WAYSOWD 06

Chapter 6

Noah looked surprised by my perfect manners. His eyes got a little bigger.

He quickly hid his surprise and went back to his blank expression.

Lady Philon covered her mouth with her fan and laughed.

“Oh my! Such wonderful manners… I’m truly amazed. You move with such grace. You remind me of the noble girls taught by Madam Tamel for a long time.”

I replied, “You flatter me. The girls Madam Tamel teaches are much better at manners than me.”

“She teaches young noble ladies. Even though I’ve known her a long time, you have as much elegance as she would praise. You must have worked hard. I’m proud of you.”

Lady Philon seemed to praise me from the heart. She smiled so big that her dimples showed.

But I stayed calm instead of showing how happy I was.

When I kept standing, Lady Philon waved her hand in a hurry.

“Oh, look at me… Please, sit down, Miss Rotten.”

“Yes, madam,” I said, and then glanced at Noah. Even though he was about to meet his fiancée, he seemed distant.

What is more important than marriage for a man or a woman?

Whether it’s love or a marriage for money, you still have to live with a stranger…

But Noah acted like he didn’t care who he married.

‘I forgot.’

Even in my last life, Noah built an ice wall around himself.

Later, he said he didn’t want to divorce me, but it wasn’t because he loved me.

‘I was only his “favorite doll.” He wanted me so much, but he didn’t even know why.’

‘I understand. I was like that too… I wanted someone to lean on, someone I could depend on.’

Noah had no one by his side. No family, no lover, nothing.

Even now, Noah is alone. He looks mature, not showing any reaction even to his bride-to-be.

He is fifteen, at the age to be interested in others, but his indifference makes him look like an adult.

‘He must feel awkward, being married off like this. It must be uncomfortable just to look at me.’

According to imperial law, you become an adult at nineteen. If you want to marry before then, you need your parents’ or guardian’s permission. My father, Baron Rotten, will agree as my guardian.

But Noah is different. He doesn’t need anyone’s permission because he is a “count.”

The law says, “If the parents or close family have died, only direct descendants aged fifteen or more can inherit the title.”

So Noah, who became a count at fifteen, is already considered an adult by law.

If he was only a viscount, his uncle would have had to agree to our marriage.

That uncle is the type who could send his nephew to a bad marriage without feeling guilty. I hate that kind of person.

‘I won’t have to see him for four years after marriage, at least…’

Anyway, right now, Noah is holding back his feelings. The more he realizes his feelings, the harder things become for him. He is probably telling himself it’s okay.

‘I wish he would show some emotion. Maybe get angry about being forced to marry because of debt. Maybe feel ashamed to be sold off like this. Or at least show dislike for me, the daughter of the baron who wants his title.’

I kept looking at Noah, so Lady Philon stepped in.

“Oh, I must have no sense. You two should talk. I’ll just stay here, so don’t mind me.”

I nodded a little to show I understood.

For two weeks, I had thought about how to act toward Noah. Now that I saw him, I was a bit unsure.

Noah looked calm, even though he should be angry. It made me frustrated, but I pretended not to care.

I had to look like “the obedient daughter, marrying poor Noah for my father.”

I decided to fool Lady Philon, too.

‘If you want to fool your enemy, you have to fool your ally first.’

Was Lady Philon my enemy? I wasn’t sure, but she wasn’t my ally either.

‘Let’s act just like I planned…’

From now on, I’ll act like a rich man’s rude, thoughtless daughter.

I’ll be polite to Lady Philon, but act wild and bossy to poor, bankrupt Noah Lenister.

‘The kind of girl who thinks she’s special but really hasn’t done anything.’

I reminded myself how to act for my second meeting with Noah.

There was about two meters between us, but it felt even farther.

“I look forward to knowing you, Count.”

“Me too,” Noah said, bowing his head slightly with a blank face.

Even though I said those words, I didn’t smile, and neither did Noah.

Hmm. To make Noah trust me, I’ll need some time alone with him.

But I didn’t know if Lady Philon would leave us.

It was not proper for an unmarried man and woman to be alone, even if they were engaged.

Even though we were set to marry, Noah hadn’t formally proposed yet.

If someone was forced or threatened during a proposal, the marriage could be canceled.

It was hard to prove, but my father was very careful about this, since some people lost everything after making mistakes.

He tried to tempt the Lenister family by saying he’d pay all their debts, but never forced anyone.

‘So I have to look good to Noah.’

But right now, I didn’t have to try hard. Noah had no other choice.

Maybe Noah looked for another bride, but my father’s offer was the best—he would pay all of the Lenister family’s debt.

‘Even if the Rotten family’s business is doing well, we can’t pay all that debt alone. There must be someone helping. Probably Duke Benjo, the emperor’s ally.’

Even if Duke Benjo isn’t helping, Noah’s only choice is me.

A real noble would never let their daughter marry a bankrupt count.

‘Today, I’ll just meet Noah with Lady Philon there.’

As long as Lady Philon is watching, I should not be too friendly with Noah. I need to keep my distance so my father doesn’t get suspicious.

Since we were silent, Lady Philon laughed and spoke up.

“Oh my, Miss Rotten, you don’t seem surprised by Count Noah’s looks. I’m surprised every time I see him.”

“Huh?” I pretended not to know what she meant. She pointed at Noah with her eyes.

Noah was sitting back in his chair with his legs crossed.

“Have you ever seen someone as handsome as Count Noah?”

“No, I haven’t,” I answered, sounding like a doll. Lady Philon raised an eyebrow.

If I want her to like me, I should give some compliments. But she looked unhappy that I was keeping my distance from Noah.

“Miss Rotten, take another look. He will be your husband, so remember his face well.”

“Yes, madam,” I replied and looked at Noah. He looked at me with no emotion.

‘He really is extremely handsome.’

His black hair fell softly on his forehead. His deep blue eyes could almost hypnotize a person.

Honestly, if I was seeing Noah for the first time, I might not be able to breathe for five seconds.

Even if he was sickly, I think he’s the best-looking person on the continent.

He is so handsome, it’s like he’s a statue.

If he grows up like this, he’ll turn the continent upside down.

‘A cold, handsome guy with a sad past.’

Hair black as night.

Shadowed eyes and blue eyes full of darkness.

A sharp, high nose and red lips like pomegranate seeds. He looks like a piece of art.

There was a time when I thought marrying such a handsome man would make me happy.

But after dying over and over, I made up my mind.

‘I’ll figure out how to survive, then leave Noah peacefully. After that, I want a calm, safe life.’

Noah is not just a normal noble. Right now, he’s a sad boy who has to take care of a bankrupt family.

But four years from now—

“When he’s nineteen, Noah Lenister will join the ‘Black Butterfly’ rebels.”