6. Obsession (Part 1)

The ball was still in full swing. Through the open door, the raucous noise of the distant party could be heard. She wondered how Alexander had gotten here, what business he would have in the study on a day like this.

As Alexander’s figure came into view, Eirin hastily got up.

“Alexander.”

He was uncharacteristically breathless. 

Could it be that he had run here?

His hair, which was always neatly styled, fell across his well-groomed forehead.

“I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

Blood rushed to her head, afraid that the fact that she had been thinking of him would be exposed. Although Alexander couldn’t read people’s minds, for some reason, his sharp gaze seemed to have caught her, and her heart was pounding.

Alexander scrutinized Eirin. Not only her cheeks, but her exposed shoulders were flushed red.

“What did you do to make your face so red?”

“What do you mean?”

The words stumbled out of Eirin’s mouth, as her head was filled with thoughts of him.

“I didn’t do anything, I didn’t think of anything!”

At Eirin’s slightly raised voice, Edward, who had been focused on his book, looked up and gazed at the two people. Startled by Alexander’s sudden appearance, Edward walked over to them. Seeing this, Alexander slightly raised his eyebrow. Eirin was so absorbed in looking at him that she didn’t notice Edward’s presence until he stood next to her. That’s how much her attention was focused on Alexander.

“Ah…”

Alexander and Count Fitzwilliam were distant relatives.

“Alexander, you’re acquainted with the Viscount, aren’t you?”

“Ah, yes, that’s right.”

Alexander spoke first.

“It’s been a while, Edward.”

Edward bowed, startled by the unexpected presence.

“It’s been a long time, Your Grace.”

Addressing him as ‘Your Grace’ was only natural. Alexander disliked such titles. He had volunteered for the military before inheriting the title, and perhaps because of that, he enjoyed mingling with people without formalities. Therefore, unless it was an official occasion, he always disliked it when someone called him ‘Your Grace’. However, at the moment, Alexander had no intention of correcting Viscount Fitzwilliam’s way of addressing him. He didn’t even say a word about being addressed more casually.

Although he knew Edward was not at fault, the mere fact that Eirin and he were in the same space made Alexander want to give Edward a good beating.

“My… Eirin seems to have already become friends with you.”

The words ‘My Eirin’ surprised both the Viscount and Eirin.

“Your… Eirin?”

Eirin asked, and Alexander, with a seemingly calm expression, smiled.

“My friend’s sister, Eirin.”

Approaching the two, Alexander raised his eyebrow and looked down at the much smaller Viscount. Though Eirin couldn’t see it, Edward precisely read the expression on Alexander’s face. He was a very perceptive man.

“No, we’re not friends.”

Muttering unconsciously, he took a step back, as if scattered by the murderous aura emanating from Alexander.

“I only asked her to guide me, as I heard the study in the mansion is excellent.”

“I see…”

Alexander nodded.

“I hope you don’t take any improper actions. You should remember that there are people around who are trying to protect Eirin, as she is the daughter of the Hamilton family.”

By Alexander directly expressing the message not to lay a hand on her, Edward nodded.

Since childhood, Edward had lookedup to Alexander with awe. Unlike the frail Edward, the strong Alexander was an object of respect. Edward had always admired him, and could never go against his words.

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

At those words, one corner of Alexander’s lips curled up.

“Well, I heard there are many beautiful ladies attending the ball tonight. Why don’t you go and ask them to dance?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Like an obedient doll, Edward left the study at Alexander’s suggestion. As the Viscount quickly disappeared, Eirin looked at Alexander with a perplexed expression.

“Alexander, what was that just now?”

“What do you mean?”

My…

No, my friend’s sister might be in danger of experiencing something unpleasant in the study, that’s all I was worried about.

“The Viscount didn’t do anything to me. Your behavior just now seemed a bit rude.”

Was it rude?

It had been obvious upon entering the study that Edward had been absorbed in the books. Alexander didn’t even need to chase him away, the chance of Edward laying a hand on Eirin was almost non-existent.

But no matter how slim the chance, it was still unpleasant.

At Eirin’s pointed remark, Alexander readily opened his mouth.

“I apologize. I’m sorry, Eirin.”

“Shouldn’t you be apologizing to the Viscount, not  to me?”

Irritated by Eirin’s firm tone, but the moment he saw her face, a smile just crept onto the corners of his lips.

“I will apologize to Edward as well.”

“He only came here because of my brother Stefan’s scheme.”

Muttering while pressing her palm to her forehead, Eirin continued.

“The Viscount was merely caught in my brother Stefan’s scheme to marry me off to a decent man somehow, ugh——. Though, of course, Viscount Fitzwilliam is a decent man.”

Why did it turn out this way?

Eirin’s muttered words, ‘Viscount Fitzwilliam is a decent man’ stung his heart.

“Are you thinking of marrying Edward?”

She looked at him with wide eyes.

She shook her head.

She had no idea how long those few moments had seemed to Alexander. 

“No, you know I—— want to marry the love of my life, and I can’t imagine doing that with the man I met today.”

“But isn’t there a possibility you could fall in love with him in the future?”

The childish jealousy spilled out of Alexander’s mouth. At that, Eirin’s gaze, which had been fixed on him, slowly fell downward. She shook her head without looking at him.

“No, there isn’t. The kind of love I’m thinking of… is not the kind of love that just happens at first sight, but the kind that grows gradually over time, by constantly looking at each other…”

As if having experienced it herself, she murmured. Alexander thought that those words also came from one of the many novels she had read.

Eirin whispered softly and then looked up.

“So… you don’t have to worry about my relationship with the Viscount. If it were that easy to get married, I would already have three children by now, Alexander. But I appreciate you looking out for me.”

“…….”

“You just didn’t want me to get into trouble because of my brother, right?”

At her candid words, Alexander didn’t respond. 

He simply looked at her in silence.

Only now could he clearly see into his own heart.

No, Eirin. 

It was simply that I disliked any man approaching you.

The love she spoke of, not the kind that happens at first sight, but the kind that grows gradually over time by constantly looking at each other – that was the love Alexander had for her.

He couldn’t pinpoint when it began. 

He remembered the unpleasant feeling that had creeped into him when he’d thought she’d written a racy novel, and that she might have had that kind of relationship with another man. Perhaps even before he had brushed his lips against hers, his entire focus had been on her.

When she was very young and had jumped from the second floor, caught in the bushes, and he had carried her down. Or when she’d bought green dye and dyed her hair and made a mess, and when he’d seen the way she’d lifted her chin and said defiantly that she was just experimenting with it.

Maybe he already liked her.

He just didn’t know it.

Foolishly unaware.

He had fallen in love with her, gradually seeping in like water into paper.

The kind of love she spoke of was the very same feeling he was experiencing.

Alexander remained silent, simply taking in this new emotion he was feeling for the first time.

“Alexander.”

“Hmm?”

Eirin called out to him, who was lost in thought, simply gazing at her face.

“Do I really have to get married?”

“Why do you suddenly ask that?”

“My dream of marrying the one I love…”

Her voice trailed off softly.

“Is it a foolish dream to just live alone in my own world rather than marry someone I don’t love?”

“It’s not foolish.”

Not at all foolish or silly.

Alexander had never once thought about marriage. Even when visiting the warm homes of his comrades who had married early, he hadn’t disliked the atmosphere, but he had never wished for it himself.

Even when others urged him to marry, he had never wanted to.

But at this moment, Alexander desperately wanted to get married. Now that he had realized his feelings for someone, he wanted to possess everything about that person. He also wanted to offer everything he had before her.

He didn’t want to make the slightest concession to anyone else.

But for her..

For Eirin, I would.

“It’s not foolish.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

At Alexander’s words, Eirin smiled brightly. Seeing that beautiful smile, Alexander made up his mind.

When the morning light breaks, I will leave this house. And I will formally propose.

Just as she desires, I will conquer her, seeping into her like water into paper.

I will possess not only her body, but her heart as well.

With that, he whispered to Eirin.

“You will marry the one you love.”

Because I will make it so.