Jealousy? Queen of the Chamal Kingdom? These words were all making Kisa’s head spin.
“You fool! You should at least be able to tell right from wrong. Don’t you know how serious this is?”
Even while Kisa was in confusion, the culprit who had thrown her into this state was now scolding her.
“Being a queen isn’t all good. Do you think a foreign-born queen would be treated well? Even Vansfelt won’t be able to help you there. You’ll obviously just end up being a plaything for some old lecher who’s after young women!”
The insults just kept coming. Why should she have to endure such degrading words from her former fiancé, who was now practically a stranger?
“Shut up, Daniel.”
Though he fell silent for a moment at those words, it wasn’t long before he started spouting nonsense again.
“What? Now that you’ve heard the unvarnished truth, are you finally starting to realize how ridiculous your actions are?”
Kisa was too dumbfounded to speak.
“You… Do you actually think I’m going to become the queen of Chamal?”
“There’s no use denying it, Kisa. The situation makes it obvious.”
“What’s so obvious about it?”
“What wind must have blown for your father to suddenly announce the broken engagement? Isn’t it clear?”
Daniel explained his hypothesis with a confident smile.
“You don’t think he suddenly developed fatherly love and granted your wish? That’s nonsense.”
“…Is that so?”
“You’d have better luck fooling a ghost. How many years have I been coming and going from your house?”
Even Kisa wouldn’t have believed it herself.
“Besides, your father isn’t the type to act without specific certainty. I’ve been thinking while waiting for you here, and there’s only one answer.”
Their gazes met in mid-air, and Daniel continued with a challenging expression.
“He found another marriage prospect for you. At least, someone your father considers better than me.”
“……”
It was correct, but she decided to hold her tongue for now. Though it was just a gut feeling, she sensed it would be more beneficial here to neither confirm nor deny.
Taking Kisa’s response as confirmation, Daniel continued without hesitation.
“And that better prospect is the King of Chamal, who’s looking for a new wife. Well? Am I right?”
Completely wrong. Yet why did he speak with such confidence?
“You can’t fool me. Think about it. Is it even possible to find a better match than me, the legitimate heir of the House of Lowens, within this country?”
They had found one. Though it was a contract marriage with a time limit, they had found one nonetheless.
“Everyone I can think of already has a wife or fiancée. It’s nonsense to think they’d give up those relationships to marry you.”
“……”
Well, it was perfectly natural that Daniel couldn’t think of Seyard’s existence. He had just arrived in the capital and had no apparent connection with either Kisa or Vansfelt. At least not publicly.
Moreover, the late Duke’s fiancée had been none other than the precious princess. Most people expected the new Duke of Hillan would naturally inherit his brother’s engagement.
Therefore, it was natural that Daniel couldn’t get close to the truth…
“So if he found someone, it must be a foreigner. Someone like the King of Chamal.”
It wasn’t pleasant to be misunderstood as a potential bride for such a womanizing trash.
“Come to think of it, my father mentioned a few days ago that your father has been too busy meeting with people from Chamal to spend time with friends. If those conversations were about your marriage, it all adds up.”
What an imaginative madman. Kisa finally couldn’t hold back and threw in a comment.
“Yes, Father did meet with people from Chamal, but that was to export our estate’s specialty wine. They were wine merchants.”
“Did your father tell you that?”
“What if he did?”
“You fool, you actually believe that? Don’t you know what your father is up to?”
Kisa rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
“You’re the fool. How dare you say such nonsense…”
Her flowing speech suddenly stopped. A question had occurred to her.
Would it really be beneficial to clear up Daniel’s misunderstanding?
It was uncertain whether he would readily believe Kisa’s words, but even if he did, that would create its own problems. Knowing him, he would definitely try his hardest to find out who the real marriage prospect was.
‘The relationship between Seyard and me needs to be revealed to the world carefully.’
If Daniel somehow caught wind of it before the announcement and started causing trouble, it would be extremely problematic. After all, Seyard also had the engagement issue with the princess to deal with.
On the other hand, if Daniel misunderstood it to be the King of Chamal, it wouldn’t cause major problems.
Even though Daniel was reckless, he probably wouldn’t openly spread rumors about a friendly nation’s king, and even if he did, such news wouldn’t reach as far as Chamal.
“Never mind. You wouldn’t believe anything I say anyway.”
Having finished her calculations, Kisa shook her head and gave Daniel a look of contempt.
“Why did you stop talking? I get it. Something I said struck a nerve, didn’t it?”
“Say whatever you want. You’re not going to listen to me anyway.”
Since Daniel was only saying what he wanted to say, she wasn’t wrong.
“Let me give you some advice. You should sneak into your father’s study right now and check the letters exchanged with those Chamal people. I bet there will be letters discussing your marriage.”
“You’re insane.”
“Do as I say. Later, crying and making a fuss about not wanting to get married won’t change anything. Ah, are you still so carefree because you don’t know what kind of man the King of Chamal is? He’s the type who’s trying to remarry less than two weeks after his wife’s death…”
How ignorant did he think Kisa was? As if she wouldn’t know one of the biggest topics in recent high society. Even before reading the detailed circumstances in gossip magazines, she had known the general information.
Knowing it would be pointless to say more, Kisa tried to leave the reception room.
“Hey, where are you going? I’m not finished.”
Just as Daniel tried to stop her, having apparently more to say, there was a knock at the door.
Finally. Kisa responded to the knock.
“Come in, Nanny.”
Soon, her nanny entered hesitantly, carrying a fairly large bundle. She looked between Kisa and Daniel nervously before speaking.
“It’s been a while, Young Master Daniel. Um, I brought what you asked for, Miss.”
“Well done. Give it here.”
Kisa quickly took the bundle from her nanny. Her thin arms trembled under its weight.
“What’s that?”
Still somewhat of a gentleman, Daniel reflexively moved closer, apparently intending to help carry it. Kisa gladly threw the bundle at his chest.
“Ugh!”
Caught off guard by the unexpected attack, he dropped the bundle. Various items spilled out onto the floor with a clatter – dolls, hats, music boxes, and more. The items were quite diverse.
“What’s the meaning of this?”
As Daniel glared at her, Kisa pointed at the scattered items on the floor with her index finger.
“I’m returning them to you.”
“What?”
“Why, don’t you remember? These are all gifts you gave me.”
His gaze turned downward.
“Well, I suppose you didn’t personally pick them out.”
Probably the Marchioness Lowens, his mother, or the servants had chosen them appropriately. They were too much to Kisa’s taste to have been selected by Daniel, who had always been indifferent to his fiancée.
Nevertheless, Kisa had always treasured them.
She had kept the doll by her bedside, only wore the hat on perfectly sunny days, and wound the music box just a countable number of times for fear of breaking it. Even if Daniel hadn’t chosen them himself, they were still gifts from him.
The nanny, having witnessed how preciously Kisa had kept these items, had perfectly fulfilled the errand to gather all of Daniel’s gifts. Except for the dresses and accessories she had thrown away a few days ago.
“Since we’re neither engaged nor anything else anymore, there’s no reason for me to keep your gifts. Take them.”
“Kisa…”
Daniel gaped blankly. He couldn’t hide the astonishment on his face. However, this lasted only briefly before he revealed his wounded pride.
“Now I see you have a talent for getting under people’s skin. Did you think I’d tremble in fear if you told me to take these back?”
His booted foot unhesitatingly stomped on the teddy bear that had spent many nights with Kisa.
“I kindly gave you advice because I felt sorry that you’re being sold off to some perverted old man, but you’re treating me like a complete fool.”
“…Are you done talking?”
“Yes, I’m done. I’m leaving.”
After coldly glancing at his gifts, he tilted his head.
“I don’t need them, so throw all that away. I’ll throw away all your gifts too. There, satisfied?”
Sneering, Daniel strode angrily toward the door as if he couldn’t stand to stay any longer. Before opening the door, he glanced back at Kisa.
“Kisa, don’t try to maintain useless pride. You’re not in a position to act that way.”
“……”
“Only people who can afford to have pride should maintain it. Otherwise, you’ll end up walking into hell on your own feet.”
Just like you are now. With those final words, Daniel left Vansfelt’s reception room.
“Miss, what exactly happened?”
Sensing the unusual atmosphere, the nanny asked very cautiously. Not wanting to answer, Kisa pointed at the items scattered on the floor.
“Nanny, I’m sorry, but please throw these away.”
“Yes, yes! But about why Young Master Daniel was so angry…”
“What do you want to know?”
“It’s not because of the dresses I threw away, is it?”
“No.”
Relief spread across the nanny’s face.
