Chapter 22

“Butler Albert.”

One of the Grant household’s servants came to Albert.

“What’s the matter?”

“Truthfully……”

He spoke with hesitation. The way the servant looked back and forth at his surroundings, he seemed to be concerned about Ver hearing their conversation.

“The master is currently sleeping.”

Albert commented, recalling that Ver, who said he would only go for a short walk, did not return until dawn.

Just like in the past, Ver had caused a commotion, as he returned with his clothes stained with dirt and soil. Back then, he had always been beaming whenever he came back. But today, he returned with fathomless, sunken eyes.

With only one flower in one hand.

“I think I saw Viscount Royne’s carriage a little while ago.”

“What?”

“I’m not sure, but I think it was headed to the cliff.”

Viscount Royne had never been to the cliff. His business has always been at the Marquis Grant residence.

So if it headed for the cliff, it would have been Lady Royne. Albert knew how unfortunate and regrettable the relationship between Ver and Cecia was.

Albert’s eyes turned to Ver’s room. It was probably the first time in days that Ver had been able to fall asleep. Albert wondered whether he should wake him up.

“I probably have to let him know.”

Albert lifted the flowerpot. When he came in at dawn, Ver had asked him to plant the flower in a pot.

Albert was already headed to Ver’s room to place the pot there anyways.

Knock. Knock.

Albert rapped on the door and declared he had something to say, however there was no response. He figured Ver had probably fallen deeply asleep. So he opened the door carefully and went inside.

Ver, who he thought was asleep, stood by the window.

“I did not know you were awake.”

Albert stated, hiding his embarrassment.

“Since you came in even though I did not answer, it must be something urgent. What’s the matter?”

Although he wore an exhausted look, it was not a look of reproach.

The gaze turned to Albert for a moment before turning outwards once more. He watched Ver, a forlorn figure standing alone by the window.

“Lady Royne seems to have gone to the promenade’s trail.”

At the mention of Cecia’s name, a look of surprise fleeted through Ver’s face.

But that was all. The expression passed by his face quickly, but his face soon returned to its original look. He couldn’t tell whether he was lost in thought, but Ver gave no further word.

“I thought it was something worth mentioning. Also, I will drop off the flowerpot you’ve requested here.”

Albert, who had expected an immediate response from him, felt a little awkward. Then he put the flowerpot down by the window. Matters concerning Cecia had always been a top priority for Ver. That was why Albert told him about it.

“Alright.”

That was the end of it. Albert sensed that Ver had nothing more to say. It was time for him to bid adieu and leave.

“If it’s not a guest coming to the residence, you don’t have to let me know.”

Ver added. That’s right, it was no longer necessary.

“Wait.”

As Ver spoke out once more, Albert looked at him, waiting for his next words. Albert could see his expression very well.

It was a face he had seen recently. It was a face that was filled bitterness, but also longing. Then Ver looked at the flower in the pot and added,

“If another carriage comes headed for the cliff…….”

He didn’t know if someone else would ever come by the promenade again.

The odds were slim. So Ver could not finish his words.

Will there be another?

“Yes, my lord.”

Nevertheless, Albert understood what he was saying. So he replied to his unfinished words. He left the room as Ver continued to peer at the flowers. Then he went to find the servant who had previously told him about Royne’s carriage.

“I have notified the master so you may go back to work.”

“I understand.”

“Oh, and if you ever see the carriage of Marquis Weiand in the future, let me know right away.”

He didn’t forget to add these words to the servant who was about to return to work. After 40 years of being a butler, with just one look at the master, he was someone who knew what to do.

***

“I will no longer do the same things I did before.”

The voice and expression of Prillance reverberating around his ears did not leave Roman. Because of those words, he did not attach a person to watch Cecia, who had met with Prillance the same day.

A few days later, Cecia, who was currently eating in front of him, looked just like usual. Although she didn’t look too well, it didn’t seem like anything happened.

“Did something happen recently?”

“My father’s business is doing well. Perhaps soon…….”

Cecia replied, recalling her father who had not said much. Roman was not a man who usually inquired about herself.

“No, I am talking about yourself.”

Roman stated, cutting off Cecia’s words.

“Oh……I’m fine.”

Cecia answered, turning her eyes away. It was as if Roman sensed something.

“……I see.”

There was a pause in their conversation and silence fell.

“What do you think of this engagement?”

“Pardon?”

“For example, eating together like this, being partners for parties. Such things.”

Cecia did not answer and blinked. Roman calmly waited for Cecia. Cecia, on the one hand, was thinking about what to say.

“That……Is it important?”

Cecia responded after much thought. It didn’t mean much to Cecia. Marriage was meant to be for the benefit of the family – this was something nailed in her since she became a noble.

In the past, she was lucky enough to be engaged to her beloved, Ver. But when their engagement had been broken, nothing else could have been meaningful.

“Are you saying it is just a combination of two households?”

“……Is it not?”

If marriage and engagement held meaning, it would only be a weakness. There were even ladies who would wield what they had in order to destroy the meaning of that marriage.

Whether it was marriage or engagement, that was all it was.

Thinking of Prillance, who reminded Cecia of her feelings for Ver, she grasped the fork a little harder.

“……That’s right.”

Perhaps it was the answer Roman expected. That was certainly what most nobles did. A marriage of households was just a means to an end. It was just one of the things to show for in aristocratic society. Even for himself, one of the main reasons he chose Cecia was because of the vast business dealings Viscount Royne had.

But for Prillance, why did it all seem to go beyond the simple union of noble households? Was she just a vicious woman? Was she just a woman who sought luxury? Was she just a woman who wanted fame and glory?

After the day she saw another side of her, which he had never expected, Roman began to re-evaluate his impression of Prillance. Those questions were shaking up the things that he had previously considered logical. Now, he couldn’t even begin to guess what she was thinking.

It wasn’t just Prillance. Everything around him began to feel incongruent. For instance, even right now, he questioned whether the assessment he had of Cecia was really correct.

She seemed infinitely tender-hearted, as well as someone to be protected. However, he wondered if she was indeed such a woman. Even after her engagement was called off, and even after their sudden engagement, she looked calm and was able to bravely carry on. Or so he thought. However, after hearing her answer to his questions just now, he began to question that front. Perhaps rather than bravely carrying on, it was more right to say that she was just resigned.

He felt like things that he thought were status quo were changing little by little.

‘I must be out of my mind.’

Roman thought as he recollected his currently aching head.

Cecia looked at Roman. The man whom Prillance wanted to marry. The same Prillance who played with her heart. She was a woman who pursued marriage with him while shaking another person’s heart. Now, she wouldn’t let herself just sit idly and suffer.

The rest of their dinner became quiet as the two became engrossed in their own thoughts.