Chapter 7 (Part 3)

The fiancé arrived after lunch.  

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Bucklew. I’m Jonathan Huntley.”  

“I’m Cecilia Bucklew.”  

Their introduction took place at a table set up in the garden. The Viscountess had arranged for them to enjoy tea together.  

It was surprising enough that someone who usually didn’t care about Cecilia had gone out of her way to prepare such a setting. But it only meant one thing: she was desperate for Cecilia to marry quickly, which was far from pleasing.  

Cecilia picked up the teacup in front of her and studied Baron Huntley’s face as he sat across from her.  

A pale face, prominent cheekbones, a sharp jawline—his thin, ghostly features gave off an eerie impression.  

The crazed look in his eyes as he stared at her was enough to imagine how obsessively attached he must have been to his previous wife.  

To marry a man like this…  

Cecilia’s first impression of him was so unpleasant that it made her realize just how much Viscount Bucklew must have hated her mother to push for this marriage.  

Baron Huntley’s gaze was so lecherous as he looked her up and down with a smile that it sent shivers down her spine.  

“You look exactly like your portrait.”  

“Ah, yes.”  

Cecilia gave a short reply, maintaining a proper distance from him. A heavy silence fell between them.  

Then, Baron Huntley raised his hand, showing off the jewel rings on all his fingers except his thumb.  

“If you marry me, you’ll be happy. Look at these jewels. Do you see how wealthy I am?”  

Rubies, sapphires, pearls… The various gemstones sparkled so brightly under the sunlight that they were almost blinding. However, gathered together like that, their individual beauty seemed diminished.  

Looking at his hand, Cecilia realized that Baron Huntley had no sense of aesthetics. To him, anything flashy was beautiful.  

Am I just another possession he wants to collect, like those jewels?  

The thought made her skin crawl.  

As he continued to boast about his rings, his expression suddenly twisted into a scowl as he looked her over.  

“That tacky dress doesn’t suit my taste. The Bucklew family must be really poor.”  

His gaze compared her dress to his rings, clearly finding it pitiful. It was likely meant to insult the Bucklew family, but Cecilia didn’t feel offended. In fact, she wished he would insult them even more.  

Ah!  

At that moment, Cecilia realized she might be able to use Baron Huntley to exact revenge on the Viscount, who had tormented her for so long.  

“Where would you like to hold the engagement ceremony? I think it would be better to have it at the Huntley estate. The Bucklew estate is too small and shabby for such an event.”  

Engagement ceremonies were traditionally held at the bride’s home, but Baron Huntley shook his head as he glanced around, clearly displeased with the estate.  

When he brought up the topic of the engagement venue, Cecilia couldn’t have been happier. She wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip by.  

“No. I’d like to hold the engagement ceremony here.”  

“Why?”  

Baron Huntley sneered as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.  

“Once we’re married, I won’t be able to visit often. So I’d like to spend a little more time here before then.”  

“Ah, I see. That makes sense. Then let’s hold the engagement ceremony here. But after we’re married, you’ll come live with me at the Huntley estate.”  

Fortunately, he agreed to her suggestion without much resistance.  

“Thank you.”  

Cecilia smiled.  

Spend more time at the estate?  

That was a lie. Once Rasilia was married, Cecilia had no reason to stay here any longer.  

The real reason she wanted the engagement ceremony to be held at the Bucklew estate was to make the Viscountess suffer. If the ceremony were held here, the Viscountess would have to handle all the preparations, and Viscount Bucklew wouldn’t be able to avoid getting involved either.  

After that, Baron Huntley continued to talk about various details regarding the engagement, but Cecilia always sided with the most expensive options. She wanted him to spend as much money as possible so that the financial burden on Viscount Bucklew would increase.  

As she played along with Baron Huntley’s desires, a faint smile began to spread across Cecilia’s lips.  

***

“Just as I thought, he’s a terrible man. Did you see his eyes? Just meeting his gaze sent chills down my spine.”  

After Baron Huntley left, Rasilia visited Cecilia’s room and shared her impressions of him. His unusual demeanor had clearly unsettled her as well.  

“I can’t let you marry a man like that, Sister. I’m against this marriage! I’ll try to persuade Father again.”  

“It’s no use.”  

Cecilia shook her head.  

“Then what will you do? Are you just going to accept this marriage?”  

“Of course not.”  

While talking with Baron Huntley earlier, Cecilia had already decided how she would take revenge on Viscount Bucklew. She planned to carry out her first step methodically.  

“Do you have another plan? If not, should I come up with one for you?”  

“No, that won’t be necessary. Rasilia, I’m more worried about you. I don’t have anyone I love, but you do. It’s so unfair that you have to be separated from the person you love.”  

Cecilia deliberately changed the subject to Rasilia’s engagement.  

“Do you think so too, Sister?”  

Rasilia’s face quickly grew teary, and the conversation about Cecilia’s marriage was forgotten in an instant.  

“Yes. I want you to be happy. I don’t want to see you living unhappily under Father’s control.”  

Cecilia genuinely hoped for Rasilia’s happiness. She wanted her to leave Viscount Bucklew’s oppressive grasp.  

Of course, it wouldn’t be easy for Rasilia to sever ties with their parents. But for Viscount Bucklew to truly feel the impact, Rasilia needed to leave of her own accord.  

“Actually, I don’t want to follow Father’s orders either. So… I’ve been thinking about leaving with Dein. I’ve been hesitating all this time, but hearing you say this has solidified my decision.”  

Although it was exactly what Cecilia had hoped for, she pretended to be surprised.  

“Father and Mother love you. Can you really abandon them?”  

“I love them too. But I want to choose love over them. I’m not planning to cut ties completely. I just won’t live with them anymore. I’ll still let them know that I’m happy. After all, no matter who I marry, the outcome would be the same.”

“Your engagement? If you disappear, won’t it be annulled? Do you think Father will stay quiet about that?”  

“I know it’ll cause trouble for them. But what else can I do? I’ve already told Father and Mother how I feel several times. I think they should take care of the aftermath themselves.”  

No matter how much Rasilia declared she wouldn’t marry, Viscount Bucklew and the Viscountess had no intention of listening to her. It seemed Rasilia was willing to make such an extreme decision just to stay by Dein’s side.  

The more they opposed her, the more Rasilia’s love burned, something the Viscount and Viscountess failed to foresee. As a result, they would lose the daughter they cherished so much. They would regret it after she ran away, but by then, it would already be too late.  

“And also…”  

As Cecilia’s lips curled into a slight smile, Rasilia hesitated again.  

“What is it? You can tell me anything.”  

“I wish you would come with me, Sister. I don’t want you to marry that strange man.”  

Hearing Rasilia’s words, Cecilia was deeply moved. Despite having so many worries about her own future, Rasilia was still concerned about Cecilia’s situation.  

‘I thought she was still a child, but maybe that was just my mistake.’  

Seeing the determination in her eyes to overcome any hardship with Dein by her side, as well as her concern for Cecilia, reassured her.  

“Thank you. Just hearing that means a lot to me. Thanks to your help, I’ve found a place to go.”  

“Is Earl Beaut going to help you, the one we met last time?”  

“Yes. I think I’ll go there.”  

Although she was expected to become the head of the Rozes family, nothing was confirmed yet, so Cecilia chose her words carefully.  

“Father will find out right away, won’t he?”  

“It’ll be fine.”  

“If you say so, then that’s a relief.”  

Rasilia’s face was filled with worry, but Cecilia smiled gently, as if to reassure her.  

As soon as she arrived in the capital, Cecilia planned to prove her identity as a member of the Rozes family. Once that was done, her ties with Viscount Bucklew would be severed, and even if he tried to find her later, it would be useless.  

She felt relieved to cut ties with him, though she did feel a bit sad about losing her connection with Rasilia.  

“Even if we’re not bound by blood… we’re still family, right?”  

“Of course. Even if I become Dein’s wife, we’ll always be family.”  

Cecilia worried that she and Rasilia would truly become strangers, but Rasilia misunderstood, thinking Cecilia was lamenting the fact that she would take Dein’s surname after marriage.  

“Thank you, Rasilia.”  

Cecilia didn’t bother correcting Rasilia’s misunderstanding. Instead, she hugged her, expressing her gratitude to the sister who had always treated her like a real sibling.