ITBFL | Chapter 19

Episode 19

The living room of the Count of Artiel’s estate.

I was seated across from my uncle and the Duke of Balteire.

The duke, after sipping the tea from a porcelain cup, placed it down with a slow, deliberate motion.

“Let’s keep this brief. I don’t have much time.”

His deep, imposing voice struck the room like a gavel.

Uncomfortable in the formal dress I hadn’t worn in ages, I resisted the urge to fidget and focused on the duke.

‘I’ve seen him during academy days and royal events, but… this is the first time we’ve talked formally.’

Now that I was sitting across from him, I could see the resemblance to Cassium.

It hit me then: this was truly about a marriage proposal.

But the person in question was nowhere to be seen.

“Of course. Just having you here has already taken up so much of your time,” my uncle said, trying to appear as sharp as possible.

“By the way, have the daisies at your estate bloomed? I’ve heard they flourish this time of year.”

“They’ve bloomed. But I doubt that topic is why we’re here.”

As their conversation dragged on, feeling heavy and frustrating, the duke’s gaze shifted to me.

Straightening my posture, I met his eyes.

The duke remained silent, merely staring at me intently.

I had to suppress my growing desire to speak my mind.

But even as I held my tongue, the duke continued observing me without saying a word, until I couldn’t contain myself any longer.

“Why did you propose this marriage to Artiel?”

A soft gasp escaped beside me. Turning slightly, I saw my uncle glaring at me, his eyes wide with shock.

But once I had started speaking, I couldn’t stop.

The duke, folding his arms, tilted his chin slightly as if to encourage me to continue.

With no one left to stop me, I pressed on.

“I don’t mean to demean the name of Artiel, but from the duke’s standpoint, you must have many other options.”

“Is that what you think?”

“I doubt there’s anyone in the empire who doesn’t think so—unless you’re the exception, Your Grace.”

“I see. Anything else you’re curious about?”

I hadn’t received an answer to my first question, but I pushed forward with what was on my mind.

“Which of your two sons is this proposal for?”

“A crucial question.”

“Yes.”

“Well then…”

The duke unfolded his arms.

“What kind of relationship do you have with Cassium?”

Rather than answering, the duke countered with a question of his own.

“Couldn’t be better!”

The one who answered wasn’t me but my uncle.

“Is that so?”

No… it’s not good at all…

Just as my uncle was about to speak on my behalf again, he caught the duke’s gaze and leaned over to whisper to me.

“Just say it’s good.”

“Honestly, it’s not that good.”

I had intended to think carefully before responding, but the truth spilled out before I could stop it.

The duke’s eyebrows twitched slightly, while my uncle’s moved dramatically.

But I hadn’t lied.

If the duke’s question about my relationship with Cassium was a way to judge this marriage, perhaps he had expected a positive answer.

Given how long Cassium and I had known each other, it would make sense for him to assume as much.

But if that was the basis of his proposal, silence would have been tantamount to dishonesty.

“So, your relationship isn’t good?”

“If you’re asking for honesty, then yes.”

I couldn’t deny that I had just made the atmosphere even more awkward, but there was no taking back what I had said.

Watching carefully to see if the duke’s eyebrows would rise further, I continued.

“That’s why I don’t understand why you’re proposing this marriage to me. I doubt Cassium has spoken positively of me either.”

“Marriage isn’t a matter of individuals; it’s about families. It can’t be dictated by personal preferences.”

“Yet you asked about my relationship with Sir Cassium. Weren’t you considering his preferences?”

The duke shrugged and asked again.

“Are you certain your relationship isn’t good?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

“Pardon?”

The duke stood up, smiling faintly.

“I’ll await your reply regarding the proposal.”

His footsteps echoed as he left the drawing room.

“I’ll escort you to the door,” my uncle offered.

“No need.”

Despite my uncle hastily rising to follow him, the duke dismissed him with a slow wave of his hand and left at his own pace.

‘He thinks it’s good that we don’t get along… What could that mean?’

My uncle clicked his tongue and turned back after being denied the chance to escort him.

“That arrogant duke. This is why too much privilege from birth spoils people. Self-made success is better. Lize, I’ll fetch the reply form. Sign it immediately.”

“Wait a moment.”

“Lize! Where are you going, Lize?”

Ignoring my uncle’s shouts, I hurriedly followed the duke.

“Your Grace!”

The duke stopped in his tracks.

He turned to face me.

“Are you here to give your answer already?”

“I have a question for you.”

The duke gestured for me to speak.

Standing before someone with the highest title in the empire, I felt the need to carefully veil my intentions.

But I wasn’t skilled enough to pull that off, so I cut straight to the point.

“What did you mean earlier?”

“What do you mean?”

“When you said it’s good—that Sir Cassium and I don’t get along.”

“I want my son to marry the person he dislikes the most.”

“Why…?”

“I think I’ve said enough. I’m under no obligation to explain further.”

The duke smiled faintly and turned away again. I stood there, slightly stunned, watching his figure disappear around the corner.

“Lize! How dare you behave so rudely!”

My uncle, who had hurried after me, scolded harshly.

“Never mind that. Just sign this document immediately—”

“Let me think about it for a day.”

“What’s there to think about?”

“It’s my marriage.”

At my words, my uncle let out a dry laugh.

“Even without your consent, I can proceed with the marriage if I decide to.”

“…”

He spoke with a tone of intimidation.

I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. That was how the law worked.

Even without my signature, the process would only become slightly more complicated. My uncle, as the head of the family, could proceed with the marriage proposal if he wished.

I let out a sharp breath and turned to face him, stopping him in his tracks.

Then I snatched the proposal document from his hands.

“What do you think you’re doing—?!”

“Didn’t Mars say he wanted to apply to join the imperial knights? To do that, he’ll need a recommendation letter from a current imperial knight.”

“You refused to write one no matter how much I asked, so why bring this up now?”

“I’ll write it for him. But only if you give me the right to decide on this marriage proposal.”

Compared to what he had just done to me, this was a small threat. But it wasn’t like I couldn’t push back a little.

The frown on my uncle’s face quickly turned into a broad smile. I could see him calculating.

“Fine, deal.”

He answered far too readily.

He must have thought there was no way I’d reject the proposal—it was a marriage offer from a ducal family, after all.

Of course, I’d think it over too, but… I needed to set some safeguards in place.

“I’ll write the recommendation letter in three days.”

“Three days? Why delay it? What if the application period ends by then?”

“If I write it today, you might take the letter and go back on your word about letting me decide on the marriage proposal.”

“W-what kind of person do you take me for?!”

“And besides, the application deadline isn’t that close. If they end it early, wouldn’t the empire’s citizens criticize them for it?”

My uncle pursed his lips, clearly thinking it over again.

“Fine.”

He finally nodded, though his face showed he wasn’t happy about it.

“Ugh, I’m drained.”

I shuffled toward my room, feeling half like a zombie.

It wasn’t even a long conversation, yet it had completely sapped my energy.

“Beep!”

Before I could reach the door, it swung open, and the golden bunny darted out.

The smart little creature, who had now mastered the art of opening doors, greeted me enthusiastically, and somehow, my fatigue began to lift.

“Golden bunny!”

I picked up the golden bunny, rubbing my face against its soft fur. It froze for a moment before gently pushing me away.

Its golden eyes studied me carefully.

“When Bryce gets back later, shall we go out for a stroll? The meeting ended sooner than expected, so I might have time.”

“Beep.”

I carried the golden bunny into the room.

It tapped my face gently with its fluffy paw.

Looking in the mirror, I realized… I really did look exhausted.

“Hmm.”

I set the bunny down on the bed.

“Golden bunny, to be honest…”

I lay down beside it, turning to face it.

“My uncle says I have to get married.”

The bunny’s round eyes grew even larger, and its ears perked up sharply.

“…Beep?”

Its mouth opened and closed a few times in shock before it managed to let out a single, soft biiip.

“Is it that shocking?”

I lightly tapped its nose with my finger.

Usually, it would have flinched, but this time it simply blinked and continued to stare at me.

“I really don’t want an arranged marriage.”

Hearing my words, the bunny clenched its little paw into a tiny fist.

Was it… getting angry on my behalf?

Feeling touched, I patted the soft fur on its tiny paw and continued.

“The match is with Cassium, from the Duke of Balteire’s household. You know, that guy from our knights’ division.”

The bunny’s tense little fist seemed to relax.

Oddly enough, it looked… pleased.

“I’d rather marry a monster than marry that guy.”

Now the rabbit looked sullen.

“…?”

Really, I could never figure this rabbit out.