FSRBD CH 05

Posted by bed0zx_, Released on October 29, 2025

Chapter 5

Even when Dylan said there would be no divorce, Agnès didn’t flinch. She nodded firmly.
As long as she could bring Noah back, nothing else mattered.

But wait… if I marry His Grace, what happens about an heir?

The thought flashed through her mind. That was something she should ask before marriage.

“Um, Your Grace, may I ask something? What are your thoughts on the matter of succession?”

“Succession?”

“Ah—please don’t misunderstand! I’m not asking you to make my son your heir or anything so outrageous. It’s just that… as far as I know, you don’t have one yet.”

Did that mean he planned to have children with her after this strange “marriage”?
Was that really all right, in a union that was more like a contract than a romance?

While Agnès’s mind tangled with worries, Dylan only made a short sound of realization, as if he’d just remembered the issue.

“Ah.”

He answered with the same calm indifference as before.

“I have no need for an heir. It’s nothing you need to concern yourself with. And as you said, I have no intention of naming Noah Overhan as one.”

“Pardon?”

That made no sense to her.

Seeing the confusion spread across her face, Dylan clicked his tongue quietly.

“Does this topic have anything to do with finding your child?”

“No! Not at all!”

Her flustered denial was immediate—she didn’t want him to regret agreeing to help her.

Dylan studied her up and down, then looked away again.

Smarter than she looks, he thought.

She clearly wasn’t expecting anything more from their marriage than what had been promised.
And since she saw him as her only lifeline, she would probably do her best to accommodate him.

That was enough for him.
As long as she kept her word, Dylan could treat her with dignity and restraint to the very end.

After all, he needed someone like her too.

He stood gracefully and stepped toward her.
When he extended his hand, Agnès blinked in confusion—then quickly removed her glove.

“Please… be gentle.”

She offered her hand so earnestly that it almost looked like she was offering it for him to drink from.

Dylan paused, expression caught somewhere between surprise and disbelief, and cleared his throat.

“…It’s a handshake. Because our deal is official now.”

“Oh! Oh dear…”

Agnès’s cheeks flushed bright red. She quickly placed her small hand in his.

“I’m sorry, Your Grace. I’ve… never done that before. I’ll be more careful next time.”

That single line explained so much.
Her innocence wasn’t foolishness—it came from inexperience.

Her world had been so small.
First the Everchen estate, then Count Overhan’s mansion.
Even when she attended parties, they were only stages where her parents displayed her as a perfect bride candidate.

That had been her whole life.

For someone like that to come to him herself, to propose a marriage—she must have needed immense courage.

Dylan tightened his grip slightly, sealing the deal.

“There’s no need to return to the Everchen townhouse. From today, you’ll stay here.”

Agnès blinked in surprise.

Already? Before the wedding?
Would that even be proper?

And if her family found out, chaos would surely follow.
They were probably busy trying to marry her off to some aging noble already.

Before she could protest, Dylan’s tone hardened.

“Tell me—who exactly are you afraid of upsetting? The Everchens, who have no interest in saving your son? Or Count Overhan, who refuses to even let you see him?”

She hesitated—but she knew the answer. Neither of them mattered anymore.

Agnès looked straight into his blue eyes and nodded slowly.

“You’re right. The only people who matter now are Noah… and you, Your Grace.”

Warmth spread through their joined hands.
For the first time in years, Agnès felt real, as though she’d been nothing but a ghost until this moment.

Her first handshake had left a surprisingly deep impression.

“What? Agnès is marrying who?! Who said something so ridiculous?!”

A shrill voice cut across the long dining table like a knife.
The servants nearby winced at the sharp pitch.

Lady Everchen, who might once have been beautiful in her youth, now had a face hardened by years of vanity and malice. Her eyes glittered like blades as she glared at the trembling butler.

“I’ve confirmed it several times, madam. It was definitely from the Basteron household. The Duke himself has announced his intent to marry Lady Agnès.”

“Oh, heavens! Heavens above! Impossible!”

Lady Everchen shot to her feet, jewelry jangling noisily.

The gaudy earrings at her cheeks had once been a gift from Count Paulla—during marriage talks between him and Agnès.
That arrangement had fallen apart, of course, but Lady Everchen had kept the earrings anyway because she liked them too much to return.

“Well, isn’t this wonderful! For once, that girl has done something I actually approve of!”

The Duke of Basteron!

Compared to him, Count Paulla was nothing.
These earrings were nothing. With a son-in-law like that, the treasures she could gain would be tenfold!

Laughing delightedly, Lady Everchen clapped her hands together.

“Who would’ve thought! She always refused to wear the dresses I chose for her—acting all high and mighty—and now she’s gone and snared a Duke!”

The dresses Lady Everchen had chosen for Agnès were always far too revealing or sheer.
Agnès had always frowned and refused to wear them, earning her mother’s constant irritation.

Now, imagining her once-proud daughter fawning over a powerful man, Lady Everchen laughed all the louder.

“Hmph…”

Beside her, Lord Everchen groaned softly, his brow creased in worry.

“What’s wrong with you now? Your daughter’s finally being useful, and you’re not even happy about it?”

“It’s just… odd, isn’t it? Even if they’re getting married, shouldn’t she at least have come home to tell us first?”

“Nonsense! That just proves how much the Duke likes her. He probably didn’t want to let her out of his sight! What better match could she possibly have? You should be thrilled!”

Lady Everchen playfully patted her husband’s shoulder, but his face didn’t lighten.

“People say the Duke of Basteron is a… monster.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake! Just rumors!”

Her husband’s hesitation annoyed her, but she forced a sweet smile and spoke in a coaxing tone.

“Even if he is a monster, do you really think he’d eat his own wife? Why bother marrying her if that were true? All nonsense. What worries me more is that she’ll start favoring him over us.”

“Hmph. Whatever else she is, Agnès isn’t the type to abandon her family.”

“Of course, of course. Such a good girl, isn’t she?”

Lady Everchen’s words dripped with sarcasm. She waved sharply at the head maid.

“Why is this table so empty? Where’s the food? Tell the kitchen to hurry!”

“Um, madam…”

The head maid hesitated, looking nervous.

Lady Everchen snapped her head toward her, eyes blazing.

The maid flinched and blurted out quickly:

“Half of the kitchen staff suddenly quit this morning, ma’am. We’re short-handed. I’m afraid the meal will be delayed.”

“What?! When? Why wasn’t I told sooner?”

“It was so sudden, my lady—I only just found out myself. They said they were offered new positions… at the Basteron townhouse.”

“Basteron?!”