Chapter 67
If Gerald had just dragged Walter away by force, Hermia might have at least gotten angry. But making a request this sincerely—that was cheating.
Hermia bit the inside of her cheek and turned to look at the person involved. Walter was making a troubled face.
“Gerald.”
His movement to stand up was clean without any unnecessary actions, but it also seemed to carry a heavy fatigue.
“I rejected the proposal a long time ago. I think that’s enough of an answer.”
“That was from the royal family, not from Liz. Please hear her out.”
This time, he seemed to be firmly determined. As Walter took a firm stance, Gerald’s gaze also became quite sharp.
“Duke Rockford, are you determined to make me a pathetic older brother? Have you no sense of respect?”
What? Why is he talking so scary all of a sudden?
Hermia shrank back for a second, her eyes darting between them. Walter, however, remained unimpressed, looking at Gerald as if he were the ridiculous one.
Amused by his reaction, Gerald burst out laughing.
“Knew it. Miss Hermia, listen carefully. When this guy is being stubborn, this is what you do.”
“Was that a joke? You, you scared me!”
‘Why is he being like this, what’s going on?’
While she was dumbfounded, Walter’s sigh settled heavily under the dim reception room.
From that sigh, Hermia knew that Walter had given up. It meant he was going to go and come back.
“I’ll be right back if you’ll rest here.”
“…Okay. Have a good talk.”
Even after saying that, she was surprised. She hadn’t expected to hear an okay so easily; she thought she would have refused.
‘It’s not because I feel sorry for the princess. It’s not like anyone ordered her to, and it’s not a big deal if she liked him on her own.’
‘I’m sending him because he’s going to reject her. It wouldn’t have happened otherwise.’
While compulsively shaking off her sympathy, Gerald, who had returned to his usual self, wore a grinning smile.
“I’ll take good care of Miss Hermia while you’re gone.”
“Don’t even dream about it.”
The prince, led by an irreverent hand, left the reception room with Walter. She stared after them as if they were pathetic, just as Walter had done, and clicked her tongue.
‘He’s still a strange person.’
Left alone, Hermia looked at the pouch placed on the sofa and carefully lifted it onto her lap.
“I have to say it today.”
It was a shame that the King and Queen were gone, but there wouldn’t be another opportunity with so many nobles gathered for a while, so it had to be today no matter what.
“Say what?”
“Ah! You startled me!”
At that moment, Gerald, who had been dragged out, poked his head through the doorway. She jumped up, her face still startled.
“You didn’t leave?!”
“Actually, I have something to say to you too.”
Then he even came inside and closed the door. Hermia unconsciously moved to the end of the sofa.
He grumbled, as if dissatisfied with her wary attitude.
“I should’ve stayed a beggar. Now I’m some kind of pervert?”
“Well, whose fault is that? You’re the one who went around spouting nonsense about ‘one-night flings’ or whatever!”
Besides, he wasn’t a ghost right now; he had a body right here.
When she bared her claws and glared at him, Gerald raised both palms up, surrendering, and sat on the opposite end.
The two sat at opposite ends of the sofa, looking at each other strangely.
“Your fiancé is right next door, so no way. I value my life too.”
He wrinkled his nose as if it was a habit.
“You should just marry her instead!”
It was what Elisabeth had said, crying with a face that had turned completely red.
‘He brought her to the ball. They even greeted Father and Mother! It’s really over now! Gerald, why don’t you just marry that woman? ‘
‘Liz.’
‘It’s your specialty to seduce women. That woman is an illegitimate child, but she’s pretty, so just steal her away……. That way, Walter will come to me…….’
That was why Gerald had looked for Walter.
For his immature and pathetic younger sister, who believed that if he separated Hermia from Walter, he would marry her. Although it pained him, Elisabeth needed to be firmly rejected at least once.
And the reason he had returned to the reception room even though he had achieved his goal.
He looked around and stared at Hermia, who had picked up the silver candlestick like a weapon, with an amused expression.
“Hey, you’re not thinking of stabbing me with that, are you?”
“Only if you don’t come near me.”
“I won’t. You can put it down.”
“Just say whatever you need to say. Don’t mind me.”
Hahaha……. How could he not worry when she had taken out the candles from the candlestick and was checking the sharp skewer?
“The guards in the hallway might get the wrong idea, so hurry up and say it and get out. Why do you keep showing up and interfering with my marriage?”
The reason he had returned here, even though he had achieved his goal, was right here.
Because he was bewildered and somehow couldn’t take his eyes off her. Because he kept laughing nonsensically every time he saw her.
To the point where he couldn’t sleep because he was curious if he didn’t see her…….
Gerald felt bitter. If he could, he wanted to go back in time to before the will was revealed.
If I had met her sooner than Walter, maybe.
“…What’s your purpose in this marriage?”
“Huh?”
He looked at his palm silently and asked.
“Why did you decide to marry Walter? A wealthy life? An honorable position as a noblewoman? Or… just Walter Rockford?”
He could give her the first two things enough himself. So he asked, hoping it wasn’t just the last one, a little desperately, hoping to look playful as always.
“I’m just curious. What are you thinking?”
“…….”
Hermia put down the candlestick and gripped the pouch on her lap tightly.
“Why…….”
“Yeah?”
“Why do you sound like his mother? What, do you not approve of me? Is it because I’m an illegitimate child? Are you afraid of giving your dear friend to someone like me?”
“Miss Hermia.”
Gerald, who had called her name and opened his mouth, was confused about where things had gone wrong.
Was the problem the first meeting after all? Was being a beggar and a pervert a fatal mistake?
Rubbing his face, he quickly shook his head.
“No. I’m just curious, yeah. I’m just asking because I’m purely curious.”
Hermia frowned, as if she didn’t believe him.
“I won’t answer. No matter how much you dislike me…….”
“No. It’s not like that. Rather…….”
“I’ve already kissed the Duke! I have to get married no matter what!”
She shouted, her cheeks flushed red. A bigger shock than expected washed over Gerald.
What? A kiss? The guy who hasn’t even held a woman’s hand kissed her before getting married?
His mouth, which had opened wider than before, gaped aimlessly before finally closing with difficulty.
Surely she wasn’t saying she would marry him because of just one kiss, was she? This innocent lady?
“Ha…….”
“Is that your answer? I told you to get out now?”
His heart ached, but a smile was spreading on his lips instead. Gerald covered his constantly rising mouth before giving up and said with anticipation.
“You’ll get married because you kissed? But I’ve kissed tons—I mean, a few times before.”
Then Hermia’s face turned drastically pale.
“Wait… you kissed Walter too? H-how many times?!”
“…Huh?”
* * *
Walter, who entered the lounge, looked down at the doorknob and closed the door.
He took a few steps towards the inside before stopping at a reasonably distanced spot. Elisabeth was sitting in front of him.
“Sir Walter……!”
“You said you had something to say.”
The traces of makeup smudged darkly around her eyes were clear even from a distance. But her tearful eyes and hunched shoulders didn’t stir his emotions.
“C, come over here and sit down. Let’s talk while sitting…….”
“There are no attendants or chaperones present. I’ll hear what you have to say from here.”
“…….”
Elizabeth’s face fell, but that, too, did nothing to move him. Walter’s voice remained cold—mercilessly so.
“Speak, what is it?”
Elisabeth, who felt as if Walter was as far away as the distance between them, finally gave up and cleared her throat.
“Are you really… going to marry Miss Hermia?”
“Yes.”
“Your answer is fast…….”
Walter was annoyed by the princess, who was speaking slowly. He didn’t show it and waited for the next words.
“Is it because of the will after all? If so, after a year… after receiving the inheritance, will you come to me then?”
“That will not happen.”
“Why……?”
Elisabeth was tearful again. Walter’s patience was quickly running out.
“Do you like that woman? Tell me, Walter. Do you really prefer that illegitimate child over me?”
“I don’t have an obligation to answer that question…….”
“What’s so good about a vulgar woman who only has a pretty face!”
Elisabeth, who shouted in anger, didn’t notice that Walter was angry and continued to run wild.
“You weren’t there at the tea party, and you weren’t there just now, so you wouldn’t have seen it. How disgraceful that woman acted! You’re being deceived!”
“Princess.”
“Is it because she was born a commoner? Because if that’s the case, you’re wrong! Every maid in my palace is a commoner too! But none of them are as crude, as uncivilized, or as disgraceful as her!”
Walter narrowed the distance in an instant.
He pushed the table away roughly and stood in front of Elisabeth, twisting the back of the chair she was sitting in.
While facing the woman’s terrified face, he spat out each word as if chewing on them.
“If it weren’t for the crudeness, vulgarity, and disgracefulness that the princess is talking about, my fiancée wouldn’t be here today.”
“What did you say?”
“Because she had to be that way to survive.”
He closed his eyes tightly and opened them again, taking a moment to suppress his anger before continuing.
“In a place where a mere ten million persos could turn a neighbor into a murderer, Hermia Nocturne survived for fourteen years. And unlike you, who trembles at just threats like this, she was brave.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he backed away sharply and straightened the table as if nothing had happened.
Elisabeth was pale and trembling, unable to move. Walter turned his body without regret.
“There is nothing shameful about someone’s words or actions becoming harsh when they’ve spent their whole life defending themselves. If you ever visit the military hospitals, you’ll see it for yourself. The nurses there—just how ‘vulgar,’ ‘uncivilized,’ and ‘disgraceful’ they are.”
He added as he opened the door and left.
“For the record., I’ve also seen my fiancée curse. She was still beautiful.”
Contrary to his polite tone, the door closed with an abnormally loud noise.
