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chapter 40
It was a day with an important appointment.
As always, Lucia dressed up with the help of her maids.
However, unlike before, the maids’ faces were clouded with worry, and they kept glancing at Lucia, whose eyes were closed.
It was understandable—the reason she was dressing so elegantly was for a matchmaking meeting.
Just a few days ago, they had been rooting for her to get along with Herwin, but now that the situation had changed, they couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
Of course, when Lucia had shown up crying before, they had a rough idea of what had happened between her and Herwin, but they hadn’t expected her to go to a matchmaking meeting so soon.
“…It’s done, Miss.”
At the maid’s words, Lucia opened her closed eyes. As expected, she looked beautiful in the mirror.
If her previous makeup had highlighted her cuteness with a fresh look, this time it was a refined style—elegant and calm.
Lucia herself seemed satisfied, lifting the corners of her mouth slightly.
“Thank you, the makeup turned out well this time too.”
“……….”
Despite their mistress’s praise, none of the maids showed happiness. Instead, her smile seemed almost sad, as if holding back tears.
“Why do you look like that? Someone might think I’m being dragged somewhere.”
“But, Miss… a matchmaking meeting so suddenly… it’s too soon.”
“Yes, how long has it been since you broke up… huh!”
One maid realized her slip of the tongue and hurriedly covered her mouth. She glanced nervously at Lucia, but the young lady only smiled.
“Speak correctly. I wasn’t dumped—I dumped him. We never even officially dated.”
“Miss…”
“And there’s no need to blame Father. I was the one who wanted to go to a matchmaking meeting first.”
Lucia stood up and got ready to leave.
“Miss, it’s time to go.”
Just then, Aaron arrived. Ignoring the sighing maids, Lucia went downstairs to the first floor with Sein.
“Oh? Father.”
As she was about to board the carriage, she noticed Johan standing in front of it.
As if waiting for her, he stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
“Today’s the day of the matchmaking meeting, right?”
“Yes, today I’ll meet the first candidate.”
“……….”
Johan examined Lucia’s face for a moment. Unlike before, when she had been heartbroken and lost in despair, she now looked calm, as if nothing had happened.
To Johan, it actually looked a little worrisome.
It had only been about a week since her heartbreak. Considering she had harbored feelings for ten long years, he expected it would take her a long time to recover.
‘She’s not overdoing it, is she?’
He worried that she might be pushing herself so hard to keep her mind off things. Though he had a lot he wanted to say, Johan restrained himself and kept his words to a minimum.
“Observe carefully. If none of the four candidates suit you, tell me. I’ll select another candidate.”
“Yes, I will. The appointment time is soon, so I’ll go now.”
Lucia accepted Johan’s escort and boarded the carriage.
Even after the carriage began moving, Johan remained standing for a while. Only when the house disappeared from view did Lucia turn her gaze forward.
“Phew…”
A sigh escaped her, though she wasn’t sure if it was from nervousness or fatigue.
“Are you nervous?”
Sein, sitting opposite her, asked. Lucia forced a small smile and shook her head.
“It’s just… it feels like I’m actually getting married now.”
“You haven’t even been engaged yet.”
“Once you’re engaged, marriage follows quickly. I just hope my partner isn’t strange.”
“……….”
Sein gazed out the window for a moment, then glanced at Lucia resting her chin on her hand. Like Johan, he too was concerned about her.
“…Are you really okay now?”
Lucia responded with a meaningful expression.
“Well…”
“I’m glad you’ve recovered quickly, but I’m worried that you might be overexerting yourself.”
Lucia was silent for a moment. Thinking back to the past three days when she had been completely shaken by heartbreak, his concern made sense.
At that time, she had surrendered completely to the storm of her emotions.
Yet because she had poured everything into her feelings, she was able to regain her composure relatively quickly.
Of course, her feelings for Herwin hadn’t completely vanished—she had only let go of her attachment.
‘Herwin simply wasn’t meant to be with me.’
As he had said, their connection could only ever remain at the level of friendship.
Acknowledging what she had subconsciously denied cleared her mind in a surprisingly refreshing way.
Even if he were to date Arista or someone else, she could accept it calmly.
“Maybe it’s thanks to what I told him.”
“Huh?”
Lucia muttered softly, and Sein tilted his head in curiosity.
“I always did my best for Herwin. So I have no lingering regrets or disappointments. It’s just that no matter how hard I tried, it couldn’t happen.”
“…I see.”
“Yes. So when you return home, make sure to speak properly to the others. Even I find pitying glances hard to endure.”
Sein nodded, understanding she meant the maids.
“Yes, I’ll make sure they don’t say anything unnecessary.”
Sometimes, a single moment of silence is worth more than a hundred words. Sein’s quiet presence beside her was a great support this time.
“Thank you, Sein.”
“It’s nothing. I haven’t done anything.”
Just then, the carriage stopped. Seeing the location through the window, Sein adjusted Lucia’s slightly disheveled clothing.
“Miss, I hope he’s a man you’ll like.”
“I hope so. I’ll be back soon.”
Lucia stepped out of the carriage and entered the tea house where the meeting was set.
Checking the time, she saw she had arrived about five minutes early.
She looked around to see if her counterpart had already arrived. She had memorized the candidate’s portrait included in the materials beforehand.
‘Could that be him?’
Far away, she saw a man with reddish-brown hair seated.
Judging from the portrait, it seemed to match, so Lucia approached him cautiously.
“Excuse me, are you Simon Dayhard?”
The handsome man looked up and stood as she addressed him.
“Yes, that’s me.”
“Ah, so it is. Nice to meet you, I’m Lucia Agnes.”
The two exchanged awkward greetings and sat down.
“You came early, even though we still have some time.”
“I happened to have business nearby, so I came early.”
The conversation began with polite but trivial remarks. Still, the atmosphere wasn’t bad, and her tension eased slightly.
‘Not bad at all.’
Simon Dayhard, the second son of the Dayhard family, had been designated as the heir to the merchant company operated by the Dayhard Count.
He was five years older than her, making him the eldest among the candidates.
Due to the age difference, he carried a seriousness and composure not often found in her peers.
His speech, manners, and refined behavior were all impressive.
Once the awkwardness faded a bit, Simon leaned back in his chair.
“To be honest, I was surprised that the Agnes family proposed this matchmaking first. I understood you had someone in your heart for a long time.”
The question she had half-expected came.
“You’ve admired Prince Feneus for a long time, correct?”
There was a hidden edge behind his soft voice.
Like Lucia, Simon was evaluating whether she would be a suitable future spouse.
She knew this, yet the question left a bitter taste in her mouth.
The fact that Lucia liked Herwin was well known in society.
Moreover, rumors about her time at the academy had been distorted, making people believe she was obsessively attached to Herwin.
It didn’t matter that she had liked someone else in the past, but no one would welcome a woman with lingering rumors following her.
And this candidate wasn’t just an ordinary noble—he was from the Feneus family.
Simon needed to know if he could accept Lucia despite all the rumors.
“…That’s not wrong.”
Lucia spoke half-resignedly, knowing a lie wouldn’t work. Simon’s eyes lit up with interest.
“Ah, I see. I wasn’t aware of the details due to our age difference…”
Lucia realized he had been testing her. Momentarily unsettled, she quickly regained her composure.
Even if it was a test, it was better to be honest on the first meeting.
She looked up and studied Simon’s expression. He seemed to be thinking deeply, stroking his chin.
Soon, however, Simon’s lips curved into a smile.
“That’s good. Then I have nothing to hesitate about.”
“…Excuse me?”
Good? What exactly was good?
Curious, Lucia noticed Simon’s demeanor changing. The orderly, neat man now had a slightly roguish air.
Everything about him looked the same—clothes, hair, face—but his aura had shifted.
“Actually, I have a lover.”
Lucia’s eyes widened at the sudden bombshell. Simon chuckled.
“Anyway, you’re not seeking my love with this matchmaking, right?”
“That’s true, but… shouldn’t you explain more? Suddenly saying you have a lover…”
“Oh, why so innocent?”
Lucia frowned at his teasing tone.
“I’m saying that since neither of us has feelings for the other, we can give each other freedom. You and Prince Feneus aren’t… close, are you?”
The audacity and awkwardness left Lucia speechless.
“My lover is a commoner, so marriage isn’t possible. But I promised to give him my whole heart, so I need a nominally suitable bride. It’s not a bad offer for you, is it? Realistically, marriage with Prince Feneus would be difficult, right?”
“So… you mean we should marry but be free to have lovers?”
“Yes. Of course, we won’t interfere with each other’s relationships, and marriage is just a title. I’ll treat my spouse properly and provide support as needed.”
Simon seemed triumphant, thinking it was a good proposal. Stunned, Lucia stiffened and stood up.
“Where are you going?”
“I think this matchmaking should be canceled.”
Lucia hurriedly tried to leave, but Simon stood and grabbed her.
“Why suddenly? Don’t you like my offer?”
Fuming internally, Lucia turned to face him.
“Yes. It’s utterly disrespectful, so I cannot just listen quietly.”
“…What?”
Simon’s face twisted in confusion, but Lucia glared at him.
“I want a faithful and responsible husband. I don’t want a reckless man.”
“Hah, are you calling me reckless?”
Irritated, Simon gave a crooked smile.
“Who’s calling who reckless…!”
“And it seems you misunderstand something. I only had unrequited feelings for Prince Feneus. I’m not his lover. So please refrain from unpleasant assumptions.”
Lucia shook off Simon’s grip and left the café.
