Chapter 8

I returned to the Winsley manor by carriage. My family was there to greet me, probably because they were unaware of what I had done at the party.

My father, who praised me for my efforts, called the entire family to the study as soon as the next day dawned.

As I entered the study, a newspaper flew in my direction. My father was always respectful, even to his children, but he had never behaved like this before. This shocked my other family members but not me.

I already knew my father would be furious. I slowly knelt before him.

“Father, could you tell us what she did…?”

Louis tried to calm our father, but his stern expression remained unchanged.

“Laila! Is everything in this newspaper true?”

I stayed still with my eyes closed. Louis glanced between me and our father before cautiously picking up the newspaper.

“The Grand Duke of Zan and the eldest daughter of Count Winsley to wed… What does this mean, sister?”

Louis asked me in a confused voice. Before I could respond, my father spoke, struggling to suppress his anger.

“It says here that Laila dueled with Marquis Amber at a social party, wagering the honor of Grand Duke Zan.”

“What, what?!”

My always-composed mother was rarely so shocked. I realized the enormity of what I had done, especially to my parents. To them, it must have felt like a bolt from the blue.

“I’m sorry.”

My apology brought a momentary silence, but my mother raised her voice.

“How could you do this to us? You promised to go to the party and deny everything!“

“But I never intended to do that from the start. I want to marry His Grace, the Grand Duke of Zan.”

“Why on earth would you marry him?!”

Mother couldn’t continue and began to cry into her hands. Her sorrowful sounds filled the room, forgetting her dignity as a countess. Listening to her sobs, my heart ached as if it were being torn apart.

But all of this was for my family.

I stood up, lifted my skirt, and bowed more solemnly than ever before. My family just stared at me, unable to approach.

“Please allow me to marry His Grace, the Grand Duke of Zan. If you do not, I will join the knights and marry no one. I will never return home.”

My words left my family stunned, their eyes wide. Mother gasped for breath, clutching her neck. Adam hurriedly supported her, but he, too, looked at me in disbelief.

In this tense situation, my father spoke, his voice somewhat calmer.

“Can’t you give us a reason? If you have feelings for His High Grace, we will respect that.”

I smiled and shook my head. I couldn’t tell the truth but didn’t want to lie to my family.

“This is a political marriage, Father. There is something I must obtain through this union.”

My life didn’t have many years left. All I wished for was my family’s peace, even if they didn’t want it.

“Please respect my selfish choice.“

Mother’s quiet sobbing continued in the study. Father gently patted her shoulder. I wondered if it was hopeless, having disappointed them so profoundly.

Father spoke with a pained expression.

“I feel it’s impossible to stop you.“

“I’m sorry, Father.”

I could only repeat my apology like a parrot. Father shook his head, not accepting my apology but also not rejecting my resolve.

He sighed deeply and said,

“Everyone, leave except for Laila. Laila, help me write a letter to His Grace, the Grand Duke.”

After speaking, he entrusted my trembling mother to Louis. Louis and Adam escorted Mother out while I felt nailed in place. My eyes felt cold, even though it wasn’t winter.

* * *

Not long after Marchioness Eriant’s social party ended, I had to leave for the north to prepare for my wedding.

My mother, who didn’t want to send her young daughter to the north, hugged me tightly. Although she had recently spoken harshly to me, her embrace was still warm and comforting, making me tear up.

“I don’t want to let you go.”

My youngest brother, Adam, held my hand tightly as he stood beside our mother and said,

“Sis, can you not go? Can’t we ask Grand Duke Zan to come and live here instead?“

Adam’s earnest expression was honestly adorable. I smiled as I touched his soft cheek, still more like a child than a man. This time, I’ll definitely protect you, Adam. With that resolve, I kissed his forehead.

“Do you still think I’m a child?”

Even his grumbling was endearing.

When I announced that I would be leaving a little earlier than planned, my family naturally caused a commotion. However, it was better to familiarize myself with the work at Grand Duke Zan’s estate as soon as possible. Only then could I make more effective use of his power? I hugged my mother and said,

“I have a lot to do. I must look my best for our family’s sake at the wedding.”

Hearing this, my mother even started to sob. My brothers each hugged me in turn. Standing at the back, my father approached and firmly embraced my shoulders.

“Whatever you want to do, don’t overwork yourself.”

I nodded vigorously. Although I knew I couldn’t keep that promise, it was the only reassurance I could offer my father.

My mother, dabbing her tears with a handkerchief, asked me worriedly,

“Do you really have to take her?”

The person she subtly gestured toward was Marian, the woman Kazak had taken as a mistress before marriage. Marian, her face hidden by a black veil, had already boarded the carriage.

It was natural for my family to dislike Marian since I could have been the one to marry Kazak.

But I nodded firmly.

“I have a specific use for Marian.”

With that, my family could no longer stop me.

I boarded the carriage, leaving my family behind. Despite betraying them, they continued to treat me warmly. With such loving people, I had no choice but to protect them.

I bit my lip and strengthened my resolve once more.

During the journey to Grand Duke Zan’s northern territory, Anna sobbed, her nose running. Her handkerchief was soaked with tears, so I gave her mine, but it, too, was quickly saturated. Anyone would think Anna, not I, was the one being sold off.

“Why are you crying so much?”

When I asked, Anna fidgeted with her handkerchief and answered, her face confused and unable to express her frustration with me.

“I’m proud that the lady I serve is kind, intelligent, and beautiful. I believed someone like you would marry a handsome man like Marquis Kazak…”

Touched by Anna’s pitiful words, I took the handkerchief and wiped her tears.

“Anna, this marriage isn’t as bad as you think.“

“But, but…“

“If you stay by my side, you’ll naturally come to see. His Grace, Grand Duke Zan, is a much better man than you imagine.”

My voice was filled with conviction, and Anna looked at me with wide, curious eyes.

“How can you… Ah!“

Anna’s scream coincided with the carriage tipping violently. Anna fell into my view as the carriage leaned towards my side. I caught her awkwardly, but my body collided hard with the carriage. The sudden shock left me unable to scream.

“My lady! My lady!”

Anna called out to me in panic. Outside, the horses neighed in distress, and the coachman struggled to free the carriage from the ditch.

“Call for help! Get someone to help!”

I shouted outside while unable to move. I heard the coachman running off hastily.

“Anna, stay still. If the carriage tips further, it’ll be dangerous.“

“Yes, yes!”

Anna responded but was still uneasy, asking questions like, “Where are we exactly?“ and “My lady, what exactly have we fallen into?“

Several minutes, or perhaps what felt like an eternity due to the pain in my leg, passed.

Just as I was enduring both my injury and Anna’s anxiety, there was a sudden clunk.

Something forcefully opened the blocked door. A large, sturdy hand reached in. As I instinctively recoiled, the hand gently supported my back.

“Ah…”

There was no time to hesitate. The arm cradled and lifted me out, naturally slipping another arm under my knees. I found myself held like a child.

Before I could thank him, a familiar, low voice resonated in my ears.

“You’re hurt.”

I looked up at him.

“Your Grace…”

The man, wearing a half-mask and half-cloak with pale skin and red eyes, looked down at me. Realizing who he was, I hurriedly tried to extricate myself from Julian’s embrace.

“Ouch…”

My injured leg made it difficult to struggle. He clicked his tongue and held me tightly again.

“Stay still.“

“But this is too much of an imposition.“

“If you walk like this, your injury will worsen.”

“That’s...”

“If the bride can’t even walk alone at the wedding, wouldn’t that be even more of a disgrace?”

Julian spoke as he walked. I couldn’t argue with that; everything he said was correct. It felt like I was a scolded child.

“I can’t carry you into the wedding like this.”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

I apologized immediately. Only then did I realize there was no sharpness in Julian’s voice? I looked up at him, asking tentatively,

“Were you joking just now?”

Julian didn’t reply. Whether it was because he was too dumbfounded or embarrassed, I couldn’t tell, but I decided to think he was ashamed.

Is this what it means to see someone through rose-colored glasses? Kazak seemed uglier by the day, but Julian’s half-revealed face looked more handsome than ever.

“How long do you plan to carry me?“

“Until we reach the carriage. After that, I’ll leave you to the attendants.“

“Oh…”

I mumbled in disappointment, and Julian remained silent for a while before asking,

“Why?”

I secured one arm around his shoulder. It wasn’t meant to be affectionate; it was just comfortable. With my arm around his neck, I said,

“I was hoping you’d carry me to my room. It would be an honor.”

Julian didn’t respond for a long time. It seemed he wasn’t going to say anything.

Julian placed me in his carriage and walked back. Struggling with my immobile thigh, I pressed close to the window.

I saw Julian grab a corner of the carriage and lift it out of the ditch, pulling it to a safe spot. Even for a grown man, it was a feat of incredible strength.

“What in the world…”

They called him a monster, perhaps due to his monstrous strength rather than appearance.

I applauded Julian when he returned to the carriage. Even among the knights I had seen, none had such strength. My heart pounded with the desire to see him wield a sword.

Julian looked at me as if to ask what I was doing, and I responded immediately.

“That was amazing! I’ve never seen anyone so strong!”

I exclaimed like a naive child, and Julian massaged his temples, seemingly annoyed.

“Are you always this loud?“

Julian’s words sounded more troubled than cold. He seemed worried about the future. I shrugged and moved aside to make room for him.

“So, will you call off the wedding?”

At my question, Julian smiled faintly under his hand. It didn’t seem like he intended me to see it, but I did. His half-revealed lips looked red and soft.

Julian stepped into the carriage and whispered,

“I can’t do that.”

* * *

Grand Duke Zan’s territory had a cold climate, befitting the north. However, it wasn’t perpetually snow-covered. The region was mountainous and rugged.

Grand Duke Zan’s land focused more on livestock than agriculture, with many fur-bearing animals to withstand the cold seasons.

The mountainous terrain meant that newcomers often got lost. Julian said he had met me out of concern that the new mistress might lose her way.

It would have been fortunate if I had only gotten lost. How laughable it must have been for him to find the new mistress of the house overturned in a ditch.

Thinking of Julian’s bewilderment made me giggle.

“Why are you laughing?“

“It’s nothing.”

I replied coyly, pressing closer to the carriage window.

People often said Grand Duke Zan’s land was barren and desolate. It certainly wasn’t fertile.

But calling this land worthless was just jealousy. It was magnificent.

The cool air, towering mountains, trees, and people brimming with energy, regardless of age.

Especially the people. As Grand Duke Zan’s carriage passed, everyone stopped and bowed respectfully.

People who might have feared the monster Grand Duke showed nothing but respect.

“It’s a wonderful estate.”

I whispered, looking out the window. Turning back, I sensed a soft smile on Julian’s face as he looked past my cheek.

“Your Grace?“

“Why are you calling me?“

“Your Grace seems different from the rumors.”

Julian smiled wryly.

“Not that different.“

“Completely different. The people in the capital couldn’t imagine you smiling like this.”

He touched his cheek. His clean-shaven jaw was also appealing, reflecting his diligence and neatness.

Men his age often grew beards to appear mature, oblivious to how much their wives hated it.

“I have a question. Since we’re getting married soon, I thought I could ask. Is that alright?“

“Ask anything.”

I looked at him intently. The carriage was still moving fast, and our hair swayed with the wind.

“Why do you want to have a child?”

I didn’t think he would want a child without love for some reason. So I asked. Julian lowered his gaze and replied,

“It’s obvious. To have an heir.”

His voice grew more profound as if pulling something from the darkness.

“Only that can protect Grand Duke Zan’s land.”