“Brother, I’m sorry. Lady Lireania, I’m sorry as well,” I kept apologizing to the two of them as we rode in the carriage on the way home. In the end, I felt responsible for ruining their wedding.
“It’s all right, Lady Ariel. You must have been very startled. How is your hand?” Lireania asked kindly, looking at my hand. “Honestly, the way you slapped her was so satisfying! You really hit her well, hohoho.”
“Really?” I couldn’t help but smile at the unexpected compliment, but seeing Serhen’s expression next to me made me quickly shut my mouth. “I’m reflecting on it.”
“But Ariel, how did you get that bruise? Was it… really Kasion’s doing?”
“No! Of course not!”
“Then it wasn’t the second prince, was it?”
“Brother!”
“Brother!” I puffed up my cheeks in frustration, and Lireania gently poked Serhen in the side.
“Are you going to fight again after just making up? If you make Lady Ariel mad, I’ll go stay at the house next door with her.”
“No! It’s your one and only honeymoon! You two must go!”
The two of them suddenly looked at each other, exchanging a whole conversation with just their eyes. It was incredible.
Is this something that happens when you’re in love? I envied them. I wished I had someone like that too. But I still couldn’t read Kasion’s expressions very well, even though we’d known each other for quite some time. I wasn’t sure if what he felt for me was love, obsession, or just possessiveness.
“Ariel…?”
“Huh? Ah, go ahead.”
I had become a dazed young lady, lost in thoughts about Kasion. No wonder the princess always looks down on me.
“Why do you look so serious?”
“We’ve canceled our honeymoon.”
“What? Why? All of a sudden?”
It was one of the things I had worked the hardest on while preparing for the wedding. I’d been so careful in selecting the location to avoid Kasion potentially disrupting their plans. I’d chosen a secluded, safe place, a fortress-like castle where they could enjoy their time together in peace, with beautiful scenery but nothing to do except spend time as a couple.
“Don’t be shocked, but listen carefully. On the day Kasion and I had that fight…”
“Yes.”
“We weren’t really fighting. It was an act.”
“What?”
Had they deceived me again? My face turned cold.
Serhen scratched his head awkwardly. “No, what you saw was a real fight. Kasion was genuinely angry when he hit me. I still have a bit of a bruise.”
That man… What was he thinking, hitting a groom on the night before his wedding?
“We did have built-up emotions, but we weren’t planning to fight seriously. We staged it to create an excuse to capture Viscount Kainum.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“We didn’t want to worry you before we completely resolved it. We thought it was better for you not to know about the dangerous details.”
“I’m not some delicate flower,” I replied a bit coldly.
Serhen’s eyes widened at my response, but then he smiled softly. “You’re right. You’re not,” he said with a sigh of resignation as if acknowledging something he had been reluctant to admit.
My sharp feelings melted away instantly. “So, did you catch him?”
“Yes.”
“That’s a relief, then. I’ll let it go.”
“But he escaped.”
“…”
I was speechless at his sudden confession. What did he just say?
“So you canceled the honeymoon because you’re afraid Viscount Kainum will come after you for revenge?”
“No, that’s not it.”
As I watched Serhen hesitate to answer, I began to piece things together. He wouldn’t bring this up without reason.
“Is he targeting me again? Like… that time?”
Suddenly, I felt a tightness in my chest. I tried counting in my head to calm down, but it didn’t help. Anyone would feel the same. I wanted to forget the events of that day entirely.
“Yes, but don’t worry. Kasion will track him down soon.”
The memories of Kasion’s actions today came flooding back. His vows to protect me felt especially comforting today. They warmed my heart.
Kasion really is a good person. That novel was wrong. Maybe the ending I remembered from my past life was just a mistake—probably confused with another story.
“So that’s why Kasion said he’d spend the night at my house.” I smiled softly as the realization hit.
“What? That guy said he’s staying at your house? Right after you’ve become independent?” Serhen burst out in a loud voice.
I thought Serhen had reconciled with Kasion, but it seems not. What should I do? If I tell Serhen that I like Kasion, he’ll probably be in for a big shock…
“Brother, do you still see me as a child? I’m not a delicate flower, you know?” Without thinking, I responded with a bit of sass. “I’ve just become independent, starting tonight. Whoever I invite as a guest to my house is my responsibility.”
This time, Serhen looked quite shocked. Beside him, Lireania shook her head with a smile and winked at me encouragingly.
* * *
When I returned home, I went to the room I had been staying in. This would be my first night truly living independently, and it felt strange. I was still part of the Mellin family, but it didn’t quite feel that way anymore.
Initially, I had only planned to physically move out, but my thoughts had shifted. I need to become someone my brother can trust more. So he’ll stop treating me like a child
To Serhen, I still seemed like a helpless child, which was why he was always so worried and protective. If only I were more mature and dependable, he wouldn’t have canceled his honeymoon today. I felt a bit guilty. So, I decided to make sure everything was perfectly prepared for their first night together before I left.
“Selvia, the bathwater is too hot. They’ll both use it and if it’s this hot, they’ll get exhausted too quickly.”
This book may not be useful anymore, but it still has plenty of practical information. Especially when it came to tips for a romantic night—things both passionate and experimental. Since Serhen didn’t know about this, I had to set the stage for him.
“I-I’m sorry!” Selvia apologized, her apron bulging as usual.
What does she carry in there? I wondered as I gave her a curious look. She panicked under my gaze, clearly flustered.
“Uaah, I’m sorry!” she exclaimed again, having spilled some scented oil—on her apron, not the bathtub.
“Selvia, what’s wrong? Why are you so distracted?”
Her face twisted in frustration as if something was bothering her.
“Is it because you don’t want to move next door with me?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Sigh, it’s fine. Just go change your clothes.”
“Thank you.” Selvia turned and hurried out of the bathroom, sticking her hands into the pockets of her apron as she left.
Suspicious.
“Ariel, you… what are you doing?” Serhen asked as he entered the newlyweds’ room with Lireania, who had let down her elaborately styled hair. They had returned after handling the matters related to their canceled honeymoon.
“Hohoho, if everything’s ready, you two can come out now. Brother, Lady Lireania, have a wonderful time. Be sure to bathe together, and don’t worry about the third floor; it’s completely empty tonight.”
It was my final wedding gift to them.
* * *
On my way to the neighboring house, the butler followed me briefly. He draped a shawl over my shoulders and updated me on the security arrangements for both the marquisate and my home. He also mentioned that Kasion and the priest would be visiting soon.
“Good. Have the maids’ belongings all been moved?”
“Yes, except for Selvia’s. Hers is almost done.”
So she really doesn’t want to move?
“She doesn’t want to move?”
“It’s not that. She just has a lot of luggage. The box was heavy for its size, yet she refused help. Plus, a guest came to see her, which delayed things.”
“A guest? At this hour?”
“Yes, they brought her a gift. She seemed very happy.”
That’s suspicious. I’ve developed a good instinct for this, especially after being betrayed once by a maid. I’m overly sensitive to this kind of thing now.
“Where is she?”
“She went to change clothes after saying her apron was dirty.”
See? She only needed to change the apron, but she made a point of changing her whole outfit.
I decided to investigate Selvia’s secret and headed to her room. Sure enough, she was up to something. Why would she leave the door wide open if she was changing? I slipped into the room without a sound.
“Selvia, what are you up to…”
Both of us froze at the same time. She was busy wiping something. It was a red leather-bound book with a title embossed in gold.
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