Chapter 22
The inexperienced servant scratched the back of his head nervously. Since they couldn’t afford a steward, the servant had to take on that role.
“Well, you see, he said he came from a certain family with a long name and asked me to deliver this to the master.”
“Was there anything else he mentioned?”
With limited education and knowledge of letters, communication with the servant wasn’t very smooth.
“Yes? Yes. He said he would wait for a response.”
“What does that mean?”
The servant scratched his head again. Edith couldn’t help but think that they should hire a steward as soon as they received their first salary in the palace.
Edith pushed the servant aside and checked the envelope’s surface.
“Black Ivy Manor of Peyton Graves.”
What? Peyton?
Edith doubted her own eyes.
If it was Peyton, he was a sub-character and antagonist in the original work. He stood in opposition to Clyde, displaying exceptional intellect and resourcefulness. But like most novels, the sub-character’s misfortunes were inherent. The good things were attributed to the main character, Clyde, while the shortcomings were often attributed to the sub-character.
According to the introduction, he would later engage in all sorts of schemes and plots, but the part Edith read didn’t mention that.
Why would this man send me a letter? And in such an extravagant envelope.
“With warm regards to the esteemed Lord Ketsumoris.”
Isn’t the greeting excessively formal? This phrase is usually used in situations that require extreme politeness. It wouldn’t be used for a simple party invitation.
Below, a long and polite letter continued. Skimming over the irrelevant parts, Edith’s expression began to show astonishment as she reached the main content.
“The Ketsumoris and our Graves family have maintained a long-standing friendship. I would like to further this relationship and form a hundred-year bond.”
A hundred-year bond? Could it be…
“Lord Ketsumoris, I am not sure how you regard me, but I have held you in high esteem for a long time. If you would be gracious enough to give me the opportunity, I humbly request a meeting.”
“Huh?”
She blurted out foolishly to no one.
So it’s a proposal. From the extravagant outer envelope to the letter’s flowery language, it was all to convey a marriage proposal.
The sub-character Peyton unexpectedly inserted a marriage proposal to Edith.
Why on earth?
In the original work, Peyton proposed a strategic marriage to Adrian, not Edith. The intention was to combine Adrian’s family, which held promising prospects in the commercial industry, with Peyton’s family, which was pioneering across the sea on a distant continent.
From the perspective of someone involved in business, it was a very reasonable choice. The manner in which the marriage proposal was conveyed was also appropriate. Although Peyton was introduced as an antagonist in the story summary, up to the point Edith had read, there wasn’t anything particularly despicable about him. Perhaps the first part of the story was kept intact to later reveal his deviousness and malice.
Edith pondered while tracing the glittering edges of the envelope with her finger.
“Why would a letter intended for Adrian come to me? What influence could I have had on Peyton? Could it be that I inherited the title?”
If one only considers pure strategic choices, Edith would indeed be a suitable candidate as Peyton’s spouse. Firstly, there was the advantage of being from the same aristocratic family. In this empire, aristocratic families were few, and among them, those eligible for marriage were even fewer, even when including potential heirs. It was only natural for any household to aspire to be matched with families of similar status.
Secondly, Edith was not just an aristocrat by virtue of marriage; she held the title directly.
“Why would Peyton approach me like this out of nowhere? Could it be because of the title?”
While business was important, in this world, honor held even greater significance. Peyton might have a desire to welcome an aristocratic spouse, and given Edith’s current status, she might be even more desirable.
But did Peyton truly understand how much debt she was under? He probably couldn’t estimate the exact amount. Perhaps he simply wanted to inquire about it first before proceeding with the proposal.
Edith entertained a thought: what if her deviation from the original Edith’s actions was the reason Peyton chose her as his prospective spouse?
“Would it be acceptable for me to change this much? The original and reality are too different.”
The extent of the change was bewildering. A butterfly’s flapping wings in Brazil caused a hurricane in Texas. The differences between the novel and reality began small. If the original Edith had been the one to give up her title to her father, she might have been more likely to receive Peyton’s proposal due to her original disposition.
Then what about Clyde or Adrian? Did I also influence them? Was the encounter in the labyrinth garden already different before arranging the meeting? It’s suspicious how Clyde seems to enjoy choosing me.
Adrian’s attempt to approach her during their academy days was also questionable.
As overwhelming realizations flooded her mind like a burst dam, Edith realized that changes had always existed, and she might have spent the past four years in this world unaware.
Edith’s aspirations of retiring from court life and living a leisurely life on her own terms seemed too simplistic. The world wasn’t unfolding as she hoped it would.
Frantically running her fingers through her hair, she thought, “No, it’s not wise to make rash judgments based on just one marriage proposal.”
Struggling against the swamp she couldn’t escape, she forced herself to think positively. Perhaps this letter was just a mundane occurrence in the life of an ordinary person. In any novel, it’s impossible to narrate the life stories of all characters.
It was now two years before the original story began. What if Peyton had brought up the marriage proposal to Edith’s household at this time and then withdrew it? Later, he might have pursued Adrian and plotted various schemes against her. Then it would make sense.
Edith gazed out at her tangled garden, contemplating how to handle the situation. The marriage issue was now at a critical point. But receiving just one letter wasn’t a point of no return. There could be a way to engage with Peyton and then turn him away.
“No, that won’t do. Showing just enough disdain is better.”
She pondered various possibilities, but accepting the marriage proposal was not among them. Regardless of how the original story unfolded or how the latter part progressed, Edith couldn’t imagine marrying Peyton, even if he didn’t turn out to be a villain. The idea of marrying a man she hadn’t even met was utterly repulsive.
Although traditionally, such negotiations would involve parents and other adults, Edith had to handle it herself due to the specific conditions of the marriage. Her mother was too far away, and her father, whom she rarely saw, was a gambler.
The fact that she held the title herself became a justification for attending the meeting. Despite her family’s near-bankruptcy, a duke was still a duke.
The meeting place was Peyton’s mansion, not far from her own home. In the Ragrand Empire, a few noble families were commonly referred to as the “pillars of the land.” Edith’s neighborhood, where she lived, was known as Pillar Hill, where aristocrats gathered.
Peyton’s mansion was grand, boasting an illustrious history as a high-ranking noble house. Compared to Edith’s childhood affluence, Peyton’s lifestyle seemed even more extravagant.
Passing through the grand gate, adorned with several yards of width, they entered a beautifully landscaped garden. After a long carriage ride, they finally reached the mansion’s door.
Adrian’s nouveau riche lineage was wealthy, but Peyton’s household boasted an ancient lineage as grand lords. Compared to Edith’s affluent childhood, Peyton lived even more lavishly.
Passing through the massive gate that spanned several yards, a garden overflowing with artistic beauty appeared, reminiscent of a royal palace. After a long carriage ride, they finally reached the mansion’s entrance.
A butler, dressed in elegant attire, welcomed her. “Welcome, Your Grace. The master has been eagerly awaiting your arrival.”
Guided with utmost courtesy, she proceeded to a reception hall that resembled a sports field. Everything was opulent and dazzling. For a moment, a fanciful thought crossed her mind: maybe marrying Peyton wouldn’t be so bad. She could live comfortably without worrying about hardships.
Shortly after, the protagonist of the day made his entrance. His tall figure stood out from afar.
As he approached with graceful strides on stick-like legs, his dazzling golden hair seemed to almost touch the chandeliers, causing her to feel intimidated by his height.
“Peyton, I’ve been looking forward to meeting you sincerely.”
His charming demeanor, radiating warmth and charisma, approached her like a blazing flame. Was Peyton portrayed like this in the original work? Or did I just skim over it and forget?
The man exuded positive energy, warmly greeting her with a friendly smile. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
As Edith rose to respond, she felt a slight tension in her toes. The change in her mood was undoubtedly influenced by her appearance-based values.
Raised with an education no less privileged than that of a wealthy household, Peyton had a successful business career to match. In the original story, until he gradually revealed his villainous nature to Adrian, he was the empire’s most eligible bachelor.
If Edith hadn’t inherited the ducal title, she wouldn’t even dream of being on the same level as him.
“I was thrilled to receive your invitation and came gladly. I hope I didn’t rush too much?”
“Absolutely not. If you had seen me tossing and turning all night, you would have laughed.”
Mr. Graves. The words… When he flashed a smile, she wanted to burst out laughing due to the underlying circumstances.
Wow, this man is supposed to be a secondary character and a villain? No way.
He’s the strongest in the world, after all.
