OHNIR – Chapter 95
Chapter 95: The Confession
“Duchess Amirium! My Goddess of Light, heaven knows how long it’s been since she’s appeared in public…”
“What did Lady Isabella just say? —The next heir, who-who-who was she talking about?!”
“Th-that person, isn’t she that famous country bumpkin from Holy Light Magic Academy… Kelusta Breviou, that’s her, I’m definitely not mistaken!”
“Ah, I could tell that lady had a noble air about her, but I never expected her to be a young lady of the Amirium family? How disrespectful of me. —But as far as I know, Miss Ricanarias passed away many years ago… Could this one be her orphaned child?”
“Amirium has an heir? Hmm, although she’s a bit young… but it seems the collaborative projects that were put on hold can finally be put back on the agenda.”
The crowd whispered amongst themselves, amazed and each with their own thoughts, but Kelusta seemed indifferent. She didn’t even glance at the nobles whose eyes were practically glued to her. She just smiled, raised her right hand, and gave a distant wave to her grandmother on the stairs, who was worried she’d been wronged.
Not far away, seeing that her mood was stable, Isabella finally relaxed her fingertips, which had been tightly gripping her cane.
The duchess, who had just defended her granddaughter, concealed her anger and gave a slight nod, her expression doting and gentle. It was enough to stun a group of competitors who had once been ruthlessly outmaneuvered by her.
…The sun must be rising in the west.
The Amirium ducal family was known for its iron-fisted ways—everyone who had worked with them knew that Lady Isabella never used to even crack a smile!
Just how much charm did this heir possess… to be able to turn a strong woman, whose methods and abilities were no less than her husband’s, into this kind-faced, seemingly amiable white-haired old lady?
As they pondered this, they couldn’t help but turn their gazes back to the three main figures in the center of the room.
Gloria gently stroked the top of Kelusta’s head, her eyes soft, and seemed to ask something in a low voice. The latter answered her calmly, smiling as she took Gloria’s hand. These small, casual gestures highlighted the intimacy between them.
As for Avia…
The girl in the gray dress looked toward her master in alarm, but she simply bowed her head deeply, her wine-red, damp hair falling to perfectly conceal the venom in her eyes.
She was clearly just a lowly commoner from the countryside, so why did she suddenly transform into the heir of the Amirium family?
And herself… she was merely the daughter of a marquis, and she hadn’t even been named as the heir to the title…
No matter how you looked at it, she was a cut below the other girl. How could she possibly deal with this vixen who seduced someone else’s fiancé—
She wouldn’t accept it!
But no matter how resentful Avia felt in her heart, the facts before her could not be changed.
Kelusta would become the next Duchess Amirium. She also had a good relationship with Nobili’s first family, the Silentdises. Her performance in this incident was commendable—calm, composed, and not lacking in presence—proving that the family had a promising future.
Many shrewd nobles were already making calculations in their minds, their eyes fixed on this great ship that was about to set sail once more.
And Kelusta was clearly aware that the exposure of her identity would be of great significance to her entire family.
Countless former partners would return, bringing generous compensation in hopes of restarting old plans. Countless new families would request alliances, offering completely different ideas and proposals to open up new paths of development for Amirium.
—In fact, this sudden tailwind had long been part of Kelusta’s plan to use external forces to soar.
“Whether for myself or for Amirium,” she said to the System in her mind, “I am looking forward to… the rebirth that is to come.”
“It is an honor to witness this,” the System said. “I will also do my utmost to provide you with assistance, esteemed temporary host.”
The brown-haired girl smiled in satisfaction and was about to continue discussing her next plans with the System in secret, but before she could speak, the hand hanging by her side was suddenly taken gently by Gloria.
Kelusta blinked and turned her head in surprise.
She saw the beautiful silver-haired girl smile at her, bend down gracefully, and lift her slender fingertips. Solemnly, gently, she pressed a light kiss upon the back of Kelusta’s fair hand.
“I will also, on behalf of my future fiancée—Kelusta Amirium Breviou—”
A smile rippled in her deep blue eyes, like the purest, clearest sapphires, distinctly reflecting the stunned expression of the girl before her.
“…resolutely pursue the matter of the slander and defamation committed today by Miss Charles and Viscount Foske to the very end.”
Almost as soon as she uttered the first word, the entire hall fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone present—including Kelusta herself—wore an expression as if they’d been struck by lightning, listening with shock and horror to the declaration made at the center of everyone’s attention.
Gloria tightened her grip on her little fiancée’s hand, their fingers intertwined. She looked up at the astonished Kelusta and smiled slightly, the brilliant lights of the hall instantly reflected in her eyes.
The noble duke’s daughter stood shoulder to shoulder with the brown-haired girl. She swept a cold glance over the silent, head-bowed Avia and the viscount who was about to collapse to the floor, and said flatly:
“I suggest the two of you… wait patiently for the legal documents that will soon be delivered to your residences.”
After being suddenly hit with this confession that had come without any warning, Kelusta spent a long time in a dazed, dizzy, and surreal state.
She was so bewildered by her sudden new status as a “fiancée” that she didn’t know what to do with her hands and feet. She could only lower her head, her face bright red, like an ostrich, absolutely refusing to meet Gloria’s eyes.
“So pathetic, temporary host,” the System mocked, as if it had forgotten its own embarrassing near-crash just moments ago, clearly enjoying the show. “You’re the only one I’ve ever seen in my long career—the ‘best player to win by doing nothing,’ who had a crush for so long and got promoted to fiancée without even confessing. It’s enough to go on your resume.”
Kelusta: “…You won’t mind if I don’t say ‘thank you for the compliment,’ will you?”
System: “You’re welcome. Congratulations on your marriage.”
The farce finally ended with a reversal big enough to shake the capital. His Highness Prince Satrick also hurried over after hearing about it, preparing to personally escort the nearly-fainted-from-crying Avia back to the Charles family.
After instructing the maid who came with him to lead the red-haired girl out of the hall, the future heir to the kingdom turned his head and looked with a complicated expression at the well-matched pair in red and blue not far away.
Meanwhile, during Kelusta’s long silence, Gloria was considerate and understanding of her feelings.
She didn’t say much, just watched the top of Kelusta’s head with a smile. It wasn’t until Isabella called Kelusta over to give her some instructions that she finally withdrew her gaze, turned indifferently, and met the eyes of the silent Satrick.
He let out a half-sigh, gave her an almost imperceptible nod, and then turned decisively and left the bright hall.
History is always surprisingly similar. Just like when she was driven out of the tea party by Gloria, Avia’s departure this time was just as wretched, and she and her family would face an even more severe judgment.
But that was all a matter for later and clearly had nothing to do with Kelusta, whose mind was currently a complete mess.
“…Grandmother, what’s going on?” the brown-haired girl stood before Isabella, on the verge of tears. “H-how did I not know I was getting engaged to Lux?”
“Well, now you know, Ruth,” Isabella said with a mischievous smile, patting her granddaughter’s hand lovingly. “Grandmother can see that you like her, and I’m willing to let you be with her—”
“I’ve known Gloria for many years. I know she’s not only a capable young woman, but also one of the people in this world who dotes on you the most… Therefore, your father and I are in complete agreement. We feel at ease entrusting the rest of your life to her.”
Kelusta’s cheeks flushed red. She pursed her lips and stammered, “Grandmother…”
“Ruth, you’ve grown up. It’s time you were united with the one you love,” Isabella said. “I hope that you, like your mother and father, can stay with the person you love and spend the rest of your life in happiness.”
After speaking, she placed a very plain-looking letter into Kelusta’s hand and urged her to open it.
It was a handwritten letter from Sogeta, sent from Seaside Town.
It said that her father already knew about her choice to return to the family and her plan to get engaged to Susan’s eldest daughter, and that he was willing to unconditionally support his daughter’s decision.
He also instructed Kelusta to remember to bring Gloria back to Seaside Town before the engagement ceremony so he could have a good look at her.
The brown-haired girl gazed at her father’s familiar handwriting, a faint smile on her face, and placed the letter from home back into its envelope.
“Thank you, Grandmother,” she said solemnly. “You and Father are the most important people in my life… To receive your blessing is the greatest honor for me in this relationship.”
“If Ricana were still here, she would also bless her dearest daughter,” Isabella smiled. “We are the ones who love you most, Ruth… As long as it’s something you’ve truly decided you want to do, and it’s the right thing, then don’t hesitate. Go for it boldly.”
“—Because we will always be the strongest support standing behind you.”
“…”
Kelusta’s lips curved into a deep smile, and she felt her eyes grow warm.
Whether it was the fulfillment in her relationship or the coming war… what touched her heart the most were the people who would stand behind her, supporting her steadfastly.
“I’m the luckiest protagonist.”
She wiped her tears, shared a deep hug with her grandmother, and then turned. Under Isabella’s loving gaze, she walked step by step toward Gloria, who was waiting for her.
The long, drawn-out notes of a cello sounded once more. The girls’ graceful skirts billowed like waves with their dance steps. The rotation of the crystal chandeliers sent light flowing through the hall, reflecting in people’s eyes like brilliant, twinkling stars.
As Kelusta approached, stepping on the flowing light, Gloria said nothing. She simply smiled and extended a hand in the gentlest of gestures, inviting her newly official girlfriend to share the first dance with her.
The brown-haired girl lowered her eyes and gently placed her hand in hers.
She moved closer to Gloria, leaned toward her ear, and squeezed her hand, their fingers tightly intertwined.
And as if holding a precious cloud in her mouth, she whispered the softest of words: “I still owe you a confession.”
As the silver-haired girl turned slightly at her words, Kelusta suddenly let out a low laugh. She closed her eyes, lowered her head, and quickly pressed a light kiss to Gloria’s cherry-red lips.
“I love you, Gloria.”
Kelusta said solemnly, “Although my feelings aren’t exactly the same as when we were children, I am still just as certain now as I was back then—”
Gloria looked up, smiled faintly, and said in unison with her:
“—I want to be with you… forever.”
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