novelMemories are beautified and faded (7)
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Chapter 80: Chapter 80 Memories are beautified and faded (7)
As she unexpectedly recalled Dylan's voice, Francis was instantly moved to tears. Olivia's glittering golden hair filled her red eyes.
"What's up? I don't want to hear about Dylan again. I'm sick and tired of your mom's nagging me about him, " Olivia said.
"You will never know, " Francis murmured, leaning on the balcony railing.
There was emptiness and frustration on her face.
Francis continued, "You have always looked at us in a condescending manner as if only you were hurt."
When Francis complained, Olivia took her eyes off the book and looked up.
"You cannot know how much I as well as my mother were hurt because of you."
"...You have not yet kicked the habit of blaming everything on someone else, " Olivia said, staring at her eyes sharply.
"My mom often shed tears in front of me. Can you imagine? My mom shed tears! It was all because of you and your mother. What woman could love her husband's illegitimate child as soon as she got married?"
"..."
"I was born with my mom's anger and sorrow. As I was raised by her, how can I recognize you? I inherited her anger."
Olivia turned her eyes back at the book without responding. A blue bloodline was visible on the back of her white hand, turning the pages.
Francis covered her face with both hands. She couldn't keep her eyes open because of the sparkling sunlight.
"Because of you I couldn't be the eldest daughter of my family. Maybe I won't be forever."
Francis wanted to shout at her, 'It will probably be impossible for me to be his first love. '
But she held back the urge to say that.
That afternoon, Francis made a secret order to her loyal maids. It was very difficult, but not impossible, to steal Olivia's marriage certificate from the earl's study. Looking at Olivia's marriage certificate back in her hands, she tried to calm her nervousness.
"Lady, Dylan Lennox arrived at the mansion. As you asked, he was escorted in the back garden."
"... Great. you stand nearby and when I have Olivia's marriage certificate, tell Olivia where Dylan is."
"Yes, I will."
Francis stood up from the seat.
In the back garden full of dahlia flowers, the afternoon sun was shining everywhere.
Francis approached a man standing in the middle of the sunny meadow.
"Francis."
Dylan called her, looking at her with a smile. His lively face and blue eyes were attractive enough for her to kiss.
"What is the urgent matter you mentioned to me? Is it anything to do with Olivia? Has anything happened to her?" He asked Francis as she stood among the red dahlia flowers. Her red hair looked more red with the dahlia flowers in the background.
"Dylan, I don't feel good as you have mentioned Olivia as soon as I meet you. Of course, I know what you have said about her, " she complained with a sullen voice.
She carefully held Dylan Lennox's hand and continued to speak. He pulled away his hand as if he was embarrassed. She withdrew her hand quickly, though she plucked up the courage to hold his hand. As if to show her that he was not her lover, Dylan awkwardly lowered his hand.
Francis took a deep breath. The sweet scent of dahlia was hanging in the air as if caught in a spider web. It was very strong.
'You will be shocked to hear what I have to say from now on, " Francis thought to herself, looking at Dylan with a grin.
"I wish you had loved me. Then I wouldn't have had to share this sad news with you."
"What's going on?"
Sensing her seriousness, he hardened his expression. Francis was curious how deeply Dylan could knit his neat brows. It wasn't hard for her to imagine what his face would look like after hearing what she had to say, but she didn't want to see him frowning in distress, either. But today she intended to watch his distressed face as much as she could.
"...Olivia and Earl Duoldran are in the process of marriage. Today, the people of Marquis Zaksen Bahar brought the marriage certificate because he became the witness of the groom."
Dylan's face turned white immediately. He asked back as if he could not understand.
"What do you mean? Olivia is getting married?"
"Yes, since Marquis Bahar signed the certificate as a witness, half her marriage is almost done.
"Nonsense! Does Olivia know this? No way!" His pale face turned red with anger.
Francis continued after looking at his red face, "Olivia doesn't know anything about this. It was decided by my parents. I couldn't stop it even if I knew it."
"How can your mother do this when she knows my relationship with Olivia? Does she think I will sit idle? I'll formally protest your family about this. You can't do this!"
"Didn't you hear me? The marquis already signed the certificate. What can you do now? If you do, it will disgrace Olivia all the more."
If one lost both arms on the battlefield, would that person have the same expression that Dylan had on his face? Dylan breathed out with a resigned look at her scolding.
"Well, there is a way for you to solve the problem..." she said, holding a dahlia petal in her hand.
"... If you destroy her marriage certificate and show it to Marquis Bahar and openly disgrace his honor, the marriage becomes invalid."
"..."
"If you can put up with Marquis Bahar's anger, you can do that."
Dylan stared at Francis' face. As if trying to figure out her intentions, he stared at her for some time.
"Dylan, I can help you. Let me give you the marriage certificate, if you do me a favor."
Speaking with a fresh voice, she put her hands on his waist.
"You knew I set my heart on you, right? Isn't it why you said you loved Olivia in front of me several times? Oh, don't tell me that you didn't know."
She knew his indecisive character that made it impossible for him to ignore her because she was Olivia's sister.
So, she used his indecisiveness in her favor. To get close to him, the shield of Olivia's sister was very useful for spending time with him.
The shield that she was Olivia's sister always helped her to approach him or spend time with him. Although mentioning Olivia always offended her pride, Francis decided to put up with it as long as she was with him.
"... So, what do you want?" said Dylan warily.
Francis smiled gently, 'Hummm... even if you are wary of me, I've already set my heart on you. '
Pulling her hand from his waist, she called a maid standing at a distance. Receiving a large silk pouch from her, Francis offered it to Dylan. Then, the maid quickly disappeared.
"This is Olivia's marriage certificate."
Dylan urgently took it and opened it. His face was distorted when he saw the handwriting on a piece of paper acknowledging the marriage of Olivia and Count Duoldran.
"It's okay for you to pretend to love me. I want to be your love at least once. If you kiss me passionately like you would to express your sincerity, I can forget everything and bless your relationship with Olivia."
After she said that, she took the wedding certificate out of his hand. Dylan's eyes followed her hand holding the certificate.
"If I kiss you, you will give me that certificate?" he asked with a feigned smile as if she was ridiculous.
"Yes."
"What nonsense! Ha, Francis, please don't do this to me. Don't play the fool with me!"
"Oh my... do you think I'm playing the fool with you? Don't you know I've been loving you for a long time? But I've told you I will give up on you when you kiss me. You can't even do it?"
She looked at him in resentment.
"... Do you think I can accept your request?"
"Of course, because you have no choice. You can invalidate Olivia's marriage with this, so you don't have to hesitate. Don't you think so?" Francis said, leaning into him with a cute smile.
She continued, "You won't try to take this certificate from me by force, right? One kiss is enough, so don't complicate things. If you let me down, I know how to make you run into trouble. So, help me refrain from saying anything nasty about you."
"Francis! How come you.... !"
"I don't have time, Dylan. If my father knows that this marriage certificate is missing, he will have the servants search for it right away. And the guests of the marquis will also try to search for it like mad."
Dylan clenched his teeth with trembling eyes. While staring at her sharply as if he could not understand her, he closed his eyes as if he was determined.
His hand touched her shoulders. In a tempting manner, Francis narrowed her eyes and put her hands around her waist. While Dylan hesitated for a minute, she first put her lips on his.
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