Chapter 5
After much deliberation, Helena finally decided to accept the Empress’s proposal.
It wasn’t simply because she had been tempted by the rewards the Empress offered. More than anything, it was the words that came afterward that truly captivated her.
This would be her chance to live as herself.
She had met countless people in her life and had no shortage of romantic experience. Yet among all those men, not a single one had ever made her think, I want to marry him.
On the other hand, there had been plenty of men who made her think, I could never live with this person.
Even if the Emperor handed down a lenient punishment and she spent some time pretending to repent in a monastery before returning to the capital, nothing would really change.
Driving away men she disliked through one method or another could only work so many times. Before long, she would inevitably have to marry someone.
But what if I had my own territory?
If she possessed a title and land of her own, marriage would become a choice rather than an obligation.
Besides, even if it was only for the sake of achieving her goal, Helena would technically become a married woman once. Perhaps she could free herself from the shackles of marriage forever.
As an added bonus, the relieved expressions on Count and Countess Winston’s faces were priceless.
Count Winston sighed in relief and said,
“Helena, thank goodness. I thought I’d go my entire life without ever seeing you in a white wedding dress.”
Countess Winston’s eyes shimmered with emotional tears as she added,
“This truly is fortunate. Given the situation, Her Majesty the Empress could have paired you with someone truly strange and no one would’ve had grounds to complain. But a count! And I heard the man is exceptionally handsome.”
The countess discreetly raised a thumb and whispered,
“You care a lot about looks, after all.”
Helena whispered back,
“And bodies too.”
At the mother-and-daughter chatter, Count Winston let out an exaggerated cough.
“Ahem! Khm! Khm!”
Officially, Helena’s marriage was announced as the Empress arranging a suitable match for the beloved daughter of Count Winston.
Meanwhile, those who knew about the scandal between Crown Prince Rufus and Helena whispered that the Empress was sending Helena far away to the distant southern lands beyond the Forest of Monsters, removing an obstacle to the royal marriage.
But only Helena knew the truth.
The only people who know the real purpose of this marriage are me and Her Majesty the Empress.
Once Helena made her decision, the marriage preparations advanced at lightning speed.
Her fiancé was a man named Count Ishpern.
He was said to be the steward of the vast southern territory of Burwood and one of the five greatest knights in the Empire.
One amusing thing, however, was how readily he accepted the marriage proposal.
Having already heard about Count Ishpern from the Empress beforehand, Helena found his swift acceptance suspicious.
Wasn’t he supposed to be wary as a little bird and fierce as a beast…? They said he trusted no one and kept everyone at arm’s length. Did he actually want to get married that badly?
And apparently his temperament was just as impatient as rumored. In the very same letter where he accepted the proposal, Count Ishpern also wrote that he would soon visit the capital to escort his bride personally—and arbitrarily set the date himself.
Rather than a man accepting a marriage proposal, he sounded more like a ruthless loan shark coming to collect a long-overdue debt.
Helena herself had never truly wanted this marriage either, but even so, this was too much.
“Father, let me see that letter!”
Helena shook out the envelope and checked its contents thoroughly. There was nothing else inside.
“How can this be? Is he really not curious about me at all?”
She couldn’t believe it.
Helena held the letter up to the light and even tapped the edges repeatedly in case two pages had somehow stuck together.
But no—the letter really was only a single sheet.
Watching her with pity, Count Winston finally spoke.
“Helena, you may be accustomed to the lively social circles of the capital, but it is perfectly normal for people to marry without knowing much about each other.”
Countess Winston chimed in as well.
“And wouldn’t it be better for the two of you to marry while still holding some expectations for each other, rather than having him learn about you first and decide he no longer wants to marry you?”
Helena planted her hands on her hips and protested loudly.
“Stepmother, how could you say something like that? You should be saying that once he gets to know me, he’ll want to marry me even more! Truly, you are a stepmother…!”
Countess Winston stopped herself from snorting and instead let out a weary sigh.
“At least there isn’t much longer left for me to suffer through your dizzying chatter.”
“You’re sad and disappointed, aren’t you?”
“No, ‘overjoyed beyond measure’ would be more accurate. Honestly, this household might finally become peaceful again.”
“As expected of a stepmother…!”
And so, the marriage arrangement between the troublesome young lady of House Winston and the mysterious southern count was settled.
