Chapter 1.12
* * *
The Marquis of Freier’s residence.
Ernst, holed up in his room, looked into the mirror.
And admired himself.
“As expected, I’m handsome.”
Reflected in the mirror was the intelligent eldest son of the Freier Marquis Family. A handsome man with a gentle impression, acknowledged by everyone. A man who skillfully assists his father in his business, and who will inherit both the title and the business within at most twenty years.
An enviable life.
But, that very fact was what troubled Ernst.
“Why would Irene suddenly reject me?”
Ernst mulled over his fiancée’s history.
Irene Dunbury.
The Count Dunbury’s niece. Her parents died eight years ago in an accident involving monsters.
The Count, taking pity on her, took in his niece, but it was widely rumored that Irene, far from repaying that kindness, had continued to behave shamefully.
Her voice was so quiet that on her debutante day, her greeting to Her Majesty the Queen was ignored three times—that story is famous. Her Majesty, feeling sorry for her, gave Irene a chance to introduce herself with a song instead of a greeting, but far from appreciating it, she ran out of the ballroom.
When Ernst first heard that story, he thought, ‘A woman truly deserving to be ostracized from social circles.’
And he also believed she was a woman who would never become entangled in his smooth-sailing life.
But on the day of the banquet at the Count Dunbury’s residence.
Ernst, who had attended, discovered a beauty stuck to the wall in the corner of the hall.
Silver hair flowing softly below her shoulders, sea-colored eyes sparkling as if studded with stars. Even her appearance with almost no accessories reminded one of a mermaid freshly emerged from the sea.
He later learned that woman was Irene Dunbury.
A woman with no family, no fortune, and no ability.
But after seeing Irene’s face, Ernst’s thoughts changed.
Having no parents meant there would be no interference from in-laws in the future.
Disliking social circles meant there was little chance of her being frivolously entertained.
Can’t do anything? So what. As long as she follows the instructions of this perfect me, Ernst, that’s enough!
After finishing his process of self-justification, Ernst approached the Count of Dunbury.
Everything went smoothly after that.
The Marquis and Marchioness could not break their son’s stubbornness.
The marriage arrangement proceeded appropriately, and it was simply a matter of proposing on Irene’s birthday and then getting married.
The wedding was also a day to announce to the world that Ernst was the heir of the Marquis’s family.
That’s why he was putting tremendous effort into the wedding preparations, but…….
“Damn it. Irene! Who influenced you? That timid woman couldn’t possibly betray me!”
With renewed irritation, Ernst slammed his fist on the desk.
His fist throbbed. And it hurt terribly.
Just as Ernst, disregarding his dignity, was clutching that fist and going ‘Hoo, hoo’ blowing on it.
Aiden’s voice came from right in front of him.
“Blowing on it is ineffective for pain relief.”
“Ah, Aiden! I’ve told you to knock! That damned habit of yours never improves!”
His younger brother, Aiden, completely ignored Ernst’s words and said only what he had to say.
“As instructed, I followed Lady Irene, and as a result, there was no man she was meeting.”
“You weren’t following her for long, how can you be sure?”
“I heard her shout, ‘There will be no man in my life.'”
“……What kind of situation was that exactly.”
“She shouted it while talking to the shop owner in a shop.”
“In a shop? Irene wouldn’t do something so embarrassing?”
“It’s true.”
Ernst fell into deeper confusion.
She’s a woman who doesn’t even like going out. How could such a person chat with a shop owner, and speak such frivolous words?
“Did she die and come back to life or something?”
“And one more thing to tell you.”
“Huh?”
After clearing his throat a few times, Aiden relayed what Irene had asked him to say.
“Her behavior was such that one could hardly consider her an adult prepared for marriage. She wandered through the shopping district buying up trinkets, and was laughing cheerfully and playing among the children at the fountain, too.”
“……Aiden. Are you sure what you saw was Irene Dunbury? Not someone else?”
“Precisely. I can swear it on my name.”
“It’s not that I don’t believe you. It’s just that she’s not that kind of woman! You’ve seen her a few times too, haven’t you?”
“People can change at any time, don’t you think? And surely you haven’t seen all sides of her, brother.”
Ernst’s mouth clamped shut.
It was a fair point.
She was his fiancée, but not his lover. Even when they met, it was only to sit together at official gatherings.
But now, admitting ‘I don’t know Irene well’ would be humiliating.
Ernst waved his hand dismissively.
“Fine. Just get out!”
“Very well.”
“Aaaah, damn it! It’s just beginning, and Irene! Why are you getting in my way!”
After closing the door, Aiden smiled wryly.
Ernst, a man who appears affectionate and perfect in front of others. Even he whines like this when things don’t go his way.
How does Irene compare?
At the two family gatherings, Irene always sat silently. The only conversation exchanged with Aiden was awkward greetings. She seemed afraid of Aiden, trembling constantly with her poor conversational skills, so it seemed unlikely they would ever speak again.
But today.
The Irene that Aiden met was thoughtful and perceptive. Also, unlike the assessment of being ‘extremely shy,’ she conversed and negotiated skillfully with the shopkeepers.
‘She’s not a woman to be looked down upon by my brother. Definitely not.’
A person so charming it was a pity their paths wouldn’t cross again.
Suddenly, Aiden recalled what Irene had said today.
In response to Aiden’s question of whether he hadn’t seen her somewhere before, Irene gave the obvious excuse of having run into him by chance in the city.
At the time, he had backed off because he didn’t want to press the matter.
But while alone, the memory of seeing Irene grew clearer in Aiden’s mind.
Irene’s appearance, walking with unkempt silver hair as if she hadn’t brushed it, with a tired expression.
Aiden sighed and murmured.
“I think I saw Lady Irene singing…….”
Aiden looked down at his own fingertips.
Surely, Irene had touched him here.
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.