“Hello, Sir Euclid.”
The moment Euclid stepped into the reception room, Erensia greeted him brightly, waving her hand.
She looked perfectly suited to the lavish reception room of Gredellos.
So much so that it almost felt as though Euclid was the guest and Erensia the host.
Especially with her slightly upturned eyes and that relaxed smile, she looked like someone who had come to collect a debt.
Euclid found her cheerful expression irritating. His brow furrowed.
“It is not proper etiquette to show up unannounced like this.”
“Are we in a relationship that requires etiquette?”
Euclid raised one eyebrow.
“Your butler is excellent. The tea is very good.”
Just as he was about to respond sharply, Erensia changed the subject. He had noticed it before. She had an uncanny skill for slipping away when at a disadvantage.
Throw people off, change the topic.
Unlike Euclid, the butler welcomed her compliment.
Perhaps living with a taciturn master who struggled with expression made such bright praise all the more refreshing.
With just that one sentence, the atmosphere in the reception room brightened.
“Everyone, leave.”
Though they weren’t getting married, they were about to discuss marriage.
There was nothing to gain from others overhearing, so Euclid dismissed them.
“They can stay.”
Erensia said, sipping her tea.
“It won’t be good for your reputation.”
Because I’m going to reject you.
Erensia narrowed her eyes at him.
He had shown up dressed carelessly, as if he disliked her greatly, yet here he was sitting properly and even considering her reputation.
A man difficult to read.
And—
He’s quite considerate.
“It’s fine.”
After being refused twice, irritation flared in Euclid.
“Let’s say it’s about my reputation, then.”
“Then let’s go with that.”
She was difficult to talk to.
Euclid raised a hand toward where his cravat should have been, then paused when he grasped nothing.
Instead, he saw the loosely undone collar of his shirt.
Erensia watched his expression worsen with time.
The darker his face became, the brighter hers grew. Everything was proceeding exactly as planned.
It was certain. Euclid was displeased by her sudden proposal.
The thought of being rejected made her happy.
“Did you receive my letter?”
“I did.”
“And your answer?”
Did she feel no shame? Euclid stared at her.
“What do you think I’ll say?”
He asked back.
Erensia clasped her hands tightly and her eyes sparkled.
Is she about to confess earnestly?
It was the brightest expression he had seen on her so far.
There was even a hint of expectation.
“Of course you’ll reject me!”
Her answer was full of delight.
She expected rejection and was happy about it?
Something twisted inside Euclid.
“You really think so?”
“Pardon?”
Erensia’s eyes wavered, clearly caught off guard.
I like that, for once.
Euclid leaned forward slightly.
“Why would I…”
He paused.
“…reject you?”
Strange.
That was the first thought that came to her mind.
Why wasn’t Euclid rejecting her immediately?
He was a busy man, overwhelmed with cleaning up the corruption left behind by factions like Nobelita.
He was not someone who would accept a ridiculous proposal made for the sake of destroying a family.
So she had assumed he would reject her at once.
Then why was he sitting here, exchanging riddling words with her?
You’re supposed to say ‘I reject you’!
—not something like:
Why do you think I would reject you?
Erensia looked at him as he leaned back in his chair, waiting for her answer.
The irritation on his face from earlier had softened into a faint smile.
That expression, as if a long-standing toothache had been relieved, made her face stiffen.
As he waited, he slowly began fastening the buttons he had left undone.
It was a trivial motion, yet it subtly pressured her.
“Well… we only met yesterday.”
Erensia fidgeted with her teacup, trying to regain composure.
“You’re the one who proposed to someone you just met.”
“Uh, well, I fell in love at first sight?”
“Have you not considered that I might have done the same?”
“What?”
Erensia shot to her feet.
A deeper smile curved Euclid’s lips.
In contrast, his eyes were cold as they fixed on her.
“W-what do you mean? Are you saying you’ll actually accept my proposal?”
She snapped.
Euclid found her reaction amusing. A woman who proposes, then gets angry when it seems he might accept.
And she had just been talking about love at first sight herself.
“Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”
“I’m a minor.”
Erensia said it as if it were a decisive fact, but Euclid only scoffed.
“You’ll have your debutante in two months.”
“H-how do you know that?”
Her eyes narrowed. As he said, she would turn eighteen in two months and make her debut.
At that point, she would officially be an adult.
“Do you think a daughter of the Nobelita family would debut at just any event? It would have to be an imperial banquet. The prince’s birthday banquet in two months is perfect, isn’t it?”
She had no reply.
Erensia closed her mouth.
“So, are you really going to accept my proposal?”
She dropped back into her seat with a thud, resting her arm on the armrest.
Like him, she deliberately sat in a slightly careless posture, lifting her chin.
Hoping he would be put off by her unladylike demeanor.
“I said I would think about it.”
“Don’t joke.”
“Joke? I’m serious. I’m not particularly known for having a sense of humor.”
His black eyes held no trace of playfulness.
This is ridiculous. He’s seriously considering my proposal?
Erensia’s face turned pale.
“This makes no sense!”
The moment she returned home, Erensia threw herself onto her bed, shaking her head and kicking her legs.
Dust rose, and Agnes waved it away.
“What makes no sense, my lady?”
“Euclid says he’ll consider being with me!”
“Oh my? That’s wonderful. He clearly has good judgment! Ah! Wait, what did you say? ‘Consider’? That’s a bit… well, he may be impressive, but… even so… our lady isn’t lacking either…”
Agnes’s congratulatory tone gradually faltered.
“Enough. I get it.”
It seemed even Agnes had fallen for Euclid’s charm.
Erensia sighed heavily.
“Well, it’s not a rejection, so congratulations?”
Erensia waved her away, saying she was disturbing her thoughts.
This was not good.
Erensia wanted to earn the title of a clingy woman.
A foolish woman, greedy for someone considered public property like Euclid.
She wanted to become someone people resented.
And at the same time, she wanted to gain a powerful enemy in Euclid.
But things had gone very wrong.
She had never imagined he would even consider her absurd proposal.
Erensia was confused.
What should she do? She bit her nails.
Should I make him sick of me? Maybe meet him without washing my hair for a few days?
But that was impossible. Agnes would drag her to wash no matter what.
I need to make him completely fed up with me…
Things had gone wrong before with Stein too. Nothing was working.
Is something wrong with him?
Like, mentally…?
Otherwise, there was no reason for Euclid to consider her proposal.
What on earth is his reason?!
As Erensia buried her head in thought, trying to understand Euclid, a knock sounded.
“My lady, you have a visitor.”
It was the butler, Sebastian.
“A visitor?”
Agnes asked on her behalf.
“Yes. Lady Victorina of the Dathiri family has come to see you.”
Victorina of the Dathiri family?
Erensia tilted her head.
She rarely participated in high society.
There were many reasons, but the biggest was to avoid gossip.
People paid too much attention to even her smallest actions, and such attention quickly turned into rumors.
Oh?
Suddenly, her eyes lit up as if she had reached a revelation.
Maybe she should start participating in society now.
“Do you know her?”
Agnes asked. Erensia shook her head.
There was no one she was close enough with to visit each other’s homes.
Then who could it be? Had news already spread that she proposed to Euclid?
Did someone who liked him come to confront her?
So much for “public property.” The reaction was immediate.
Perfect!
Erensia quickly got off the bed.
“No, I know her. Agnes, fix my hair. Sebastian, tell her to wait a moment. Serve tea and refreshments first.”
“Yes, understood.”
After Sebastian left, Agnes tidied Erensia’s disheveled clothes and hair.
“Don’t do my makeup.”
Erensia was even prepared to get splashed with water.
“You’re beautiful even without makeup.”
Agnes smiled proudly at her reflection and opened the door.
Erensia squared her shoulders confidently and headed to the reception room.
The moment she entered, a woman sprang up like a coiled spring.
“Ah…!”
Erensia recognized her.
She was—
“Lady Erensia! I’m sorry for coming without notice, and thank you for seeing me! I came to express my gratitude regarding the matter with Stein!”
Stein’s former fiancée.
The one who had delivered that perfectly sharp slap.
“Gratitude…?”
Erensia asked blankly, and Victorina nodded vigorously.
