Chapter 2.8

It had been just over three months since their marriage.  

Alec had suddenly sent news of his engagement. His fiancée was the youngest daughter of a fairly prominent family.  

The letter was filled with meaningless flowery language, but its intent was clear.  

「I trust you’ll attend and celebrate with me, Solnia.」 

The rushed nature of the engagement, which had never been mentioned before, could be attributed to a few reasons:  

Perhaps the two had conceived a child, or one of them was being sold off to the other.  

Or maybe it was simply to summon her back.  

Whatever the reason, Solnia’s answer was the same.  

“I’m not going.”  

She had no intention of returning to the capital.  

She had only just escaped. The process hadn’t been easy.  

Pretending she had received a proposal she hadn’t, pretending there was a man desperate to keep her by his side, she had used Luette Trovill as a shield to hastily secure this marriage.  

If she ever returned to the capital, it would only be after her coming-of-age ceremony, inheriting her fortune, and finalizing her divorce.  

“You’re not going?”  

Luette immediately frowned.  

“This is Alec’s engagement. How can you not go? Do you think that makes sense?”  

“I don’t want to go. Besides, it’s customary for you to attend public events.”  

“And I’ve handled all of them so far. But this is your brother’s engagement.”  

It seemed Luette’s patience, stretched thin by the sudden marriage and relocation, had finally reached its limit.  

“Yes, it’s an engagement, not a wedding. It’s enough for you to attend.”  

“Alec is not my brother.”  

“And a contract is a contract.”  

Luette Trovill looked at her as if he were utterly disgusted. His gaze was one of unmistakable contempt.  

“Do as you wish.”  

After a long silence, he left her with those words and exited the study.  

Solnia found out two days later that Luette had been overwhelmed with work due to the sudden marriage and relocation. These days, he often fell asleep at his desk without even making it to the bedroom.  

She felt a pang of guilt.  

Even though it was a contract, Luette had never once blamed her. Of course, their relationship wasn’t close enough for such conversations, but still…  

Most of all…  

‘Do as you wish.’  

She didn’t want to see that look of contempt again.  

Perhaps that’s why she began to entertain the thought.  

If someone who had shared her goals, who had agreed to this absurd contract marriage,  

‘Hello, Solnia.’  

If it were someone who had known her for a long time, maybe they would believe her.  

That’s why she had crossed over to the main house late at night.  

She still remembered that night vividly.  

The study, lit only by a reading lamp, had an inviting atmosphere, but the man sitting inside exuded a sharp energy.  

Even from his slightly disheveled appearance, Solnia could tell how on edge he was.  

It certainly wasn’t the best time to bring up a dark and heavy topic. But…  

“What is it?”  

It was too late to turn back now. So Solnia spoke.  

“There’s something I want to tell you.”  

“Go on.”  

“The reason I don’t want to go to the capital… it’s because—”  

“Miss Solnia.”  

Luette Trovill let out a bitter laugh and interrupted her.  

“If it’s about that, I’ve heard enough. Please, no more.”  

“I just want to explain why I don’t want to go to the capital. I—”  

“I said enough.”  

“……”  

“I don’t care what it is. I don’t want to know.”  

The way he shook his head, as if truly exhausted, was enough to shatter the hope she had carried with her to the main house.  

“I’ll handle this matter myself, so let’s not bring it up again.”  

“……”  

“I don’t want to waste any more time or emotions on this.”  

That was all he said. After those words, he didn’t look at her once until she left the study.

***

It had been a foolish time. Even now, confessing the past to someone wouldn’t change a thing.  

Moreover, revealing her insignificant personal circumstances might lead him to annul this contract marriage.  

It was, after all, a contract formed because they both wanted something from each other. At a time when proving her worth was crucial, such a foolish act seemed unthinkable.  

It was stupid. Foolish. There would never be anything in her life she regretted more.  

The gently turning carriage soon came to a stop. At the entrance, about twenty servants had already lined up, waiting for the couple.  

“We’ve arrived, Young Master.”  

The coachman’s call was heard, and the carriage door opened.  

Luette Trovill, who had alighted first, extended his hand. His lips curved slightly upward, seemingly conscious of the surrounding gazes.  

Solnia gazed at his face for a moment before taking his hand with a light smile and stepping down.  

“Welcome home, Young Master. Young Madam.”  

Led by the butler and the housekeeper, the servants all bowed their heads.  

“We’ll finish the greetings tomorrow. My wife is quite tired today and needs to rest early.”  

“Yes, Young Master.”  

“Gwen, please guide my wife to the bedroom.”  

At his words, a housekeeper named Gwen approached Solnia. Before Solnia followed Gwen inside, Luette spoke in a rather affectionate tone.  

“Go ahead and rest. I have some matters to check on.”  

Luette Trovill, speaking in such a manner, truly seemed like a husband. He appeared entirely different from the man who had just told her to wake up from her daze in the carriage.  

Solnia smiled warmly at him.  

“Don’t overwork yourself. You must be more exhausted than I am.”  

“It won’t take more than an hour. Rest well.”  

As if he might kiss her cheek, he leaned in but passed her by, heading straight into the house.  

This was the nature of their relationship. Two people bound together by necessity.  

A relationship that was no more and no less than one of mutual utility, destined to end when their usefulness to each other expired.  

“Could you guide me to the bedroom?”  

Solnia smiled brightly at the housekeeper.  

***

The dining hall of the Oberon Mansion was filled with incessant laughter.  

Starting with Dowager Heston, ladies renowned in the capital’s social circles had all gathered. Being invited to Dowager Heston’s dinner party in early May was almost like a customary ritual.  

“This time, it will be the most beautiful party yet, won’t it, Madame?”  

The “beautiful party” referred to Dowager Heston’s seventieth birthday party, set to take place in two days.  

“How could even your birthday fall on such a date? It marks the beginning of the social season!”  

Starting with one lady’s admiration, others began showering Dowager Heston with praise, even marveling at how extraordinary her birth date was.  

The Dowager spoke with a gentle expression.  

“Unfortunately, there’s nothing particularly special about being seventy. One thing that does bring me joy, however, is that the children from Greenroad will come to sing this time.”  

“Oh my!”  

Greenroad was known as the kingdom’s most impoverished region and also the location of the orphanage that the Dowager Madame supported most generously.  

To share as much as one has.  

The Dowager always said this and took the lead in helping the underprivileged and neglected. People praised her as the epitome of true nobility.  

“I could never even dare to attempt such a thing… Truly, your character is unparalleled, Madame.”  

“Indeed, such things cannot be imitated. They are innate.”  

Everyone nodded in agreement. At that moment, a young-faced lady cautiously spoke up.  

“Um… Madame, will the Countess of Melfir also attend this season?”  

Though it was a trivial question, silence briefly filled the room. The ladies looked at the young woman with forced, benevolent smiles.  

“Viscountess Dallohart, please refrain from mentioning her. The Dowager misses her dearly.”  

“Indeed. Besides, the Countess of Melfir is said to be recuperating in her estate.”  

The true meaning behind their beautifully disguised smiles and words was clear: ‘Read the room and keep quiet if you don’t know better.’ Realizing her mistake belatedly, Viscountess Dallohart became flustered.  

“I’m sorry, Madame. I spoke without thinking…”  

“It’s alright. I don’t mind.”  

The Dowager Madame sent a warm gaze toward the flustered viscountess and then lifted her chin.  

“There’s something I wish to tell you all.”  

“…”  

“In fact, I’ve been itching to share this, and Viscountess Dallohart has kindly given me the opportunity.”  

Dowager Heston took a deep breath, as if about to announce something of great importance. Then, with a smile as radiant as a dreaming girl’s, she spoke.  

“Solnia has come. She’s here to celebrate my birthday.”  

The ladies widened their eyes at her words. Everyone knew how dearly the Dowager Madame cherished the Heston siblings, whom she had practically raised herself, and how she especially regarded the frail second child as her weak spot.  

“Congratulations, Madame.”  

“You must already feel as though you’ve received a grand gift.”  

The Dowager nodded.  

“I was secretly hurt that she hadn’t visited, perhaps because she found life with me stifling. But it seems she hasn’t forgotten my birthday and has come to celebrate it.”  

“Please don’t say such things! We all know how devoted you’ve been, Madame. The Countess of Melfir is still young; that’s all.”  

Amid the pouring reassurances, the Dowager Madame smiled deeply. Her blue eyes, scanning the room, were more animated than ever.  

“Whatever the case, I’m content that Solnia has returned.”  

“…”  

“Who knows when I’ll see her again? I intend to enjoy this party to the fullest.”  

The ladies seemed ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work at once. Watching them, the Dowager Madame recalled the earlier incident.  

‘…I’m fine.’  

That girl, who once wouldn’t dare utter a word of defiance, had now reached the point of talking back. It was astonishing. Perhaps it was because she was still unaware of what was to come.  

“I only hope she’ll like it.”  

The Dowager was certain of one thing: Solnia’s marriage was not genuine. She knew that the good-for-nothing man, whose only redeeming feature was his face, did not love Solnia.  

Nor would he ever.  

Thus, this farcical pretense of a married couple would be brought to an end.