I Will Hold Your Hand Gently

Chapter 42: Hugh and Rebecca

Out of the blue, Rebecca received an invitation to the Royal Ball. A surprising gesture, especially considering that no one had sent her an invitation in months. Since the scandalous rumors had spread, she had been excluded from most social events, and could only attend parties if accompanied by her cousin or other family members. But after the incident at the Vergrumble party, her relatives began distancing themselves from her, fearful that her presence would bring harm to their reputations as well.

Rebecca, however, didn't mind the isolation. It was a relief. She no longer had to endure their nagging about improving herself or doing whatever it took to rid herself of the rumors. The pressure to conform had been exhausting.

Spending time with the Duchess of Sigma had been a turning point for Rebecca. During the time she spent together with the Duchess, she came to realize the truth: none of what had happened was her fault. She wasn't to blame for the scandal. The blame lay squarely with her cheating ex-fiancé and former friend, who had betrayed her in ways that no one else could understand or believe even her. 

Rebecca felt a deep sense of gratitude toward the Duchess for helping her regain her self-confidence. She wanted to do something in return for all the support the Duchess had shown her. Initially, she offered to become the Duchess's maid, hoping to be of service in some way, however, her offer was politely declined. At first, Rebecca assumed it was because of her social status. After all, someone with such scandalous rumors surrounding her, and who's still being down even by her own family, surely wouldn't bring any kind of benefit to the Duchess. Despite the Duchess's reassurances that all she truly wanted was to enjoy tea time together, it just didn't sit right with her.

Then, she remembered a conversation with the Duchess in which they had discussed Guides and Espers. The Duchess had expressed an interest in learning more about them, and it sparked an idea in Rebecca's mind. If she could study these subjects more thoroughly, she could offer the Duchess valuable knowledge as a way to repay her.

What began as a way to repay the Duchess soon turned into a fascinating subject for Rebecca to explore. As she delved deeper into her studies, focusing on Guides and Espers, she became so absorbed that, aside from her scheduled tea times with the Duchess, she spent most of her days in the study room. Rebecca dedicated herself fully to her research, and without realizing it, the rumors surrounding her began to fade. To her surprise, her relationship with her family also started to improve, almost as if they were slowly coming to accept her once again.

When Rebecca received an invitation from the Royal Palace, it marked the first time her family fully supported her. For the first time in a long while, they stood by her. Although she felt shy and nervous about going alone and was somewhat scared of the situation, Rebecca gathered her courage. She wanted to prove herself worthy of being called the Duchess's friend.

Upon arriving at the Palace, Rebecca managed to engage in a few conversations with the nobles present, though she was anxious and overwhelmed the entire time. The sting of past humiliation; the disgusted glares and whispered judgments still haunted her, making it hard to fully enjoy the evening.

Eventually, the tension became too much to bear, and Rebecca excused herself, unable to stay in the ballroom any longer. She headed toward the balcony, hoping to get some fresh air to calm her nerves. But when she arrived, she was taken aback to find the Duchess hunched over, seemingly distressed. Concerned that the Duchess was unwell, Rebecca rushed to her side, only to discover Hugh, tears streaming down his face, hiding in the corner before the Duchess.

"...Did I come at a bad time?" she asked hesitantly, unsure of how to navigate the awkward moment.

******

Rebecca nodded slowly as I finished explaining the situation. Her gaze shifted briefly to Hugh before returning to me, and she let out a soft sigh.

"For a moment, I honestly thought I had stumbled into some kind of secret affair and was unknowingly getting in the way," she said, a hint of embarrassment creeping into her voice.