CHAPTER 12
On his way to his room, Edwin stopped a servant and ordered him to bring Charlotte to his room in thirty minutes. Then, he took a light bath and changed his clothes. While standing in front of the mirror, fixing his sleeves, Charlotte arrived. Charlotte, annoyed, didn’t even look at him and sat down.
Edwin sneered quietly as he gazed at the stiff Charlotte in the mirror. Having finished fixing his sleeves, he turned to face the sulky Charlotte.
“Tea, perhaps?”
She replied, turning her head.
Ignoring her stubbornness, Edwin ordered a servant to bring her a cup of coffee. He did so in a clean, unchanging tone, and his smile was impeccable.
“You’re not the type to apologize for not taking me to the royal event, so I assume you called me here because of a marriage I had no say in.”
“You’re the one who said you couldn’t handle my mother.”
Charlotte’s lips tightened with resentment and bitterness, and the freckles around her eyes reddened. She was on the verge of tears, but Edwin remained calm as if he were looking at a painting.
“And as for the marriage, I did say I would ask for your opinion. I told you I invited your marriage prospect to Rodinia, didn’t I?”
“That’s not what I meant at all! I just don’t want to get married! That’s what I mean. I’m not ready, so why are you….”
Charlotte, agitated, choked back her sobs. Worried that her unladylike behavior might count against her, she bit her lip to suppress her tears. Even in a moment like this, when her feelings were being heartlessly disregarded, she desperately wanted to look good for him.
“So what do you want me to do?”
But it was beyond Charlotte’s power to stop herself from crying, and she dropped her head and burst into tears.
“Then, you will continue living with me without getting married?”
Charlotte, who had been sobbing, lifted her head. Her eyes held a naive hope.
“I’m not your husband, which means I have no reason to keep supporting you once you’re grown.”
I know.
If she didn’t get married, she would be handed the small inheritance of Baron Baytness and sent out of the estate. But Baroness Baytness would not accept it.
Then what?
A woman without parents, a guardian, or a husband, and with no money, had no proper place in the world. There was a perfect example right beside her.
Vivianne Aveline.
Even though Vivianne had been treated like a noble after coming to Neway, once she was left alone, she became prey for all the beasts of Neway.
Would I be any different?
She would probably suffer an even worse fate than Vivianne. The world would never treat someone as insignificant as her with care.
“When your guardian offers to marry you to the finest man in Neway, with a dowry that will bring you respect and security—do it. Otherwise, it’ll be too late, Charlotte.”
He instilled in her that as long as she held the weapon called the Duke of Baytness in the marriage market, she would be the best bride, but he also instilled the fear that the same weapon could be taken away.
“Despite my mother’s opposition, I made you my ward in accordance with my father’s will. Now, it’s time for you to repay that.”
“Duke, I… I… I really…”
I can’t marry another man when I love someone else. My feelings run so deep that I can’t even see another man.
Those words were on the tip of her tongue.
There was only one reason why Charlotte could not convey her true feelings: Charlotte Windler was not a woman to Edwin Baytness. The confession she was about to make would be nothing more than a child’s immature feelings to him.
“And Charlotte…”
Just then, a servant carrying coffee interrupted the heavy atmosphere between them. Charlotte sniffled and wiped her face, not wanting to show her tear-stained cheeks. Once the servant left, the tension between them settled once again.
“I don’t like anyone touching my belongings without permission.”
Edwin’s voice became deeper than it had ever been. When she looked at his face, cold as frost, a chill ran down her spine. He had never been warm, but he had never been this cold either. She tried to think of a reason why he was so upset, but she couldn’t come up with one. He wasn’t the type to be this icy just because she’d been stubborn or sulky.
“And you’re no exception.”
He slowly stood up and headed somewhere. Charlotte couldn’t follow him. She didn’t have the courage to face his cold expression again.
“You’re embroidering on a scarf?”
When the sound of approaching footsteps stopped beside Charlotte, her shoulders flinched. She looked at what he held out in front of her—it was Vivianne Aveline’s scarf.
“Embroider it and bring it back.”
It was the same scarf Vivianne had worn the entire time Edwin was away from the manor. The one that had disappeared from her neck late one night. The very scarf Charlotte had offered to embroider as a way to test Vivianne.
“Don’t ever touch my belongings again. Charlotte, this isn’t advice. This is…”
She hesitantly accepted the scarf, which had once belonged to Vivianne but now belonged to Edwin.
“… a warning.”
Spring was progressing into early summer. The road leading to the Duke’s residence in Rodinia was brightened by the transparent, fresh leaves under the sunlight, making the long journey less tedious.
Gideon slowed his horse down to take a deep breath of the lush green scent.
“I’ve heard the gardens in Rodinia are as beautiful as if they had every flower from Neway planted there. Do you think that’s true?”
In contrast, James Zimmerman squinted and shaded his eyes with his hand.
The sun was so hot that he worried all the hair on his head would fall out, but Gideon was so absorbed in nature that he ignored his cousin, who was five seconds away from roasting.
“Do the flowers even matter? I’m roasting here! Roasting, I tell you! My skin’s about to cook and be served on the dinner table. So stop dawdling and let’s get moving. You gave up the carriage, so at least ride fast! If you’re on a horse, make it gallop!”
“Cousin, let’s not live with such harshness.”
Ugh. Shaking his head in frustration, James overtook Gideon as if he couldn’t stand it anymore. Only when Gideon finally picked up the pace and caught up with him did James grumble that he should’ve done this from the start.
“And the rumors of the manor are from when Lawrence Aveline was the owner. Ever since Lawrence died, the garden’s fame has gone downhill. And now, well, I don’t know. No one knows what the Duke would have done with the gardens.”
“Lawrence Aveline is dead?”
Gideon had heard clearly that Lawrence Aveline had founded a gold mining company, but when the vein of gold was proven to be fake, he disappeared with nothing more than the disgrace of being branded a fraud. And now he was dead?
Gideon, who prided himself on never being behind on information, felt a crack forming in his pride.
“Couldn’t he be dead?”
Fortunately, James’ uncertainty helped restore Gideon’s confidence.
“If his creditors caught him, do you think they’d have kept feeding and housing him all this time? They probably worked him to death. If he were alive, he would’ve shown up by now.”
“… But his daughter is still alive, isn’t she? Maybe he’s hiding because of her.”
“Which means he’s even more likely dead. Think about it. His daughter’s alive, right? But why are the creditors leaving her alone? Doesn’t that seem strange? So, it’s obvious. The creditors already got everything they could out of Lawrence and washed their hands of it.”
The House of Aveline had once been the sun of Preston, a ray of light amid the storm clouds. How had the Avelines, who once seemed to have the favor of the heavens, fallen to such ruin?
When you reach such a conclusion, it makes the beautiful world in front of you feel like a lie.
Nothing lasts forever.
Seeing how a family as deeply rooted as the Avelines had collapsed, anyone would agree with that thought.
“By the way, I heard that the Duke of Baytness took in the Aveline’s only daughter?”
After the Duke of Baytness won the bid for the manor, people referred to him as Vivianne Aveline’s savior, saying he had taken in the poor, homeless Vivianne, feeding, and housing her, and that his kindness was as vast as the heavens.
“Indeed. If it were me, it wouldn’t have been easy. He truly has much to learn from. Just look at how he recently offered his villa to flood victims. He’s warm-hearted and compassionate; it must have been difficult for him to kick her out.”
It was rare for the citizens of Neway not to hold the Duke of Baytness in such high regard. Gideon was also one of those who could not help but praise him.
From the time he was a lowly noble bowing his head for a single penny until now, it had always been the Duke of Baytness who inspired Gideon. When he received a letter from the Duke, he couldn’t believe it and couldn’t sleep for a week.
“Gideon, listen carefully. A wife is more about money than beauty. No matter how beautiful she is, if she doesn’t have money, she is simply unattractive. And if an unattractive woman has money, she becomes beautiful. Therefore, you must secure this marriage at all costs.”
The conditions the Duke offered when proposing an engagement with his ward were astonishing.
An enormous dowry, an investment of funds to expand the Zimmerman Carriage Business, and even a development partnership with the Baytness Weapon Company. Missing out on this marriage would result in being ridiculed so harshly it would be unbearable.
“Money isn’t everything, James.”
Though the Duke of Baytness had greatly influenced his life, he hadn’t changed Gideon’s values when it came to starting a family.
He had run tirelessly to get this far, and worked hard all his life, and that wouldn’t change in the future. But in this life, the family he wished to build would be filled only with the people he loved—people with whom he could rest his weary heart.
When she walked through the lively garden, the vitality of nature took root in her heart. Even though her world had fallen apart, there was still time to savor the sweet scent of a single flower. The futility and uselessness of things had become an excuse for her to live in a broken world.
“Whenever you come out to the garden, your expression brightens up a hundred times. You look like you’ve just gained weight and become more radiant. In any case, you look even more beautiful than usual.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
Vivianne blushed and smiled shyly. To hide her flushed cheeks, she leaned down and inhaled the scent of the flowers blooming in the bushes.
“By the way, what time will today’s guest arrive? Oh dear, I’m so worried about Miss Windler…”
Sophie, crouching down next to her, pouted with concern. Vivianne’s expression mirrored Sophie’s.
Sophie had told her how upset Charlotte was.
Charlotte, who had just turned nineteen, was about to face an impending marriage—one that Edwin had not explicitly forced but had strongly encouraged.
Although it wasn’t a matter for an outsider to interfere in, based on the information she had gathered, it was clear that Charlotte had an obligation to marry. Vivianne, who had been through so much to get where she was, could confidently say that it was in Charlotte’s best interest.
“But why does Miss Windler refuse to marry?”
“Exactly. She just flat-out says she won’t do it, which must be so frustrating for the Duke. I’m getting frustrated as well.”
Feeling like she was about to burst as well, Vivianne sighed deeply and gently stroked the petals of a brightly blooming flower.
If Miss Windler gets married, she’ll leave the mansion, won’t she? Then, it’ll be just the Duke and me?
Suddenly imagining that situation made her feel uneasy. Though she rarely crossed paths with Edwin in the manor, mealtimes were the real issue. She recalled the moment when Charlotte had left the table without finishing her meal, leaving Vivianne alone with Edwin.
Vivianne stood up and walked through the garden, worried. It was pointless to worry about a future that hadn’t even arrived yet, but her anxiety kept her mind busy with useless thoughts.
Then, the sound of distant hooves came closer. She turned and saw two men on horseback, looking around the garden with wide eyes. Instinctively, Vivianne knew these must be Edwin and Charlotte’s guests.
The guests who came to the Duke’s manor were surprisingly modest. Unlike the usual suitors, who came with flashy carriages, servants in tow, and gifts to curry favor, these men seemed different.
The stark contrast between the impeccably dressed man and the one whose buttons seemed to enjoy more freedom suggested who Charlotte’s potential suitor might be. When her eyes met the impeccably dressed man among them, Vivianne gave a slight nod. He returned the greeting with a small smile.
After that brief interaction, Vivianne retreated to her room.
As an outsider in the manor, it was considerate and polite to remain discreetly hidden when official guests arrived. The thought of spending ten quiet days confined to her room made her feel quite relieved.
The fact that she wouldn’t have to face the Duke made her feel lighter—at least, until an unexpected knock echoed through the room.
“What? Who could it be at this hour?”
Puzzled, Vivianne gave Sophie a look, silently asking her to open the door. Sophie quickly walked to the door and opened it. Another servant appeared behind Sophie and addressed Vivianne.
“Miss, you have a guest.”
The servant said something completely unexpected, making Vivianne even more flustered.
“A guest? I don’t have any guests coming to see me. You must be mistaken; those are likely Miss Windler’s guests.”
It seemed like a small misunderstanding, perhaps just a mistake.
“No, that’s not the case. A man named Theo Evans is asking for you.”
Though she had thought otherwise, the name that echoed through the air and reached her ears stopped Vivianne’s thoughts in their tracks.
“Th-Theo?”
Strangely enough, the Duke’s manor was bustling with guests today, and this realization stirred a profound sense of unease in Vivianne’s heart.
