Chapter 32

“Ah.”

Seeing Ver coming out of Jack’s office, Prillance stopped in her tracks. Even though she only gave off a tiny sound, Ver’s head turned to where she was.

The eyes of the two met. She became flustered at the unexpected encounter with him and shook her head faintly.

“I greet Lady Weiand.”

Facing each other, only after hearing his voice did she realize that the situation was real and not a figment of her imagination. His behaviour seemed natural, as if he had frequented the place.

“Father.”

Prillance, who belatedly saw Jack, greeted him.

“Prillance, you’re up.”

Jack smiled softly at her.

“Will you join us? I am going to have lunch with Viscount Grant. Is that alright with you, Viscount?”

After giving the suggestion, Jack was a little proud. He felt like a broad-minded father who, in the end, listened to what his daughter had wanted so much.

“I would be honored.” (Ver)

At the reply, Ver’s gaze remained directed toward Prillance.

“Will you join us?” (Ver)

His question conveyed that the course of the meal would be up to Prillance. Ver and Jack waited for her reply.

“…Yes. I would be honored.”

Ver became visibly relieved by Prillance’s acceptance. Just yesterday, she had refused his entrance to their house’s knights.

Jack headed to the dining room first, while Ver waited until she came down the stairs.

When Prillance reached the last step, he carefully extended his hand.

“What are you doing here so early in the morning?”

A small hand was placed on his palm. Ver gently grasped her hand and began to walk toward the dining room.

“I’m here to see Marquis Weiand.”

Prillance stopped in her tracks. Likewise, Ver halted his steps.

“Don’t tell me…you’re here because of what you said yesterday?”

She didn’t look too happy when she first saw him at the mansion. Perhaps, she was still dumbfounded by the fact that he was here.

Ver answered her question with silence.

“Marquis Weiand must be waiting for us.”

He led Prillance. After being drawn by him, Prillance stopped walking once more. Naturally, Ver’s steps also halted.

The two’s eyes met.

“My decision wasn’t made out of impulse.”

Ver replaced what she was going to say.

“…Please know that.”

It wasn’t out of impulse, but it wasn’t just about trying to keep his promise either. Ver did not speak any further and looked away.

Prillance knew best that he wasn’t such a person. And more than anyone else, it was she who had wanted him to become one of their family’s knights.

But just as he was hurt by her actions, she couldn’t just ask him to quit, considering how badly the alternative would hurt later on.

“Let’s eat first.”

Perhaps it didn’t have to be now.

Prillance decided to postpone her refusal. And decided to reach his hand just a little more.

It had been a while since the dining room of Marquis Weiand had been lively.

“Haha. So that was what Marquis Grant was like. Was he like that at home as well?”

Jack looked jovial as he talked about Ver’s father.

“It wasn’t very different.”

After the incident broke out, no one had shared his father’s story like this till today. A tiny smile formed around Ver’s mouth.

It was like his father was still alive. Rather than being uncomfortable, he felt a bit touched. It was similar to what he had felt the first time Prillance visited his house.

“Still, he was different in front of my mother.”

“Ah. That too, I remember.”

It had been a while since he recalled the image of Marquis Grant. He remembered how nobles in the assembly had clicked their tongues at the sight of someone who was known to be a passionate debater become a passionate lover.

Thanks to this, Jack experienced a lack of heated greetings in social circles as Marquis Grant had overshadowed him.

But in reality, Jack was as much of a passionate lover as Marquis Grant. In fact – to this day, he was still decorating and cultivating the mansion with the things that his wife loved and continued to make donations in her name to organizations she had used to sponsor when she was still alive.

Nevertheless, the sudden parting was poison for a family’s loved ones. At least, for Jack, it had been like that. He remembered that Ver was the only one left in the Grant family.

“Viscount Grant will surely be good to his wife.”

Hence, he casually changed the subject.

“I will have to work hard.”

At his response, Ver’s gaze lingered for a brief moment on Prillance before turning away. At the same time, Prillance’s eyes also peeked at Ver before shifting to the dish in front of her.

Seeing the coming and going glances, Jack looked at the two curiously.

***

“I cannot do that.”

“Father.”

Jack and Prillance faced each other at his office. It was after their meal had ended.

Unlike her affection-filled gaze, her request was to cancel the acceptance of Ver as a knight.

“Isn’t this what you wanted?”

Jack could not understand. A few months ago, when she had asked for Viscount Grant to become a knight of their house, he had been against it, refusing at the time. How had things had changed so differently in just a few months?

“You were against it then. Nothing has changed, so why is it alright now?”

“It is a fact that Viscount Grant himself came to me.”

Jack would not do anything unless someone came to him first. Everything required the will of the person. He would not refuse anyone who came to him first for a better life – unless it was for ill intentions, such as revenge or resentment. It was because he believed in their will.

Besides, he wasn’t the only one who thought so. Jack remembered Roman, whose eyes had glistened during their last conversation about Ver.

It wasn’t just because of Jack’s promise with Prillance. He remembered how pleased he was that Ver Grant was a knight who did not belong to any house.

His intuition told him he should not miss this opportunity.

“If you really want that, convince Viscount Grant yourself.”

“Father.”

“If he himself quits, then I, too, will accept his decision.”

Jack replied with a relaxed smile. They both knew it would not be easy. But again, no one knew if she would win again this time.

“Those words, you must definitely keep them.”

She lightly bid farewell and left his office, but as he saw her bite her lips, he could tell how she felt.

“It won’t be easy.”

Jack remarked to himself inside the office.

The Ver he had met today resembled Marquis Grant, who had been more stubborn and principled than anyone else he knew. Hence, Ver would also be a man who would innately refuse to change what he decided was right, especially in this choice.

“He really resembles the Marquis.”

On the other hand, he had this brief idea that Ver, who resembled Marquis Grant, would definitely be a fine husband.