Chapter 18

In the daily and nightly rankings, I was surprised to find that we had taken the top spot in the weekly overall ranking…! Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us m(_ _)m

It was a mid-afternoon, about half a month after Edith had come to the Granville household. Lionel and Edith were chatting in Lionel's room when Lionel's father called out to them.

"As I mentioned, Eugenie, who is soon to be engaged to Craig, will be arriving shortly. …It seems you two are already well-prepared."

Lionel, in his wheelchair, was dressed in a light gray suit with a tie that matched the color of his eyes, a deep purple. Edith, facing Lionel, wore a deep purple silk dress with a subtle sheen, chosen to match Lionel. This dress was one of the new ones made for her at Lionel's request after she came to the Granville household, as she originally had very few clothes.

Lionel's father, looking at the two of them with a warm expression, gazed at his son with a pleased smile.

"Lionel, your health has improved remarkably. I can hardly believe it myself."

While living without a wheelchair was still difficult, Lionel's posture in the wheelchair was straight and strong. His once sallow face had regained its natural pale smoothness, and his black hair was gradually regaining its luster. The weak, sunken look in his eyes had transformed into a cool, beautiful gaze, and his eyes now shone with a strong, hopeful light.

Lionel, looking lovingly at Edith and holding her hand, smiled at his father.

"Father, it's all thanks to Edith. As you know, ever since she came to this house, she has always been by my side, supporting me. I can never thank her enough."

"…Even the doctor who visited two days ago said it felt like a miracle. It must be Edith who brought about this miracle."

The doctor who had previously diagnosed Lionel with a year to live was astonished when he visited again, seeing Lionel as if he had suddenly been infused with life. Edith smiled modestly.

"No, I just did what I could. Besides, Lord Lionel has always been kind to me, and he even had this beautiful dress made for me. I am the one who should be grateful to Lord Lionel."

The deep purple dress, which fit Edith's slender frame, made her look elegant and delicate. Lionel, looking at Edith in the dress with a dazzled expression, smiled at her.

"The dress suits you perfectly, Edith. You look very beautiful. Having you by my side makes me truly happy."

Seeing the two of them smile at each other, Lionel's father nodded with a deeply moved expression and then turned to the sound of horse hooves and carriage wheels coming from outside the house.

"It seems they have arrived. Let's go out to greet them. …Archie, you're there too, right? Let's go together to welcome Lady Eugenie."

At Lionel's father's words, Archie peeked out from behind the door of Lionel's room. Dressed in a small, rosy dress, Archie looked like a doll, and Edith couldn't help but smile at her. When Lionel beckoned, Archie ran to him with a bright smile.

"Lord Lionel!"

Archie, who ran up to her brother, hugged Lionel in the wheelchair tightly. After being patted on the head by her brother, she smiled shyly at Edith, making Edith's heart flutter.

(Lady Archie, she's an angel…!)

It seemed that Archie was gradually getting used to Edith's presence. Recently, she had been appearing around Lionel and Edith, and when their eyes met, she would smile shyly.

Edith, walking in step with Archie, who was holding hands with Lionel, slowly pushed Lionel's wheelchair, following Lionel's father to the front door of the mansion.

***

Standing at the entrance, Edith saw a young lady on Craig's arm and what appeared to be her parents. Lionel's father greeted them and then turned to Edith, who was pushing Lionel's wheelchair.

"This is my eldest son, Lionel, and Edith of the Oakridge family, who recently became engaged to him. Please remember them."

Edith, introduced by Lionel's father, bowed politely to them.

"Nice to meet you. I am Edith of the Oakridge family, engaged to Lord Lionel. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Raising her head, Edith looked at the young lady standing next to Craig and was taken aback by her beauty.

(Oh, how beautiful she is…)

There stood a tall young lady with lustrous chestnut hair and eyes of a bluish-green hue, linked arm in arm with Craig. Edith thought her sister-in-law, Daria, was beautiful, but the young lady in front of her was in a league of her own. With a perfectly proportioned face, she smiled gently at Edith.

"Nice to meet you, Lady Edith. I am Eugenie, who will be engaged to Lord Craig. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Edith was captivated by the perfect manners of the lady-like Eugenie. Eugenie then shifted her gaze to Lionel, who was in the wheelchair, looking a bit awkward.

"…Lord Lionel, it's been a while. Congratulations on your engagement."

"Thank you, Eugenie."

Lionel responded calmly to Eugenie's words. Then, Eugenie looked at Archie, who was holding hands with Lionel, but Archie, looking at Eugenie with a steady gaze, turned away and ran off, her back to Eugenie.