“I wonder who sent me that flower basket.”
Claisey’s hand slipped while she was shucking a mussel. She looked up at Merran.
Merran was sitting there, resting her chin on her hand, yawning lazily. She didn’t seem to be bragging.
“Is that so?”
Claisey mumbled indifferently, thinking of the eccentric silver-haired man, Dernic.
Claisey did not like Dernic. She didn’t care if he sent Merran a flower basket or built a castle out of flowers for her.
The only thing she disliked was his timing. Why did he have to mention sending a flower basket to Merran right when she herself had been dumped? He was a truly cruel man.
“It looked too expensive, so I sent it back. It’s from someone I don’t know well, after all.”
Merran continued to mutter.
True. It had looked like a very high-end flower basket. In the middle of winter, fresh, vibrant flowers had completely filled that large basket. Claisey nodded, thinking of Dernic’s flower basket.
“Right. I see.”
“Aunt, do you know who sent it?”
“How would I know that?”
Claisey began shucking the mussel again, pretending she didn’t know.
If she were to pretend she knew about the flower basket, she would also have to talk about being dumped by Kishin yesterday. Claisey didn’t want to bring that up to Merran.
“I didn’t know at first, either. But when I sent it back and checked, I found out a man named Kishin sent it.”
However, Claisey’s busy hands froze at the words Merran dropped.
Claisey snapped her head up. It felt as if her heart were tolling inside a giant bell.
Merran was still sitting with her chin in her hand, stirring her soup with a spoon. It didn’t seem like she knew Claisey had been dumped by Kishin and was trying to brag about it.
That was certain. Merran treated the men she snatched from Claisey like trophies; she was never this nonchalant when talking about them.
Claisey’s mind raced violently. Then what could it be?
Wasn’t it Dernic who sent the flower basket? Why would Kishin send one to Merran?
“He kept showing interest in me ever since I went to the guard station. He must have fallen for me back then.”
“…….”
“He seems like a man with quite a lot of talent. He’s young, but he’s already the vice-captain of the 1st Palace Guard Platoon. They say he’s famous for not being interested in women. Is it possible I’m his first love? It’s a bit of a waste, thinking of it that way. I remember he was quite handsome when I saw him before.”
Merran continued on with something that was a cross between bragging and complaining.
In summary, it was along the lines of, “Kishin’s face is very much to my liking, but his personality seems a bit strange. Besides, sending flowers right off the bat is so cliché.”
Claisey let the story go in one ear and out the other until she couldn’t take it anymore and put down her fork.
Her appetite vanished completely.
She finally understood why Kishin had dumped her and why Dernic had told her to deliver the flower basket to Merran when she was the one who had been rejected.
Due to a misunderstanding, Kishin must have fallen for Merran the moment he saw her at the guard station. And Dernic must have known that. If not, the situation didn’t make sense.
Her stomach started to ache slightly. Claisey decided to stop eating immediately. If she ate any more, she would get indigestion.
“I’m going to get up first.”
Claisey poured hot water into a teacup and stood up.
“Why? Are you still not feeling well?”
Merran approached her immediately and placed her hand gently on Claisey’s forehead.
“You don’t have a fever. Should I call a doctor?”
Except for a few who were close to Claisey, no one realized what Merran was doing to her.
No matter how openly Merran interfered with her courting, everyone just dismissed it as a joke. Merran’s friendly attitude and affectionate gaze played a part in that.
Claisey was equally confused. Merran acted like this toward her even when others weren’t around. When there wasn’t a man in the middle, she was always a kind niece.
“I’m fine.”
Claisey mumbled and headed to the living room with her teacup.
But just as she reached the middle of the staircase, someone pounded on the front door with a loud thud.
‘Who is it?’
Claisey turned her body halfway and looked down.
The butler came out of the study and hurried to the front door. When he opened it, the man standing there was, unexpectedly, wearing a guard uniform.
‘What now? He already took the ID, didn’t he?’
Claisey stopped, wondering if another misunderstanding had occurred.
“What is the matter?”
The butler asked in a trembling voice, sounding worried.
Perhaps hearing the noise, Merran also poked her head out from beyond the arched doorway of the dining room.
The guard took off the hat he was wearing, gave a simple bow, and said:
“I apologize for the surprise. I have come on the orders of Sir Kishin. Sir Kishin has requested that the young lady of this house be brought to him.”
So Kishin called for Merran. Claisey let out a short sigh and began to climb the stairs slowly again.
From behind, she heard Merran asking, “Why did Sir Kishin call for me?”
By the time she reached the top of the stairs, Claisey had made up her mind to hide in her room for about two days.
She had been dumped by men countless times. If she spent a couple of days feeling heartbroken, she would settle down this time, too. No… maybe three days… maybe four. It wouldn’t last longer than a week, anyway.
“Are you Miss Claisey?”
However, at the voice from behind, Claisey stopped in her tracks.
Claisey blinked, stepped backward, and descended the stairs slightly. Glancing back, she saw the guard, the butler, and Merran all looking up at her.
“!”
Feeling like she’d been caught eavesdropping, heat rushed to Claisey’s face.
But pretending nothing was wrong, Claisey spoke up quickly.
“I am Claisey.”
The guard looked back and forth between Merran and Claisey before speaking with a strange expression.
“The one Sir Kishin called for is Miss Claisey.”
A look of bewilderment surfaced on Merran’s face. It was a very rare reaction. It was clear that Merran felt embarrassed.
Claisey felt rather bitter as well. Kishin had sent a flower basket to Merran and dumped her. Yet, why did he send someone to call for her? She didn’t know why, but it didn’t feel good.
“Tell him I’m not going.”
Claisey said quickly and turned to run to her room.
“He said he would wait until you come.”
The guard shouted urgently.
Claisey hesitated. Had Kishin anticipated that Claisey would refuse his summons?
Summoning the courage to look back, she saw that all three of them were still looking only at her.
Even though she hadn’t made a mistake this time, heat rose to Claisey’s face. It was especially hard to look toward Merran.
Claisey knew how it felt because she had been in Merran’s current position many times. Merran was likely extremely embarrassed right now.
“……I will get ready and come out. Where should I go?”
After much deliberation, Claisey finally decided to go and asked.
Considering what Kishin had done to her, she should have paid him back in kind. It would have been right for her to stand him up as well.
However, Claisey wanted to see Kishin one more time.
“I will wait and escort you. Sir Kishin said, ‘Do not make any mistakes this time.’”
As the guard replied with a grin, Claisey understood, nodded, and returned to her room.
And the moment she closed the door, she began running around the room, taking out all her prettiest clothes and spreading them over the bed and sofa.
She didn’t know why Kishin had called for her, but she wanted to look her absolute best when she went out. So that he would regret standing her up.
‘I must have no pride at all.’
Lamenting to herself, Claisey couldn’t stop picking out clothes.
‘Pride is something you only need to carry when it’s appropriate.’
Finally, Claisey picked out the perfect pink dress.
But as she was changing, the door burst open and Merran entered.
Claisey smoothed out her wrinkled skirt and asked as normally as she could.
“Why?”
However, she couldn’t stop her gaze from being pulled toward Merran’s face like a magnet. Claisey guessed that Merran would have a somewhat angry expression. Because she, Claisey…
Just like when she had been caught.
However, Merran wore a confident expression. It was enough to bewilder anyone watching.
The moment she saw that look, Claisey felt uneasy. *Why did she come looking for me with that face? What is she up to now?*
“Aunt, take me with you.”
As expected. Merran had come seeking her for a purpose.
As soon as she heard her brazen demand, Claisey’s temples throbbed.
“What? Why should I?”
“Are you going to leave me alone?”
“Are you a child? Can’t you even be home by yourself?”
Claisey flatly refused, then stood in front of the mirror and began fussing with her hair again.
That was when Merran approached, snatched the pink ribbon Claisey had picked up, and said, “You’re even going to wear a pink ribbon? Aunt, others will call it tactless. You’re my aunt. If you’re going to be an aunt, you should dress elegantly. Dress like a refined noblewoman.”
She was smiling brightly, but it was clear she was angry that Claisey had refused her request. This was because Merran knew Claisey liked pink, and she had even said before that because Claisey’s smile was as refreshing as spring, pink clothes suited her very well.
“You said I looked good in pink.”
“That was last year.”
“All my friends wear pink clothes and pink ribbons.”
“Those friends don’t have an aunt as old as me.”
Claisey, thinking, *‘She’s starting again,’* intentionally retorted with things Merran hated to hear.
“What does my attire have to do with you? You’re my niece, not my daughter.”
If her second sister were here, she would have scolded her for acting exactly like her niece, but they were alone right now, weren’t they?
Regardless, Claisey’s attack was effective. Merran’s expression instantly turned cold, and she countered in a lowered voice.
“Since you raised me, I’m as good as your daughter. You also said that even though your sister is my mother, she felt like a mother to you.”
Merran ultimately didn’t return the ribbon she had snatched and sat on the sofa instead.
Claisey suppressed an urge to curse and said, “Regardless, I’m not taking you. I don’t take you anywhere when you’re in your ‘naughty niece’ mode.”
“Aunt. I’m not being spiteful. I’m saying this for your sake. Think about it calmly. Do you think Sir Kishin called for you because he wanted to see you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Sir Kishin called for you to talk about me. To talk about how I sent the flower basket back. If you show up all dressed up, what do you think Sir Kishin will think?”
“!”
“Am I right?”
Merran approached with confidence, hugged Claisey’s waist from behind like she used to do when she was a child, rested her head on her back, and smiled with satisfaction.
“There is only one way for you not to feel embarrassed wearing that outfit. Take me with you. Then Sir Kishin won’t mock you for being overdressed. He’ll just… assume that bright colors are your usual taste.”
Merran was already acting as if she were certain Claisey would take her along.
Moreover, unlike Claisey, Merran didn’t seem to have any intention of changing her clothes. She was full of confidence that her usual appearance was more than enough to face Kishin.
Claisey felt dejected. Now that she heard it, everything Merran said was right.
In fact, Claisey had thought it strange ever since she heard Kishin had called for her and not Merran. She just didn’t have a mind that worked as quickly as Merran’s. However…
“No.”
Claisey cut her off, quickly stepped out the door, and started running down the stairs.
“Aunt!”
Merran shouted belatedly and chased after Claisey.
However, unless her legs were cramping, Claisey was much faster and better at running than Merran. Claisey, who bounded down the stairs like a squirrel, dashed out the front door.
“Aunt! Don’t go by yourself!”
Merran kept shouting and chasing her, but Claisey never stopped.
Those nimble footsteps finally came to a halt only when she came face-to-face with two men with stunned expressions.
Claisey froze like a statue.
Kishin Hiard and Dernic were looking at Claisey with expressions that clearly asked, ‘What on earth is this scene?’