Chapter 6

"Claudia, turn this way."

In the greenhouse, while enjoying the flowers that were just in bloom, I was called by Lord Liam. Without thinking, I turned around and felt a rose being gently placed in my ear. It was the valuable rose that had just been explained to me as a result of breeding. Somehow, one of them had been plucked and was now perfectly suited to adorn my hair.

At first, I was bewildered and embarrassed by such treatment as a woman, but after being subjected to it daily, I gradually got used to it. Even when Lord Liam smiled brightly, I no longer flinched.

"Yeah, you look beautiful."

"Being called beautiful by someone as beautiful as Lord Liam..."

I muttered, and he laughed out loud.

"Claudia, you are very beautiful. You should have more confidence. I find it strange that you don't believe it."

"Lord Liam, you know, every time I met the prince, I was called gloomy or that my smile was creepy. At balls, the ladies would giggle at me. What evidence do I have to believe I am beautiful?"

Thinking back to the past, I immediately felt melancholic.

Before entering society, I thought I was quite cute. I wasn't a beauty, but I believed I had a face that could attract the opposite sex. I looked a lot like my mother, and to me, my mother was very beautiful.

But reality was different. Even if I resembled my mother, a slight difference could make me look unattractive.

"Claudia, when you were in the castle, your health was compromised. No matter how much makeup you applied, you looked more pitiful than beautiful."

"Ouch, that's harsh. It hurts."

"Moreover, your face was so gloomy, it looked like a corpse was moving."

Struck by his words, I hung my head. A large hand reached out and lifted my chin. Facing the dazzlingly handsome Lord Liam, I felt like I was about to collapse. I had gotten used to seeing him up close every day since I came here.

"Isn't it different now? In the past three months, your skin has become smooth, and the dark circles under your eyes have disappeared. Your hair has become beautiful and lustrous. Recently, your thoughts have been expressed more clearly."

"...Sleep is great."

He seemed to be complimenting me, but the content was so subtle that I could only manage a vague smile.

"By the way, it's been three months since the engagement was broken off, and our engagement is finally settled. The rest depends on Claudia's feelings."

"Wait, was that engagement proposal still valid?"

Surprised by the sudden change of topic, I widened my eyes. I had spent a leisurely three months without any talk of engagement, so I thought it was over. Besides, during my time here, Lord Liam never mentioned the broken engagement, and it felt as if it had never happened.

Lily, who initially supported Lord Liam, had also stopped mentioning it as we settled into our lives. So, I thought it was over.

"I couldn't just bring you to my house without any preparation."

"I didn't notice any preparation."

"Everything was arranged on the day I brought you here. Thanks to that, it went smoothly."

The day he brought me here was the day the engagement was broken off.

"Regardless of the prince... did the king also agree?"

"During the ball, the king was in another room. He must have heard about it afterward. The kind queen was also powerless, and the king didn't pity you. Although we didn't interact much, he would occasionally say kind words to me, which made me a bit sad."

"The king was angry with the prince for acting on his own. However, since it was announced so publicly, it couldn't be canceled. Moreover, your father immediately proposed a swap of engagement with his half-sister."

"Is that so?"

There was no point in dwelling on what was already over. I had lost interest.

Sighing, Lord Liam's expression darkened for the first time.

"Did you want to remain the prince's fiancée?"

"No? I'm living a very comfortable life now, and talking with Lord Liam is enjoyable."

"That's good to hear."

Usually, our conversation would flow without interruption, but for some reason, it was very difficult to talk. Perhaps it was because we had brought up the topic of the broken engagement. My heart was restless, and I couldn't settle down.

"Claudia."

Lord Liam knelt on one knee.

He extended his right hand to me.

"I've been watching you. Will you take my hand?"

"But..."

"Are you worried about something?"

"I was called incompetent at the ball."

Although I had grown attached to Lord Liam over the past three months after the engagement was broken off, it felt too soon to decide on a new fiancé.

"Then, what if I told you that this engagement is also an apology from the king?"

"Huh?"

"Since you were engaged for years and were given an unreasonable amount of work during that time, I think it's the royal family's responsibility to properly arrange your next engagement."

Is that so?

I had heard that a noble girl with a flaw who was jilted by the royal family would be sent to a convent or a remote area. That's why I had planned to go to a neighboring country and live on my own instead of entering a convent.

"You don't have to think too hard. If I get engaged to you, I will cherish you and pamper you. I won't even ask you to return the same amount of love. I just want you to think about whether you can be with me until death."

Somehow, Lord Liam's feelings felt heavier than I expected.

I had questions, but as Lily said, matters of love between men and women aren't logical. I didn't dislike Lord Liam, and I was content with my current peaceful life.

After much deliberation, I gently placed my hand in his.

"Please take care of me."

I replied in a tiny voice.

"Thank you! I'm sorry, but I have to attend a ball tomorrow night."

"Ball?"

"Yes. I will report to the king that our engagement is settled. Also, the prince is insisting that you be brought, so I want to make it official here."

Hearing about the prince, I felt my blood run cold.

"Right now, by accepting Lord Liam's proposal, our engagement is official, right?"

"Yes. It's final, so you don't need to worry."

Even as he said I didn't need to worry, Lord Liam's smile seemed to hint at something sinister, which was scary. I felt very reluctant about going to the ball tomorrow night, but I couldn't refuse.