Chapter 4 – Marriage Between Similar People
“I appreciate your kindness, but… … I don’t want to see anyone yet, ma’am.”
The next day, Mellie cautiously refused Ada.
No matter how much she thought about it, she thought it was better that way.
Ada Felton said to her in a generous voice as Mellie bowed her head in apology.
“So that’s what you’ve decided, Mellie.”
“Yes, I’m really sorry, ma’am.”
“Why are you feeling sorry about that?”
Ada shook her head and reminded herself of what she had said the other day.
“Don’t worry about it. Didn’t I say that you don’t have to see each other if you don’t feel like it?”
“… … .”
Mellie knew that Ada wouldn’t scold her for something like this, but she had been worried inside, so she was very relieved.
She resolved to do whatever Ada wanted except for this unwanted marriage, and left her room and returned to her own quarters.
Meanwhile, the corners of Ada Felton’s mouth, which had been smiling kindly the whole time, twisted coldly as soon as the door closed.
“I don’t want to meet anyone right now… … .”
Ada’s face twisted into even more cynicism as she quietly chewed on Mellie’s words.
“I said that choice is freedom, but I didn’t really gave you any freedom to choose.”
I thought she would say that she would meet him because she felt sorry for me. I had planned to push for marriage in the blink of an eye as soon as they met.
The more Ada thought about it, the more she wondered why it had fallen apart before they could even start.
Aside from the fact that Lord Blair was in his forties and not a nobleman, he had a lot of wealth and was clean with women, so he was not a bad candidate for a groom. He was a bit ordinary, but… … . Isn’t Mellie in a position to judge him by his looks?
Could it be that Edric had set her sights too high?
Edric was her son, but he was really good son.
He had a handsome appearance, a gentle personality, and an outstanding management skills as the head of the family and the owner of a vast territory. There was nothing missing.
After being close to such a capable guy for over ten years, her standards must have grown. That must be why she rejected him without knowing her place.
The lady’s true feelings were much more narrow-minded than what she showed to others.
She was taking care of her dead friend’s daughter because she thought of her friend, but she couldn’t let her become a burden to her son when she was not good enough.
“Should I take her with me when I go down to the duchy?”
The lady muttered softly, resting her chin on her hand.
Tsk-. I don’t like that.
But if that was the only way, then there was no choice. I couldn’t grab her by her hair and drag her in front of Lord Blair.
‘Why do I have to worry about something like this?’
Ada let out an annoyed sigh and bent down. She put her hand on the desk bell, intending to think of a solution while taking a warm bath.
The moment the body of the small silver desk bell touched her fingertips.
“… …!”
Ada stopped as a sudden thought occurred to her.
A good idea came to her mind.
How to get Mellie in front of Blair without having to grab her by the hair.
***
“Welcome, Lord Felton.”
Rosaline greeted Edric at her doorstep.
Edric, who had just gotten out of his carriage, sweetly complimented her beauty and held out his arm.
“You are always handsome, Lord.”
Rosaline responded to his compliment by putting her arm through his.
“Is the Marquis Adele away?”
“My father is always away. My mother is never home either.”
Rosaline lightly criticized her mother. Edric defended her mother in a soft tone.
“I don’t think that people of our station need to be tied down to the house. The servants will do the housework. I think it would be more helpful to her husband if she goes out and build up connections in society.”
“Actually, I think so too. The Lord and I get along well.”
Rosalind looked up at her fiancé with a satisfied smile.
“That’s why they say people of similar status should marry.”
Edric agreed with a smile.
There was no reason not to agree. He had never thought of marrying someone with a different social status.
He never would.
While they were chatting about this and that in the living room, the maid brought out tea.
Edric took a sip or two out of politeness, but most of the time he just held the teacup.
Even after only a sip or two, he felt a headache coming on.
‘The people in this house don’t even know how to make tea.’
I desperately wanted the tea Mellie had made.
No one else could make such refreshing tea to my taste as she did.
Was that why? Why did he keep Mellie by his side?
No way. It was okay to drink tea or not.
It was probably because he was worried that his old friend would get married without his consent.
His mother had wanted to get rid of her from the beginning, but she had hidden her true feelings and put on the mask of a kind guardian in front of Mellie.
Just as Mellie had tried to go on a blind date out of gratitude for his mother’s kindness and consideration, he wanted to save her, because she could easily get married against her own will.
Since I couldn’t reveal my mother’s double standard for her sake or for my own, I had no choice but to persuade her.
Yes, that was the only reason.
He had tried to stop Mellie from going on a blind date.
Edric had already heard from the butler that Mellie had refused to go on a blind date with his mother in the morning.
She had been listening to me since she was young, and she listened to me this time as well.
I was worried because she said she would think about it… … .
Edric continued the conversation cheerfully with a satisfied smile on his face.
Since the two people belonged to the same world, the conversation between him and Rosaline flowed smoothly.
Rosaline not only talked about social circles, but also brought up topics that men would like, such as polo matches, hunting, and swordsmanship, to pique his interest.
“I took swordsmanship lessons for a short time, too. It helped me develop my balance a lot. Could you teach me some time when you have time? I want to learn properly this time.”
“I’ll be happy to.”
Edric also tended to match the interests of the other person, so the conversation between the two continued naturally, like the seasons changing.
The conversation took an unexpected turn when Francis Adele, the successor to the Marquis Adele family, entered.
“Rosaline!”
He came in loudly, calling his legal sister, and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Edric.
“Oh, sorry. You have a guest?”
He made an awkward expression for a moment, but soon straightened up and greeted Edric politely. Edric also responded with an impeccable attitude.
“Then I’ll see you later, Rosaline.”
Francis said to Rosaline and tried to turn around. But Edric stopped him.
“If you don’t mind, please join us, Marquis Adele.”
“Go ahead, Fran.”
Rosaline smiled calmly and added.
“Oh, is that okay? Then I won’t decline… …”
Francis quickly took a seat next to Rosaline as if he had been waiting for her to do so.
Edric pretended to drink tea and studied him carefully.
Black hair and amber eyes. The face was handsome but somewhat youthful, the shape of the collarbone visible through the messy, untidy hairline, and the faint brown spots on the arms. He had thoroughly examined everything in that short time.
He planned to do a paternity test if the child he had after marriage resembled even one of those features.
If it turned out that he was not the father… …
A pleasant smile appeared on Edric’s lips.
If he was the father, it was a win-win, and if not, it was a win-win too. The former would give him an heir of noble blood, and the latter would give him an absolute weakness that could control the prestigious Adele family. This is why
marriages between great noble families are so good……
“Oh, I saw that person,”
Francis suddenly said to Edric.
“Was that Miss Ellie… whom I saw at your house the other day?”
“… … .”
Edric realized that he was talking about Mellie.
“Anyway, that lady went into the opera house a little while ago.”
“Why?”
Rosaline asked, her eyes widening.
“Since it’s the opera house, she must have gone to see the opera. She was with the duchess.”
Edric’s blue eyes suddenly filled with doubt.
“My mother?”
His mother was affectionate towards Mellie, but only at home.
She didn’t care enough for Mellie to appear with her in public.
What had suddenly made her want to do that?
“Miss Mellie likes opera. That’s good. I like opera too, so we can go see it together sometime.”
Rosaline said with her eyes sparkling dreamily, and then asked Francis again.
“What opera was it? Did we see it recently?”
“No. It wasn’t that one, Rosaline. It was ‘Nights of Alicias.’ If you want, I can reserve seats for you.”
Francis answered his sister with loving eyes and turned to Edric.
“But was there a man with them?”
“… … .”
“At first glance, his name was… Blair, I think? The atmosphere was strange. It was like… … a blind date.”
Edric’s fingers gripped the teacup with a sudden firmness.
However, he calmly drank the tea and replied calmly.
“I see. Meetings between men and women are the privilege of youth.”
The tea still did not suit his taste, but Edric did not frown. The bitter and astringent tea was nothing compared to the other factors that made him feel uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry.”
He uncrossed his legs and put the teacup down. The sound of porcelain touching porcelain put an end to the otherwise peaceful meeting.
“I forgot that I had an appointment. Since your brother is here, is it okay for me to go now, Rosaline?”
