〈005〉
“Huh?”
I couldn’t quite grasp what Lord Winchester had just said. In the first place, I had been puzzled by the letter and summons he sent.
I had assumed he had fully confirmed my identity and perhaps wanted to apologize for his rudeness that day, which is why I came to Camellia Manor.
And maybe—just maybe—I might get to see Daniel again. That tiny hope brought me here too.
“Marriage?”
But marriage? Out of nowhere?
“Who… who is getting married to whom?”
There was no way Lord Winchester had called me here just to chat idly about someone else’s wedding.
But still, I couldn’t help asking—just in case. Surely not… surely not! Right?
“It’s a marriage proposal from Baron Pomotts.”
Instead of answering, he took a sheet of paper from a drawer and handed it to me. I quickly snatched it up.
On it, Baron Pomotts—my father—had written his hope for a marriage between his second daughter, Naeri de Pomotts, and Count Lorinus de Winchester.
It even included a veiled criticism, saying that any man should naturally take responsibility for his actions, and that as a knight, he hoped Lord Winchester wasn’t a coward who would shirk such a duty.
“I don’t understand what he means by ‘taking responsibility’ just because I’m a man.”
“Exactly. There must be some sort of misunderstanding…”
And then it hit me—Sophia’s fussiness a few days ago, my mother’s pale complexion. I also remembered my father telling my mother not to worry too much, that a reply would come soon, and that it might all turn out for the best.
Like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, all those memories clicked into place and formed a clear picture.
They had made a ridiculous and outrageous assumption!
“I’m sorry, Lord Winchester. There’s been a big misunderstanding. I’ll take care of it, so please don’t worry too much.”
I quickly crumpled up the letter and gave Lord Winchester a forced smile. He simply stared at me with a stony expression, unaffected by my embarrassment or my smile, as if none of this concerned him at all.
‘Well, of course it doesn’t concern him.’
Just as I was starting to feel resentful at how indifferent he seemed, I pulled myself together. Naturally, this must have felt like a bolt from the blue for him.
He was young, handsome, and wealthy—a count, no less. Sure, he had a child, but he was officially a single man with a clean record. As my mother always said, Lord Winchester was one of the most eligible bachelors in the Empire.
Why would someone like him be interested in a mere baron’s daughter like me? Especially one who’d been caught sneaking around his house? A silly girl who came to Camellia Manor grinning like a fool just because she might get to see Daniel again?
“Why would they think that?”
“Well…”
I couldn’t answer him right away. Saying it was because my sister mistook the bandage on my neck (from a scratch he caused) for a hickey would only damage her dignity as the lady of the Goport household.
And admitting they thought I had a one-night stand at a ball would be even worse—it would raise questions about the Pomotts family’s upbringing and imply my parents thought Lord Winchester was that kind of man.
Worst of all, if any of this got out as gossip, it would be a complete scandal for our family.
‘I can’t let that happen. They’ve all been so good to me.’
I recalled everything the Pomotts family had done for me. My mother had cried with relief when I first woke up. My father, holding back his own tears, had comforted her.
My brother had told me again and again how grateful he was I was alive. My sister-in-law had held my hand tightly. My little niece had looked at me with innocent eyes and asked, “Auntie, auntie, no more owies?”
My sister had nursed me with great care, and her husband brought armfuls of things supposedly good for my health. Even my younger brother had quietly placed fresh flowers by my bed.
That care and love were so overwhelming, I couldn’t bear to tell them I wasn’t really their daughter. Even this whole misunderstanding had happened because they were so concerned for me and worried about my future.
I couldn’t bring shame or trouble to them.
“…Actually, I’ve been in love with you, Lord Winchester.”
So I blurted out a love confession to the man standing before me.
“……”
Even at that sudden confession, Lord Winchester’s expression didn’t change. What? Did he not believe me?
“I couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, and cried all night thinking about you. My father must have seen how heartbroken I was and sent the proposal out of concern.”
To hell with it!
I added more layers to my lie.
“When did you even see me?”
“When I saw you at the ball, I fell for you at first sight. My heart raced from the moment I laid eyes on you.”
“If someone’s holding a sword to your neck, anyone’s heart would race. Are you sure you didn’t confuse that feeling?”
“It wasn’t just that moment. Even after I returned home, your face stayed in my mind. My heart kept pounding, and I cried myself to sleep thinking I’d never see you again!”
It seemed like he didn’t believe me, so I desperately pulled out every cliché side-effect of unrequited love to persuade him. I just wanted him to believe my confession. That way, it would make sense that my father, unable to bear seeing his lovesick daughter suffer, took matters into his own hands.
After all, not every proposal was accepted. It was a marriage proposal, not a duel challenge.
So if Lord Winchester rejected me, this would simply go down as a silly little episode about a baron’s daughter who dared to fall in love with a count.
He frowned slightly. A wrinkle formed between his brows, and he narrowed his eyes suspiciously. For a moment, a flicker of emotion passed through his otherwise cold blue eyes.
“…Very well.”
‘Thank goodness!’
I sighed with relief as Lord Winchester finally gave a response. Now I could ask him to write a polite rejection letter. I’d have to explain things to my parents, but at least the Pomotts name wouldn’t be dragged through the mud.
“Let’s get married.”
“…Pardon?”
That sigh of relief I had just exhaled was sucked right back in.
“I said, let’s get married, Lady Naeri.”
As I stared blankly at him, Lord Winchester repeated himself.
“W-Wait a moment!”
Stop! Hold on! Time out!
At his sudden proposal—no, acceptance—no, a total bolt from the blue! I slammed the brakes.
“Marriage? You and I?”
“Yes. Let’s marry.”
He said it so flatly, without even a hint of romance. Honestly, he looked more like someone announcing a maid’s dismissal than proposing.
“Why?”
“What do you mean, why?”
“Why would you marry me?”
“You’re the one who suggested it first.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
That was a misunderstanding.
“Didn’t you say you were in love with me?”
“That’s also true, but…”
That was a complete lie.
“Then there’s no problem, is there?”
There are so many problems!
“But wouldn’t marrying me be a huge loss for you? I mean, I’m just a baron’s daughter from a poor family—nowhere near the level of the Winchester house.”
“Marriage isn’t a business deal. So there’s no such thing as ‘loss’ here.”
That’s too morally correct—I can’t argue with that!
“Also, I’m not even that pretty. I’m really average-looking. So much so that people often forget I’m there.”
“A person’s worth isn’t in their looks.”
Seriously? Couldn’t you just reject me in a more superficial, selfish way?
“There’s one crucial issue. While I may be head-over-heels for you, you’re not in love with me!”
“……”
Yes! Finally, that mouth that only speaks righteous truths has shut up!
…But why do I feel oddly insulted?
No, it’s fine! My pride doesn’t matter right now!
“I…”
His mouth, finally silent, began to open again.
