Our Summer Isn't Over Yet - Chapter 38

Some of them nodded as if agreeing with her. At that moment, a noblewoman lightly shook her head, defending the royal family. “No, isn’t it possible that the royal family has no way to control it either? It’s what happens when those who have no education meddle in important businesses.”

The newspaper business used to be run by nobles, but due to financial difficulties during the war, they began to sell their newspapers to commoners in exchange for money. At first, they sold newspapers that catered to commoners, but as time passed, they even sold newspapers that catered to nobles. As a result, less than half of Hippoly’s newspapers are now run by noble families. This also meant that the nobles’ position was diminishing.

Among the noblewomen with displeased expressions, someone spoke in a hushed voice. “I heard they’re eyeing other noble businesses, not just newspapers.”

“Oh my. That’s absurd. Even if they bought their noble titles, they’re not really nobles.”

“Exactly, the core remains the same. Just pretending to be nobles doesn’t change anything.”

An elderly lady spoke to the noblewomen who were criticizing those who bought their noble titles with money. “Don’t you think it’s time to move on from outdated ideas?”

“That’s right, I think so too. The war has changed the overall aspects of society, so our views must change as well.”

As an opinion contrary to the prevailing one emerged, the atmosphere instantly froze. After that, the noblewomen’s factions naturally divided. Those who wanted to follow the changing trends and those who didn’t.

Mia was already overwhelmed with thoughts of Dylan, so she felt weary of their conversation. She knew that at the end of this conversation, they would ask for her opinion. As expected, just as one of them was about to ask for Mia’s opinion, Hippoly’s King Morgan appeared. At the same time, the noisy surroundings fell silent. Morgan, with a dignified stride, reached the head of the table and raised a prepared glass. Following his actions, the nobles also took hold of their glasses one by one. Morgan’s voice began to fill the banquet hall. “I hope you find enjoyment in this four-day banquet.”

As Morgan announced the start, the nobles clinked glasses with those around them and smiled brightly. Mia also gave a gentle smile and clinked her glass. The sound of glasses clinking here and there was extremely noisy. Clink, clink, clink.

The sound resembled the sound of a candle breaking. Mia felt a headache every time she heard the clinking sound in her ears.

Morgan danced with the lady who had been designated as his first dance partner. Everyone there was watching and thinking the same thing. Although invitations had been sent to all the nobles, the royal family must have already chosen someone to sit on the queen’s throne.

The possibility of marrying a royal from another country had been raised, but since the king’s younger sister, the princess, had already married a prince from a country under Hippoly, there was no need for Morgan to do the same.

The nobles whispered as they watched Morgan dancing in the center of the banquet hall. “Still, wouldn’t the Duke of Rook’s family be the most dominant?”

“Lady Rook is rumored to be crazy, and considering she wasn’t planning on coming to this banquet, I don’t think it’s the Duke of Rook’s family.”

“That’s right, above all, Lady Rook is famous for being obsessed with His Excellency Richard.”

When Annabelle was mentioned, the noblewomen frowned and shook their heads without realizing it. They were reminded of her past actions. “Even so, would the royal family accept a lady who is obsessed with Duke Richard, who was her fiancé’s cousin?”

“Ahem, ahem. Then what about the Marquis of Belfort’s family?”

“Belfort too! I heard the lady came of age this year.”

Each time Morgan’s dance partner changed, the nobles tried to gauge his intentions. Finally, as the last dance ended, the noisy atmosphere subsided. Everyone took their partner’s hand and walked to the center.

As the surroundings became deserted, Mia finally let out a short sigh. Ever since she saw Dylan’s expression, nothing had registered. Despite her efforts to postpone and avoid thinking about it, Dylan was floating around in her head.

With her back straight in the dazzling banquet hall, Mia calmly regulated her breathing. To quell the anxiety from the morning, she slowly recalled the moment when she was convinced that she could trust Dylan.

“Rodrigo… Rick. He’s my brother.”

It was one day four years ago, when they were busy preparing for Murad’s invasion, that they found Rodrigo Miller’s body in an unexpected place. It had been about a year since he went missing.

Rodrigo’s body, which had washed up on the beach and was found in the crevices of rocks in a particularly cold area, was hardly decomposed. Although mummification had begun, the scars on his body and his dog tag were enough to prove that it was “Rodrigo Miller.”

Dylan, who was always calm and steadfast, burst into tears as he hugged his cousin. Standing behind him, Mia couldn’t say anything. She had heard that he was the last remaining trace of Dylan’s family. Dylan’s parents had died on the day Murad first invaded Hippoly, and his uncle, who had helped him enter the naval academy and had been his guardian since he was twelve, had taken his own life not long after hearing about Rodrigo’s death.

“Rick, Rick… I’m sorry.”

Mia felt like she had seen something she shouldn’t have. Dylan didn’t even seem to notice her standing behind him at that time. Mia knew why he felt guilty.

Murad targeted Hippoly’s supply ships to win the war, and Rodrigo, as a Hippoly navy officer, was protecting those supply ships. In a situation where the war effort was faltering, Dylan decided to strike at Murad’s main forces rather than protect the supply ships in order to turn the tide. The difference in military strength was significant, so it was unavoidable. As a result, his choice led Hippoly to victory in that war, but all the navy personnel on board the supply ships sank into the sea along with the ships.

Dylan shed tears as he hugged Rodrigo, who felt no warmth. Streams of tears flowed endlessly from his blue eyes. Mia watched Dylan’s back for a while before excusing herself. While waiting for him in the hallway, she had a slightly absurd thought.

That Dylan and she were alike. It was a ridiculous thought. She, who had an insignificant status and lived under someone else’s name, could not be on the same level as the Duke of Hippoly.

How long had she been staring blankly into space with sunken eyes? Dylan appeared. Except for the redness around his eyes, no one would have thought he had been crying, his face was expressionless.

“Are you okay?”

“I apologize for showing such an unsightly display.”

“No, it’s a relief that you found the remains…”

Mia looked at Dylan and thought. What would it feel like to find a lost family member again? Would I be able to cry like that if I met my parents? The envy that welled up from time to time was terribly ugly. Mia told Dylan that she would go back first. She felt like she would only be saying useless things if she stayed there any longer.

At that moment, he knelt down in front of her. Dylan carefully took Mia’s hand, who was showing her embarrassment.

“Dylan?”

“I will find them no matter what.”

“…”

“Don’t you want to see your parents?”

In a situation where the King and Queen of Murad were mocking and threatening her, Mia had endured by clinging to the faint hope that she would be able to meet her parents someday. But from time to time, she wondered if she would never find them. It seemed that her heart had been sinking without her knowing it.

It was definitely like that.

“I promise.”

He affirmed with eyes that held the blue sea. He would find her lost parents, no matter what. The water that had been rising in her heart stopped as if by magic. Dylan pressed his forehead against the back of Mia’s hand and finally made a promise. Mia pushed away the dark and gloomy thoughts at his actions. And in that place, she filled it with the day she would find her parents and return to her hometown. It was the moment when a very small anchor was set in her stormy heart.

Support