Chapter 29: The Proposal (3)

Count Phineas’s family and Clive gathered together. Ulik also entered and stood by the door. 

When Clive entered the room that Count Phineas had guided him to, he naturally took the seat of honor. He sank deep into the chair, crossed his legs, and fixed his half-lidded eyes on the floor. 

He appeared drowsy at first glance, but whenever his eyelids lifted, his piercing gaze was revealed. 

This was completely different from his previous visits to the mansion. He behaved almost like the owner of the estate. 

Aishe tore at the frills decorating her dress skirt with her fingernails. She couldn’t understand what was happening. She looked at Eirene who was standing beside her. She was also biting her lower lip, unable to keep her fingers still. 

Her trembling hands moved restlessly, grabbing and releasing, scratching the back of her hand, and pressing her palm firmly. 

Though both were equally anxious, Eirene deserved it. She was the cause of all this trouble. If Eirene hadn’t revealed herself the day Clive first visited the mansion, none of this would have happened. 

Originally, they had planned for Aishe to meet Clive while keeping her face covered. After some time passed, they would set a wedding date and switch with Eirene’s body. 

No matter how much she hated the idea of bearing children, this disruption of plans was even more unbearable. What would happen now? 

She couldn’t predict what Clive might say. 

Amid the silence, when Clive raised his hand, Ulik approached and placed a cigar in it. About to light it, Clive said “Ah,” and set it down.

“Eirene dislikes the smell of cigars.”

Aishe’s large eyes rolled sideways. He was being considerate of Eirene. She felt something much greater than yesterday’s anxiety awaited her. Aishe’s mouth grew increasingly dry.

“I don’t want to make this into a big issue.”

Clive’s expression had softened compared to when they were in the hall, but he still exuded a terrifying aura. Each time he tilted his head and raised his eyelids to glare, her knees weakened. 

It was like a giant snake raising its head, ready to swallow everyone in one gulp.

“I don’t want to hear your circumstances either.”

Clive pressed his index finger near his temple and leaned his head. Was he forgiving them or punishing them? He always spoke cryptically, and now was no different.

“I’m also well aware that the Phineas family has long been loyal to the Imperial family.”

The corners of Clive’s lips stretched slightly. The fierce look in his eyes that had seemed ready to devour them also softened.

“Since this is the first time, I’ll trust you once.”

Count Phineas’s pale face brightened with relief.

“Your Highness, thank you! We will be even more loyal to the Imperial family from now on.”

The Countess, who had been stiff with tension, also exhaled in relief. But Aishe couldn’t relax yet since Clive hadn’t mentioned the engagement.

“And I will maintain the engagement. I will propose today, just as stated in the letter.”

Ah, of course. The Grand Duke wouldn’t break off the engagement over something like this. Tears welled up in Aishe’s eyes. Now that he knows who the real fiancée is, he’ll propose to her, right? 

Then she will find a way to live with this appearance, somehow, with Siaran and my parents’ help. She was excited. Happy. She wouldn’t have to feel jealous or irritated watching Eirene and Clive together anymore. 

Aishe pushed Eirene aside and stepped forward. She thrust out her chest and raised her chin, indicating that she was the one the Grand Duke should propose to. 

A handsome smile spread across Clive’s face as he looked at her.

“I will marry Eirene Phineas, not Aishe Phineas.”

Thud. It felt like a boulder had fallen on Aishe’s foot.

“Your… Highness? You were engaged to me.”

“The face I saw in the portrait was Eirene’s, and the face I whispered words of love to was also Eirene’s. Aishe, you are a stranger to me.”

“But you went on dates with me! You can’t do this! How can this be! No! You’re making a mistake! I, Aishe, am your fiancée!”

Despite Aishe’s wailing, Clive didn’t budge. Instead, he looked at Count Phineas with a displeased expression.

“Why must I listen to such words?”

His eyes said: I’m showing mercy by covering up your great sin, and you don’t understand? 

Count Phineas told his wife to quickly take Aishe away. Caught off guard, the Countess hurriedly grabbed Aishe. 

Unable to remove Aishe by force, the Countess opened the door and called for the maids. Aishe was dragged outside.

* * * 

“Does this make any sense? We’ve been meeting for years! We exchanged letters! We were engaged! How can he say he’s engaged to Eirene instead of me! Stupid Clive! He must be crazy!”

Aishe thrashed wildly. She screamed so loudly that the Countess tried to cover her daughter’s mouth, but to no avail. 

The crazy one wasn’t Clive but Aishe. She had lost her mind and didn’t even care that Clive was still in the mansion. 

Slap! 

Finally, the Countess struck Aishe’s cheek. She hit with such force that Aishe fell to the floor, but the Countess left her there.

“Get a hold of yourself, Aishe!”

A clear red handprint appeared on her fair skin. Aishe touched her swelling cheek with vacant eyes.

“What did I do wrong for this to happen? Why did Clive find out everything? Why does he want to marry Eirene instead of me? Why are you hitting me, Mother?”

No tears came. The Countess sat down, grabbed Aishe by both shoulders, and turned her to look directly at her.

“I expected the Grand Duke to marry Eirene. Don’t you remember? It was part of our plan.”

Aishe blinked at the Countess with unfocused eyes. She knew that. But the shock was that Clive chose Eirene even after learning that Eirene and Aishe were different people.

“How can it be Eirene and not me?”

That was the one thing she couldn’t understand.

“Aishe. You are Eirene. You are Eirene.”

“No. I am not Eirene.”

When Aishe slowly shook her head and spoke, the Countess cupped her daughter’s chin.

“The person the Grand Duke will propose to is you. The one in that room with him is you.”

“That’s not me.”

“It is you. Aishe Phineas.”

“But the Grand Duke doesn’t call her Aishe; he calls her Eirene.”

“Eirene is your childhood name. It’s your name.”

As Aishe gradually calmed down, the Countess held her daughter’s entire head with her hands spread wide, preventing her from thinking clearly.

“Remember. When you were young, you were Eirene. Right? Aishe is Eirene?”

“…Ah… that’s right. I was Eirene.”

After repeated emphasis, Aishe finally nodded in agreement, and the Countess embraced her.

“My beloved daughter. You mustn’t falter.”

The day of compensation for all the difficult times they had endured was almost here. Her time was approaching.

“Just be patient a little longer.”

Unfortunately, the Countess didn’t realize that her daughter’s patience had completely run out.

* * *

“Your Highness, I would like to speak with you alone.”

Clive granted Count Phineas’s polite request. Once they were alone, the Count cautiously asked:

“Must you marry Eirene?”

“I never say things I’ll take back.”

“What happens if I refuse?”

“The knights outside have already received their orders. The moment I say ‘begin,’ every living being in the Phineas mansion will meet their death.”

The Count was willing to let Eirene marry Clive according to his wishes. The commotion arose because he distinguished between the two, but it wasn’t a problem since things were proceeding according to plan. 

However, he wanted to understand Clive’s intentions.

“Why did you come without informing the Imperial family?”

“I told you I didn’t want to make this into a big issue. My desire to take Eirene as my wife remains unchanged, but I must address the Count’s wrongdoing.”

Clive was giving an obvious answer. The Count knew he wouldn’t reveal his true intentions, but he tried anyway, only to be thoroughly rebuffed. 

Even if Count Phineas protested, the fact remained that they had deceived the Imperial family. If Clive personally exterminated the Phineas family, people might talk behind his back, but no one would openly condemn him for punishing such a crime. 

A truly grave offense. Yet he was willing to overlook it just because he wanted Eirene as his wife? 

Although reassured by Clive’s words about trusting them once more, the Count soon became suspicious. Clive seemed dubious. Therefore, Count Phineas decided to inform the Imperial family first. 

If the Imperial family learned of it, they might dismiss it as trivial. But for now, he planned to follow Clive’s words to preserve their lives. Then he would inform the Imperial family and refuse again. 

Let’s see how Clive responds then. Of course, Clive’s marriage to Eirene remained unchanged.

“I gratefully accept Your Highness’s wishes. And I will never forget today and will surely repay you.”

Seemingly satisfied with the answer, Clive’s lips relaxed into a loose smile.

* * *

Clive’s knights waited outside the mansion. Only after extracting promises from the servants to maintain secrecy did they allow them to disperse. 

Now it was time to prepare for the Grand Duke to propose to Lady Eirene. Betty felt embarrassed remembering how pitifully she had cried earlier. If she had known things would turn out this way, she would have kept quiet. 

She had unnecessarily made a spectacle of herself. Not only that, but she had also done something to displease the Count and Countess.

“Ugh. I thought I was about to die, that’s why.”

It’s not like she did it on purpose. Betty punched her own head.

“Huuuh. My family was at stake, so I couldn’t, waaah.”

A passing garden assistant mocked Betty, imitating her.

“Stop it!”

“Hey, you should have held out a little longer. Are you abandoning the Count and Countess to save yourself? What will you do now?”

“You little…!”

When Betty glared at him, he stuck out his tongue, made a face, and disappeared. Looking at his annoying retreating figure, she grumbled while dusting off her apron. 

What should she do now? There’s no choice. She would have to stick even closer to Lady Eirene. 

How fortunate that she had served Lady Eirene well before today; she wouldn’t be cast out or harmed. 

The Grand Duke had chosen Lady Eirene. This was reality. If Eirene married, Betty and Gemma might leave the Phineas household. It was obvious they had fallen out of favor with the Count and Countess, so following the young lady was the best option. 

Betty hurriedly went to find Gemma. They needed to coordinate their stories. She intended to persuade Gemma to ask the young lady to take them to Dervel Palace when she married.

* * *

The greenhouse of the Phineas mansion was decorated as the proposal venue. Clive, who entered before Eirene, frowned at the intense flower fragrance. 

While some flowers were grown in the greenhouse, more than half were brought from outside. Despite the sudden announcement of the proposal and limited time, they had managed to find flowers well, even in winter. 

The abundance of flowers in the greenhouse proved that the Count and Countess were sincere about this marriage. 

As he strolled leisurely inside, he stopped in front of a particular flower. He recognized it. It was a rare flower that bloomed in a foreign country and was difficult to obtain. 

He had heard that someone had recently brought this flower in with great difficulty. Since it wasn’t for sale but for a gift, its presence here suggested that the Count knew that person.

“Clive.”

At the sound of Eirene’s voice, Clive, who had been looking at the flower, turned his head. She was dressed more elaborately and extravagantly than usual to receive the proposal. 

Unlike Clive, who was very pleased, Eirene wore an uncomfortable expression. But at least she was showing an expression. That was better than standing still with a blank face.

“Welcome. You look even more beautiful today.”

“Thank you.”

“Should we still be careful with our words here?”

Clive whispered in Eirene’s ear. In the Bainfelt Empire, a proposal was a ritual conducted in a private space. No one except the two involved should know what happened inside. 

But given the nature of the location, they couldn’t be completely at ease.

“I suppose we should.”

“Then should we continue talking in this position?”

They appeared to be having an intimate conversation. Clive could do even more than this.

“Let’s sit down first.”

Unfortunately, Eirene sat on the sofa. But Clive wasn’t one to back down. He sat close beside her and draped his arm behind her shoulders. Eirene, leaning her upper body slightly backward, said in a small voice:

“You were acting quite well.”