“I wondered why she was dressed so nicely. So that’s what it is.”
“My goodness. Where on earth did she bring such a stunningly handsome man from? Who is he?”
Karen tried to hide it, but the note of admiration in her voice was unmistakable.
Meren replied in an even lower voice.
“That is Sir Kishin.”
“Sir Kishin? Isn’t he that palace guard?”
“That’s right.”
Meren hardly blinked while watching Claisey and Kishin stand in front of the carriage, conversing with guarded expressions.
Karen set her teacup down next to the cookie jar and returned to the window.
Meren gripped the curtain and bit her lip. She couldn’t bear the anger. It was absurd.
“I spent the whole day worrying about when my aunt would return. She snuck off, had a great time with a man, and now she’s back. Just look at that expression.”
Meren exhaled sharply. Her sharp, brilliant mind immediately grasped Claisey’s scheme.
“Sir Dernic was the bait!”
“Bait?”
“Yes. My aunt purposely called Sir Dernic here to keep me occupied so she could go on a date! She did it so I couldn’t follow her!”
Karen glanced at the coffee cup she had brought, deciding it should probably just be cleared away.
Meren paced around the sofa in frustration and struck a cushion.
“It’s truly too much. I feel like a fool for worrying all day because she was late. My aunt must be obsessed with men. How could she be so petty as to push her niece away just to go on a date?”
Meren let out a long breath, and unable to endure it any longer, she suddenly flung the door open and ran into the hallway.
Karen quickly followed her.
* * *
Meanwhile, Claisey was unaware that Meren was charging at her in a fit of rage. She simply entered the house in high spirits.
She hadn’t discussed much about the future with Kishin. There were no promises to date properly or plans for a next meeting. They had merely shared the stories of their persistent misunderstandings as if they were jokes.
Moreover, even after the misunderstandings were cleared up, Kishin remained a man of few words. He was different from Dernic, who would ramble on about everything even if left alone.
However, Kishin listened intently whenever Claisey spoke. And when she stopped, he would respond in his pleasant, low voice.
Claisey, who had completely given up on Kishin, had a 180-degree change of heart. It seemed like it might be worth trying to make things work with him again.
The only reason Claisey wanted to marry was because of the inheritance laws. But if she were to marry anyway, she would prefer to do it with someone she liked.
Claisey took off her outer garment, draped it over her arm, and danced her way up the stairs. However, she was blocked by Meren halfway up.
“It’s Meren.”
Seeing the fierce expression on Meren’s face, Claisey realized that Dernic hadn’t come after all.
Well, of course. Dernic had left for his own home with a serious expression after being summoned by his father; he wouldn’t have just shown up here.
‘More importantly, what do I do? The child doesn’t look well. Should I comfort her?’
There was no need for that. Before Claisey could even offer comfort, Meren launched a preemptive strike.
“My aunt is truly clever. As soon as you found out who your niece likes, you used him. You made it so I couldn’t leave the house waiting for Sir Dernic, and then you went off to play by yourself.”
With that one sentence, Claisey realized that Meren had seen Kishin through the window. It seemed she had figured out the whole situation just from that.
Meren asked coldly, “Did you even invite Sir Dernic?”
Meren was combative, but Claisey, whose heart was feeling generous, chose to change the subject rather than fight.
“You said you didn’t ask which family Sir Dernic is from, didn’t you?”
“Look at you, trying to change the subject.”
“Well, I happen to know which family he is from now.”
“……Which family is he from?”
Claisey patted Meren’s arm and swept past her.
“Since you don’t like people changing the subject, I won’t tell you.”
“Aunt!”
Meren, who had temporarily calmed her anger out of curiosity, chased after her, even more incensed at being teased.
Claisey pretended not to notice as she entered her bedroom and hung her coat on a chair.
Anna, who had come to the room upon learning of Claisey’s arrival, widened her eyes at hearing Meren’s shout.
“My, Miss Meren, you spent the whole time waiting for Miss Claisey. Why are you fighting as soon as she arrives?”
“My aunt is tormenting me!”
Claisey scoffed.
“When did I? And when did you wait for me? You must have been waiting for Sir Dernic. You’re just taking your frustration out on me because Sir Dernic didn’t come.”
Meren yelled again in anger.
“Aunt!”
Claisey hummed a tune while taking off her clothes, but stopped reluctantly when she saw Anna looking at her as if she were a spoiled child.
She then acted as if she had no choice but to tell Meren.
“Honestly, Anna always takes Meren’s side. Fine. I’ll tell you. Don’t be surprised, everyone.”
Anna, who had arrived late, blinked, not knowing what it was about.
“Yes? Don’t be surprised at what?”
But Meren, unable to overcome her curiosity, fell silent. She kept her mouth shut and waited for the rest of Claisey’s words.
Claisey exclaimed as if revealing a great secret.
“Everyone, don’t be too surprised. They say Sir Dernic is the only son of the Grand Duke of Siwil!”
Meren’s jaw dropped in shock.
However, although Anna was impressed, she couldn’t immediately recall who Dernic was, as she didn’t have as much interest in him as Meren did.
On the other hand, Meren was so excited that she grabbed Claisey’s arm and shook it.
“Is it true? Did you ask him yourself?”
Meren asked cutely, but then suddenly narrowed her eyes and interrogated her.
“Aunt, don’t tell me you met Sir Dernic today?”
Claisey mixed in the truth so that it would sound good to Meren.
“Things got twisted, so that’s how it happened. Sir Dernic happened to be at the place I went to. I was surprised, too. I had clearly invited him to our house. When I asked him in surprise why he was there, Sir Dernic said this. He said he purposely didn’t come because he didn’t want to accept my invitation.”
Hearing that, Meren softened and asked, “Sir Dernic said that? He speaks so harshly.”
“Exactly. He really has a bad personality. He said it himself. So don’t blame me for running into him outside. Did I know that man would refuse my invitation?”
“That’s true.”
Anna finally remembered who Dernic was and joined the excitement, albeit late.
“Good heavens, Misses. Are you talking about that silver-haired young master who looks like a doll? That young master is the only son of the Grand Duke of Siwil! The nephew whom His Majesty the Emperor cherishes even more than his own children! They say he treats him so well that there were even rumors he might be the Emperor’s own child, aren’t there?”
“Anna, that’s a baseless rumor.”
“Of course I know that well. For that rumor to be true, the Grand Duchess and the Emperor would have to be close, but anyone can see those two are distant.”
Claisey was about to warn Anna not to mention such rumors, but she glanced at Meren, who seemed unusually quiet.
As their eyes met, Meren asked as if she had been waiting.
“But Aunt. Where did you go that you met both Sir Kishin and Sir Dernic?”
Meren hadn’t lost sight of the main point.
‘She’s so clever.’
Claisey clicked her tongue internally, lamenting why Meren only used that brain on her.
Since her parents were nobles, Claisey couldn’t become a regular official, and because she had no title to inherit, she couldn’t become a noble official either. She couldn’t become a palace maid because she lived far from the capital, and she couldn’t become a soldier because of her stiffening legs.
The reason Claisey clung to the inheritance was that there was no other realistic path for her to continue living as she did.
But what about Meren? Since she was a marquis-to-be, she could become a noble official if she wanted to. Yet, why did that child spend her whole life just hindering her?
“Aunt. Why can’t you answer? I asked where you went that you met both Sir Kishin and Sir Dernic!”
Claisey hesitated. Should she tell her or make up an excuse?
A moment later, she sent Anna out.
“Anna, I’m hungry, so please bring me something to eat.”
Anna, who had been focused on the conversation, didn’t want to leave. However, since she couldn’t refuse an order, she moved with heavy steps.
Once they were alone, Claisey brought up the subject seriously.
“Meren. You like Lord Dernic, don’t you?”
Meren crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes.
“Why are you changing the subject again?”
“No, listen to me. Meren, Lord Dernic is the Grand Duke’s only son, but since you will also inherit the Marquisate, you are in a position to aim for him. There may be many great nobles in the Capital, but you have enough potential. You know that, right?”
“You’re trying to brush off my question by intentionally saying nice things, aren’t you? I’m not falling for it, Aunt. Do you still think I’m a child?”
“No, just listen. Look, Meren. You definitely have potential. But while you have the potential, you aren’t the woman with the best conditions for Lord Dernic.”
Meren, who had told her not to say nice things, immediately flared up, not wanting to hear bad things either.
Before Meren could open her mouth, Claisey preemptively covered it with her hand.
“My point is this, Meren. Do you want to be with Lord Dernic? You want to be the Grand Duchess, don’t you? Then, don’t get in my way from now on.”
Annoyed, Meren pushed Claisey’s hand away and protested.
“What does that have to do with anything? It’s completely irrelevant!”
“It is. It’s closely related.”
Claisey asked with a very serious expression.
“Lord Kishin and Lord Dernic are close friends, aren’t they? If you play games with Lord Kishin, how do you think Lord Dernic will perceive you?”
“!”
Perhaps it had an effect. Meren opened her mouth as if at a loss for words, but couldn’t utter a sound.
Encouraged, Claisey lowered her voice like a strategist.
“If Lord Dernic were a man of similar standing to you, you could live as you do now. But Lord Dernic is the Grand Duke’s only son. If you want to win him over, you must now mind and manage your reputation in high society.”
Meren pouted and glared at Claisey.
“You’re beating around the bush, but it ultimately comes down to this, doesn’t it? If I hinder you from getting along with Lord Kishin, you’ll also hinder me through Lord Kishin?”