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chapter 41
“Hoo…”
Lucia quickly left the café, suppressing a fury that seemed ready to explode at any moment.
Fortunately, Simon did not follow.
Whether he follows or not…
The information Johann had given definitely did not mention that there was a woman involved. In fact, it seemed to have noted that his relationships with women were clean.
Either my father’s information was wrong, or he’s been secretly meeting someone behind everyone’s back… one of the two.
No, if Johann had known this fact, he wouldn’t have even considered him as a candidate and would have handled it himself.
From the very first meeting, stepping on what was not just a dud but a full-blown bomb left Lucia in a foul mood that wouldn’t fade.
She quickened her pace and headed to the carriage storage where she had arranged to meet Sein.
Since she had come out earlier than planned, going there directly was faster than waiting for the carriage.
Fortunately, the storage was nearby. When she arrived, she was met by a startled Sein.
“Milady! Surely you’ve finished already? Only an hour has passed…”
“This one’s a dud. I’ll explain the details when we get back.”
“Understood. Shall we return to the mansion immediately?”
As Lucia climbed into the carriage with Sein’s help, she hesitated.
“Let’s buy some spicy food on the way.”
Sein quietly nodded, knowing well that she tended to seek out spicy food whenever she was angry or stressed.
He could hardly imagine what the suitor had done to make Lucia so furious.
As she wished, Lucia bought skewered chicken with special hot sauce along the way and returned to the mansion.
Even the staff were surprised at her swift return.
When Lucia entered her room without a word, Sein prepared the food and some palate-cleansing desserts to help lift her mood.
Sitting cautiously beside her as she bit into the skewered chicken with a sulky expression, Sein asked,
“Could you tell me what happened?”
Lucia ate the chicken, which looked fiery enough to burn, without issue.
“They asked me to enter into a contract marriage.”
“…A contract marriage?”
“Yes. Apparently, someone heard rumors that I liked Herwin and assumed we were involved. Conveniently, since he also had a separate lover, he suggested we try it together…”
“What kind of insolent person would do such a thing!”
Before Lucia could finish, Sein gasped in disbelief, flustered.
“How could someone make such a proposal to you?! And a woman at that! What a shameless person.”
“I’m annoyed that he claimed there’s a woman, but what infuriates me more is that he assumed Herwin and I are on the same level as him.”
The fact that he turned her and Herwin into some scandalous couple angered her far more than simply revealing that he had another lover.
How could anyone think that way?
She assumed the gossip in society only involved her having a crush on Herwin, so could it be, as Simon suggested, that some circles are spreading rumors about a scandalous relationship?
No, if that were the case, I would have heard it.
Even if she wasn’t interested in social affairs, she still had connections. Any rumor like that would have reached her through some channel.
It was likely Simon’s own deduction.
“Milady, you cannot stay quiet! Such an insult cannot go unchallenged!”
Sein, still unable to calm down, said.
“I haven’t thought about protesting, but I should tell Father, right?”
“Of course! You cannot let this go!”
Lucia imagined Johann’s reaction if she revealed the truth. Anticipating his inevitable anger, she kept her lips sealed.
Her father rarely lost his temper, but when it came to family matters, he would stop at nothing. If he were truly enraged, it could escalate into a family-level issue.
She didn’t want to stir up trouble unnecessarily.
“For now, I’ll just wait and see.”
“Milady!”
“There are still three more candidates. I’ll just meet someone good among them. No need to make a fuss.”
“That may be true…”
“Do not tell Father. That is an order.”
“…Yes.”
Sein stepped back at her command.
Lucia finished the remaining chicken skewers while thinking,
I hope the others aren’t all as strange.
The second arranged meeting was three days away. Hoping the next suitor would be normal, she sighed.
Clatter-clatter—
In the shaking carriage, Sein quietly minimized his presence so as not to irritate the person sitting across from him.
The person he was careful around was none other than Lucia.
She was in a foul mood because all three of her previous arranged meetings had been complete failures.
The first candidate had been Simon Diehard, and the second was Heriot Soled, heir of the Soled Viscountcy.
He was two years older than Lucia, inherited the viscountcy at an early age, and was now managing major business ventures.
So far, nothing problematic—but the trouble started afterward.
“My mother has recently developed dementia. I am her only child, so I can’t care for her properly. If you become my spouse, I hope you can take care of her. It’s more reassuring to have someone close rather than a stranger.”
Though the documents mentioned his mother’s illness, it also stated that he had a caregiver. Yet he made such an excessive request to someone he barely met.
“How many children are you thinking of having? As I mentioned, I grew up as an only child, so I would like my children to have siblings. I hope for at least three. What do you think?”
He even asked about children before holding her hand once.
“I am currently managing a business and don’t have much time. If we are to marry, shall we proceed with a simple ceremony this month?”
Without asking, he tried to push the marriage forward.
None of it suited her. Eventually, she politely refused. Then he said…
“Are you serious? You’ll regret this.”
“Why would I regret it?”
“Well, it’s hard for someone like you to find a suitable match like me.”
It wasn’t sarcasm, but genuine. That made it even more aggravating.
“Even if I’m not interested in social circles, I know the rumors about you. Think about it: what man would be happy with a woman who’s liked someone else for ten years?”
“That’s none of your concern, Viscount.”
“Is that so? Still, consider it. Men willing to accept you unconditionally like me are rare.”
He wasn’t as absurd as Simon, but in another sense, he was just as irritating.
The type who scratches at one’s emotions while claiming he’s only being truthful—she despised that type.
After the second meeting, Lucia had steeled herself. Johann’s data was detailed, but it lacked the candidates’ personalities, leaving too much unpredictability.
For the third meeting, she had decided to go in with an open mind.
The third candidate was Arren Valter of the Valter Countship, the only one younger than her.
Lowering her expectations, she met Arren and was surprised to learn he had been a junior at the Academy.
“Ah, an Academy junior? I didn’t know.”
“Haha, I’ve seen you a few times coming and going. If I had known we’d meet like this, I would have spoken to you before. A pity.”
Since most noble children attended the Imperial Academy, it was natural he was her direct junior.
Talking about the Academy, they lost track of time.
This candidate was far better than the previous two.
“I was surprised when I received the proposal. I thought you and Herwin were dating.”
“Was there such a rumor?”
“More like speculation. You two seemed so close, I assumed it was a secret relationship.”
“Unfortunately, I’m just friends with Prince Peneus. Never dated him.”
Arren’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Really, never even once?”
“Yes, just friends.”
“Oh, I see…”
They talked about many other things. For the first time, Lucia thought this person could be a suitable spouse.
They agreed to exchange letters, ending the conversation. Lucia was grateful when Arren escorted her to the shop.
“I’ll take my leave now. It’s been a pleasure today, Milady.”
“Yes, I enjoyed it as well. Please take care on your way back.”
After parting, Lucia waited for Sein to bring the carriage and noticed a handkerchief on the ground.
It bore Arren’s initials.
Picking it up, she looked toward where Arren had disappeared, spotting him rounding a distant corner.
To return the handkerchief, she hurried after him.
Rounding the corner, she saw Arren in front of the carriage with another man. She called out,
“Valter Young—!”
“Milady Agnes, how was it?”
But the two were talking before she could, and she froze upon hearing it.
“See, you were right. They never held hands.”
“Hahaha! I knew it! I won the bet.”
“Damn, my plan’s ruined.”
A bet? A plan? Ruined? She had no idea what they were talking about, but it was clear he had ulterior motives.
Her blood ran cold as she eavesdropped further.
“What a shame. A perfect chance to win over Prince Peneus’ girl.”
“Exactly. I thought she and Herwin were dating, but that idea’s gone. I assumed they’d at least dated once.”
“I don’t know why you assumed that, and why obsess over Peneus?”
Arren smirked, running his hand through his hair. The gentle face he showed her was replaced by a chilling smile.
“She’s too perfect—I wanted to crush someone like that at least once.”
“What the heck is that?”
“That’s how it is. I wanted to get engaged to Milady Agnes and feel superior. Too bad it didn’t work out.”
“So, you’ll just let it end like this?”
Arren frowned for a moment, then grinned.
“I’ll think about it. Agnes’ family isn’t bad, she’s quite beautiful. Having her as a spouse wouldn’t be bad. And she’s already halfway under my charm. A few compliments and she’s almost mine—slightly disappointing. Women should have a little resistance.”
Lucia’s mouth twitched at knowing his true thoughts.
She felt neither anger nor sadness, only a blank, emotionless expression, as if observing an object.
Approaching the blabbering Arren, she watched his face gradually turn pale.
“Interesting words you speak.”
“Ah, Milady Agnes?”
“To hide this inner side behind that smile… almost fooled me, Eresk.”
Arren panicked, realizing she had heard everything.
Lucia dropped the handkerchief she had prepared at his feet.
“I don’t think further meetings are necessary.”
As she turned to leave, Arren caught her late, his expression unclear—laughing or crying.
“Milady, I don’t know what you heard, but it’s all a misunderstanding. Sometimes men joke like this…”
“No excuses are needed. I have no desire to see you again, Eresk.”
She decisively shrugged off his arm and moved forward.
After a short distance, she looked back.
How audacious to think of surpassing Herwin, or perhaps just clueless.
Arren’s pale face burned crimson. Lucia scrutinized him with an unflinching gaze.
You won’t come anywhere near Herwin’s level, so set aside your false hopes, child.
“W-What did you just say—!”
Ignoring the raging Arren, Lucia returned to the mansion.
All three arranged meetings had been complete failures.
And now, Lucia was on her way to meet the last candidate.
All the men she had met so far had been terrible. By now, her patience was nearly at its limit.
