Lady to Queen - Chapter 116

Chapter 116 – [Side Story] Ch. 8 But She Really Was Beautiful 

[Side Story 2] The Violet Rose 

“Aren’t you getting married?” 

It was a sunny day when Countess Braddington posed the question to her son. Rothesay Aile Le Braddington swept his brown hair to one side and answered. 

“I don’t have any plans to do so, Mother.” 

“Oh my word!” Countess Braddington exclaimed, and she indignantly set down her teacup on the table. “Why?” she asked, completely uncomprehending of her son’s attitude. 

“I’m just not getting married.” 

“That’s absurd! Do you really plan to end our family tree?” 

“I can adopt, or we can put out someone from a branch family as the next head of the family.” 

“My word,” Countess Braddington said in a shocked tone. “Why?” 

“I don’t have any intention to get married.” 

“No, why?” 

Why? That was the only thing that came out of Countess Braddington’s mouth. She could not understand her son’s all. He was declaring that he would grow old and die a bachelor all his life. 

Should I let him have a girl in his room? No way, is my son…what do you call it. He’s not, right?  

As the Countess’ imagination started to run wild, Rothesay calmly cut through her thoughts. 

“I am healthy, mother.” 

“Ehem…” The Countess gave an awkward cough, then soon spoke calmly. “Then, what is the exact reason that you won’t get married?” 

Countess Braddington was truly curious about her son’s reasons. She never gave a bad impression about marriage to him. In addition, her and husband’s relationship were viewed as a role model for every other couple in the capital. To put it bluntly, Count and Countess Braddington were cringeworthy lovebirds. 

‘Do children whose parents lead a happy marriage want to get married themselves? Are we so happy that it caused the opposite reaction?’ 

“Say something, Ro. Did we do something wrong to you? Did we give a bad impression of marriage and family life—” 

“No, Mother. It’s not like that.” Rothesay shook his head and politely gave the truth. “When I saw my parents act affectionately, I always felt jealous. I thought you were both incredible and I really respect both of you. But I’m not confident enough to live like you two. I don’t have the confidence to be devoted to my wife.” 

“…” 

“I’m more important to myself. I also enjoy being alone more.” 

“Oh…” 

Countess Braddington was speechless for a moment. She had nothing to say in face of that answer. Her son said he would not get married because he did not want to be selfish and be a burden by failing to live up to a standard. What else could she say? She could not ask him to get married when it would make his future wife unhappy. 

After a moment of thought, Countess Braddington said something she thought might be helpful. “I understand what you’re trying to say, sweetie. Your father was just like you.” 

“…Pardon?” 

“I heard your father was reluctant to get married for a similar reason. But look at him now. How does he live?” 

“That’s because…” 

He is living happily with Mother. 

Rothesay became speechless for the first time, and Countess Braddington nodded with a gentle smile. 

“I’m not rushing you. I just hope you don’t think you’re unqualified for marriage. I believe you deserve a better family more than anyone else.” 

“To be honest, I’m not sure I can do as well as Mother and Father.” 

“Everyone has a fear before they start. And…” The Countess took a breath for a moment and continued. “Half of the fears that you have before starting are just in your head.” 

“…” 

“Shouldn’t you at least try first? Why don’t you start with attending social gatherings?” 

It always ended with nagging. Rothesay gave a tired smile. Countess Braddington stared at her son and sighed briefly before changing the subject. 

“Let’s talk about that later… Anyway, you should go to Count Rasels’ residence.” 

“To Wilter’s house?” Rothesay asked. Lord Wilter Rasels was one of Rothesay’s few friends. “Did something happen?” 

“When you were out, I received a telegram. It stated that he’s sick. Why don’t you pay him a visit?” 

“Oh my,” he murmured in a slightly shocked voice. It was said that idiots couldn’t get sick, and he couldn’t believe that that brat Wilter wasn’t an idiot after all! 

Despite Rothesay’s inward joke, he was naturally worried about his sick friend, who was usually in good health. 

“Is it serious?” he asked. 

“It was not stated in the letter. But wouldn’t it better to go there?” Countess Braddington suggested. 

“I should. I have to hurry.” 

“Yes. Go ahead. Wilter also doesn’t have many friends, just like you. He may already be waiting for you.” 

“Haha, maybe. I’ll be back, mother.” Rothesay quickly took his jacket and turned to the butler. “Please get the carriage ready.” 

* 

“Please go a little faster.” 

There was some nervousness in Rothesay’s voice when he spoke. It was true that he was worried. Was his friend truly sick? 

He was trying to control his thoughts with a serious look on his face, when suddenly, the carriage gave a violent jolt. Startled, Rothesay tried to keep his balance by holding fast to the seat of the chair. 

The carriage driver must have gotten into an accident. Rothesay opened the door and got out of the carriage even before it stopped jerking. Two carriages seemed to be moving uncontrollably as they tried to avoid colliding with each other. Given the luxurious exterior of the opposite carriage, it seemed to be a carriage of a high-ranking noble like him. 

“Be careful! Do you know who’s riding here now?” 

“Oh come on, I said I was sorry!” 

“How dare you raise your voice when you’re at fault here?” 

The situation didn’t look so good. Just when Rothesay was about to stop the two drivers, someone stepped out of the carriage. She was a woman with red hair and the glowing golden sunset in her eyes. 

Things did not look so good. When Rothesay was about to stop the two drivers, someone stepped out of the carriage. She was a woman with red hair, glowing golden sun in her eyes. She looked similar to him in age, or perhaps younger. 

“Oh, My Lady. Please stay inside, it’s just—” 

“It’s fine. There is no reason to fight. Is the person inside alright?” 

Rothesay did not believe in “love at first sight” —nay, he even abhorred the idea. But as soon as he laid eyes on the woman, he wanted to beat himself up in the past for even thinking that. 

He wondered if this is what people meant when they said “love at first sight.” 

No other thought occupied his mind except for two. 

One, that she was incredibly beautiful. Second, that he wanted to talk to her. 

It was only natural that he did. 

“Sorry, My Lady. I believe my driver made a mistake.” 

“Not at all, My Lord. I’m fine.” 

They did not know each other, but it was not the fault of the woman. 

Rothesay hated social gatherings so much that he barely attended them. Even a person who used to attend the social gatherings was extremely unlikely to know Rothesay if they were unlucky. 

“Are you hurt anywhere?” she inquired courteously. 

Rothesay was thrilled that the woman had spoken to him, and replied without any special expectations in his mind. 

“I’m fine. And you?” 

“Oh, yes, I’m fine too…” 

That was a relief. Rothesay tried to bring something up to further their conversation, but the woman spoke first. 

“That’s a relief. Then I’ll be on my way. Good day.” 

No! Rothesay screamed in his mind. He could not just let the woman go. He gathered his courage and called out to her. 

“W-wait a moment, My Lady.” 

But the woman might not have heard him, and she was already inside the carriage. Soon the woman’s carriage departed and Rothesay stood dazedly rooted on the spot. 

Oh my god… I can’t believe I missed her like this!  As he was beating himself up, the driver spoke to him. 

“Master Rothesay, if we wait here longer, the sun may set. We must go now.” 

“…” 

Rothesay took a disappointed step forward. The red-haired woman he met earlier was still in his mind. 

* 

“I don’t think you’re that sick,” Rothesay said flatly as he looked at Wilter lying in bed. Wilter sat up, looking indignant at the accusation. 

“Sick! I am sick!” he insisted. 

“I got it. Just keep quiet. You don’t look like someone sick at all.” 

“Damn it…” Wilter snorted and lay on his bed again, then pulled the blanket up to the top of his neck. Rothesay guessed he had a slight cold. 

“Mother made it sound like it was quite serious, so I came here just in case. Was it just a cold?” 

“Someone can die from a cold, Ro,” Wilter muttered. 

“Idiots don’t get sick, Wil.” 

“Do you have a death wish?” 

“From what I’m seeing, I think you’re going to die first,” Rothesay said with a chuckle. Wilter glanced up at his friend’s laughing figure, then spoke in a cracked voice. 

“I’m bored to death after lying down all day. Don’t you have anything fun to tell me?” 

“Hmm…” Rothesay hummed. He thought hard, and soon remembered one thing—the woman he saw on the road just earlier. 

“I saw a woman,” he said casually. 

“Woman?” Wilter said in mild surprise. That was an unexpected topic. Rothesay and women didn’t usually go well together. Unlike Wilter, who was always in a relationship, Rothesay just did not get close to women. Wilter, of course, could not understand him. For that Rothesay to bring up the topic of a woman was incredibly rare. 

“Pretty?” Wilter said suggestively. 

“…How vulgar,” Rothesay said with a tut, but then answered him right away. “She’s really beautiful. She looks like the goddess of the sun.” 

“…I almost threw up,” Wilter gagged. 

“But she was really beautiful.” 

“…The one who should go to hospital is not me, but you, Ro.” 

“I’m normal. She was unusually beautiful.” 

“Who is this woman who made you like this? Is there such a beautiful lady in the capital?” Wilter wondered. 

“I saw her for the first time today,” replied Rothesay. 

“That’s obvious. Because you never attend social gatherings. That’s why I always invite you to go to parties with me!” Wilter’s words were true. “So, who is she?” 

“…” 

Rothesay’s biggest problem was that he didn’t know who she was.