Claisey’s face flushed a shade of pink, and she glanced at Kishin before lowering her head.
“Sir Kishin, you seem like a flirt.”
“I am not.”
“But you certainly sound like one. How can you say such things?”
Claisey shifted, twisting her body.
Kishin’s eyes were drawn to Claisey’s bright red ears.
Anna, worried, had been secretly watching from outside the window, but she shook her head and stepped away to give them some space.
Claisey’s body, which had been coiled up, straightened instantly the moment Kishin took her arm.
“I only said I missed you because I truly missed you.”
“You said you think of me once a day.”
“In truth, I think of you many times.”
“!”
“I only said once because I was afraid it would be a burden.”
Claisey looked up at Kishin, dazed, and just as a foolish smile was about to bloom on her face, she lowered her head again.
“Lady Claisey, do you only think of me once a day?”
“I… I don’t not think of you once a day.”
“Lady Claisey, you are the real flirt here.”
Meren, who happened to be taking a walk and witnessed the scene, ground her teeth and sneered to herself. *The two of them are such greenhorns, yet they’re busy flattering each other like veteran lovers!*
Claisey did not know that Meren was watching.
However, the sharp-eyed Kishin immediately sensed a gaze and looked toward where Meren was standing.
Meren was momentarily flustered when she locked eyes with Kishin. It was because his gaze was so cold.
Most people showed a warm attitude when they saw Meren, a stunning beauty. Rarely did anyone look at her with such chilliness.
Furthermore, it seemed this wasn’t just Meren’s imagination, as Karen, who stood behind her, muttered in a small voice.
“Did Lady Claisey say something bad about you to Sir Kishin? I don’t know why that man is glaring at you like that, My Lady.”
Claisey, who had been looking down, discovered Meren belatedly and composed her expression.
At this, Meren felt she had no choice but to approach them.
“Sir Kishin, have you come to see my aunt?”
Though she had been startled for a moment, a relaxed smile was soon playing on Meren’s lips.
Kishin’s gaze remained cold, but he greeted her with courtesy.
“Yes. Have you been well, Lady Meren? It has been a while.”
Meren burst into a bright, tinkling laugh and linked her arm with Claisey’s.
“I don’t know if I interrupted the two of you on your date. I came out for a walk and we happened to run into each other, so please don’t think I’m intrusive.”
Claisey was confused about whether Meren had really come here by coincidence, or if she had forgotten her request and come to interrupt her romance again.
As a result, Claisey’s expression flickered for a split second, and Kishin immediately noticed the brief change.
Once he saw it, Kishin spoke firmly while still maintaining politeness.
“I will not disturb you either, Lady Meren. Please, continue your walk.”
“!”
It was a clear request for her to leave because she was in the way. Meren’s face turned bright red for a different reason than Claisey’s.
All those who had shown interest in Claisey until now had been kind to Meren as well, even if they hadn’t fallen for her charms. Since Meren was Claisey’s niece, it was only natural for them to be polite.
But with Kishin acting so coldly, Meren felt humiliated.
Karen, who was glancing at Kishin’s handsome face, sighed inwardly. *So the rumors were true that Sir Kishin has an unpleasant personality! That must be why.*
Claisey smiled awkwardly. She had experienced that ruthless tone from Kishin several times herself—back when he had misunderstood her.
Meren looked at her aunt desperately, hoping that Claisey would scold Kishin and take her side.
However, Claisey was lost in thought, merely shaking her head to herself.
*‘That man-crazy woman! Is a man more precious than her own niece?’*
Seeing this, Meren felt anger surge up. She let go of Claisey’s arm and strode past them. She was so offended that she didn’t even say goodbye.
Karen followed behind her and asked in a small voice.
“My Lady, you said Sir Kishin is close with Sir Dernic. Is it really okay to just walk away like this? We should at least say goodbye…”
At those words, Meren became even angrier, and as soon as they reached a deserted spot, she snapped.
“You saw how that red-head ignored me. And you want me to smile and say goodbye to him?!”
“Is it right to act the same way just because the other party is rude? Especially when we are in the position of needing something.”
“I don’t need anything! Sir Dernic has eyes, so he must know his friend’s temper!”
Karen sighed in exhaustion.
“Anyway, the rumors are true. Sir Kishin has excellent prospects, but his personality is… well. Does Lady Claisey really like a man like that?”
“My aunt has lost her mind because she wants to get married. She’s been roaming around like a starving hyena, thinking she just needs to catch anyone, so now that such excellent prey has been caught, she’s going to try to devour him no matter what. You think she cares about his personality? My aunt is great, but she becomes a different person when it comes to men!”
*That’s only because you always interfere when it comes to men, My Lady…* Karen thought to herself but swallowed the words. She was unconditionally on Meren’s side, so there was no need to defend Claisey.
* * *
Claisey’s ears began to itch.
*‘I wonder if Meren is bad-mouthing me.’*
In fact, Claisey knew that Meren had sent her a look asking for help.
However, Claisey purposely did not step in. One reason was that Kishin had stepped up for her sake, and it would have been difficult for her to blame him for it.
The second reason was that she didn’t want to defend Meren and then have the three of them chat together.
If Meren were an ordinary, normal niece, it would be fine to spend time together. Or even if she were just a pleasant, or at least neutral, presence.
But didn’t Meren have a history of interrupting Claisey’s romantic pursuits throughout her entire life?
Still, once Meren was gone, she didn’t feel entirely at ease, and Claisey felt a bit conflicted.
Other things were bothering her just the same.
*‘Will Sir Kishin think I’m cold-hearted? Because I just watched while my niece was being humiliated?’*
“Do you dislike me because I was rude to Lady Meren?”
Unexpectedly, it was Kishin who voiced a concern similar to hers.
When Claisey looked at him with wide eyes, Kishin met her gaze with concern.
Meeting those warm eyes, Claisey’s earlier worries vanished in an instant, and she became excited enough to confess.
“I was worried about that too. I was afraid Sir Kishin would think badly of me for not taking Meren’s side. It seems we were thinking the same thing.”
As the corners of Kishin’s lips rose, Claisey couldn’t help but laugh along with him.
Kishin held out his arm, and Claisey placed her hand on it.
Walking into the house while staying close to him, Claisey felt strangely elated.
She felt convinced that with this man, no matter what interference Meren tried to cause, he would never be swayed.
* * *
Kishin had intended to come by just to take a walk, but since there was an uninvited guest on the path, he said he wanted to talk in private.
He also didn’t want Meren or anyone else to intrude between them.
Claisey promptly led Kishin to her room.
Afterward, the two briefly asked about each other’s well-being. Although they already knew from their morning letters that nothing much had happened to either of them, they both pretended not to know.
Then, the conversation naturally turned to Greengall City, which Claisey had mentioned at the end of her letter.
“Even if you leave now, the New Year’s festival will likely be over by the time you reach Greengall City. Do you really have to go?”
Kishin, who had visited specifically to talk about this, asked cautiously.
In truth, it was a fair point. Today was December 23rd, and the New Year’s festival was from December 31st to January 1st.
Claisey fidgeted with her clasped hands and confessed.
“Actually, the New Year’s festival is just an excuse; my second older sister is calling me because she’s due to give birth around then.”
“Ah.”
“She said it would be nice to have a female relative there to help, but Mother is abroad. And I can’t exactly call my sisters-in-law, can I? So she’s calling for me.”
“Then you might end up staying longer than expected.”
“Yes. Even if I assume I’ll only help for a month, including travel time, I’ll be away for nearly three months. And if my sister insists that I stay longer… it could take even longer.”
As she spoke, Claisey felt melancholy.
Two years ago, Claisey had already been roped in by her second sister to help care for her newborn twins for three months.
The reason back then was the same: ‘Mother is abroad, my mother-in-law is uncomfortable to ask for errands, I have no sister-in-law, and my brothers’ wives are nearby but I can’t call on them. You’re the only one who can help.’
Merran had come along, but that child had drawn a firm line, stating that taking care of his cousins wasn’t his job.
Feeling stifled, Claisey let out a sigh without realizing it.
*‘Things are finally going well with Lord Kishin, but if I’m gone for three months… his feelings might change.’*
That fleeting sigh served as a clue for the sharp Kishin to grasp Claisey’s true feelings.
Kishin, who had come with the intention of persuading Claisey not to go, thought this was a good opportunity and spoke with a bit more courage.
“Surely your second sister has maids close by. In my opinion, it is not necessary for Lady Claisey to go.”
“Actually, I don’t particularly want to go either. But she is family; how could I refuse?”
“She is your family, yet she brazenly demands that a sister living nearly 1,580 miles away come to wait on her, does she not?”
“!”
Kishin always drew a firm line regarding what was wrong, even with his own family. However, he knew that this attitude of his was not viewed favorably by others.
Thus, Kishin suppressed much of what he wanted to say about Claisey’s second sister and shifted his approach.
“I apologize. Thinking that I would not be able to see Lady Claisey for three months upset me, so I spoke bluntly.”
At Kishin’s use of the word ‘bluntly,’ Claisey’s heart stirred, and she asked.
“Do you want to be with me?”
“Yes.”
Kishin was a man who was truly unhesitant when he spoke. Whether he was insulting someone or approaching someone.
Claisey’s lips twitched, and she turned away. She didn’t want to look like a fool smiling at him.
“I feel the same. I want to be with you too, Lord Kishin.”
As she whispered that, Kishin stepped up behind Claisey and hesitated, his hands hovering as if he were about to reach out.
Claisey waited for him to embrace her gently, but Kishin eventually lowered his hands, walked a bit further, and stood facing her.
In that position, Kishin asked again.
“Can you not go? I want to be together.”
Claisey wiggled her fingers and toes. She, too, wanted to leave behind her second sister—who she liked about as little as her eldest—and stay with Kishin.
However, if Claisey didn’t look after her family, her parents would be disappointed, and being in their bad graces would be a loss for her.
When Claisey seemed to like the idea but couldn’t answer for a long while, Kishin eventually gave in.
“It seems I have put you in a difficult position. It would be better if you went and returned. I do not want Lady Claisey to be uncomfortable.”
However, even as he said this, his voice was tinged with disappointment.
The moment she sensed this, Claisey urgently made a suggestion.
“Then marry me.”
“!”