Chapter 2.1
Since the day she had tea with Baron Leilia, Rosena hadn’t been able to sleep well.
Her skin had become dry and flaky from lack of moisture, and dark circles shadowed her eyes…
Gasp.
May, who was brushing Rosena’s long hair, choked back a sob and desperately bowed her head. Reflected in the mirror, Rosena’s eyes gleamed hollowly. May was starting to feel scared because she didn’t know why her lady was acting this way.
“Ah, my lady, did you not sleep again today?”
“May, why on earth? It’s been almost a week. I have to get married, don’t I?”
“Why are you saying this all of a sudden…! You don’t even have a fiancé, and you always said you didn’t want to get married!”
“No, I’ve changed my mind. I really want to now.”
It was because she now had a purpose which is to marry the Grand Duke and destroy the magical tool.
If she could do that, then getting married? She could do it anytime.
But was she getting married alone?
Cassian Baltinart’s shadow was nowhere to be seen.
Even if Baron Leilia left some room, Grand Duke Baltinart must not have understood it.
“How can a man who has to get married within a month be so relaxed?”
“If she had her way, she’d go straight to the capital, threaten him by grabbing the collar, and demand he marry her immediately. Waiting for news from Grand Duke Baltinart was slowly becoming exhausting.
Just sitting still wasn’t in Rosena’s nature.
“Could he have found another woman?”
The future was always changing, so her father’s prophecies could have been wrong.
Rosena’s certainty was also gradually fading.
Grand Duke Baltinart wouldn’t have thought this marriage proposal would be rejected. Surely his great pride would have been wounded…
‘No. He definitely hasn’t found another woman yet.’
Rosena steadied her anxious heart.
A person with a humble title wouldn’t have to, but Grand Duke had to inform the imperial family of his marriage before it happened. He had to submit a marriage registration form.
If he had found a woman to marry, the news would have spread to the south long ago.
The prestige of the Baltinart family was so great that it was known throughout the Agzent Empire, not to mention the entire continent.
Rosena didn’t know it yet, but fortunately, her thought was exactly right.
At that very moment, Cassian Baltinart was on his way to the territory of Baron Leilia.
The unpaved, bumpy road. As he moved further from the capital, Cassian let out a small laugh at the increasingly desolate view outside the carriage window.
Ted, who was following as an attendant, rode his horse close to the carriage.
“There are only two weeks left in the will’s specified period, why are you insisting on Lady Leilia?”
“Because I love her?”
“……”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Ted, who had covered his mouth with a horrified expression, quickly cleared his throat.
How could someone say something so shameless so easily?
Even if he was his superior, it was too much.
Cassian averted his gaze from the disgruntled Ted and looked indifferently at the barren land stretching out in the distance.
“Baron Leilia transformed this marriage proposal from a contractual marriage into a love marriage. I have to become a suitor who is truly in love. So, from now on, I should try to love her.”
“That’s… true. Baron’s skills are truly remarkable the more I think about it.”
Someone must have seen the Baltinart family’s carriage leaving the capital, where it had been holed up since the previous Grand Duke’s funeral, so rumors about its destination would have already spread.
What business would the head of the Baltinart family have visiting a Baron’s family?
Because of the Baron’s words, Cassian was stuck pretending to be a man in love.
‘He’s a sly old fox.’
He didn’t necessarily need to go himself, but since the Baron’s provocation had led him to travel to such a rural area, he intended to get what he wanted and return.
Cassian frowned at the constantly subtly rattling carriage. The Baltinart family’s carriage usually didn’t rattle on most roads. This was too much.
Well, it made sense, no high-ranking noble would directly come to a place like this, so they probably hadn’t considered paving the roads for the Baron’s family.
Normally, he was the one who summoned others, not the one who was summoned.
‘When I get married, I need to do something about this damned road.’
He irritably ran a hand through his black hair and spoke.
“After the wedding, install a teleportation gate connecting the Leilia Barony to the capital, Ted.”
“…But that requires imperial permission, doesn’t it? Will it be necessary if you’re divorcing in five years?”
“So you’re telling me to keep using this uncomfortable road? Who knows when the road will be smooth?”
Cassian wasn’t a man with time to waste. Especially not after inheriting his title.
The imperial family called him constantly, and the people working under him never did anything to his satisfaction. He was currently using the carriage because he had no better options and no time to install a gate, but Cassian had no intention of enduring such inconvenience in the future.
Cassian’s sharp brows furrowed even more, and Ted blinked.
‘No, how often is he planning to come here? And he wants to pave the road, too?’
Ted had initially thought that once the marriage was approved, he would never visit Leilia Barony again. But judging by his words, it seemed he would come down again? What business would he have in the barony?
Ted tilted his head. But he didn’t forget his duty.
“Yes, I understand. I’ll submit the permit to the imperial family, and construction on the roads will begin once funds are secured.”.”
“Ah.”
“Do you have any further instructions?”
“What happened to the person we planted in Baron Leilia’s estate?”
The reason Cassian had hesitated despite the Grand Duke will’s grace period nearing its end, and the reason Rosena had been so anxious, was revealed through Cassian’s words.
“Are you referring to that?”
Ted recalled Cassian’s unexpected instruction a few days ago.
Cassian had requested information about Rosena Leilia that was not objective, but rather contained someone’s subjective viewpoint.
Knowing Cassian, who preferred strictly objective information, he was curious about his intention, but now Ted just wanted to stop this marriage.
If he had enough time, he would have strongly insisted that he should find another woman.
“According to the report, Lady Rosena Leilia’s social skills are slightly… no, significantly lacking.”
“Explain in detail.”
“They say her nature was very wicked. She’d blame others, spread false rumors, and stir up conflict. People who were once close to her now avoid her. Wouldn’t a grand duchess with such a personality be a bit problematic?”
“If that’s truly the case, it could indeed be a problem.”
“She was probably pampered like a princess in such a small territory. She wouldn’t have needed to be considerate.”
Cassian’s eyes narrowed. Something didn’t add up.
Ted’s conjecture that a sole noble lady in a small territory would be extremely arrogant was convincing enough, but a noble lady who had been inconsiderate and arrogant since childhood…
‘There’s no way she was so good at pleasing nobles at the academy.’
Especially when she had never done such a thing before entering the academy.
If she was truly arrogant and lacked social skills, her reputation in a small territory wouldn’t simply be “lacking social skills.”
Furthermore, Baron Leilia, who maintained friendly relations with his territory’s residents, wouldn’t have allowed his own daughter to be like that.
Social skills are developed based on one’s environment and position in childhood. It didn’t mean they suddenly appeared when needed.
‘On the contrary, if she’s overly quick-witted, that’s another story.’
In reality, Rosena Leilia was a target of bullying by immature nobles in her early days at the academy, but she quickly escaped the bullying.
In that sense, Rosena Leilia’s perceptiveness was excellent. Even with Pernil Deckermand’s help, it would have been impossible without being exceptionally clever.
“Lacking social skills, huh.”
Pfft. Cassian’s lips curled up at the contradiction.
“There’s no way.”
“Pardon?”
“Why are such rumors circulating in the barony?”
Tap. Tap. Cassian, arms crossed, tapped his fingers. Why would they leave rumors that don’t help one’s reputation at all? Why?
“I’ll have to find out for myself.”
A wooden sign indicating that the Leilia Barony was near soon appeared. Not long after, a luxurious carriage bearing the Baltinart family crest passed through the gates of the Leilia Barony.
* * *
It seems today isn’t the day either. How many days has it been now? She was tired of staying up all night.
If she had known this, she would have asked Baron Leilia what kind of “news” he mentioned would come.
She hadn’t asked because she was worried she might have to pay a price if she learned what would happen in the future from Baron Leilia…Rosena regretted it belatedly.
“My lady, Lady Rosena!”
Rosena was slowly blinking her heavy eyes, about to succumb to sleep.
Outside, May came running in, panting and making a ruckus.
“What’s all the commotion, May? I’m a bit tired right now, so if it’s not urgent, tell me later.”
“It’s very urgent!”
“…Very urgent?”
Rosena suddenly woke up. On closer inspection, May’s complexion was pale.
“Speak calmly, May. What is it?”
Coincidentally, Baron Leilia was also away from the mansion today for a personal appointment, so Rosena also became serious.
But instead of explaining the situation, May strode over, pulled Rosena out of bed, and began to spin her around.
Huh? Rosena, flustered by the forceful hands, was about to ask the reason for May’s sudden actions.
“Oh my, look at the wrinkles on your dress. No, this won’t do!”
“Calm down. I think I’ve been asking what’s going on, May.”
“First, you need to change your dress and neatly brush your messy hair again. We don’t have time, so I’ll explain while you get ready, Lady Rosena.”
Rosena, who had been looking strangely at May, who was making an excessive fuss, stiffened her expression, wondering if it could be that.
May spoke, quickly and accurately tidying Rosena’s appearance with practiced hands.
“Grand Duke Baltinart is outside right now, waiting to see you! Oh my goodness, my lady. If you had an appointment like this, you should have told me beforehand…”
“…Is that really true?”
“Yes! I just came running after seeing him.”
Oh my, good heavens.
News from Grand Duke Baltinart had finally arrived. And he himself had shown up!
Rosena, having finished preparing to receive a guest, felt her mouth dry with tension all the way to the reception room. She had naturally thought that the busy Grand Duke would send someone to invite her to the Grand Duchy.
‘But…’
Even though she had been waiting impatiently, now that the situation was upon her, Rosena felt deeply uneasy about Grand Duke Baltinart’s actions.
‘Was there any reason to delay like this? He was the one who said we should get married within a month. Was it not really urgent after all?’
No. If it weren’t, there would have been no need to rush to hold the ceremony within a month. And with such an absurd reason at that.
He hadn’t proposed marriage to someone else either. If he had, he wouldn’t be visiting the Leilia Barony now.
“I’ll just ask him directly.”
The person in question was waiting in the reception room anyway.
And Rosena had never, in her entire life, failed to use her powers.
You had to use what you had without holding back. Save it and it turns to waste.
Rosena arrived in front of the largest and most scenic reception room in Baron Leilia’s estate and took a deep breath.
“Hoo.”
Knock. Knock.
“I’m coming in, Your Grace.”
Turning the doorknob, Rosena entered.
At the same time, Rosena’s blue eyes shimmered with a mysterious light before vanishing.
The die had been cast.
