Chapter 16

Roman put the cup down and waited for Ver’s answer. It was an unexpected proposal. Ver became briefly flustered but soon remembered his promise to Prillance – if he ever decided to become a knight, the first place he would go to was the house of Marquis Weiand.

“Thank you for your offer, but I will have to refuse.”

Despite Ver’s refusal, Roman remained calm. He had already expected it.

“Is it because of Lady Weiand?”

Ver was taken aback by Roman’s question. How did Duke Tonz know?

“It’s obvious if you consider which family wouldn’t leave a knight of your caliber alone. Besides, you recently accompanied her as your partner.”

Even before Ver could reply, Roman calmly gave a remark he prepared in advance.

“We didn’t necessarily become partners for that reason. But, yes, she was the first to give an offer.”

It was as if the relationship between the two was tied only because of her employment offer. So, Ver pointed out that it wasn’t.

And that was the reaction Roman expected.

He smiled furtively.

“Now that I think of it, I often see you and Lady Weiand together. Are you two close?”

“We are friends.”

“Since when?”

Even though James had already relayed this information to him, Roman asked as if he didn’t know.

“Why are you curious about that?”

“If I’m not mistaken, I think it was after your family’s title had fallen from a Marquis to a Viscount.”

“Does it matter?”

“I was offered an engagement, you see.”

Roman’s conversation was odd today. He changed the subject several times and kept beating around the bush.

There was no content in their conversation so far.

“Duke. Please stop speaking in riddles and just quickly tell me the main point.”

Ver decided to ask him straight on.

“From Lady Weiand.”

Roman no longer spoke in veiled words. He watched as the face of the person across him changed strangely. The expression pleased Roman.

Ver knew that Prillance liked Roman. However, it was the first time he heard talks of their engagement.

Ver quickly tried to fix his expression. Nevertheless, an unknown disturbance remained in his mind.

“It hasn’t been some time since your fall from a Marquis to a Viscount.”

Roman had something more to say. As Ver’s expression changed each time he spoke, Roman felt like Prillance should have witnessed Ver’s current state

He himself didn’t have the best temper, but it seemed that Ver’s temper grew worse the more he spoke about her.

“And right now, I’m about to be engaged with Lady Royne.”

“Just now……”

“That’s right. I got an engagement offer from Lady Weiand. But prior to that, my engagement with Lady Royne was already underway.”

Ver needed time to sort things out. What and how the events occurred. Roman said the engagement between Cecia and Roman took place first. Then, Prillance gave him an engagement offer afterward. To Duke Tonz – the person in front of him.

Ver raised his head and looked at Roman.

‘But why are you telling me this?’

Roman noticed Ver’s inquiring gaze and smiled.

“You think it’s strange too. You and Lady Royne, who were once engaged, and I and Lady Weiand, who is known to flagrantly chase after me among social circles.”

When Ver heard it, it became apparent that everyone was involved in one way or another.

“In fact, Lady Weiand came to me and gave an offer. Something only the Marquis has…”

Something only Marquis Weiand had. They had much wealth and land, but there must be a Ver in it, to prevent his engagement with Cecia. Something that would be attractive to Roman.

At that moment, a thought that Ver didn’t want to believe passed through his mind.

“On the condition of the Weiand family’s Order of Knights.”

Suddenly, one of the conversations he had with Prillance came to Ver’s mind. She had asked if he could be one of their family’s knights.

“And if she offered this to me……”

Roman deliberately said nothing after. Letting one’s imagination run was better than saying them directly. Ver, the person in front of him, would have many different thoughts about it and come to a conclusion on his own.

Ver shook his head. After all, Prillance said it was not her intention to use him. That…that’s right. He tried to recall her expression at the time. But instead, worse thoughts kept surging through his mind.

Roman drank the tea in front of him and wondered when he should call for Prillance. What kind of expression would she make this time? Remembering her ever-changing expressions, Roman smiled.

“What I have proposed to you is always valid, so let me know if you ever change your mind.”

Roman spoke his last few words towards Ver before leaving. The revelation rendered him speechless. After Roman left, Ver squeezed his forehead.

He needed time to think.

T/N: I think I should give some more explanation since the chapter’s flow can be a bit confusing. In this chapter, Ver found out that not only are Roman and Cecia about to be engaged but more importantly, Prillance gave an engagement offer to Roman. And in her offer, she gave the attractive benefit of being able to use the Weiand family’s First Order of knights. Hence, it seems like Prillance gave an offer to Ver (and kept meeting him) for this reason. Not just to use him in order to sweeten the deal of her engagement offer to Roman, but also to disrupt the engagement between Roman and Cecia (because Ver and Cecia were once engaged).