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Chapter 58
Since Ian also agreed to provide Betty with the backing of a solid noble family, the explanation was brief and quick.
“…What exactly do you want me to do?”
“It’s purely formal. You have no obligations. Neither in Prowell nor in Hales—where you’ll probably end up—will anyone make any demands of you.”
What the Marchioness of Prowell ultimately wanted—and what even the Empress, who likely voiced her opinion along with the Marchion, agreed on—was simply to provide Betty with a respectable background so she could live comfortably.
In most noble families, such registration of status was usually used as a tool for political marriages.
Normally, becoming “the daughter of Baron Hales” would have been a means to marry into another noble family.
But that wasn’t the purpose here. This was truly a move solely to give Betty a secure status.
Ian could sense that Prowell must have promised some additional, undisclosed benefit to Hales.
Even if Prowell and Hales were friendly, most noble families did not do good deeds without some benefit to themselves.
“But it can’t be that easy…”
“It’s not easy. You earned the trust of the Prowell family yourself.”
For them to willingly step forward and provide Betty with a new, stable, and reassuring status—it was because she was truly Betty that Prowell acted.
“I… I think I need a moment to think.”
Even as she said this, Betty half-understood what he was saying. So, he was saying he would give her a noble title.
“I mean…”
Although she tried to think it over, there was actually no one she could seek advice from.
The Marchioness of Prowell or the Marchion himself were people she could only approach after they had made their decision, and beyond that…
“Only the princess…”
Thinking of Vivian, her mood sank. Would Vivian be okay? How would she react to this news?
She probably would scold her, asking why she hadn’t seized the opportunity immediately, while lamenting that she couldn’t help in this way.
“And what about Your Highness?”
Still, there was one more person she could ask this question to.
Probably the only person who could objectively advise her, without relying on personal friendship, on what this situation really meant and how she should respond.
“I want you to accept it, for your own safety.”
In truth, letting Betty stay at the ducal house would have been the safest option.
But that was practically impossible in many ways. The remaining option was sending her to the Prowell family, which left her position somewhat uncertain. That bothered him.
“For my safety?”
This unusual perspective was something Betty had not even considered. Safety… what kind of safety?
“I brought you out, but Prince Charte had many objections along the way. He might try to approach you and retaliate somehow.”
“That’s…”
It was a fact she had momentarily forgotten.
Ian Daivan’s presence had felt so safe that simply having him nearby gave her immense relief. She had forgotten how perilous the situation had been.
“But to this extent?”
“At least with a noble name behind you, someone like Felix Charte won’t act so easily.”
Duke Charte might later realize how important Betty truly was and regret not benefiting fully, leaving Ian Daivan with a debt.
But at the same time, he would warn Felix Charte not to cause unnecessary trouble.
His son obsessing over a mere maid could be overlooked, but once a noble family got involved, it was a different matter.
If that happened, harming Betty would cross a line that the Duke could not tolerate, giving Prowell an excuse to intervene.
And Felix Charte, no matter what, seemed like the kind of person who, while rebelling against his father as the head of the family, would never truly defy him at critical moments.
“For my sake…”
Betty realized that Ian Daivan, who wasn’t fully reassured even by her being with the Prowell family, wanted her to accept this proposal for his sake too.
But could he really say such a thing? “For me” sounded absurd.
“My thought is this: if you prioritize your safety above all…”
So, she had no choice but to hear this.
But Ian hesitated, then spoke words he might later regret:
“And… it would allow you to treat me more comfortably.”
It was an act of revealing a small selfish desire after losing his objectivity.
No matter how much he tried to humble himself before her, he could not throw away his ducal status.
If she could be brought to the same level of familiarity, perhaps she would treat him more naturally, without formality.
“Your Highness and I…”
Ian touched on something Betty had not dared to hope for. If she could seize this chance and dream of what had seemed impossible, she could interact with him freely, without worrying about anything else.
Betty slowly realized the immense weight of this proposal.
“We can continue like this, right?”
Although his personal desire lingered beneath the surface, everything seemed overwhelming to Betty, so he left his statement vague.
Instead, he took her hand. She watched him, surprised when he lowered his lips to brush against the back of her hand lightly.
Pulling away slowly, he whispered in a low voice:
“No. From the beginning, let’s start properly again.”
It was exactly the same gesture he had made on a cold winter evening long ago when he had come to Vivian, looking at someone he longed for. His earnestness shook Betty’s heart; she could not ignore it.
He was essentially saying: “I greeted someone else back then. Now, let’s return everything to the starting point and properly reestablish our relationship.”
And Betty understood it clearly.
“Betty, give me a chance. If you allow it. If you want it.”
She felt an urge to hear her name from his lips, wishing she wasn’t the only one who called it with a burning heart.
She didn’t let go of the hand he held carefully but firmly. That was his hope.
“…I want to accept it too.”
Facing someone approaching her so directly and sincerely, Betty could not hide the truth she had buried deep inside.
How could she lie or pretend to have no feelings? She couldn’t. She didn’t want to.
“I will accept it. I’ll say so.”
Her trembling voice carried a clear and determined will. This was her heart, facing the truth.
For once, she would follow her heart.
With someone holding her hand, stepping into the unknown world no longer felt as frightening as she had imagined.
