“My father had a lover even while my mother was alive. As soon as she passed away, he married that woman. My stepmother disliked me and tormented me in subtle ways, which is why I ended up living with my aunt.”
“Oh, that’s unfortunate. So, did you grow close after you moved in with her? Greengall City is quite far from the Capital. Seeing as you followed her all the way here, you two must have a good relationship.”
“My grandparents are always traveling abroad, and my Aunt Lije and my uncles are all married with families of their own. So, I had no choice but to be taken in by my youngest aunt.”
In Merran’s mind, the answer the Marchioness wanted to hear was, ‘I have a good relationship with my aunt.’
However, because she deliberately avoided that topic and continued to give vague answers, the Marchioness asked again with a dubious expression.
“Ah… so, you didn’t follow her here because you’re close?”
Merran muttered as if she were distressed.
“We are closer than I am with my other relatives. We have to be. I’ve spent my entire life walking on eggshells, trying to accommodate my aunt. It’s not that she abused me—compared to my stepmother, she was much better. But regardless, she wasn’t my mother, so she couldn’t treat me like one. I’ve had to watch the adults’ moods my entire life.”
Perhaps deciding it was no use, the Marchioness asked more directly this time.
“I see. Oh, by the way, I heard a strange rumor. There is talk that Merran’s mother died because of Miss Claisey… Honestly, people just spread sensational rumors without verifying them first. It’s too much. I apologize if this is your first time hearing it. However, if you are aware of this rumor and it happens to be false, it would be best for you to actively clear it up.”
Upon hearing that, something welled up inside Merran, and her throat felt tight.
Merran drank her tea to soothe her dryness and organized her thoughts.
The Marchioness of Gosville didn’t rush Merran’s silence, waiting patiently.
After a few minutes had passed, Merran finally opened her mouth.
“I also hope my aunt isn’t the type of person who would do that.”
The Marchioness laughed lightly.
“You hope? It seems you aren’t certain?”
Merran, wearing an honest expression, fidgeted with her teacup as if hesitant, then continued.
“I have a close relationship with Sir Kishin, so I will speak to you honestly…”
* * *
For about 30 minutes after that, the two continued their conversation. The Marchioness of Gosville listened intently without interrupting.
By the time they finished, the tea had already gone cold. The Marchioness bid farewell to Merran, who was letting out a small sigh.
“I know it must have been difficult to talk about, but thank you for telling me everything.”
After that, they chatted a little more, though the topics were much lighter this time.
However, Merran’s expression turned melancholic from time to time, and the Marchioness of Gosville watched every one of those moments without missing a thing.
When it was finally time to leave, the Marchioness personally saw her to the doorway. As Merran finished her goodbyes and began to walk down the stairs, the Marchioness couldn’t help but ask.
“You could have lied for your aunt’s sake. Do you not wish to do that?”
Merran stopped for a moment and turned her head. As their gazes met, she offered an intelligent-looking smile and shook her head.
“If you ask me if my aunt is a good person, I can tell you she is. But I would not dare lie to the Duke of Hiard and the House of Gosville. If things go wrong, my aunt will be protected by the Kalasi Family, but there is no one to protect me.”
* * *
Claisey remained on the same sofa from the moment Merran left until she returned.
Hearing the sound of the carriage, Claisey ran to the garden in one breath, caught Merran as she stepped out, and asked.
“How was it? How did it go?”
Behind Merran, Karen quickly answered.
“You have no idea how much our young lady praised Miss Claisey.”
“Really?”
Claisey found it hard to believe. She had considered it a success if Merran didn’t just get in the way, but she had actually offered praise?
Merran tilted her chin up confidently and affirmed.
“Of course, I told her my aunt was a good person. So, if things work out, you must thank me, Aunt. If they don’t, that’s your fault, so don’t be angry with me.”
Claisey still didn’t trust Merran’s words, but she answered anyway.
“Thank you.”
‘I’ll know when I see the results.’
* * *
All throughout that day, and even until the next morning, Claisey had no appetite.
Since that intense man and the boy from her first love, this was only the third man who had made Claisey this nervous.
On the other hand, Merran had looked very happy ever since she returned from Greengall City, as if her hometown had infused her with a bright energy.
Even when the butler brought a letter sent by Kishin, she was able to smile and joke about it.
“Two novices in love—it’s truly adorable.”
‘Right, you flirtatious couple. Your love life is twisted enough to be interesting.’
Claisey grumbled to herself as she tore open the envelope. Seeing the flower drawing on the front, her mood improved a little. Since spring began, Kishin had been drawing flowers on every letter he sent.
Claisey instinctively wore a smile as she opened the letter.
“!”
Inside was unexpected news.
When Claisey stood up in surprise, Merran quickly asked.
“What’s wrong? Is Sir Kishin saying he can’t get his parents’ permission?”
Her expression was one of concern, but her voice was excited.
However, the attitude that would usually have been annoying wasn’t today. Claisey hugged Merran.
“Sir Kishin’s mother likes me very much!”
Karen, who was serving Merran, coughed.
Claisey hugged Merran and swayed her from side to side, only letting go when Merran started to get annoyed.
Still, she was so happy that she grabbed Merran by both shoulders and looked her in the eyes with a radiant smile.
“It’s thanks to you. What on earth did you say to make the Marchioness of Gosville like me?”
“…….”
Behind her, Karen interjected in a hurried voice.
“Oh my, I told you yesterday! I told you that Miss Merran spent the whole time praising Miss Claisey! Miss Claisey, please treat our Miss Merran well. Don’t just look out for yourself; help her get along with Sir Dernic, too.”
“Of course! I’ll definitely keep that promise. You kept yours, after all.”
Claisey shouted heartily and pulled Merran in for another quick squeeze.
* * *
Back in her room, Claisey hurriedly sent a reply.
Kishin hadn’t just sent news that the Marchioness of Gosville liked her; he also mentioned that the Marchioness wanted to invite Claisey and asked if she had time this evening or around lunch tomorrow.
She was writing a reply saying that would be fine.
‘Of course I’m free!’
Around lunchtime the next day, Claisey received a formal invitation from the Marchioness of Gosville.
From that moment on, Claisey began a hectic preparation to go out, rummaging through her closet and jewelry box, styling her hair this way and that.
“Just wear your casual clothes, Miss. That will be fine. You can’t dress like you’re going to a ball.”
Anna was exasperated, but Claisey would not yield.
“I’m not dressing like I’m going to a ball. But I want to look as kind as possible, which is why I’m doing this.”
“What are you talking about? You look kind even now, Miss.”
“I have a mirror in my room too, Anna.”
Claisey looked in the mirror for a moment and felt dejected.
She had confidence in her own appearance. Before the horrible rumors took hold, adults would exclaim at what a beautiful child Claisey was whenever they saw her.
Girls wanted to be friends with her, and boys would scramble to find any way to talk to her.
However, Claisey had no confidence in her aura.
Her sister Lije would often evaluate her by saying, “To put it nicely, you look noble; to put it harshly, you have a mean impression.”
“I’ll wear this beige dress. If you wear this, you look intellectual and calm, and even if you seem cold on the outside, you look like someone who is warm on the inside.”
By the time such a bustling preparation for the outing was drawing to a close, Kishin unexpectedly arrived to pick up Claisey himself.
Anna was delighted.
Claisey also thought it worked out well, so she quickly ran down the stairs, spun around in a full circle in front of Kishin, and asked.
“How is it?”
“That was one and a half turns.”
“The outfit!”
When Kishin gave her a look that said, ‘What about the outfit?’, Claisey asked anxiously.
“Do I look like I’m cold on the outside but warm on the inside?”
Kishin burst into laughter, which made Claisey feel embarrassed.
“Is that not it?” she asked again impatiently. If he said no, she had been planning to change into the light green outfit, which was her final candidate.
“You don’t need to worry about it.”
“How can I not? I have those… rumors, you know. I want to appear as a good person.”
“They are people who have spent their entire lives looking at my face, Miss Claisey. You can rest assured, as they are actually more accustomed to a cold impression.”
Why does this person speak so beautifully? As Kishin smiled, Claisey felt her heart flutter, so she pushed him with her shoulder for no reason and turned away.
As she did, she saw Merran making a face as if she had chewed on trash from behind a pillar.