Secret Wardrobe of the Duchess

Chapter 16

Angela let Rubica handle her hair, half in doubt. The smallest smile appeared on Rubica’s face. Angela hadn’t seen her smile like that ever since her mother’s death. And Rubica did Angela’s hair with surprisingly good skills.

-You’re not that bad at it, Rubica.
Angela found a little courage to compliment Rubica. It wouldn’t have been a compliment to anyone else, but to her it was. Then Rubica smiled, just as she had done often in the days when she had been happy.

-No, Angela. It is because your hair is originally pretty.

-…Are you mocking me? Everyone days my hair is stiff and in a mess. They call me Angela the Curly Hair!

It was the first time Angela heard someone praise her hair. She couldn’t help feeling embarrassed and yelled. Rubica was surprised. She looked back and forth nervously, but she didn’t stay quiet.

-No. I just…found the beauty you always had.

-…..Always had?

-Yes, your hair is beautiful. It’s just that…..people have failed to find a way to use that beauty.

It was probably since then. Angela started to quietly care about her timid and sorrowful cousin….

‘Are you worrying that I might get called Angela the Curly Hair again?’

Angela could fill something hot coming up her throat. After Rubica started to do her hair, she hadn’t been called Angela the Curly Hair. People rather complimented her smooth hair.

“…..Rubica.”

Angela was about to say something to Rubica who was stroking her hair.
“I think that’s enough.”

But Edgar interrupted. He didn’t want to give Angela more chances to make Rubica change her mind with tears. Contrary to Carl’s report, they seemed to be quite close to each other.

He couldn’t let Rubica worry about that little girl and announce she wouldn’t leave.

He held Rubica’s arm tightly and looked down at Angela for a second. She could feel that she was getting goosebumps at those cold eyes looking down on her. She felt overwhelmed. Was it because of his excessive beauty? Angela felt like a mouse in front of cat.

Edgar looked at Angela and thought for some time. Then he sighed.
“You can come to visit to our mansion during the academy’s vacations, so there is no need to act like this is the end.”

That was unexpected. Rubica widened her eyes. However, there were people who were delighted even before her.
Mr. and Mrs. Berner.

Edgar looked at them with a smile and spoke.
“But, keep in mind that the doorkeeper will pour hot water on them if you bring them along.”

That didn’t match his warm smile. Mr. and Mrs. Berner could see that they would only get hot water poured on them and be beaten hard if they used Angela to go to the duke’s mansion and shuddered.

‘So he slightly frowns when smiling falsely.’

When everyone else was trembling with fear, Rubica studied Edgar and thought so. Maybe excessive beauty was toxic. If it had been other uglier man, Rubica would have just given him a glance and moved on, but she was enchanted by his beauty. She had memorized his every move and the delicate movements of his facial muscles in just a few hours.

She could already discern his ‘real’ expressions from ‘fake’ expressions, which even Carl failed to do sometimes. Anyway, she had thought she would not get to never see Angela again as she was going to trust money in her name, but she was still grateful to be able to see her from time to time in future.