TRST 10

Chapter 10

I pushed myself upright and checked the letter. Using the letter opener Rivet handed me, I slit open the envelope.

I had already been feeling a bit apologetic because of Ains’s reckless behavior at the ball.

I couldn’t tell whether Viscount Moldovan had approached me because he genuinely liked me, or because he intended to get his hands on the alimony I’d received from Ains. In a situation like that, I didn’t think it was right for Ains to embarrass him so arbitrarily.

Of course, if his intentions toward me were truly ill, then I wouldn’t be able to think well of him either.

I opened the envelope and read the letter inside.

It said that our brief encounter at the ball had been truly enjoyable. Although the ending had been ruined because of Ains, he did not regret having met me.

He then asked whether, if I didn’t mind, we could meet separately.

After reading the letter over and over, I let out a small sigh and set it down.

I debated whether I should meet Viscount Moldovan in person or simply reply by letter.

It didn’t take long to reach a decision. I felt that I should meet him at least once.

I needed to apologize for Ains’s earlier rudeness, and to clearly convey my own feelings, it would be better to speak face-to-face. Matters this delicate couldn’t be handled properly through letters alone.

“Rivet, could you help me up?”

“Yes, my lady.”

With Rivet’s help, I got out of bed.

I hadn’t fully recovered from the aftereffects of Trinz disease yet, but I could at least move around a little.

Walking slowly to the desk, I sat down and began writing a reply to Viscount Moldovan.

Though I used elaborate and flowery language, the message itself was simple: I would like to meet soon, so please let him decide the date, time, and place.

After carefully finishing the letter, I melted red wax onto the envelope.

Once the wax pooled into a glossy red seal, I pressed the Marves family crest into it.

When I lifted the seal, a fine emblem remained imprinted on the envelope. After checking it, I handed it to Rivet.

“Please send this to the Moldovan estate.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Rivet instructed another maid to deliver the letter.

A couple of hours later, the maid returned with a new letter.

It was a reply from Viscount Moldovan. In it, he suggested meeting today at around six in the evening in front of the fountain in the central square.

The response—and the proposed timing—were much quicker than I had expected. There wasn’t much time left before the meeting.

If I had known he would want to meet this soon, I would have suggested a date after tomorrow. This was my oversight.

In the end, I changed into a dress suitable for going out and had Rivet do my hair. She neatly braided my long platinum hair into a single braid.

Lastly, Rivet draped a shawl over my shoulders. It kept the cold air at bay and warmed my upper body.

Maybe I should have worn a shawl to the ball as well?

As that thought crossed my mind, Baron Xavier suddenly came to mind, and I quickly pushed the thought away.

If he heard that, he would surely feel hurt after putting so much effort into making my dress. Though, to be fair, he’d probably be even more upset if I damaged my health.

I arrived at the central square of the capital in a hired carriage. Though it was evening, the fountain in the heart of the city was still bustling with people.

That was precisely why I felt safe coming here. If Viscount Moldovan had suggested meeting somewhere secluded, I would have declined.

But he had chosen a place where people gathered constantly, day and night—the fountain in the square.

A place with so many passersby meant there was little chance of anything unpleasant happening.

“You’ve arrived?”

Viscount Moldovan was already waiting in front of the fountain.

However, unlike when I had seen him at the ball, his attire was somewhat relaxed. His hair was slightly tousled as well.

Noticing where my gaze landed, he awkwardly smiled and smoothed his hair with his hand.

“My apologies. I set the appointment in a hurry while I was in the middle of something, so I wasn’t properly prepared.”

“No, it’s fine. I didn’t mean to point it out.”

I waved my hand dismissively at his explanation.

It was a little surprising, but I wasn’t displeased to see this less-than-perfect side of him.

“Thank you for your understanding. I suppose I scheduled this too hastily. It’s a bit embarrassing, even for me.”

“Please don’t worry about it.”

“Thank you.”

After politely expressing his gratitude, he looked around and spoke again.

“Shall we take a walk? Ah, if you’re uncomfortable, please feel free to decline. I also don’t mind sitting and talking.”

“Let’s walk. It’s a bit cold if I stay still.”

“Alright.”

As I took the first step, he matched his pace to mine.

“I think I may have meddled unnecessarily last time.”

After walking in silence for a while, he spoke softly.

I had a feeling I knew what he meant.

“You were just worried I might be cold. I should be the one thanking you. And about that time…”

I trailed off briefly before continuing.

“I’ll apologize on behalf of Duke Graham for his behavior.”

“….”

Despite my polite apology, Viscount Moldovan simply let out a quiet sigh.

A heavy silence settled between us.

Just as I felt I couldn’t bear the discomfort any longer, he finally spoke.

“You are truly divorced from Duke Graham, correct, Lady Marves?”

“Of course. We are definitely divorced.”

“I don’t mean to doubt your words, but Duke Graham’s actions seemed rather…”

Even without him finishing, I could guess the rest. As if he were still my husband.

But I really was divorced from Ains. And if anything, I had been just as surprised by his behavior.

Had he suddenly regretted it now that we were no longer together?

“I understand what you mean, but that’s not the case.”

I slowly shook my head.

“I’m truly sorry. You ended up hearing unpleasant things from him because of me.”

“…It’s alright.”

I glanced at Viscount Moldovan, who said it was fine with a face that clearly said otherwise.

“Still, I wondered if perhaps… you and Duke Graham might still have feelings for each other…”

“No!”

Interrupting him mid-sentence wasn’t polite, but I couldn’t hold back.

That Ains and I still had feelings for each other?

No, absolutely not. Even if I might—Ains certainly didn’t.

Recently, his strange interest had caught my attention, but as far as I could tell, it was nothing more than curiosity.

The incident at the ball was the same. He had paid me a million gold in alimony; he simply didn’t want to see that money end up in someone else’s hands.

That was the Ains Graham I knew. A man who never accepted losses.

“Duke Graham is just… misunderstanding something.”

I softened his words as much as possible. I couldn’t very well say, in front of this man, that Ains had interfered because he didn’t like the idea of me taking advantage of him.

Not that I was even sure that was the truth.

“What kind of misunderstanding?”

“That’s…”

I pressed my lips together, unable to answer.

Viscount Moldovan simply kept walking quietly, waiting for me to continue.

His consideration only made things more burdensome.

What should I say?

In the end, I gave up trying to organize my thoughts and decided to ask him directly.

“Viscount Moldovan.”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

“When you said you liked me… was that sincere?”

“It was.”

He answered without the slightest hesitation.

That alone spoke to his confidence.

I tried to read his expression, then looked away.

I hadn’t even been able to discern the true feelings of people in high society until now—how could I possibly judge the sincerity of the man beside me?

Since I couldn’t know for sure, I decided to put some distance between us.

“Then I suppose I must apologize.”

“What do you mean…?”

“I mean exactly what it sounds like.”

What I finally said, with difficulty, was a polite rejection.

Whether his feelings were sincere or not didn’t matter to me. What mattered was that I felt nothing for him.

As I was now, living under the constant fear of death, there was no way Viscount Moldovan—or anyone else—could enter my heart.

If his feelings were genuine, it was better to make things clear now so he wouldn’t hold onto false hope.

And if he was only pretending to like me for money, then it was also a way of telling him not to expect anything.

Viscount Moldovan looked at me with a wounded expression before letting his shoulders slump.

“I see… so I have no chance.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, thank you for telling me early. I almost made a fool of myself.”

Seeing how easily he gave up, I felt relieved.

I had worried he might refuse to accept it or insist that my feelings didn’t matter, but he showed no such reaction.

“…Is it because of Duke Graham?”