Chapter 2.4

Sion, who served as the family’s legal advisor, tilted his head in confusion.

‘What is His Grace thinking?’

In Sion’s hand, as he walked down the corridor, was the prenuptial agreement between Rosena and Cassian.

Last night, Sion had just finished revising the prenuptial agreement as per Cassian’s instructions.

He was shocked when Cassian told him to proceed in the direction Rosena Leilia wanted.

He had even questioned, ‘Did I hear that right?’ thinking perhaps Cassian’s health had deteriorated from overwork.

‘Could it be that His Grace suffered some mental shock recently?’

However, Sion chose to hold his tongue, knowing that if he spoke his mind, he would be the one to be in trouble.

‘Being too honest isn’t always good.’

Instead, he offered only the bare minimum legal advice and was on his way out.

“If you proceed like this, you might never inherit the family’s assets according to the will. Are you really fine with that?”

“Yes.”

“Lady Rosena Leilia’s conditions are too detrimental. It might be better to grant her what she wants in exchange for an heir. Things like money or honor…”

“Sion.”

Sion fell silent at Cassian’s low voice.

“What do you think marriage is? A negotiation? You must have it easy in life to think that way.”

‘Then what have we been doing all this time?’

Sion suddenly found Cassian, who was now spouting normal logic, unfamiliar.

“Still, couldn’t we try to persuade her?”

“How can you persuade someone about such a matter? Are you crazy, Sion?”

“Excuse me…?”

And just like that, Sion was instantly labeled a madman.

‘Could there have been a change of heart in His Grace without him even realizing it?’

Contrary to expectations, Cassian was the one who should be anxious, but he was unusually calm. 

At that, Sion unconsciously unbuttoned a button at his neck that he had meticulously fastened and carefully chose his words to persuade Cassian before opening his mouth.

“Then our plan might go awry.”

“Plans are always subject to change.”

“…I apologize, but I don’t understand Your Grace’s intentions.”

If the plan had gone awry, it would be right to look for another woman now.

From the beginning, all Cassian wanted was a woman who would obediently act as his wife for five years and then disappear. Of course, that included bearing an heir.

“As long as I can secure enough of the inheritance to solve the problem and run the family properly, that’s all that matters.”

“That’s enough for you?”

“I don’t want to spend more time than necessary on this marriage. I have no intention of doing so.”

“Then why did you impose the condition about an heir on Lady Rosena?”

“That? I just didn’t want to be dragged around.”

Cassian leaned back in his chair and burst into laughter. In the darkness, his red eyes narrowed.

“So, if you don’t want the family to fall apart and lose your job, do your best to charm Rosena Leilia so she doesn’t feel like leaving the family.”

“…”

“Leave.”

Sion, who had to leave due to the dismissal order, returned to his own office. He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

‘Did the former Grand Duke know it would come to this?’

The will had been written by Sion and the late Grand Duke, Dierre Baltinart.

“Cassian has no real attachment to maintaining the family, but he also isn’t the type to give up something he was born with. He’s still like a child. He hasn’t matured at all since that day. I fear he won’t find peace even when he closes his eyes for good.”

The words the former Grand Duke had spoken with a troubled face came to mind.

In Sion’s view, Dierre Baltinart seemed to want to create a family for Cassian, even if it meant being a bit forceful.

“Haa.”

The problem was that it had all gone horribly wrong. There was no way to predict how things would go from here on out.

The trigger had been pulled, and only the bullet knew its destination.

“In this situation, where the hell is Ted Balancheur right now?”

Always missing when he’s needed most. The situation had come to this, but Ted was nowhere to be seen all day, probably lounging around somewhere.

* * *

Inside the rattling carriage.

Ted was riding a carriage that had departed from the Baron’s Territory and was heading to the capital with Rosena.

“Find out what Rosena Leilia is trying to gain from this marriage. Considering she’s thinking of divorcing me from the start, she’s hiding something. You can at least get close to her, right?”

At Cassian’s command, Ted had put all his busy schedules aside and came down to the Leilia Barony.

‘I don’t know what Lady Leilia could be hiding.’

To think she had some deep story, she had only just graduated from the academy, so it felt wrong to suspect her.

Ironically, because of that, he also wondered if there really was something going on.

Rosena, feeling uncomfortable under Ted’s intense gaze, asked awkwardly. 

“Excuse me, Mr. Balancheur?”

“You can call me Ted. Please speak comfortably.”

“Alright, Ted. But you’ve been staring at me for a while. Is there something you want to say?”

“…Um, aren’t you bored?”

Suddenly?

Rosena looked startled. After staring at her oppressively for so long, all he could say was…

‘Anyone can see he’s trying to change the subject.’

It was suspicious.

However, Rosena had no intention of digging into the other person’s motives, so she decided to engage in the conversation as he wished.

“I’m used to it, so I’m fine. But it must be hard for you, Ted. You wouldn’t normally have to come to the countryside, and this is your second time already, isn’t it?”

“Hard? I’m fine too. His Grace sent me to accompany you on the way, and I apologize for not being good at conversation.”

Ted’s face clouded, and he smiled awkwardly. However, Rosena, who had always been alone when traveling between the Leilia Barony and the capital, sincerely shook her head, saying it wasn’t true.

“No, it’s much better to be with you than to be alone.”

“To hear you say such a thing…”

“…?”

“Thank you so much.”

What surprised Rosena was that Ted was genuinely touched by those words, as if she were the first person to say something like that to him.

She quickly tried to change the subject, avoiding his overly shiny, emotional gaze.

“I heard you work as a butler for the Baltinart family.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“That’s amazing. You look young, how long have you been a butler?”

“A little over a month. His Grace hired me when he became the head of the family.”

“I see. I hope you’ll help me a lot when I become the lady of the house. To be honest, I’m quite worried.”

“Ah…”

Rosena deliberately showed a gloomy expression. As expected, Ted let out a sympathetic sigh.

For someone close to Cassian, he seemed surprisingly soft-hearted.

“I hadn’t thought of that part. Of course. I will do my best to help you.”

“Wow, really? Thank you, Ted. I feel so much better. That really reassured me.”

“Not at all.”

Rosena secretly chuckled to herself. Easy. It was too easy. Ted Balancheur seemed to be a person who couldn’t easily pass by someone in a difficult situation.

Usually, when one became the lady of the house, the butler would try to assert their dominance…

‘How can a butler of a Grand Duke’s family be so soft?’

She was almost starting to worry about Ted instead.

Of course, all of this was a misunderstanding that arose because Rosena didn’t know what kind of working environment Ted was in within the Baltinart family.

Which is why she didn’t realize that Ted’s affection for her was skyrocketing.

‘She’s truly a kind person! Someone like her is perfect as the lady of the house for the Baltinart family, which lacks humanity.’

Ted, who had previously been dissatisfied, thinking there were only shortcomings in serving her as the lady of the house, secretly wiped away his tears.

The Baltinart family was a place where only the capable survived, and everyone considered that natural.

Incidentally, Ted, who held the position of butler in such a family, was a typical talent that the Baltinart family preferred in terms of his work ability.

He was just a person who worked under a cold employer and was vulnerable to small acts of kindness.

And Rosena, who had no way of knowing that fact…

‘He must be a truly warm-hearted and gentle person.’

…was steadily building up misunderstandings.

The distance to the capital of the Agzent Empire was quite far, but since teleportation gates were installed in the middle, it took less than half a day to reach the entrance of the capital.

And in the meantime, Rosena was able to get a lot of information from Ted.

Because Ted seemed to enjoy chattering quite a bit, it was surprising how he had managed to stay silent until now.

“The wedding is being grandly prepared, but if there’s anything you specifically wish for, please feel free to tell us. It can be changed at any time in between. Currently, an outdoor wedding is being prepared, and in case of bad weather, we’ll mobilize the magicians from the Magic Tower…”

Or.

“If you provide us with a list of guests you wish to invite, we’ll make sure everything is handled smoothly. Oh, perhaps there are nobles you don’t wish to invite. Please let us know, and we will filter them out.”

Or.

“Did you know? His Grace ordered all the roads leading to the Leilia Barony to be paved smoothly.”

…or something?

“Once we get imperial approval, a teleportation gate will be built directly to the barony. Besides that, His Grace is preparing many things for you, Lady! I guarantee you’ll be delighted when you see them yourself.”

Even that!

‘What on earth is he doing?’

Rosena’s expression, which had been indifferently listening to the wedding details, became seriously hardened.

After all, in a few years, they would be less than strangers, but he was showing an excessive amount of sincerity.

The thought that followed was…

‘Surely he’s not planning to threaten me with the barony if I ask for a divorce later, is he?’

While Rosena was deep in serious thought, the carriage, which had reached its destination, came to a stop.

“We have arrived, Lady Leilia.”

“Oh, already.”

The Baltinart Grand Ducal estate was located a bit away from the center of the capital.

Rosena, who was about to step out without thinking as she saw the carriage door open, paused at a hand suddenly extended to her.

Her face filled with surprise as she naturally identified the owner of the hand.

“Welcome, Lady Leilia. Welcome to the Baltinart estate.”

“…Your Grace?”

“Why are you so surprised? As if you didn’t expect me to be waiting.”

“…”

“If you really thought that, I’m a little disappointed. I’m not someone who would be indifferent, especially to the woman who is soon to be my wife.”

Rosena took Cassian’s hand and stepped out of the carriage, expressing her gratitude.

“Thank you for sending the carriage. Thanks to it, I was able to come comfortably.”

“Of course. Have you gotten along with Ted?”

“Yes. He’s very kind, so we’ve become quite close.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

With a strange smile, Cassian glanced inside the carriage, then firmly adjusted his grip on Rosena’s hand and gently led her forward.

“From now on, I will guide you.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Rosena, having missed the timing to pull her hand away, awkwardly looked around instead.

But why was everything so big and spacious?

It was a luxurious estate, so extravagant that I didn’t know where to look. Calling it an estate was an understatement, it was a castle. 

Sculptures were placed along the garden paths, and fountains sparkled and flowed in the sunlight. 

The fragrant scent that lingered with every step suggested that money had been poured into every corner.

‘It’s pretty.’

So this is what it means for something to be worth the money. 

Rosena glanced up at Cassian, who was walking beside her. To be honest, the garden was incredibly beautiful. It just didn’t seem like Cassian’s taste, though.

Feeling her curious gaze, Cassian’s lips curved into a soft smile.

“Do you like the estate?”

“Yes, it’s very pretty.”

“We’ve redecorated it recently. We tried to make it as similar as possible to the Barony of Leilia.”

“…To the Barony?”

Startled by his words, Rosena surveyed the garden again. She couldn’t understand how it resembled the modest Barony of Leilia, but she did see some familiar flowers. 

Well, it would be strange for a ducal household to feel modest.

“I thought if there was something familiar in the estate, you might feel a little more comfortable.”

“Oh…”

He was unexpectedly thoughtful. It was just when Rosena’s guard was about to drop.

“So.”

Cassian smiled, looking down at Rosena. His black hair and red eyes were particularly vivid under the sunlight. 

The hand that had been loosely holding hers tightened slightly.

“I hope you’ll want to stay in the Baltinart ducal estate for a very long time.”

For a very long time. That sentence echoed in Rosena’s ears.

At that moment, a sentence flashed through her mind.

Clause Three: If a divorce occurs due to unavoidable circumstances that do not meet the minimum marriage period, the party at fault shall pay alimony equivalent to half of the Baltinart family’s assets.

‘This man, right now.’

She had wondered why he was overly kind. Now, it was clear he was meticulously accumulating alimony in preparation for a potential divorce within five years. All of this would likely be claimed as expenditures made during the marriage!

Not content with using the Leilia estate as leverage, he had now gone so far as to redecorate the Baltinart estate for show. He had promised a divorce, but was he trying to gain the upper hand in a power struggle?

In a normal situation, Rosena would have been touched, but now she only felt a cold chill.

They say all nobles are black-hearted, and that’s true.

“I am very grateful that you redecorated the garden to welcome me, but may I say something, Your Grace?”

“Yes, Lady Rosena.”

“Since we might divorce within five years, please inform me when you’re planning to spend large sums, like redecorating the garden. Shouldn’t this require mutual agreement?”

“…Are you perhaps talking about alimony right now?”

“There’s no harm in being clear about it.”

At Rosena’s resolute attitude, Cassian suddenly let out a small laugh and shook his head.

“I didn’t think you’d be thinking that.”

No, on second thought, Cassian wasn’t laughing. He was displeased. 

Why was he displeased? As Rosena stared at him in bewilderment, Cassian tilted his head slightly and looked down at her.

“Lady. How much do you think it is?”

“…Pardon?”

“I’m a little hurt.”

“…Yes?”

“If I tell you how much it is, are you planning to give it to me as alimony later?”

Isn’t that obvious? It was strange for him to ask when he was the one who set such a condition. 

Cassian quietly observed Rosena’s reaction, then smiled coldly.

“It appears that the lady is very eager to pay me alimony.”

“…”

“But I have no intention of receiving it. So, you can put aside unnecessary worries and continue to enjoy it.”

It sounded as if he was saying there would be no divorce for them. 

Rosena merely gaped in confusion. The two of them had implicitly agreed to divorce. 

And yet now…

As Rosena looked up at Cassian with a stunned expression, he smiled gently and tucked a strand of her hair, slightly disheveled by the wind, behind her ear. However, there wasn’t a trace of amusement in Cassian’s eyes. 

Rosena unconsciously swallowed dryly. She wasn’t sure exactly why, but something felt wrong.

Cassian was dumbfounded. 

He had thought she was lost in admiration of the garden, but it turned out she was calculating the cost the entire time. 

Moreover, the very fact that she was thinking such thoughts was strangely annoying. 

Here are a few reasons why it was annoying…

Maybe it was because he could clearly see that Rosena was constantly plotting to slip out of his grasp.

Rosena Leilia was even more unpredictable than Cassian had anticipated. 

She innocently poked at Cassian’s sensitive and vulnerable points, despite knowing nothing.

Even if they had written a prenuptial agreement and promised a divorce, if Rosena refused or held out, Cassian would naturally incur losses. 

Isn’t it true that the head of the Grand Duke’s family barely received the inheritance and got caught up in a marriage that was inherently detrimental?  

Not only that, but he was subtly offended because she seemed to think of him as nothing more than a loan shark who would come demanding payment every day.

‘She’s openly treating someone like that…’

And yet, her blue eyes were filled with injustice, as if she were the one cornered. Seeing her protest with her eyes, saying, ‘You’re the one who added that clause, so why are you doing this to me!’, made his stomach churn. 

What should he do to ensure the word ‘divorce’ never came from those cunning lips again?

Cassian decided that he needed to lower her guard first.

“Please feel free to accept anything I offer you, Lady Rosena. I will never ask for anything in return.”

After all, he would make sure there would be no need for repayment or demands for compensation.

Of course, he wasn’t saying he wouldn’t divorce. If the will’s conditions were met, Cassian also intended to end this marriage within five years. 

He had no intention of being divorced by her, and that remained true even if Rosena managed to secure alimony from somewhere. 

He had threatened Sion to try and prevent the family from falling apart, but Cassian also had his own plan in mind.

As Cassian openly expressed his displeasure, Rosena subtly softened her sharp demeanor.

“…If you say so, Your Grace. Then I’ll accept the garden as a gift.”

“You are very suspicious.”

“I am very cautious.”

Perhaps Rosena Leilia also didn’t trust people. The thought suddenly occurred to Cassian.

“Still, shouldn’t we trust each other? Soon we will be the closest people in each other’s lives.”

“I also believe that married couples should trust each other.”

She said it, but her eyes clearly said otherwise. 

Now that he looked closely, Rosena Leilia was suspicious, highly cautious, and had a knack for getting under people’s skin, possessing a well-rounded set of bothersome traits.

“Do you really believe that?”

“Probably, yes.”

She answered well enough, but she never gave a clear answer. 

Cassian felt subtly at odds throughout the conversation, but decided to let it pass for now. 

This wasn’t what was important at the moment.

At that time, at the Leilia Barony, Orkan Leilia, having confirmed Rosena’s departure in the carriage, entered the room where his wife’s portrait was displayed.

“Well, so it comes to this.”

Even so, she could’ve at least shown the contract to her father at least once before stamping it.

Moreover, seeing her leave so suddenly in just one day made him feel a little empty. 

It didn’t matter if she stamped today or tomorrow, so long as it was within this month.

The Baltinart family would have completed all preparations to proceed with the wedding without a hitch, regardless of when the prenuptial agreement was submitted.

Orkan Leilia felt a touch of sadness but soon smiled faintly.

“It feels a little lonely.”

When did Rosena grow so big? 

The very young Rosena, who used to fit entirely in Orkan Leilia’s arms, was now ready to break out of her shell and venture into the world. 

He turned his head to the spot where his wife’s portrait hung. 

There was indeed a portrait of a beautiful woman, but Orkan Leilia couldn’t see anything.

“You didn’t accept my proposal right away. But Rosena seems to have accepted right away. Although I did put the idea in her head, it’s a little… actually, very upsetting. Oh, but don’t scold me. There’s a reason for all of this.”

Baron Leilia was quite used to talking to himself. This was because he had been speaking to the portrait for well over 13 years already. 

It was an old habit Orkan Leilia had developed after she passed away from an illness a few years after giving birth to Rosena.

“…Today, I especially miss you.”

Thirteen years ago, Orkan Leilia knew she would die at a young age. Yet, despite knowing the future, he was powerless to do anything. 

As he sat trembling by her bedside, aware that her death was approaching, she looked at him with fading strength and said firmly.

“No, Orkan.”

Though it was hard, the Baron of Leilia obeyed her words. She accepted her death as foreseen in the future. 

Orkan Leilia knew well why she had said no. 

It was painfully obvious what the gods would take away as the price for defying the laws of nature.

In the past, one member of their clan possessed the power of ‘annihilation.’ When the clan was on the brink of destruction, he had annihilated the ‘blood of the divine clan’ that the imperial family used for tracking from the world. 

And as a price, he lost everyone he held dear. They had vanished completely from the world.

“Now it’s time for Rozena to leave us. What do you think? She still has some childish side, but Cassian Baltinart will have to put up with that. Let him suffer a bit.”

Orkan Leilia chuckled playfully. 

His blue eyes held the image of a beautiful woman with flowing red hair, looking somewhere. Her delicate features were strikingly similar to Rozena’s.

The woman Orkan Leilia loved the most, whose image had now half-faded from his mind.

“I’m sorry. I might completely forget you someday. But I hope you’ll forgive me.”

Orkan Leilia touched the ring on his left ring finger and closed his eyes. His voice had grown low and heavy. 

The first thing he lost as a price for interfering with the future was her name. 

He had written her name down to remember it, but even that, the gods did not permit. 

He could neither read nor hear her name. 

And now, even her faintly visible face was no longer visible.