Throughout the rest of the walk, Merran remained silent, lost in thought as her hands fidgeted.
Had she realized that her own position wasn’t safe? Or was she dwelling on something else?
From then on, even while packing, Merran didn’t go out of her way to say anything that would get under Claisey’s skin, and Claisey was able to finish her travel preparations smoothly.
Then came the next day. The day to finally depart for home arrived.
Worried about motion sickness, Claisey had a simple breakfast of soup, two pieces of bread, and salad, then performed one last check of her bags.
After that, she threw on a thick fur coat and walked down the stairs. Anna asked in a worried voice, “Are you sure you don’t need me to come along?”
It was a question she had already heard ten times today.
“I told you it’s fine. The schedule is too tight, Anna. I don’t want you to overexert yourself.”
Claisey soothed Anna several times, but inwardly, she lamented how cruel time was.
Having worked for the Kalasi Family since before Claisey was even born, Anna had once been a woman of great stamina and vitality. Even now, she was full of energy, but she was at an age where she had to consider her physical condition.
“But Karen is going.”
Instead of saying, “Karen is over twenty years younger than you, Anna,” Claisey whispered into Anna’s ear, “I don’t care about Karen. I only worry about you, Anna.”
“Oh, my. You’re a grown woman, Miss, yet you’re still such a prankster.” Anna waved her hand, dismissing the sentiment, but she smiled brightly.
Just then, Merran brushed past Claisey, wrapped in a cute winter coat. Karen, bundled up tightly with a scarf, earmuffs, and gloves, followed behind her.
“I’ll be back. Watch over the house. I only trust you, Anna.” Claisey hugged Anna one more time before climbing into the carriage.
***
Claisey rested her temple against the carriage window and recalled the thrill and relief she had felt the day she moved to the Capital.
Back then, she thought everything would work out and all her troubles would be solved just by coming here. But reality proved far too harsh.
The troublesome Merran had followed her and continued to hinder her. And hadn’t she ruined her chances with the man Merran couldn’t stop her from meeting, all because of her own loose tongue?
“Aunt. About what you said yesterday.”
Just then, Merran broke the silence. When Claisey looked over, Merran lowered her voice and asked, “If Father doesn’t want to pass his title on to me and isn’t looking into my marriage prospects, do you think he would refuse to give his permission for marriage even if the Siwil Grand Duchy wanted me?”
Claisey, who had forgotten about the topic after yesterday, opened her eyes wide. Merran had her hands clasped together and was bouncing her leg.
Seeing that, Claisey suddenly felt a wave of regret. *I shouldn’t have brought that up.*
It was certain that her brother-in-law loved his second wife, Alice, more than his eldest daughter, but Claisey had no way of knowing if he was truly determined to abandon Merran. In any case, her brother-in-law was concerned enough about his first daughter to send her a generous allowance every month.
“Don’t dwell too much on what I said yesterday. Just treat it as a worst-case scenario.”
“If you didn’t want me to dwell on it, you shouldn’t have brought it up at all. Now that I’ve heard it, how can I not think about it?”
“It only occurred to me because you said, ‘I’m Father’s successor, so he’ll carefully consider my marriage.’ Unlike what you said, your father doesn’t at all—”
*This mouth. This mouth.* Claisey cursed herself and cut herself off mid-sentence.
But Merran already wore the expression of someone who had been struck twice. Claisey forced a smile and tried to comfort her.
“No, Merran. Surely your father wouldn’t stop you if you were to become a Grand Duchess. He’s your father, after all. Like I said, what I told you is just a worst-case hypothesis.”
“What if Alice stops it? Alice hates me. But Father listens to everything Alice says.”
It was while the two of them were whispering about the Marquis Omal that the carriage jolted slightly and suddenly came to a stop.
Claisey bumped her head against Merran’s and tapped on the screen of the driver’s seat. “What’s going on?”
The driver pushed the screen aside and shouted, “Miss! A member of the Palace Guards is blocking our path!”
*Sir Kishin?*
At the mention of a guard, Claisey immediately thought of the man who had left her. *No. It can’t be Sir Kishin. We’ve already broken up.*
However, even while telling herself it wouldn’t be him, Claisey’s hand was already opening the carriage door. Before she could open it fully, Merran pushed it from the other side and shut it again.
When Claisey looked at her, wondering what she was doing, Merran replied bluntly, “Don’t go out, Aunt. Even if you don’t go out, Karen will find out what’s going on.”
“I’m worried it might be Sir Kishin.”
“There’s no way it’s Sir Kishin.”
“Still, I’d like to check just in case.”
“What kind of noble lady shows her face immediately at such a time? Wait until Karen finds out the situation first.”
Claisey opened the door again without a word, and Merran tried to block her. The two engaged in a tug-of-war over the carriage door. Fortunately, Claisey, who was feeling in good condition, managed to overcome Merran.
“Aunt! Are you really going to walk out on me while we’re talking?!”
A defeated Merran turned away in accusation, but Claisey had already stepped out of the carriage.
And sure enough, Kishin was not far away. Riding his horse, he stood in front of the lead carriage, deep in conversation with Karen.
However, Kishin’s expression was grim. He was furrowing his brows at whatever they were discussing. Claisey, who had been about to run over happily, felt a jolt of fear upon seeing that.
*Is he here on official business? Is there a problem?*
Worried, Claisey crept closer. As she narrowed the distance, Karen’s voice reached her.
“How could I dare tell a lie to you, sir? Miss Claisey stayed home and is not here.”
“She wasn’t at home.”
“Then she must be out somewhere. She rarely stays at home and is always wandering about. Miss Claisey is truly not here.”
Just then, Kishin spotted Claisey. “Then who is that lady?”
When Kishin asked, Karen turned around, discovered Claisey, and looked startled. She seemed flustered and stammered for a moment, but as Claisey approached, she hurriedly said, “Don’t misunderstand, Miss. I was just trying to stop you, thinking you might be implicated in something unnecessary.”
Kishin muttered, “Perjury?”
Karen’s face turned even paler than usual. Claisey was furious because she understood why Karen had lied. *I’m not even surprised. Karen only takes Merran’s side.*
Karen used to claim, “I belong to the Marquis Omal’s household, so I only need to look after Miss Merran. That is my only duty,” and would only ever handle matters related to Merran, even while her living expenses were entirely covered by the Kalasi Family.
Instead of scolding or defending Karen, Claisey waved her hand to signal her to go away. She didn’t want a domestic fight in front of Kishin. Karen retreated, casting a sidelong glance at Kishin.
As Claisey approached, Kishin dismounted from his horse, bowed politely, and said, “Let’s get married.”
“!”
Claisey, who had been waiting anxiously, wondering why he had come, felt her soul leave her body in shock. She forgot even to close her mouth and stared blankly up at Kishin. He had said they should break up. And now he suddenly appeared and proposed?
Kishin took a small box from his coat, opened the lid, and held it out. Inside sat a beautiful ring, simple in design but clean in color and without a single flaw.
“Please marry me, Miss Claisey.”
Claisey, dumbfounded, looked between Kishin and the ring, then asked, “Are you serious?”
“Yes. I’ve spent the last few days agonizing over it before coming here.”
“You said it was too soon. Sir Kishin said so himself. You said you didn’t like a marriage based on calculation.”
“Yes. That’s—”
My wandering soul finally returned, and my dazed heart began to flush with a rosy glow at this unexpected turn of events. Claisey bit her lower lip, alternating her gaze between Kishin and the ring. Even though her heart was fluttering, her hand wouldn’t quite reach out for it.
Still, Kishin stood his ground, holding the ring steady as he waited. Claisey’s hand hovered in the air, trembling, before she finally gathered her courage.
“Won’t you regret this?”
“Even if I do, it is my own choice.”
“Are you sure you won’t regret it? This might not be the kind of marriage you like, Kishin.”
Perhaps frustrated by her continued hesitation, Kishin pulled the box back. Thinking *Oh no,* Claisey was about to ask for it back, but he took the ring out of the box himself.
“Lady Claisey, you may conduct your marriage with your own calculations. I, however, will conduct my marriage with the person I love, in my own way.”
“!”
Kishin placed the ring against the fourth finger of Claisey’s hand and looked at her with earnest eyes, as if asking her to accept it.