“Lady Claisey just needs to step in.”
Merran didn’t understand.
“Even if my aunt steps in, she can only help me persuade Father. Father trusts my aunt, but only to a certain extent.”
“Oh, look at the core of the matter, my lady. Your marriage to Sir Dernic is clearly a good thing for the Marquis as well. That is the core.”
“I mean, that’s exactly what I said.”
“If the Marquis refuses to propose the marriage, it’s only because he doesn’t want to be embarrassed. But if this matter of proposing is officially entrusted to Lady Claisey, wouldn’t everything be solved?”
“!”
“Lady Claisey is currently seeing Lord Kishin, and Lord Kishin is friends with Sir Dernic. She could unofficially sound out the Siwil Grand Duke’s family. She could even build a connection with the Grand Duke and Duchess and persuade them. This way, even if things don’t work out, it would just be Lady Claisey acting on her own, so the Marquis’s dignity wouldn’t be bruised. If it goes well, it’s good for everyone. If Lady Claisey goes with you and speaks to the Marquis about this, he will surely give his permission.”
Once she heard it, Merran found it tempting.
However, thinking of her aunt, who had been increasingly irritable lately, she lost her confidence.
“My aunt is busy with her own romance. Would she take on this task for me? If things go wrong, her dignity would be bruised too.”
Karen dropped the bundle of wrapped clothes with a thud.
“Lady Claisey is your aunt, my lady. Besides, she brought you along claiming she would act as a mother figure, so she should naturally step up. If your mother were still alive, she would have stepped up for you even if her dignity were bruised. Lady Claisey must do the same. You act like her daughter, so why should she only take and not give!”
* * *
By lunchtime, Claisey came out of her room to eat.
However, when she arrived at the dining room, Merran greeted her with unexpected warmth and apologized for her behavior that morning.
“Aunt, I’m sorry I lost my temper earlier. Don’t take it to heart. I was just being sensitive because I felt like you were suddenly pulling away.”
Usually, Merran was a sweet and affectionate niece, provided the topic wasn’t about men. Claisey didn’t find it strange and answered simply.
“It’s alright. It’s natural to lose one’s temper sometimes.”
As Claisey sat across from Merran, a maid brought out the food. Another maid handed them both small, warm towels.
Claisey wiped her hands while observing the day’s menu.
“…….”
However, Merran was staring at her so intently that it was hard to properly appreciate the food. Claisey felt burdened and looked back at her.
“You have something to say to me, don’t you?”
When Claisey pointed it out, Merran giggled and nodded.
“Yes.”
“What is it? Tell me.”
Claisey handed the now-cooled towel back to the maid. Once they were alone, Merran fidgeted with her hands and said,
“Aunt, when we go down to our hometown this time, come to my house with me.”
“Why?”
“It’s been a while; let’s go greet Father together.”
“Ah, well….”
Claisey didn’t like her eldest brother-in-law. They had been on decent terms initially, but after hearing from her eldest sister that he was still seeing his pre-marital lover, she had despised him ever since.
Of course, she didn’t show it. Regardless, Merran was the daughter of her eldest brother-in-law, and she had to keep a polite face until Merran became legally independent. That didn’t mean she wanted to visit him unnecessarily.
“Hmm. Wouldn’t it be fine if I didn’t go?”
Claisey answered noncommittally. Merran’s expression soured.
“Don’t you want to see my father?”
*Would I want to see him?*
“No, it’s just… Alice is at your house… and Alice’s children, too. It’s a bit much.”
“I feel the same way. But we can’t live like total strangers, can we?”
“We are strangers to me.”
Her eldest brother-in-law was a stranger too, but he was her eldest sister’s husband; they were still relatives by marriage. However, the brother-in-law’s second wife, Alice, and her children were even more awkward to Claisey than strangers.
Merran seemed to realize this as well, her lips twitching. Claisey grew uneasy.
*Why is she suddenly acting like this?*
Thinking back, the way she had apologized so readily after losing her temper in the morning was also quite unsettling.
*I should go to my room before she brings up some weird request.*
Claisey piled shrimp onto her plate and stood up.
“I’ll eat separately while I pack. There’s a lot to organize.”
“Aunt, help me out a little.”
But Merran anticipated her move. Claisey reached the archway before sighing and turning back in distress.
“What is it?”
When Claisey sat back down, Merran spilled it out.
“When I go home this time, I’m going to ask Father to propose a marriage to the Siwil Grand Duke’s family. I need you to support that, Aunt.”
“No, if it’s just that, surely I don’t have to go? The Siwil Grand Duke’s family is very prestigious, so your father wouldn’t oppose it, would he?”
“What if he does?”
“Legally, your guardian is your father. If he opposes it, there’s nothing I can do.”
Merran revealed the advice Karen had given her.
“If Father opposes it, it’s probably because he’s afraid of being rejected after attempting to marry into a higher status without any connections. So, if you tell Father that you will take on that task, he won’t oppose it. You’re friends with Lord Kishin, and Lord Kishin is a close friend of Sir Dernic, so you could indirectly propose the marriage to the Siwil Grand Duke’s family. Father wouldn’t refuse if you offer to step in. In any case, if I become the Grand Duchess, it’s a good thing for Father, too.”
Claisey bowed her head to hide her displeasure, picking at her shrimp.
“Aunt, can’t you step in?”
Having finished her explanation, Merran pleaded pitifully. Claisey suppressed her rising temper.
*Let’s endure it. She’s only twenty. I’m still immature myself, so she must be even more so.*
“Aunt….”
“Merran, I’ll be honest with you. If I were engaged to Lord Kishin, or firmly tied to him, I could do as you ask. If the Siwil Grand Duke’s family rejected us, I would be the one disgraced instead of your father. But I could still step in. You are my niece and I am….”
*I promised your mother I would protect you.* Claisey swallowed the rest. She didn’t want to bring up the accident.
“You are what? Why did you stop talking?”
“Because I am your aunt.”
“…….”
“But Merran. This is what’s important.”
“?”
“I broke up with Lord Kishin.”
“Already?!”
Merran’s eyes widened. The look of utter shock made Claisey’s face flush.
“Yes. Already.”
“You’ve only been seeing each other for three days!”
“No, we weren’t even seeing each other. We just expressed interest. But now, even that is over.”
Merran looked at Claisey with a complicated expression.
“I didn’t even step in this time, Aunt. Why did it break off?”
“Eat your food.”
Claisey flatly ended the topic, pretending to focus on her plate. Merran muttered,
“Aunt, you have passion… but only passion.”
“Eat your food. Don’t fan the flames of a fire. You’ll just get burned.”
Claisey set a boundary with a hushed voice.
However, whether she was annoyed that Claisey had become useless, or she found it thrilling that her aunt had made such a fuss over Kishin only to break up, Merran kept going on about how Claisey was not fated to marry.
When Claisey put her fork down with a loud *clatter*, only then did Merran bring the topic back to herself.
“It can’t be helped. I’ll just have to persuade Father with my own wits. Since Aunt can’t be of help, there’s no other way.”
“Yes, yes. Good luck.”
“Luck has nothing to do with it. If Father feels any guilt toward me, he’ll step up, ready to face the humiliation. Regardless, since I am the one who has to inherit the Omal Marquisate, Father should be thinking carefully about my marriage prospects.”
A bitter smile appeared on Merran’s lips. It seemed that as she spoke, she had grown angry with her father.
Claisey did not reply. She suspected that her brother-in-law would be even more indifferent than Merran thought.
Instead of dwelling on it, Claisey simply picked up her fork again.
“Why are you making that face?”
But it seemed Claisey’s silent attitude had provoked Merran. She stopped talking about their father and asked coldly. Claisey shook her head and continued her meal.
“I asked why you’re making that face.”
Merran was stubborn. She persisted to the very end.
“It’s nothing. Something just got stuck in my throat for a moment.”
Even as Claisey tried to brush it off, Merran followed her around, pressing for an answer. Eventually, Claisey shared her thoughts.
“I hope I’m wrong, but perhaps your father isn’t all that enthusiastic about your marriage. That’s what I was thinking.”
“What are you talking about? Why would Father do that? I am his successor.”
“……”
“Ugh, really. Are you going to keep being frustrating like this?”
“Usually, when one debuts in high society, one starts choosing a fiancé. But your father hasn’t said a word about your marriage yet. I’ve asked in letters a few times, but he just gave vague, roundabout answers. I thought he was doing that because I was the one taking care of you. But after listening to you, I thought there might be another reason.”
“Another reason?”
“Your half-siblings, I mean. If your father doesn’t permit your marriage, you can’t inherit the title even if you are the successor. Then, the order would pass to your half-siblings.”
Merran looked shocked, as if that was a direction she had never considered. But soon, taking her frustration out on Claisey, she retorted.
“That’s ridiculous! Why would he do that?”
Claisey shrugged.
“Why, you do the same to me. Do you think other people aren’t capable of using the same methods you do?”
“!”