Though pitiful, Marquess Lancaster deliberately turned away from Alicia’s forlorn appearance.

Then, trying to maintain composure, he spoke.

“You didn’t believe in the engagement pretense, did you?”

“······.”

“I understand you. You may have tried your best to fulfill the contract, and in the process, you may have mistaken it for a real engagement.”

“No, Father. I.”

“We’ll see. Even though it’s tough now, you’ll get used to it soon.”

There was no way.

It was impossible to get used to it.

Just hearing that she wouldn’t meet Eric again made it difficult to think rationally.

Even thinking about it brought tears so quickly.

It wasn’t because she pretended to be engaged; it was genuinely because of her feelings.

It was frustrating that Marquess Lancaster couldn’t recognize her sincerity.

While tears welled up, Marquess Lancaster uttered another painful remark to Alicia, who was staring blankly at herself.

“I trusted you. I had to leave for something essential, and I was worried about leaving the house empty, but still, I thought it was fortunate that you were here. I believed our daughter was intelligent and resilient enough to handle it.”

“Father.”

“Yeah, that’s right. It’s my fault for leaving the house empty for so long. In the end, I made you like this. It’s all my fault.”

“That wasn’t the intention.”

Though Alicia awkwardly opened her mouth, the Marquess firmly drew a line.

“Go back to the way it was. Now that there’s no need to leave the house, you don’t have to worry about household chores anymore.”

“Father, please.”

“There’s nothing more to say. This matter is over. I’ll take care of the arrangements, so you don’t need to do anything.”

At Marquess Lancaster’s final words, a single tear rolled down Alicia’s vacant eyes.

Everything she had experienced so far was about to be perfect, right before her eyes, and now it vanished.

Of course, the engagement contract wasn’t honorable, and deceiving the family was a wrongdoing.

Still, her father always listened to her and was always on her side, so she thought he would understand.

“Stay quiet here until everything is settled, Alicia.”

As the Marquess tried to get up, Alicia hurriedly grabbed him.

Ending the conversation with her father here seemed like there would be no more chances.

So, she clung desperately. Desperate.

“I was wrong.”

“What?”

“I was wrong. My thinking was short-sighted. I’m sorry for deceiving everyone and doing such things. I’m sorry for losing your trust, Father. Please forgive me.”

“Alicia.”
“I’ll do anything. So, please don’t tell us to break up. Father, you should meet him and see. You’ll realize how good of a person he is.”

Tears poured from Alicia’s pleading eyes.

There was no room for explanations, persuasions, or even thinking now.

Other than clinging and appealing, no other method came to mind.

“Alicia, you.”

Alicia was not a child who cried easily or acted recklessly.

Due to her pride, she never apologized when there was no need, and if she ever had to apologize, she did it tactfully enough not to hurt the other person’s feelings.

However, now, Marquess Lancaster found his daughter, who clung to him and cried desperately over a mere man, unfamiliar and pitiable.

Still, he spoke calmly.

Above all, he had his own reasons for doing it this way.

“…Alicia, I’ve already made my decision. There’s no point in discussing this any further; it will only be painful for both of us.”

“Father, please.”

“…”

However, Marquess Lancaster, without a change in expression, calmly removed Alicia’s hand that held him and stood up from his seat.

As Marquess Lancaster walked into the corridor, Lady Lancaster, who was waiting and seeing off Chase, approached.

“I couldn’t go in because there was a loud noise inside.”

“Oh.”

“Something must have happened. You’ve never made such a loud noise with Alicia.”

“It’s a rare occurrence.”

Marquess Lancaster and his wife walked toward the lady’s bedroom.

“Did Alicia cry a lot?”

“I’ve never seen her cry like that. She wasn’t someone who cried easily.”

“But even so, you’re going ahead with your plan?”

“It might seem like the end of the world right now, but it’s probably better than the real end of the world.”

As Marquess Lancaster muttered, Lady Lancaster gently, yet with concern, patted her husband’s arm.

Entering the bedroom and sitting side by side on the bed, the couple continued their conversation.

“Convince Alicia a bit. He seems like a good person, even in your eyes.”

“Really?”

“Well, he seemed like a good child.”

“Do you see it that way too?”

In her voice, filled with hidden pride, Marquess Lancaster chuckled.

“So, even more so. We can’t burden the child like us on him.”

Without saying a word, the marchioness embraced her husband’s shoulders.

The marquess showed her the contract.

“Did you know about this too?”

“No, I didn’t. When they suddenly said they were engaged, I thought something was up.”

After reading the contract that the marquess’s wife accepted, she placed it on the table.

Compared to the marquess, she seemed calm and composed, maintaining a sense of calmness.

“They must have written it with a very serious consideration of their personalities. It’s quite a clever trick they pulled.”

“Clever? This? They pretended to be engaged and received money?”

“Strictly speaking, they didn’t really get engaged.”

“Dear. This is not a problem we can overlook just like that.”

Marquess Lancaster said with a serious expression.

“We have to address this issue. We need to let the other household know as well.”

“Are you planning to inform the Gloucester Duke?”