Chapter 1.6

Not long after, rumors began to spread that Helion was getting engaged to that very Lady Obelir, known for her promiscuous relationships with men.

Every time Claire walked through the Imperial corridors, she heard stories about Helion, and everyone seemed quite surprised.

“Did you hear the news? Secretary Radner is getting engaged to Lady Obelir?”

Because it was such a famous topic in social circles, even the female administrators who worked with him discussed it in the office.

“Is it true? They really don’t suit each other at all.”

“Is it really true that he’s getting engaged to Lady Obelir?”

“It can’t be. The rumors are so obvious.”

“But her family is decent, right? Isn’t it just a union between families?”

“There are plenty of better families. The Marquis Obelir’s family isn’t even that prestigious.”

It was already surprising that he, who had never gotten engaged before, was now doing so, but the fact that his fiancée was not well-received made the mood of the conversation anything but bright.

“That’s right. It’s not even a particularly great family, and they say every night she undresses the well-built attendants and does all sorts of lewd things—can you believe it?”

Everyone’s thoughts were not much different from Claire’s. The consensus was that Evelyn was promiscuous and Helion was too good for her.

“Is it really true?”

“Should we ask directly?”

“We aren’t even close, so we can’t just ask out of the blue.”

“But there is someone who could ask.”

At that moment, everyone’s gaze simultaneously turned toward the treasurer’s office.

“Would he actually tell us?”

Based on their experience with Rexion, he was a blunt and businesslike man. He had the kind of cold rationality and logical personality that made him fit for the position of Treasurer, as if he wouldn’t bleed a drop even if stabbed. Because of this, his stiff demeanor made it difficult to approach him for small talk, and they hesitated to ask him.

After watching each other for a while, the colleagues eventually decided not to ask him directly and went back to their desks when break time ended. Still, their curiosity remained, and they couldn’t help but wonder if the two were really engaged.

“Do you have something to say to me?”

When Claire entered the office to get approval, she unconsciously glanced at Rexion, and as her sideways glances lingered, he frowned and asked.

Claire hadn’t expected him to notice her gaze, so she was startled.

“Ah, no, nothing.”

She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should ask since he’d noticed, but the sharp look in Rexion’s eyes, as if telling her not to, made her give up on asking.

She had to give up… but everyone in the office was just as curious and distracted.

Everyone at their desks exchanged glances, searching for someone who might be able to ask directly.

Then, someone caught their eyes. It was the youngest member of the finance team, Glause, the noble son, who was notoriously oblivious.

“Um… is that rumor true?”

Lorella, nudging him forward, pushed Glause toward Rexion, and after glancing around nervously, Glause asked.

“What is it?”

Glause almost never spoke to Rexion, so one of Rexion’s eyebrows twitched. That was a sign that he was not in a good mood.

“Th-there’s a rumor that Secretary Radner is getting engaged to Lady Obelir… is it true?”

Glause, who lacked tact but was easily frightened, asked in a very timid manner.

“What?”

At that, Rexion glanced at Claire, who was visible through the open door. Their eyes met for a moment, and she quickly looked away.

What? I hadn’t told him to ask. Did he think I’d put him up to it? Why? Did he know I had a crush on his brother?

Come to think of it, she had visited the Radner residence to give Helion cookies in person, so it wasn’t impossible for Rexion to know. Even if she hadn’t met Rexion directly, he might have heard about her visit.

“That’s right. The two of them will be engaged soon.”

At that moment, the very words Claire least wanted to hear came out of his mouth.

What? It was true?

Claire was so shocked that she couldn’t even close her mouth. She was probably making the most surprised face in the office, but she didn’t care.

Glause left the office after getting his answer, but strangely, she couldn’t hear the sound of his footsteps as he walked away. It felt as if all sound had disappeared from the world.

Why did it have to be Lady Obelir?

She remembered seeing the two of them leaving the banquet hall together. Seeing them having a quiet conversation, she had thought, ‘So they’re not complete strangers.’

She had wanted to believe they were just acquaintances, not lovers. She told herself it was just a friendly relationship. But it turned out not to be the case…

She hadn’t expected things to work out with Helion, but her heart felt unbearably heavy, and she was filled with an odd sense of emptiness.

A noble man and a dissolute woman… No matter how she thought about it, Helion seemed too good for her.

Did he know what kind of woman Evelyn was? He must know, right? There’s no way he doesn’t.

All sorts of thoughts crowded her mind, making it impossible to focus on her work. There was plenty to do today, but she couldn’t do anything at all. The word ‘seduce’ kept echoing in her mind and wouldn’t go away, and the more she remembered what Lady Obelir had said, the angrier she became.

Of all the women, why did it have to be Lady Obelir?

She had considered ending her feelings as a mere one-sided crush, but the way things were going didn’t allow Claire to let it go.

It must be a union between families, not love, right? Still, wasn’t that too much? If I had to watch him marry someone so ill-suited, shouldn’t I at least try to be brave?

She had thought it would be fine if things didn’t work out, but because the other woman was not “fine,” her resolve to give up on Helion was rekindled.

How could I make his heart turn toward me?

Sensing Lorella’s glare, as if to ask why she wasn’t working, Claire’s dazed gaze shifted from the ceiling to her desk. She tried to focus on the papers, but her mind was so troubled that nothing registered.

Her eyes drifted again, from the documents in front of her to empty space.

At that moment, she saw a blank sheet of paper wedged between the books on the shelf, and a thought flashed through her mind.

Ah, the tree that grants wishes! Didn’t they say it would grant a wish you liked?

As soon as she remembered the Wish Tree Rona had told her about, it was as if a ray of hope appeared.

There was no guarantee the wish would be granted, but there was nothing to lose, so she decided she might as well make a wish. For now, she would make her wish and leave the rest to fate.