietly pondered what it might be, he looked at her,

“Hmm. It doesn’t suit you.”

He blurted out.