IYWHM Chapter 14

“What? Is that really true?”

Even Kisa, who had lived under the same roof for a lifetime, could count on one hand the times she’d seen the Count so shocked.

“Could there have been some mistake?”

The secretary jumped at his employer’s question.

“It’s true! I confirmed it with my own eyes and read it over several times!”

“This makes no sense. Kisa is already……”

The Count suddenly stopped speaking, looked at his daughter, and furrowed his brow.

“Kisa, you may leave now.”

“What?”

“Go and attend to your duties.”

“But Father, you just-”

“I said leave.”

With such a stern and resolute tone that brooked no objection, Kisa had no choice but to exit the Count’s office.

“What could this be about……”

It was difficult to guess why her father’s attitude had changed so suddenly. What news had the secretary brought?

Given that the Count had inadvertently mentioned Kisa’s name, it clearly had something to do with her, but she couldn’t think of anything.

“Well, if it really concerns me, I suppose I’ll find out eventually.”

At least for now, she wouldn’t have to send unwanted replies to Melissa. Taking comfort in just that fact, she returned to her room.

****

The Count burst into Kisa’s room without warning the next day, late in the morning.

Kisa, who had been playing the violin to soothe her gloomy mood, was startled to receive her father.

“Father? What brings you here?”

It was a surprising visit, as the Count usually summoned his daughter to wherever he was when he had business with her. His scrutinizing gaze carried an unsettling air.

“I heard you went to the Opera House a few days ago.”

The Count began the conversation with an unexpected opening. No matter how strict he was, he wouldn’t rebuke her just for enjoying opera like many nobles did. Could he perhaps have caught wind of something about the source of the tickets?

If the Count were to learn that his daughter had met with a strange man twice at the Royal Library and received opera tickets from him as a gift, he certainly wouldn’t remain quiet about it.

Not wanting to cause any trouble for Seyard, Kisa answered carefully.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Did anything special happen there?”

She carefully searched her memories, but there wasn’t anything particularly noteworthy to report to the Count.

“No, nothing in particular.”

“So you didn’t meet Duke Hillan?”

Duke Hillan? She blinked at the unexpected name. Come to think of it, he had been at the Opera House.

“I heard that the Duke was there, but I didn’t meet him. There were too many people, so it wasn’t possible.”

The Count’s elongated eyes narrowed, as if verifying the truth of her words.

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“You’re not lying?”

“Why would I lie to you about something like this, Father?”

“……Alright. I’ll believe you for now.”

After staring at his daughter for a long while, the Count turned around. He seemed to have found nothing suspicious.

“Wait a moment, Father!”

But Kisa couldn’t let him leave like this.

“Why are you asking about this? Does it have something to do with what the secretary mentioned yesterday?”

“That’s none of your concern.”

Cutting off Kisa’s question as ruthlessly as he had arrived without warning, he left the room. Left alone, Kisa found it difficult to guess what was going on.

Why suddenly Duke Hillan? Had the Hillan family filed a complaint because she hadn’t greeted him first at the Opera House? She could only think of such absurd possibilities.

This wasn’t the only event disturbing Kisa’s peace of mind.

That same day, in the afternoon, a rather large box was delivered to the Vansfelt townhouse, and as soon as Kisa confirmed the sender’s name, her face crumpled.

“Daniel Lowens……”

Wow! The nanny, who was examining the contents of the box alongside Kisa, exclaimed.

“My goodness, what a beautiful dress!”

Inside the box was an evening dress with subtle blue tones. It came complete with matching gloves and shoes.

“Did Young Master Daniel send this? He must want to see how lovely you’ll look in it.”

Without giving any particular response, Kisa roughly tore open the envelope of Daniel’s letter that had come with the box.

“Oh my! You should use a paper knife!”

Ignoring the nanny’s scolding, she read the letter. Its contents were utterly simple.

[Dear Kisa,

The time for Count Habertz’s charity soirée has come around again this year. I’m sending these things that should suit you well, hoping you’ll wear them and show off your beautiful figure to your heart’s content.

Your loving fiancé, Daniel.

P.S. Surely you’re not still upset about that time? While that side of you is cute too, I like your smiling face the best.]

Her teeth ground together. This crazy bastard, this shameless jerk. No, “shameless” wasn’t enough. How could someone be so brazenly slick?

Count Habertz’s charity soirée required attending with a partner. And for several years now, Kisa had attended the charity soirée with Daniel. Countess Habertz was his aunt.

In other words, after ignoring his fiancée completely until now, Daniel was suddenly demanding Kisa’s presence because he needed her. As if there had never been any conflict between them.

Who did he think would come? Kisa crumpled up Daniel’s detestable letter and pointed to the box containing the dress while looking at her nanny.

“Throw this away.”

The nanny was horrified.

“No, why would you throw this away? What a waste!”

“I don’t like it.”

“Don’t like it? Miss, you’ve always liked dresses like this! Young Master Daniel chose well in sending it.”

“……I didn’t wear them because I liked them.”

She had worn them because Daniel liked them. To look good for the man she loved.

“Is that so? Well, even if that’s the case, we can’t throw away perfectly good clothes. I’ll keep it in the wardrobe, and you can try it on if you change your mind.”

With those words, the nanny left the room carrying the box in her arms. Completely ignoring her mistress’s instructions.

Right, that’s all there was to it. Though she was said to be like a mother to Kisa, the nanny was ultimately Count Vansfelt’s employee. Hired by his decision and paid by him.

Once again feeling that there was no one in this mansion who put her before the Count, Kisa slumped down on her bed. She was just tired.

…..

It was on a day when Kisa still didn’t know the contents of the news the Count’s secretary had brought, and when she couldn’t throw away the dress because the nanny had hidden it.

As she was returning to her room after finishing her walk in the garden, a carriage entered her field of vision.

A black carriage was standing in front of the main gate. Though no family crest was visible, judging by its size and luxurious appearance, it wasn’t the kind of carriage that would be used by errand runners delivering groceries and such to the house. It seemed the Count had a visitor.

There was nothing particularly strange about this, as they didn’t always inform Kisa when guests arrived.

But why? For some reason, Kisa began to feel curious about the identity of this unknown visitor.

Kisa’s feet led her toward the Count’s office, where he was probably receiving the guest. Then she ran into a man lingering in front of the office.

“Oh, Miss.”

Though it was just a brief moment, the Count’s secretary wore a startled expression upon seeing Kisa. She instinctively felt that the guest behind that door was somehow related to her.

“The Count is currently with a guest-”

“Who is it?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked who the guest is. Is it someone I know?”

“I’m sorry. For business reasons, I cannot tell you……”

Before the secretary could finish speaking, she approached the door and faint voices could be heard.

Among them, the one with the louder voice, Count Vansfelt, mentioned his daughter’s name. Saying that Kisa already had a designated match.

The other person responded something. Being calmer than the Count, it was difficult to make out the exact content.

But strangely, it seemed like a voice she had heard somewhere before.

“Miss, you’re putting me in a difficult position.”

As she pressed her ear against the door trying to concentrate, the secretary approached to stop her.

“Just wait a little.”

“Please return to your room. If you refuse, I will have to report this to the Count.”

“Are you threatening me?”

While arguing with the secretary like this, Kisa suddenly lost her balance. The door she had been leaning against opened.

Kisa let out a small “ah” and nearly fell, but fortunately didn’t collide with the floor. Thanks to the person behind the door who supported her.

A fresh citrus scent wafted from the strong arm that wrapped around Kisa’s shoulders. This too was somehow familiar.

“Oh my, are you alright?”

Kisa slowly raised her head to look at the owner of the scent. Her blue eyes trembled uncontrollably.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

The man who worried about her in an elegant voice while lowering his gaze was someone Kisa knew. Because they had met at the library not long ago.

It was Seyard. But why was this person here…….

“Kisa!”

At that moment, Count Vansfelt’s startled face appeared behind Seyard’s shoulder. He glared at her.

“Don’t tell me you were eavesdropping on our conversation?”

However, Seyard restrained the Count, who seemed about to unleash several more sharp words.

“Count, would you allow me to introduce myself to the young lady?”

“Ah, yes.”

Surprisingly, the Count’s anger quickly subsided. Seyard took the confused Kisa’s hand and lightly kissed her knuckles. It was such a fleeting touch that it barely registered.

“Pleased to meet you, Lady Vansfelt.”

The man looked at Kisa with gentle, smiling eyes.

“I am Seyard Hillan.”