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Chapter 29
What?
Before she could even repeat the question, Adrien released the hand he had been holding all along.
On his palm lay two simple grass rings. A tiny yellow rose was tied at the center where a jewel would normally be.
Cyril stared intently at the pair of rings.
They were clumsily made, very ugly rings. Yet, if one were generous, they could be called quaint and cute.
“Let’s live as good friends. Seeing you just now, I think we can do that.”
Good friends.
At that moment, Cyril hesitated.
She, too, clearly wanted more, and she knew that this was the most realistic future—but somehow, her heart felt cold.
It felt as if the very moment they became closest, an invisible line had been drawn, one she could no longer cross.
Even though she had never thought of crossing that line.
Adrien, having finished speaking, gestured for her to give him her hand. Hesitant, Cyril finally extended it.
Adrien carefully slipped the clumsy ring onto her finger, then placed the other one on his own.
Strangely, that tiny act erased all her distractions. She wondered why she had been overthinking things with Adrien.
A slightly exasperated Cyril swallowed a sigh.
She realized Adrien had not changed at all since they were children.
Just like back then, when he whimsically declared her a princess and handed over a small grass ring as if they were already married—nothing was different.
The only difference was that back then it was a joke, but now they were on the verge of actually becoming husband and wife.
“There’s no golden lily here. I was going to use that instead.”
“……”
“When we go to the Cassinel house, shall I make another one? They have plenty of golden lilies there.”
“…One ugly one is enough. Why make another?”
Cyril muttered, pulling her hand down quickly. She prepared for a potential fuss if Adrien tried to take it again.
Adrien, perhaps really intending to make another, looked down with a slightly disappointed expression.
Predictable.
Cyril secretly rejoiced.
“Cyril, don’t you ever try speaking normally?”
“What do you mean?”
“Just… speak normally, like everyone else.”
“Like my face is normal?”
The voice, bringing back memories she had almost forgotten, was slightly irritating.
“I don’t care about the words.”
“Huh?”
“Just take this.”
Cyril pulled a case from her clothes with her free hand. A small round case of black velvet was placed on the table.
She didn’t open it for him; she merely gestured. Adrien, bewildered, opened the case.
Inside was a thin platinum bracelet. Simple in design, but a blue diamond, remarkably similar to Adrien’s eye color, shone brilliantly at its center.
“Cyril…”
Adrien, unable to speak for a moment, called her name softly. He was clearly moved.
She thought, Does he really get so touched by something like this? How little experience must he have…
Cyril allowed herself that thought, even though she had none of it herself.
“…I haven’t received my dowry yet…”
“What?”
“I’m not saying I won’t in the future… but I haven’t gotten it yet. You know there are financial circumstances, right?”
Alright, enjoy this moment fully.
Cyril’s mouth opened slightly, viewing Adrien with a generous look.
Adrien, looking genuinely apologetic, explained with eyes drooping in guilt. He seemed to think she viewed him as a materialistic person.
“Who says I gave this to get something from you?”
“Then?”
I just wanted you to feel a little at ease about this, maybe enjoy this moment, …I just thought of you.
None of those thoughts seemed satisfactory.
Moreover, thinking carefully, it seemed far better to be in debt to him than to face the awkwardness of a sentimental man preparing gifts before marriage.
“…I’ll look forward to whatever you bring.”
Cyril chose, without hesitation, the path of debt.
With countless gifts waiting for Adrien, this little “debt” could easily be repaid over time.
“You’re not planning to ruin the Cassinels, right?”
“You’ll be the only beggar. Not them.”
“You really….”
Such childish bickering continued until the butler announced that dinner was ready.
The meal proceeded in a cheerful atmosphere.
Adrien laughed continuously, catching up after the long gap.
Though they were soon-to-be-married, they bickered as if they were children, but Adrien found it comfortable.
A cup of mint tea tickling the nose, a suitably sweet walnut pie, and various desserts. And an old friend to talk to.
Everything on the table exuded peace.
After setting down her cup, Adrien glanced at the bracelet on her wrist.
It filled the once-empty space with an unfamiliar yet pleasant weight.
It seemed almost as if it had been made thinking of her, which made it even more special.
She liked that it was a bracelet, not a ring. If it were a ring, she might have been slightly embarrassed.
Although they would exchange rings as wedding gifts, the meanings of a bracelet and a ring were distinct—at least Adrien thought so.
“By the way, Cyril, did you choose this?”
Adrien asked, having been curious all along. As he slightly shook his wrist, the bracelet swayed.
The light from the crystal candleholders warmed the blue diamond’s glow, giving it an enchanting shimmer.
Cyril’s gaze lingered on the bracelet for a moment, then drifted away. Adrien saw her yellow eyes searching, uncertain.
“…I guess I don’t have much else to do.”
“True. You must be busy with your promotion. Still, thanks. You have good taste.”
“….”
Her curt voice gave the expected reply. She hadn’t been expecting anything, so she wasn’t disappointed.
Cyril Valentine personally selecting jewels at a store… a scene Adrien could not imagine at all.
Seeing Adrien accept it quickly, Cyril shut her mouth with a subtly complex expression. She couldn’t describe it precisely.
Did something happen?
Her unfamiliar face piqued his curiosity, but Cyril Valentine wouldn’t speak even if pressed.
Adrien moved on to the next topic.
“Ah, and Cyril. I hope we don’t rush the wedding. The Duke seems to want it immediately….”
Adrien de Cassinel Blois had been in Luter for nearly half a year.
In other words, it had only been half a year since he had made his mark in high society.
“Lord Tezar is just an old friend. I have no personal feelings. Of course, there is some friendship.”
It hadn’t even been half a year since he had been repeating that line.
“Is there a reason to rush?”
“I need some time.”
“…Do you still have things to sort out?”
“Yes.”
Of course, she did.
For months, he had parroted, “I have nothing to do with Lord Tezar.” Suddenly announcing his marriage to Cyril now…
He would likely face severe backlash—scorn from all of Luter’s ladies, or perhaps a deluge of debts raining down. Either way, it would be terrible.
Still, buying a little time was better.
Adrien felt frustrated. It wasn’t intentional… but he knew that mourning over it would change nothing. Most people would criticize a politically arranged marriage anyway.
Why does her expression look like that?
Thinking of the thorny path ahead made Adrien want to cry, yet Cyril looked far more troubled.
Even if the wedding were postponed, nothing would invalidate the marriage arrangements, yet her face was unusually downcast.
“Cyril, are you really okay with this?”
“Yes.”
When he asked for confirmation, the answer was short and precise. No hesitation—typical of a soldier.
Adrien wondered if Cyril had truly been free from gossip.
On the day of the debutante ball, he had told his aunt that Cyril would be in a similar situation, but that was merely for cover.
Could news traveling between family reception halls really reach the military?
“Have you not heard anything?”
“…What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“Is the army quiet? I heard about you constantly while at parties. People asking about your relationship. I can only imagine how hard you had to explain.”
It seemed Cassinel’s knights weren’t as quiet as he had thought. Cyril’s expressions shifted constantly.
She frowned, relaxed, frowned again… finally returning to her usual look and spoke.
“The army isn’t quiet. Men can’t keep their mouths shut.”
“Really? Then don’t you need time to sort things out too?”
“…Sorting out, meaning clearing up the rumors?”
“What else would there be?”
Finances and cohabitation could be handled gradually. The immediate concern was salvaging their reputations.
Once she returned to Cassinel, it wouldn’t matter, but with the Tezar name added, her name would carry weight. She had to be careful.
“Adrien, now that I think about it, I also need time to sort things out.”
“People everywhere are the same, huh.”
Cyril, who had been silent, changed her stance. She looked far more relaxed than before.
For Cyril Valentine, the paragon of composure, this sudden emotional shift was unusual, yet Adrien understood.
Meeting a childhood friend after so long and facing marriage—anyone would be unsettled.
Even someone as calm as Cyril would struggle this time.
Because this marriage came so suddenly.
Adrien thought it was the right moment to speak the words he had prepared.
