Chapter 171: Shattered Promises
"It’s fine. I’ve taught you all well enough. From here, I leave it to you!"
Their footsteps clattered away into the distance.
Gabrant sat stunned, at the same time he forgets about his anger.
Jude bowed his head deeply and said, "Then, my lord, please forgive me. I take my leave."
Before Gabrant could even stop him, Jude left the room.
Gekkai gave Gabrant a quick bow and rushed out after him.
Left completely alone, Gabrant could only sit there in confusion.
What on earth had just happened?
Why, all of a sudden, had the three pillars of the household resigned?
These were the people who had faithfully served this estate for decades. They were the ones he could always trust, even when he himself was absent. They were the reason he could leave young Dominic alone in the house without worry.
—!
—Dominic!
Was it because Dominic had left this house? Because Dominic had severed all ties with him and walked away, had these loyal servants decided to abandon the household and abandon him as well?
The realization struck Gabrant with crushing weight.
He had been forsaken by Dominic... and now, even his most faithful retainers had cast him aside.
...
"Eh—! Why?"
Camilla could not help but cry out in shock. But she had been so very much looking forward to it.
Word had come from General Gabrant of the Beaumont family that the dinner with Lord Dominic had been canceled.
General Gabrant had seemed overjoyed and enthusiastic about the arrangement, so Camilla too had expected much from it.
That was why the cancellation hit her so hard.
The talk had gone so far that they were nearly ready to set a date for the engagement.
Why? Why?
Camilla pressed the attendants for answers. Then, the clever family butler quietly leaned in to share a secret.
"Miss, please keep this in confidence. It seems Lord Dominic has left General Gabrant’s household. They say he will not be returning to the estate."
"Oh? Could it be that he has declared his independence?"
"There are rumors that some trouble occurred. Because of that, it seems the general can no longer move forward with the marriage arrangement."
"Leaving the house should not stop a marriage. That doesn’t mean the engagement talks are broken, does it?"
"I cannot say for certain, Miss."
Frustrated with the butler’s unclear answers, Camilla returned to her own chambers.
Her father held the great post of Prim Minister,and the House of Londonderry was a marquisate family, owning rich lands and standing as one of the great noble families.
Their mansion, though not as grand as the royal palace was still imposing and full of pride.
No one in their right mind would object to gaining ties with the House of Londonderry.
The Beaumont family might only be viscounts, but General Gabrant was a towering figure as Supreme Commander and Lord Dominic carried blood tied to the royal family.
He was more than worthy as a match for her.
And more than titles or bloodlines, Camilla was simply enthralled with Dominic.
She turned her gaze around the room.
Everywhere on the walls hung portraits of Lord Dominic who is looking down upon her.
Some of them had been painted by the Londonderry family’s own court painter, others purchased from vendors outside, some bought secretly by sending her personal maid in disguise and sometimes Camilla herself had gone quietly to buy them.
Dominic was a stern man, he closed off and unwilling to grow close with anyone. He never opened his heart. Yet, with his sweetly handsome face and his perfectly balanced, beautiful appearance, his popularity among nobles and commoners alike only grew greater because of that unyielding distance.
Camilla shivered just thinking about it.
Even speaking to Dominic was frightening, but at the same time, it thrilled her to the core.
If that Dominic, who never even smiled at anyone, were to whisper sweet words meant only for her—Camilla was sure she would melt with happiness, her heart would soaring straight up to the heavens.
Every young maiden of proper age was said to be collecting Dominic’s portraits. Of course they were. But still he was Camilla’s Dominic.
Camilla had always taken pride in the fact that she had known Lord Dominic from long ago.
The very first time she laid eyes on him was at a royal garden party held on the rooftop gardens, when Camilla was only five years old.
Lord Dominic had been twelve at the time, perhaps.
The sight of that gallant young knight had left such a deep impression I. Her.
From that very moment, Camilla had been captivated by him and ever since then, her heart had belonged to Lord Dominic alone.
Over the years, many marriage proposals had come her way, but Camilla had rejected every single one.
For her, her heart already belonged to Lord Dominic.
How could she possibly marry another man, when no one else could ever compare to him?
But her father and mother, and even her older brothers, grew increasingly worried.
For even though Camilla had reached the proper age, she still had not agreed to marry anyone.
They feared she might soon become hopelessly left behind.
And indeed, Camilla was already eighteen.
Perhaps, just perhaps, she was beginning to grow a little too old for waiting.
Then, like a sudden blessing, a marriage talk with Lord Dominic appeared.
How could she not be overjoyed?
Of course, her father, her mother, and the entire family were delighted at the idea.
That was why, when the matter suddenly stalled, Camilla had been so shocked and disheartened.
Seeing her so utterly downcast, her kind father, her strong mother, and even her doting brothers were thrown into a panic.
They even began discussing whether they should directly request His Majesty’s permission for the marriage.
If the king himself granted the approval, then not even death could excuse anyone from carrying out the wedding ceremony.
Several days passed in this way, and then Camilla received an invitation from a friend in her salon circle to join her for a tea gathering.