Chapter 5 (Part 2)

Hernes smiled and picked up the teacup. The angle of her slightly lifted hand, the slight lowering of her eyes, and the speed at which she placed the teacup down all exuded a unique perfection.

She seemed to have mastered noble etiquette perfectly.

“I think the only person who can put out the fire in Cardin right now is you, Brienne. What do you think?”

Brienne. Hearing her name from Hernes’s lips felt strangely foreign. It made her ears perk up even more.

“You think I’m the only one?”

“Right now, Cardin only shows interest in you.”

“……”

“No matter how good a marriage prospect there is, Cardin shows no interest. It’s a pity. If he were to connect with such a family, things would be easier than they are now.”

“But I…”

“That’s why I think you are even more necessary, Brienne. Because the fire that once burned will eventually go out.”

Her heart sank miserably. In the end, it seemed Hernes wanted her to make Cardin give up on his own. Because she couldn’t stop him now.

“Do you really think Cardin’s feelings will dull over time?”

Brienne was curious about what Cardin’s mother thought.

“The fire will eventually go out. And didn’t you say it yourself? That you’re inadequate to be by Cardin’s side.”

It was true, so Brienne couldn’t say more. As she stayed silent, Hernes added,

“Anyway, I hope you can enjoy everything by marrying Cardin and then step back appropriately. Right now, Cardin needs a better marriage prospect than anyone else.”

In the end, it was good for Cardin. If she could repay the debt he had paid off for her in any way, even like this. Although Cardin had paid off her debt, saying he was sorry, she still cared about that debt.

Especially because it wasn’t a small amount.

“I’ll do it, I’ll marry him.”

That’s why those words had to come out. It seemed like the best solution for now.

Hernes smiled and signaled to the servant beside her. It was the servant who had been standing near Hernes from the beginning.

“You made a good decision. I found it interesting that you had a clear understanding of yourself from the start, and you make good judgments.”

Brienne wasn’t sure if it was a compliment. As she remained silent, a pleasing teacup was placed in front of her. Unlike the tea the maid had served earlier, it was a reddish color. Almost like blood.

“It’s a tea I cherish. Since we communicated well, I think we should celebrate.”

“Thank you.”

“Drink.”

She carefully held the teacup. It was moderately hot. Taking a sip, it tasted bitter. It was enough to make her frown momentarily.

As she set the teacup down, she inadvertently looked ahead and met Hernes’s eyes. Hernes gently lifted the corners of her mouth and drank her tea.

The teacup was lowered. The tea she drank was a different color from the one she had.

“Does the tea suit your taste?”

She spoke belatedly.

“It’s a bit bitter, but I think I’ll get used to it if I drink it often.”

Hernes’s mouth lifted pleasantly.

“Drink it often. It’s good tea.”

Brienne nodded. A heavy silence flowed for a moment. Brienne felt a gaze. Hernes’s eyes were gentle yet unreservedly piercing.

Her heart, which had been tense earlier, started racing again. Tick-tock. The sound of the second hand echoed loudly in her ears. Just as Brienne felt she should say something, Hernes stood up. As Brienne belatedly stood up, she felt dizzy for a moment.

Thinking it was because she stood up suddenly, she just exhaled when Hernes lightly held her hand and said,

“There’s no need to follow me out.”

Hernes smiled and left the drawing room. Brienne blankly watched Hernes’s back before sitting in the chair. Then there was the sound of someone running quickly.

“Madam, Lady Hernes left you a gift of tea. She said to drink it consistently every day.”

Brienne looked at the teacup in front of her. It was too dark red. It was chillingly so. The taste was bitter, and she didn’t like the color, but since Hernes gave it to her, she couldn’t throw it away.

She said it was good tea. She said she cherished it especially.

Brienne hesitated for a moment before drinking the remaining red tea. It still tasted bitter. Among herbs, those with a strong bitter taste sometimes had better efficacy.

Thinking of such a taste, she finished the tea. Then she told Melin,

“Serve the tea every morning.”

“I will. Is there anything else you need?”

Brienne shook her head.

* * *

As soon as Hernes got into the carriage, she took out a handkerchief to wipe her hands. Although she hadn’t touched her, just having a conversation with someone from such a family was unpleasant.

Moreover, she was the daughter of the family that almost brought down Messerode Bank.

Just thinking about it made Hernes chuckle.

“Crazy fool.”

She sneered at her son and took out a blue perfume bottle from her pocket. As if trying to erase the unpleasant experience, she sprayed the perfume around and opened the middle door of the carriage.

“Go to Audrad and prepare a very strong medicine that prevents conception. Make it taste sweet so it’s easy to consume, and add stronger herbs.”

“Yes. I will prepare it soon.”

With the polite voice, Hernes closed the middle door. Since Cardin wasn’t marrying the person Hernes wanted, this time she’d use another method.

Luckily, Brienne seemed to understand her position very well and appeared to have no greed, but…

‘One never knows.’

So Hernes prepared a tea that induced infertility. Even if Cardin parted ways with Brienne later, the dirty bloodline shouldn’t continue.

Although the entire process was bothersome and awkward, Hernes didn’t complain and looked out the carriage window.

Soon, things would go as she wanted, so she just had to wait patiently. Even thinking that way, Hernes wasn’t particularly happy. It had always been that way and was natural.

Her face bore neither a smile nor a frown, just a firm indifference and boredom. Her gaze toward the carriage window was as cold as ever.

* * *

Cardin returned before the sun set. As soon as he got off the carriage, he hugged her and whispered near her neck.

“Did you have a good day?”

When she nodded, Cardin wrapped his arm around her waist and spoke.

“I heard Mother visited today.”

“How did you know?”

Cardin looked at her loosely.

“Mother mentioned it, asking why I hadn’t introduced you.”

“Oh, I was going to tell you.”

“Mother said something unpleasant to you, didn’t she?”

Rather than unpleasant, it was overly honest.

“No.”

His eyes, which had a hint of laughter, subtly hardened.

“Are you sure Mother didn’t say anything to you?”

“She just… gave her permission for us to marry.”

Cardin’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Permission?”

“Yes, she told me to get along with you.”

Cardin let out an incredulous laugh.

“Did Mother really say that?”

She nodded. He looked at her with a firm gaze and asked,

“What about you?”

“What about me?”

Cardin pulled her closer with the arm around her waist. For a moment, they were close enough for their breaths to touch.

“About marrying me.”

His voice was low and serious. She had already talked with Cardin’s mother, and there was no reason to refuse anymore.

“I will.”

Unable to meet his eyes, Cardin cupped her cheek with one hand.

“Why are you saying something so important without looking at me?”

When she nervously lifted her gaze, Cardin smiled and kissed her. Anyway, he seemed pleased with her words.

For a moment, their softly touching lips felt hot. The warm breath scattered, and his tongue slid into her mouth.

Every time he tilted his head slightly and touched tongues, her breath caught. Their bodies met more persistently. As she slightly tried to pull back, Cardin pulled away.

“Shall we have dinner in the room?”

When she blinked at the sudden question, he smiled and continued.

“I came early to be with you.”

Cardin gently touched her cheek while subtly brushing his leg against hers.

“Is that okay?”

She nodded. He naturally lifted her and walked to the room. As she looked up in surprise, Cardin smiled and asked,

“Why?”

He seemed to know why she looked up, but he simply watched her with sparkling eyes. She moved her legs while leaning on his body.

She wondered if he was having a hard time.

“Aren’t you tired?”

“No, every time I lift you, I just think I should feed you more.”

Cardin looked down at her.

“Eat a lot. Here, you’ll have everything without lacking.”

“It wasn’t lacking there either.”

He chuckled and opened the door. Cardin set her on the table and pulled the bell cord. Shortly after, several servants entered as if they had been waiting.

The table was filled with an abundance of food, enough for two people to struggle to finish. Overflowing sausages, rich tomato salad, roasted meat, and more.

“This is all for us.”

“Can we eat all of this?”

Cardin smiled and kissed her cheek.

“Yes.”

“I don’t think I can.”

Cardin gently tucked her hair behind her ear and said,

“Still, eat. They said you left some of your lunch.”

How did he know that? 

She only left a little because she was full. Looking at the food in front of her, she spoke.

“There’s no need to prepare so much. It’s a waste of ingredients if we can’t finish it…”

“Brienne, this isn’t Peroy.”

“……”

“If there are leftovers, we can eat them tomorrow, so don’t worry.”

Cardin softly lifted the corners of his mouth. When he mentioned Peroy, a strange barrier seemed to form. It felt like they lived in different places from the start. At that moment, Cardin personally cut some meat and placed it on her plate. 

It was a lot. She had much to say but picked up her fork.