Chapter 32

Sabrina glared sharply at a letter placed on her desk. It seemed to be a marriage proposal from another family.

‘Ha… So, this is how they’re going to play it.’

Although she had expected it, seeing her suspicions turn into certainty left her with an unpleasant tingling sensation at the back of her head. It wasn’t just a plan anymore—it was already in the process of being executed.

‘I can see their dark intentions so clearly.’

It appeared to be a mix of their desire to take revenge on Sabrina and their greed, unwilling to give up the benefits they could gain by using her.

The Viscount crossed his arms with a relaxed expression and said, 

“If you want, I’ll promise you this: if you cooperate with this marriage proposal properly, I won’t interfere with or disrupt your life.”

Sabrina’s eyelashes trembled slightly. 

In the end, the Viscount’s words were no different from a threat. If Sabrina didn’t obediently follow his wishes, he would use every means at his disposal to ruin her future. 

No one knew better than Sabrina that this wasn’t just an empty threat. Considering Sabrina held a public office where reputation was crucial, it would be all too easy for her family to attack her.

“Does that family know? That I’m completely unaware of this marriage proposal?”

At Sabrina’s words, the Viscount smirked.

“Do they really need to know?”

“They do. They might end up holding a wedding without a bride.”

Contrary to Sabrina’s expectation that he might get angry, the Viscount shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.

“Let them.”

Sabrina frowned slightly, startled.

“What do you mean by that…?”

“Let me make it clear. I have no intention of withdrawing this proposal with my own hands. I plan to push forward with the marriage, so whether you run away in the middle of the night or cause a scene right before the ceremony, that’s up to you.”

The Viscount slid the letter on the desk toward himself, picked it up, and stood.

“I’m determined to see this through to the end. Do you think you’re the only one who can be stubborn?”

“I won’t give in either, Father.”

At Sabrina’s words, the Viscount nodded. He replied as he slowly walked closer to her.

“Fine, but then you’ll have to bear the consequences.”

Standing right in front of Sabrina, he handed her the letter sealed with a red wax stamp.

“Having things fall apart won’t do you any good either.”

***

Sabrina stood in front of the tea house, dark circles under her eyes. They were the scars left by sleepless nights spent agonizing.

‘I can’t believe I’ve come to a matchmaking meeting on my own two feet.’

After much deliberation, Sabrina had come to the meeting arranged by the Viscount. She could have easily skipped it, but there was a reason she couldn’t.

‘There must have been a reason for his confidence.’

First, the family that had sent her the marriage proposal was none other than the Marquisate of Hatchet, one of the four great pillars of the Empire. 

Given their long-standing close relationship with the Imperial Family and their active cooperation, it would be extremely inconvenient for Sabrina to have a strained relationship with them.

‘Now that I think about it, the Marquis always asked me such personal questions whenever we met…’

The Marquis of Hatchet was an upright and loyal man, but he had a naturally stubborn and eccentric personality. Known for his peculiarities, it was impossible to predict how he might react if his proposal was rejected.

‘In some ways, he’s worse than Father…’

Sabrina shook her head in disbelief.

However, that wasn’t the only reason she had accepted today’s meeting.

The second reason, far more compelling than the first, was that her matchmaking partner today was…

“You’ve arrived?”

“Hello.”

“I’ve ordered the most basic tea. If you don’t like it, feel free to order something else.”

“No, it’s fine. I don’t mind.”

“Very well.”

…Clayton Hatchet, the man who was practically Chase’s left arm.

A man whose massive frame didn’t match the charming and cozy atmosphere of the tea house. His fiery red hair and pale gray eyes, reminiscent of the midnight Arctic, were strikingly noticeable.

While Sabrina was briefly captivated by the unique scene, Clayton, wearing his usual stern and detached expression, gestured for her to sit.

“What are you standing there for? Sit down.”

“Oh, yes…”

Why do I always feel so intimidated in front of this man?

Sabrina hesitantly sat down. Clayton immediately asked, 

“Did you know that I would be the one you’re meeting today?”

Sabrina nodded slightly.

“I wasn’t 100% sure, but I had a rough idea. Since Young Master Hatchet recently got married, it wouldn’t be him. So, it had to be either you or your younger brother…”

“He only came of age a month ago.”

Clayton looked at Sabrina as though she were some kind of degenerate. His gaze seemed to ask whether she had actually considered marrying such a young boy, making Sabrina feel a bit indignant.

‘Who said I’d marry him?’

Sabrina pouted slightly and replied with a hint of irritation, 

“Exactly. That’s why I thought it would be you.”

“Oh.”

Finally, Clayton’s expression softened slightly.

Sabrina rested her hands on the table and leaned forward. It was time to address the main reason she had come here.

“Lord, the reason I came here today is…”

Before she could finish, Clayton interrupted her.

“I know. You came to reject the proposal.”

Sabrina’s eyes widened slightly. Relieved that he already knew, she was about to speak when Clayton continued, beating her to it.

“Before you say anything, would you hear me out first?”

Sabrina looked at Clayton curiously.

What could he possibly want to say?

Although she felt uneasy, she knew Clayton wasn’t the type to say anything frivolous. Judging that he must have a reason, she nodded.

“All right. Go ahead.”

Hearing her response, Clayton exhaled a short breath as if relieved.

“First, I want to make it clear that I bear some responsibility for you being here today.”

What?

Sabrina’s eyes widened in surprise. She asked urgently, 

“What do you mean?”

Clayton rubbed his brow with his fingers before speaking.

“Well, as you probably know, my elder brother recently got married.”

“I’m aware.”

“Because of that, my father’s attention has now completely shifted to me.”

Raising an eyebrow, Sabrina asked, 

“His attention? You mean regarding marriage?”

“Yes, precisely.”

Clayton nodded straightforwardly and continued.

“Despite my protests, he kept sending me portraits of unfamiliar ladies multiple times a day. I’ve probably rejected dozens of them, using my busy work schedule as an excuse.”

“Hmm.”

“Eventually, my father lost his temper. He told me that if I liked work so much, I should find someone there instead.”

“…”

“And that’s when his thoughts turned to you.”

Clayton loosened his tightly knotted cravat slightly, looking frustrated.

“My father seems to think very highly of you. He even said he didn’t know why he hadn’t thought of it sooner and asked for my opinion.”

Sabrina quickly asked, 

“Didn’t you refuse?”

“Of course, I refused… but.”

Clayton hesitated, glancing at Sabrina.

“I wasn’t as firm as I should have been. Perhaps I was too flustered or found it difficult to speak candidly about someone I already knew well.”

What?

Sabrina, feeling stifled, unconsciously tapped the table with her fingers as she spoke.

“No! Why did you do that? You should have refused immediately. You could’ve said, ‘No, not even remotely my type. I’ve never seen her as a woman.’ Even if you said that, I wouldn’t care. I wouldn’t be hurt or offended.”

Clayton responded in a low voice, 

“I’m sorry. I’m not very good at lying.”

Before Sabrina could fully process the meaning of his words, he continued.

“Anyway, my vague response must have shown a gap, and my father immediately reached out to your father for a meeting.”

“And my father, of course, would have agreed.”

“Yes, he was very enthusiastic.”

Sabrina let out a deep sigh. She didn’t even need to see it to picture the scene vividly in her mind.

The Hatchet Marquisate? Her father must have thought it was like a treasure rolling right into his lap. From the Wintlet family’s perspective, it was as though a golden pumpkin had rolled in on its own.

There was no way he’d let such an opportunity slip by. He must have actively pursued the marriage discussions.

Knowing that Sabrina might interfere if she found out too early, he likely kept it under wraps at first. But since he couldn’t hold a wedding without a bride, he must have spread absurd rumors through acquaintances, expecting her to come home eventually.

‘Now it all makes sense.’

Understanding the whole story, Sabrina let out a hollow laugh. Sometimes, when things were too absurd, even anger didn’t come.