CATBP~44

Chapter 44

Mikael handed me a thick bundle of papers.

“This is a compilation of basic information on the Baalze family.”

The document contained organized reports about the marquis couple and their direct descendants — their daily routines, backgrounds, and notable details, all neatly summarized.

I began to read carefully.

The Baalze family was known for producing bureaucrats, and the current Marquis, Kaiden Baalze, was himself an official involved in important national policy discussions.

However, due to his timid nature, he wasn’t considered particularly competent.

Under “Special Notes,” it stated that he tried to be a devoted family man but was completely overpowered by his wife — to the extent that the real authority of the household lay not with the Marquis, but with his wife.

That’s right…

I nodded as I recalled how he had cowered before his wife during Fey’s birthday party.

The Marchioness of Baalze had been the eldest daughter of the renowned swordsmanship family, the House of Lawrence.

She’d shown talent with the sword from an early age but had been forced to give it up and marry due to her family’s traditions.

Notable details included her frequent complaints about her timid husband and her extreme affection for her son, Widrow.

Maybe I can make use of that somehow.

I turned the page.

The description of Widrow Baalze stated that although he had a strong build and a natural aptitude for swordsmanship, he indulged in drinking, smoking, gambling, and women — showing no real effort in anything.

A textbook delinquent.

In contrast, his twin brother Daniel, Fey’s biological father, was the opposite.

He was gentle like his father but kind and had strong leadership skills. During his time at the academy, he consistently held the top spot.

The Marquis had originally planned to make Daniel his heir, but the Marchioness vehemently opposed the decision — even to the point of going on a hunger strike and leaving home — forcing the Marquis to change his mind.

Afterward, Daniel married the former Duke of Egaluk’s daughter, and shortly after Fey was born, he died in a carriage accident.

That doesn’t make sense.

Why had the Marchioness opposed Daniel’s succession so fiercely?

They were both her sons, after all.

Frowning slightly, I turned the next page.

Perridot Baalze, the eldest daughter.

She was said to be a renowned beauty in high society with a strong social standing — often called the Flower of the Social Scene.

Unlike her brother Widrow, she had lived a rather proper life.

Wait a second.

I tightened my grip on the paper.

Perridot Baalze once sent a marriage proposal to the Duke?

A month after the funeral of the former Duke and Duchess of Egaluk, Perridot Baalze had sent a proposal of marriage to Lucas Egaluk, only to be rejected.

After that, she abruptly enrolled in the academy.

Her sudden action had sparked all sorts of speculation in society. The most widely believed rumor was that she had fled abroad out of heartbreak after being rejected by the Duke.

My mind went blank for a moment.

I read that line again and again, over and over.

She ran away in shame after being rejected — that’s just a rumor.

Given how the Marchioness and Widrow had looked at Fey with such greedy eyes, it wasn’t hard to see this “marriage proposal” as another manifestation of their ambition toward the Egaluk family.

Truly vile.

Maybe that’s why.

I suddenly felt my mood sink.

Relaxing my hand, I continued reading.

After studying at the academy for a year, Perridot had returned home but was placed under a year-long house confinement as punishment for leaving the estate without permission.

At least that means I won’t have to see her for four months.

“Good work, Mikael. Keep it up,” I said.

After parting with him, I headed back to the mansion carrying boxes full of Fey’s favorite desserts.

As I was handing them to a passing servant, I ran into the Duke.

Arms crossed, he tilted his chin slightly upward.

“I told you to take a knight with you. Did you go out alone again? Are you secretly hoping to get kidnapped?”

“Of course not. Haha. That’s why I came back quickly!”

I squinted playfully as I smiled.

He still looked displeased but sighed and relaxed his expression.

“Good timing. I needed to talk to you about Fey’s new tutor.”

“The tutor?”

Since Fey’s birthday, the Duke had hired a private tutor — a kind, middle-aged woman named Martina, who had once been a well-known instructor at a prestigious academy.

“Let’s talk inside.”

I followed him into his study.

Dion brought in a tea set and bowed.

“Please enjoy your conversation.”

Once Dion left, the Duke gracefully lifted his teacup.

“So, what’s going on with the tutor?”

I asked as I picked up my cup.

“She came to me just now. Her husband has fallen terminally ill, and she asked to take three months off to stay by his side.”

The heaviness of the news made the tea ripple in my cup.

“She said she’d found someone to take her place for the time being — one of her protégées who taught at the academy for a year.”

One of Martina’s protégées…

And the name that instantly came to mind — from the document I had just read — made my blood run cold.

“Her student’s name is…?”

“Perridot Baalze. Fey’s aunt.”

…Oh no.

I barely stopped myself from gasping aloud.

“I heard Lady Perridot was under house confinement?”

“Apparently, the Marchioness decided to lift the punishment after hearing Martina’s request.”

My grip tightened around the teacup.

The Marchioness wouldn’t have lifted that confinement for nothing.

That marriage proposal floated in my mind again. A story I’d brushed off as rumor now felt all too real.

“Are you sure it’s safe to entrust her with the role?”

“Her record at the academy was excellent.”

“And Fey?”

“She’s thrilled to see her aunt again.”

“So they were close?”

“Out of all the Baalzes, Fey was most attached to her.”

In Secret Nights, Perridot had only been mentioned once — as someone who’d married into another kingdom and then disappeared. I hadn’t known she and Fey were close.

There’s no valid reason to object, then.

When a tutor faced a family emergency, it wasn’t unusual to have a student fill in temporarily.

“Understood,” I said.

It’ll be fine.

If I can’t prevent her from entering the mansion, I’ll just make sure she can’t do anything once she’s inside.

I took a sip of tea in one gulp — and immediately burned the roof of my mouth.

I spotted Fey holding flowers and opened my arms.

“Fey!”

But she walked right past me — as if she couldn’t see me — and ran into the arms of a strange woman.

“Auntie!”

Aunt?

I turned sharply, but Perridot’s face was blurry, like it was veiled in mist.

“I like Auntie more than Aunt-in-law!”

…Did I just hear that right?

Fey’s innocent face confirmed it.

“If Auntie stays with me, I don’t need Aunt-in-law anymore!”

A sharp dagger plunged into my heart.

A dream? Fey would never say something like that.

To be sure, I pinched my cheek — but my chest hurt so much I couldn’t feel any other pain.

Or maybe it didn’t hurt because it was a dream.

Please, let this be a dream.

Wake up. Please, wake up.

I clasped my hands together and shut my eyes tight.

Fey’s sweet yet cruel voice — “Auntie is the best.” — finally faded away.

When I opened my eyes, I was back in bed.

Thank goodness. It really was a dream.

But my body ached with the absence of my beloved niece.

I wanted to hug Fey tightly and heal my bruised heart, so I hurried to her room.

When I turned the doorknob, the door slid open soundlessly — and I heard laughter.

“I wish Auntie would be Uncle’s bride!”

I swallowed hard. My lips went dry. After a moment’s hesitation, I pushed the door open just a bit more.

“Oh my, I’m flattered. But His Grace once rejected my proposal…”

“He only rejected you because of that silly vow! You’d make a better bride than that strange woman!”

The Duke’s voice was honey-sweet as he smiled tenderly.

“We’ll just have to change who the bride is.”

My heart felt ready to burst.

…Something’s wrong.

I’d already woken from the nightmare — so why did it feel like I was in another one?

Then a voice echoed in my head.

“Ma’am! Madam!”

I gasped and sat up.

My familiar bedroom. Sally’s worried face. I pinched my arm and winced.

“…It was a dream.”

A nightmare within a nightmare.

Pressing my forehead, I sighed.

All this because Perridot’s coming? Really?

Fey would never say such things.

And the Duke…

That strange woman makes a better bride than you.

I scowled.

I could trust Fey not to betray me. But the Duke…

I’m not sure.

Lucas had disliked me from the very first day. He only married me for Fey’s sake — and occasionally protected me for her.

But if there was someone else… someone with proper status and reputation…

“No. If that were the case, he’d have married her when she first proposed.”

‘I only refused because of an old vow.’

Damn that dream.

I smacked my pillow in frustration.

Lucas stared at Helen.

“Auntie, it’s boring just playing at home.”

“Then shall we go out for a little trip?”

Though no sunlight could reach through the curtains, she smiled so brightly it felt like light was shining from behind her. Lucas frowned.

‘You love me.’

He finally understood what his strange condition resembled — something people called love.

It wasn’t magic, yet ever since hearing those words, something in his chest had gone haywire.

…Could this really be love?

He’d never felt it before — never even cared to — yet now, he supposedly fell into it the moment he saw her?

Lucas clicked his tongue. Ridiculous. Totally irrational. Impossible.

Maybe it was just a similar emotion, not the same thing.

Then Helen turned to him, pulling him out of his thoughts.

“What about you, Lucas? You’ll come with us, right?”

As she spoke, her lips curved gently — and he hesitated.

He found himself wondering if the urge to kiss those lips came from love… or something else entirely.