“Thank you for your kindness… But I don’t want to meet anyone yet, madam.”

The next day, Melly carefully expressed her refusal to Eida.

After much deliberation, she felt this was for the best.

As Melly bowed her head apologetically, Eida Pelton spoke in a generous voice.

“So you’ve decided, Melly.”

“Yes, I’m truly sorry, madam.”

“Why apologize for such a thing?”

Eida shook her head and reminded her of what she had said the other day.

“Don’t worry about it. Didn’t I say you don’t have to meet anyone if you don’t want to?”

“…”

Although Melly knew Eida wouldn’t scold her over this, she had still been worried inside, so she felt greatly relieved.

Resolving to do anything Eida wished except for this unwanted marriage, she left Eida’s room and returned to her own quarters.

Meanwhile, Eida Pelton’s lips, which had maintained a kind smile throughout, twisted coldly as soon as the door closed.

“She doesn’t want to meet anyone right now…”

As Eida mulled over Melly’s words, her face contorted further with derision.

‘I said the choice was free, but to think she’d actually believe she had freedom.’

She had thought Melly would agree to meet out of guilt at least. The plan was to push for marriage as soon as they met. Eida wondered why things had gone wrong before they’d even started.

Aside from being forty and not a noble, Lord Blair had plenty of wealth and a clean record with women, making him not a bad candidate for marriage. Though his looks were rather ordinary… But was Melly in any position to be picky about appearances?

Perhaps Edric had raised her standards too high?

Edric, though her son, was truly exceptional.

Good looks, an amiable personality, and outstanding management skills as head of the family and lord of vast territories. He lacked nothing.

Being close to such an outstanding man for over ten years must have raised her standards. That’s why she refused without knowing her place.

The lady’s true feelings were much pettier than what she showed others.

Though she was taking care of Melly for the sake of her dead friend, she couldn’t let the girl become a burden to her son due to her inferiority.

“Should I take her when we go down to the duchy?”

The lady muttered softly as she rested her chin on her hand.

Tsk. She didn’t like that idea.

But if that was the only way, she had no choice. She couldn’t drag Melly by the hair and sit her down in front of Lord Blair.

‘Why do I have to worry about such things?’

Sighing with annoyance, Eida bent down. Intending to think of a method carefully while taking a warm bath, she reached for the table bell.

Just as her fingertips touched the body of the small silver table bell.

“…!”

Eida paused at the sudden thought that came to her.

She had come up with a good idea.

A way to bring Melly before Blair without having to drag her by the hair.

“Welcome, Duke Pelton.”

Rosalyn greeted Edric cheerfully at the entrance of her house.

Edric, who had just alighted from the carriage, complimented her beauty with sweet words and then offered his arm.

“You always look dashing yourself, Duke.”

Rosalyn responded to his compliment as she linked her arm with his.

“Is Earl Adel away?”

“Father is always away. Mother too hardly stays at home.”

Rosalyn lightly disparaged her mother. Edric defended her mother in a gentle tone.

“I think people of our status don’t need to be tied to the house. The servants will take care of household matters. Rather, going out to socialize and actively building connections seems more helpful in supporting one’s husband.”

“Actually, I think so too. As expected, you and I understand each other well.”

Rosalyn looked up at her fiancé with a satisfied smile.

“This must be why they say to marry someone similar to yourself.”

Edric smiled in agreement.

There was no reason to disagree. He had never once considered marrying someone of a different social status.

And he never would in the future.

As they chatted about various topics in the reception room, a maid brought in tea.

Edric politely took a sip or two of tea, but mostly just held the cup for most of the time.

Even though he had only swallowed a sip or two, he felt a headache coming on.

‘It seems the people of this house don’t even know how to brew tea.’

He desperately missed the tea Melly used to brew.

There was no one else who could brew such refreshing tea to his taste.

Was that why? The reason he wanted to keep Melly by his side?

That couldn’t be. Tea was something he could take or leave.

It must have been because he was worried his old friend might end up in a loveless marriage.

His mother had wanted to get rid of her for a long time, but she hid such intentions perfectly and wore the mask of a benevolent guardian in front of Melly.

Just as Melly was willing to go on an unwanted blind date out of gratitude for his mother’s kindness and consideration, she could very well enter an unwanted marriage too, so he wanted to save her.

Since he couldn’t reveal his mother’s two-faced nature for both Melly’s and his mother’s sake, the only option was for him to persuade her himself.

Yes, that was the only reason.

Why he tried to stop Melly’s blind date.

Edric had already heard through the butler that Melly had refused to go on the blind date when she spoke to his mother in the morning.

She had always listened well to what he said since childhood, and this time too, she heeded his words.

He had been worried inside when she said she would think about it…

Edric continued the conversation cheerfully with a satisfied smile on his face.

As two people belonging to the same world, the conversation between him and Rosalyn flowed smoothly without any hitches.

Rosalyn brought up not only topics about high society, but also subjects that men would likely enjoy, such as polo matches, hunting, and swordsmanship, to pique interest.

“I’ve taken some fencing lessons before, though briefly. It was quite helpful for developing body balance. Would you teach me sometime when you’re free? I’d like to learn properly this time.”

“Gladly.”

As Edric also tended to match his interests with those of others, the conversation between the two flowed as naturally as the changing of seasons.

The conversation took an unexpected turn when Francis Adel, the heir to the Adel viscounty, entered.

“Rosalyn!”

Calling out to his legal sister loudly as he entered without hesitation, he stopped abruptly upon seeing Edric.

“Ah, sorry. I didn’t know you had a guest.”

After looking embarrassed for a moment, he quickly composed himself and greeted Edric politely. Edric returned the greeting with impeccable manners.

“I’ll see you later then, Rosalyn.”

Francis was about to turn away after speaking to Rosalyn. But Edric stopped him.

“Please join us if you don’t mind, Young Viscount Adel.”

“Yes, do join us, Fran.”

Rosalyn chimed in with a casual smile.

“Ah, is it alright? Then I won’t refuse…”

Francis quickly took a seat next to Rosalyn, as if he had been waiting for such an invitation.

Edric pretended to sip his tea while carefully observing him.

Black hair and amber eyes. A fairly handsome but somewhat youthful face, the shape of the collarbone visible through the carelessly loosened front of his shirt, and the faint brown spots on his rolled-up forearms. He scrutinized every detail in that brief moment.

He planned to get a paternity test if a child born after marriage resembled any of those characteristics.

If it turned out not to be his child…

A pleased smile appeared on Edric’s lips.

It would be beneficial either way, whether the child was his or not. The former would give him an heir of noble blood, while the latter would provide an absolute weakness to manipulate the prestigious Adel family.

This is why unions between noble families are so good…

“Oh, I saw that person.”

Francis suddenly said to Edric.

“The lady I saw at your house the other day… Miss Elly, was it?”

“…”

Edric realized he was talking about Melly.

“Anyway, I saw that lady entering the opera house just now.”

“Why there?”

Rosalyn asked with wide eyes.

“Since it’s an opera house, she must have gone to see an opera. She was with the Dowager Duchess.”

A puzzled look crossed Edric’s navy blue eyes.

‘Mother took Melly?’

His mother was kind to Melly, but only at home.

She didn’t care for Melly enough to publicly take her out where people could see.

What sudden wind had blown to cause this?

“So Miss Melly likes opera. That’s great. I like opera too, so we can go together later.”

Rosalyn said with sparkling eyes as if dreaming, then asked Francis again.

“What opera was it? The one we saw recently?”

“No, not that one, Rosalyn. It was ‘The Night of Alysias’. I’ll reserve seats if you want.”

Francis answered his sister with a loving look, then turned his gaze to Edric.

“But there was also a man with her.”

“…”

“I believe his name was… Blair? The atmosphere was strange. It was just like… a blind date.”

Edric’s fingertips gripping the teacup tensed for a moment.

But he calmly took a sip of tea and replied nonchalantly.

“I see. Meetings between men and women are the privilege of youth.”

The tea still didn’t suit his taste, but Edric didn’t furrow his brow. The bitter and astringent tea was nothing compared to another factor that was making him feel unpleasant.

“I apologize.”

He uncrossed his legs and set down the teacup.

Clink—

The sound of porcelain meeting porcelain marked the end of the uneventful meeting.

“I forgot I had an appointment. Since your brother has arrived, would it be alright if I take my leave now, Rosalyn?”