Chapter 10

“I don’t know why…”

Ray fell into thought.

She claimed she didn’t have long to live, yet her eyes sparkled with such vivid life that he couldn’t stop looking at them. That strange contradiction kept drawing his gaze.

“Then I suppose we’re destined for each other.”

She had smiled so brightly as she said it.

For one brief moment, it had felt as though someone had wrapped a hand around his heart.

It was an emotion he had never experienced before.

It had left him so bewildered that he had actually stood there, staring blankly into space.

“…Very well. Then how about this?”

While the duke remained lost in thought, the knight watching him suddenly spoke.

“Why not simply refuse to marry? Just endure it.”

It wasn’t much of a solution after all the deliberation, but there weren’t many alternatives.

“That is true,” the butler agreed with a nod. “His Majesty tells Your Grace to marry nearly every time he sees you.”

Marriage had become the emperor’s customary greeting.

Perhaps this time His Grace had simply taken one of the emperor’s usual jokes too seriously. Thinking that, the butler cautiously offered another suggestion.

“No. This time was different.”

Ray shook his head.

“He even invoked an imperial command. That means he intends to see this through.”

The emperor might have spoken casually, but he never used the words imperial command lightly.

That alone told Ray everything he needed to know.

This wasn’t a joke.

“B-But Your Grace is returning to your territory soon, are you not? If you remain there for a while, perhaps His Majesty will simply forget about it.”

“Too many people have already witnessed what happened.”

The duke gestured toward the mountain of papers covering his desk.

Every single one was a marriage proposal from one of the empire’s most prestigious noble houses.

After creating this much commotion…

…could he really flee back to his territory as though nothing had happened?

Time might heal many things, but even that seemed unlikely to bury a scandal of this magnitude.

“If I marry, all this uproar should settle down.”

The duke rubbed his chin thoughtfully before finally giving his orders.

“Send polite refusals to every proposal we’ve received so far.”

“…Every one of them?”

“Yes. Every single one.”

“And don’t accept any more.”

Every one…

The butler stared helplessly at the sea of letters spread across the desk.

Returning the proposals themselves would be terribly rude. Proper etiquette demanded a courteous reply to each family.

Which meant…

He would have to draft rejection letters for all of them.

There goes any chance of sleeping tonight.

To finish that pile before morning, every servant in the mansion would have to stay awake all night.

Even so, the butler couldn’t help smiling.

Tomorrow morning would be pure misery, but hearing the words every single one had been worth it.

Unfortunately…

His relief lasted only a moment.

“Then I’ll remove these immediately—”

“Ah. Not that one.”

“…Urgh.”

Of course.

Like a cruel joke, the single sheet of paper the duke plucked away disappeared from the pile before the butler’s eyes.

Only one proposal remained in the duke’s possession.

But the surprises weren’t over.

“And tomorrow, we won’t be receiving visitors.”

“…Pardon?”

The butler froze, wondering if he’d misheard.

“Do I need to repeat myself? Don’t let anyone into the estate.”

“W-What about the young ladies who have appointments tomorrow…?”

“Turn them away.”

“…As you see fit.”

Those three words made darkness descend over the butler’s vision.

By now, the entire capital had heard about the duke’s marriage.

They had already sent dozens of hopeful ladies home today.

If anything, there’ll be even more tomorrow…

And these weren’t ordinary women.

They were the daughters of Arhen’s noble society.

In a world where women rarely proposed first, the fact that they were flocking here in droves spoke volumes about their determination.

Just imagining himself facing all of them made the butler want to wave a white flag in surrender.

Haaaa…

Completely oblivious to his suffering, his master calmly studied the lone proposal in his hand.

The duke’s unusually cheerful mood only made the butler more anxious.

I’ve got a bad feeling about this…

It felt as though something enormous was about to happen.

* * *

“Mmm…”

Stretching lazily, Bella groaned as she climbed out of bed.

Only to collapse back onto it immediately.

Her legs trembled the instant she tried to stand.

“Well… I was standing for hours yesterday.”

Patting her aching calves, she let out a long sigh.

The exhaustion had overwhelmed her so completely that she’d fallen asleep without even eating dinner.

Today was the fourth day of the festival.

For Bella, that meant a holiday.

No one would bother her today, regardless of what she did.

She intended to enjoy every last moment of it.

She ate a late breakfast, spent the morning reading a book she’d been meaning to finish, and eventually drifted off for a nap.

When she woke again, evening had already begun to settle in.

“Are you attending the festival again tonight, Miss?”

“Of course. It’s the final day.”

Roxy had come upstairs to help her dress.

After Bella nodded, the maid hurried into the attic and returned carrying a modestly designed dress.

“You’re wearing that too?”

“Yes.”

Roxy grinned.

“You’ve never worn it once, so I quietly set it aside for an occasion like this.”

“Hehe.”

To Bella, Roxy looked less like a maid…

…and more like an adorable little devil.

“The surprising part,” Roxy continued, “is that you’re actually going to a party with so many people.”

“I need an answer.”

“…An answer?”

“I do.”

Bella answered shortly.

“There are some things I have to find out.”

She sighed.

Yes.

There was an answer she desperately wanted.

I stayed home all day just in case…

Part of her had hoped the duke might send someone.

She had spent the entire day waiting.

But the mansion had remained painfully quiet.

It really felt like he was interested yesterday…

She inhaled slowly.

The memory of those crimson eyes still lingered vividly in her mind.

Surely God isn’t playing a cruel joke at the very end…

She had reached the point of doubting even divine mercy.

Maybe I’ll run into him again tonight.

She had considered returning to the duke’s estate.

But it would undoubtedly be overflowing with young noblewomen seeking his hand in marriage.

So she had decided to bet everything on the festival instead.

It’s the final day.

He’ll have to pay his respects to His Majesty before leaving.

Looking into the mirror, Bella admired the hairstyle Roxy had painstakingly braided and pinned into an elegant updo.

“Wait.”

“Isn’t this a little too much?”

“Oh, not at all!”

Roxy laughed.

“The festival’s almost over. If you don’t dress up now, when will you ever get the chance again?”

“Well…”

“And besides…”

Her expression softened.

“You’re a lady, Miss Bella. Not a servant like us.”

“I wish you’d remember that you’re the only daughter of Count Eton.”

Because Bella had spent years being treated little differently from the servants, her clothes had gradually become plain and unremarkable.

Elegant dresses felt strangely foreign now.

Thirteen years had slowly stolen away her identity as a noblewoman.

Exactly as those foxes had intended.

Bella gazed silently at her reflection before letting out another quiet sigh.

“What’s the point?”

“The day after tomorrow I’ll just be sweeping dust off the stairs again.”

“Miss…”

The room suddenly grew gloomy.

Seeing Roxy’s lips pout in the mirror, Bella immediately regretted her words.

The maid had only been trying to cheer her up.

Instead, Bella had answered with bitterness.

What should I say…?

She was still searching for the right words when—

“Oh, right!”

“I almost forgot. I have something for you.”

As though nothing had happened, Roxy brightened again and pulled something from inside her apron.

Wrapped carefully in a handkerchief…

…was a flower-shaped sugar candy.

“Where did you get that?”

“From the kitchen.”

“They had lots left over this morning.”

Bella swallowed instinctively.

Festival sweets were available only during these few special days each year.

Come to think of it…

On the first day she’d been too busy searching for her destined partner to eat.

Yesterday she’d spent nearly the entire day waiting outside the duke’s estate.

Sugary cookies were a luxury ordinary commoners dreamed of.

For the daughter of a count, however, they should have been easy to obtain.

But Bella’s circumstances had never been ordinary.

“If Cecil finds out…”

She couldn’t even imagine the tantrum the younger girl would throw.

That little fox never allowed Bella even the smallest moment of happiness.

“Don’t worry.”

“The young miss and the madam went out first thing this morning.”

“They’re not home.”

“They went out?”

No wonder the mansion had been so peaceful.

Finally relaxing, Bella took a bite.

Crunch.

“Oh?”

“You didn’t know?”

“Know what?”

“Thanks to Duke Avalan, all the ladies of high society are in an uproar!”

Bella froze.

“They’re practically at war over the vacant position of Duchess.”

“Do you think Madam and Young Miss Cecil would just sit at home and watch?”

Only moments ago, the candy had tasted wonderfully sweet.

Now…

All she could taste was bitterness.

“You should go too, Miss!”

Roxy’s eyes sparkled.

“Who knows? Maybe His Grace will fall in love with you at first sight and rescue you from this awful place!”

She sounded completely sincere.

That way Bella wouldn’t have to marry that dreadful viscount either.

It seemed like the perfect solution.

Bella couldn’t say a word.

After all…

She had already gone yesterday.

And she’d thought she’d made quite an impression.

But if there’s still no message…

The bitterness only deepened.

Her appetite vanished completely.

She set the half-eaten candy aside and rinsed her mouth with water.

Even so…

The unpleasant taste refused to leave.

Instead, it felt as though something sticky had slid down her throat and settled heavily inside her chest.

Is this really the end?

Bella tightened her grip around the glass.

Staring at her own reflection in its clear surface, she bit her lip.

Perhaps…

This had all been nothing more than God’s petty little prank.

Showing her the faintest glimpse of happiness…

Only to plunge her into an even deeper despair.

Of course.

Someone like me was never meant to be happy.

A lifetime without happiness made it all too easy for her thoughts to spiral into darkness.

The hopeful girl who had stood before the duke yesterday already felt like someone else entirely.

“Roxy… I think tonight I’ll just—”

Maybe it was better to give up.

If the hope would never be hers in the end…

…then perhaps she shouldn’t chase it at all.

Just as she was about to let go—

“Bella! Bella, where are you?!”

A frantic shout echoed from downstairs.

Bella jolted upright.

It was the little fox’s voice.

“Bella! Where is that wretched girl?! Get down here this instant!”

Then came the older fox’s shrill voice as well.

What…?

Why are they making such a fuss?