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Chapter 9
Life Pawned
The Next Day
Irina woke up before Casey came to wake her.
She pulled the bell cord to summon the servants and began getting ready for the day with a determined expression.
“Casey, how long have you been working here?”
“Me? I’ve only been here for about three months.”
“I see. Was the master the same back then?”
Casey nodded.
She added that the longest-serving employee in the mansion had only been there for about a year.
Then that must be around when he became the head of the family.
As Irina fell into thought, Casey asked cautiously,
“Lady Cosat… the waist is a little loose. Would it be alright if I altered it a bit?”
“Oh… sure. Right now? By the way, why are there so many dresses here? Hmm… never mind. It’s not an important question.”
Casey hadn’t said anything, but she hurried to explain anyway.
“The designer came shortly before your arrival, Miss. They said every dress was made using only the finest materials.”
Irina could feel Casey gently tugging at the dress while measuring the waist.
After tightening and loosening it several times, Casey took out a few pins.
“What?”
Surprised, Irina turned toward her.
“Ah! My lady! That was dangerous!”
“Oh, sorry. But… they already knew I was coming?”
Casey nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes. I was told I’d be serving you from now on. But… you were far more beautiful than the family head described.”
“He talked about me? You’re sure he wasn’t talking about someone else?”
It was simple curiosity.
Though, admittedly…
There was the tiniest grain of jealousy—no bigger than a grain of sand in the desert.
“Huh? N-No. He was definitely talking about Lady Cosat.”
Casey explained that she hadn’t always worked as a maid.
To pay for her mother’s medicine, she worked mornings as a maid for a noble family, afternoons at a restaurant, and weekends doing odd jobs.
Eventually, through a fortunate connection, she had come to work here.
She looked at Irina as though she were her benefactor.
But I didn’t do anything…
Irina thought so, but Casey clearly didn’t see it that way.
After staring into the mirror for a while, Casey smiled with satisfaction.
“It’s finished. How does it feel? Is anything uncomfortable? I’m still inexperienced…”
Casey had mentioned she’d once worked at a dress shop.
Even while Irina was wearing it, she’d completed the alterations so neatly that it was impossible to tell.
“You’re pretty good.”
“Really? Thank you so much, my lady! I’ll adjust all the other dresses to this size in advance!”
Casey clenched both fists excitedly, her eyes sparkling.
Watching her reminded Irina of Riley—the girl she’d grown both fond of and frustrated with over time.
“I wonder if she managed to sell all the jewelry…”
“Excuse me?”
“Oh, nothing.”
Irina hesitated before speaking.
“But… don’t get too attached.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“…Just… don’t get too attached.”
Because I’ll be leaving this place in a year.
She swallowed those final words.
With a small smile, Irina quietly left the room.
* * *
Knock. Knock.
After finishing her preparations, Irina went straight to Howard’s office.
“Come in.”
She opened the door to find him already buried in paperwork despite the early hour.
“Busy this early?”
“Not at all.”
“I thought about what you said yesterday.”
Howard immediately set down his documents and stood.
“Oh, you don’t have to stand. I’m just here to talk.”
Of course, he ignored that.
In the end, Irina sat on the sofa across from him.
“I’m listening.”
“Let’s do it.”
She met his eyes as she spoke plainly.
“Let’s get married.”
Howard’s eyes widened more than usual.
Seeing his surprise, Irina quickly corrected herself.
“Ah… that sounded strange. I mean, I’ll accept the conditions you proposed. Of course, that has nothing to do with the fact that I still don’t like you.”
Only then did Howard nod.
“You’ve made a wise decision.”
“I know someone sold to pay off a debt shouldn’t be acting this confidently… but why not? You said you need my help too. So… I’ll give it a try.”
“Understood. Then I’ll have the documents prepared immediately.”
A satisfied smile appeared on Howard’s face.
“I’m doing this for myself.”
Irina pointed at herself.
“For my debt. And for my freedom.”
Don’t misunderstand.
I’m absolutely not doing this for you.
“So I expect to be compensated very well for everything I’ll be doing from now on.”
She stood up immediately afterward.
“I see.”
Howard rose as well and extended his hand.
“Then I look forward to working with you from now on, Lady Irina.”
…
Irina stared suspiciously at his hand before finally taking it.
His hand is huge.
Their eyes met.
The sunlight streaming through the window made Howard’s gray eyes shimmer with an almost translucent glow.
On the first day, the image of his younger self had been as vivid as if it were yesterday.
Yet now, strangely, she couldn’t remember it clearly anymore.
“Well then… I’m counting on you.”
She smirked.
“My dear creditor.”
Howard let out a quiet chuckle.
Apparently, he found that amusing.
Not missing the opportunity, Irina immediately snapped back,
“Don’t laugh! I’ll end up getting attached!”
* * *
“Once the paperwork is complete, we’ll announce it formally.”
Those had been Howard’s words the moment she’d agreed.
Now that there was no turning back, Irina found herself growing slightly nervous.
“Casey.”
“Yes, my lady?”
“I have something I need your help with.”
Irina enlisted Casey’s assistance to learn about Voltier’s noble society.
Howard was the only person she knew here.
She had no other choice.
Howard had offered to introduce someone who could help, but Irina had no intention of relying entirely on others.
Still…
What an utterly unromantic marriage.
Before her family’s downfall, she’d imagined marrying an ordinary man at an ordinary age.
Instead…
A year from now, she would leave for a place that belonged to neither Arendor nor Borman.
She had already planned to stop by a bookstore after going out and buy a map and books about the continent.
“Let’s go.”
Somehow…
She had a feeling she’d be very busy from now on if she intended to repay her debt.
* * *
“You’ve been ordered to report this matter personally.”
Howard put on his formal uniform.
Everything else had already been prepared.
Just as expected, a summons from the Grand Duke’s castle had arrived.
Although his face remained calm, tension stiffened his shoulders.
“That was faster than expected.”
He muttered as though he hadn’t anticipated it.
“The Grand Duchess is someone who misses nothing.”
Werner, his secretary, answered with folded hands.
Werner had served Howard since before he became the head of the Ringester family.
Back then they had been more like comrades.
Later, Werner had volunteered to become his secretary.
There hadn’t been any grand reason.
He simply wanted to become Howard’s right hand.
And he had never regretted that decision.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, sir.”
Early that morning, Howard boarded a carriage bound for the Grand Ducal Castle.
The castle stood atop the highest point in all of Voltier.
The towering central spire of the castle and the Arena Tower were known among the people of Borman as the Two Suns.
Upon arriving, Howard walked steadily down the long corridor.
Waiting for him at the end was a woman who welcomed him warmly.
“Welcome.”
She greeted Howard gently as he bowed respectfully.
Arensha Valencia Ringester.
Her wavy light-gray hair, flowing down to her waist, was unforgettable.
Back when she still wielded a sword, people joked that her hair itself was made of steel.
Time had etched elegant wrinkles upon her face.
Though she smiled warmly, the strength in her eyes had never faded.
Behind her throne rested the massive greatsword she had carried throughout her life.
In her youth, she had become the youngest commander of the Order of Knights through sheer skill alone.
Not only was she unmatched with a sword, but she also possessed extraordinary talent in managing wealth.
Borman itself was the one homeland she had built through her own efforts.
Arensha had once had a son.
He had been her greatest treasure.
After he married and preparations for succession had begun, a brief war erupted in Borman.
Small nations could grow quickly when given the same opportunities as larger ones…
But they were also far more vulnerable to crises.
It had been a struggle for survival.
Then, as if fate wished to be cruel, her son and daughter-in-law died in an unexpected accident.
The only family she had left was Howard—the adopted son her own son had taken in.
The only thing the grieving woman and the young boy had in common was their gray hair.
Determined never to let Borman fall into danger again, she raised both the nation…
And Howard.
She even bestowed her own family name upon him.
Another king destined to lead Borman.
Howard Valencia Ringester.
That was the name he inherited.
“It’s become difficult just to see your face these days.”
“I’ll visit more often.”
“So…”
She smiled warmly.
“Did you bring her back safely?”
Howard gave a short nod.
“I did.”
Arensha felt genuine happiness.
At last…
She might finally be able to give Howard what she had never been able to give her own son and daughter-in-law.
And perhaps…
If she allowed herself to be just a little selfish…
She could finally begin to rest.
Rising from her throne, Arensha invited Howard to join her for tea.
Her radiant silver hair shimmered softly beneath the light.
