# Chapter 29: Debutante (3)
A man named Sheritt Boich, with no home and a gaunt appearance reminiscent of a rat, stood before us.
His wife, Petori Boich—bearing the title of Duchess—possessed a robust figure partially concealed beneath her dress, exuding an overwhelming aura paired with a strong scent of perfume.
It was genuinely a mystery how a beauty like Cecilia could have been born from such two individuals oozing greed and malice.
The idea of Cecilia being their biological child paled in comparison to the notion that she might have been adopted or, as in old fairy tales, born from a flower bloom.
“Long time no see, Duke, Duchess.”
I greeted them, though internally grimacing at the sight of faces I’d rather not encounter again.
The Duke and Duchess subtly glanced at the interlaced hands between Ria and me before reciprocating the greeting.
“Hello, young Master Rab. We congratulate you on your first social debut. Originally, this was supposed to happen last year, but your year of perseverance was greatly appreciated to give everyone a surprise.”
Ah, so the underlying implication is…
The meaning behind the Duke’s words essentially translates to: “You should have made your debut last year after reaching adulthood, but it seems you’re only showing up now because you had to reform your unruly behavior.”
Was he upset about Cecilia being taken from him?
Indeed, one cannot help but see the Duke as a rather narrow-minded adult.
“Yes. In these bleak times, even a modest surprise for everyone brings me joy. Although these grand events aren’t particularly interesting to me since I am familiar with them, I must attend to accompany my fiancée in her somewhat delayed debut.”
A slight crease momentarily appeared at the corner of the Duke’s eye but vanished just as quickly.
My reply could roughly be interpreted as: “Yeah, your statement is correct. Unlike poor people like you, I can show up at such places any time, so they never held my interest. Rather, it was your mistake for not presenting Cecilia in last year’s debutante ball.”
They probably delayed Cecilia’s debutante ball because around that time, they started considering a connection with our family.
As I’d overheard before, last year, during the process of exploring additional business relationships, our family connected with a manufacturing company affiliated with the House of Duke Boich, leading to formal exchanges between our two families.
The Dukedom needed money, and the Count’s family chose the reputable House of Duke Boich to rid themselves of the stigma of being nouveau riche.
Initially, they most likely considered us as merely lucky nobility, but once they learned about our immense wealth, their opinions shifted. Instead of presenting Cecilia as a debutante, they decided to provide her with a more rigorous education and sell her off as a fiancée to our family.
Considering potential complications that could arise if Cecilia’s search for a spouse during the debutante ball interfered with our familial exchanges, they preferred hiding her away entirely and proceeding with a private engagement. Subsequently presenting her as my fiancée during her debut would naturally attract much more attention.
Back then, I was seen as nothing but a disgraceful, unruly individual.
Even if our engagement were annulled due to my misconduct, the blame would have fallen on me. Meanwhile, Cecilia would have been painted as the “pitiful duchess suffering under a capricious brute,” a sob story beneficial for attracting compassion and sympathy in her future marital prospects.
“Is Cecilia doing well at the Count’s residence? It couldn’t have been easy adapting to a new place surrounded by strangers.”
//Subtext: Surely our daughter suffered because of your unruly nature.
“Nothing to worry about. The lady is actually enjoying herself much more than you’re concerned about. She’s been taken care of with utmost devotion by the servants and her parents. When she arrived, she did appear quite frail, but her countenance has significantly improved, hasn’t it?”
//Subtext: You mistreated Cecilia, but we, unlike you, have treated her exceptionally well. Look at how radiant she is now—better than when she was under your roof.
“Is that so? I’ve always known about you through rumors, but it seems they failed to capture your true character. If only I’d realized this during my last visit, perhaps we could’ve engaged in a more profound discussion.”
//Subtext: The rumors of your unruly nature didn’t exaggerate. I should have enforced some discipline upon seeing you during that last visit at our mansion.
“Haha, how could mere rumors truly encompass a person? I often hear about your generous spending, Duke. This generosity must have played a significant role in bridging our two houses.”
//Subtext: Who are you kidding? Managing a house like yours despite meager resources can’t be easy. You sought our wealth to maintain your lavish lifestyle, so just keep quiet.
Though unaware of all the details, the tense atmosphere between the Duke and me was palpable. Surrounding people watched intently, holding their breath.
Seeing my successive sharp retorts visibly agitated, my father was about to intervene, but Cecilia smoothly cut through the awkward flow.
“Father, Mother. It’s been a while.”
Upon my attempt to step forward, Cecilia firmly looked at me, as if silently assuring, “It’s okay.” I decided to step back and respect her resolve.
“Father, while your pleasant conversation with my fiancé is understandable, wouldn’t it be nice to have an intimate family reunion after such a long time?”
“…Yes, let’s do that. I’ve been eager to catch up with you too. Excuse me, Young Master Rab. It’s been a beneficial chat.”
With that, the Duke and Duchess departed with Cecilia.
Sigh… Despite my best intentions to stay calm, the thought of what Cecilia might have endured under these people’s care made my blood boil.
I was especially concerned about Cecilia. She already feared her parents. What if, after this encounter, she returned terrified, unable to speak a word?
Though I decided to trust her determined expression and give her the benefit of the doubt, my worries persisted.
—
On the other hand, Cecilia’s mind was surprisingly calm, contrary to Rab’s concerns.
“It’s not as frightening as I thought. I expected to be overwhelmed with fear…”
Cecilia followed the Duke and Duchess to an empty waiting room.
Sitting in front of her parents, whom she’d once feared for yelling and hitting her without cause, she found her heart surprisingly unperturbed.
Indeed, until last year, she had spent nights weeping in terror. But now, looking at her parents—consumed with greed and desire—she realized they weren’t fearsome monsters or devils, but merely damaged and hollow human beings.
The calm demeanor of her father-in-law-to-be, who always secretly cared for her, and the ever-warmth of her future mother-in-law, her confiding friend Bell, the kind servants, all contributed to her newfound perspective.
Especially her fiancé, who, despite his outward coldness, always worried for her safety and happiness, gave her confidence.
“Just as I’ve grown through my time with the Young Master.”
Living in the Count’s residence, Cecilia realized her parents were no longer the fearsome tyrants she once thought them to be.
“Have you been doing well?”
“Yes, thanks to you.”
Though her words implied living peacefully in their absence, they either failed to catch the hint or still assumed her as a frightened doll, smiling at her response.
“You’ve been doing well all this time thanks to our teachings, haven’t you? No wonder the Count’s family appreciates you.”
“Disgusting.”
Cecilia barely suppressed the urge to retch upon her father’s words. She recalled the Countess’s sincerity, who, during a recent visit, revealed her own flaws without pretense, thanking Cecilia sincerely for transforming her son.
The Count, understanding Cecilia’s situation, had offered his full support and even proposed canceling the gala if necessary.
But in contrast, her parents before her displayed their ignorance, still perceiving their daughter as a tool.
Cecilia couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.
“Though proud and somewhat foolish, it seems you’ve captivated him thoroughly. Good job. You’re properly utilizing what we’ve taught you. Given that your only asset is your beauty, there’s no one better at attracting men than you.”
“Such kind words.”
“The Count and Countess seem to favor you too. When it’s time, we’ll assign someone to accompany you to the Academy. Meanwhile, get closer to them, win their trust, and gather as much information as you can about their business dealings. Collect every tiny detail and pass them on to our person. Simple, right?”
“…Yes. I understand.”
“Good girl. It makes me so proud to see you following instructions so well. I’ve done an excellent job raising you.”
Smiling, the Duke and Duchess boasted of their own greatness while Cecilia looked on with a fixed grin.
Their obliviousness to the lack of warmth in her eyes only added to her silent resolve.
