She silently rolls the name he said in her mouth. Seyard Hillan, Seyard Hillan, Seyard… Hillan? The familiar first name Seyard followed by a surname that feels both familiar and foreign.
“Duke of Hillan.”
Only after Count Vansfelt spoke that title did Kisa realize it was the name of the country’s most prestigious family.
No, more than that – did Father just call Seyard the Duke of Hillan? That Duke Hillan?
When she looked at him with confusion written all over her face, Seyard gestured toward the sofa with his shoulder.
“Shall we sit down and talk first, Lady Vansfelt?”
The Count objected to that suggestion.
“There’s no need. My daughter will return to where she belongs right now.”
His glaring eyes commanded Kisa to leave. However, Seyard subtly stepped between the father and daughter, as if blocking that gaze.
“That seems a bit odd. How can we proceed with the discussion without the person concerned?”
“The person concerned……”
“Since I proposed to Lady Vansfelt, I naturally want to confirm her intentions. Now that I’ve heard your opinion sufficiently, that is.”
The Count pressed his lips tightly together. After remaining silent for a while, he finally relented.
“Kisa, sit down.”
Kisa followed her father’s direction without fully grasping the situation. Seyard is Duke Hillan? And a proposal? What is all this about?
When Kisa sat down next to the Count, Seyard, seated across from them, smiled warmly and mentioned that another cup of tea would be needed.
The Count told his secretary, who was still at the doorway, to bring tea. It was the first time she had seen her father so readily comply with someone else’s request.
While the maid who soon appeared prepared Kisa’s tea, Kisa carefully observed Seyard. There were two major differences from when she saw him at the library.
First, whereas before he wore comfortable, simple attire, now he was dressed in formal wear so traditional it might be considered old-fashioned.
Yet rather than looking stuffy, it suited him perfectly. She had thought from their first meeting that he had an old-world charm about his features, and his clothing created a subtle harmony with that.
Second, his bangs, which had been naturally styled before, were now neatly arranged, highlighting his clear forehead. Compared to before when he looked like a freshman university student, he now appeared quite mature.
Since she had heard that the current Duke of Hillan was a twin of the previous one, he now finally looked his actual age.
‘……So Seyard really was the Duke of Hillan.’
Looking at him now, she could see it. He was identical to his brother, as rumored. Though his aura was completely different from the man who had remained expressionless even beside his fiancée, the princess, their appearances were very similar.
Why had she only realized this now, how foolish of me. It was amazing how different someone could appear just from their behavior, dress, and expressions.
Even now, it was hard to believe that Seyard, smiling warmly at Kisa, was born on the same day as that man who had been as dry as a desert.
“I feel a bit shy when you stare so intently.”
At Seyard’s sudden comment, Kisa realized a beat late that he was speaking to her.
“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude.”
When Kisa hurriedly apologized, he waved his hand dismissively.
“No, no. I wasn’t trying to scold you. It’s an honor to be looked at by such a beauty. Count Vansfelt must be pleased too, having such a proud daughter.”
The Count acknowledged Seyard’s playful remark with slight displeasure.
“Yes, well, I suppose so.”
Something felt off. Had he always used such a frivolous tone? The Seyard that Kisa knew was refreshing but never light.
“So, about that matter.”
However, contrary to Kisa’s belief, Seyard crossed his long legs and leaned against the armrest, resting his chin on his hand. It was a somewhat improper posture.
“Lady Vansfelt, or rather, since we’ve been introduced, I’d like to call you Miss Kisa. It feels more familiar that way.”
Introduced? Strictly speaking, they hadn’t been. While Seyard had revealed who he was, Kisa hadn’t.
“Is that alright? Good, Miss Kisa……”
The man who changed her form of address before getting permission sent her an expectant look.
“What do you think of me? Would you be willing to accept my proposal?”
“Pardon? Proposal?”
Right. She had momentarily forgotten about it, being so shocked that Seyard was Duke Hillan, but he had clearly mentioned proposing to her earlier.
His proposal reminded her first of the contract marriage suggestion he had made in the Royal Library’s garden, but from the looks of it, that wasn’t what he meant now. Currently, Seyard was pretending to meet Kisa for the first time, mindful of the Count’s presence.
“Well, that is, I……”
“I haven’t told my daughter about it.”
When Kisa was at a loss for words, the Count intervened. Seyard put on an exaggeratedly surprised expression.
“You haven’t even told her? That’s too much. I even went to the trouble of sending a proposal letter.”
This was the first time she’d heard about a proposal letter. She looked at the Count with eyes demanding an explanation, but he didn’t even glance at her.
“There was a problem with that proposal letter from the start, Duke.”
“Was there? I followed all the proper formats.”
“It’s not about the format. Usually, a proposal letter is sent after there has been some exchange between both parties, but to just send a proposal letter out of nowhere-”
“Ah, then we can have that exchange now. That conversation between both parties.”
The Count’s brow furrowed when his words were cut off, but Seyard paid no mind and shifted his gaze to Kisa.
“Miss Kisa. A few days ago, when I saw you at the Opera House, it was love at first sight. So, would you marry me?”
Kisa instinctively drew in a breath. Though she knew it wasn’t sincere, his expression and voice while proposing were incredibly sweet.
She forced herself to stay focused. It seemed he was going with the setting that he first saw Kisa at the Opera House. The outline of his script was becoming clear.
‘I thought he had given up that day, but apparently not.’
It seemed the contract marriage proposal Seyard had made in the library garden was still valid. Looking back, she didn’t think he had actually said he was withdrawing the proposal at the time.
Her hands gripped her skirt tightly. This was an opportunity. A perfect opportunity to break off her engagement with Daniel. And a miraculous opportunity that might never come again.
Just then, the Count brought up that very issue.
“Duke Hillan, as I’ve told you several times, my daughter already has a fiancé.”
“If marriages can be broken, there’s no reason engagements can’t be.”
“……That’s quite an extreme statement. Matters related to marriage should be decided within the family.”
“I’m not trying to force anything. I’m asking for Miss Kisa’s opinion even at this moment.”
“There’s no need to ask. Kisa-”
“I accept.”
Both men’s gazes turned to her. Kisa tried to speak as clearly as possible. To convey her own will, and no one else’s.
“Duke Hillan, I accept your proposal.”
The Count’s face instantly contorted while, in contrast, Seyard wore a beautiful smile.
“Kisa! What nonsense are you speaking?”
“I said I’ll marry the Duke, Father.”
“What about Daniel?”
“Obviously, we’ll have to break off the engagement. What else can we do when I’m going to marry someone else?”
“You… are you in your right mind?”
Since the Count was treating her like someone who had lost their mind, Kisa decided to act as if she really had.
“I’m sorry. But I really want to marry him. I must marry him no matter what.”
“Why?”
“Because I just fell in love at first sight.”
While the Count struggled to respond to this outrageous reason, Kisa glanced across at the opposite seat, hoping Seyard would play along appropriately.
‘Huh?’
But he just blinked quietly. His perfectly composed face showed clear bewilderment.
Just as Kisa was wondering if she had said something too strange, Seyard suddenly stood up. Then he quickly walked over and took both of Kisa’s hands in his.
“It’s an honor, Miss Kisa. I swear. You will never regret this day’s choice.”
No matter how many times she saw it, his acting was as convincing as any theater performer’s.
“You go out now.”
Having finally come to his senses, Count Vansfelt drove Kisa out of the study. Though she wanted to stay longer, it seemed inappropriate to insist when the heads of households needed to talk.
Since Seyard didn’t try to keep her either, Kisa withdrew obediently.
But she couldn’t help being concerned about their conversation. She was dying to know how the Count would react. It would be troublesome if he insisted until the end that breaking off the engagement wasn’t possible.
In truth, she could understand the Count’s negative reaction to Seyard’s proposal. While simply comparing families, Lowens couldn’t compare to Hillan, but the interests involved in engagements were far more complex than that.
First, they had to consider the king’s feelings, who had intended to marry his youngest daughter to the late Duke of Hillan, and the Lowens had maintained ties with Vansfelt for quite some time.
Moreover, given the Count’s cautious nature, he would naturally be wary of the new Duke of Hillan whom he didn’t know well. It seemed the key would be whether Seyard could convince him.
‘I hope everything works out well.’
Though she wanted to eavesdrop on the conversation in the study out of worry, the Count’s secretary was watching with sharp eyes, so she had no choice but to return to her room.
Of course, it was nearly impossible to calm her nerves there either. Kisa endlessly paced around her room, time feeling longer than usual.
How much time had passed? After exactly three knocks, the Count opened the door and said with a somewhat tired face.
“Kisa, Duke Hillan would like to have a brief chat with you before he leaves.”
Seyard could be seen behind him. Finally, their conversation seemed to be over.
