In the small room converted into a bridal waiting area at Sandem’s one and only church, Charlotte stared out the window with an anxious expression. The rain had persisted all the way through to today.

“Good heavens, the sky must know exactly how I feel. In all my years living in Sandem, I have never seen it rain like this at this time of year.”

The Viscountess Roman grumbled, dressed in a pale rose silk gown so bright it could have passed for a wedding dress itself. Charlotte glanced at the familiar pearl accessories glinting delicately at her neck and ears, then slowly dropped her gaze.

“And you had to go and wear something so plain on top of it. I worry people will think less of our family because of you.”

The dress Charlotte wore had been left to her by her mother — a modest, ivory lace gown. It was neither outdated nor lacking, but it could never satisfy the Viscountess, whose taste ran toward the elaborate.

“Honestly, you……”

The Viscountess was just drawing breath to say more when a familiar figure stepped into the waiting room.

“Charlotte.”

Charles came toward her with a radiant smile, one hand raised to cover his mouth.

“Good heavens. You look absolutely beautiful. Like an angel.”

His eyes welled with emotion. He meant it wholeheartedly — she was breathtaking. Was it because it had been so long since he’d seen her? Or had Charlotte always been this beautiful?

A faint smile crossed Charlotte’s face beneath the veil.

The Viscountess had lectured her, days before the wedding, that it was unseemly to look bloated on the day you wore the dress — so Charlotte had barely eaten properly in days. She suspected she looked less like an angel and more like a ghost, but……

……Never mind.

Charles had meant it kindly. It wasn’t right to take it that way.

“An angel, honestly. And am I invisible to you?”

The Viscountess muttered her complaint, and Charles lightly draped an arm around her shoulders.

“How could you be invisible? You look absolutely stunning today.”

“Oh, you and your way with words……”

The Viscountess’s lips had just curved into a pleased smile when there came a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

It was Viscount Roman. He wasn’t the sort of man attentive or warm enough to come check whether Charlotte was nervous. What was he doing here?

Then, from behind the Viscount, a man stepped into view.

Who is this?

Charlotte was still blinking in mild bewilderment when the man removed his hat with quiet courtesy, held it against his chest, and bowed his head.

“Congratulations on your wedding. Miss Prairie.”

Having delivered his greeting first, he offered a small, quiet smile.

“My name is Baron Shelbourne, in service to House Earlister. You’re welcome to call me Derik, if you’d like.”

Earlister! At the name of the greatest noble house in the country, the eyes of both the Viscount and Viscountess Roman went wide. Charlotte was equally startled — though her surprise was quickly overtaken by bewilderment at what had brought him here.

“His Grace wished to come in person to offer his congratulations, but as the former Duke, Lord Petro, has been in poor health, he was unable to leave his side. Please accept his sincerest apologies.”

Charlotte blinked, dazed. It was remarkable enough that they had sent someone at all — but he had wanted to come in person?

Was his connection to Father truly that deep……

Still in a daze, Charlotte dipped her head in a small bow.

“Thank you.”

“I will convey your regards to His Grace in turn. And that you looked absolutely beautiful today.”

Charlotte smiled shyly. Derik regarded her with warm eyes, then quickly let his gaze drift around the room.

Everyone here is rather transparent.

Viscount Roman, unable to conceal his delight from the moment he’d met Derik. The Viscountess, lips working restlessly as though the whole situation sat uneasily with her. Charles, visibly puzzled as to why House Earlister would concern itself with Charlotte……

All three of them were either too guileless or too unguarded to hide what they felt.

The reactions of the Viscount and his son are one thing — but the Viscountess’s manner is peculiar.

It made no sense. Her daughter-in-law-to-be had ties to someone of vastly superior standing, and rather than being pleased, the Viscountess looked as though something sour had lodged in her chest — the way a person looks when someone they dislike has come into good fortune.

Derik couldn’t help but turn over the words of the one who had sent him.

[The man who attended the funeral said the Viscountess treated the girl with great warmth and care.]

That man — who so rarely smiled — had let a quiet smile cross his face as he imagined Charlotte being cherished by her husband’s family. But from what Derik could see now, Charlotte was nothing like a happy bride basking in love.

If that fellow were to find out about this…… what would come of it.

After a brief pause, Derik smiled and said,

“I will arrange an opportunity for you to greet His Grace in person at a later date.”

At that, Viscount Roman’s face lit up with undisguised joy — while the very person being invited, Charlotte, looked quietly burdened by it.

“Ha ha. Whenever you extend the invitation, we shall visit without delay.”

The Viscount laughed heartily.

No one invited you.

Derik swallowed the words rising in his throat and kept his smile in place. Well — if the Viscount was in good spirits, it could hardly be bad for Charlotte.

“Dear me, I’ve taken up far too much of your time. Let us speak again after the ceremony, then.”

“Ah, allow me to show you to your seat.”

Ha! Viscount Roman’s loud laugh cut off abruptly as his expression hardened and he shot his wife a sharp look.

“You shouldn’t be standing around in here either — you need to greet the guests. The ladies have been asking after you.”

“Oh, I was just on my way out.”

The Viscountess answered with a flustered expression and made a hasty exit.

“Tsk.”

Viscount Roman clicked his tongue, then clapped his son on the shoulder with an affectionate air.

“I understand you can’t get enough of your new bride, but the groom ought to be out welcoming guests.”

“Ah, my apologies. Then Charlotte — I’ll come back to get you in a little while.”

And with that, the room emptied all at once. Charlotte stood in the sudden hush, forcing her dazed mind to turn.

What on earth just happened……

Just then, Maji — who had clearly been waiting for nothing but the Viscountess to leave — came hurrying back into the waiting room.

“Goodness, they certainly took their time leaving. Miss, please eat something.”

In her hands were bread and water — for Charlotte, who had eaten nothing.

“I’m fine. The ceremony will be starting soon——”

“All the more reason you need to eat. It’ll take a good hour at least. What if you faint?”

At the sight of Maji fretting and fidgeting with worry, Charlotte felt a sting behind her nose. Maji had been the one refuge in her solitary life. How could a person be this warm.

“Maji. Thank you — for everything, truly.”

“There you go again, Miss……”

Maji sniffled and swallowed back tears.

Maji had agreed to stay on and look after the Prairie estate until it sold. Several prospective buyers had already come through, so it would likely sell quickly.

Once the estate sold, Maji would return to her hometown. Maji had insisted on serving Charlotte until the very end, but Charlotte had refused. It was obvious she would receive no kind treatment in the Roman household.

At least I was able to give her a proper send-off.

Charlotte had pressed into Maji’s hands enough to buy a small shop and find a place to live. Maji had tried to refuse, saying it was far too much — but Charlotte couldn’t send someone who was like family away empty-handed. If anything, she only wished she could have done more.

“I’m going to miss you terribly. Wherever you are, you have to write often.”

“……I absolutely will, so you had better write to me often too, Miss.”

“Of course I will.”

Charlotte was forcing back tears and trying to smile when a familiar woman came rushing into the bridal waiting room without so much as a knock.

“Fiona?”

Charlotte’s eyes went wide with surprise. Fiona looked frantic, like a thief who had crept in uninvited.

“I’m sorry for barging in like this, Charlotte.”

“……No, I’m glad you came. But why did you rush in like that? Is something wrong?”

“Ah, well, the thing is……”

Fiona hesitated, worrying at her lips.

“There’s something I absolutely have to tell you……”

She glanced sidelong at Maji.

She wants to speak privately?

Reading Fiona’s meaning, Charlotte said,

“……If it’s something important, would it be all right to talk after the ceremony?”

“No! It has to be now!”

Fiona raised her voice sharply. Maji responded with firm composure.

“Miss Charlotte’s wedding ceremony is about to begin. I’m sorry, but if you could please wait in the——”

Before Maji could finish, Fiona clenched her fists and cried out.

“I’m pregnant — with Charles’s child!”

Her sharp voice rang through the bridal waiting room. Charlotte had no way of not having heard it clearly — and yet she could only stare, dumbfounded, and ask again.

“What did you just……say?”

“I’m so sorry……”

Fiona placed a hand over her flat stomach and let her tears fall, the picture of pitiful sorrow.

She’s truly carrying Charles’s child……?

What is happening…… How could something like that have happened between the two of them……?

“Where do you get the nerve to say something so vile——!”

Maji’s face went red as she shouted and took a step forward as though she might fly at Fiona at any moment.

“Eek!”

Fiona hunched over and wrapped both arms around her stomach, as though terrified something might happen to the child inside.

Just then, the sound of footsteps rang out in the corridor. Steady and unhurried, they drew closer — and stopped directly in front of the bridal waiting room.

“Charlotte. It’s time——”

Charles opened the door with a smile on his lips. But the moment he spotted Fiona, that smile evaporated instantly.