Chapter 1

Black Veil.

Lizette Trianne had an odd habit. It was the habit of always concealing her face with a black veil. Today as well, as always, Lizette sat before the mirror and adjusted the veil covering her face.

Suddenly, a memory from childhood crossed Lizette’s mind. It was the day she had happened to overhear the maids chatting.

―Miss looks so much like the late Madam’s face, right?

Young Lizette had always wondered. Why was it that her father’s gaze, a gaze that rarely even fell on her, was so cold whenever it did happen to reach her?

―That’s why Master won’t even look at Miss. He treasured the late Madam dearly.

At that time, Lizette realized that she could never become an object of affection to her father. She also realized that, to her father, she was nothing more than the one who had taken the life of the woman he loved beyond measure. From that day on, Lizette took comfort in the thought that there was a reason for her father’s indifference, and for her father’s sake, she hid her face.

The black veil had long since become part of her daily life, yet the cloth against her skin still felt cumbersome every single time. But amusingly, that very discomfort instead put Lizette’s heart at ease.

“Miss, Young Master Graham said he will be dining with you this evening. Shall I prepare digestive medicine for you in advance?”

Neris, the nanny standing beside Lizette, asked in a worried voice. Lizette’s expression darkened on its own.

“Yes, please.”

Lizette nodded. Just thinking of eating alone with Graham already made it feel as though her stomach were tightening. After dining with Graham, Lizette would usually suffer indigestion and end up bringing everything back up.

―Lizette, from now on, I’m your brother.

―……Brother?

―Goodness, I’m truly happy to have gained such a pretty little sister.

―Graham…… Brother.

In the year Lizette turned ten, he became family through the remarriage of her father, Marquis Aberdeen, and he was the only person in this mansion who took an interest in Lizette.

He was also the one who first taught her what interest felt like, to a girl who had lived all her life in indifference.

“And Marquis and Madam say they will be staying in Shurih for the time being.”

Lizette gave a slight nod. Most of the wine distributed throughout the Luan Empire passed through the Trianne Marquis family. Her father and stepmother often spent more than half the year away from the mansion, combining business with leisure, so the mansion without them had already become familiar.

“……I suppose they will not return until summer has passed.”

Even so, considering Graham’s behavior, which had grown markedly worse of late, it was not good news. When Lizette answered weakly, Neris remained silent, unable to find fitting words. If what the young Lizette had to endure was her father’s indifference, then what the present Lizette had to endure was her stepbrother’s attention.

At first, it had merely been kindness. Graham would read books to Lizette, who had always been alone, and sometimes they would run about the garden together. But as time passed, the shape of her stepbrother’s kindness gradually changed.

―Do not go outside without my permission.

―I am your only guardian.

―You are still young; the social world is too soon for you.

Amid her parents’ indifference, Graham’s restraint, begun in the name of protection, deepened as time passed. In the mansion where she was alone with him, Lizette was given no freedom of any kind. From what she wore to what she ate. Graham interfered in every part of Lizette’s life.

‘Someday, Graham is going to swallow me whole.’

She had not even been able to have her debutante yet, but Lizette was already eighteen before she knew it. Eight years had passed since she met Graham, yet there was no sign that her daily life would change.

At this rate, it was obvious she would go on living helplessly as Graham’s doll forever. Lizette bit her lip tightly.

“Neris, I have a favor to ask.”

Lizette opened her mouth in order to put into action something she had been seriously considering for some time now.

“If it is a favor from you, Miss, then I must grant it, whatever it may be.”

“You said Viscount Kaien is acquainted with Duke Cedric, didn’t you? Will you deliver a letter to Duke Cedric for me?”

A troubled look appeared on the face of Neris, who had just said she would grant anything.

“Miss, what sort of letter are you trying to send…….”

“I cannot tell you right now. But you know, don’t you, Neris? That you are the only person who connects me to the world outside this mansion. Couldn’t you grant my request?”

Neris hesitated, unable to flatly refuse Lizette’s plea. It was not easy to turn away from the desperate look in the eyes of Lizette, whom she had cared for as though she were her own daughter. Just as Lizette said, she was the only link between Lizette and the world beyond the mansion.

If one looked at it closely, it was also thanks to Neris that Lizette came to know of Duke Cedric’s existence. Viscount Kaien, Neris’s husband, and Duke Cedric had been acquainted for many years. So it was only natural that Duke Cedric’s name had slipped from Neris’s lips a few times.

“……All right. But I cannot promise that His Grace will give you a reply.”

“Thank you, Neris.”

When Neris finally answered after her hesitation, Lizette smiled brightly. As Neris had said, even if the letter was delivered, there was no guarantee of the result. Still, for now, if the letter could merely be sent, that alone was enough.

Sitting before her desk, Lizette took up the pen after much deliberation, but when it came time to actually write the letter, she felt at a loss as to what words to begin with and how.

What Lizette hoped to gain by sending this letter was clear. To leave her family through marriage.

But it would not do for just anyone to be the other party. What Lizette needed was proper indifference. She needed someone who could gain a fitting benefit because of Lizette, but would not desire her, someone who would become her shield yet not interfere with her.

After long thought, only one person came to mind. Or perhaps he was the very reason Lizette had begun considering marriage as a means in the first place.

Killian Cedric.

The Empire’s youngest Sword Master, commander of the Imperial Knights, and head of a family that had rendered distinguished service in the founding of the nation. Possessed of high status and more than sufficient renown, he was also famous as a man who gave his heart to no noble young lady, having rejected the confessions of countless ladies.

‘How could I possibly move a man like that.’

It took a long time before she even picked up the pen, and even after holding it, it took a long time to write the first words.

<I have something I wish to say to you in person. I swear I will not make a confession of love.

I only wish to tell you something that will not make this meeting meaningless, if you would agree to it, Your Grace.>

* * *

“……As expected, it was a ridiculous idea from the very beginning.”

After returning to the mansion from her outing, Lizette threw herself onto the bed, utterly exhausted. Only now did the whole of her body, which had been stiffened by tension, begin to feel sore.

―I commend your courage, Your Ladyship. However, the answer you wish for is not one I can give, Your Ladyship.

Killian’s voice repeated itself in her mind again and again. Lizette had just returned after being properly rejected by Killian.

A few days after sending the letter, when he first arranged the appointment, she had been dazed, and at the same time had harbored the hope that perhaps things might go better than expected. But now that hope had been shattered to pieces, and Lizette’s heart had sunk all the heavier for it.

“Still, trying was a good thing. I thought I might not even get to meet him, but I did meet him, so that was half a success.”

Lizette tried to change her mood by force. Killian’s rejection had been bitter, but Lizette knew better than anyone how painful it was to have feelings pressed upon you. She had needed him, but that did not mean she could behave like Graham.

And so, she did not regret not clinging more persistently.

―You said that you needed me, but what do I stand to gain by marrying you?

―Me? Because I’m pretty?

The red eyes of the man going blank for a moment came to mind, and even in this situation, a little laugh escaped her.