The Kind Older Sister Is No More

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Since then, Irene had been visiting the Kristen residence every day for two weeks, but the Grand Duke had not opened his heart to her at all. No matter how resilient she was, her visits had all but came to fruition. Each visit, each carriage ride, was beginning to become pointless. However, Irene persevered.

To Noel’s uneasiness, he thought that perhaps this was the wrong way to go about their problem. For a moment, he had brief thoughts of regret – why had he been fond of Irene in the first place? The situation they had caught themselves in was increasingly frustrating as the days went by. Noel felt a sense of hopelessness and hated himself for not being able to do anything. Why did he have to be born so powerless?

However, Noel did not say anything to her even though he was well aware that the fault was in his grandfather’s unwillingness to open up.

“See you tomorrow.”

Noel looked up as Irene bid him farewell. He paused, unsure of whether he wanted to voice his thoughts, alighting the carriage. The gravel crunched under the soles of his feet as he walked towards her. Noel breathed in deeply before stating.

“Irene, I respect your opinion. But I don’t think this is a good method for you either. Do you know how tired you are?”

Inside his mind, Noel knew that he did not want Irene to continue to burden herself. However, Noel could not hold back the frustration in his face as he spoke towards Irene. Irene, who had just stepped off from the carriage and was walking to the back door of her mansion, looked up in surprise. It was evident from a glance that she was worn out. One would have to know to look closely, but it was evident that she was haggard and tired from doing this for two weeks straight. Although their relationship was forged for each other’s purposes from the beginning, he didn’t like seeing Irene so exhausted from trying to open his grandfather’s heart. She was suffering, and yet... He could do nothing. This anger stemmed from the fact that he could only watch helplessly.

“I’m unaware of that.”

Irene was silent for a moment at Noel’s cold words. Then she lowered her head with a despondent face. Hesitating a moment, she struggled to say her next words. A hot throb welled up in the back of her throat.

“But please just once more. Let’s try it once more. If it doesn’t work out, then we can search for another way.” She begged. Irene refused to let the tiny flame of hope be extinguished so easily.

“Okay, but it will be the last time.”

Noel spoke with a determined face hearing her wish. Irene, who knew that she had no more chances, simply nodded and turned around with a dejected face.

Noticing her expression, Noel’s face scrunched. However, he quelled his heart that wanted to appease her. He knew that if she continued, it would only end in more disappointment. Noel stood still as he wordlessly watched Irene walk into the Chase mansion. When she had closed the door and disappeared from his sight, he turned around and boarded the carriage. His expression was complicated as he left the Count estate. Noel closed his eyes and thought deeply. Only the rocking of the gravel beneath him could occasionally jolt him to awareness of his surroundings.

♔♔♔

Irene entered the entrance hall of the mansion and climbed the stairs. Her footsteps were heavy. She knew how weary she had become because of the past two weeks.

I thought it would work.

Irene thought that if she showed her sincerity, she would keep waiting, the Grand Duke would look back one day. She had hoped that her honest efforts would win out. But he never once glanced at her for those two weeks. He was persistent with his attitude of ignoring Irene.

I’m tired.

Irene told Noel that she was fine, but she was still a human, so it was exhausting only to see a person’s appearance from behind all day. It was just like when she had only looked at her parents’ backs her entire life.

Irene, who opened her room’s door with a sigh, became stiff.

“A daughter who knows nothing but to wander about secretly everywhere. You- did you think that drawing such things would lighten my heart?!”

In her room, her father stood in the middle of the floor. Surrounding him were Irene’s most precious possessions. Count Chase heaved; it was clear that nothing but fury coursed through him. On the lush red carpet, there lay the artworks that she had spent hours painting. The beautiful vibrant paintings she had crafted over the years, which she had all hidden away, were laid bare on the floor – each torn to shreds and scattered before her feet. The sight to the young lady who had poured her soul into these beautiful works was unbearable. Irene’s eyes grew wide.