Chapter 12

At night, unable to settle down, I left my dinner unfinished and sat by the window in a room lit only by the moonlight, gazing blankly at the moon.

I share only half of my blood with my sister, but I am related to my parents by blood.

Perhaps my sister, deep down, also knew that she wasn't a noble, that she was somehow an outsider in this family.

Thinking about this, I could understand a little why my sister had confined me to my room. I could understand, but I couldn't empathize or accept it. In the glamorous social world, her charm and ability to captivate people might have been her support.

That's why she probably wanted a glamorous husband. But it's not unusual for noble marriages to involve background checks.

The Chaltery family is a prominent one. The work comes with great responsibility. They can't take a mediocre person as a bride, so it's natural for them to think I might be suitable.

My mother's affair was with a commoner. She was seduced by his good looks and sweet words... which means my sister doesn't have noble blood.

Judging people by their blood is wrong. There are noble-minded commoners and nobles who are tainted by dark thoughts and do dirty deeds.

Still, despite being a noble myself, I have such a complex about my sister, whom I thought was just like me. I held back from saying "someone like me" many times.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. My eyes had adjusted to the darkness, so I put on a shawl and opened the door.

"Can we talk for a bit before you go to sleep?"

"Next in line to be the Earl... I'm sorry, but today..."

"I brought something to help you sleep well."

In his hands were two mugs steaming with a faintly sweet smell of milk.

I couldn't refuse his thoughtfulness, so I invited him into my room.

In the dimly lit room, we sat side by side on the sofa, and I took the mug he handed me with both hands.

"Oh... chamomile..."

"Honey and milk help you sleep well."

He didn't mention our conversation from earlier. He had said he had a reason for choosing me, but I couldn't find such a reason in myself.

I took a sip. The gentle warmth and sweetness made me realize how cold I had been. The soothing aroma that reached my nose made me feel at ease.

"I actually met Mimosa once. I took a day off to do it."

"Really...?"

"I just watched from a distance. On the release day of Mother's book, she always goes to the largest bookstore in town. You're a fan of Mother, and Mother is a fan of your fan letters and embroidery. If she didn't like you, it would be easier to choose someone else, but she said, 'I don't think there's anyone as suitable as this girl for you.'"

"Well... that's embarrassing. I always sent fan letters with a handkerchief enclosed three days after the release date..."

The next in line to be the Earl chuckled. Even in the dim light, he had a truly well-proportioned figure and appearance.

"So, when she said that... I went to see. She was wearing a plain but well-made dress, and her cheeks were flushed as if she was going to meet a lover... Mimosa was cute like a little squirrel even back then. I watched her pick up the book from the pile, hold it carefully with both hands, and walk home with a full smile, even though no one was watching... and, well, I kind of... my brain shut down."

"Did I look that excited in the bookstore?"

I could tell he was confessing with embarrassment, but I was more focused on that. I was completely unaware. How careless.

I absolutely wanted to buy the book myself. On that day, I dressed as well as I could to go to the bookstore. I didn't want to do anything embarrassing as a fan.

"So... Mother discovered you, but Mimosa, I fell in love with you. ...I want you to call me Percival soon. It feels like I'm still in love from afar when we're going to get married."

Then, when I looked at his face... he looked like a large dog that had been abandoned, and I couldn't help but smile.

I took one hand off the slightly cooled mug and placed it on his palm.

"Lord Percival... I also want you to call me cute and to freeze when you see me... I don't know much more than that yet. But I like you."

It was an honest feeling.

Lord Percival put the mug on the table and covered his eyes for a moment, as if his brain had shut down again.

After looking up and down, he finished savoring the contents of the mug, said goodnight, and left.

I couldn't help but smile at his reaction.