Chapter 4 (Part 1)

Reinis became even more confused upon seeing that smile.  

She couldn’t understand at all what this man wanted or why he was treating her this way.  

At that moment, a thought flashed through Reinis’s mind.  

“Don’t tell me… were you angry because I called you extravagant…?”  

It was a situation that could have caused yet another misunderstanding, but Theodore simply shook his head without saying a word.  

Was it thanks to the sincerity in his gaze? Reinis calmed her startled heart, placing her hand over her chest to steady herself.  

Time passed briefly, and once she had composed herself, Reinis cautiously observed Theodore’s expression.  

“Now, please tell me. Why were you so angry?”  

At her words, Theodore smiled awkwardly, as if embarrassed, before explaining the situation.  

Hearing from Rio that his expression looked frightening, Theodore had forced himself to smile, worried that Reinis might also be scared. But he confessed, somewhat sheepishly, that he hadn’t realized it would look so terrifying.  

Hearing this, Reinis suddenly burst into laughter.  

It was something she hadn’t expected at all.  

After laughing for quite some time, Reinis finally managed to speak as her laughter subsided.  

“If you distort your face like that, who would ever think it’s a smiling face? You’re smiling so naturally now. I really thought you were furious with me.”  

“Do you… believe me?”  

At Theodore’s words, Reinis tilted her head, pretending to think, before meeting his eyes.  

“Hmm… I think I’d have to see that forced smile again to be sure.”  

“So… do you believe me now?”  

When Reinis shrugged her shoulders in response to his question, Theodore let out a deflated laugh and forced another awkward smile.  

‘If I look closely… it does seem like the corners of his mouth are turned up. But looking at that stiff face, it’s definitely not a natural expression.’  

Having reached this conclusion, Reinis cautiously raised her hand and touched his cheek.  

“Who smiles like this? You usually smile so well…”  

“Are you not scared?”  

“I was scared earlier because I thought you were angry with me, but now that I look at it again, it’s funny. You call this a smiling face?”  

Was it because of her words? Or perhaps because the hand touching his cheek was so soft? Either way, the stiffness in Theodore’s face melted away, and a natural smile spread across his features.  

“You know how to smile so beautifully…”  

“I’ve just realized that I smile when I look at you, My Lady. It seems you’re someone who makes me smile.”  

Theodore gently placed his hand over hers, which was resting on his cheek, and looked at Reinis.  

“You’re so beautiful. Your eyes remind me of the aurora lights shining in the night sky.”  

Reinis, her face turning bright red, quickly lowered her head as if she couldn’t bear to meet his gaze any longer.  

Seeing her adorable reaction, Theodore’s smile grew even brighter as he spoke again.  

“My Lady, I wasn’t lying when I said I would give Ken to you. Earlier, it seemed like Ken liked you as well. What do you think?”  

“A kind and gentle horse like Ken would be wonderful, but… I don’t think I can be Ken’s owner. The truth is, I don’t know how to ride.”  

“…Ah.”  

Letting out a short sigh, Theodore inwardly blamed himself.  

‘How could I make such a mistake, even after investigating her so thoroughly, to the point of knowing that all her tutors were dismissed?’  

As he reprimanded himself, memories of his conversation with Rio in the training hall’s captain’s office came to mind.  

“If you wish, you could learn horseback riding. And My Lady, you are destined to become the Duchess in the future. Wouldn’t it be a good idea to bring in a tutor and receive lessons befitting your position? What do you think?”  

“Lessons…?”  

Seeing him nod with a smile, Reinis swallowed nervously.  

Since the time when Baroness Elina had dismissed all her tutors, Reinis hadn’t received any proper education.  

Even after marrying Plarad and becoming the Countess, she hadn’t received any education, nor had she been allowed to leave the manor. She had never even imagined that she could take lessons again.  

But now, lessons? Surprised by the unexpected suggestion, she stared at him with a blank expression.  

“The tutor will be carefully vetted through background checks and interviews conducted by Rio and me, so you don’t need to worry.” 

Theodore added, perhaps thinking she was concerned about something else.  

By the time Reinis snapped out of her shock, her eyes were sparkling with anticipation.  

‘I always thought learning something was beyond my reach…’  

Noticing the meaning behind her gaze, Theodore spoke again.  

“If there’s a particular lesson you’d like to take, please let me know.”  

“Ho… Horseback riding! I’ve always wanted to try it after watching other ladies riding. Oh, and I’d also like to study economics. I don’t want to lose my head for being too extravagant. And also…”  

Reinis continued speaking with eyes full of hope.  

‘I couldn’t avoid those situations because of my lack of knowledge. So this time… this time…’  

Overwhelmed with excitement at the opportunity to finally receive an education, she poured out all the studies she had wanted to pursue.  

Theodore found her so endearing in her anticipation that he felt like he might lose his mind.  

“It might be difficult to find tutors immediately, but I’ll look into it as quickly as possible. As for horseback riding, once your leg is fully healed, I’ll teach you myself.”  

“What? Y-You, Sir?”  

“Unfortunately, Ken only listens to me, so even if I wanted to assign another instructor, it wouldn’t work. And I don’t think I could stand watching someone else touch you, My Lady.”  

* * *  

Chloe handed out only three of the five invitations she had received from Reinis to her followers.  

She had to act as if the last one had been taken by Earl Plarad, so she left it in her room where it could easily be noticed.  

The red envelope, stamped with the black seal of the Duke’s manor, was eye-catching even when casually placed on the table. Chloe even went so far as to invite her father, the Marquis of Teyshire, into her room to ensure the invitation would be seen.  

“Isn’t this an invitation from the Duke’s manor? We must contact Earl Plarad immediately.”  

As soon as the Marquis of Teyshire spoke, Chloe continued her act.  

“But Father… Ren already has someone she’s going to marry. She introduced him to me, saying he’s not Earl Plarad but another man! I want to respect my friend wishes. So please, don’t tell Earl Plarad about this invitation!”  

“W-What are you saying?”  

The Marquis, flustered by Chloe’s words, asked. In response, Chloe looked at her father with desperate eyes and said,  

“I can’t possibly give this invitation to Earl Plarad. It’s for my friend’s happiness!”  

The Marquis, fully aware that his daughter had no genuine intention of wishing for Reinis’s happiness, nodded as if he understood and left Chloe’s room.  

At the same time, he instructed his aide to immediately send a message to Earl Plarad, asking him to visit the Marquis’s manor as soon as possible if he had no pressing matters.  

Earl Plarad, who had no other engagements, came to the Marquis’s manor as soon as he received the message.  

“You may have already heard from someone, but my daughter recently returned from meeting Lady Reinis.”  

“Ah, yes. The rumors have already spread throughout the empire, so I am aware. Is the young lady doing well?”  

Hearing Plarad’s words, the Marquis furrowed his brow and took a moment to cool his temper.  

‘If only he hadn’t promised me the mine, I wouldn’t even consider giving him this invitation.’  

From the perspective of the Marquis of Teyshire, who already had a solid standing in the Empire, there was no reason to refuse the mine that came rolling in thanks to his connection with the Duke.  

“Lady Martin seems to be doing fine… But do you really have to marry Lady Martin?”  

At the Marquis’s question, Plarad nodded without hesitation.  

Having even offered the mine, which had been the key to the Plarad family receiving the title of Earl, he had no intention of backing down.  

Although the mine’s resources were expected to run dry by next year, from Plarad’s perspective, merely meeting Reinis was a deal too precious to pass up. He still didn’t understand why he had made such an offer, but now that it had come to this, his resolve to never give up on Reinis had only grown stronger.  

“Yes. I do not wish to marry anyone other than Lady Martin.”  

Seeing the resolute look in his eyes, the Marquis nodded, paused briefly, and then spoke.  

“My daughter has an invitation from the Duke’s manor.”  

At the mention of the invitation, Plarad’s eyes sparkled with anticipation as he looked at the Marquis.  

“But it seems she doesn’t want to give it to you.”  

“W-What… What do you mean, Marquis?”  

“It appears that Lady Martin does not wish to marry you. As you know, Chloe has a kind heart and deeply cherishes her friends.”  

“It’s only because Lady Martin hasn’t met me yet. Didn’t I tell you that the Duke’s manor interfered to prevent me from meeting her? That’s why I reached out to you, Marquis, hoping to get help from Lady Chloe, Lady Martin’s closest friend—you know this.”  

The Marquis, pretending to deliberate seriously over Plarad’s words, nodded.  

“This isn’t something I can decide on my own. If I’m not careful, I might end up hurting Chloe’s feelings for her friend. So, why don’t you meet with Chloe directly and talk to her about it?”  

With that, the Marquis called Chloe into the drawing room.