Chapter 4

"…………"

I fall into deep thought.

The phrase "a boat when you need to cross" floats through my mind.

First, Father would surely object. A marriage with Celian would be an unparalleled match. He would insist that I must make it happen.

But the social gap between Celian and me is too wide. That's what worries me the most.

Even the quality of our clothes differs.

Every time I visit Celian's house before the wedding, I would feel the disparity and become disheartened.

Most importantly, even if Celian's parents accept me as their son's wife, his relatives might whisper behind my back, "What's a viscount's daughter with no decent land doing here? She must be after the inheritance."

If that happens, all the other nobles with connections would start avoiding me.

In isolation, I wouldn't be able to maintain the social life necessary for a noble. Even my friends would start keeping their distance, and those who worry about me wouldn't be able to help because they don't want to anger Celian's family.

I would undoubtedly fall ill...

I can see such a future.

Even knowing that it might be difficult, I would need the kind of passion that makes me think, "I can't live without you!" to take the plunge.

Without that emotional support, I can't bring myself to marry someone of a different social status.

Moreover, things would become awkward between Celian and me. We were good friends, and it would be a loss to ruin that.

The more I think about it, the more my hesitation overcomes me.

"…Can I have a little time to think about it?"

In the end, that's what I said.

Celian didn't look particularly disappointed and said,

"As long as you're with me, I can create a garden or a field without getting angry, so I'm looking forward to it."

He ended the conversation casually, and I felt relieved.

I've only postponed it, but if I were to refuse, it would be easier for Celian to accept it if we went through this stage.

I also wanted to take a little time to think.

To consider whether I have the courage to accept Celian's proposal and whether I can come up with any strategies.

...

It wasn't until the next night that I realized I was the only one taking my time to think about it.

I was attending a party hosted by a certain earl.

An earl who had helped my father in the past. I had attended parties at this earl's house many times before.

Today, the main event was a dance party. After dinner in a separate room, we were led to another grand hall.

The music flowed gently.

People either danced gracefully or chatted while watching the dancers, with bards occasionally singing heroic tales and love stories.

The topics of conversation ranged from casual rumors among the nobles to negotiations between territories.

And, of course, talk of arranged marriages.

"Where has Father gone...?"

Today, Father was my escort. Usually, he would introduce me to other nobles' children or relatives, but today, he had disappeared somewhere.

So, I naturally ended up talking to acquaintances.

My gaze kept drifting to a certain point.

There, Celian, whom I had just met yesterday, was chatting with people. It seemed he had also been invited to the same party.

Celian, who had left the clergy, was attending the party as the "son of the Diorel Marquess family," dressed in noble attire.

Quite a few people had gathered around him.

Most were noblewomen and male nobles, curious about his return to the noble world or hoping to secure him as a son-in-law because he was the third son of a marquess family.

I was thinking about how popular he was when my friend Elise, who was also at the party, whispered to me,

"That's the son of the Diorel Marquess family, you know. He looks just like the eldest son."

I laughed at Elise's comment. It was natural for brothers to look alike.

"Still, he's so charming... It's no wonder people are gathering around him as a potential groom."

"Right."

I responded casually, but then I caught sight of a familiar face.

—Charlotte.

Charlotte, wearing a delicate pink dress, was looking at Celian with a dreamy gaze.

"…No way."

The words slipped out of my mouth.

Could it be that she is infatuated with Celian!?

Not long ago, she was being protected by Felix, but Charlotte herself wasn't in love with Felix. At that time, only Felix had feelings for her, to the point of composing poetry in his heart.

If that's the case, does that mean Felix has been rejected by Charlotte?

Elise also noticed Charlotte.

"Is she trying to get close to Lord Celian this time? I heard she was flirting with quite a few other men too."

"Really?"

I tilted my head, and Elise looked exasperated.

"Despite all the trouble she caused, she's so relaxed. Half of the people who backed out of marriage talks with Livia were apparently charmed by Charlotte? Thanks to her, Charlotte is now very unpopular with some of the noble ladies."

It seems Charlotte had been quite active without my knowledge.

"Maybe because she was always making strange accusations, I didn't notice her true nature..."

I had formed a fixed image of her as a strange and eccentric person.

"Still, why does she keep harassing me like this?"

I don't remember doing anything to warrant such treatment.

"It's not like she's my family's enemy."

"I don't understand either. But there are people who complain just because they have a bad feeling about someone from the start. Maybe she's one of those types?"

"If that's the case, I really have no choice but to avoid her."