Chapter 5

“I didn’t think it was a big deal.”

Mel closed her mouth for a moment before asking again.

“Do you think wrapping it up like this will cause problems?”

“If it would, I would have made the decision myself.“

“I’m worried they might doubt me…”

“If you handle it leniently, it’s because you don’t know better, having lived as a commoner. They’ll think you follow the family’s orders if you handle it moderately. If you punish them severely, they’ll assume you’re overcompensating. People can find fault no matter what you do.”

“Oh.”

“I’ve erased your roots. If you watch your words, no one will know your identity. But I’m not going to keep comforting you, right? I hate anything bothersome.“

“No! I won’t do that anymore.”

Damian pressed his fingers against his forehead before returning to his chair. Mel felt she should leave but hesitated.

There weren’t many opportunities to be alone with him. She had to ask now.

“Is it possible… for me to be engaged to another noble?”

His lips twisted into a sneer.

“This brat.”

It was hard to tell if he was talking to himself or to her. Mel froze but responded to his following words.

“It’s already done.“

“W-what?!“

“I sent the engagement papers to the Allnight family a while ago. The wedding date will be set soon. It’s a matter decided between families, so there’s no backing out.”

The realization slowly sank in like a cold wave. Is it already done? She didn’t even know what the person looked like or their name. She only heard about the engagement from a servant. This was too much. How was this any different from what happened with Norma?

Baron Totten’s face flashed in her mind, but unlike back then, she couldn’t even say she didn’t want this. All she could do was bite her lip.

“If you’re unhappy, you can try convincing Father. Or make the other side back out first.”

Amid her frustration, he dropped a hint. A small ripple spread through her thoughts.

“…Can I really?“

“Just avoid anything extreme like torture or murder. Cleaning up would be a hassle.“

“I wouldn’t do that!”

Mel shouted in alarm, then quickly covered her mouth. She glanced at Damian, but to her surprise, he looked amused. His sharp expression softened into a smile.

“Do your best. I’ll wish you success.”

Afraid he might change his mind, Mel quickly bowed and left the office. She already knew where to go next.

***

“Damian told you?”

The brushing stopped for the third time.

First, he was angry about the situation. Then, he was overwhelmed with guilt and apologized. And finally, he stopped when she mentioned the engagement.

‘Guess today’s not a good day for brushing,‘ Mel thought. The Duke of Heaven seemed to agree, but the comb remained entangled in her hair like a spider’s web.

Despite his struggles, he handled her hair carefully, trying not to hurt her.

It took a while before their conversation resumed.

“It’s an old story. It was decided long ago that a child from the Heaven family would marry one from the Allnight family. By coincidence, you two are the only match in age and gender.“

“Do I have to get engaged?“

“They’ll wait until you’re ready. Don’t think of it too harshly. No child quite like Gopher, even if you search thirty years up or down.”

His words were gentle but firm. Mel subtly expressed her dislike, but it didn’t work.

“Why not meet him first? We can discuss it afterward.“

“…Okay.”

Mel nodded gloomily. She knew she couldn’t change the Duke’s mind. If it had been possible, Damian would have stopped it earlier.

Her only option was to make the other party reject her.

As she swallowed a sigh, a servant entered, bringing them tea. The sight reminded her of something.

“Father, do you know all the servants in the estate? There’s one who helped me. His name is Pearl.”

The servant who first informed her of the engagement. He helped her to her room, but the more she thought about him, the more suspicious he seemed.

“Just the name doesn’t ring a bell. Can you describe him?“

“His hair is brown with a hint of ash. He’s very tall and well-built. And this might sound odd, but he’s extremely handsome—almost suspiciously so.”

The Duke’s lips twitched. Mel, realizing what he might be thinking, hurried to explain.

“Lucy didn’t recognize him either. I thought it was strange.“

“Did he have a mole under his eye?“

“Oh, yes! I think so.”

If the Duke knew him, then he must really be a servant.

Relieved, Mel relaxed, but the Duke’s expression remained unreadable, making her feel increasingly self-conscious.

“Good thing you know him, Father. Sorry for bringing it up.“

“How insolent of him to approach you, but it’s hard to hold him accountable now.“

“Pardon?“

“Never mind, Bleria. Your problem may soon resolve itself. Off you go.”

He waved warmly, but something about his smile made Mel uneasy. She glanced back several times as she left the office.

***

Three days later, she found out why.

A servant escorted her not to the office or the Duke’s chambers but to the estate’s largest drawing room.

Inside, Mel saw the face she had been curious about.

Sunlight from an arched window illuminated half of the man’s figure. He looked like a character painted by a master artist, stepping forward until he stood right before her.

“Nice to meet you, Lady Bleria. I am Gopher Allnight.”

A familiar face, but a name she was hearing for the first time. Mel’s startled hand paused before clutching her skirt. Watching her, the Duke smiled as he had before.

“Greet him, Bleria. He’s to be your fiancé.”

Fiancé…

It did seem strange that no one had mentioned it except him, but the back of her head still tingled from the shock.

Even in her dazed state, her mouth moved as she had been taught.

“P-pleased to meet you. I’m Bleria Charlotte Heaven.”

What happened next?

The Duke introduced them and lightened the mood with small talk.

Mel came to her senses only when the Duke excused himself, saying he had pressing matters to attend to, and left.

Thud. The door to the drawing room closed.

Mel straightened up abruptly. Before she stood, her supposed fiancé. Her heart thudded in response.

‘No, it’s all the same anyway.’

Whether his name was Pearl or Gopher didn’t matter. Mel didn’t want this engagement. If she became entangled with a noble outside of Heaven, it would be difficult to step off the stage even after her time here ended. There was no need to inflate the risks to her life.

Still, making him want to break off the engagement would surely be more manageable than making him fall for her.

After all, there had never been a shortage of people who disliked her.

First, she needed to bring his faults to light. Calming her trembling voice, she asked,

“We’ve met before, haven’t we? I think you had a different name back then.“

“Pearl was a childhood nickname. No one calls me that anymore.“

“But you told me you were a servant.“

“Apologies. It would’ve been inappropriate to appear more familiar with the estate than the owner as a guest.”

“Why, why did you even…?“

“The young Duke seemed busy, so I only intended to deliver documents and leave. I was careless. It won’t happen again.“

“…Alright.”

He was too polite. There needed to be tension if she wanted to break off the engagement, but there was no opportunity.

It was too late to get angry, and her etiquette tutor had strictly prohibited using vulgar language. She had prepared some unpleasant actions, but her thoughts were spinning in circles.

Her throat parched, she reached for her teacup, and then an idea for mischief finally struck her.

‘Should I spill this?’

It was too hot now, so she’d wait until it cooled a little…

Just as she fidgeted with the cup, Gopher gently removed her hand. Her heart sank, fearing he had caught on, but he only gave her a mildly embarrassed smile.

“Your hand is turning red. You might get burned.“

“Oh, thank you…”

Mel trailed off, her face falling into a pout.

‘How could I harm someone so kind?‘ Life had only ever brought her bad people, and now, in a moment like this…!

Still, no matter how conflicted she felt, she couldn’t jeopardize her life further. But deceiving a good person didn’t sit well with her, either.

So, she decided to take a different approach. If he indeed was a good person, maybe this would work instead.

“Young Duke?“

“Just ‘Lord‘ is fine.“

“Alright, Lord Gopher. Do you… like me? Are you okay with this marriage?”

The young man’s painterly smile faded. The change alone made him seem like a different person, and the shift in atmosphere startled Mel.

Gopher tilted his head slightly, lashes casting shadows over his eyes as if deep in thought.

“I thought you liked me. You complimented my looks so sincerely.”

Even his voice had changed. He crossed one leg over the other and returned to meet her gaze, his eyes crinkling in a soft smile.

“I have no complaints. Even if I did, I’d have to swallow them. We can’t always do what we want, after all.“

“...”

“What do you think marriage is, Lady?“

“Um… two people who love each other… spending their lives together…”

Gopher raised an eyebrow, cutting her off mid-sentence.