“If you’re going to keep spouting nonsense, I’ll call the knights,” Lireania said calmly, signaling with her eyes. Someone discreetly moved away to alert the emergency contact network with the Marquis of Mellin, just as they had always done. However, the oblivious man smirked, ignoring her words.
“Even if Serhen comes, my arm is already broken. What more could he do? Kill me?”
Lireania frowned at the venomous tone.
This man was undoubtedly Viscount Kainum, the uncle of the Mellin siblings. She had heard that he was expelled from the family by Serhen’s order. For such a man to set foot near where the patriarch now resided…
“Who sent you?” she asked coldly.
At her question, Viscount Kainum chuckled. “Do you really not know who I am?”
“I do. That’s why I’m giving you a chance.” Her voice remained calm. After all, the man was still a blood relative of the Mellin siblings, whether they had severed ties or not.
“A chance? I’m the one here to give you a chance.”
“What do you mean?”
“A chance to escape a terrible marriage.”
Pathetic. She had heard that he was once a promising talent in the family, just like her own father. How had he fallen so far?
“It doesn’t seem like that’s going to happen, so please leave.”
“Seems like the scandal hasn’t reached the central noble circles yet…”
As Viscount Kainum’s unruly behavior drew attention, more and more people gathered. Still, he continued to rant.
“Are you here to disgrace the patriarch? Enough,” Lireania said firmly, turning to head back into Veloire. Her employees surrounded her, protecting her. But they couldn’t block out his voice.
“Do you really think Ariel hasn’t married yet because she doesn’t have any suitors?”
Why was he dragging innocent Ariel into this? Lireania kept walking, ignoring him.
“I heard the two of them have been living together because they’re in that kind of relationship.” He was openly mocking them in front of the crowd.
Lireania couldn’t tolerate it anymore. She turned back toward him, and the employees made way for her.
Viscount Kainum met Lireania’s gaze, devoid of emotion. People said she was gentle, but there were rumors that she didn’t even know how to get angry. Her fair, delicate hand cut through the air. Caught off guard, Viscount Kainum’s head snapped to the side.
“How dare you act so rudely toward the uncle of the Marquis of Mellin!” he roared.
“You didn’t seem to remember that when you were spouting insults, but you do remember that my future husband is Marquis Mellin.”
So shameless. He probably used Serhen’s name to his advantage in the countryside too.
“Ah, judging by your memory slipping like this, maybe you should see a doctor, even at your young age.”
“What did you say!”
“How could you attach such filthy rumors to the two siblings? Didn’t you say it in front of everyone just to humiliate them?”
“Can’t you see that Ariel hasn’t moved out despite Serhen’s upcoming wedding? I’m here to save—” Viscount Kainum trailed off, silenced by Lireania’s icy glare.
To be overpowered by a mere illegitimate daughter of a baron…
“If you apologize and return to your territory now, I might just save you.”
“I have nothing to apologize for. Everything I’ve said is true,” Viscount Kainum declared stubbornly.
“Hah, it seems you don’t know the situation in the capital because you’ve been busy slandering them in the countryside.”
“What did you say?”
“Lady Ariel has already finished preparing for her independence.”
“That can’t be… I just saw her at the marquisate…”
“There’s no need for a grand move.”
Her new home was right next door, but Lireania didn’t feel the need to share Ariel’s personal information with him.
“And I suppose you haven’t heard? She’s already had multiple marriage proposals.”
“The fact that she hasn’t accepted any—”
“One of those suitors is the duke, you know that, right?”
That damned black dog! He’d been sabotaging Viscount Kainum’s plans since they were children, crushing his perfect schemes and driving him out. If it weren’t for Kasion Pertelian, Mellin would already belong to him!
“Lady Ariel is considering responding positively to his proposal. Therefore… stop spreading absurd rumors,” Lireania said, stepping closer and whispering, “Next time, it won’t end with just being banished.”
Lireania had already acquired the dignity befitting the marchioness of a noble family. She didn’t need to study more to fit the role.
* * *
By the time Serhen arrived, Viscount Kainum had already fled.
“Lire, are you okay? Did that man harm you?” His face was filled with guilt. He had come as quickly as he could, but Lireania had already handled everything on her own.
“It was nothing,” Lireania replied casually.
She was really fine. Rather, it felt like she was dealing with a clumsy villain.
“I’m more worried that he’ll keep spreading strange rumors out of spite…”
“We’ll need to keep an eye on him.”
“He might even show up at our wedding.”
“I wasn’t planning on inviting anyone but the noble families we sent invitations to.”
“Phew…”
Still, the uneasy feeling didn’t go away. Honestly, the man had backed down too easily. Why come all this way from the countryside just to cause trouble and then leave? It felt too simple.
“I heard he’s gotten close to the crown prince. It’s been bothering me.”
“How does a vassal from the countryside get connected with the crown prince?”
“Who knows. Seems like he’s provided something the crown prince wants, and they’ve built a relationship… but it’s hard to pin down.”
This was problematic. And to think the crown prince was backing him—that explained his arrogance.
“What are you planning to do?”
“If the crown prince is just using him for a short time and plans to discard him, it’s no big deal…”
“But if not?”
Serhen smiled in response to Lireania’s question. “I’m planning to discuss it with Kasion.”
“Does the duke know?”
“Yeah, apparently Kasion’s the one who broke his arm today.”
“Oh my.”
“Looks like Viscount Kainum went to see Ariel.”
Lireania’s expression hardened again. She looked at Serhen with a serious expression and said, “Please, don’t show any mercy to those who trouble Lady Ariel… whether they’re imperial family or not.”
“Of course.”
If necessary, Serhen would even change the heir to the throne to protect Ariel. But he probably wouldn’t need to intervene since Kasion was already furious.
* * *
“Huh? Lady Lireania? And the person next to you is…?”
That evening, Lireania and Serhen came to visit the house. They said they’d stay the night and check the newly decorated honeymoon suite.
“This is the priest who will officiate my wedding. The duke asked him to come over for a bit today.”
“Oh, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Priest.”
I greeted the priest hurriedly, though I wasn’t sure why he had come. Was it for a rehearsal or something? I didn’t know much about weddings, having only attended a few and with no one to explain the details.
“So… what brought you here…?”
“I heard there was some trouble earlier today.”
The priest’s voice was slow and low as if it had crawled out of a cave. Listening to him made me feel like I could slip into meditation. However, I worried that if I listened to his blessing during the wedding, I might fall asleep.
“So I’m here to give you a blessing.”
“A blessing? That’s really not necessary…”
“The duke insisted.”
I didn’t feel like I needed emotional support. The shock had already subsided from earlier. What stuck with me more was Kasion’s behavior. Even the tension in my muscles from the earlier altercation had eased after a hot bath.
“All right. Do I need to prepare anything?”
“We’ll perform the blessing in the parlor. Just light some incense.”
Following the priest’s instructions, I quickly made the preparations and sat on the comfortable sofa. Serhen and Lireania watched me with concerned expressions, but I felt more like an animal in a zoo being observed.
“Let’s begin,” the priest said. The moment he spoke, I fell asleep as if I had been knocked out.
What’s going on? Is this some kind of hypnosis? All I could see was darkness… and then, in the middle of that darkness, I saw a book.
“Ugh, not again.”
Grumbling, I walked forward and picked up the book. It was the same one, with the same title embossed on the cover.
A time for healing? What kind of joke is this? Is it trying to reignite my anxiety?
I opened the book with frustration. But something had changed. Hmm, wait…
“Why am I the female lead now!”
The title hadn’t changed, so this was still a tragic novel!
Just when I was about to clear up my misunderstandings about Kasion… Now, they were bound to pile up again.
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