IWBCAS 08

Episode 8 

“Father! Are you still not over it?”

When Reina spoke in frustration, Nikolai looked a little embarrassed.

“This morning, the Grand Duke sent another letter. He must really like you if he keeps asking.”

Reina held her head like she had a headache.

“Can’t you just try? Except for his scary vibe, everything else is great. He’s handsome, smart, has a good family name… there’s no better match.”

Reina stared at Nikolai in disbelief.

Good looks, noble blood, intelligence, and personality… really?

Okay, fine. He’s a bit cold-looking, but people call that “cool and handsome” nowadays, so it’s acceptable.

He’s a Grand Duke, so fine, his status and bloodline check out too.

“But… a good personality? That’s not right.”

‘He even talked down to my father. What kind of manners are those?’

“Ahem. Hm-hm.”

Nikolai coughed awkwardly, clearly unable to defend that part.

“Let’s talk about it later. I’ll meet other people first. If no one’s right, I’ll consider him.”

Reina said this to calm her father, then lightly tapped her chest with her fist. Her heart still wouldn’t stop racing after seeing Kalheil’s portrait earlier.

“Ugh… I was really shocked. Almost threw up my breakfast.”

Nikolai glanced at Kalheil’s portrait lying on the couch, then looked away with a regretful sigh.

He couldn’t push his daughter anymore when she clearly hated the idea.

Reina focused on the pile of documents again, now more alert than ever.

‘Marriage is a serious matter. I shouldn’t decide carelessly.’

She ignored the portrait on the sofa and read the documents with a serious look.

They were full of information like: this noble’s son has a lot of wealth, that one can help with a certain business… all the benefits of each marriage.

But papers don’t show someone’s true personality.

‘I need to meet them and talk in person to know for sure.’

There were about twenty candidates. Maybe she should meet them all?

While thinking that, her eyes suddenly caught a name.

“Huh…? This person…”

When Reina finally spoke after a long silence, Nikolai reacted excitedly.

“Hm? Is there someone you like?”

“It’s not that I like him exactly…”

Still reading the paper, Reina continued.

“But I already know what kind of person this is.”

Actually, she didn’t even need to look at the paper.

Reina pointed at one spot and showed her father.

“I want to meet this man.”

“Who…?”

Nikolai narrowed his eyes and read the name.

“Aisen Draloff…? The eldest son of the Draloff Marquis family?”

“Yes, that’s right. Aisen Draloff. Him.”

Reina smiled brightly.

Other people she didn’t know, but this man—she knew very well.

He was the male lead in the original story.

No matter how hard things got, he never gave up and loved Reina to the end.

With someone like that, she could live happily forever.

“And he’s from the southern region too? Near the beautiful ocean?”

Reina imagined a peaceful future living in the warm southern lands, growing old happily with her family.

“Yes. I’ll meet this man.”

Even Nikolai thought Aisen was a decent candidate. Not quite Kalheil’s level, but good enough.

Time passed quickly.

Kalheil sent more letters, but Reina ignored them all. She wanted nothing to do with that scary man.

Instead, she asked her father to arrange a meeting with Aisen.

Nikolai, excited by her sudden interest, quickly sent a letter to the Draloff family, and soon, the meeting was set.

It was a clear, sunny day.

Reina sat in a fancy café across from a man, enjoying tea.

It was just a casual meeting to get to know each other, but really, it was a matchmaking date arranged by their parents.

Aisen, looking shy, finally spoke up.

“Lady Reina, what are your hobbies?”

Hobbies, huh?

It was a normal question, of course.

But Reina didn’t know what noble girls her age normally did.

Horse riding? Embroidery? Gateball?

She had never tried riding or gateball, and embroidery wasn’t her thing.

Let’s go with something safe.

“I like reading when I have free time.”

Even if it was R-rated romance novels, reading is still reading, right?

She smiled confidently.

“I see. Then would you like to join me at the reading club at the Alente mansion in a few days?”

Was that… a date invitation?

Oh, right. In the original story, Aisen fell for Reina the moment he saw her.

‘So… does that mean he already likes me?’

When she saw his shy smile, she was sure of it.

Then, she had to play along properly.

“Hm. I like reading clubs, and I also enjoy theater. There’s a new theater nearby. Want to go together sometime?”

Aisen’s face lit up, and he nodded excitedly.

‘What a cute guy.’

Reina smiled secretly and sipped her tea.

Golden blond hair like honey, warm brown eyes, and a gentle smile—he looked like sunshine.

And he was just as warm and kind as she had imagined.

‘Yes. This is the kind of man I should marry. Not someone obsessive and scary.’

She nodded slightly to herself and smiled again.

‘Oh… he turned red.’

Aisen’s ears turned bright red when he saw her smile.

To Reina, he was like a comforting light in the dark.

‘Maybe it’s only natural for the heroine and the male lead to end up together.’

In her mind, she was already living in the south with him, raising a happy family with one son and one daughter.

She smiled at the thought.

But just then, the sofa suddenly sank beside her. It felt like someone had taken up the entire two-seater space.

Someone had sat down next to her and casually put an arm around her shoulders.

“Who…?”

Reina turned to see who it was—and screamed.

“Hiiik?!”

Why are YOU here?!

Her eyes widened in shock.

“You must be very happy to see me, Lady Reina.”

The man smiled, but his eyes were burning with rage.

His lips were smiling, but his eyes were not. The strange mix of kindness and threat was overwhelming.

“If you were having such a nice tea time, you should’ve invited me too.”

The man giving off an icy chill was none other than Kalheil.

He had somehow found out about her date and barged in.

As soon as he returned to the capital, Kalheil sent another proposal letter to Reina’s family.

He even sent her a piece of her own hair to show he knew what she did, expecting her to beg for forgiveness.

But what happened?

One day passed, then two… then three…

No word from Reina at all.

Kalheil grew more and more anxious each day.

“Why don’t you go see her in person?” said Bayen, his aide.

“Be quiet. I already sent a letter. It’s her turn now.”

Kalheil tried to act calm.

‘The one who’s thirsty should be the one to dig the well,’ he thought.

He believed Reina was the thirsty one.

But to Bayen, Kalheil looked like the one dying of thirst.

‘He always says attack without hesitation when hunting monsters. Why’s he so passive now?’

Bayen just sighed silently. Kalheil’s legs kept shaking nervously.

“It’s almost time for the council meeting. Will you skip it again?”

Kalheil stopped shaking and sighed.

“…That’s why I went all the way to Routezen in the first place. But… I’ll attend today. His Majesty requested it.”

Just as Kalheil stood up, someone knocked on his door. A knight from the Routezen Order came in and whispered to Bayen.

Bayen’s face darkened, then he turned to Kalheil.

“What is it?”

“A maid we planted in the Filon household just returned.”

“Did she bring a letter from Lady Reina?”

Kalheil’s eyes brightened, but Bayen hesitated.

“Lady Reina is currently at a café… meeting the Draloff family’s eldest son.”

“The Draloff heir…? Why?”

“She seems to be considering him for marriage.”

Bayen said it as politely as possible, but the meaning was clear:

You got rejected.

Kalheil’s lips twisted.

“So… I asked for a reply, and she went to meet another man instead?”

Crack.

The grinding of his teeth was sharp and scary.

Kalheil stood up with force.

“I’ve got somewhere to go before that council meeting.”

He rolled his neck, and his tense muscles gave off cracking sounds.