Chapter 1.3

She could see Viscount Grant’s house, which retained the dignity of its former days. Prillance’s heart throbbed as she approached the carriage door.

Albert, the butler of the Grant family, came up as she reached the carriage door.

“I am Albert, the Grant family’s butler.”

Embarrassed by the unexpected guest’s visit, Albert looked at Marquis Weiand’s carriage with a slightly bewildered look.

This was not the first time a lady made such a sudden visit.

In fact, it had become an occasional occurrence since the fall of Ver’s title to a Viscount. The ladies, who couldn’t even talk to him during his days as a Marquis’ son, came without prior notification to meet Ver Grant who became lower or equal to their families.

The ladies, who visited Viscount Grant’s house, wanted to meet Ver, whose title has declined but still had good looks and noble dignity. Albert severely felt the change of the family’s status.

But none of the visits had been from a Marquis’ house. Known to be the flower of social circles and rumored to marry Duke Tonz, this lady’s visit was even more surprising.

“Viscount Grant……Is he inside?”

“Yes, he is here.”

Lady Weiand carefully inquired, but she was known to be fussy. They haven’t had good reception treats lately, so no tea was available for her picky taste.

Albert was worried she would find fault with them.

“This won’t take long.”

Prillance, who read the discomfort from Albert, quickly added. She knew her character’s reputation better than anyone else, so she could guess what Albert was thinking.

“Then please wait a moment.”

After being away for a while to ask Ver, Albert returned. He finally appeared within Prillance’ sight, who was anxious to see if she had been rejected.

“I will guide you inside.”

Fortunately, words of permission came from him.

Prillance carefully came down from the carriage and walked along with Albert. Albert’s guidance stopped when he reached the large gate inscribed with the Grant’s signatory wolf.

Like the wolves inscribed in the pattern, the Grants lived for the sake of integrity. And Ver, who would continue to live like that, was behind that door.

The door opened. Prillance took a deep breath and took a careful step.

“Welcome, Lady.”

She heard a low voice. A handsome black-haired young man greeted her.

As a result, Prillance was frozen in place for a while. Ver’s face was more handsome than she expected. Pitch-black hair, dark gray eyes – straight eyes which made him look upright.

Unlike his tired eyes, his neatly locked buttons and tidy clothes showed his character trying to be polite under any circumstances.

Ver, who she had only read in books, was in front of Prillance.

“Lady Weiand…you asked for me?”

But he was not alone in the drawing room. A visibly embarrassed lady greeted her. The same thing happened to Prillance.

“Would you like to sit over here?”

Ver was the only person who remained calm amidst the situation. As he gently pulled the chair in the parlor, only then did Prillance come to her senses and walk towards the spot. Ver, minding his manners, sat in the middle of Prillance and the other lady.

Soon a maid came in and prepared tea. At that moment, Prillance looked at Ver’s face once more. He was in front of her eyes, but it still felt amazing no matter what she thought.

His short hair shook slightly as he raised his cup and drank tea with a straight back. Having taken a sip of tea with his eyes slightly lowered, his profile was manly, unlike his features.

His hands, which put down the cup, did not look soft nor beautiful because he often practiced with the sword. But the hand was manly because it looked large and rough.

“We couldn’t entertain the Lady’s preferred tea on such a sudden visit. Still, this one has a nice scent.”

It was meant for Prillance, who had no response even though the tea was in front of her.

“Ah…”

Only then did Prillance, who caught the eye of Ver, take a sip of tea. The fragrant tea calmed down the excitement of their sudden meeting.

“It indeed has a nice scent.”

Thanks to this, Prillance found composure and replied with a smile.

“That’s good to hear.”

After that it was quiet again. Occasionally she heard the sound of the tea being drunk and the cup being put down. And there was Prillance, who looked closely at Ver as if she had something to say, and the other lady, who looked at her and was as anxious as she was.

“There must have been an urgent reason why you two came to see me.”

In the end, Ver lost his patience and was the first to open his mouth. He touched his eyes as if tired. He was hoping the matter would be over quickly if they intended to laugh at him.

Prillance’s gaze turned to the person opposite her. She intended to say that she wanted to be considerate and let the other lady speak first, but the other lady felt a silent pressure due to Prillance’ sharp gaze.

“That’s…Well…”

Embarrassed, the other lady stuttered. There was no way she could compete with Lady Weiand, the queen of social circles.

“Don’t tell me…”

Prillance spoke quietly, covering her mouth with her hands. It was obviously a surprised gesture.

“If you don’t have anything to say, it would be best to just leave.”

Soon her eyes and voice became sharp.

“…Th, that…I’ll go first.”

The other lady, who clasped her dress tightly, left the place with a bow.

Unlike her, who held back her anger with a deep breath, Ver got up and saw her off to the door.

“You look tired.”

Ver came back and sat down. His face looked worn out. It looked like he was used to this type of situation.

When she saw Ver’s pain right in front of her, which she had only read in the novel, she felt like crying. It hurt her more because she knew the ending of the love he tried to keep so much. Prillance turned her head out the window to swallow the rising tears.

Perhaps he hasn’t been out for days. He wouldn’t sleep and just concentrate on his work. It was a way for him to endure the pain, as someone who embraced all his sorrows by himself.

“Lady…”

From Ver’s point of view, he hoped Prillance would talk to him quickly and leave, but she didn’t seem to intend to. As he tried to speak again, she suddenly stood up.

“Would you like to go outside?”

What caught her eye was a sunny garden. Finally, she grabbed Ver’s arm lightly and led him outside.

The servants stared in amazement. Passing the servants, Ver only came to his senses when they were already in the garden.

“It’s nice to get some fresh air.”

Prillance said to Ver, who looked at her bewilderedly. Then she took a deep breath. As he looked up, the sun was already shining in the sky.

Feeling unused to the light, Ver realized that he hadn’t been out for a long time.

“Sunlight is good for you.”

Prillance smiled at Ver who looked more relaxed. Although this was the only thing she could do, she wanted to at least relieve a little bit of his tension.

But she realized that although she was the one who led him out, she had also only stayed inside her home for the last few days. ’ Who is doing this for whom.’ When she realized that, a small smile formed in her mouth.

When Ver looked sideways, he saw Prillance smiling. Her usual appearance during balls and social gatherings could not be found in the face which had little make-up at the moment.

The usual sharp mood and piercing eyes became gentle. Perhaps because of this, he could not have imagined she could be someone who could look so pure.

As Ver looked at Prillance’s unusual mood, he met her eyes.

Soon, her pale brown eyes, which grew in amazement, caught his attention as they shone brilliantly in the sun.

Ver thought those eyes were quite lovely.

Prillance was worried that smiling by herself, she might seem like a mad woman, so she carefully turned her eyes to avoid his gaze.

“The sun’s rays activate the body’s cells and make them healthy. That…It’s like photosynthesis.”

“Huh?”

“Oh, nevermind.”

When Ver asked back at the gibberish, Prillance waved her hand.

“…Shall we walk for a bit?”

Prillance switched topics again, and fortunately Ver didn’t ask anymore. But in fact, he was right to say that he didn’t hear her properly. Her words didn’t really touch his ears because Prillance’s eyes caught his attention.

There was still no conversation between the two who walked alongside each other, but the various sounds around them filled the quietness and were not uncomfortable.

“Lady, you may speak.”

Ver recalled that she hadn’t spoken so far. He thought Prillance was choosing what to say. Of course, since they had very little contact before, he did not know what to expect.

‘Maybe she came here out of the blue because she thought I had tarnished the title of a Marquis.’

He thought about this and waited for her to say something. On the contrary, Prillance was in trouble. She didn’t know what to say. But she wanted to tell Ver something that would help him.

‘Fighting. Cheer up. This too shall pass.’ only abstract, vague and unhelpful words came to her mind.

Prillance stopped thinking and looked at Ver’s tired face. Now that she thought of it, Ver lost his father, became an object of attention in the country, and sent his loved one away.

“I…”

After a long time, Prillance opened her mouth. Ver’s eyes naturally turned to her. Did she come to ridicule or see his different appearance? Ver wondered what Prillance was trying to say.

“I’m on the Viscount’s side.”

But what she said was a completely different story he had never even imagined. So he just stared at Prillance, not even thinking about hiding his bewildered face.

“What I’m trying to say is…I believe in the former Marquis’ innocence, and I believe the Viscount will rise again.”

Prillance wanted to let him know that there was someone who believed in him and his family. It was the best thing she could say.

“So please have strength.”

At the end of the novel there was a different background to the truth, and the Grant family, who was cleared of the charges, regained the title of a Marquis.

Of course, as always, behind it was Prillance, the villainess. But as long as she was Prillance, she couldn’t say that. She just hoped to give him some strength.

Seeing her speaking so confidently, Ver felt strange. Even while his father was alive, the two Marquises’ families had little to no interaction.

Marquis Weiand, who had been a Marquis since the establishment of the Arceo Empire, was a member of the emperor’s faction for generations. And a former knight who took part in the war, the former Marquis Grant had been a member of parliament since he cut the head of the Red Army and led the victory during the war.

What Congress did at the time was originally to agree with the opinion of the imperial family, but the former Marquis Grant’s actions were a little different.

Standing on the position of the parliamentary bloc, he both supported and opposed the opinions of the imperial family, depending on what he believed was right or wrong. Because of their politically different moves, the Weiand and Grant families were not affiliated with each other, but rather lived in acknowledgment of each other without crossing the line.

So it was very awkward that Lady Weiand suddenly asked to meet, and suddenly believed in his family’s innocence.

“…Thank you.“

Nevertheless, it was true that he was thankful for Prillance’s words.

He knew better than anyone that his father was innocent, but he couldn’t say so out loud. The imperial family and all the nobles would not listen to anything he had to say.

How much trouble would the lady get into for having said these words? That’s why Prillance’s confident words helped Ver. Even if she was a lady who didn’t know politics, maybe they were words he wanted to hear the most.

“Never give up easily.”

Whether it’s his heart or life.

Swallowing the end of her words, Prillance wished him happiness.