Chapter 13

The expression and demeanor of Rosalie, who had always calmly received uninvited guests like a noble lady, suddenly twisted. Her efforts to straighten her distorted expression, with eyes strained enough to show red veins, were almost pitiful.

Her desperate shaking of her head, clutching her innocent fingers as if they might break, looked like someone sentenced to hell.

She had always shuddered at the mention of the Duke of Vinzetten since childhood, so it was only natural that she loathed the idea.

That very Rosalie suddenly declaring she would marry the Duke of Vinzetten brought on a flood of concern.

While trying to make sense of Rosalie’s sudden change of heart, the damned voice of Norman Cailon echoed in her mind.

“Is it because of what Norman Cailon said? That nonsense about Philip wanting it.”

It seemed Rosalie had faltered slightly at Norman’s words that had stabbed recklessly into her sore spots. Countess Kinson spoke more firmly than ever.

“Don’t pay attention to that man’s words. Just because there’s a document left behind doesn’t mean you have to marry the Duke of Vinzetten against your will. Above all, Rosalie, your feelings are the most important.”

“Yes, Rosalie. Don’t rush to a decision. It’s okay to take your time and decide slowly.”

“I shouldn’t have let Norman Cailon into the mansion…”

Baroness Whitman chimed in beside her, and Countess Kinson sighed with deep regret like a whispered monologue.

Rosalie, chewing and swallowing a piece of sliced cake, wiped the cream from her lips with a handkerchief and said,

“It’s not something I’m being forced into. I’m telling you this because I want to, Grandmother.”

Countess Kinson, who knew Rosalie’s situation better than anyone else, could hardly believe her granddaughter’s words. What could have caused such a steadfast heart to flip so completely?

“There was a time when I resented the duke’s family unjustly, simply because I had suffered a painful parting when I left their estate. But spending time with His Grace here in the capital has made me reflect on those immature feelings.”

“……”

“If Father, Mother, and my brother were still alive, I would naturally have become the Duchess of Vinzetten. So I want to carry on that will. It may have started as my father’s wish, but now it’s mine too.”

Rosalie took the wrinkled hand of Countess Kinson sitting beside her.

“I truly want to become the Duchess of Vinzetten. Please don’t worry so much and think of it positively, Grandmother. You’ve always said you wanted to see me build a family.”

“Won’t you regret it? It’s fine to accept the bond arranged by your parents, but you have the right to become a family with someone you truly love.”

“My father and mother chose him as my husband after much deliberation—why would there be any reason for me not to love him?”

There wasn’t the slightest hint of trepidation on Rosalie’s face. After studying her granddaughter’s serene expression for a long while, Countess Kinson finally smiled kindly and stroked Rosalie’s cheek.

“If this is what you truly want, then it pleases me as well. I’ll send word to Norman Cailon. But if your feelings change at any time, you must tell me immediately.”

Rosalie answered with a bright, petal-soft smile and nodded.

Once tea was finished, Rosalie returned to her room and shut the door. Leaning against it, she let her strength drain away and slid down the wall to the floor.

For days she’d practiced in front of the mirror, rehearsing every word she would say today. The line about how she could not help but love Kenneth had nearly made her retch the first time. Yet all that relentless drilling had paid off—she’d delivered it even more perfectly than in practice.

She didn’t want to lie to her beloved grandmother, but securing permission to marry the Duke of Vinzetten left her no choice.

“Won’t you regret it?”

Regret. Rosalie mouthed the sigh-like word inside her mind.

She tried to picture herself building a warm family with some other man, but every vision dissolved into a pale haze, showing her it was nothing but a futile fantasy.

Steeling her wavering heart, she etched her resolve deep into her chest once more.

She would become Kenneth’s wife, strip him of all happiness, and return to him the pain she had felt—exactly as she had felt it.

With that conviction, she was certain she would never regret her choice.

***

A rather shabby carriage stopped in front of the Vinzetten dukedom’s estate. Norman Cailon alighted, a broad grin on his face. Rosalie had agreed to the arranged marriage with the Duke of Vinzetten. After insisting she would rather die than marry him, she’d finally come to her senses.

Well, of course—this was a ducal house. Without that document he’d found, he himself would never have dared to aim so high; becoming a duchess was an opportunity too tempting to refuse.

Rosalie had added one more request: she asked that the duke’s household be told she had simply forgotten about the betrothal contract because she’d been so young when it was signed, and that she had been waiting for them to contact her.

When the driver shut the carriage door, it gave an unpleasant creak. He’d sold the expensive coach to pay gambling debts and bought this cheap one instead, and it certainly looked the part.

Norman, thinking that he would first replace his carriage once Rosalie repaid him for connecting her with the Vinzetten ducal house, stepped into the manor.

His curiosity about the grand reception room faded quickly.

“That brat’s got some nerve. So what if he’s a duke? Even so, there should be such a thing as a scheduled appointment!” As the wait dragged on, his patience wore thin.

Even reaching the dukedom had taken quite a while. Unlike with the Kinson estate, storming in unannounced wouldn’t work here—he’d had to send a letter and arrange a date.

At first, he was coldly rejected. But once he mentioned Rosalie’s name, he finally secured an audience with the duke. Judging by that, it seemed the arranged marriage could proceed without much resistance.

Norman took a deep breath to regain his composure. After a bit more waiting, a knock came at the reception room door, followed by the attendant’s voice. Rising to his feet, Norman offered the most courteous greeting he could muster to his precious source of money.

“Pleased to meet you, Duke Vinzetten. I am Norman Cailon. Thank you for graciously accepting this meeting.”

“Let’s keep this brief, Baron Norman Cailon. I haven’t much time to spare for you.”

Clenching his molars, Norman forced himself to sit down across from Kenneth and got straight to the point.

“I believe it’s time we honored the agreement between our two houses, which is why I’ve come.”

“An agreement between the houses of Cailon… Rosalie Cailon and Riden Cailon…”

Kenneth mentally recited the unfamiliar yet oddly familiar names. What sort of promise could he have made with people he alone didn’t remember?

He accepted the envelope Norman handed him, untied the string, opened it, and pulled out the document inside. As he read the contents slowly, something flickered in his eyes.

“Rosalie Cailon and Kenneth Vinzetten shall be wed upon reaching adulthood…”

At the bottom of the document were the clearly marked seals of both houses—unmistakably that of the Vinzetten dukedom, in his father’s handwriting.

When Kenneth set the paper down, Norman hastily snatched it back. If Kenneth decided to reject the idea and tear up the only proof they had, it would be a disaster.

“I’ve never heard anything about this agreement from my father, the former Duke of Vinzetten.”

“Even if you haven’t heard of it, the document remains intact. Promises exist to be kept, so I believe it would be right to proceed as written.”

Kenneth fell into deep thought. His parents would never have kept something this important from him. The fact that it was his first time hearing about it suggested the agreement might have already been annulled, meaning he’d have to confirm the truth.

It was a matter he couldn’t respond to immediately—and so, perhaps it was best to send Norman Cailon back for now.

Instead of words of dismissal, something else came out of Kenneth’s mouth.

“Is Lady Cailon aware of this document as well?”

“But of course. Our Rosalie wishes to proceed according to the agreement.”

Letting out a laugh that sounded almost like a scoff, Kenneth rose from his seat and said,

“I’ll consider it for now.”