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chapter 50
“This ring isn’t really in fashion these days, my lady.”
Even with the jeweler’s advice, I refused to change my mind.
I had been examining rings in this jewelry shop for three hours already. The ones she recommended were not just flashy—they seemed heavy and impractical.
I disliked that they blindly followed trends. Too cliché.
By now, Heraes and I had become a fairly influential couple.
People like us shouldn’t follow the fashion industry—we should lead it. In fact, trying something new now could even serve as proof of our influence.
“No other design will do.”
Honestly, no matter the reason, no other design pleased me. Heraes hadn’t objected either, so Number 3 was perfect.
“My lady, are you certain about choosing this design? I ask again because this item has very low sales, and I worry that you might be dissatisfied later.”
The jeweler must have dealt with so many difficult customers to be so concerned. Normally, I would have reassured her.
A gentle voice echoed.
“If it’s this lady, there’s nothing for you to worry about. Stop fretting over unnecessary things. The ring may not be trendy, but what’s the problem? There’s no crack, no protrusion, right?”
Before I realized it, the Marquess of Savier had appeared in front of me. She glanced at me and spoke firmly.
“Can’t you see that gentle face? Well, after working long hours, maybe you don’t have time to read expressions. That’s both the duty and fate of this job.”
“I-I apologize! No excuses!”
The jeweler bowed alternately to me and the Marquess. Then she disappeared into the storage room in the back, leaving only me and the Marquess.
The Marquess coughed softly and approached with graceful steps.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Quite the coincidence, I’d say. I had no idea Lady Light was here, truly. You can doubt it all you want—it’s the truth.”
I quietly looked at the Marquess and pulled a handkerchief from my handbag, offering it to her. I wanted to wipe the sweat running down her forehead first.
“You seem to be sensitive to heat. If you feel dizzy, or your pulse or breathing becomes rapid, please let me support you—”
“I didn’t run here to see Lady Light! Absolutely not, don’t misunderstand. Only people living in delusions make such assumptions.”
“You needn’t worry. I live with a sincere heart, not illusions.”
Her expression softened at my straightforward reply. Her eyes landed on the pamphlet I was holding.
“So, why are you buying this ring? There aren’t any festivals or events that would require a ring, as far as I know.”
Feigning disinterest, the Marquess looked elsewhere. She murmured with conviction:
“Judging by the price, it’s certainly not for casual accessorizing. Hmm… a long-lasting vacation would be utterly romantic, Lady Light.”
I instinctively stepped closer to the Marquess and said what came to me as if through a sudden inspiration.
“Marquess Savier, you proposed to your husband, didn’t you?”
Even in this world, it was still more common for a man to propose to a woman than the other way around. While the Saint’s appearance had shifted some traditional gender norms, the traces remained in society. In that sense, the Marquess was special to me.
“Yes. I was a brave woman pursuing love.”
“And you succeeded.”
“Of course I did. I wasn’t going to fail—it wasn’t something I could fail at from the start.”
To speak with such certainty… I wondered if that’s what proposals were always like.
I gazed at her with admiration and carefully placed the handkerchief into her hand, hoping she wouldn’t refuse.
“I’d like to request a meeting. Will you have the time?”
The Marquess lifted her head at my serious request, the sort usually reserved for an emperor. She wiped her sweat with the handkerchief and turned to face me.
“What is this about? I’m busy, you know. Let’s move quickly so we can talk more.”
Fortunately, the Marquess led me boldly, as if she had been requested by an imperial aide.
We entered a café, feeling the cool breeze.
“An engagement, I assume?”
“I’ve considered several options, but my goal is marriage.”
“Marriage!”
The Marquess’ eyes widened. Her hand, which had been reaching for a teacup, waved in the air.
“And just so we’re clear, I detest unnecessary suspicion. I don’t spread rumors or seek attention. I roughly know the situation, so explain in detail.”
Though she already knew, I nodded as if unaware.
In the novel, the Marquess was a relatively significant extra. She appeared occasionally, leaving a presence, warm to her people yet meticulous in upholding their responsibilities. She followed rumors but was neither swayed nor spreading them.
I realized as soon as we entered the café that I had become her person, perhaps because she had helped me before. Otherwise, spending time with her outside her estate would have been impossible.
I carefully chose my words.
“I respect you, Marquess Savier. I hope to continue your achievements.”
“Well, Lady Light, it seems we have much in common.”
“I intend to propose, but I’m struggling to choose an appropriate confession.”
“Hm, what confession had you prepared?”
I hesitated. “I will love you”… I just needed to add that to Heraes’ life plan. Confessing all of this would be too much.
We needed to appear as if marrying for love.
I spoke my slightly modified confession slowly:
“I will love you until I die.”
“And? There’s more, isn’t there?”
Was that not romantic enough? I recalled how romance novels often phrased declarations.
“I will love you until we become an old couple.”
Silence.
“…Is that all?”
“Yes, that’s all.”
I answered honestly. The Marquess, staring blankly, pressed her palm to her forehead.
“Lady Light. Even a passing cat would give a more romantic confession than you. Are you a beast?”
“I’m sorry, but passing cats don’t use human language. And while there’s a theory humans could be beasts, I call myself human.”
“Oh, you’re definitely human! Even if I doubted it, why can’t you have confidence?”
The Marquess frowned and handed me a linzer cookie politely.
“I’ll demonstrate my confession. Remember, this is not an everyday event.”
“One moment, please.”
I raised my hand politely, grabbing pen and paper. You never know when ideas for Heraes and my romance might appear.
Perhaps sensing my eagerness to learn, the Marquess extended her hand with a resolute expression.
“Oh, my one and only light.”
Oh no, a person cannot literally be light. At most, one might imagine a halo.
Still, I wasn’t foolish enough to interrupt her demonstration.
