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Chapter 10
My heart pounded uneasily, but that was all.
It was because his voice sounded so much like the voice that had once pleaded with me so desperately.
In my previous life, I had been deeply in love with him.
He had seemed just as deeply in love with me, and whenever either of us asked for something—even if it was unreasonable—we always tried our hardest to grant the other’s wish.
Fulfilling what the other desired.
We had believed that was proof of our love.
Never realizing that those very acts were slowly wearing my love away.
That was why I found the tone of his voice—one that sounded as though he was asking me for something—so unwelcome.
Because I was afraid that once again I would be enchanted by that voice… or by my feelings for him… and end up granting him anything he asked.
“Please, Rose. I’m begging you. Please don’t ever give me another reason to doubt you.”
Those words were still vivid in my memory.
Words the man before me could never possibly remember.
After hearing the ugly rumors about me and the Crown Prince, he had looked utterly devastated as he said them.
With an expression heartbreaking enough to move anyone, and a voice trembling with sorrow, he had begged me not to visit the Imperial Palace anymore.
The result of refusing the princess’s invitations afterward, making one flimsy excuse after another…
As I already knew, it had been nothing short of disastrous.
Perhaps that was why I felt this way.
Because I alone remembered the man who had clung to me with such a heartbroken expression.
That was why the man now telling me he had wanted so badly to see me filled me with an inexplicable fear.
Without even turning to look at him, I answered in an even tone.
“Is there still something you wish to say to me?”
“There are always countless things I wish to say. I spent the entire night wondering what I should say first when I finally met you.”
“…I see.”
“I knew you would be reluctant to meet me, so I had no choice but to resort to a more indirect approach. If it wouldn’t inconvenience you, would you spare me a little time after dinner?”
“I’m sorry, Your Grace, but I brought quite a bit of work with me from my territory. I’ll have to leave immediately after the meal.”
His request had been gentle, cautious, and filled with quiet sincerity.
I rejected it just as firmly.
I had no idea what he intended to say.
But instinct told me that I shouldn’t spend too much time with the man he was today.
“Thank you for helping my aunt and uncle rescue me yesterday. I’ve prepared a gift for you to take before you leave. I hope you’ll like it.”
I repeated myself once more, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
This was as far as I was willing to go.
His gaze weighed heavily on my back, but without looking over my shoulder even once, I successfully led him to the dining room.
“Where is Aunt?”
“She’s waiting inside.”
When we reached the door, the head butler, Randel, was standing there.
The sight of him almost made me sigh in relief.
The moment I confirmed that my aunt and uncle were already inside, I hurried in ahead of Asherd.
He entered after me.
“Oh! You’ve arrived.”
My uncle immediately stood up with a welcoming smile.
Was he really that grateful for Asherd helping me yesterday?
The warmth with which he greeted him made me oddly uneasy.
It reminded me of before my death, when Asherd had been my uncle’s nephew-in-law.
I looked away from the two warmly welcoming him and quietly took my seat.
“Thank you for inviting me.”
“Please, don’t mention it. Considering what you’ve done for us, this meal is embarrassingly modest.”
“Not at all. I realize my request for dinner came rather suddenly, so I’m delighted that you invited me so quickly.”
I quietly watched the three of them take their seats.
Ever since realizing I had returned to the past, every day of this new life had felt unfamiliar.
Yet the most unfamiliar thing of all…
…was the man I had once loved.
To think I’d see Asherd acting so humble.
Of course, that didn’t mean he had ever been rude.
He was always impeccably polite and valued proper etiquette.
But he wasn’t the sort of person who showered just anyone with pleasant words or easy kindness.
He certainly wasn’t someone who would openly display such friendliness toward people he’d practically just met yesterday.
Yesterday… and today…
Is that really the Asherd I knew?
Unable to shake the strange sense of unease, I watched them until Asherd glanced around the room before speaking to my uncle.
“By the way, is Count Mason not joining us today?”
At the question, my uncle let out an awkward laugh.
After hearing what had happened at yesterday’s party, Father had immediately asked whether the Crown Prince was unharmed.
Then he criticized the way I had behaved toward the imperial family.
He hadn’t shown the slightest concern over how frightened I had been…
Or whether any trouble had come to his younger sister and her husband because of me.
And even today, after hearing that Duke Fontaine would be visiting, he hadn’t been pleased.
Instead, he’d warned me not to get close to him.
No doubt he had gone off to flatter the Crown Prince.
Other than attending meetings of the Five Great Noble Houses, Father spent most of his time in the capital building connections or seeking business opportunities for the North.
And if the Crown Prince happened to be at the center of those connections…
There was no way Father would miss the chance to see him.
I inclined my head politely toward the man seated across from me.
“My father had a prior engagement today and couldn’t join us. He asked me to convey his gratitude to you.”
“What a pity. I had hoped to become acquainted with the Count as well.”
“Haha. Then I’ll arrange another occasion with the Count next time. I hope you won’t be disappointed.”
“Disappointed? Not at all. I was the one who suddenly requested the invitation to dinner. I’m simply grateful for such a warm welcome.”
Good-natured laughter echoed throughout the dining room.
Well, my uncle had always been that sort of person.
But what in the world had gotten into Asherd?
Unable to join in the cheerful atmosphere, I quietly lowered my eyes.
Just get through this meal.
That’s all I have to do.
Something inside my chest ached faintly.
Still…
It was bearable.
Leaving the three of them chatting happily together, I silently began eating.
At least…
Everything had been fine until then.
“So, Your Grace, you’re familiar with Othello? Young people these days hardly know that game anymore.”
“I played it a few times with my grandfather when I was young. I only remember the basic rules.”
“Othello is a simple game. Knowing the basics is enough to enjoy it… Still, I’m surprised. I never expected you to know such an old game.”
“I was surprised as well. I thought it was only popular back when my grandfather was alive.”
“Not at all. It’s true chess has overshadowed it these days, but when I was young, my parents and I played it often.”
The real problem was that the two of them got along far better than I had expected.
During the meal, Asherd casually mentioned that he’d recently become interested in Othello.
My uncle, who absolutely adored the game, eagerly picked up the conversation.
No…
The only game Asherd had ever cared about in my previous life was sparring with knights.
Since when did he suddenly play Othello?
“My husband actually prefers Othello to chess,” my aunt said with a smile. “I know the rules, but I’m not much of an opponent for him. This works out perfectly. If you don’t mind, perhaps the two of you could play a game after dinner.”
“Is that so? Then, if the Marquis doesn’t mind, perhaps I could learn a thing or two.”
“Hahaha! I’d be the one doing the learning!”
“Oh, I doubt that.”
My aunt enthusiastically encouraged the idea, and Asherd readily accepted.
Seriously… what on earth is happening?
* * *
“Eloise, you should come too.”
After somehow maintaining a calm expression through dinner, I had quietly intended to return to my room.
The fact that a man who had never shown the slightest interest in aristocratic games was suddenly acting like this left me thoroughly confused.
More than anything, I felt I needed some time alone to sort through the memories I still carried.
So I was just about to slip away quietly…
My aunt, who had been following the two men walking ahead, suddenly turned around and approached me.
She wanted me to come watch them play.
“…Me?”
“Who else would I be talking to?”
She blinked at me as if she had said the most obvious thing in the world.
Well…
She wasn’t wrong.
“I don’t think there’s any reason for me to be there, Aunt.”
“Do you need a reason to entertain a guest in your own home? Besides, he came to help you, not me. Naturally, you should be the one accompanying him.”
“But Aunt… I think I’ve already done everything I needed to.”
Why…
Why do you keep pushing me toward him?
Of course…
Of course she didn’t know I was deliberately avoiding Asherd.
As far as anyone could tell, I had absolutely no reason to avoid him.
“It’s one thing that you’ve done your part, but he’s someone worth knowing. You don’t have to draw such a hard line. Just go chat with him for a while. Is it really necessary to avoid him so completely?”
She wasn’t wrong.
Asherd was one of the Five Great Noble Houses of the Empire.
Once I inherited the title of Margrave Mason, we’d inevitably have to meet regularly in the capital.
Everything she said made perfect sense.
But…
“I’m not planning to attend any more social parties. I already have more than enough to keep me busy. Once this season ends, I’ll return north, and I won’t be back in the capital until it’s time to inherit my title. I can build relationships then.”
That reasoning only worked…
If our relationship had been an ordinary one.
If we were truly nothing more than two unrelated nobles.
I shook my head firmly.
“I’ll do it after I inherit the title. I think that’s soon enough.”
That should have been a perfectly reasonable explanation.
I thought surely my aunt would accept it now.
Then—
“Hah.”
It was only a quiet scoff.
But it carried more than enough emotion.
She looked at me as though I’d said something utterly ridiculous.
“Don’t tell me…”
“…you actually think your father is going to give you the title?”
“…What?”
“You turned down Duke Fontaine because you think you’re guaranteed to inherit?”
“…Aunt.”
“Hah. Honestly…”
“What do you mean by that?”
She was practically laughing at me now.
After mocking me for being naïve, for knowing nothing about how the world worked or how to judge people…
She let out a short laugh and looked me straight in the eye.
“Eloise.”
“Didn’t I tell you?”
“I warned you to be wary of your father.”
She gave another bitter laugh.
“He’s my own brother, yes…”
Her eyes suddenly turned cold.
“I’ll tell you something, Eloise.”
“I…”
“…was the person your grandfather had originally chosen as his heir.”
And with those words—
She dropped a revelation that struck like a bolt from the blue.
