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Chapter 20
If it’s good for everyone, then it’s a good thing, isn’t it? And this marriage would never be bad for Chloe either.
“So I was thinking—what if we try arranging a marriage for Lady Chloe, Lady Fiona?”
“Marriage… Would there even be a young man who wants to marry Chloe? She’s quite… exceptional.”
Of course there is. The second son of House Oyster, Aethan.
He was briefly mentioned in the original story—Aethan Oyster had apparently had a crush on Chloe since childhood. It was love at first sight. And that kind of infatuation seemed to last a lifetime. If Chloe could live receiving that kind of love, she might actually be happy.
She even looked happy while causing all those problems.
“If there’s a suitable young gentleman at the banquet, I thought we might pair him with Lady Chloe. Of course, her opinion will matter as well.”
“…If that’s possible… Do you perhaps already have someone in mind?”
“I’m still considering. But Cheres mentioned he would soon send a few promising young men from the southern region. I believe we may find someone among them. And Cheres has always felt grateful to both you and Lady Chloe. Especially to you, my lady.”
“…I haven’t done anything worth that. If anything, I’m the one who is always grateful to His Grace the Duke.”
Her faint smile was so proper, so kind. How could someone like her have a daughter like that? At this point, I was honestly curious about the late Count Malate. They say daughters resemble their fathers.
But no—according to Cheres, the Count had been a decent man too. It really was a mystery. Or maybe her grandparents had spoiled her too much.
Either way, that wasn’t what mattered right now.
Clicking my tongue inwardly, I continued.
“So Cheres wishes for Lady Chloe to live a happy life, for your sake as well. He believes that’s the only way to repay the kindness you’ve shown him.”
I added a bit of pleasant exaggeration. Honestly, I wasn’t sure Cheres thought that deeply about it—but one thing was certain: he was thoroughly fed up with Chloe.
He did seem to respect Countess Malate, though.
“So if Lady Chloe were to marry a second son who won’t inherit a title, he plans to establish and entrust her with a branch of the Beireiden trading company under Malate’s management.”
This was something I had suggested to Cheres. He had agreed to help find Chloe a marriage partner. Helping arrange a marriage for the descendants of a loyal family was entirely acceptable by tradition.
And honestly, the best way to deal with a problem like that is to remove it from right in front of you. It would probably extend Countess Malate’s lifespan too.
Besides, I was merely bringing forward something that would happen in the future anyway. It shouldn’t disrupt fate too much.
“You’re aware that a new sea route has recently been established in the southeastern ports, correct?”
I had already confirmed everything. If I was going to send her away, I would do it properly.
We didn’t want Chloe to die alone in some foreign land either. How could we let Countess Malate suffer something like that?
“The Kingdom of Evelik. We’re planning to establish a branch there—and I was wondering how that position might sound.”
Becoming the head of a branch under the Beireiden trading company managed by Malate was no small matter. Not only could she earn wealth, but it also symbolized the trust of Beireiden.
It was by no means a bad offer.
Except for the fact that Evelik was a month and a half away by sea.
Even Chloe wouldn’t be able to storm back into the ducal estate from that far away.
That was how I intended to solve the problem named Chloe.
“The Kingdom of Evelik…”
“It is far, but once the branch is established, the head will be granted a viscount title. There would be no lack in lifestyle. There will also be profits from the trading company. And living in a distant place may broaden Lady Chloe’s perspective.”
I spoke as though everything was for Chloe’s sake.
Which, to some extent, was true.
At this rate, I might actually end up killing her myself. She was the kind of woman who could turn even an ordinary person into a monster.
“I think it’s a wonderful proposal. I’m deeply grateful that His Grace the Duke would think this much about our Chloe. And thank you as well, Duchess, for your consideration.”
Countess Malate smiled gently. I felt a slight pang of guilt, but it couldn’t be helped.
This was far better than Chloe becoming a villain and being cast out in disgrace.
“I do hope a good young man appears so this can happen, Duchess.”
The Countess smiled faintly, then added quietly,
“Sending her away before she causes an irreversible incident might be the best option.”
I completely agreed. I nodded.
After that, Countess Malate tried to keep me longer for more conversation, but I had to postpone it. While we had been talking, my little one had woken from his nap.
“Oh my. Now that he’s awake, the young lord looks even more handsome. He’ll grow into a great man.”
I wholeheartedly agreed. He’s the protagonist of this world, after all. I nodded proudly.
“He seems hungry. May I prepare his meal? I only need to warm the food I brought.”
“Of course.”
“Kyaa! Dya-dya! De-de!”
Hayden waved his hands and kicked his feet as if in thanks. The Countess smiled at the sight.
Thanks to that, I was able to feed him comfortably and leave the estate. The way he opened his mouth like a baby bird whenever he looked at me—it was unbearably adorable.
“Mama! Ma-ma! De-de-de! Bya!”
Watching him outside—only looking at me, smiling at me, reaching out to me—I found myself thinking:
“…Is it really right for me to leave you behind and go on my own?”
No matter how I thought about it, Hayden’s future felt like a path full of thorns.
Even I was exhausted just dealing with everything. What about this tiny baby?
There wasn’t just one villain to deal with, either.
As I secured the squirming baby into the stroller, I let out a deep sigh.
Then I gently pressed my forehead against his.
“It’s going to be hard for you.”
“Bba-baba? Mama! Mama!”
I brushed my lips against the bridge of his nose. Hayden burst into giggles, and just like that, all my worries seemed to fade away.
* * *
Cheres glanced at Borgus.
After his deep conversation with Roana about Chloe, his mind had felt much lighter.
Roana was trying to solve the problem in a way Borgus had never even considered. She had called her method “a happy ending for everyone.”
“If possible, it’s better if Lady Chloe ends up happy too. That way, Cheres won’t be left with any burdens on his heart.”
A burden on his heart.
The fact that Roana was even considering his feelings made him genuinely glad.
Just as she had comforted him unexpectedly before… this time, too, his heart wavered.
“That way, Cheres can be happy as well.”
Even in her own difficult situation, Roana was thinking about his happiness.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“It’s nothing.”
Roana had insisted that Borgus keep everything secret until it was all resolved, saying she found him annoying. Cheres intended to honor that request.
Whether someone who truly wished to marry Chloe would appear before the banquet—he couldn’t be sure.
But he planned to spare no effort in making this succeed.
Through this, Beireiden would regain its peace, and Borgus would come to acknowledge Roana.
And perhaps, Roana herself would finally be able to rest easy.
As Roana—not as Hejest.
The image of Roana smiling brightly while playing with the child lingered vividly in his mind.
