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Chapter 6.
Rainer Hayes (2)
Rainer narrowed his brow and turned to look at Harry.
“I believe I told you to send them away politely, whenever possible.”
Ever since he had grown close to the crown prince, visitors had never stopped coming to the ducal residence.
Lately in particular, nobles lined up to marry their daughters off to him, the finest catch in the empire.
Naturally, Rainer had refused every one of them.
For all he knew, any of them could be entangled with Elise.
And he had no wish to form needless connections at a time like this.
Harry knew this well, yet Rainer was displeased that he had chosen to let a guest in today of all days.
“You should have screened that out on your own.”
“It’s not that, my lord…”
But Harry’s tone was different from usual.
Soon, at the name and purpose of the visit that he relayed, Rainer’s eyes sharpened.
“…Who, and what did she say just now?”
“To think I’d come to this place as a guest…”
At that moment, Cecilia was sitting in the reception room of the ducal residence.
With Elise and the duke having gone down to the territory for Gilbert’s convalescence, Rainer was the only one staying at the capital residence.
In her past life, this was the place where Cecilia had lived with Evan and Elise.
The scenery around her was not much different from back then.
More importantly, will Lord Rainer really see me?
Ever since she had turned her back on Rosena and her mother, she had thought about it continuously.
Who would make a sturdy fence to protect her from the Osborn viscounty.
After long deliberation, the name that came to her was Rainer Hayes.
If she married him, she could escape the Osborns, and even Marquis Dylan wouldn’t dare to easily challenge a ducal house.
And with my memories from my past life, I can help him too.
Cecilia knew that Rainer was not Elise’s biological son.
In her past life, Elise had told her over and over that she must be wary of Rainer.
At the time she had merely been shocked by the hidden side of the Hayes family, but now it had become her greatest weapon.
“I know the dowager of Hayes’s secret. It’s a matter that could put you on the ducal throne as early as tomorrow, Lord Rainer.”
The aide, who had been politely asking her to leave, had changed his gaze at Cecilia’s words.
That he promptly said “Please wait a moment” and went to find his superior suggested it was indeed an important matter.
Still, she couldn’t yet be sure whether Rainer would come out himself.
What if he thinks I’m a madwoman?
In Cecilia’s memories, Rainer was only ever seen glaring coldly at her and Evan.
And no wonder, since in her past life she had stood squarely on the opposite side from him.
Overwhelmed by his silent derision and commanding presence, Cecilia had avoided even sitting across from him.
As a result, she couldn’t recall ever having a proper conversation with him in her previous life.
Can I really do this?
In her nervousness, Cecilia unconsciously clenched the cufflink in her hand.
Just then, the reception room door opened.
The man whom every newspaper in the empire was praising these days appeared.
Behind him stood the aide she had seen a moment ago.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lord Rainer.”
Cecilia tried to rise from her seat to show proper respect.
But Rainer stopped her with a wave of his hand and sat down on the sofa opposite.
His deep blue eyes slowly swept over Cecilia as if probing her.
For someone who caused such a stir at her wedding…
Rainer, too, had read about Cecilia’s wedding commotion in the newspapers.
A woman who had publicly exposed her fiancé’s shame and even kicked him in the shin.
She must be an entirely different breed from the shy noble ladies he had known.
But the Cecilia sitting before him was nothing like what he had imagined.
Soft silver-brown hair, clear, translucent skin, and a delicate impression.
Contrary to what was known of her, she had the face of a woman who would weep and cling to a lover who had cheated.
Rainer felt a flicker of interest in what business this unexpected woman had with him.
“So, what brings you all the way here?”
Rainer raised a hand in a gesture telling her to speak.
The woman before him seemed to bite her lip and deliberate for a moment.
She looked like a deer standing before a black panther.
“…”
As the silence stretched on, Harry, standing at the door, turned to Rainer in surprise.
Rainer was a man who knew nothing of patience in dealing with ladies.
By his usual nature, it wouldn’t have been strange if he had stormed out by now.
Of course, Cecilia had been the first to mention Elise, but even taking that into account, it was an unusual reaction.
Then, at last, Cecilia drew a short breath and opened her mouth.
“I will make you the Duke of Hayes.”
For an instant, Rainer’s eyebrow lifted slightly.
He had been told in advance by Harry, but hearing it directly from those small, plump lips was even more astonishing.
Even he, who was praised by the entire empire, was keeping his head down and biding his time.
What could this slender woman possibly do that made her so confident?
“Well, now… I don’t know how I should answer such a gracious offer.”
Rainer shook his head and smiled crookedly.
It was the attitude of one dismissing her words as nothing but a joke.
But Cecilia pressed on steadfastly, undaunted.
“Of course, you’ll have to give me suitable compensation.”
“Compensation?”
“Marry me, Lord Rainer.”
In that moment, silence fell over the reception room.
Rainer let out an incredulous chuckle.
Usually, the women who courted him would boast of their cooking or embroidery and hint at marriage in roundabout ways.
Of course, he found those transparent attitudes unamusing.
Perhaps that was why Cecilia’s straightforward manner was rather intriguing.
Still, he had no intention of taking it seriously.
“What an amusing joke.”
Rainer leaned back against the sofa and crossed his long legs.
“Why not try writing a novel? I think it would sell well.”
“I’m not saying I’ll be your real wife. Please keep up the marriage for just three years. After that, I’ll leave cleanly.”
Cecilia answered calmly.
Three years. That was the deadline she had set for her revenge.
From her past-life experience, she already knew what would happen within that period.
And she knew exactly what information Rainer needed now.
“The Duke of Hayes has already passed away. Last month.”
In that instant, Rainer’s hand stilled.
Cecilia, by contrast, remained composed.
“The dowager is hiding her son’s death and desperately searching for the grandson she abandoned. Because she doesn’t want to hand the title over to you.”
“And so, has my mother found that grandson?”
Rainer asked as if indifferent, but a faint tension seeped into his voice.
“Not yet. But once I leave this place, she soon will. Evan March is the Duke of Hayes’s biological son.”
“…Who did you just say?”
“Evan March. My former fiancé.”
Disbelief spread across Rainer’s face.
Seeing the look that demanded proof, Cecilia, in an unhurried motion, drew the cufflink from her bosom and showed it to him.
“A token the Duke of Hayes gave to the maid who was his lover. It was the only keepsake she left her son.”
“…”
Rainer narrowed his eyes and glared at the cufflink in Cecilia’s hand.
The finely engraved letters G.H. glittered under the chandelier’s light.
It was certainly too luxurious an item for a commoner to possess.
It was also a flashy design of the sort Gilbert would have liked.
But anyone could make a cufflink like that if they wanted to.
“…A single item like that can’t prove someone is the heir of a ducal house.”
Someone might have learned of Elise’s situation and prepared it.
There were plenty of swindlers who claimed to be the hidden children or bastards of noble houses, after their wealth.
But even at Rainer’s objection, Cecilia spoke without flustering.
“Go to the public infirmary in western Brisen. There should be a record from twenty-two years ago of a woman named Sella giving birth to a son.”
“Sella?”
“The alias Evan’s birth mother used. She must have wanted to evade the dowager’s pursuit.”
Cecilia spoke with conviction.
In her past life, Elise had ultimately found Evan based on this very hospital record.
Having heard it directly from the dowager’s own mouth, she had no doubt about this information.
Unfortunately, the maid had died two days after the birth from puerperal fever, and the child had been left at the March orphanage.
“So, how about it? Do you feel like marrying me now?”
