Chapter 28 – An Unexpected Proposal

“…What?”

Rosalie had not expected them to visit so soon, so she stammered, then regained her composure. She quickly returned to her room and changed into a neat dress.

When she went back downstairs, Angela had also changed and was preparing tea. Gérard, embarrassed to greet guests in his gown, stood up as soon as he saw Rosalie.

“I’ll step out for a bit. Please, make yourselves comfortable.”

Given the circumstances, Gérard surely wanted to stay by Rosalie’s side, but it couldn’t be helped.

Although the visitors were the Countess Aloua and her son, who had come at an unusually early hour, Rosalie’s family was in a position to watch their reactions.

Gérard passed Rosalie, who stood awkwardly at the entrance, and whispered that he would get ready as quickly as possible. Inside, the Countess called out Rosalie’s name.

“What are you doing over there, Miss Rosalie?”

“…Have you been well, Countess?”

Forcing a smile, Rosalie entered the living room.

She immediately felt Jeremy’s gaze but couldn’t bring herself to look at him. Instead, she stared at the Countess, whose expression was hard to read.

“How could I have been well? Every day has been a torment. Maybe not as much as for you, Miss Rosalie.”

“Thank you for your concern. Thanks to you, I was able to return safely.”

The Countess nodded with satisfaction at Rosalie’s formal reply.

She pretended to fix her elegantly styled hair, then met Rosalie’s eyes directly. Gemstones sparkled in her pale blond hair.

“Let’s not beat around the bush. Do you know why I came here today, Miss Rosalie?”

“…I’m not sure.”

Rosalie lowered her eyes carefully. From the Aloua family’s perspective, it would not be strange to reconsider the marriage.

No family would want a woman who’d been abducted and missing for three days.

“Why not? It seems you still don’t understand the Aloua family very well.”

“M-Mother.”

With a tone as if scolding a child, the Countess prompted Jeremy’s hurried interjection. Rosalie, realizing she’d accidentally turned her gaze to him, flinched and looked away.

“Oh dear, I must have frightened our new daughter-in-law. Look at me, Miss Rosalie. You must have had a hard time. I can’t even imagine what you’ve been through.”

“It wasn’t as hard as you might imagine. I didn’t suffer any of the horrific things the newspaper claimed.”

Having to explain herself like this was truly miserable. Even reading the newspaper hadn’t made her feel this way.

Rosalie struggled to speak, then fell silent. The Countess’s golden eyebrows drew together between her brows.

“Of course. I trust the word of the future lady of our house.”

Was she being sincere? Rosalie couldn’t read the Countess’s true feelings.

“Thank you, Countess…”

“The world may slander you for their own sordid pleasure, but Aloua is different. You are to become part of our family. Aloua will be your shield.”

At this point, Rosalie didn’t know what to say and bowed her head. She felt both grateful and sorry to the Countess, making it hard to speak.

Honestly, Rosalie had thought her connection to the Aloua family would end today. She was prepared to accept it.

Gérard’s feelings were another matter, but it was Rosalie who had caused trouble for the marriage negotiations.

“Sorry for being late. I’m back.”

Rosalie was tracing the pattern on the carpet, wondering if she should kneel, when Gérard appeared, breathing heavily in his old suit.

“You arrived just in time, Earl Malève. I was about to propose something to you.”

“…Please, go ahead.”

Gérard glanced nervously at Rosalie before answering. The Countess laughed calmly and turned to Jeremy.

“The adults need to talk for a moment.”

“Uh… S-shall we go for a walk?”

Jeremy, blinking his blue eyes blankly, flinched and asked Rosalie. She still couldn’t meet his gaze, but managed to answer.

“As you can see, our townhouse doesn’t have a garden like the Aloua mansion.”

Besides, Rosalie was afraid to walk outside—reporters could storm in at any moment.

“Ah… S-sorry.”

Realizing too late that he hadn’t considered their situation, Jeremy hurried to apologize. Rosalie raised a hand to stop him.

“Instead, there’s a small yard behind the kitchen. It’s hardly a garden, but if you don’t mind, would you like to go there?”

“That’s fine. We just need to step out for a bit.”

“Jeremy, you shouldn’t say that so bluntly.”

The Countess scolded her son with an embarrassed smile. Gérard followed suit to avoid offending her.

“S-sorry. Shall we go?”

Rosalie wanted to avoid the situation altogether, but there was no way out. She stood up in resignation and headed to the kitchen with Jeremy, who took his cane.

“It’s a cute place.”

Passing through the untidy kitchen, Jeremy made a comment. Rosalie pretended not to hear, unable to agree. Jeremy apologized again.

“S-sorry…”

“Don’t apologize. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

Rosalie meant to speak gently, but her tone came out stiff despite herself. She scolded herself and sighed.

How could she face a fiancé after everything that had happened these past three days?

“I’m the one who should apologize, Jeremy.”

She stepped into the backyard, closed the kitchen door, and leaned against it. It was just a tiny space with an old wooden bench and overgrown bushes.

Jeremy stood there, blinking innocently.

Now, what should she do? At least to him, she ought to tell the truth.

She stared at the worn tips of her out-of-fashion shoes, then looked up. She couldn’t bring herself to deceive this kind, gentle man.

“I have something to say, If you hear it, it might end everything between us.”

Even if that happened, Rosalie was ready to accept it. She wouldn’t be surprised if Jeremy went to the Countess right now and called off the engagement.

She tried to speak calmly, knowing it was better to be shameless for the sake of her family’s future.

“Miss Rosalie…”

Just as she was about to speak, Jeremy beat her to it. Rosalie looked at him quietly.

Dressed neatly in a suit since early morning, Jeremy looked perfect on the outside—if only his eyes weren’t darting anxiously.

“No matter what you say, nothing will end our relationship.”

“But you don’t know what I’m about to say, Jeremy.”

“I do know.”

“What?”

“And it doesn’t matter. I’m f-fine… Whoa!”

“Jeremy!”

As he tried to steady his cane among the thick bushes, Jeremy lost his balance and nearly fell backward. Rosalie instinctively reached out and caught him by his slender waist.

“That was close…”

Rosalie pulled her face away from Jeremy’s chest and exhaled deeply. After seeing him regain his balance, she stepped back.

Jeremy covered his face with the back of his hand, red as a tomato and ready to burst.

“S-sorry. I-I didn’t do that on purpose.”

“No one tries to fall on purpose. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Thanks to you, I’m f-fine…”

Rosalie worried what would happen if the Countess’s precious son got even a scratch. Knowing Jeremy was flinching, she checked from his chin to his toes for any injuries.

“I said I’m f-fine…”

Jeremy trembled wherever Rosalie’s gaze landed. His shorter leg, hidden by his white trousers, wobbled again. Worried, Rosalie quickly grabbed his arm with both hands.

“You almost fell again. This won’t do—sit on that bench, even if it gets a bit dirty.”

She searched her pocket for a handkerchief. Jeremy was wearing white trousers, unlike his dark jacket.

As she did what a gentleman might, Rosalie found herself suppressing a smile.

“D-don’t laugh. It’s embarrassing.”

Jeremy protested in a small, trembling voice.