“… Yes, Father.”

I barely resisted the urge to immediately ask what had happened. There was much to discuss with Seyerd alone, so taking him somewhere private was the urgent priority.

“Take him to the back garden.”

After giving his daughter those instructions, Count Vansfeld briefly explained the reason to Seyerd.

“It may not compare to the duke’s garden, but Vansfeld’s garden is worth seeing as well.”

Of course, this was merely a superficial reason. The count’s office had a clear view of the back garden. In other words, he intended to keep watch to ensure Seyerd and I didn’t do anything improper while alone.

“I appreciate your hospitality. I’m curious to see how nice it is.”

The intelligent Seyerd had likely noticed this as well, but he graciously accepted the count’s suggestion.

“This way please, Your Grace.”

After exchanging a glance with her father, Kisa led the way for Seyerd.

“Oh my, young miss. Where are you going?”

“Just to the back garden.”

“…Ah, I see. Have a nice time!”

They encountered a few servants on the way to the back garden entrance, who all briefly glanced at Seyerd before bowing respectfully. The count must have thoroughly silenced those around him for no one to even guess Seyerd’s identity.

‘So that’s why he came in an unmarked carriage.’

By the time this thought occurred to her, they had reached the back garden. Seyerd looked around at the various spring flowers welcoming them.

“It truly is a splendid garden, Kisa.”

Kisa, not Miss Kisa. Unlike before, this meant he wasn’t acting. Confirming no one else was around, Kisa gazed at him.

“How did the conversation with my father go? Did he give permission for our marriage?”

Seyerd’s lips curved into a mild smile at that question.

“I’ve dangled the bait for now, but it’s hard to say how your father will respond.”

“Bait?”

“There is such a thing.”

She asked a few more times, but each time he skillfully deflected. Perhaps Seyerd had offered something beneficial to House Vansfeld as a condition for approving their marriage? Land or money, perhaps. Thinking of this made her terribly anxious.

“Can’t you tell me?”

“It’s really nothing extraordinary. I merely suggested that Hillan could provide some assistance to House Vansfeld’s business ventures.”

Some assistance, he says. If Seyerd put it that way, it must be so. From his perspective, there was no need to offer too high a price for a political marriage. After all, it was a relationship of mutual benefit.

“In any case, let’s wait and see. Your father seemed to be considering it.”

Did that mean there was hope? As Kisa felt relief wash over her, the man casually suggested they walk. They should look like they’re actually taking a stroll so the count wouldn’t be suspicious.

The two walked side by side along the garden path.

Now that her most pressing question had been answered, Kisa grew curious about a more fundamental matter and asked him:

“How did all this come about? Could it be that Seyerd… no, I’m sorry. That Your Grace…”

“Please, call me Seyerd like before.”

“R-really?”

“Yes, I’d very much like you to. To be honest, I’m not yet used to the grand title of duke.”

“Ah, I’m sure you’re not. Anyway, I never dreamed that Seyerd was the Duke of Hillan.”

He lowered his gaze as if in apology.

“I’m sorry. But I didn’t intend to deceive you specifically.”

“I know. You were just going along with me wanting to hide my family background.”

“Yes, and additionally, I worried that if you learned of my position and circumstances, you might not accept the marriage proposal.”

“Me?”

“I heard you were close with the princess.”

Ah, so he thought Kisa might prioritize her friendship with the princess over breaking off her engagement. Well, there was no real possibility of that.

Kisa quite liked the princess and served her as royalty, but she had never felt they were true friends. Shouldn’t friends be somewhat equal, at least to some degree?

But their relationship wasn’t like that, and at the tea party, the princess had even carelessly exposed Kisa’s vulnerabilities.

She wasn’t sure of the exact reason why the princess did that. She may have thought it was truly for Kisa’s benefit, or there could have been some other hidden motive.

The only thing Kisa knew for certain was that she would never again feel the same vague affection for the princess as before.

“It’s alright. To get what you want, you have to be willing to accept some losses.”

Her current most important goal was breaking off her engagement with Daniel. For that purpose, she decided to set aside other thoughts for now.

“Still, when I saw Seyerd at our house today, I thought my heart would stop.”

“I feel terrible about that.”

“By the way, how did you find out about our family? Did I let something slip?”

“Well, actually, on both days I met you at the library, I noticed a Vansfeld carriage waiting nearby. Since few nobles spend much time at the library, it caught my attention.”

“Ah, I see. How embarrassing of me, now that I think about it.”

Why hadn’t it occurred to her that he might have seen the carriage with their family crest prominently displayed? Her face flushed hot as she hurriedly changed the subject.

“More importantly, did you have today’s events in mind from the time you first gave me the opera tickets?”

“Yes, proposing marriage without ever meeting seemed too strange no matter how you look at it. I thought to create an appropriate point of contact.”

Seyerd stopped abruptly and smiled at Kisa.

“Quite plausible, don’t you think? A novice duke who happens to go to the opera house, encounters the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen in his life, falls head over heels, and ends up proposing.”

“What?”

“It’s quite an impulsive and reckless decision, but considering my background, it’s not incomprehensible. Many don’t think I learned the ways of nobility at the monastery. Moreover, a man enchanted by a beauty making hasty judgments is common throughout time and place…”

No, that wasn’t the issue. Didn’t those lips just utter something tremendous about her being the most beautiful? He said it so nonchalantly that for a moment she thought he was talking about someone else.

“What’s wrong, Kisa?”

Seyerd tilted his head quizzically at Kisa, who gave no response.

“Um, just now…”

“Just now?”

Kisa opened and closed her mouth, then shook her head.

“It’s nothing. Please forget it.”

She couldn’t muster the courage to ask. Just recalling what he had said moments ago made her want to hide in a mouse hole.

If Seyerd had shown obvious interest like the countless men Kisa had encountered before, it wouldn’t have been so bewildering.

But his tone in saying Kisa was the most beautiful person he’d ever seen was utterly matter-of-fact.

Occasionally there were those who flirted naturally, as if adding water to water. However, in such cases, the persuasive words usually had some metaphorical aspect, but that statement just now was excessively direct and even obvious. If the speaker had been anyone but Seyerd, Kisa would have inwardly sneered.

“Is that so? Well then, shall we continue walking?”

She watched the back of the man who strode ahead with a composed attitude, wondering what his intention was in saying such things. Not that she could discern his true feelings just by looking.

Afterwards, they exchanged a few more words, but it was all talk about their contract marriage with no particular romantic tension to speak of.

“Kisa, shall we establish some basic principles regarding our contract for now?”

These were the principles the two agreed upon after discussion:

First, they must maintain their marital relationship for a mutually agreed-upon period.

Second, after that period, if either party desires divorce, they can terminate the relationship.

Third, as long as the marriage continues, they will faithfully fulfill their roles as spouses.

Fourth, however, those spousal roles do not include sexual activities such as conjugal relations.

They decided to meet separately later to draft a contract and work out the details together.

How much time had passed? Suddenly checking his pocket watch, Seyerd said he should be going.

“If we linger too long, your father will send someone.”

“Ah, then I’ll escort you to the front gate-”

“It’s alright. The wind is quite chilly.”

He insisted that Kisa go inside first.

“Kisa, don’t worry. Everything will work out.”

Those were Seyerd’s final words as he watched her head towards the mansion entrance. Thinking how wonderful it would be if things turned out as he said, she returned to her bedroom.

Then she watched through the window as the guest who had arrived in a black carriage departed once more. For a long time.

It had already been three days since Seyerd’s secret visit. No particular changes had occurred at the Vansfeld townhouse.

Daniel was still Kisa’s fiancé, and the count gave no indication to his daughter of what he was thinking.

Once, during a meal together, she tried to subtly probe his thoughts, but there was no luck in getting the count’s tightly sealed lips to open.

If there was one positive sign, it was that as Seyerd had said, he seemed to be intensely contemplating something.

Kisa prayed fervently to God that those contemplations would conclude in her favor.

However, there was someone interfering with her prayers.

“Young miss! How long do you intend to ignore Master Daniel’s gift?”

It was her nanny, who had been pestering Kisa for the past few days to try on the dress Daniel had sent. She sighed, “Oh dear.”

“What if your weight has changed in the meantime and it doesn’t fit? You need to try it on early to decide whether to alter or exchange it.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m not going to wear it anyway.”

“There you go again! Stubbornly acting like a child! I really don’t understand why you’re suddenly behaving this way.”

The nanny crossed her arms firmly.

“I have no choice. I’ll have to tell the count.”

“What?”

“The count needs to know that you’ve been acting strangely lately.”

“No!”

Kisa hurriedly followed her nanny, who was leaving the room. It would be troublesome if she disturbed the count, who had much on his mind about important matters.

Unfortunately, the count was walking down the hallway in front of Kisa’s bedroom at that very moment.

“Count! Please listen to me. You see, Master Daniel sent a dress, but the young miss…”

The count quietly gazed at the nanny, who was spilling out every detail lest Kisa stop her. When she finished speaking, he answered impassively:

“Let the child do as she pleases.”

“Of course! Let the young miss do as she pleases…”

At that moment, the nanny’s eyes grew as big as saucers.

“W-what did you say?”