~Chapter 7~
“He said he respects my wish to break off the engagement.
But since public opinion matters, we’ll wait for the right timing and announce it around winter, then officially exchange the paperwork.”
A short silence followed.
My father finally seemed to understand and nodded.
Being a duke himself, he likely understood the importance of public perception.
‘That should be enough explanation, right?’
I was thinking it was about time to leave the office.
But my father stopped me with a question, clearly not done talking.
“Why exactly do you want to break off the engagement with Duke Romanov? It’s not like it’ll be easy for you to find another match like him.”
It felt like he was basically saying, “You’re lucky to have someone like Romanov,” just phrased more politely.
Still, for someone usually indifferent, my father was being unusually considerate.
I paused for a second to come up with a good excuse, then blurted out:
“I just don’t want to marry someone I don’t love and be stuck like that for life.”
It came out impulsively.
Not really something a typical noble lady would say.
He looked surprised for a moment.
‘I thought he’d find it ridiculous, but… he actually looks like he’s thinking about it.’
I waited for him to respond.
Finally, he nodded and said,”If it comes down to it—”
“Yes?”
“Then just live alone.”
“Huh?”
I was so surprised, I made a dumb sound without thinking.
“If you don’t ever find someone you truly like, just stay here and live your life.”
“……?”
“Lindbergh is full of treasures.
Letting you live a life of luxury won’t be hard at all.”
Wait—
What?
That was a shocking thing to say.
I was sure he thought of me as a nuisance he’d get rid of at the first chance.
‘I mean… I’m not even his real daughter.’
And yet, now he’s saying I can live here forever?
I couldn’t make sense of it at all.
I opened and closed my mouth a few times before blurting out something random:
“But I don’t really splurge or anything.”
“I’m just saying.”
Usually, even starting a conversation with him was hard, but right now… I felt like I could ask at least one question.
“Your Grace, can I ask something?”
“What is it?”
“Why did you agree to let me break off the engagement?”
“……Is that a problem?”
“No, I’m just curious.”
‘Maybe he just doesn’t want to say.’
That thought crossed my mind, so I quickly shook my head.
“Sorry, maybe I shouldn’t have asked.
I’ll get going now.”
I was just turning to leave when I heard his quiet voice stop me.
“It’s the first time since you were a child that you’ve asked me for something.”
“…”
The air suddenly felt heavy.
I didn’t reply, but I agreed in my heart.
He was right.
Since my fifteenth birthday, I tried to handle things on my own, even if I made mistakes.
I hadn’t asked anyone in this house for anything—not even the servants, except for Hanna.
Then, he said something else that felt so unfamiliar:
“I figured, for you to ask like that after all this time… it must really matter.”
He was right.
It did matter.
‘I don’t want to marry Duke Romanov, have a kid, and then die right after.’
His attitude was so different that it actually made me uncomfortable.
But either way, I got what I wanted.
“Thank you.”
I said it simply and left the room.
Just as I stepped out into the hallway, I suddenly remembered an incident from the side story.
‘If I remember correctly…’
Father’s going to get injured soon.
Not too seriously, but enough to cause a fuss.
And because of that, all three of my brothers would end up coming to the capital.
‘How long has it been since I saw them all?’
Since I can’t remember clearly, it must’ve been months.
After our mother died, my brothers started staying mostly in the duchy instead of the capital.
‘They still visited sometimes, but…’
I always avoided them like a guilty child, overwhelmed with awkwardness and guilt.
Eventually, they stopped trying to talk to me.
Only the third brother, Lucian, who was closest to me in age and used to bicker with me like real siblings, kept showing up.
‘Even when I act all awkward, he still comes around.
Not in the friendliest way, but still…’
I turned to Hanna, who was standing nearby.
“By the way, when does the renovation on the annex start?”
“My lady, you even keep up with those things? You’re so detail-oriented.
It’s already underway!”
Her reply made me freeze for a second.
“Already?”
“It’s been about three years since the annex was repaired, so there’s a lot to do.
And they need to finish before summer, so the workers are going all out.”
“Hmm…”
I paused to recall more details from the side story.
Father goes out to greet an old friend visiting.
On the way, he passes by the annex.
‘Then a temporary wall, set up for the renovation, falls and injures him.’
If I hadn’t known, I wouldn’t have worried—but now that I do, I couldn’t help but care.
‘Also…’
That’s what ends up bringing my brothers back, which was also something I wasn’t looking forward to.
I thought maybe I could prevent the accident somehow.
But if I just went up and told people a wall was going to fall, they’d find it suspicious.
‘Maybe I could secretly remove the wall?’
Since the accident wasn’t happening today, I figured I had some time to prepare.
But just then, my father walked right past me down the hallway.
‘Wait, what?!’
I suddenly got a bad feeling.
“Your Grace!”
He turned around.
“What is it?”
“Where are you going?”
He seemed surprised I was even asking, but answered quickly:
“Duke Reinhardt is visiting.
I heard his carriage stopped at the front gate, so I’m going out to greet him.”
…So it’s today?
I felt the strength drain from my shoulders.
‘If I had just a little more time, maybe I could’ve stopped it…’
I watched helplessly as he walked away.
It didn’t take long before the whole mansion was in chaos.
“Prepare a bed immediately! Susan, go get lots of hot water and towels!”
The butler, Jordi, looked the most frantic. Normally so composed, he was now sweating bullets.
‘He must’ve been really shocked.’
Well, seeing the duke bleeding from a head wound would definitely shake up any butler.
I grabbed one of the rushing maids and asked,
“He’s being brought to his bedroom, right?”
The young maid hesitated, then nodded.
“Yes, miss.”
“Alright, thanks.
You can go now.”
Watching her run off, I thought,
‘There are too many people around right now.
I’ll wait till things calm down a bit before checking on him.’
I turned and, out of habit, was going to head to my lab—but then I changed course and went to my room.
The three brothers would be showing up soon.
If I hid in the lab, Lucian would definitely yell at me.
“Ugh… I can already picture it.”
Just thinking about him made me shake my head.
He’d probably shout,‘There you go again, hiding in your lab like a witch!’
Lucian hated me.
He never hid it.
And I knew exactly why.
‘Because I’m the one who caused our mother’s death.’
It was obvious.
Before she died, he used to joke around and never scold me.
‘Actually, when I first arrived, he was the one most excited to finally have a little sister.’
