Oh, What an Easy Proposal - Chapter 3

Davion muttered, resting his chin on his elbow propped on the railing. Nigel, who had been staring intently at the woman, suddenly came to his senses. Lady Berthe. It was a name that had been mentioned a couple of times by Davion. To be precise, it was in Count Owen’s report.

Davion said he had sent invitations to the House of Viscount Berthe several times. Each time, the conclusion was that they were refused due to health reasons. Yet, despite being rejected, the proud Crown Prince still hadn’t lost interest.

Is she such a special woman? As Nigel was questioning, Davion continued speaking casually.

“I heard she was making her debut this time. I didn’t think it would actually happen.”

His tone conveyed a strange expectation. Nigel turned his back abruptly and walked over to sit on the sofa. Several noble ladies who were gathered and chatting stopped their conversation to glance at him, blushing. Davion followed and sat across from him, saying,

“I heard the viscount’s family has incurred a large debt. It’s a shame. This debut must be to sell herself.”

“I’m not interested.”

Nigel picked up the water glass on the table and quenched his urgent thirst first. Davion watched his action and smiled slightly.

“Really? I think a bit differently.”

Clunk. The half-empty water glass returned to its place with a dull sound. Nigel smiled gracefully and moved his red lips.

“I don’t know what you’re trying to say, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Rosia Berthe is fresh, isn’t she?”

Such a brazen statement despite having a long-standing fiancée. Nigel suppressed the urge to click his tongue and mock him. Instead, he casually crossed his arms, faced Davion, and retorted in an indifferent tone.

“Thinking of having a romance now? That’s so like you, brother. Good luck with that.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Davion gently smiled and patted Nigel’s shoulder.

“You seem particularly sharp today, Nigel. Go get some fresh air.”

“Then I won’t refuse.”

Nigel stood up abruptly as if he had been waiting for those words. Numerous eyes followed his movement. Davion also did not withdraw his persistent gaze. Nigel moved his steps towards the first-floor terrace, pretending not to be in a hurry.

The cold wind blowing onto the terrace calmed Nigel down. As he brushed back his disheveled bangs, he heard small footsteps from behind. Nigel turned his head slightly to look back. The woman Davion had mentioned, the youngest daughter of the House of Viscount Berthe, looked up at him with a somewhat surprised expression.

Her face showed that she hadn’t imagined anyone would be here first. Her slightly parted lips were annoyingly honest. So Nigel forgot that he didn’t need to speak to her and threw out words in an irritated tone.

“Why are you staring like that?”

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

The woman immediately lowered her gaze. The moonlight seemed to collapse over her long eyelashes. She didn’t say anything more. Nigel was seized by a strange emotion. It was an odd feeling, neither angry nor pleased. Davion’s words floated around in his head. At the same time, a malicious thought arose, slowly eating away at him like embers remaining in ashes.

“I am Grand Duke Nigel Gragford.”

Surely she wouldn’t not know me. That was the implied meaning of his words. As if that expectation had hit the mark, Lady Berthe’s surprised eyes widened. She hurriedly bent her knees to greet him.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace. I am…”

“I know. Lady Berthe.”

Before the woman could finish speaking, Nigel asked indifferently.

“Have you come to find a fiancé to pay off your debts?”

“I’m sorry? What do you mean…”

The woman’s face frowned slightly before returning to normal. Nigel stared at that change in expression and said casually.

“Everyone’s talking about it, so I heard it even though I didn’t want to.”

Rosia hesitated for just a moment before shaking her head firmly.

“I didn’t attend Her Majesty the Queen’s banquet with such impure intentions.”

“Oh, not at all?”

“Yes. It seems misconceptions about me have spread as if they were true.”

The woman’s eyes had already hardened. Why is she so confident? Nigel felt irritated again. He judged her as a dishonest woman. A family with debts they couldn’t immediately repay, and a daughter who had postponed her social debut using illness as an excuse until now. Isn’t her intention obvious to anyone? Yet he disliked this woman who lied by saying it wasn’t so.

He believed no one could match Davion in being different on the inside and outside, but was this woman of the same kind?

If so, there was no need to hesitate any further. He smiled and leaned in close to Rosia, whispering.

“Oh my, what should I do?”

Rosia tilted her head slightly. Looking into those innocent eyes, Nigel finally voiced his twisted thoughts.

“I’m thinking of proposing to you.”

His face was confident and certain, without even a shred of doubt that she might refuse. The woman’s lips parted a bit wider at the sudden proposal. Nigel smiled leisurely, waiting for the positive answer he expected from her.

＊＊＊

Rosia Berthe had a congenital illness. From birth, she had a weak heart and had to live with the warning that she shouldn’t be severely startled or overexert herself.

It wasn’t difficult for a pretty lady born into a family with only two sons to monopolize love. Especially thanks to the overprotective viscount and his sons, rumors about the youngest daughter of the Berthe family were always abundant.

Rosia, who grew up receiving overflowing love, was flawless in every way, and even the servants cherished her, calling her ‘our precious lady, unmatched in the world.’ Bright and beautiful, with a kind heart that didn’t know how to hate others.

Naturally, no one disliked Rosia. Rosia felt the same way about others. But finally, someone appeared who Rosia found strange for the first time. It was Grand Duke Nigel Gragford.

Putting aside the fact that he suddenly proposed despite meeting for the first time on the terrace of the banquet hall, his personality was, to put it kindly, unique, and to be frank, extremely rude. What could he have been thinking?

There was no reason for a prince of this country and the ruler of a principality to target a humble viscount family. According to rumors, Nigel Gragford was already suffering from numerous marriage proposals from many families. To choose the ordinary Berthe over those prominent families, something must be wrong.

“Miss, did something happen?”

The nanny, who was carefully brushing Rosia’s shiny hair, asked cautiously. Rosia, who had been staring at her own reflection in the mirror, shook her head while looking at the nanny.

“It’s nothing. Oh, but nanny.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“About Grand Duke Gragford.”

“…Pardon?”

The nanny’s face suddenly darkened. Her expression was shocked, as if she had heard a name she shouldn’t have. Rosia calmly observed the nanny’s reaction before continuing.

“Isn’t he a bit strange? I wonder if he’s ill.”

“Y-Yes?”

The nanny dropped the brush from her hand.

“Miss, don’t tell me… you met His Grace the Grand Duke?”

“Yes. At last night’s banquet.”

“Oh my goodness!”

The nanny sighed deeply and rubbed her face repeatedly. Rosia couldn’t understand why the nanny was reacting this way. As she tilted her head slightly like an innocent lamb and waited patiently, the nanny warned in a quiet voice.

“Never, ever get close to His Grace the Grand Duke.”

“Because he’s a strange person?”

Well, few people would like that ominous way of speaking. Rosia nodded, having reached her own conclusion. However, the nanny quickly continued, saying it wasn’t just because of that.

“This is just a rumor going around, but His Grace the Grand Duke… they say he eats people, can you believe it!”

“…Really?”

This time, even Rosia was a bit surprised. Human blood on that beautiful face. It was more surprising that it strangely suited him. Of course, it must be just a ridiculous story. But the nanny seemed to sincerely believe this exaggerated rumor.

“Miss, if you’ve seen His Grace’s face, you’d know, but they say he has a beauty that can’t exist in this world. People say it’s impossible to maintain that face without eating dozens, hundreds of people. They even say His Holiness the Pope was enchanted by that face!”

The nanny picked up the brush with trembling hands. Then, firmly grasping Rosia’s shoulders, she warned her once again.

“From now on, don’t even make eye contact with him. If the viscount and young masters find out, there will be an uproar.”

“I understand, Nanny. Thank you.”

Rosia lightly patted the nanny’s hand on her shoulder. It meant not to worry. She didn’t add that she had received a proposal. If she did, the weak-hearted nanny might faint. Besides, there wouldn’t be any chance to meet him again anyway.

Since she had already refused the proposal, there would be no occasion to meet Grand Duke Gragford. That’s what Rosia believed.

＊＊＊

“…I’m not sure what you’re saying, Your Grace.”

Unlike his smiling lips, the viscount’s brow was deeply furrowed. It had been strange from the moment the recently famous Grand Duke Gragford suddenly visited this remote viscount mansion alone. But the Grand Duke’s subsequent request was so absurd it made the back of his head throb.

“I didn’t know you were this slow to understand, Viscount Berthe. Should I explain again? Or do you need some time to think?”

Nigel remained composed despite the viscount’s question. Of course, he was already irritated at having to repeat the same words several times, but he barely suppressed his emotions because he had a goal to achieve now. He looked around the study casually and said again.