IWBCAS 11

Episode 11

【 “Anyway, Lady, you have no other choice now.” 】

After leaving Carlile, Rayna collapsed onto her bed.

“How did this happen…?”

She had barely convinced the man who wanted to kiss her every day to change it to once every three days.

“Why every three days?”

“Why do we have to do it every day?”

“……”

“Even if it’s a serious illness, any more than every three days doesn’t make a difference!”

“Hmph…”

“And kissing isn’t something you do with just anyone! Maybe you can, but I can’t!”

Rayna finally exploded with frustration, and Carlile stayed silent for a moment.

Then he shrugged and answered like he didn’t care.

“Fine. Let’s do that for now. Anyway, you don’t have any other choice now.”

“For now…? What do you mean, ‘no other choice’?”

Rayna didn’t understand what he meant and asked again, but Carlile just smiled.

“You’ll see.”

“That’s so creepy.”

His words kept bothering her.

“What did he mean, ‘you’ll see’?”

The more she thought about Carlile’s calm attitude, the more uneasy she felt.

“Well… it’s still better than kissing him every day. Three days is better.”

Rayna turned over and stared at the colorful ceiling painting.

“…Let’s just get through this.”

Things had gotten messy, but if she handled it right, everything would go according to her plan.

She’d marry into the rich, fertile South, have some cute kids, and enjoy a peaceful life.

Both Blair and Carlile were terrible people who only wanted to use her.

‘Figures. They’re family.’

Once this was over, she wouldn’t get involved with them again.

Just as Rayna made up her mind, the door suddenly burst open—without even a knock.

“Who is it?”

Rayna, lying flat on the bed, raised her head a little and saw Nikolai standing in the doorway like a storm.

“Father? Why…?”

Nikolai was out of breath, like he had run over in a hurry. He walked straight toward her with heavy steps.

“W-what’s wrong…?”

Rayna quickly sat up as her father grabbed both of her shoulders tightly.

“Rayna. Is it true you kissed Duke Carlile in the café today?”

So the news already reached her father.

“Haha… hahaha…”

As Rayna looked away, her father shook her shoulders.

“Rayna!!”

“Wow, your information is fast, Father. How did you find out so soon…? Haha…”

Rayna awkwardly laughed, trying to lighten the mood, but her father’s face was getting red with anger.

“Rayna, tell me the truth. Are you secretly dating Duke Carlile?”

Dating?

That wasn’t right. Their relationship was more like master and servant. She had to run over and give him kisses whenever he called.

Rayna waved her hands in denial.

“No, never! That’s not true, Father!”

Hearing this made his face twist with even more anger.

“Then, you weren’t even lovers… and you did that kind of thing in public?!”

Now Rayna realized just how bad the situation had become.

“It’s not fair, Father! I didn’t do anything. I was just having tea with Young Master Icen when he suddenly showed up and kissed me! There were people there—they can be witnesses!”

“So that man did it without your consent?”

Rayna knew people would gossip because the kiss was dramatic.

But this was a romance novel world! People here were more open-minded, so she thought it’d blow over in a few days.

But no matter how open the world was, her father—who cherished his only daughter—was not open-minded.

“How dare he…!! Even if he’s a duke, how could he act like such a brute?!”

His angry eyebrows twitched wildly.

While Rayna was frozen in shock, Grace came in and tried to calm Nikolai down.

“Dear, please calm down.”

But his anger didn’t go away.

“I can’t stay quiet! I’m going to the palace right now and tell His Majesty!!”

Nikolai looked ready to storm off.

“Father!! Please don’t!!”

Rayna quickly stopped him. If her father caused a scene, Carlile might reveal their secret deal.

“Dear, please calm down,” Grace added, holding his arm with Rayna.

With both of them hanging on his arms, Nikolai shouted:

“Calm down?! Our daughter’s marriage future is ruined!!”

“What?! My marriage future is ruined? Why?!”

Now Rayna jumped in surprise.

“Why would you tell her that…!”

“She needs to know,” Nikolai mumbled and tried to explain.

“The… the public opinion about you isn’t good.”

“Why? I’m the victim…”

She was calmly on a date, and Carlile suddenly kissed her. How could people turn this on her?

“Duke Carlile has always rejected every noblewoman who tried to approach him.”

Grace’s explanation didn’t help.

“So?”

“They think… ahem…”

Nikolai couldn’t even finish the sentence. Rayna asked, shocked,

“They think I seduced him?!”

“Yes… they think you were very aggressive. That you did something to make Carlile finally react after turning down everyone else…”

How unfair!

“They say you were in a relationship with him and still met other men. That’s what the people at the café are spreading.”

‘So… they think I seduced Carlile and then dumped him?’

So I’m some super fatal woman… but I’ve been single for 24 years?!

“You believe that? Father? Mother?”

Rayna looked like her eyes would pop out.

But Nikolai and Grace shook their hands in unison.

“No, of course not! We trust you!”

“We know you! We raised you!”

Their eyes were full of trust. That comforted Rayna a little.

“Sigh… why is this happening…”

She sank onto the sofa in despair. Grace exchanged a look with Nikolai and came over.

“You really have nothing going on with Duke Carlile?”

She looked like she was hoping there was something. But Rayna firmly said,

“No! Nothing! He just forced it!”

Even the small hope on Grace’s face disappeared.

“…I see. Then we’ll have to give up on marriage plans for now.”

“What? But didn’t I have tons of marriage proposals before? Some people won’t care about a scandal like this!”

“…As of today, all proposals have stopped. Some families even asked to get their proposals back.”

They took back their proposals?

Now Rayna truly understood why her father had rushed in so angry.

‘So that’s why he was so upset…!’

Her dream of marrying into the warm South and living happily ever after had completely shattered.

‘Damn Carlile…! Damn Northern Duke…!’

While Rayna shook in silent rage, Grace gently patted her back.

“Let’s just wait a bit. People forget quickly… with time, this will pass.”

Nikolai sighed and nodded.

“Yes, Rayna. Let’s wait. As your mother says, people forget easily.”

Rayna nodded.

Then Nikolai said something unexpected.

“…So until then, stay quiet.”

“Stay quiet…?”

Rayna looked up.

“What do you mean, Father?”

“Exactly what I said. Don’t go out for now.”

When he avoided her gaze, Rayna looked at Grace.

Grace gently held her hand.

“Just listen to your father. It’s better not to go out when rumors are everywhere.”

“If you show yourself, people will only talk more. Just stay home until the gossip dies down.”

‘Is this… grounded? Am I being grounded?!’

Rayna had heard that some of her friends were punished like this before.

But she hadn’t done anything wrong!

‘Wait—if I don’t go out, I can’t meet Carlile in three days like we agreed!’

Rayna remembered Carlile’s warning and urgently grabbed Grace’s arm.

“Father! Mother! I’ll behave, but please don’t ground me!”

Rayna pleaded, but Nikolai just shook his head and left the room.

Grace sadly patted her hand and followed after him.

Now, Rayna sat alone in the room, staring blankly at the closed door in despair.