Chapter 25

As Edwin and Hayden exchanged pleasantries, Douglas smoothly cut in with a comment.

“By the way, did you see it too, Count? How perfectly those two looked dancing together. They were a match made in heaven.”

“Is that so? I must have missed that rare sight, having only just arrived.”

“Well then, Count, if I’m not mistaken, Lady Hellen doesn’t yet have a suitable fiancé. What do you think? Why not take this opportunity to forge a union between her and my son?”

‘Huh? What kind of out-of-nowhere nonsense is this?’

Startled by the sudden shift in topic, Isabella grabbed onto Edwin’s cloak in a panic.

‘Dad! I’ve only just stepped out into the world, and now I’m going to be shackled again?!’

Suppressing the words that were bubbling up in her throat, she desperately tried to send Edwin a telepathic plea.

At that moment, it was Hayden who first noticed her trembling hand clutching the cloak and stepped into the conversation.

“Father, perhaps it would be better to discuss such matters at a later time. I’m afraid the suddenness of it all might place undue pressure on the young lady.”

Though Hayden didn’t directly refuse, he seemed to be trying to ease her visible discomfort. But the Grand Duke was undeterred.

“Well, well. Look at my son, so thoughtful and considerate. I’m certain that if he were to marry Lady Hellen, he’d treat her with great care and affection.”

“Father, please…”

Hayden tried again to intervene, but Douglas cut him off, almost scolding.

“How much longer do you intend to wait? Six years should be enough, don’t you think, Count? The young lady is of age now.”

“…”

“Dad? What’s he talking about…?”

Six years?

Isabella tugged lightly at Edwin’s cloak, confused by the unexpected revelation.

From the tone of the conversation, it seemed there had been some kind of agreement about a betrothal between Douglas and Edwin six years ago, something she hadn’t known at all.

Edwin remained silent. That silence only made Isabella more anxious.

When she glanced sideways at Hayden, their eyes met and he was already looking her way. There was guilt, concern, joy, excitement, and a strange, undefinable emotion in his gaze.

He forced a smile, but his expression was visibly conflicted. Sensing Isabella’s growing unease, Douglas turned to her and spoke.

“I suppose Count Hellen never told you. The reason I visited your family six years ago was to—”

Tap!

“Grand Duke Elond.”

With a sharp thud of his cane striking the floor, Edwin calmly cut Douglas off, both his tone and expression composed.

“We’re grateful for your regard for our daughter, but I must ask that you withdraw any talk of engagement.”

“Oh, come now. Back then you said she was too young, but that’s no longer the case, is it? No matter how dear she is to you, you can’t keep her by your side forever.”

Douglas’s tone had turned pointed, displeased with Edwin’s refusal. But Edwin remained unshaken and replied with poise.

“Even as her father, I cannot dictate her future. What I want is nothing more than her happiness.”

“All the more reason to accept the proposal, isn’t it? Setting aside our family ties, though it feels strange to say it myself, my son is a fine catch by any standard. You won’t find a better groom.”

“Yes, I don’t deny that. However…”

After a pause, Edwin drew Isabella, who had been standing behind him, closer and wrapped his cloak around her protectively, his voice filled with gentle affection.

“What father would willingly hand over a sick child to someone else?”

“Sick? What do you mean?”

Douglas looked puzzled. But no one was more bewildered than Isabella herself.

‘I’m not sick though?’

Aside from having delicate skin that required her to stay indoors more often, she was in perfectly good physical and mental health. Still, Edwin wore a look of deep sorrow and held her closer.

“I refrained from speaking of it, fearing it might tarnish her reputation… But why else would I have kept her from leaving the estate during the prime of her youth?”

‘Um, excuse me, Dad? That was because of Roy and Mom…’

The longer she listened, the more absurd it sounded.

Why go so far as to lie?

But since she didn’t want a sudden engagement forced on her either, Isabella decided to go along with it. Pretending as though a secret had just been revealed, she gently placed a finger over Edwin’s lips and spoke in a mock-pouting tone.

“Daddy, if you say any more, I’ll sulk! You promised to keep my condition a secret, and I’ve been taking all my medicine like a good girl!”

“Yes, yes. I know. I can’t break a promise to my precious daughter.”

“Hmph! I’m tired!”

“Oh dear, that won’t do. Your Excellency, I hope you’ll kindly overlook this situation and be understanding.”

“…”

“Then, if you’ll excuse us, I should let my daughter rest. Enjoy the rest of the evening.”

Before Douglas could say another word, Edwin swiftly ended the conversation and used Isabella as an excuse to leave the room.

Isabella gave Hayden a small bow and then, walking a little distance away with her father, whispered so only he could hear.

“Dad, have you acted before? You were so natural!”

“Was I?”

“Yes! Heehee. How was my acting? Did I sound okay?”

“Your tone was too theatrical. If you ever find yourself having to lie again like this, drop the cutesiness.”

“Pfft! Are you really my dad? And didn’t you say lying was wrong? Are you sure you should be teaching me this?”

She giggled as she teased him, and Edwin gently patted her head, careful not to disturb her veil.

“The world isn’t always honest, sweetheart. Unlike monsters, humans wear two faces. So if a lie is meant to protect someone you love, it might not be so bad.”

“Someone I love… Then I guess I just told a lie for your sake too, right, Dad?”

Isabella twirled a lock of hair that had fallen forward, then looked up at Edwin with a bright smile. Through the thin veil, his faint smile returned her warmth.

“Yes. You could say that.”

Then, reaching out with a finger, he pointed discreetly at someone and whispered.

“But still, Bella… let’s keep this between us. Your mother must never hear about it.”

The person at the end of his finger was none other than Hilda.

“Of course. Secrets go to the grave, right?”

With a sly wink from under her veil, Isabella hurried off toward Hilda, who had been waiting nearby.

“Mom!”

“My baby!”

They had only been apart for a couple of weeks, but the two embraced as though they hadn’t seen each other in twenty years. After finally pulling away, Isabella sat down beside Hilda on a nearby sofa and looked around.

“By the way, why are you sitting here alone?”

“I was waiting for my beautiful daughter, of course.”

‘Here?’

Isabella looked puzzled. There didn’t seem to be a reason to stay in the dimly lit corner of the hall instead of the well-lit central area.

Sensing her doubt, Hilda smiled softly and added, “Truthfully, I don’t care much for parties.”

“Really? Why not?”

“Well… they’re loud. And people are always meddling in each other’s business.”

“…!”

Just for a moment, her eyes while scanning the hall seemed to lose all warmth, going cold and lifeless. But when she turned back to Isabella, her gaze was once again full of gentle affection.

‘Was that just my imagination?’

Something about it unsettled her. But the unease faded naturally as Hilda spoke again.

“Anyway, how was it? Your first debutante ball, are you enjoying it?”

‘Hmm, better not bring up what happened earlier…’

Knowing how much her mother worried about her, Isabella chose to keep quiet about the earlier incident at the entrance.

“Yes, I’m having a great time! I got to admire this gorgeous venue, danced a little, and even tried talking to people first for once!”

She deliberately raised her voice, sounding as cheerful as possible. Hilda responded with a faint, unreadable smile, then reached beneath the veil to gently stroke her daughter’s cheek.

“That’s all that matters. As long as you’re happy.”

For some reason, when the moonlight from the window touched Hilda’s half-mask, it cast a solitary, dark shimmer across it. Just then, Edwin approached and draped an arm around her shoulder.

“Sorry I’m late. I was just exchanging greetings with Chancellor Cherville.”

“You did well. When will you go greet His Majesty?”

“He said he’d call for me later. We’ll go together then.”

“Alright.”

The previously somber mood around her lightened, and Hilda returned to her usual self. Soon after, she turned to Isabella again.

“By the way, I noticed quite a few young people your age here tonight. Did anyone catch your eye? Now that you’ve had your debut, it might be nice to make a friend or two.”

“Catch my eye?”

Hilda’s tone held a strange emphasis. One person immediately came to Isabella’s mind.

‘Where is she?’

She glanced around the room. Before long, she spotted a young lady with short red hair not far away – Diana.

‘She doesn’t look well… Is she sick or just tired?’

Even before the entrance, Diana had seemed agitated, but now she looked positively unwell, pressing her temples with a strained expression. She looked like she could collapse at any moment.

Then, sensing where Isabella’s gaze had landed, Hilda gently patted her back and spoke.

“Go on, sweetheart. You can’t get what you want just by watching.”

“She’s right. Your mother and I will be going to see His Majesty soon, so don’t worry and go ahead.”

“Alright… I’ll be back soon!”

Isabella stood up with a burst of energy and walked confidently across the room. But the closer she got to Diana, the more she noticed something strange.

From afar, she’d only thought Diana looked a little tired, but up close, her face was practically ashen. More than that, there was something off about her aura, something Isabella hadn’t noticed before due to the excitement.

‘That necklace… Something’s wrong with it.’

An unsettling energy radiated from the red pendant around Diana’s neck.

‘Well, I can’t know for sure just by looking… Might as well say hello and find out…’

……

T/N: Let me think: Grand Duke Elond wants to marry Hayden to Isabella so that he can manipulate House Ellen in the future 🤔