HBTF 54

Chapter: 54

The One Who’s Always on My Side

“Gossip? That’s not a thing.”

Classie tried to brush it off casually, but Walter didn’t fall for it.

“Did the other family hear about your rumors?”

When Classie shot him a sharp look, Anna tapped Walter on the arm and chased him away.

“Master, stop it and focus on arranging your luggage. You should tell us where everything should go.”

Once Walter was sent off, Anna approached Classie, her expression full of concern.

“I’m sure Master didn’t mean anything by it. Don’t worry too much.”

Instead of replying, Classie went inside the house to find Walter. He was deciding where to place the luggage in the guest room.

“Perfect timing. Classie, can I use the next room too?”

Walter asked with a relieved expression as Classie approached.

“I didn’t expect you to live in such a small house. Everything won’t fit in one room.”

“You can use the next room. But we need to talk.”

Classie grabbed Walter and went into the empty room next door, closing the door behind them. Walter, confused, asked,

“What is it?”

“Don’t talk about my rumors in front of others. I moved all the way here to avoid them, and now you’re just going to carry the rumors over and spread them again?”

Classie lowered her voice as much as possible.

“Why? Don’t tell me… the other family doesn’t know about your rumors?”

But when Walter asked in surprise, Classie couldn’t hold it in anymore and snapped irritably.

“I know! I even talked about it with my parents!”

Walter burst out laughing.

“Then what does it matter?”

“What does it matter? It does! You know how much I suffered because of those stupid rumors. Do you think I’d want to carry that around for the rest of my life?”

Walter straightened up and said seriously,

“If you dislike it, I won’t say any more. But I think it doesn’t matter if you’re confident.”

Classie nearly stomped on Walter’s foot.

“Really? Then when Philip or Lize die, I’ll spread a rumor that you’re the culprit! Since I’m being honest, that wouldn’t bother you either, right?”

Walter immediately looked serious, staring at Classie as if she were the most terrifying person in the world.

“Wow… listen to your talk. How can you say things so cruelly?”

Classie’s blood pressure shot up, making her neck ache.

“You said it first!”

“I didn’t start the rumors about you.”

“The point isn’t who started the rumors! You’d hate it too if false rumors spread, right? I was just trying to make you aware of it. Can’t you understand that?”

Classie unknowingly raised her voice but stopped when she heard a knock on the door.

“Miss, should I put your luggage over here too?”

It was the butler’s voice.

“That’s fine.”

Classie cleared her throat and opened the door.

The butler stood in front of the door, worry on his face, but his gaze was oddly sharp. Classie realized he had intentionally paused outside to avoid letting her voice carry outside.

“Thank you.”

Classie whispered softly and hurried back to her room.

The conversation with Walter had clearly stressed her out; her legs ached once again.

* * *

Classie sent a letter to Kishin through the guard post, saying that Walter had arrived and suggesting they have a meal together.

She was uneasy, not knowing what Walter might say, but since he had come to help with the wedding, she couldn’t avoid introducing him to Kishin.

Classie wrote, “Pick any date and time that’s convenient for you,” but Kishin replied that he would come this very evening.

Sure enough, at six o’clock in the evening, Kishin appeared, dressed in a guard’s uniform.

Walter came out to greet him, but upon seeing Kishin in the uniform, he just stood there, his mouth moving slightly as if unsure what to say.

“So, you’re the one who’s marrying my sister.”

He soon regained his composure and extended his hand for a handshake, but his demeanor was stiffer than usual. It seemed the frightening rumors about the guards had unsettled him.

“Yes.”

Kishin answered bluntly, sticking straight to the point, which made Walter appear even more uncomfortable.

Merran leisurely descended the stairs, noticed the scene, and teased Walter.

“Uncle Walter didn’t know Kishin was a guard, did he?”

Classie knew she shouldn’t feel this way, but she felt a little pleased. She had been annoyed by Walter’s words the moment he arrived, so seeing him struggle a bit with Kishin made her feel a bit relieved.

Moreover, since Walter seemed so intimidated by Kishin, it looked like he wouldn’t bring up anything strange.

And, just as Classie had expected, Walter remained unusually quiet throughout the meal with Kishin.

Kishin, being naturally taciturn, mostly left the conversation to Classie and Merran during the meal.

It was a relief. Merran’s style was the opposite of Walter’s—she could speak with malice when she wanted to, but when she had none, there was nothing to worry about.

However, as the meal was drawing to a close, it seemed Kishin’s innate quietness gave Walter some courage. When warm coffee was served and a plate of fragrant cookies was passed around, Walter spoke in a contented voice:

“Anyway, Classie, you really are lucky.”

Although it started as a compliment, Classie’s heart sank.

“Here, eat this.”

She put a piece of cookie into Walter’s mouth, but it was no use. Walter held the piece in his hand and continued talking.

“Since you’ve secured Kishin, your descendants will remain noble. In our family, there’s only one title to pass down, so youngest children like you or me become nominal nobles after our parents die, and our children gradually become commoners. That won’t happen to you now.”

“Just eat your cookie.”

Classie said calmly, sneaking a glance at Kishin.

The countship originally meant for the eldest sister, Mari, would pass to the second sister, Liese, due to Mari’s death.

The third brother, Philip, had no title himself, but his wife would inherit one.

Meanwhile, the fourth brother, Walter, neither he nor his wife had a title. No matter how much wealth they inherited, their children would inevitably end up as commoners.

Compared to Classie, who had almost inherited neither title nor wealth, Walter was better off, but still worse off than his older siblings.

Now, with Classie marrying Kishin, the situation had been reversed, so Walter’s words were true—if truthfully spoken.

But this was not a conversation for Kishin’s ears. Classie subtly tried to signal him to stay silent, hoping Walter would take the hint.

Walter did not.

“You’ve always gone after good men, right? Really worked hard. I’m glad your efforts paid off, Classie. You must have hatched some great plan to catch Kishin, right?”

“Brother.”

“Later, tell me your secret. I’ll turn it into a lesson for our kids. If they learn from you, maybe they’ll have a chance too.”

Merran stifled a laugh at Walter’s so-called joke.

Classie scowled and kicked Walter’s foot under the table.

“When did I ever do that? Don’t say ridiculous things. It’s insulting.”

It was true that Classie had worked hard on courtship, but to say she had done so “always” was unfair. Her efforts had only been for three or four years.

Although she had been plagued by rumors since she was sixteen, she had assumed her parents and older siblings would arrange a suitable match, so she hadn’t paid much attention to the matter herself.

Walter’s comment, therefore, irritated her.

“Why, it’s true. Aunt always went after this guy and that guy.”

When Merran sided with Walter, Classie felt both anger and worry, glancing at Kishin.

As always, Kishin remained expressionless.

“I’ll tell you the secret. It was me who fell for Classie, pursued her, and wooed her.”

Even with that cold expression, Kishin always defended Classie. Seeing him take her side made her cheeks naturally lift.

“Ah… I see.”

Walter asked reluctantly.

Kishin replied dryly.

“Yes. But my secret won’t work on your children, Brother. It’s how a duke captured a noble young lady who had been hurt—it won’t help them.”

Even the oblivious Walter finally shut his mouth when Kishin’s words cut like a knife. Separately, though, he seemed a bit offended this time.

Feeling pleased, Classie popped a cookie into Kishin’s mouth.

“This is the most delicious flavor. Eat it with this.”

* * *

Though Walter had upset Classie as soon as he arrived, as always, he didn’t have any malice.

He often irritated others, then got scolded and would end up getting angry along with them. But he quickly forgot such incidents and could laugh and meet the person he had quarreled with without difficulty.

Because of this, after Kishin left, Walter spent a day grumbling and complaining about him, but the next day he actively began helping with Classie’s wedding preparations.

From July 8, carpenters arrived to repair, refurbish, and remodel various parts of the house.

They doubled the size of the stables and carriage storage to accommodate Kishin’s carriage and horses, and one of the guest rooms was converted into Kishin’s study.

They also added a private room next to Classie’s bedroom for Kishin, and the main room was converted into the honeymoon suite.

“It’s so noisy I can’t stay in the house for more than ten minutes! The floor of my room is shaking, Aunt! It’s like the floor is going bang-bang-bang!”

Merran complained, but Walter, seemingly enjoying his conversations with the carpenters, darted around them like a playful seal, excited and lively.

Though loud and chaotic, it was a joyful time for Classie.

In early August, when Classie invited Kishin to see the completed honeymoon suite, she was positively thrilled.

* * *