Oh, What an Easy Proposal - Chapter 4

“I want to propose to Lady Berthe, Viscount. I’m serious.”

The viscount’s face grew even paler. He took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“I’m sorry, Your Grace. I respect my daughter’s opinion the most. So I’d like you to give us a few days.”

“How long?”

Nigel’s eyebrow rose crookedly. His displeasure was evident. The viscount was at a loss for how to navigate this absurd situation. A marriage proposal from such a devilish man to his precious daughter, whom he cherished more than his own eyes. Had the two even met before?

While the viscount was racking his brains with all his might, Nigel’s patience had completely run out.

“It would be better not to test my patience.”

Nigel muttered quietly as he took off the black leather gloves he was wearing. The viscount stared at his fingers, smooth and dazzling like a bisque doll crafted by a master artisan, and barely managed to reply.

“Just… give us a week, Your Grace.”

“Three days.”

Nigel said curtly, tossing the leather gloves onto the table.

“No more than that.”

“If she refuses…”

“We’ll both have an unpleasant experience. Either way, you’ll have no choice but to accept the marriage proposal. Let’s try to end this on good terms, Viscount.”

It was already an unpleasant experience now. Wasn’t this proposal almost like a threat? The viscount anxiously looked at the wall clock. It was already well past noon. Soon it would be time for Rosia to come for their enjoyable tea time together. He had to send this arrogant and haughty man away before then.

If he had known this would happen, he would have moved to the reception room earlier, but he missed the chance when Nigel barged into the study without warning.

“Then I will give you an answer in three days.”

The viscount barely managed to squeeze out his voice. A faint displeasure flashed across Nigel’s previously expressionless face.

“Come to think of it, even three days seems too long.”

What on earth did he mean? The viscount’s mind was starting to become hazy. At that moment, someone knocked on the tightly closed study door. The viscount was on edge.

“Father, it’s me.”

It was Rosia’s voice, which he had hoped wouldn’t come at this moment more than any other. The viscount almost jumped up. He quickly looked at Nigel. Nigel was just sitting there, as noble as a rose blooming in a midwinter garden. It was a face impossible to read what he was thinking.

As the viscount hesitated, unsure how to respond, Nigel murmured in a sweet voice, as if he was whispering a secret.

“It would be nice to see our lady’s face before I leave.”

Before the viscount could stop him, Nigel flung open the study door. Rosia looked up at him with slightly widened eyes. Nigel’s figure, backlit by the sunlight, was no different from having a halo behind him. Rosia unconsciously opened her mouth wide. And soon realized that her action was impolite.

“I’m sorry, Your Grace. I didn’t know you were here.”

Rosia quickly curtsied. She was holding a tray with a cookie plate and teacups. Nigel casually picked up a cookie.

“Perfect timing, as the tea I was drinking has gone cold. Please come in, Lady Berthe.”

Rosia, who had sat down in a daze, glanced at the viscount’s face. The viscount was completely pale. Rosia guessed that there must have been an unpleasant conversation between Grand Duke Gragford and her father. Moreover, why had he come here when she had already refused his proposal?

Was he upset about being rejected?

There was no other reason besides that. Once she understood the cause, she quickly became calm. Rosia sat up straight and quietly waited for the Grand Duke to speak. Nigel, who had been looking around without any intention of eating the cookie, slowly moved his lips.

“Have you been well?”

“Thanks to you. Did you get home safely last night?”

“I did, thanks to you.”

Nigel’s left eyebrow rose crookedly. Rosia looked straight into his eyes, which were as deep as melted pure gold. They were eyes beautiful enough to enchant people. But Rosia had never been enchanted by anything in her life. In fact, she had almost been enchanted yesterday, but not now that she had composed herself. She placed her share of the teacup in front of the viscount. The viscount’s shoulders twitched slightly.

“…Thank you, Rosia.”

The viscount had so many questions he wanted to ask. He was curious about when the Grand Duke and Rosia had met and why they were exchanging such friendly greetings. The viscount anxiously lifted his teacup. At the same time, Nigel spoke.

“I’d like you to leave us alone.”

Nigel’s gaze turned to the viscount. It was a look telling him to get out quickly. The viscount looked at Rosia. Rosia nodded once, meaning it was okay.

The viscount had a duty to protect his daughter in this situation, but on the other hand, he was afraid that angering the Grand Duke might cause his daughter even greater harm. As he hesitated and didn’t move, Rosia opened her lips.

“We can postpone today’s tea time to the evening, Father.”

“Y-Yes. Alright. Make sure to call me if anything happens.”

Only then did the viscount slowly rise. He still seemed reluctant and looked back a couple more times, but seeing Nigel’s cold face that was close to threatening, he hurriedly left the study. As soon as the door closed, Nigel spoke.

“I have formally submitted a marriage proposal to your family, Lady Berthe.”

This time, even Rosia was a bit surprised. She thought she had refused quite firmly, but it seemed the Grand Duke, unlike his appearance, was not a person with such strong pride. She looked at the Grand Duke with slightly widened eyes.

“I’ve already expressed my refusal, is there a need for you to do this?”

Nigel’s brow slightly furrowed at her unrestrained words.

“If I’ve offended you, I apologize.”

Rosia smiled brightly with composure.

“But it seems you’ve ignored my answer. Don’t you think?”

“You were the one who ignored my proposal first.”

“So you thought that was ignoring it. It wasn’t at all.”

Nigel’s brow furrowed.

“Then why did you refuse?”

Rosia seemed to ponder for a moment, then asked cautiously.

“There are several reasons why I refused Your Grace’s proposal. Would you like to hear them?”

“Let’s hear how great these reasons are.”

It must be because I’m too perfect and she feels burdened. Nigel nodded halfheartedly. Rosia sat up straight and looked directly at Nigel as she spoke.

“First, because you’re too strange a person.”

Nigel’s relaxed expression froze completely. Rosia stirred her tea once with a teaspoon and continued.

“Second, because you’re an untrustworthy person.”

“You’re saying I’m strange and untrustworthy?”

Nigel repeated Rosia’s answer as if talking to himself.

“Third, because you’re a person who’s difficult to understand.”

Rosia continued speaking, subtly ignoring Nigel’s words.

“Fourth.”

“Enough.”

Nigel waved his hand while pressing his throbbing temples. Rosia, who was about to clearly list the fourth reason, shut her mouth tight. Nigel let out a hollow laugh and glared at her.

“Am I that bad? Even though I’m this beautiful?”

“Of course, appearance is important, but there are many things that are much more important to me.”

Rosia elegantly lifted her teacup.

“First of all, personality.”

Your personality is the worst. It was as if he could hear her voice even without saying everything to the end. Nigel almost dropped his teacup. He took a deep breath and loosened the cravat that was tightly choking his neck.

“We’ve only met for a day, how dare you judge me?”

To Rosia, that question was rather amusing. Isn’t it said that first impressions last the longest? Her first impression of Nigel Gragford was really not good. She had never met such a rude and frivolous man before. The Grand Duke was like a small flower branch swaying in the wind. A beautiful but very delicate flower branch that didn’t need to be plucked. She answered while rubbing the teacup with her fingertips.

“Your Highness proposed to me after meeting for just a few minutes.”

Nigel was at a loss for words. He could only glare at the innocent cookie plate. The weather was warm, as if spring was approaching. The sunlight coming through the window was brilliant.

“Are you finished with what you wanted to say?”

Rosia asked in a clear voice, as though she wanted to leave this place quickly. Nigel didn’t give any answer, but Rosia thought that was an answer. She said while tidying up the teacup with tea still remaining and the cookie plate.

“Then I’ll call my father back.”

“Wait.”

Nigel reached out and grabbed her wrist. It was cold enough to give her goosebumps. Feeling the body temperature that didn’t match the warm season at all, Rosia stared at him with her shoulders stiffened. Nigel looked back at her with a rather serious face.

“What if I could change your mind?”

How could he change Rosia’s mind when it already started perfectly wrong? Rosia stared directly at Nigel’s lips, which were as red as freshly harvested cherries, and calmly replied.

“May I advise you not to cling to meaningless things?”

“Well. I’d like to answer that it’s not a meaningless thing to me.”

Nigel chuckled. It was an expression that made it impossible to guess what he was thinking. Rosia was curious about his intentions, but she didn’t want to talk to him anymore. She greeted him with the same courtesy as when she came and hurriedly left the office.