“Kisa, what on earth have you been learning all this time? How can you say such immature things?”

The count loosened his cravat with an irritated gesture.

“Even if Daniel suggested it first, how could you be the one to bring it up when you should have firmly refused?”

Kisa barely managed to answer with a voice that was beginning to tremble like her hands.

“B-but… I don’t want to spend my whole life being disrespected by my partner.”

“What’s wrong with being disrespected a little! If you break off the engagement, many more people will gossip about it as an interesting topic.”

Unfortunately, regardless of the truth, this kind of scandal tended to impact women more severely than men.

Moreover, since their engagement period had been long, it would arouse even more curiosity from people.

“E-even so, it’s not like my marriage prospects will be completely ruined, right?”

“Are you saying you’ll find another man to replace Daniel?”

“Yes. Isn’t that why you’ve kept me in the capital all this time, Father? To prepare for a situation like this?”

“What did you say?”

“To show me off to as many people as possible in case something went wrong with the engagement to Rowen.”

Otherwise, there was no reason for the count to keep his daughter only in the capital while he himself traveled between the capital and his territory.

Social activities in the capital were never cheap. Kisa’s dresses, the accessories she wore, and the gatherings where she had to be the center of attention once in a while – all of these were made possible with money.

Count Vanspelt was not the type of person to pay considerable expenses solely for his daughter’s enjoyment. Why then would he keep her here?

In a way, the reason was blatantly obvious. The fundamental purpose for which noble youth of Kisa’s age eagerly participated in social activities: to find a good marriage partner.

Although his daughter already had Daniel as a fiancé, the count was not the type to put all his eggs in one basket.

Perhaps Daniel might die in an unfortunate accident abroad, or the Rowen family’s fortunes might decline… or a man with better conditions and a more romantic nature might fall for Kisa’s beauty.

Even if such things didn’t happen, the more highly regarded she was as a good bride in society, the higher her value would rise.

It would increase the possibility that Daniel and the Rowen family would desire Kisa even more fervently. Unfortunately, in reality, such calculations didn’t work on Daniel, but at least that must have been the count’s thinking.

“You’re saying all sorts of things.”

Was it because his inner thoughts had been laid bare so plainly? Or was it because he thought his daughter had been completely clueless all along? The count averted his gaze with an embarrassed expression.

“Anyway, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you just said. You may go now.”

“Father, I can find another marriage prospect soon. As you know, I’m quite pretty, aren’t I?”

Although it didn’t feel right to emphasize her appearance, it was the best option at the moment.

It might be awkward to say it herself, but the fact that Kisa Vanspelt was beautiful was undeniable.

Everyone said so, and even the count had repeatedly warned Kisa not to be arrogant about her good looks. The burdensome nickname of being the finest flower in society wasn’t earned simply for being an exemplary noble lady.

“A sufficiently good position will come along.”

Kisa’s appearance and background were too good to be avoided by others just because of one or two broken engagements. She could guarantee that if news of the broken engagement were to spread right now, marriage proposals would pour in from all directions.

“But there won’t be anyone surpassing Daniel Rowen.”

“Father.”

“Am I wrong? If you think there’s a man better than Daniel who would propose to you, go ahead and name him.”

“……”

She couldn’t say it. Because no one came to mind.

Within the kingdom, families comparable to or surpassing the Rowen viscounty could be counted on two hands.

If one were to choose among those with unmarried male heads of household or heirs, the pool of candidates would narrow even further, and even they already had their own designated fiancées.

Usually, for members of families with such prestige and wealth, it would be more unusual if they weren’t engaged by the time they reached marriageable age.

Kisa bit her lip tightly. Her thinking had been shallow. From the beginning, any ‘suitable match’ that Kisa could bring would never satisfy her father.

Count Vanspelt took out a new sheet of paper from his drawer and began writing with his fountain pen. It was a nonverbal indication that if she had nothing more to say, she should leave.

“How long are you going to stand there? I’d like to concentrate on writing a congratulatory letter to the new Duke of Hillan.”

“…Father, do you really have no intention of letting me break off the engagement no matter what?”

“Kisa Vanspelt.”

The father, without even glancing at his daughter, spoke.

“This marriage is your duty. If you have enjoyed a quality life as my daughter until now, then you should rightfully marry the one who will bring the greatest benefit to our family.”

“But Daniel-”

“I don’t want to hear it. You’re not a clueless child anymore, are you? Do you think all nobles in this world marry who they want? Everyone lives together, resigned and adjusting, even if they don’t like everything about their partner.”

That was the end of the conversation. With a final word not to disappoint him further, the count thoroughly ignored his daughter’s presence. Kisa had no choice but to leave the count’s office.

Her father’s words weren’t entirely wrong. Kisa had somewhat accepted her duty to marry as a noble.

Moreover, even before knowing the truth, she hadn’t only envisioned a rosy future with Daniel.

“Daniel, Daniel! Let’s play together!”

“No. You’re not fun. I’m going to play war games with my friends, so you go play with your dolls.”

From a young age, he had almost always found his fiancée bothersome. Only because the occasional moments when he treated her well on a whim were so dazzling did she love him, but she had some sense of awareness.

Still, she thought it was alright. Daniel didn’t show much interest in other women besides Kisa, and she was the non-family woman he treated most closely and familiarly.

No, that’s what she thought. Until she learned of the existence of that tea shop owner.

The nightmare-like memory of Daniel openly looking down on Kisa and calling her stupid in front of that woman resurfaced. She understood what her father was saying. She understood it well enough, but she wanted to avoid married life with him at all costs.

Even if Daniel changed his behavior after being scolded by the count, if Kisa married him, she would constantly doubt herself. Wondering if the words she just uttered sounded stupid. Wondering if her recent actions looked foolish.

Wondering if he was secretly laughing at her even though he showed no outward signs. Wondering if he went to that woman and shared trivial stories about his stupid wife, using them as fodder for their close friendship.

If only she hadn’t known Daniel’s true feelings and his relationship with that woman. Now that she knew, there was no going back.

Yes, she couldn’t marry Daniel. She would suffocate and wither away.

When she came to her senses, she found herself running down the corridor. Such undignified behavior was something she hadn’t experienced since she was very young.

However, Kisa simply couldn’t stop her legs.

“Oh, my lady!”

A maid she encountered at a corner looked at her in surprise.

“Have you seen Daniel?”

“Pardon?”

“Daniel Rowen. I asked if you’ve seen him.”

“Ah, if you mean your fiancé, I saw him heading to the back garden.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh, my lady! It’s dangerous to run like that!”

The man in question was leaning against a gazebo in the back garden, enjoying the scenery.

“We meet again, my lady.”

It was a greeting that smelled of cigar smoke, as if he had just been smoking.

“What business do you have this time?”

“Go to my father right now and tell him you want to break off our engagement.”

“What?”

His eyes widened at the sudden demand, then soon curled into a sardonic smile.

“Ah, so since your father won’t listen to you, you’ve come to pester me instead. Am I easier to deal with than your father?”

“Think what you like. So, what’s your answer?”

“I refuse. I intend to marry you.”

“You… Why are you doing this? Why do you want to marry me instead of your beloved Hazel?”

The moment that name was mentioned, the smile disappeared from Daniel’s face. Finding it absurd, Kisa deliberately sneered.

“Ah, is love separate from continuing the family line? Then why does it have to be me and not another woman? With your background, there must be plenty of women who would gladly accept a loveless marriage.”

Perhaps Kisa too, if she hadn’t known how much Daniel despised her, might have resigned herself to marrying him. That’s how most noble marriages were, after all.

“Let me correct one thing. The emotion between Hazel and me is friendship, not love. I seem to have told you this several times, but why can’t you remember?”

Lowering his voice a tone, he approached Kisa with slow movements.

“This time, I hope you’ll stuff it into that not-so-good head of yours.”

For every step she took backward, he took one or two steps closer.

“And let me tell you this. No matter what you say, I won’t break our engagement, so stop wasting your efforts.”

“…What’s your reason for doing this to me?”

Kisa found herself trapped, with the gazebo railing behind her and Daniel in front, unable to move an inch.

His large frame had completely caged her in.

“You said I’m stupid, didn’t you? Why do you insist on marrying stupid me? Wouldn’t it be more convenient for you to have a smarter spouse?”

“Why, Kisa? Because what I need is not your intellect, but your background and…”

The man, curling his lips upward, raised his index finger and tapped her lower abdomen.

“This.”

A cold voice kindly whispered in her ear.

“Just quietly marry me and bear my children.”