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Alexander, who was guided into the drawing room, sat down with a solemn demeanor, his usual mask-like smile completely gone. The Count and Countess of Sharon were visibly displeased that it wasn't the Duke himself, but rather his son, who had come.
"The Averil Ducal House never ceases to surprise. His Majesty the Emperor himself sought to mediate this matter, and yet instead of coming in person, the Duke sends only his eldest son? Since when has such discourtesy become acceptable?"
"It has only been five years since we planted the Elrey Freesia in our family's garden. To think that after the shame caused by the Letticia affair, even Lenard would have to endure such an insult… At this rate, I can't help but wonder if our youngest—who hasn't even had the chance to meet them face to face yet—will be next in line. What on earth does the Averil family think of Sharon, to allow such things to happen?"
Following Camilla's sharp rebuke, Patrick's cold gaze bore down on Alexander, leaving his expression stricken with despair. While Letticia looked on in shock at such an unexpected turn, Alexander bowed his head with utmost sincerity.
"On behalf of House Averil, I wish to sincerely apologize for the rudeness and violence committed by my father this time. Our family fully acknowledges his wrongdoing, and we pledge—upon the name and honor of the Averil Ducal House—that we will properly atone for the humiliation inflicted upon Lord Lenard Sharon and the Sharon family."
His apology carried great weight. The atmosphere, until now charged with hostility, began to ease ever so slightly with surprise mixing into the tension.
"…By fully acknowledging fault, do you mean you are admitting that the Sharon family bears no blame whatsoever in this matter?"
"Yes. This incident is entirely my father's fault. No matter if it concerned Arie, to draw a sword at the young lord without so much as hearing an explanation… I deeply regret that I was not present to prevent my father from committing such an outrage against Lord Sharon."
For a fleeting moment, Letticia wondered if another soul had possessed Alexander. Whenever Ariette was involved, the Averil family would fly into madness, and Alexander was always the least reasonable of them all. And yet the words he was speaking now seemed far too rational.
Lenard, though not as shocked as Letticia, also found it hard to believe. His reply came laced with cold irony.
"To hear you admit so readily to the offense you committed against me, it is almost unsettling. I had thought you had drawn your blade at me fully prepared to deal with the consequences."
"When it comes to matters involving Arie, Father often does not think of the aftermath. On that point, even we have nothing to say in his defense."
Alexander, still speaking with uncharacteristic composure, closed his eyes briefly before continuing.
"However, seeing how deeply this matter has wounded Arie, even Father was greatly shaken. She shut herself in her room, declared she would never see him again unless he apologized to Lord Sharon, and cried day after day… Until yesterday, when she even began refusing her meals."
"Hah. So in other words, this apology isn't truly out of regret toward Lenard, but because the young lady has gone on a hunger strike?"
Camilla glared at him with sharp, furious eyes. Alexander hastily shook his head.
"No, that's not it. Both Achilles and I firmly believe Father was in the wrong. But Father refused to admit it. When the envoy from the Imperial Family came, he wouldn't even give an answer, which placed us in a very difficult position. In the end, when Arie stopped eating, he finally yielded and sent me here."
"Then tell us, what authority do you have? Do you carry enough power to represent the Ducal House and formally establish reconciliation between our families here and now?"
Ezkhiel's face had shifted into a stern, official expression. At his question, the secretary standing behind Alexander stepped forward, handing him a document and a seal. Taking them, Alexander placed them on the table where Ezkhiel and Patrick could see.
"For this matter alone, I have been entrusted with the Ducal House's full authority. Since even the Imperial Family issued a warning, Father must bear responsibility for his actions. After a family council, it was decided that he will focus solely on managing the duchy for the time being, and refrain from setting foot in the capital."
"For the time being, you say. I trust you don't mean a mere few months when you use those words."
"Arie declared she doesn't even want to see Father's face right now. Unless the very survival of our House is at stake, he won't be returning to the capital for years. He wouldn't risk sneaking back and having Arie refuse to return to the duchy altogether."
It was rather disheartening that a promise to Ariette seemed more reliable than the Emperor's decree, but considering how resolute she must have been, it wasn't unbelievable that the Duke had been forced to bow his head and retreat to the estate.
At Alexander's firm assurance that the Duke would not be seen in the capital again, Patrick crossed his arms and spoke coldly.
"Though I respect that you've come here with full authority, let me be frank. Even if the Duke himself has returned to the duchy, I remain doubtful whether ties of goodwill with House Averil can truly continue, so long as you and Sir Achilles remain. Five years ago, we witnessed firsthand that your devotion to the young lady rivals the Duke's own."
"…In any family, the will of the head defines the family's ways. And our father is a man who places Arie above all else."
"So you're saying that all the excessive displays of affection toward the young lady were nothing more than aligning yourselves with the Duke's will?"
At Patrick's sharp retort, Alexander shook his head.
"That isn't an excuse I'm trying to make. Compared to my siblings, Achilles and I certainly do feel a stronger affection for Arie, and because of that we've sometimes acted excessively. But I ask you to understand one thing: it was only because Father allowed it that we did not know when to stop."
"……"
"This incident has forced us brothers to reflect deeply. From now on, under no circumstances will we use the excuse of worrying for Arie—no, for Ariette—as justification to disrespect other families. Even in this case, Father claimed he acted out of anger for her sake, yet the truth is that the one hurt the most by his actions was Ariette herself."
When Alexander finished speaking, silence filled the drawing room. His words were so rational, so level-headed, that they felt almost eerie.
Letticia, in particular, was more shocked than when Achilles had apologized earlier that year. She couldn't help but wonder again if Alexander had been possessed.
What's wrong with this guy all of a sudden? Did he eat something bad? Or did someone actually possess him? What the hell?
No matter how much Letticia had hit him with logic, or how often Seraphina had pointed out his faults, Alexander would stubbornly insist that everything he did was for Ariette's sake. And now he was acting as though he had undergone some complete transformation? It didn't make sense.
And really, Ariette hadn't done anything that extreme, just cried, locked herself in her room, refused to eat for a single day, and demanded an apology to Lenard. Was that truly so devastating to them?
No… to these lunatics, it probably was a world-shattering shock.
To brothers who worshipped their little sister as both god and world, such a thing would indeed feel like the end of days.
As Letticia managed to rationalize this to herself, Patrick considered Alexander's words carefully before replying.
"…I recognize the sincerity in your words. But you must also realize that a few sentences are not enough to restore the trust your House has lost."
"Of course, I am well aware. Especially since this is not the first time we've made such mistakes, this time will be all the more difficult. That is the price we must naturally bear."
"If you've said all you wished, then let's hear the opinion of the one directly involved. Lenard, what would you like to do?"
Having quietly listened until now, Lenard looked at Alexander and asked calmly.
"I want to confirm one thing. Are you aware that I, as an advisor for the business Lady Letticia and Lady Averil were pursuing, exchanged personal correspondence with the young lady?"
"…Yes. I was told that whenever Ariette was uncertain about something, she reached out to you for advice."
Alexander's expression twisted slightly, then returned to normal. Unlike before, there was a sense that he was forcing the words out.
"As you must have heard, the Duke insulted me simply because I had corresponded with the young lady, addressing me with the words 'you bastard,' as though I were some commoner off the streets. And both you and Sir Achilles treated me no better, merely because I had spoken with her alone at the shop, and because I joined Letticia for tea in her company. It's like you compared me to people like Lord Jarvis."
"…For that as well, allow me to apologize here and now. This incident has made us realize how excessively we have guarded against men approaching Ariette."
"I have no desire to interfere in your family matters. But I do not wish to ever again suffer such attacks merely for conducting business conversations with the young lady, or for showing kindness to my sister's friend. If your apology is truly sincere, then I ask you to keep that in mind."
"…Yes, I will certainly keep it in mind. After all, we should not be policing even the goodwill that Ariette receives from her acquaintances."
When Alexander emphasized the word "acquaintances," Ezkhiel spoke in a slightly formal tone.
"In that case, I shall report the intentions of both families to the Imperial Family. His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince will convene a formal meeting to deliberate on this matter. Both Houses should prepare to have the relevant parties present."
And with that, the apology—so clean and thorough that it felt almost unnatural and unreal—came to an end.
As soon as Alexander withdrew, Letticia pinched her hand lightly, doubting whether what she had just witnessed was reality. To her shock, it was no dream, it was indeed real.
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