Lily looked completely downcast, which only seemed to amuse Sohee even more. She giggled softly and held the younger girl’s hand tightly.
“I’m happy I was able to help today.”
“I’m just so pathetic…”
With her lips jutting out in a pout and her shoulders slumped, Lily looked adorably miserable. Sohee, reminded of how fond Prisia was of her youngest sibling, chuckled and gently smoothed Lily’s hair.
“Be confident. You have to protect your sister, remember?”
Those words reignited the fire in Lily’s eyes. Sohee had heard all about her beloved ‘Sister Pri’—constantly and relentlessly. The two sisters were so close that it sparked a bit of jealousy, but it was also heartwarming. Sohee decided she would gladly push Lily forward.
“You’re right. I don’t know why they’re targeting my sister, but I’m going to protect her no matter what.”
“Exactly. We’ll protect Prisia.”
Matthew chimed in confidently.
Watching the two younger ones getting all fired up, Sohee smiled warmly and stepped ahead toward Duke Cromford’s party.
“The Countess of Vlado, you say?”
“Yes, Your Grace. A message arrived saying she wished to pay her respects.”
“How bothersome.”
Though fully aware of who was approaching, the Duke remained on horseback, lazily glancing toward the group.
The woman in front clearly hailed from the Eastern Continent, judging by her long black hair and dark eyes. But it was the young woman standing behind her who caught his attention.
“That must be Prisia’s younger sister, Lily.”
“They say she’s a friend of the Countess of Vlado.”
“What a laughable ploy.”
The man standing beside him was the son of Marquess Napier—a person they had already investigated thoroughly. With just a glance, the Duke could easily guess why the three of them had come.
“Wouldn’t the younger sister be more suitable?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
Though undeniably a dazzling beauty, she didn’t suit his taste. If he truly wanted to make the proud imperial princess give up, Prisia was the better choice.
“If looks were all that mattered, the imperial family would’ve splashed acid on that woman’s face long ago.”
“That’s… a dreadful thing to say.”
“Is it, though? Everyone knows what goes on behind the scenes. It’s a grim joke, really.”
For those aware of the princess’s backhanded tactics, it wasn’t a joke at all—it was reality.
The Duke had no doubt about his own ruthlessness, but now that Prisia had caught his eye, he saw no reason to consider anyone else.
“She’s naïve, but she knows when to bow her head. Someone like her would never dare take reckless risks.”
“Sounds like you’re quite fond of her.”
“Isn’t she kind of cute?”
Even when trembling in fear—as if facing someone come to kill her—she still had the nerve to say what she wanted to say. Who else in this country would reject a proposal from Duke Cromford?
Just as he dismounted, lost in thought, Prisia’s younger sister stepped forward and requested an audience, her eyes blazing with defiance.
“Your Grace, I have something to say. May I speak with you in private?”
“Lily, was it? Prisia’s younger sister.”
“How could you— No, that’s not what matters right now!”
Unlike the calm older sister, the younger one was flustered and erratic. No matter how pretty she was, she still looked too young and immature to be a proper duchess.
The Duke needed someone ready to be deployed immediately—a finished product.
People around him didn’t understand why he chose Prisia over Lily, but he had his own firm standards.
“If you know the situation, then this should be easier. I don’t know what offense my sister may have caused, but I humbly ask you to forgive her.”
“Forgive her?”
“I heard you helped her find her lost shoe. She gets lost easily and isn’t the type to harm anyone. So please, I beg you—leave her alone.”
“You’re asking me to stop caring?”
At the Duke’s blunt jab, Lily’s face flushed bright red.
He had thought the Deblanc sisters were each unique in their own odd ways, but now he could see a hint of resemblance. She was still a green sprout, but her sincere heart toward her sister was touching.
“So your sister sent you to plead with me. How predictable.”
“That’s an unfair accusation!”
“You, of all people, should be careful about what you do—think of your father, young Lord Napier.”
Their ages weren’t so different, but their standings couldn’t be more opposite. The Duke looked down on Matthew like he was nothing more than a child still clinging to his parents’ coattails.
“Thank you for graciously allowing us to visit today.”
“Countess of Vlado.”
Sohee stepped in to break the tension.
The Deblanc name may be insignificant, but the Vlado family now held the Eastern Continent’s trade routes in the palm of their hand—a rising powerhouse. There was no point in making an enemy out of someone like her.
And so, Duke Wilfred offered her a polite smile, the only one who could make him do so.
“Please look kindly on my young friends. I don’t know what mistake Lady Prisia may have made, but I assure you—her affection for you is genuine.”
“Sohee! Don’t say that!”
Lily’s panicked voice was ignored as Sohee calmly met the Duke’s gaze.
Surprised by the unexpected comment, the Duke repeated her words back.
“So you’re saying Lady Prisia harbors feelings for me?”
“I heard she was deeply shaken when she received your letter. Even if she made a mistake, please understand—it’s the heart of a shy young girl.”
They had clearly misunderstood everything, and the Duke knew it. But still, he glanced at Lily and Matthew with mocking amusement before thanking Sohee with a smirk.
“Lady Prisia, making a mistake with me? That’s unthinkable.”
“Then how would you describe it?”
“Hm. What should I say…”
Looking at Lily and Matthew standing there, he suddenly felt the urge to mess with them a little. From the way she’d looked at him earlier, there was no way Prisia liked him—but that made it all the more fun to pretend.
“Let’s just say I fell in love at first sight. I just came from delivering my proposal, after all.”
“Are you out of your mind?!”
After the Duke left, the place looked like a war zone.
Prisia, now a complete wreck, had buried herself under the covers, while an irate Lily tried to yank her out.
“Calm down. We need to hear what happened first.”
Matthew tried to intervene, though it didn’t look like he had any intention of dragging Lily away.
“I didn’t do it on purpose. I honestly thought he was challenging me to a duel!”
“A duel?”
Prisia, finally poking her head out from under the blankets, pulled out a crumpled letter. Though the handwriting was nearly illegible, Matthew—accustomed to this sort of script—read it smoothly.
“I hope this letter finds you in good health. In consideration of our duties as nobles working toward the empire’s prosperity, I have carefully deliberated this matter. Having heard of your admirable character and refinement, I humbly propose marriage under the name of House Cromford. I pledge to honor my responsibilities as a noble and bring glory to both our families… Wait, this is a proposal?”
“I thought he was mad about that incident and really wanted to duel me!”
“What incident?”
“That’s… um…”
She couldn’t talk about what happened between the Duke and the princess. It would only escalate things.
Clutching her head, Prisia tried to come up with a lie.
“I made a bit of a mistake with the Duke. I even lost my shoe that day.”
“He says he fell in love with you at first sight.”
“What nonsense!”
Where had that ridiculous rumor even come from? Prisia felt like crying.
But Matthew, now deadly serious, grabbed her by the shoulders.
“The Duke is desperate to marry. I don’t know why he’s clinging to you, but we’re out of options. Marry me instead.”
“What?!”
“Marry me, Prisia Deblanc.”
She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. This wasn’t the time for jokes, but Matthew was dead serious.
“Do you think he’ll just walk away quietly if you say no?”
“Milady! Milady!”
The nanny’s urgent voice interrupted their heated conversation.
“What is it, Nanny?”
“You need to hear this calmly… The Marquess of Gonder is here…”
As they approached the lobby, they could hear Lily’s furious voice rising.
“Do you even hear yourself right now?!”
“Poor child. I have nothing to say to a little girl. Fetch your sister.”
“You’ll talk to me, Marquess Gonder.”
Young as she was, Lily wasn’t ready to deal with a sly old snake like that.
Prisia stepped in calmly as the Marquess triumphantly held out a sheet of paper.
