Episode 28: The Marriage Proposal Letter (3)
The gray eyes that stared at me were quite sharp, filled with concern. However, the issue lay with the owner of that gaze, Daniel Bohan.
Why are you making that expression?
▶ It’s none of your concern.
▶ Curious about who hit me?
Two options popped up. I shrugged my shoulders.
‘Why would I tell Daniel who hit me?’
There was a lot of time between Daniel and me.
I wonder if he knew that Sienna was being abused by the Emperor.
‘And he’s not someone to rely on. Just like this person, he tried to press me with strength.’
I chose the second option.
“It’s none of your concern.”
“What is that supposed to mean!”
As I turned my head around to say it coolly, Daniel flared up again, raising his voice. When I opened my eyes wide and stared at him, Daniel frowned and bit his lips. Then, in a grumbling voice, he replied,
“…I am your fiancé. Who else should be concerned but me?”
I stared in surprise at Daniel’s mild response.
‘Is he for real?’
The Daniel I knew wouldn’t respond so affectionately.
‘He says he’s concerned because he’s my fiancé. But why is he suddenly showing this level of interest when he hadn’t for years?’
I raised my eyebrows while looking at him. The only explanation that came to mind was,
‘Maybe he regrets it now that I’m about to break off the engagement.’
It was possible. Julius said that the engagement was achieved because Sienna wanted it desperately, but there had to be benefits for Bohan’s side for the engagement to go through.
‘Since he’s at a loss, he’s pretending to be sweet.’
I thought it could be. So I considered that he might regret it now that I was about to break off the engagement. While keeping my guard up, I suddenly had an option.
▶ I want to talk to you.
▶ My throat is dry
‘I don’t want to talk.’
So the only choice was the second one. I lifted my chin, speaking arrogantly.
“My throat is dry.”
As I tried to get up from my seat, a large hand lightly pressed my shoulder, urging me to sit back down. I frowned, wondering what this was about, and raised my head. Without making eye contact, Daniel spoke.
“… Please don’t get up. I will get it.”
“What?”
“Daniel Bohan is getting me water?”
I couldn’t believe it, so I questioned it. Daniel didn’t respond as if it was empty talk, he just turned around swiftly and left.
I blinked and watched Daniel disappear. I couldn’t comprehend why he would go to such lengths to come and serve me.
I thought maybe he regretted it now that I was about to break off the engagement. Julius said the engagement happened because Sienna wanted it so desperately, but it must have had benefits for Bohan’s side as well for the engagement to proceed.
“Anyway, it’s embarrassing! I should have told him not to do that.”
I got up from my seat and headed in the direction where Daniel had disappeared.
* * *
Walking away from Sienna, Daniel bit his lip. It was awkward to show this expression. It was fortunate that he could claim that he was thirsty.
‘Surely it’s a handprint.’
A small and pale face displayed a vivid red handprint. It was a handprint from an adult, much larger than Sienna’s hand.
‘Who would dare to slap the cheek of a princess of a country?’
Even if it wasn’t said, there was only one person who would dare to do it.
When Daniel, who couldn’t control his anger, stopped in his tracks, a soft voice echoed in his ear.
“Young Master.”
“…Beth?”
Daniel doubted his own ears because it was a voice that should never have been heard within the palace. However, the voice that was as soothing as a silk thread was undoubtedly Beth’s.
Meeting a woman who smiled naturally in an impossible place made him feel uncomfortable without realizing it. Daniel didn’t hide his guard and asked Beth.
“Why are you here?”
“Marquis Bohan left an important document behind, so I came to deliver it.”
Beth replied with a smile. Although her tone was somewhat unnatural, it didn’t feel out of place at all. Daniel tried to regain his composure and asked with a cold voice.
“I’ve mentioned this before, but this doesn’t seem to be the work of a governess, right?”
“Is it a problem that I’m working hard?”
“That’s… no, it’s not.”
He had intended to reprimand her, but he held his tongue. The reason he was inside the imperial palace right now was because of his father.
‘Is Father seriously thinking about making this woman his second wife?’
If that was the case, it made sense. He could easily picture his father wanting to spend some time with Beth and showing off the palace, which was characteristic of a man showing off in front of his newly arrived lover.
It was precisely at that moment that Daniel was trying to guess his father’s thoughts.
“Just a moment, Master.”
Beth came lightly as a feather. Her thin fingers brushed against Daniel’s throat.
“Your tie is crooked.”
Daniel frowned. He wanted to step back, but Beth’s hands were holding onto his tie, preventing him from doing so.
‘She’s doing it again.’
Daniel stared down at Beth’s rich golden hair that gleamed like honey. She was a woman who could understand the late surge in his father’s heart, a beauty that had no scars and was as gentle and lovely as an angel.
However, Daniel felt uneasy.
‘Why does she approach others so fearlessly?’
Having close proximity with someone you’re fond of makes your heart flutter, but when it’s someone you’re not interested in, it’s nothing but discomfort.
Feeling that looking down at Beth’s face like this was strange, Daniel suddenly turned his head.
At the end of his gaze were green eyes that were staring at him without a word.
“Sienna.”
Sienna, who had been looking at him with a strange expression, turned her body around as if announcing something. It was clear that she had misunderstood the situation between Beth and Daniel.
Thinking about Sienna made Daniel’s mood sink again. Just then, Beth’s finger dropped from his tie. With a cold tone, Daniel said to Beth.
“Please never approach me so closely in the future.”
“I only fixed your tie.”
“But I don’t want any misunderstandings.”
“Whose misunderstandings are you talking about?”
In response to Beth’s question, Daniel answered with a stiff tone as if to say, “What are you talking about?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be my stepmother?”
However, Beth’s answer was unexpected. She raised her head confidently and said calmly.
“Marquis Bohan and I don’t have that kind of relationship.”
A woman who seemed to have no determination in her eyes suddenly, without warning, approached Daniel again. Her fingertips brushed against him, as if they were going to reach his chest. It felt odd.
“In fact…”
“I told you not to come so close.”
Daniel stepped back firmly. He drew a clear line between Beth and himself.
“Then please give my regards to your father and tell him to return after delivering the documents.”
* * *
Stomping my way towards my palace, I silently cursed Daniel.
‘As expected, he’s a playboy.’
He had been acting all affectionate towards me, but now he was cozying up to Beth.
‘He was good at planting flags. I’m disappointed.’
As I thought this, I kicked a small pebble, and my eyes widened. I realized the contradiction in my words.
‘Disappointed? What is there for me to be disappointed about? He’s just doing what a male lead should do.’
If I were disappointed in Daniel, it would be because I was treating him as my fiancé. But such a relationship couldn’t exist between us.
From the beginning, Daniel existed for the female lead, Beth.
‘Am I just a character in the story, not a part of this world?’
Lost in my complex thoughts, I reached my palace. I entered my room without any hesitation and told the maids who followed me.
“I want to be alone. Leave me.”
“Understood.”
They didn’t respond to my words, regardless of what I said, but right now, they acted with the dignity of maids. I felt an odd discomfort due to their changed attitude and bit my lip.
A young maid approached me.
“Uh, Your Highness.”
I turned to her with a cold look and said, “I said I want to be alone.”
“Well, it’s just that you might want to read this letter first.”
“What is it?”
The maid hesitated, then continued speaking, seemingly persistent, and it was due to the sender of the letter. It was sealed with the Duke Stuart’s stamp. Percy sent it.
‘A letter from Percy.’
Sending a letter was a gesture that didn’t seem to fit Percy at all. I opened the letter immediately after receiving it. The letter was very brief.
“Do you want to see me?”
Not “I miss you,” just “Do you want to see me.” I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“What an amusing person, really.”
I was astonished, but the anxiety that had filled my heart had somehow disappeared.
