WGMFTR | Chapter 11

Episode 11

“The only ones I truly acknowledge as family are my sister and my nephew. So you don’t need to care about that woman either. She returned to our homeland a long time ago, after all.”

Since no one else was mentioned, it seemed certain that the marquis’s only sibling was the ‘sister’ who had left the mansion after getting married.

‘Come to think of it, there really isn’t a single family member in this enormous mansion.’

Naturally, Lydia lowered her head. There was no doubt he had a complicated family situation that an outsider should not judge lightly.

“I’m sorry. I only brought up family because…”

She had simply felt pity for his suffering under the curse, not intending to dig up his past and touch on old wounds.

“You don’t need to apologize. Didn’t I tell you? I would treat you as the marchioness. It’s only right that I share such basic information with you.”

“You’re also promising to be honest about the curse, right?”

Even though his tone was stiff and almost rejecting, Lydia remained resolute about receiving a clear answer, her attitude unwavering.

Ilian let out a long sigh and nodded.

“Yes.”

“Then that’s enough. I’ll sign.”

Lydia nodded coolly and completed the signing with a clarity that felt refreshing.

As Ilian Esteban took the paper from her and checked it himself, he could still feel Lydia’s gaze on him and looked up again.

“Is there something else you want to say?”

It seemed she had refused the maids’ help with grooming; her large ribbon, tied high as usual, was tilted to one side.

“Just a moment.”

Lydia’s small hand covered Ilian’s ungloved right hand.

Though the touch was feather-light, Ilian’s hand, which had been holding a quill, froze in place.

“……What are you doing?”

“Is it working?”

It seemed natural as she continued, saying that his expression looked more pained now than when she first arrived.

As if on cue, the pain and the screams that clouded his focus returned vividly.

Perhaps because she had held his hand all night, the relief from the morning had entirely faded.

Ilian swallowed as he met the purple eyes closely observing his condition.

“……It’s not that bad yet.”

“So, it seems the longer we stay in contact, the longer my power lingers.”

He instinctively reached out as she began to withdraw her hand, reluctant to let go. But Lydia was already deep in thought, staring down at her hands.

It was the moment Ilian awkwardly placed his aimlessly floating hand back onto the desk.

Lydia suddenly looked up, her eyes brightening as she spoke seriously.

“If you could get me access to the royal archives sooner, like you mentioned before, I might be able to find out more.”

“I’ll arrange the schedule so we can go together once your etiquette lessons are finished.”

“Etiquette lessons?”

Lydia immediately straightened her back in nervous tension.

“There’s no need to be so tense.”

The marquis opened the top drawer and placed a dark navy velvet box on the desk.

Lydia had briefly been hopeful, but she soon noticed it wasn’t the same box that had held the Solemn family ring, and quickly lost interest.

“Lady Schnette will be teaching you. So from now on, wear this.”

The marquis’s tone carried a subtle trace of amusement, as if he had noticed Lydia’s disappointment.

At Ilian’s gesture to open it, Lydia reluctantly lifted the lid.

Inside, a ring set with a diamond so large one might question whether it could even fit on a finger sparkled brilliantly.

She couldn’t guess the purpose behind suddenly receiving such a massive diamond ring in the middle of discussing etiquette lessons.

Lydia could only stare, not daring to touch it.

“This is……”

“An engagement ring. Lady Schnette acts refined but she’s full of vanity and loves to flatter.”

Etiquette among nobles was essentially a means of feeding their sense of privilege and vanity.

Thus, noblewomen who taught young ladies under the title of etiquette instructor typically had their noses held high, and they preferred to lean on the power and wealth that matched their pride.

Ilian picked up the ring Lydia couldn’t bring herself to touch and rolled it indifferently in his hand a few times.

“That’s how nobles are. They judge people by what they wear. So this is me flaunting Esteban’s wealth and showing that I truly intend to keep you by my side.”

Lydia only watched as the marquis naturally took her hand and slid the ring onto her finger.

It felt awkward, like wearing clothes that didn’t suit her, and excessively heavy.

When she turned her hand, it was almost dazzling, as if her fingers were sparkling.

Lydia mumbled anxiously, uneasy about how loose the ring was.

“You’re not going to make me pay for it if I lose it, are you?”

“If you lose it, I’ll just have another one made.”

Lydia stared at Ilian with a shocked expression, as if asking whether he was serious. But he only shrugged.

“Rather, we should pick one from that jewelry box to wear together.”

The idea of spending money more freely than water made her feel faint.

Lydia let out a sigh, recalling the lavish jewelry box with ornate patterns that had been delivered to her room almost like a display yesterday.

Even then, she had only managed to open the lid with trembling hands and poke around a bit.

Still, she thought there might be at least one plain ring that would be worth less than this diamond.

“My lord, Lady Schnette has arrived.”

Just then, breaking the brief silence, the butler knocked and announced the arrival of the very person they had been discussing.

“I’ll be there shortly.”

As the marquis answered and began tidying the scattered documents on the desk and putting some away in the drawer, Lydia suddenly grabbed his hand.

It was the same ungloved right hand she had touched earlier.

It really did feel like magic—warmth and comforting silence wrapped around Ilian.

Ilian couldn’t bring himself to shake off the hand that had suddenly taken his, and looked down at Lydia.

She had stood with him and still hadn’t let go as she spoke.

“I don’t mind holding hands often. Besides, pretending to be close helps prevent suspicion about our relationship, doesn’t it?”

“……Even when you weren’t here, I managed.”

A pathetic pride that didn’t want to appear weak. And a gut feeling that if he didn’t push her away now, he never would.

That’s how exhausted Ilian Esteban was from all the memories, emotions, and circumstances surrounding him.

“We’ve signed the contract now, so you can lean on me.”

That’s right. They were just a temporary contract couple, set to meet only for a limited time.

So if Ilian couldn’t push her away, the end of the contract would naturally bring their relationship to a close.

Then Ilian could return to how he used to be—untangled from anyone.

“Yes. As per the contract.”

In the end, Ilian Esteban tightened his grip around Lydia’s hand and interlaced their fingers firmly.

“No matter how many times I see it, it’s such a beautiful ring.”

“……Is that so?”

Lydia awkwardly fiddled with the infamous diamond ring that Lady Schnette always glanced at during her etiquette lesson visits.

As expected, the marquis’s prediction had not been wrong.

Though Lady Schnette had greeted Lydia with a cold and aloof attitude at first, the moment she saw the ring on Lydia’s hand, her demeanor completely changed.

“I remember that the former marchioness… that is, Princess Madeline, also wore various accessories made with jewels from the Ines royal collection. She was truly beautiful.”

“……I see.”

Unlike the envious Lady Schnette, Lydia recalled Ilian speaking of the former marchioness with a voice that was so cold it bordered on hostile.

Suddenly, the ring on her finger started to feel uncomfortably heavy.

“The Esteban family also has a tiara from the Cronon royal collection. I suppose we’ll get to see that beautiful tiara at the wedding, won’t we?”

“Yes, probably.”

While Lady Schnette smiled in excited anticipation, Lydia responded unenthusiastically.

She vaguely remembered hearing about a tiara adorned with diamonds that matched the ring.