Chapter 25
The butler always kept a wary eye on the master of this household, who administered severe punishments with a smiling face.
Peyton was lenient towards those who faithfully performed their duties, but merciless towards the careless. Anyone who worked in this house was accustomed to his face suddenly turning stern without warning. In his presence, everyone had to be cautious of their behavior.
The butler, who carefully masked his true feelings, echoed him without appearing to flatter.
“I’m sure His Grace will accept your proposal.”
“Naturally. When have I ever failed?”
“Never.”
Whether in business or personal matters, Peyton had never experienced failure or disappointment. Things always went according to his plans. He possessed ample ability and the environment around him supported him adequately.
Peyton was quite pleased that today’s meeting had taken the form of arranged matchmaking.
Due to his parents being abroad, he had no choice but to personally attend the negotiations for his marriage. Edith also came alone because of her circumstances, which worked out well.
“Negotiating marriage is not much different from business. It shouldn’t be difficult to welcome Edith.”
His steps towards the study to carefully examine the terms of the deal were light.
He also felt confident in his human relations skills.
In social circles, everyone admired his radiant appearance, and he did not neglect his physical appearance either. He had already received praise as the “ideal companion” that everyone talked about.
A man worthy of such a title could only be himself.
As he passed a mirror with brisk steps, he noticed every detail of his features. He seemed to have no shortcomings when it came to winning over Edith.
Running his fingers over his smooth jaw, Peyton scored himself a passing grade.
***
“So…,” Clyde, with eyes like axes, stared at her as if he could tear her apart.
“After sending you home to rest, did you engage in secret consultations during that time?”
Under his fierce demeanor, Edith flinched. His once relaxed shoulders now seemed as tense as cushions.
His fingers tapping on the desk made an annoying, repetitive sound. With each rhythmic beat, it seemed like Clyde’s blood pressure was rising.
His nails suddenly scratched the desk.
“I’m asking you. Did you have secret consultations?”
“Yes? Y-yes…”
Edith couldn’t understand what she had done wrong.
With a scolding look on her face, she stood meekly across Clyde’s desk.
Summoned straight to the office as soon as she arrived at work. He knew about Edith’s secret consultations. The rumors had spread fast through some well-informed individuals.
Under Clyde’s boiling rage, Edith felt her courage wane. She had to spill everything about her private marriage talks as if reporting on official business.
The excuse seemed plausible. As a key aide, she had to share both work and non-work-related matters with Clyde.
But wasn’t he behaving too much like an overly jealous boyfriend?
“Peyton from the Graves family, right? What did you discuss with him?”
His words seemed familiar, like something seen in a drama, movie, or novel. It was the typical line of a jealous man.
Should she just pretend she didn’t hear? But lately, Clyde’s attitude seemed off. It felt like the switch of his obsession had turned toward her.
She had been feeling this way for a while. Clyde’s attitude towards her seemed ambiguous and duplicitous.
However, she recalled him asking if she liked him before, and his response that he wouldn’t propose as a prince consort. Was she seen as a convenient subordinate or a fun target for teasing? She tried to attach reasons other than affection.
But today, it was clear that he had crossed the line. Honestly, Clyde often crossed the line.
This won’t do. I need to confirm again.
With determination, Edith cleared her dry throat.
“Your Grace, do you… have an interest in my marriage?”
Rather than directly mentioning emotions, she tried to express it differently.
“Of course, I’m interested.””
He tried to brush it off casually.
His chic yet quick response implied that as her immediate superior, he needed to know about his subordinate’s marriage.
It wasn’t a glance, nor was it a joke. Why was Clyde behaving so awkwardly? It seemed like she needed to firmly establish his unknown obsession.
For a moment, she tried to carefully choose her words. However, no matter how she asked, if he decided to dodge the question, there was no solution.
Uncomfortable relationships only make things awkward for both parties.
Deciding to firmly set things straight between them, she finally got to the point.
“It’s not just interest; I was wondering if Your Grace might consider taking the oath of matrimony with me.”
Such a question might be interpreted as overly forward.
It couldn’t be helped. Clyde was trying to evade the topic.
Still, she didn’t expect a response like “How dare you” or “Seriously.” They had been through enough together not to squabble like children anymore.
As they faced each other, beads of sweat formed on her hands neatly clasped in front of her dress.
Only after the words spilled out did she realize how nervous she was.
Clyde’s handsome face, usually like a piece of art, now froze like a rock. Even his fidgeting fingers and wrists stopped moving. He, who was already uncomfortable, became completely serious.
His piercing gaze was as cold as midwinter. It was hard to tell if it was discomfort at being grilled by a subordinate or if the volcano of jealousy was about to erupt, just from his outward expression.
He changed his tone and address with severity.
“Miss Ketzmoreys.”
His low, stern voice betrayed his turtle-like emotions.
It seemed like he hadn’t been addressed by his surname since the day they first met. It was somewhat eerie. With renewed awareness of the distance between her and Clyde, Edith stood up straight, feeling her spine stiffen.
“Yes? Uh… Your Grace, please speak.”
He slowly opened his mouth like a slumbering beast.
Unexpectedly, he began to speak with dignity, unlike the playful Clyde she knew.
“One cannot lightly discuss a marriage proposal from the royal family. If I were to accept someone, they would need to be not only vital to the royal family but also the most precious and only person to me.”
His words were true, and she knew it.
However, when conveyed through Clyde’s mouth, their weight felt heavier.
“I apologize.”
“A marriage proposal from Prince Clyde is something one cannot escape from, even if it means death. Whether you like it or not, even if it fills you with disgust, you must become the princess consort.”
The feeling of playing games of courtship vanished as she listened. She had to keep her head bowed as if she were a dumbfounded servant.
Once the prince mentioned marriage, there was no turning back. Rejection was not an option because it meant ascending to the position of princess consort at the Emperor’s will.
If she really wanted to refuse marriage, her only option would be to flee. She would have to hide her identity in some remote corner for the rest of her life.
It would be difficult to escape when caught. As a fugitive, she would be pushed to the brink until the end.
Clyde’s heartfelt words were tinged with sorrow.
“Wanting to welcome someone I love as my wife while holding the throne… it might be my foolish desire. But I don’t want to live with someone I despise, even if it means living with someone who at least makes me tremble with hatred.”
This, too, was entirely possible.
Historically, even emperors who got along well with their empresses were few. There were many couples who sat side by side only on official occasions, and even those were exceptions to the rule.
“I didn’t understand Your Grace’s deep intentions.”
She couldn’t help but feel subtly apologetic.
He let out a faint sigh.
“No. Edith, you might think that way. Just remember that my situation isn’t as easy as it seems.”
By reverting to calling her Edith instead of Ketzmoreys, he had finished the difficult conversation. As he stood up and looked out the window to calm his heart, his inner turmoil became apparent.
While Clyde was lost in thought, Edith also reflected on what she had heard.
Currently, there was no one in the running as a candidate for Princess Consort. Rumors suggested that the prince was so indifferent to love that he might not even care about his partner’s feelings. If it were truly due to his lack of interest, she could consider searching for a partner based on conditions alone.
But now she understood why he wasn’t rushing into marriage despite pressure from those around him. Clyde was looking for someone to share his heart with.
“Could it be… that the things that happened between us were for the same reason?”
Until she opened her heart first, she had to consider Clyde’s actions as understandable circumstances.
As she looked at his back, sitting still with a bitter expression, Edith imagined scenarios she couldn’t believe herself.
Despite the potential for misunderstandings, could he have seen through her true feelings?
Of course, it was all baseless speculation.
Clyde might simply enjoy teasing her. He might find it amusing to stay in the same room until late at night.
Even if he didn’t like her, he could still act as if he did.
With a feeling of stepping back, she whispered to herself.
“I hope Clyde finds the companion he desires.”
“Whether I have found it or not, I’m not sure yet.”
Turning halfway back, he looked at Edith with a heavy gaze.
“I seem to be lacking in some way. Since no one seems willing to catch me so easily.”
He didn’t reveal whom he was referring to.
His inner turmoil, glimpsed for a moment, remained as ambiguous as ever. He didn’t even reveal the identity of the person he wanted. It was difficult to guess just by his recent actions of being friendly with Edith.
He seemed to be pondering more deeply than what was visible on the surface.
