Chapter 5: The Barrier Standing in Her Way

Upon receiving the letter, Count Bonita immediately knocked on the Marquis’s door. Bliss walked to the reception room with a dazed expression, not having expected him to respond so quickly. Caelan, who was walking beside her, seemed equally surprised.

“What an unexpected visit. Do you know what this is about?”

She knew exactly why. Instead of answering, Bliss merely shook her head. If she admitted to sending Count Bonita the letter, he would ask about her reasons. She could hardly say, “I called you here because I want to divorce you.”

‘Going in together will only make it impossible to speak.’

Though she had claimed to have something important to discuss, now she would likely end up saying nothing of substance.

Moreover, if Count Bonita mentioned receiving her letter, her attempts to stay quiet would have been pointless.

Of all the times to run into each other, it had to be on their way to meet Count Bonita.

While lost in thought, they drew steadily closer to the reception room. With only a few steps remaining, Bliss deliberately glanced around to catch Caelan’s attention. When he turned to look at her, she casually spoke up.

“Aren’t you busy?”

“Well, not exactly busy…”

Caelan glanced down at himself. Understanding the meaning behind his gesture—he had been at the training grounds before coming here—and knowing he must feel uncomfortable from sweating, Bliss quickly suggested:

“I can meet Father alone. Why don’t you go freshen up?”

A glimmer of hope rose in her heart at the thought of sending him away, even briefly. However, Caelan’s response wasn’t what she had hoped for.

“You seem to know exactly what I’m thinking.”

“…I saw you at the training grounds earlier.”

In truth, she had been watching him while contemplating how to end their relationship without complications.

“I didn’t realize you paid such close attention to me.”

Caelan’s words pierced through Bliss like needles.

‘I spoke too hastily.’

The original Bliss had never cared about Caelan’s activities. She had been more interested in the latest fashion trends and which noble families had acquired rare jewels.

As she struggled to find a way out of this situation, time awkwardly passed. Fortunately, Caelan didn’t press further and expressed his desire to clean up.

“Go ahead inside.”

Her suggestion had worked.

“Alright.”

Bliss smiled until Caelan turned and disappeared around the corner. Once he was gone, the smile vanished from her face.

‘I need to hurry.’

She had limited time before Caelan’s return.

Upon entering the reception room, as Bliss tried to identify the other occupants, someone stepped into her line of sight.

“Bliss, it’s been a while.”

Despite his warm greeting, Bliss failed to recognize him and missed her chance to respond.

‘This isn’t Count Bonita.’

The man appeared young, around her age.

“Viscount Jimilta.”

Another voice drew her attention past the man blocking her view.

On the sofa sat a middle-aged man with brown hair and a stern expression—Count Bonita himself.

Count Bonita set down his teacup and remained silent for a moment before slowly raising his head, addressing not Bliss but the young man.

“Addressing the Marchioness so casually? Mind your manners, please.”

“Ah, my apologies. I was simply overjoyed to see her.”

Finally recognizing him, Bliss studied the man more carefully.

‘Leonard, Viscount Jimilta.’

This was the man who had wept at Bliss’s death in the novel, the only one who had persistently investigated the cause of her demise. Realizing this was that same man made her see him in an entirely new light.

“It has been quite some time.”

She offered a belated greeting while observing him.

The unexpected appearance of Leonard, Viscount Jimilta, sent her thoughts racing. As she stared at him, momentarily forgetting her purpose for coming, someone cleared their throat.

It was Count Bonita. When she turned toward the pointed cough, she noticed his narrowed eyes—a clear warning to stop staring at Viscount Jimilta.

Sensing the tension, Leonard rose from his seat.

“I’ll take my leave. I wouldn’t want to intrude on your private discussion.”

Count Bonita remained silent while Bliss watched Leonard. Just as she wondered if he was departing due to the awkward atmosphere, their eyes met.

“Marchioness, I do hope you’ll arrange a private meeting for us as well.”

Leonard made a playful remark, winked, and left the reception room. Once they were alone, a different kind of silence fell over her. Now that she could finally get to the point, Bliss swallowed nervously. How should she begin?

Just then, Count Bonita shifted his gaze from the door and shook his head.

“What a troublesome fellow.”

“…Pardon?”

Bliss stared at him in confusion. Count Bonita’s lips pressed together briefly before he spoke again.

“Even though you’re now a proper Marchioness, Viscount Jimilta’s attitude hasn’t changed at all. Calling you ‘Bliss’—how dare he address you so casually.”

His eyebrows twitched as he made no effort to hide his displeasure.

“Madam, you must never accept such familiar greetings from that man. Having secured a place in the Adrian family, you cannot risk even the slightest hint of scandal.”

“…Is that really important?”

Never accept it? She struggled to understand what he meant about ‘securing a place’ and ‘scandal.’

“Of course it is. Do you know what I had to do to get Caelan as my son-in-law? Well, you don’t need to know about that, so I’ll say no more. In any case, since Viscount Jimilta once had feelings for you, you must be extra careful about your conduct.”

Count Bonita’s warning was stern.

“Even if Caelan forgives everything else, he won’t tolerate any rumors involving you with another man. Once that happens, there will be no turning back, so be careful.”

“…What if that happens?”

Count Bonita’s eyebrows drew together at Bliss’s seemingly defiant response.

“What if rumors spread even if nothing actually happened? What if Caelan casts me aside because of it?”

Even Bliss hadn’t expected the conversation to take this turn. However, it was an opportunity to glimpse into Count Bonita’s thoughts, regardless of the method.

After contemplating Bliss’s questions for a moment, Count Bonita met her eyes.

His gaze made Bliss unconsciously rub her arms. His cold stare seemed to pierce through her.

“After pushing you into becoming a Marchioness, if you get thrown out… what use would I have for a daughter who’s lost her value?”

“…What a frightening answer.”

“Of course, I only say this because I know it won’t happen.”

Bliss turned her head, trying to avoid Count Bonita’s gaze. She had heard his answer, albeit indirectly. Through the awkward silence, Count Bonita continued speaking, seemingly unbothered.

“You wouldn’t want to lose that position either, would you? Where else could you find a position where you can spend so freely without consequences? Nowhere.”

“…”

“The dresses and accessories you’ve been buying are quite extraordinary. It really shows how capable Caelan is.”

Perhaps satisfied with having such a man as his son-in-law, a smile appeared on Count Bonita’s face for the first time. Bliss couldn’t bring herself to return the smile.

‘Bliss wasn’t just created out of nowhere.’

She wasn’t simply a character created by an author, but a personality shaped by her environment and upbringing—born as Count Bonita’s daughter and raised watching him.

“So, what was your reason for sending the letter?”

After some conversation, Count Bonita got to the point. He had rushed over immediately after receiving her letter saying she had something to discuss. Of course he would be curious. Could she mention divorce here? Bliss dismissed the thought internally. It obviously wouldn’t work.

“It’s exactly as I wrote in the letter. I just missed you, Father.”

“Hmm. Unexpected, but not bad.”

When Count Bonita smiled, Bliss gave him a suspicious look. Had his previous demeanor disappeared?

“When will Marquis Adrian arrive?”

Realizing Count Bonita’s real interest lay with Marquis Adrian, Bliss struggled to maintain her composure. Forget about divorce—she had only learned about Count Bonita’s greed.

“Count Bonita.”

Fortunately, before Bliss could fully reveal her disappointment, Caelan’s voice rang out as he entered the reception room. Count Bonita greeted him with unprecedented warmth.

“Have you been well?”

Caelan maintained impeccably straight posture as he faced Count Bonita. He sat down beside Bliss. Just seeing them seated together seemed to please Count Bonita immensely, his smile growing wider than before. All while being oblivious to Bliss’s increasingly turbulent emotions.