Chapter 9
“Isn’t His Majesty being too harsh?
Forcing Lady Adeline on Count Meitner when he already has such a tragic family history?”
“Indeed. Though, with the Queen still unwell, it seems His Majesty decided to take matters into his own hands.”
“I honestly thought Adeline would return to her homeland.”
“Even if she tried, returning to Lechern wouldn’t be easy.
The one who holds power there is the same person responsible for the massacre of the Bernadotte royal family.”
The ladies, hiding behind fluttering fans, shook their heads in feigned sympathy.
Their concerns lacked sincerity, especially among those with sons of marriageable age.
They couldn’t hide their relief, and they were no longer worried about being summoned by the King to discuss a marriage proposal with Adeline.
While rejecting the King was an obvious choice, it wasn’t an easy one to express directly.
Adeline, once again the center of attention, found herself meeting Michael that late afternoon.
It was a bright and cloudless day.
“Please, have a seat, Lady Adeline.”
It had been a week since their last meeting in the greenhouse garden, and Michael invited her to take a seat with a relaxed demeanor (It refers to a person’s outward behavior).
Adeline, stepping outside the palace for the first time since arriving in Kassel, looked around nervously.
The quiet residential area, about a 20-minute ride from the palace, was unfamiliar.
She hoped Michael would explain, but he didn’t seem inclined to speak first. Breaking the silence, Adeline finally asked,
“Count Meitner, could you tell me where we are?”
Michael, observing her, smiled faintly at her cautious question.
While he wanted to watch her reaction a bit longer, he decided it was time to answer.
“This will be your residence until the wedding.”
“…Here?”
“A bride-to-be cannot stay in the royal palace indefinitely, can she?”
Ah… Adeline couldn’t argue with his practical reasoning.
She had stayed at the palace because of her engagement to Prince Lars.
Now that he was gone and she was about to marry someone else, staying there any longer was indeed inappropriate.
Lowering her gaze, she stared at the teacup on the table.
The pale pink tea in the gold-rimmed glass remained perfectly still, like a windless lake.
Three days earlier, Michael had sent her a letter.
“Dear Lady Adeline,
I have decided to accept your proposal.
I will send someone to fetch you in three days. I look forward to meeting you then.”
The letter was short and to the point, but it conveyed that he had agreed to the marriage proposal.
Adeline read it over and over, her tired eyes scanning the words repeatedly.
There wasn’t much detail, but his decision to accept the proposal was unmistakable.
Now, facing Michael, there were so many things she wanted to ask.
Unlike in Lechern, she was entirely alone here.
Even gathering the smallest piece of information was challenging. Yet, she didn’t know where to start. While Adeline hesitated, Michael casually glanced around the house’s interior.
His meticulous butler, Ralph, had prepared the place, so it was unlikely there would be any issues.
Even Ralph, who was usually unflappable, had been stunned upon hearing about the marriage.
“So, you’re marrying Lady Adeline from Lechern?”
“That’s correct. Ralph, you’ll have a lot to handle in the coming weeks.”
“Of course, it’s my duty, but… how did this happen?”
Ralph’s face darkened with concern, but Michael didn’t pay it much attention and gave further instructions.
“Find a house that’s ready to move into immediately.
It doesn’t have to be extravagant, but it should be well-appointed for Lady Adeline to stay in until the wedding.”
Within days, this house was prepared.
It was more than adequate, even by noble standards, especially for a temporary residence.
Michael briefly recalled the King’s face, relieved as though a burden had been lifted after the engagement was settled.
“Wise decision, Count Meitner. I suggest we hold the wedding as soon as possible.
The longer the preparation takes, the more rumors will spread.”
“Understood.”
The King’s haste made sense, given the situation, and Michael saw no reason to resist.
The timing of the wedding wouldn’t change its nature—a marriage of convenience.
Whether held for a week or six months, the outcome remained the same.
Adeline’s voice broke his train of thought.
“Is there anything I should know or prepare for before the wedding?
Anything about the Meitner family that I should keep in mind?”
Her tone was earnest. Adeline wanted to do whatever she could to manage this situation.
She was also growing anxious, thinking about her brother Colin left behind in Lechern.
But in a transactional marriage like this, she couldn’t push her desires too far.
Michael replied, “Not much comes to mind right now.
I’ll have Ralph provide you with the basics. You should receive everything within a few days.”
“Alright, thank you.”
Her polite gratitude was met with a simple nod. To Michael, Adeline’s humility felt unnecessary.
She had been born into royalty and trained accordingly.
Adapting to Kassel might take time, but she wouldn’t lack the fundamental qualities required.
Michael’s gaze shifted back to Adeline.
Her golden hair shimmered under the sunlight, highlighting her refined features.
She was the embodiment of the famed Lechern royal beauty.
“She’s certainly talked about enough,” Michael thought, realizing the rumors didn’t exaggerate. His attention then moved elsewhere.
One month was a tight timeline to plan a wedding. For most noble families, it would be considered rushed.
Meanwhile, curious eyes were already buzzing about Adeline’s next steps. He was aware of the gossip, even the unkind speculation that their marriage might end tragically, given their troubled pasts.
“If her parents met tragic ends, and she followed in their footsteps…”
It would indeed make for sensational gossip. Michael’s lips curled into a faint, ironic smile.
The thought was absurd, and his detachment reflected that.
Adeline noticed the brief flicker of coldness in his expression.
Though his mouth smiled, his eyes didn’t.
The chill was enough to momentarily freeze her in place.
But the next moment, Michael extended his arm.
“Shall we go? There’s much to do before the wedding, and you’ll need to make some decisions yourself.”
“Excuse me?”
“A bride has her own choices to make. Let’s get started.”
It was clear he intended to escort her.
Adeline hesitated briefly, her hand brushing against the smooth fabric of his sleeve.
She had been taken aback by the fleeting coldness in his eyes but decided to ignore it.
“Lady Adeline,” Michael called her again, his tone steady. She chose to focus on the present.
Whatever Michael’s true feelings were, they weren’t hers to question.
Adeline placed her hand lightly on his arm and followed him. Compared to the humiliation she’d endured with Lars, this situation was tolerable.
“It could be worse.
That’s good enough.”
She repeated the mantra she had developed since arriving in this foreign land.
Though fluent in the language, the inability to use her native tongue left her feeling stifled.
They walked across the neatly paved path, stopping in front of a car parked by the gate.
“To the Saltz estate,” Michael instructed the waiting driver.
“Yes, sir.”
His command was short, and the car began moving.
