Chapter 22
After the Grand Duke, now it was the Grand Duchess’s turn.
“No, as far as I know, he doesn’t have anyone he’s seeing.”
The Grand Duchess sighed.
“Perhaps he takes after his father… I have a feeling it won’t be easy for him to find a match.”
It was something Lilien had only recently learned: in social circles, Cairn was considered an impenetrable fortress. She used to think, seeing him dance with so many young ladies at balls, that he must have a thriving love life. Apparently, that wasn’t the case at all.
If Lilien was known as the wallflower of the Klatt Empire, he was the ‘iron fortress wrapped in manners’.
“Don’t worry too much. There’s no shortage of young ladies who admire Cairn. He inherited so many gifts, after all. And out of all those talents, his looks are the most outstanding.”
Despite Lilien’s reassurance, the Grand Duchess still looked troubled.
It was true—Cairn was objectively a stunningly handsome man. Even Lilien, who’d known him forever, was sometimes startled by how striking his features looked in the right light. Humans might adapt to many things, but some beauty never loses its impact.
“The real problem is… that child just won’t let anyone get close.”
At some point, the tea in her cup had stopped going down. Lilien reached out and covered the Grand Duchess’s hand with her own, feeling the warmth of her skin through the handkerchief between them.
“Cairn will figure things out in his own time. He always does.”
“Lily, why do you think he’s like that? I gave birth to him, but I still can’t read him at all. I have a feeling you might have some idea, though.”
“I’m not sure… Honestly, I don’t really know either.”
Lilien tried an awkward smile. The Grand Duchess let out another deep sigh, and Lilien, who adored her like a mother, suddenly felt an urge to do something—anything—to help, even if it was meddling.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he never married. That would be a real problem, since he’s my only son.”
“I’ll do what I can….I’ll try to help Cairn find a match.”
“You will?”
The Grand Duchess’s eyes lit up, clearly pleased. It was only natural—Cairn and Lilien listened to each other far more than they did to their parents, as friends often do.
“Yes, of course..”
“Thank you, Lily. I actually heard that Miss Eisen Frederick visited recently. I wanted to greet her myself, but they wouldn’t even let me set foot in the guesthouse.”
The Grand Duchess’s meaning was clear, and Lilien understood perfectly: for Cairn Etienne Headington, Eisen Frederick was probably the best possible choice.
“Don’t worry.”
“I always feel reassured knowing Lily is on our side.”
The Grand Duchess patted her shoulder. The heavy conversation had chased away any lingering drowsiness.
“And Lilien.”
The Grand Duchess now looked concerned.
“Maybe you and Cairn should keep a bit more distance from each other, now that you’re both adults. When you were little, people didn’t see you as a boy and girl, but now it’s different.”
The concern wasn’t just hers alone.
“People don’t talk openly about the two of you around me, but I hear things all the same. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”
“…Yes.”
“It would make sense for me to lecture my son, but he never listens. Did you know I already tried talking to him? I told him it was for your sake, but he wouldn’t even pretend to listen.”
Lilien knew the Grand Duchess’s advice was genuine concern for her, not just for Cairn, her son. That made it all the more uncomfortable to hear.
“Scandal doesn’t harm men the way it does women. I can see why your father tries to keep such a close eye on you—any parent of a daughter would feel the same. That’s just the way things are in the Klatt Empire.”
Sensing the Grand Duchess’s thoughtful gaze, Lilien forced a smile.
“I understand.”
The sound of horses’ hooves grew nearer. The sun was now dipping halfway below the horizon, streaks of crimson catching on the glass walls of the conservatory. Lilien’s heart felt as turbulent as the shifting light.
Her finger, pricked by a rose thorn, still throbbed faintly.
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