Esperad read the letter from the Grandier Duke’s family once more.
[I am Asili of the Grandier family.
That day, at Petro Rose, I committed a great discourtesy to Your Grace. I would like to meet you in person to formally apologize.
If you permit, I will visit tomorrow afternoon.]
Although he had granted permission for Duke Grandier’s daughter to visit, he couldn’t understand why.
Despite being distracted by his fiancée’s death, he couldn’t recall any lady making a mistake towards him.
“Master, Lady Grandier has arrived.”
“Guide her to the reception room. Prepare some refreshments.”
“Yes, understood.”
His brow furrowed as he stared at the closing door. The very fact that Lady Grandier’s visit was connected to the banquet at Count Gerryburn’s house troubled him.
That marriage arrangement was pursued by Albert, his close friend and heir to the Count Gerryburn title.
The atmosphere wasn’t good, as Esperad’s fiancées had died twice in succession. He knew there were people within the Gerryburn family who opposed it.
However, Albert insisted that only Esperad was trustworthy enough to take his sister, refusing to change his mind even when Esperad himself tried to dissuade him.
Esperad was eventually persuaded by Albert and promised him. He promised to protect Violetta no matter what.
But that promise wasn’t kept. No, it couldn’t be kept.
Esperad lost his fiancée along with his faith and friendship. However, what remained wasn’t a sense of loss, but guilt. If she hadn’t been engaged to him, Count Gerryburn’s daughter would surely have married a good man and lived happily.
“Haa…”
Esperad also didn’t know why his fiancées were dying. In fact, he couldn’t even guess.
He had considered whether it might be related to the right of succession to the throne, but even if the sickly young king died, the succession would go to Count Mirk, the closest relative, not to him, so the possibility was low. Moreover, his engagement had nothing to do with the right of succession to the throne.
So next, he thought about the conservative noble faction, his political opponents. But the assumption that they would kill innocent ladies for the misfortune of their political opponents was too far-fetched.
Far from finding an answer, he couldn’t even grasp a clue.
…A terrible sense of helplessness was overwhelming him.
*** *** *** *** ***
Knock, knock.
At the short knock, Asili quickly stood up. She then greeted Esperad Camedich as he entered the reception room.
“I am Asili of the Grandier family.”
After briefly bowing, she straightened up and met Esperad’s gaze.
“I am Esperad Camedich, my lady. Please, have a seat.”
“Yes, thank you.”
This was the first time she was seeing him face-to-face, both before and after her regression.
Duke Camedich, whom she saw properly, was a handsome man. His well-groomed, fine black hair and well-built muscular body were impressive.
But most striking were his blue eyes. Clear and deep, they looked at her without a hint of wavering.
Asili liked the clean gaze, contrasting with Joseph’s dull blue eyes.
‘He is indeed royal.’
Seeing him again, she could clearly understand why he was of royal blood, why he would gain the right to succession, and why he was the most popular groom before any unfortunate events occurred.
“Thank you for receiving me despite the sudden visit, Your Grace.”
“Not at all. But what brings you here?”
He had no memory of any lady making a mistake towards him, which meant there was a hidden reason for her visit under the guise of an apology.
His indifferent gaze was firm, as if it would not tolerate lies. It felt like being stripped bare, different from the sharp insults he had faced before.
She moistened her dry lips with tea. As moisture touched the cracked surface of her lips, she felt her skin become supple. Like a ritual, moistening her lips gave her courage.
“I am here to propose marriage to you, Your Grace.”
Silence followed.
Asili looked at Esperad Camedich with a tense face.
“…Ha.”
He stared at her expressionlessly for a long time. Then he smirked, raising one corner of his mouth. It was a laugh of disbelief, a hollow laugh.
“Is this a joke or mockery?”
His lowered voice, eyes filled with hostility, and the clear intent to accuse her of a crime.
The atmosphere turned cold in an instant, but Asili was not surprised. She had anticipated this, and at the same time, she was so used to the hostile air that it was almost tiresome.
“I do not intend to mock Your Grace. I know it may seem rude, but…”
Asili tried to explain something, but Esperad was not inclined to listen to her.
Esperad could not understand the woman in front of him. How could she dare to propose marriage to him, who had lost three fiancées?
Moreover, this woman had attended Count Gerryburn’s banquet. That meant she had witnessed that hellish situation.
“Did Duke Grandier put you up to this?”
A mockery of himself.
No, a mockery or ridicule of the Camedich family.
“Yes, that must be it.”
It is essential to verify information about unexpected visitors.
From what he had learned, the woman in front of him was just a powerless marionette to be used for Duke Grandier’s political alliance.
Even getting angry was trivial. After all, Duke Grandier would be behind it. If there was any gain, it was realizing that Duke Grandier, with whom he had never shared any ill will, was harboring a knife against him.
“This must be a show to win favor before joining hands with the conservative faction, and the lady is…”
A worthless life.
His expression said as much. He didn’t say it out loud, but it was clear.
“You are a gentleman, Your Grace.”
His eyes narrowed at the unexpected words. But Asili was sincere.
A lowly origin, less useful than a lowly maid. She couldn’t even show a hint of indignation at such insults, because that was indeed her reality. Even at this moment.
But since he swallowed that obvious fact without speaking it, Duke Camedich could be considered more cultured than the people she had tiredly dealt with.
She hadn’t intended to gauge the bottom, but he was indeed an excellent person.
“I was sincere about proposing marriage.”
“Shut up. Before I change my mind about not sending you off with your head cut off.”
Despite the anger in his voice, Esperad’s demeanor was gradually becoming calmer.
As he organized the situation in his own way, it seemed he was leaning towards the idea that dealing with Asili was pointless.
“Just tell your foster father that I felt insulted. But if you linger any longer, Duke Grandier will have to find another foster daughter, so get out of my sight.”
It was the limit of his patience. Although Asili’s character wasn’t bad, it seemed unpleasant to keep looking at her.
No, in fact, it was unpleasant. Her innocent-looking amber eyes, as if to claim there was no malice, were getting on his nerves.
When Esperad stood up, Asili responded in a subdued voice.
“If you listen to my story completely, then you can send me back to the Duke’s house with my head cut off.”
This also bothered him. Her eyes seemed sincere.
Calling a servant to disgrace her and chase her out was the easiest way to get rid of this woman from his sight.
However, whether it was due to anger at the situation or a whim, Esperad chose a more troublesome method.
“If you are serious about having your head cut off.”
He drew a sharply honed sword from its scabbard.
The blue blade was aimed at Asili’s neck.
“Continue your grand story. I will make the decision.”
Her body froze.
She had momentarily forgotten, but come to think of it, she had experience with being wounded. That was how Joseph had killed her.
Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind. What if she just died like this?
Before returning to the past, did she want to die? Asili asked herself.
No, she didn’t want to die. The answer was clear. And that was the truth.
She didn’t want to die. She wanted to live. She ran away from her husband to live. With a short dagger stuck in her delicate back.
She had experienced countless unfortunate events, but she didn’t want to die. She always had hope, and she always wanted to live. She had a tenacity for life. Just like now, she came to this man because she wanted to live.
“Did you come to your senses while babbling nonsense?”
Esperad’s words brought her wandering mind into sharper focus.
No preparation was needed. She just had to say what she wanted to say.
“There is no curse on Your Grace. That’s why I want to propose marriage.”
“You’re certain. Why?”
“Because everything that has happened to Your Grace doesn’t make sense.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think someone who doesn’t want Your Grace to marry has intervened. It’s a better guess than a ridiculous curse.”
The first two times at least seemed like accidents, but the friend’s sister was clearly murdered.
To that extent, he somewhat agreed. However, he wasn’t selfish enough to risk the life of an innocent lady to uncover it.
Uncovering the truth at the cost of someone’s life was a decision for the incompetent. Therefore, it was meaningless to Esperad.
“Do you want to die?”
“…What?”
She was momentarily confused by his question, but Esperad didn’t explain. Asili, realizing he was waiting for her answer, shook her head.
“I don’t want to die.”
“Whether you get your head cut off by me here, or I accept your proposal and you die, you will die.”
“I won’t die. So please consider it. I am a marriage partner who can maintain at least a semblance of dignity and, if I survive, the possibility of uncovering the truth behind all this increases.”
So you have nothing to lose, only to gain.
Asili’s eyes said so.
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