Chapter 15
The inside of the carriage headed for Evanstein Castle was uncomfortably quiet.
I shifted in my seat, trying to ease the tension. Even the soft rustle of my clothes felt unnerving.
I glanced again at the man sitting across from me, legs crossed. His gaze was fixed out the window, full of boredom.
Was this really the same man who proposed to me just moments ago?
“Miss Edith Prim, I formally propose to you.”
Duke Schultz had truly acted like a man in love with me.
“I must’ve lost my mind.”
No doubt, he had lost his. Even if he was hanging off the edge of a cliff, how could anyone make such an impulsive decision?
“Well…”
It’s because he had no other choice. Even now, if the same situation occurred, I would probably make the same decision.
I found myself staring at him as if bewitched, and our eyes met. I quickly snapped out of it.
He was handsome enough to steal someone’s breath away. But it wasn’t just his looks. He was tall—intimidatingly so—and had the solid build of a soldier.
No one would question it if I said I accepted his proposal based on appearance alone.
“Do you have something to say?”
Duke Schultz, who had locked eyes with me, asked. The boredom from earlier was completely gone from his expression.
I had plenty to say. And even more to ask.
Honestly, I still wondered if his actions were motivated by pity.
Sure, receiving help from the duke would be beneficial. But if it was out of pity, I didn’t want it at all.
It was my foolish pride getting in the way.
I opened my mouth.
“Your Grace, with all due respect, was the proposal earlier just an impromptu way to get us out of that situation?”
As I asked calmly, the duke’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
“I was sincere. And you accepted, Miss Prim.”
“I think I went a little mad for a moment. It was just…”
The words wouldn’t come out properly. But he seemed to understand what I meant—that I hoped we could forget it had ever happened.
“There were many witnesses. Most of my men saw it, and you accepted the proposal knowing that.”
He lifted his chin slightly.
“I believe you’re not suggesting we call off something that concerns my honor and that of my family.”
His cool blue eyes stared directly into mine.
There wasn’t even a hint that he might change his mind, so I cleared my throat and spoke again.
“To be honest, I really don’t understand. Why would someone as perfect as Your Grace propose to someone like me, who has nothing?”
“Because you don’t have nothing.”
My eyes widened instinctively. It sounded like he believed I had something he needed.
“…I have no parents, no dowry. There must be plenty of women out there with better prospects.”
Though I tried to stay calm, my voice trembled. I gripped the hem of my dress tightly and continued.
“And yet, marrying me would bring you some kind of gain?”
“Of course.”
“And it’s something only I can give you?”
Was that why he proposed?
Johannes Schultz nodded.
“Then can I take it to mean that it’s me—Edith Prim—you truly need? That this absurd marriage is something I can accept without guilt—”
“Absolutely.”
I clamped my mouth shut.
So I wouldn’t be the only one benefiting?
I wondered if he was lying, but his eyes remained calm and sincere.
It felt strange to have decided something as monumental as marriage so suddenly, but honestly, ever since my father died, I never expected to marry anyway.
No matter how peaceful the city of Mussen was, it was difficult for a woman to live alone.
The days when my father could protect me were long gone. I was alone—and constantly vulnerable to crime. There was no guarantee that something like what happened earlier wouldn’t happen again.
This marriage offered me safety. Perhaps a chance I would never get again.
Even if he later realized I had nothing to offer, the regret would be Johannes Schultz’s burden.
Fine. Let it happen. He proposed, and I had asked several times if he was sure.
It would be foolish to let a shining opportunity like this slip away.
I nodded, hiding my inner thoughts behind a blank expression.
“Then it’s settled. You saved me, Your Grace, so I’ll do my best in return.”
Outside the window, evergreen trees and leafless branches flew past without rest.
In front of Evanstein Castle, the servants had already lined up, waiting for the duke’s carriage.
The carriage gradually slowed and stopped beneath a giant eagle emblem.
Just as the duke reached for the door handle, I quickly grabbed his hand.
“Um…”
“Is something wrong?”
His neat eyebrows rose slightly. I quickly answered.
“Won’t the servants be surprised? I mean…”
If I were one of them and saw my master step out with a woman—especially one of the servants—I’d be shocked too.
As I furrowed my brows in concern, he said calmly:
“They won’t be.”
And I soon understood what he meant.
Even though I stepped out of the carriage holding the duke’s hand, not one person looked surprised—just as he said.
“I have some unfortunate news. It may be difficult for you to return home for a while.”
I heard this from Sir Fret upon his return to Evanstein Castle after wrapping up some affairs.
“All the newspapers—daily, weekly, monthly—are filled with stories about you and the master. Even the special editions, which are only published for sensational events, are pouring out.”
I had expected some commotion, so I stayed calm.
“How long will it take?”
Even if people didn’t recognize Johannes Schultz’s face, it wouldn’t have been hard to guess who was in the carriage surrounded by so many naval officers.
“Well… at least ten days. Don’t worry—your house is being looked after by the navy.”
Though I was uneasy without a definite answer, I had no choice. I slowly nodded.
“Thank you. Please take care of it.”
Winter had fully arrived, and snow had started to fall lightly. I had now been staying at Evanstein Castle for ten days.
Just as Sir Fret said, the newspapers were flooded daily.
First: A duke went to Banux to rescue a commoner woman drowning in debt.
Second: Johannes Schultz made a public appearance—for the first time—right in front of that woman’s house.
Third: He brought the woman out with him.
Perfect material for a novel.
The journalists ran wild with their stories. Most of them revolved around me and the duke.
A loan agency tried to sell off a woman, and the duke showed up just in time to take her away. Maybe she was a secret lover?
“Not a secret lover… but soon to be his wife. So, not exactly wrong.”
Of course the reporters didn’t miss this juicy story. The rumors only grew.
She’s breathtakingly beautiful. She must have seduced the duke on purpose.
Even gossip about my background spread like wildfire.
As a result, the papers were plastered with articles about me and Johannes Schultz for days.
Most were positive—praising the duke’s kindness and generous heart—but I still felt strange about it.
The noble duke in love with a pitiful commoner who lost her father.
Any talk of embezzlement, which had once been the main topic, disappeared. Now all focus was on the love story of Duke Schultz.
Only then did I begin to understand why he wanted to marry me.
I was familiar enough, had a tragic story that evoked sympathy, and most importantly, I knew my place.
A woman easy to win over.
“Exactly me. And it would be hard to find someone like that quickly.”
But I didn’t feel bad. I had already received more than enough help to “sell” my story to him. I simply accepted the consequences of my decision.
Though I was irritated that even my father was being brought up.
Thankfully, I had no issues with the servants. I thought they’d shun me for not knowing my place, but they treated me no differently, and we even became quite friendly.
Nothing else really changed.
I continued doing what I could, and my soon-to-be husband remained extremely busy.
If anything had changed, it was that Sir Fret, who was buried in lawsuits, was losing weight from trying to educate me.
“Your etiquette is… as I mentioned before, nearly perfect. There’s no need to study further. The master has no complaints either.”
Sir Fret said, watching the snow fall outside. I slowly turned to look at him.
“You only need to learn some dancing.”
“I know the basics. My father loved dancing.”
“That’s fortunate. May I ask how much you’ve learned?”
“Quadrille, waltz, polka, mazurka, and polonaise.”
Sir Fret looked surprised, then nodded.
“…Then no need for dancing lessons either—assuming you dance perfectly.”
“I’m not sure about perfect, but I used to dance often with my father as a hobby. I didn’t have friends or anything fun to do.”
I said it lightly, but Sir Fret’s face twisted slightly.
He seemed to look at me with some pity.
Then he said:
“Ah, and starting today, you’ll be dining with the master.”
