Chapter 45
The single sentence Cairn casually tossed out, as if it were a simple greeting, sent shockwaves through the palace.
“As for Lilien—alright, I’ll be honest. I do care about her, but not as a match for you.”
Grand Duke Headington, apparently already aware of Cairn’s feelings, calmly set down his knife.
Of all the people seated at the massive table, only the Grand Duchess looked truly shocked. In truth, she’d had a vague sense of her son’s attachment, but she’d never expected him to be so blunt and unwavering about it.
“There’s no need to rush this. Take your time and think it through.”
The Grand Duchess coaxed him, realizing any outright refusal would be pointless. She was trying to buy time.
“Are you objecting because of Count de Bermore’s business troubles?”
Cairn’s voice was gentle despite his fierce expression.
The Grand Duchess had noticed that, ever since Cairn grew close to Lilien, he’d at least become more outwardly affectionate. But that warmth was only surface-level. If you listened carefully, his words were as cool and cutting as ever.
“Yes, that’s part of it. Isn’t it only natural?”
“If it’s the risk of the Count’s bankruptcy that’s troubling you, I already have a solution in mind. Since currency value is gradually declining, I’ve decided to liquidate some of my bonds. A portion of those…”
The Klatt Empire followed a strict primogeniture system, and by custom, the family head was expected to pass on some assets to his eldest son as soon as he came of age. While a few families had managed to avoid this for special reasons, the Grand Duke had already transferred part of the estate, ships, and some bonds to his only son.
“…will go to Lilien. That should help stabilize the Count’s affairs, at least to some extent.”
“So you’re just going to do whatever you want?”
“Yes. It’s mine now, after all. I’m thinking of it as a dowry.”
Traditionally, a dowry was money given by the bride’s family to the groom’s, except in rare cases where the man was far wealthier but of lower status. So what Cairn was suggesting was technically possible, but highly irregular.
“If that’s what will put your mind at ease, then do as you wish.”
The Grand Duchess supposed that, since the children had grown up together, offering Lilien some financial help could be allowed. But—
“Marriage is another matter entirely. The real issue here is Lilien. More specifically… it’s about Carlin de Bermore.”
There was another major reason Lilien was being overlooked in the marriage market. It was a crude rumor, one the Grand Duchess hated to repeat, but she had no choice if she wanted to talk Cairn out of this.
“Carlin died in childbirth, remember?”
It was Lilien’s fatal flaw as a bride. The stigma followed her everywhere as a woman who can’t bear children, just like her mother—so she’ll never provide an heir.
That rumor stuck to Lilien even more persistently because of her frail health and timid personality, making her seem weaker still.
That was why the Grand Duke had tried to arrange for Lilien to marry the son of Marquis Partman, who lived far away—out of reach of the rumors.
“I’ve lost a friend before. Do you have any idea how painful that was? What if Lilien—”
The Grand Duchess was terrified that Lilien might die in childbirth, just as her mother had. Her fears were for both Cairn and Lilien.
“Mother, that’s not a problem for me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not marrying for the sake of heirs, like some animal. I don’t care if we never have children.”
In one breath, Cairn had managed to insult every noble in Klatt as a breeding-obsessed barbarian and drank some water. He hadn’t even touched the wine so he was perfectly sober.
“Then what exactly are you planning?”
“Well, you and Father are both in good health, so you can focus on producing a new Headington heir yourselves. I’ll transfer the title and inheritance rights without complaint to any new child you have.”
The Grand Duchess suddenly felt she must have raised a lunatic. She’d doted on him, her only child born late in life, and now he was proving to be even more willful than his father.
“At the very least, Mother, you should be grateful you won’t have to welcome a male bride into the family, as some rumors have suggested.”
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