Chapter 3.1 – Uninvited Guest

Brienne tried not to think about Kaiden.

After escaping to the territory, she had been unintentionally busy, and truly hadn’t had time to think about him.

But was it because she had tried to cover it up as if nothing had happened?

Just that one letter, and the sandbags she had stacked up to block the cracks in the dam collapsed all at once.

So it was all the more ridiculous.

Because the face of the man she had thought was so strange came to mind first in that moment.

Standing in front of Herace’s door, Brienne rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand to compose herself. She steadied her breath and knocked softly, and Herace soon opened the door.

“…Miss Ford?”

He tilted his head, surprised, then quickly stepped aside. Brienne looked up at him and managed a weak smile.

“It’s me again today.”

As she stepped through the open door, Herace followed behind her. His now-familiar low voice, tinged with playful laughter, came from behind.

“That’s odd. It seems the Ford manor’s physician must dislike me. I don’t recall doing anything wrong.”

“…Should I ask him about it?”

“No need. Since everyone has liked me since I was born, it hurts even more when I meet someone who doesn’t.”

“What are you talking about.”

A small laugh escaped Brienne’s lips as she approached the bed.

Was this why she thought of this man? Because she didn’t mind these silly jokes, these lighthearted remarks at all. Because laughing from disbelief was still better than crying.

“……”

“Is something wrong?”

“It’s nothing. Will you undress yourself today?”

Brienne glanced at Herace’s nightgown. She was relieved to see the tray she had left yesterday was still on the side table.

“All right.”

Herace nodded and sat on the bed, loosening the robe’s belt. Unlike yesterday, this time, the curtains wasn’t drawn.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Sorry? Looking at what?”

“You’re looking at my body like that, like some kind of pervert…”

Brienne burst out laughing at Herace’s feigned delicate expression. She shouldn’t laugh after crying. Why did she keep laughing?

“Sorry, but that’s not it. I don’t even know what kind of expression that is.”

Brienne barely managed to stifle her laughter as she answered.

“…Why are your lips like that?”

Suddenly, Herace’s playful expression vanished, and he rose from the bed. The sunlight cast a long shadow behind him. When Brienne stepped back in surprise, Herace approached and gently brushed her lips with his thumb.

“You’re bleeding.”

Slap. Flustered, Brienne swatted his hand away. A heavy air lingered between their gazes, neither avoiding the other. After a while, Herace gave a bitter smile, as if realizing his mistake, his voice lower than ever.

“…I went too far again.”

“Ah, s-sorry. It’s not that…”

“My apologies. I crossed the line because I was worried.”

“……”

Herace’s polite retreat made Brienne feel even more sorry. To be honest, maybe because he was so lighthearted, she hadn’t taken his confession seriously. But now, Brienne could sense Herace’s sincerity. She even felt as if she could see her own reflection in his wounded eyes.

Why hadn’t she refused? If she had truly disliked this man, she would have said so long ago…

Lowering her gaze, Brienne hesitated, then spoke.

“…Let’s do it. The date.”

“…Pardon?”

“You said so before. When the rain stops, let’s go eat cake together…”

Just a little. Maybe that would be all right. Brienne fiddled with the ends of her hair, turning her head for no reason.

“And, um, it might be nice to try other things too. For example…”

At that small voice, Herace’s lips curved into a gentle arc. Slowly lowering his head, Herace warmly followed Brienne’s gaze.

“…For example?”

Those persistent, deep gray eyes were so beautiful. Brienne couldn’t bring herself to answer and retreated little by little. But her back was blocked by the window, leaving her no choice but to meet his eyes directly.

“…Shall we go out to the garden together today? The acacias are blooming beautifully.”

“And, what else?”

“In the capital… there’s a bookstore I really love. I want to go there with you.”

“Is there more?”

Herace smiled softly, leisurely sweeping his gaze over Brienne’s face. Brienne swallowed hard and spoke in a trembling voice.

“This Saturday… Please come with me to Kaiden’s engagement ceremony. As my partner.”

“…Partner.”

Herace repeated the word once, and a brilliant smile spread across his face. The wind blowing in from the window puffed up the curtains, and sunlight gently settled between the two of them.

“In that case, I have a request as well.”

Thump, thump—the sound of Brienne’s steadily beating heart grew louder and louder.

“I’ll be the perfect partner for you, so please grant me the honor of calling you by your name, Miss Ford.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Brienne nodded cautiously. The dangerous game of make-believe was only just beginning.

* * *

Melosi Bailey never easily forgot a slight.

For instance, being called out for a breach of etiquette in front of many people, or not being forgiven for a slip of the tongue at a tea party.

And the main culprit on many such days was often Brienne Ford. How had Brienne Ford acted toward her, who had only recently arrived in the capital?

<Excuse me? That means ‘to cherish’. It’s not what you think it means, Miss Bailey.>

<…You’re saying Her Highness’ face is like a Saint’s? It would be best not to say such things carelessly.>

<Miss Bailey. I’m sorry, but this isn’t something that can be overlooked just because you’re crying. Please apologize politely to everyone present.>

Melosi believed that behind Brienne’s expressionless face—so hard to read—there must be a very cheeky little devil hiding.

According to what people said, it wasn’t just her own opinion.

A woman who looked down on others, relying on the old prestige of the Marquisate. A woman who stood beside Kaiden Bannon and looked down on everyone.

That was Brienne Ford as Melosi Bailey saw her.

And Melosi had believed Kaiden thought the same.

Was it a big mistake to believe she had to get along with him from a young age under the Duke Bannon’s orders?

“Kaiden even sent her a gift himself… Do you know exactly what it was?”

Melosi, forcing a sad smile, tightly gripped the hem of her dress. Her gaze was fixed on the Duke Bannon’s attendant, who had just delivered the news.

“I’m not certain, but when I pressed the postman, he said it was a romance novel.”

‘…Ha.’

Her eyes, resembling the winter sky, lowered gloomily. She recalled following Kaiden into a bookstore a few days ago.

The man leisurely picking out books, leaving her behind. And her own pitiful self, able to do nothing but watch him.

‘…He picked out another woman’s gift right in front of his fiancée.’

And that woman was Brienne Ford.

“Are… are you all right?”

Seeing Melosi’s eyes redden, the attendant cautiously offered her a handkerchief. Melosi stared blankly at that hand for a while before speaking in a mournful voice.

“Thank you. The only one who always thinks of me… is you, Sir.”

“N-no, not at all. W-well, please rest. I’ll take my leave now.”

Blushing, the attendant bowed his head and hurriedly retreated. Melosi, who had watched him with a sad face, sprang to her feet the moment the door closed.

‘…D*mn Brienne Ford.’

Even as she squeezed the handkerchief tight to quell her anger, she couldn’t shake from her mind the question Kaiden had asked long ago. He was a man who rarely asked anything, so the memory of his clear voice lingered to this day.

<Do most women like romance novels?>

<Who knows? I’m not much of a reader. Why do you suddenly ask?>

<…Someone seemed to really enjoy them.>

How long had the faint smile on his lips that day made her heart race?

Because she had never seen such a natural smile from him before, she had mistakenly thought she had gotten at least a little closer to him.

Not realizing that the girl who had to get along with him under the Duke Bannon’s orders wasn’t Brienne Ford, but herself…

‘In the end, the one he was smiling at was Brienne Ford.’

Melosi’s cold eyes landed on the black dress hanging in one corner of the room. She felt sorry for Kaiden, but she couldn’t let her plans fall apart like this.