That Marriage, I’ll Do It in this Life - Chapter 13

“Yes.”

The underlying question was clear—what are you doing here?

“And yet, Kayan, you’re attending too, aren’t you?”

“Well… I’m a man. It doesn’t take me nearly as long to get ready as it does for women.”

True. The young ladies debuting today were probably receiving full-body massages or trying on and taking off dresses repeatedly as part of their exhaustive preparations.

However, Saena believed that whether one spent three hours or five or seven hours on grooming, the end result was the same. To her eyes, there wasn’t much difference.

“I have plenty of time too. Everything I’m wearing has already been decided.”

“Really? My sister isn’t even debuting, but she’s been getting ready since morning.”

Saena chuckled briefly and replied,

“I just wanted to see the Guardian Spirit for a bit. I’ll go back soon and start getting ready.”

“…Busy, huh. You didn’t even spare time for a cup of tea with me.”

Kayan said, turning his head to look at her.

Now that he mentioned it, this was the first time they’d seen each other since Madame Charlize’s boutique.

Kayan had reached out to arrange a meeting, just as he had mentioned back then. At first, Saena had considered accepting, but remembering what she had told Elizabeth, she declined. Her mind had been too preoccupied as well.

“Somehow, the timing just never worked out. Sorry.”

Feeling guilty for turning him down, Saena apologized. Although she had sent a letter, verbal apologies carried a different weight.

“Hmm. If you’re sorry, how about giving me the first dance at tonight’s party?”

Kayan spoke casually, looking at her with a hint of mischief.

‘Tonight’s party? Does he mean… the debutante ball’s first dance?’

That was…

Saena asked in surprise,

“Are you asking to be my partner?”

The first dance at the debutante ball is traditionally danced by the debutante and her chosen partner.

Kayan, of all people, would know that. Yet, he made a face as if he had momentarily forgotten, muttering, “Ah, right. That’s true.”

After opening and closing his mouth a few times, he finally said,

“…Well, if that’s the case, will you…? Would you do me the honor?”

“…….”

“Oh, of course, only if you don’t already have a partner. No, wait, it’s the day of the ball—of course, you must have one already.”

Kayan began stammering, mumbling to himself.

“Um. Never mind. Sorry. Forget I said anything.”

With an embarrassed expression, Kayan retracted his suggestion. But for a moment, a thought crossed Saena’s mind.

‘Why not?’

In her previous life, she had been a twin.

It had worked out perfectly for her to partner with Yuri, who was the same age as her. However, Elizabeth, who had no brothers, had asked for a favor, saying she didn’t have a partner. Sage had then enthusiastically suggested a game of rock-paper-scissors to Yuri.

「The winner gets to be Saya’s partner!」
「Hey, that’s not fair! Brother!」

And Yuri had lost spectacularly.

It was a best-of-five match, and he hadn’t won a single round.

Now, with Yuri gone, Elizabeth hadn’t made any such requests.

‘She must have found a partner on her own.’

In her past life, Saena’s partner had been Sage, and she had assumed, without much thought, that Sage would escort her again this time.

But now that she thought about it, she hadn’t even asked him. It was absurd, even to herself, how carelessly she was approaching the debutante ball.

“Sure. I don’t mind.”

“…What?”

“If you’re okay with it, come find me in the waiting room later.”

Saena agreed without hesitation.

But Kayan, looking stunned, didn’t respond right away.

“Isn’t this what you wanted?”

Was it just a joke?

“Uh… Are you sure? Is that really okay?”

Kayan seemed even more flustered by her easy acceptance, asking in a bewildered tone.

“I was going to go with my brother anyway. I just need to ask him nicely.”

This was under the assumption that Sage also expected to escort her. He might be taken aback, but surely, he would agree in the end.

“Ah, okay. So I just need to come to the waiting room? Got it.”

Kayan smiled as he replied.

His fiery red hair gleamed brightly under the strong sunlight.

“But didn’t you have a partner lined up already?”

Considering Kayan’s popularity, it seemed odd that he didn’t have a partner yet.

It was a sincere question, but Kayan hesitated, looking slightly embarrassed, before answering.

“…I was planning to go with my sister.”

“Your sister?”

“Ahem, yeah.”

Why would he go with his sister? Who was Kayan’s sister again?

After a moment of thought, Saena nodded in understanding.

“Ah, her.”

She remembered Kayan’s sister, a socialite well-known in high society. It made sense. She seemed like the type who would attend the ball with Kayan and then effortlessly introduce him to suitable young ladies.

“Then won’t your sister suddenly be without a partner?”

“…I guess so? But, well, she said there weren’t any men who met her standards, so she was just going with me. It’s fine.”

Thinking of Kayan’s sister, it wasn’t surprising that no one had caught her eye.

“If you ask her and she’s okay with partnering with my eldest brother, bring her to the waiting room with you.”

“Alright.”

Kayan agreed, but then gave her a curious look and asked,

“By the way… why do you call him your ‘eldest brother’? Do you have a younger brother too?”

Saena was startled by the unexpected question. Now that he mentioned it, that was true.

“Ah, well…”

She had never called Yuri ‘older brother,’ even though he had always insisted on being treated as such, despite being only thirty minutes older than her. Because of him, she had gotten into the habit of calling Sage her ‘eldest brother.’

“…It just stuck.”

Not knowing how else to explain, she brushed it off and turned her head slightly.

“Maybe it’s because Sage seems especially like the eldest son.”

Kayan speculated with a grin.

“…I’m not sure if Sage would meet her standards, but anyway, if that’s the case.”

“Got it.”

Realizing she had unconsciously spoken as if Yuri were still around, Saena felt a bit strange.

She glanced at Kayan briefly before looking back at the square.

The parade procession was now visible only from the back. Watching it, Saena decided it was time to head back. There was still more to see, but she didn’t have enough time to stay until the end.

“I think I should go back and start getting ready now.”

After saying an appropriate goodbye, she stood to leave, but Kayan rose first and extended his hand to her. His gentlemanly gesture made Saena smile faintly.

“Thank you.”

“…It’s nothing.”

Kayan lightly held her small hand as she stood.

“Alright then, see you this evening.”

“…Yes. See you in the waiting room later, Saena.”

Leaving Kayan with a parting nod, Saena signaled Rupert that it was time to go. Rupert nodded and approached her. Saena retraced her steps, leaving the viewing platform.

Kayan’s gaze lingered on her retreating figure for a long time, but Saena didn’t notice.

* * *

“Young Master is going to be quite upset, isn’t he?”

While waiting for the coachman to bring the carriage from the holding area, Rupert suddenly remarked.

“Huh? My brother?”

“Ah, yes. He’s definitely going to take it out on me again, isn’t he? Ugh.”

Rupert shook his head as if already feeling the headache, a grimace forming on his face.

“Sir? What are you talking about?”

“If the Young Master hears that he’s been excluded as your partner, he’s definitely going to vent his frustration on me. He’ll go on about, ‘What were you doing while some guy was approaching the lady you’re supposed to guard?’ and so on…”

“A guy?”

Saena looked at Rupert with a face that clearly said, ‘What on earth are you talking about?’ But Rupert merely scratched his head, looking distressed.

Just then, the carriage arrived.

As Rupert helped Saena into the carriage, he didn’t miss the chance to add another comment.

“Miss, I’ll say it again—please don’t smile so easily at just anyone. It’s absolutely lethal, you know?”

Saena took her seat inside the carriage, her expression one of utter disbelief.

Lethal? Why on earth would he use such a word for something like this?

Rupert, noticing her incredulous look, lowered his voice in an attempt to sound serious as he added,

“I’m telling you this as someone recognized in the neighborhood as a romance expert. Miss, this is genuine advice.”

“That… doesn’t that just mean you’re a flirt?”

Saena widened her eyes as she asked the question.

“How could you misunderstand me like that? No, no, that’s not it. It means I’m particularly sensitive to the emotions that arise between men and women.”

Wasn’t that the same thing?

Rupert, who was about to close the carriage door, paused, opened it again, and left her with one last remark.

“Save that smile for someone you think, ‘Ah, I’d like to charm this guy just once.’ It’ll work like magic.”

He said it with such a serious expression that Saena couldn’t help but find it absurd.

She dismissed it as just another overly flattering remark from a knight to his lady and shrugged it off.

* * *

Rupert wasn’t entirely wrong.

When Saena brought up the matter of her partner, Sage’s face turned sour, and he immediately started berating Rupert.