Chapter 80

Deep down, the vassals of the Weiss family—who were loyal to their core—seemed to feel that, family status aside, I was a far better choice than the other families who had ignored Evan until now. After all, they likely hated the gossips who prattled on about the Ducal House they served and were sick of the fickle behavior of nobles who turned their backs in an instant.

 

Even so, in a noble society where recognition is everything, I hadn’t expected establishing myself as Evan’s fiancée to be easy. I felt somewhat dazed by the calm acceptance of the nobles. When the engagement was made in our childhood, it had practically been forced through by the Duke, and Evan’s condition had been poor back then.

 

Engagements between nobles can involve love, but those arranged in childhood are mostly decided by necessity. This was precisely why many had treated me not as a fiancée, but merely as a young lady tending to Evan’s sickbed.

 

“To begin with, have you ever seen the Young Lord look so happy? I suppose that’s why she was the only one allowed to visit the Ducal manor for so long. He refused all of our visits, after all.”

 

‘Huh? This is the first I’m hearing of this.’

 

Hadn’t they stayed away because Evan was dying? I pricked up my ears at the nobles’ chatter. I gave Evan’s sleeve a little tug.

 

“Evan, did you refuse people’s visits?”

 

“Ah….”

 

Evan stole a quick glance at me, then curved his eyes into beautiful crescents as if trying to smooth things over with a smile.

 

“I just didn’t want our time together to be interrupted, Lep. I don’t like being around people I don’t know.”

 

“…….”

 

‘No, weren’t they guests who came out of concern for you?’

 

I had completely assumed that no nobles had actually come to check on him.

 

‘Right… I see….’

 

Thinking about it, the nobles who supported the Duke were still there, and naturally, they would support Evan. There was no way there were no people worried about him. Why am I only realizing this now…?

 

“Evan, why didn’t you tell me?”

 

“Hmm? Tell you what?”

 

“No, about the people! I thought you were….”

 

I had thought he was being treated like a frayed rope about to snap…. I couldn’t bring myself to say it directly, so I trailed off.

 

“There were so many people worried about you…!” I whispered softly.

 

“They are of no value to me.”

 

“What?”

 

“Lep’s concern touched my heart much more. More importantly, it’s a banquet. Come here. Don’t worry about the people around us.”

 

Evan led me toward the center. I let out a surprised “Uh, uh” as I was pulled along. I felt like he had changed the subject, but there were many people to greet—both for Evan and for me. The nobles watched us tentatively before approaching one by one to pay their respects. With Evan standing firmly by my side, I could see them treating me with great care.

 

“It’s been a while since we met once in our childhood.”

 

“Yes, it has.”

 

‘Was she the young lady I saw at the banquet back then?’

 

“By the way, your dress is so beautiful. Was it a gift from the Duchess?” One young lady approached, her eyes sparkling.

 

“No. Evan gave it to me as a gift.”

 

“The moment I saw this dress, I knew Lep was its owner. My mother agreed with my opinion as well.”

 

“Oh my.” The lady covered her mouth and stole a glance at Evan. “…You two are very close.”

 

“Ahaha….”

 

Evan stood beside me with a look of immense satisfaction. I laughed awkwardly. Perhaps it was because I hadn’t known his feelings for so long, but Evan’s proactive behavior often felt a bit awkward to me.

 

“However….” Evan let the word linger. I looked at him, wondering what he was about to say. The words about to leave his mouth felt ominously ominous. “It still falls short of Lep. I thought it would highlight her beauty, but I feel it’s slightly lacking, which is a shame.”

 

The dress designer would have fainted if they heard that.

 

“Next time, I’ll have to call the designer and ask them to make a dress that truly suits Lep best.”

 

He rattled off such embarrassing remarks with a beaming smile.

 

‘Can’t you see the eyes of the ladies in front of us widening?’

 

“I-I think you’re right.”

 

“Lady Clies is so beautiful, after all.”

 

I couldn’t tell if they were just blurting out agreements because they were flustered or if it was a high-level sarcasm.

 

“Evan, stop it!” I nudged him with my elbow, and he pouted as if dissatisfied. I listened to what he had to say, and it was quite something.

 

“Other people get to brag about Lep to others. I was so sad that I couldn’t do the same.”

 

‘Why do I feel like I know exactly who those “other people” are?’

 

It was definitely the Duchess and Piote. I was sure of it.

 

But just then, a sharp question pierced through the harmonious atmosphere.

 

“By the way, why did you attend Her Majesty the Empress’s tea party?”

 

I raised my head. Not everyone was approaching with goodwill. A certain lady questioned me.

 

“Furthermore, I understand that tea party was a place to select the Crown Princess. Did you not consider how it would look to society for the Young Lord’s fiancée to attend such an event? According to the ladies who were there, they say you appeared to be on close terms with His Highness.”

 

The surrounding air grew cold. Some gave awkward smiles, while others cast curious, glancing looks. She didn’t seem to intend to simply condemn me; rather, she looked like she wanted to see what kind of person I was. To them, I was a figure shrouded in mystery. As Evan was about to speak, I stepped in front of him.

 

“I am Evan’s fiancée. I have no relationship of any kind with His Highness. There seems to have been a misunderstanding.”

 

I proudly introduced myself as Evan’s fiancée.

 

“Then what happened with the tea party?”

 

“Her Majesty the Empress sent me an invitation. I knew what kind of talk would arise if I went, but I believed that if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to know what Her Majesty’s intentions were. It’s not my style to just keep avoiding things.”

 

I smiled at the noblewoman who asked, my eyes curving softly. She fanned herself, looking quite surprised.

 

“I see… I understand. I apologize for my rudeness. Truly, you are the lady the Young Lord has chosen.”

 

“Not at all. I believe it is a matter worth being curious about.”

 

I smiled back as if it were nothing. Then, a low voice spoke from behind me.

 

“Are you having a good conversation?”

 

“C-Count Montana?”

 

“Thank you for inviting us.”

 

Count Montana had suddenly appeared from behind. I was startled, but Evan gave a polite greeting. I also hurried to greet him.

 

“I-it has been a long time, Count Montana.”

 

“Welcome, Lady Clies.”

 

Count Montana’s brow furrowed slightly, but the atmosphere wasn’t one of disapproval. The decisive proof that his attitude had changed was likely because Evan had fully recovered. The surroundings fell silent. He was the most powerful person in this ballroom after Evan and the one who had led the vassals all this time, so everyone was being cautious.

 

I kept smiling like a broken robot.

 

‘Let’s look good, look good.’

 

He was someone I would be involved with in many ways in the future, so avoiding him wasn’t the answer. Count Montana and I held eye contact for a long time. Then, he suddenly bowed his waist. Startled, I took a step back.

 

“I apologize, Lady Clies. Please give me the opportunity to apologize to you.”

 

“Pardon…?”

 

Just as I was tensing up to make a good impression, the other person was apologizing. My head tilted to the left at his sudden words. The people around us also seemed quite shocked by Count Montana’s behavior, as they began to whisper. I hurriedly waved my hands.

 

“C-Count, what could you possibly have to apologize to me for?”

 

“Lep, why don’t you go and have a short talk?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Evan seemed to know something. Count Montana stayed quiet, waiting for my decision. Evan whispered softly in my ear, “Everything will be fine.” I looked at Count Montana, who remained bowed, and gave a hesitant nod.

 

“……Alright.”

 

I had no choice but to follow him. Behind us, I could hear the whispers of numerous nobles trying to guess the meaning of his words.

 

“An apology…. I wonder what he means?”

 

“Why, wouldn’t it be that incident? When His Grace said he would hand over the merchant guild to the Young Lady, the Count opposed it vehemently.”

 

“It turns out His Grace’s decision was right. Thanks to that, the name of House Weiss has risen even higher. She is more than qualified to be the Duchess.”

 

“Count Montana was indeed the one who opposed it the most.”

 

“He is a steadfast man, isn’t he?”

 

“The Clies family. Is the current Count Alex Clies? I recall him being a man of great resourcefulness. The lineage isn’t long, but His Grace always liked looking at a person’s character.”

 

“Is Young Master Piote Clies not also remarkable? Among his peers, there are only a handful of knights who could fight on equal terms with the Young Lord.”

 

As we moved away, the nobles’ voices grew faint.

 

“Um… where are we going?”

 

I felt a little anxious as the ballroom receded. However, he just glanced at me and continued on his way.

 

“In here.”

 

It was a small room used as a resting area for nobles. As I cautiously entered, a small spread of refreshments and tea was already prepared on the table. He took a seat across from me. For several minutes, I did nothing but drink tea in silence. Count Montana didn’t even pick up his teacup; he just stared at me silently. Looking at his actions, he really was like a bear. Though he was closer to a grizzly than a cute moon bear.

 

I started to sweat slightly under his calm, downward gaze. Finally, I broke the silence first.

 

“What exactly is it you wish to say?”

 

“I wish to offer my apologies.”

 

He had bowed his waist earlier, and this was an extension of that.

 

‘Just what exactly are you sorry for?’

 

“P-please raise your head.”

 

I couldn’t understand the embarrassment hidden behind that expressionless face. It was actually uncomfortable. What on earth did Count Montana have to apologize to me for…? His statement that he wanted to have a conversation must have been true, because once he started, the words flowed out easily.

 

“I did not like you.”

 

My lips clamped shut. How many people would tell someone to their face that they didn’t like them? He really was a straightforward man. To the point where it was hard to understand how such a person could be the head of the vassals.