Chapter 21: Prelude to the evening dance III

Charlton no longer wanted to be involved with the new regime. He was not a very ambitious man by nature, and since his purpose was through, he just wanted to live in peace. Tired of the capital and all the negative memories it held for him, he left to return home.

However, the peace he sought never came to find him there. Instead, he felt detached, lonely, and empty, like a void was swallowing him inside.

He didn't want to live like that, so he tried to be more active. Although the Social Season was cancelled that year because the war just ended a few months back, it did not mean that there were completely no gathering or social events.

He began responding to social calls, and one particular day, he was invited to Duke Ligeti's late wife's first death anniversary. He had nothing better to do, so he accepted the invite. And there, he met her.

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When Charlton met Larissa the second time, he did not see her any different than when they first met. She was a young lady 5 years his junior and though the gap was not too big, he was just not particularly looking.

It has been less than a year after what happened between him and Serena, and though he was the one to abandon her, there's still a part of him that felt broken because of how it ended. Yes, he did what he did, but despite that, he did truly love her. in any case, he has already moved on from the Serena, but that did not mean that he was ready.

It was late October when duke Ligeti's late wife's death anniversary was held. Duke Ligeti was one of those people who did not suffer any repercussion during the war. He remained a neutral party and even though that itself should have caused criticism from both ends; he did not suffer any brunt. The reason being that of his advanced age. Being the oldest and last remaining duke of his generation, everyone gave him the respect he was due. Anyhow, that being the case, Charlton attended the event amongst many peers.

Charlton recalled that at that time, Larissa was the first to approach him.

It all started innocently enough. Since everyone knew that he was musically inclined and have studied music in mastery, he understood why she asked him advice about music. Thus, to that, he gave her some pointers and recommended some books she could read.

Everything should have already ended there, and after a few days, he went back to Suffox (his dukedom). However, much to his surprise a week later a letter from Larissa arrived. He did not think much of it, and curious, he read through it.

She thanked him for his advice and mentioned how effective it was. Then, she asked him about another thing, again related to music, and with nothing to do, he replied.

Soon enough, it became a series of exchanged letters, and slowly, he found himself looking forward to them. Larissa no longer only wrote about music, she wrote him about her day-to-day life, her thoughts, and other things of interest. She would also ask him about himself and his daily life.

Perhaps it was the innocence of how she perceived things, the naivety of youth, or maybe it was his own monotonous situation. However, Charlton found her letters interesting, and when reading, he would find himself smiling.

Was it love? He knew that it could not be, but it didn't mean that it could not grow to be. So, in those months, he thought about it, contemplated about the possibilities. Should take what they have to the next level? He liked her personality enough, then, recalling her physical appearance, he did find her attractive. So, he decided, why not give it a try? Although he was only 28, he was not getting any younger.

How he asked her was not anything like a scene out of a novel. He simply wrote her a letter. He did not use empty poetic words of love, but straightly confessed his thoughts.

The truth that he was unsure if what he felt was love, that he was not sure if he could make her happy, the uncertainty of where whatever it is that they were leading to, but despite all that, he wanted to try. And if she wanted to, if she was willing to give him a chance, she would make him a happy man.

Her response has been a positive and it indeed made him happy. And now, there they were.

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Larissa's eyes remained closed while waiting for Charlton's response. Charlton seeing her that way found her more endearing. They have been together for 3 months now. A month and a half through letters and the other half in person. They went out on dates and attended events together, but all those times, he has not so much even held her hand.

It was not that he did not want to, it was just that he was still unsure. He did not want to soil her then suddenly leave her hanging.

Larissa was still young, perhaps most would say that 23 was not young anymore, but it was not the number which he considers but the way she is. She was too innocent of the world and still has so much ahead of her. If he were not sure, then…

However, these days, he finds himself more inclined to think otherwise.

Larissa made him feel things he thought he would never feel again. When she looks at him with curious eyes and her innocent smile, it's as if the morning sunlight was kissing his face taking away the emptiness that hallowed his heart.

When he was with her, she replaces his sins with purity, and he feels calm and content. And those got him thinking, of wanting, to spend the rest of his days with her. 

Their relationship has been short so far, but at that moment, he was already seriously considering proposing marriage.

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TBC