Chapter 7

“You really do not?”

“I do not.”

This time his voice came out firmer. Once the initial shock had passed, he was able to wear a much calmer expression. Even so, one corner of his heart still stung as though salt water had been poured into an open wound.

“Then…… I accept. I will marry you, Mr. Raison.”

Ah, what was he supposed to do if those words sounded sweet? I truly am hopeless. Melian clenched his teeth to stop a sigh from escaping.

“Of course, I do not mean that we should marry immediately. For the time being, I would like you to act as my lover in front of others. The arrangement is that we naturally came to share our feelings and then went on to marriage. The period will be…… about four months. It is summer now, so let us hold the wedding this autumn, before winter comes and the weather turns cold.”

“Wait a moment, four months? You mean to hold the wedding immediately in autumn?”

“Yes.”

“Why? Why are you in such a hurry……”

To go from engagement to marriage before even two full seasons had passed. And not only that, when we are not truly lovers at all and have only just begun discussing this arrangement.

Melian looked at Helena in utter bewilderment. In contrast, she remained as calm as ever. In a steady tone, she continued as though she had practiced these words before.

“My grandfather is unwell. It is possible he may not make it through this year. He said that his greatest wish is to see me get married and live happily before he passes away. If possible, I would like to grant that wish. It may be the last act of filial devotion I can offer him while he is still alive.”

Melian’s mind went blank. He was stunned by a reason he had never expected. Filial devotion. He had never imagined that Lady Millium’s sudden proposal would be for the sake of a dying old man’s final joy.

“……Then, after your grandfather passes away?”

He knew that assuming the death of a beloved family member was painful. But he still had to ask. Pretending it away and turning his eyes from it would not change reality.

Everyone dies sooner or later, and the older a person is, the nearer he is to death. Helena Millium knew that too, which was why she had proposed this impossible arrangement in order to fulfill her grandfather’s last wish before he died.

Then what after her grandfather passed away? If this marriage was for the sake of easing the heart of a dying old man, then after his death, the purpose of the marriage would disappear as well. And after that, what would become of their arrangement?

“At that point, I will divorce you. I will make it so the fault lies with me, so you need not worry about your honor being damaged. The division of property will also be handled in a way favorable to you. We can work out the details when the time comes.”

It was an answer that was brutally calm and precise. As though she had written out a script beforehand and memorized it by heart, there was not the slightest wavering in the young lady’s tone.

Melian did not know what expression he had on his face right now. Nor did he know exactly what this feeling was that he was experiencing. What sort of reaction was he supposed to have after hearing that? Lost in confusion, he curled his hands into fists.

“Divorce, you say.”

“Yes, that is right. You only need to endure it while my grandfather is still alive. Once he passes away, you will be free.”

The young lady’s voice tightened ever so slightly as she spoke of freedom. Trapped in his own confused feelings, Melian failed to notice that faint disturbance. Staring at her blankly, he suddenly shot back,

“How does it make sense for the fault to lie on your side? Let it be said that the divorce happened because there was a flaw in me. There is no need for you to sacrifice yourself because of me.”

“If we are speaking that way, then there is no need for you to sacrifice yourself because of me either, is there? Do not worry about me. I was the one who proposed this marriage first, so it is only proper that I bear the responsibility for it as well.”

“But…… what if later you meet someone you truly want to marry? A history of divorce itself would already be a blemish, and if the cause is said to lie with you as well……”

Melian tried to persuade Helena. Even as he did so, imagining her marrying someone other than himself made him feel an overreaching pain, as though a dagger had been driven into his heart.

Helena’s brow knit. For some reason, what he had just said seemed to trouble her a great deal. She replied coolly.

“Then I will live alone for the rest of my life. It is hardly such a terrible thing.”

At that answer, tossed out as though it truly meant nothing, Melian’s feelings were hurt instead. He clenched his teeth for a moment, then asked coldly in return,

“After divorcing me, you will live alone forever? While I meet another woman, marry, and live happily and comfortably?”

“……Something like that.”

Melian thought Helena might take issue with his insolent attitude. Even by his own reckoning, the tone he had just used had sounded far too biting.

But she did not scold him for his impertinence. Nor did she threaten that if he disliked it so much, she could call off the arrangement right now.

Even after hearing her promise that she would see the divorce through in a way that harmed him as little as possible, he was not grateful and instead replied rudely, yet she did not even show any sign of anger at him.

Rather, she, who had seemed displeased earlier, became quiet again like a lake at midnight. Watching her lift her teacup with a placid face, he felt something within him boil with an emotion he could not define.

“……Why me, of all people?”

The question came out as though pushed from him. Helena, who had been elegantly sipping black tea, paused. Without even touching his own cup, Melian sat upright and stared at her as he asked stiffly,

“There are many men in this country. Of all those countless people, why did you propose this arrangement to me? Surely you could find any number of matches far better suited to you than I am.”

He did not even know what kind of answer he wanted. He had a foreboding feeling that no matter what answer he heard, it would leave him in the worst of moods. Helena’s face stiffened slightly at the question, but Melian could not understand why.

“……I thought it would be better to choose someone I know, at least, than to marry a complete stranger. We were classmates at the academy. It is better that we are at least acquainted than not know each other at all.”

Setting her teacup back down, she answered calmly. Melian could not bring himself to agree with that opinion. Depending on who the other person was, there were times when someone familiar was worse than a stranger.

If it was a connection that had ended with only good feelings left between them, then there would be no problem in continuing it. But if it was a relationship that, in many ways, bordered on an ill fate, then perhaps it would be better if they were complete strangers instead.

“And the Raisons are a family with nearly as long a history as the Milliums. Yours is a house that has held a title since the early days of the Empire. In that sense, I judged that the union of our two families could appear somewhat equal.”

Ha, equal? He could not agree with that at all either. This time, perhaps because his true thoughts had shown clearly on his face, Helena faltered mid-sentence as she looked at Melian. She added carefully,

“If the difference in status is too great, people are likely to talk. Still, whatever else may be true, we are both nobles.”

Well, certainly, for a noble young lady such as herself, it would be far more shocking if she were involved with a common man than if she were courting the son of a Viscount. In that respect, Melian’s social standing was quite acceptable.

Though his rank was markedly below that of Lady Millium, as she had said, they were both nobles, and they had studied together at the National Academy, which only the upper class of this country could attend.

In other words, he was a perfectly suitable candidate for appearances’ sake.

Not especially distinguished, but not too inferior either. Not enough to shame the bride, but never so impressive that he could become arrogant. A man who, to anyone’s eyes, was inferior to his wife and therefore would always have no choice but to behave meekly before his wife’s family.