“Kayvrant Green? The Green Count himself? The Guardian of the Sacred Relics?”
Brittany’s eyes widened.
The moment she heard the name Kayvrant Green, the words Lisi had whispered about “your father” vanished completely from her mind.
“Yes. He arrived just a moment ago and is currently in the reception room with the duke.”
“What did he come for?”
“I overheard a little. He said something about the duke’s daughter and then went into the reception room. His voice was low, so I couldn’t hear everything…”
“The duke’s daughter? Me? He must mean me.”
“Of course. Who else could it be?”
Brittany’s face flushed pink.
Kay was currently the most popular man in high society.
The Guardian Relic House was protected by the Holy Kingdom, so even the emperor could not treat them carelessly. Though his title was only a count, his influence rivaled that of a duke.
But the family status was only a secondary matter.
What truly mattered was Kay’s appearance.
He was, quite simply, beautiful.
With broad shoulders, a narrow waist, tall stature, and long legs, he was said to be like a statue crafted by the gods with their utmost effort.
His messy black hair looked as if it had never been deliberately styled. Beneath thick eyebrows rested blue gray eyes so striking that merely meeting them could steal a person’s breath.
Under a perfectly shaped nose were moist red lips so alluring that countless women imagined those lips brushing against their skin.
Young noble ladies dreamed of becoming Kay’s wife, while married noblewomen salivated at the thought of taking him as a lover.
Yet Kay, a count of the Holy Kingdom, behaved with impeccable restraint despite his decadent appearance.
Not once had he been involved in a scandal with a woman.
“To be honest, the last time I attended a party, Count Green asked me to dance. We even danced together.”
It was true that they had danced.
But Kay had not asked her.
Brittany had cautiously approached him and asked for a dance. Refusing a lady’s request would have been impolite, so Kay had accepted.
However, in Brittany’s memory the story had transformed. In her mind, Kay had passionately asked her to dance.
“We talked quite a lot while we were dancing…”
“That must be it, Miss. He must have fallen for you then.”
The maid quickly said exactly what Brittany wanted to hear.
“That must be it, right?”
“Of course. You’re so beautiful, Miss. And your dancing is excellent. What man wouldn’t fall for you?”
“What if he asks me to marry him?”
“What do you think, Miss? Do you like Count Green?”
“I’m not sure.”
In truth she was thrilled.
“It was the first time we ever spoke… but since he came all the way here, I suppose I should meet him properly and talk more.”
“You shouldn’t be standing here then. You need to change into another dress quickly.”
“Oh right, right. I should.”
Brittany left the room with the maid and the servants who had been helping Lisi dress, seemingly forgetting Lisi’s existence entirely.
Lisi picked up the fallen corset and stared at it for a moment before tossing it aside.
Without even glancing at the dress meant for her meeting with Alford, she picked up the clothes she had taken off earlier and hung over the chair.
It was a worn one piece dress slightly better than what the maids wore.
After putting it on, Lisi stood before the mirror.
Her hair had been styled to match the dress, pinned neatly into place, which did not suit the simple one piece.
One by one, Lisi removed the pins.
Silvery hair tinged with red, appearing almost pink, slid softly down along her neck.
She roughly combed through the loose strands with her fingers and smiled.
She looked better than ever before.
+++
Duke Globurn Whitlow looked at Kay with an uncomfortable expression.
“That girl, you say?”
“That girl? When speaking of the eldest daughter Brittany you call her our daughter, but it seems the youngest daughter Iris is not your daughter?”
The slow words sounded as though he knew the internal affairs of the Whitlow family.
Globurn swallowed nervously.
When Kay had said,
“I came here wishing to form a bond with the Whitlow family,”
Globurn had assumed he meant a military or economic alliance.
When Kay continued,
“I heard the duke’s daughter is very beautiful…”
Globurn naturally thought he meant Brittany.
After all, Brittany had returned from a recent party boasting endlessly that Count Green had asked her to dance.
Though the Whitlow name still carried the title of duke, the family was steadily declining.
Kayvrant Green of the Green family, the Guardian of the Sacred Relics, was a highly desirable man.
However, it was said he cared about nothing except searching for sacred relics, so the duke had never even considered pursuing him.
When Kay arrived in person and mentioned the duke’s daughter, Globurn thought this was an opportunity.
Until Kay said:
“I wish to spend my life with Lady Iris.”
Never in his dreams had Globurn imagined Kay had come for Iris.
Iris was never sent to parties, under the excuse that she was a “delicate daughter who must be carefully raised.”
She was shown only occasionally to wealthy men who might become financial support for the Whitlow family.
Through their rumors Iris became known as the Flower of the Whitlow Ducal House.
Because she never debuted in high society despite everyone’s curiosity, countless men grew desperate just to see her once.
Thus Iris’s value continued rising.
Recently Alford had mentioned the Lavent gold mine, and today the duke was supposed to sign the contract with him.
But the man who was supposed to come, Alford, had not arrived.
Instead Kay suddenly appeared and demanded Iris.
It was an extremely awkward situation.
“Well… that is… the eldest daughter is not yet married…”
At the weak excuse, Kay’s lips twisted upward.
The cold smile made Globurn swallow dryly.
“Who worries about such things these days? The House of Count Rodbern and the House of Marquis Prunta both married off their younger daughters first. Even the third and fifth princes of the Gabizar Empire married before the crown prince.”
Kay spoke slowly.
“Or perhaps you believe that Kayvrant Green is not worthy to become the son in law of the Whitlow Ducal House?”
“N no, of course not. How could that be? That is not the issue, Count Green. It’s just that… our Iris is shy and delicate. I don’t believe she has any intention of marrying yet. As you know, she is even afraid of attending social gatherings.”
“Oh?”
The corner of Kay’s lips lifted.
Globurn realized for the first time how frightening a smile could be when it held no warmth.
“Then that only makes her more desirable.”
This was a disaster.
Globurn hurriedly searched for another excuse.
“As you know, love marriages are fashionable these days. Our Iris has said several times that she wants to marry for love…”
“There is a gold mine in Benote.”
Kay interrupted him.
At the words “Benote gold mine,” Globurn’s ears perked up.
The Benote mine owned by the Green family contained abundant gold and had produced dozens of large diamonds. It was considered one of the five greatest mines in the empire.
Compared to it, the Lavent mine promised by Alford was embarrassingly small.
“I intended to offer the Benote gold mine as a marriage dowry…”
Globurn swallowed.
“But if Lady Iris desires a love marriage, that is unfortunate.”
Kay rose to his feet as if the conversation was finished.
“W wait a moment, Count!”
Now it was Globurn who was desperate.
Iris had been raised precisely for moments like this.
The Benote gold mine. And the prestige of the Green family.
His wife had been right not to kill Iris.
“Is there something else to discuss?”
Kay sounded cold now that he had apparently given up on Iris.
Globurn panicked that Kay might leave.
“F first… please sit down, Count. It has been quite some time since we last saw each other.”
“Hm.”
“And… thinking about it, Iris once said that although she is shy about dating, she wouldn’t mind marrying a man I choose for her. So… please sit. Yes?”
Globurn gestured toward the sofa.
Kay slowly sat down and crossed his legs.
Even though this young man behaved rudely, Globurn did not feel offended.
His mind was filled entirely with the words “Benote gold mine.”
“So… you are offering the Benote gold mine as the dowry.”
“Like this.”
Kay pulled a document from his coat.
“I even prepared the paperwork. You only need to sign it.”
“I see…”
Globurn’s eyes gleamed greedily as he looked at the document.
“In that case… well… it seems Count Green would treat our Iris very well…”
Knock knock.
A knock interrupted him.
Irritation flared in Globurn’s chest.
“What is it?”
“Father, it’s me.”
Hearing Brittany’s voice, a new thought occurred to him.
Perhaps it was wasteful to give the position of Count Green’s wife to someone like Iris.
If the stone hearted Kay had once danced with Brittany, perhaps seeing her again would change his mind.
“Come in.”
He answered without even asking Kay.
The door opened.
Brittany entered gracefully, dressed more splendidly than usual.
Her brilliant blond hair was loosely tied so a few strands fell down. She wore a pink dress that exposed her shoulders but looked elegant rather than vulgar.
A necklace with a small pendant highlighted the slender line of her neck.
Brittany looked like a doll.
She gently lifted her skirt and curtsied toward Kay.
“It’s been a while, Count Green.”
“I see.”
“This is the first time we’ve met since the last party.”
“I see.”
Globurn glanced nervously at Kay’s expression.
But the man’s face remained completely blank.
“S sit down, Bryn.”
“Yes, Father.”
Brittany sat beside him.
Kay’s gaze remained cold.
“Come to think of it… I heard you asked our Brittany for a dance at the last party. They say you two made quite a beautiful pair, Count Green.”
“Oh?”
Kay narrowed his eyes.
“Is that so? Who told you that?”
“Ah… well…”
Of course he had heard it from Brittany.
“We danced together that night, Count. Don’t you remember?”
Brittany asked brightly.
Looking at her, Kay said indifferently,
“It seems Lady Brittany is very stupid.”
“What?”
“You were the one who asked me to dance. You begged quite desperately. You even added ‘please, just once,’ if I recall correctly.”
Brittany’s face flushed bright red.
Under normal circumstances she would have shouted in rage.
But her opponent was Count Green.
She clenched her skirt and breathed heavily.
It would have been nice if her father stepped in, but Globurn only fidgeted nervously.
Knock knock.
Another knock cut through the heavy silence.
Before anyone answered, the door opened.
Lisi stood behind it.
“Iris, do you even realize where this is—”
Brittany suddenly stood.
Finally she had someone to vent her anger on.
But before she could move, Kay rose first and strode toward Iris.
Wearing a shabby one piece dress that did not suit the room at all, Lisi stood calmly with both hands folded before her.
She watched Kay approach her.
As if it were only natural.
Stopping before her, Kay placed his palm over his stomach and bowed politely.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Iris. And I humbly ask.”
“Please marry me.”