Wildflowers Bloom on the Grand Duchy’s Wall - Chapter 57

Just as Lilien was about to pick up a slice of perfectly ripe peach with her fingers, she suddenly looked up, shaking her head firmly.

“I appreciate it, Cairn. Really, I do. But I can’t accept it. I’ll take your advice and ask my uncle instead. Baron Grenore will be more than willing to help.”

Setting the peach down untouched, Lilien wiped her fingers on a napkin with an air of finality.

“And as for handling the asset sales… With Father laid up in bed, he’ll need someone to act for him, so I’ll ask Christian to help.”

Whenever there was practical business that needed handling at the de Bermore house, and Lilien had to step in, she always turned to Christian for help. Even when Cairn, who was much closer by, tried to assist, she would stubbornly refuse.

It had been the same when the land laws were revised. Even though Cairn—heir to Headington—was perfectly capable, she’d still chosen Christian.

“Cairn, I do appreciate it, but this is my responsibility. Let me handle it.”

And even now, while she was willing to use Cairn’s name to persuade her father, she just couldn’t bring herself to accept his direct help.

“Why not me?”

Cairn asked, his brow furrowing. Lilien replied, almost as if it was obvious.

“Because… we’re not family.”

Cairn let out a bitter laugh, his gaze drifting to a distant spot. She hadn’t meant anything by it, but the way she dropped the word ‘not family’ so casually only made it sting all the more.

“Not family. Right. We’re not. In that case, how about this?”

Prodded by her words he finally said what he’d wanted to say all along.

He’d hoped to approach this properly, to wait until the Count recovered and ask formally. But the words tumbled out before he could stop himself.

One way or another, it had to be said. Lilien needed someone, and Cairn was willing—no, eager—to be that person.

“Marry me.”

Please. Just for a second, he set aside his pride. Lilien was in desperate straits; at this point, she would have to say yes to any respectable man who asked, just to survive.

“What are you talking about?”

Lilien blinked rapidly, her bright blue eyes reflecting the delicate flutter of the lace curtains behind Cairn.

“I mean exactly what I said.”

And maybe… maybe this was the perfect moment.

“No.”

But Lilien gave an unexpected but exactly what he should have expected from her.

“No, Cairn. I can’t.”

“Why not? Is it me?”

“What are you talking about now!”

Clearly offended, Lilien slammed her fist down on the table. Of course, with her soft hands, it barely made a sound.

“That’s not it at all! You should find a good woman. You’re an incredible man, Cairn. Choosing a wife out of friendship or loyalty—that’s not the right way. And besides, you’re set to inherit the Grand Duchy someday.”

Her determined tone was even more unyielding than the Grand Duchess’s attempts to persuade him earlier.

“That might work out for me, but it’d be the worst thing for you.”

She gulped down her milk in a huff, not even noticing the white ring it left on her upper lip as she stomped her foot.

“You… how do you expect to survive in this cruel world when you’re this soft-hearted? I know you feel sorry for me. I know you’re worried about my family, even if you don’t show it. But making a life decision out of pity isn’t right.”

When Cairn offered her a napkin to wipe the milk away, Lilien snatched it and cleaned herself up without a word.

“And besides, that’s not the kind of relationship we have. Sure, maybe all this is my fault, but still… that’s not who we are, Cairn.”

Her brow furrowed as she shook her head.

“Marriage? Us? That’s just… it doesn’t make sense.”

Seeing his clenched jaw and the tension in his face, Lilien hurried to reassure him.

“By the way, just so you know, you don’t have to worry—I’m not going to get pregnant just from that.”

Back in the shower after leaving his arms, she’d briefly panicked at the thought of being pregnant, but after mentally retracing the night, she realized they’d stopped before anything really happened, and there was no completion.

“So you don’t need to feel responsible, okay? Last night was just… a mistake.”

For some reason, Cairn’s eyes grew colder than before as he heard that.

“…A mistake?”