Had something happened to her ears in the meantime? Kisa couldn’t help but doubt what she’d just heard.
“A kiss…?”
She tentatively repeated the problematic word, but Count Vansfelt’s expression remained unchanged.
She hadn’t misheard. He definitely said “kiss.”
Good heavens. She’d had many surprises lately, but this one nearly made her faint.
She never imagined her conservative father would suggest such a thing to Kisa.
Wasn’t he the one who always nagged her about proper behavior and kept a watchful eye to prevent her from becoming friendly with men other than Daniel?
He had even refused to let Kisa stay in a guest bedroom at the Lowens mansion before marriage with her fiancé Daniel, insisting they maintain boundaries.
Because of that, the most romantic thing Kisa had done with her beloved fiancé was sneaking a kiss on the boy’s cheek when she was young, away from the Count’s eyes.
Though she was secretly grateful for it now, during puberty, she had deeply resented her father for this.
Therefore, the fact that such an indecent word as “kiss” came from the Count’s mouth was enough to shock Kisa.
Moreover, he wasn’t suggesting they go somewhere private, but to kiss Seyard in front of the Princess. Kisa swallowed hard.
“I-isn’t that too much? Even so, between a man and woman…”
Her father furrowed his brows at his daughter’s stammering question, as if she were talking nonsense.
“Aren’t you and Duke Hillan scheduled to marry in a few months? You’ll have to kiss him in front of numerous guests at the wedding anyway, so what’s the problem?”
Come to think of it, that was true.
Even for a marriage based on contract, they couldn’t avoid the ceremonial kiss. It was the highlight of the wedding, and it would look suspicious without it.
‘How silly of me. When Seyard said that, I completely forgot about the ceremonial kiss.’
She recalled the day he first visited the Vansfelt townhouse, when they walked through the garden together. He had reassured her then:
[Don’t worry too much about marrying a stranger. This is merely a marriage to fulfill each other’s needs, so I will never force conjugal duties upon you.]
Surely Seyard wouldn’t go back on his word, but he probably didn’t mean they would skip the ceremonial kiss.
As Kisa tried to calm her inexplicably flushed face, the Count cleared his throat.
“Of course, remember this is only for the worst-case scenario. If the Princess doesn’t cross the line, you won’t need to go that far.”
“Ah, yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“My main purpose in sending you there is for you to learn how to stand your ground and not let others take what’s yours. Go and see for yourself how much the Princess wants the Duke. You’ll be clashing with such a Princess.”
“…Yes.”
Until now, Kisa had been in a position to earn the Princess’s goodwill as a friend, but that would no longer be the case. What kind of face would she show to the woman who took the man she wanted?
“Additionally, it’s time to resume your social activities. Continuing to stay hidden and only appearing for the engagement announcement wouldn’t look good.”
Kisa’s thoughts aligned with his. Though her reclusive life had been quite comfortable, the longer Daniel went about confidently while she remained holed up, the more unfavorable public opinion might become.
People generally assume those who don’t show themselves have something to hide. Given a little more time, everyone might start questioning the credibility of the gossip magazine articles.
Above all, she didn’t like that it appeared she was hiding while Daniel, who had betrayed her, was moving about freely.
“Yes, Father. I’ll attend the Habertz charity banquet.”
Kisa pointed to the invitation she was holding.
“Please send a reply accepting this invitation.”
“I will.”
But as she stared at the envelope with her name on it, she grew curious.
“Why did the invitation come addressed to me?”
She had always attended as Daniel’s partner without receiving a separate invitation, and it seemed strange to receive one after breaking off the engagement with Daniel.
It would only be awkward if she ran into her former fiancé. And there wasn’t any special connection between the Habertz and Vansfelt families.
“Without them clarifying, how could I know their exact intentions? But I can make an educated guess.”
The Count then explained his theory to satisfy his daughter’s curiosity.
“Countess Habertz probably intends to reconcile you two.”
“Me and Daniel?”
“Yes, it’s her way of showing kindness to her nephew.”
“Ah, so she’s providing an opportunity for Daniel to convince me on his own.”
But that was out of the question. Even if Daniel were to beg on his hands and knees and bring millions, she had no intention of taking him back.
The hand Kisa needed to hold was not Daniel’s but Seyard’s. The reason Kisa was going to the Habertz charity banquet was all to see him…
“Oh.”
The Count gave her a puzzled look at her unconscious exclamation.
“What’s wrong?”
“Father, there’s one small problem. Doesn’t this banquet require a partner? Who am I going with?”
Seyard was already the Princess’s partner, and Daniel wasn’t even worth discussing.
However, Kisa’s worry was unnecessary as the Count had already prepared for this.
“Your partner isn’t particularly important, so just bring anyone suitable. Come in!”
Had he kept this “suitable anyone” waiting outside? The Count called out toward the door leading to the hallway.
Soon the door opened and his secretary entered. But no one else was visible behind the secretary.
Kisa tilted her head, having expected him to bring a partner candidate for her.
“Where is my partner?”
“Right there.”
“I’m not sure where you’re pointing…”
“Right in front of you.”
Only after hearing the Count’s somewhat sharp voice did Kisa stop looking around the doorway and look at the only person who had just entered the room.
“You can’t mean…”
“Yes, that’s what I mean, Miss.”
The Count’s secretary muttered with an embarrassed face.
“Inadequate as I am, I’ll escort you.”
“…”
“I-I promise to escort you with utmost dedication!”
Well, thinking about it, there wasn’t anything particularly objectionable. The Habertz’s criteria for partners was someone of verified upper-class status.
Though of lower rank, he was still a nobleman and employed as the Count’s secretary, more than meeting the requirements. Moreover, the age difference between him and Kisa wasn’t too great. She was just surprised by the unexpected choice.
“All right. I’ll be counting on you, Richard.”
When Kisa responded with a sociable smile, Richard exhaled in relief.
“You may go.”
As if his role ended there, the Count dismissed him with the same concise instruction as when he called him.
After Richard left, he spoke.
“And I haven’t told Duke Hillan that you’ll be attending.”
“What? Why not?”
“Even if I told him, he’d just say he’d handle it himself. That man needs to learn that we won’t always act according to his wishes.”
It seemed to be the Count’s way of pushing back against how they had been pulled along by Seyard so far.
Kisa wondered if it was really okay not to inform Seyard, but truthfully, she wanted to keep this a secret just this once.
She wanted to surprise him, just as he had surprised her by hiding his identity as Duke Hillan.
Seyard’s surprised expression. That would be quite interesting to see.
****
Thud. As she opened the door and entered, the night’s accumulated chill greeted Hazel.
She momentarily shrank her shoulders from the cold before walking around the teahouse with familiar steps to light the lamps. Today was the day the employee came in late, so preparing for business was solely her responsibility.
“Oh my.”
But when Hazel entered the inner part of the shop, she saw someone lying on the sofa.
“Daniel! Did you spend the night here again?”
He raised himself with a groggy face.
“Ah, Hazel. You’re here?”
“It was chilly last night. What if you get sick doing this?”
“Such cold is nothing to me.”
Despite Daniel’s confident answer, Hazel headed to the kitchen to prepare a warm tea for him.
“Daniel, please go home today.”
A moment later, as he received the tea Hazel handed him, he thanked her but sullenly replied.
“I don’t want to. I’m sick of the old man’s nagging.”
He seemed to be getting pressured about the broken engagement issue from his father, Marquis Lowens.
If only he would humble himself and apologize. Because both father and son were stubborn, Daniel rarely stayed at the Lowens mansion these days.
“But you can’t go on like this forever. Just apologize to your father.”
“Why should I apologize? Hazel, are you saying it’s my fault too?”
“No, that’s not it. I’m just worried about you…”
As Hazel was trying to comfort him, it happened.
“Young master! Daniel, young master!”
Someone pounded on the teahouse door vigorously, looking for Daniel.
Perhaps because Daniel frequented this place so often, the Lowens household now sent people here when they had business with him.
With an annoyed click of his tongue, Daniel headed to the door.
“What now?”
He roughly opened the door and glared at his household servant. Hazel followed, concerned he might lose his temper again.
“A letter from Countess Habertz.”
“From my aunt?”
But as he unfolded and read the letter, his eyes sparkled. Daniel read the short lines for quite some time before suddenly starting to giggle.
“I knew you would.”
It was a genuinely joyful expression, different from the prickly demeanor he’d shown over the past few days.
“After all this, you’re finally giving in, Kisa.”
