〈007〉
“Not really.”
It was a simple answer. And a rather awkward one, too.
“Still, you must have some expectations about the kind of wedding you’d like to have, right?”
“Not particularly.”
Even when I asked again, Lord Winchester gave the same response. Honestly, I had kind of expected it. Given how expressionless he had been during the proposal, it wasn’t surprising that he didn’t care much about the wedding either.
“Then what kind of wedding ring would you prefer? Do you have anything in mind?”
I carefully pulled out a catalog. I was willing to do exactly what he wanted for his own ring. In exchange, I planned to cut costs wherever else I could.
“The head of House Winchester has traditionally used the family signet ring as their wedding ring. It signifies the head of the household and the family.”
He held up the ring he was already wearing as he said this. To put it kindly, it had a sense of tradition; to be blunt, it was a bit tacky—an enormous red gem embedded in a bulky ring. It only suited Lord Winchester because of his large, rugged hands. On a more delicate person, the weight of the thing might’ve looked like it could snap a finger.
Still, I couldn’t help but twitch a smile at the fact that we wouldn’t need to buy a new ring.
“And actually, there’s already a ring I’d like you to wear, Miss Naeri.”
He opened a drawer and pulled out a small jewelry box. The last time, he had pulled out the marriage contract from that same drawer. Just how much stuff was in there?
“Is it a family heirloom passed down to the Countess of Winchester?”
In novels, there were often romantic scenes where a man proposes using his mother’s or grandmother’s wedding ring. I always thought that was touching—a proposal that linked generations and made you feel like part of the family.
The first romantic moment in this whole engagement…
“Not at all.”
And just like that, Lord Winchester’s cold tone snuffed out the budding romance.
“My mother was quite possessive. When she passed, she asked for all her jewelry to be buried with her.”
“…A new kind of burial ritual, I see.”
It seemed like a waste of gemstones, but at least it was a peaceful one—just objects, after all.
“Assuming we actually buried them with her.”
“You didn’t?”
“No.”
His reply left me momentarily confused. If the family heirlooms weren’t buried and there was no tradition of passing them down, then where did all the previous Countess of Winchester’s jewelry go?
“I made sure there was no obligation to preserve them for future generations, so I sold them.”
Lord Winchester read the puzzlement on my face and answered without me even asking. I wasn’t sure if I should call him unfilial or just a practical man.
“Then… is this a newly bought ring?”
I swallowed the urge to add ‘for me?’ It didn’t need to be asked so directly.
“Just something I already had.”
As if that was the end of the questions, he pushed the jewelry box toward me again—urging me to open it already. I carefully took it and lifted the lid.
“Oh!”
A gasp escaped me the moment I saw the ring. It held a fairly large, clear gem that made it look simple at first glance. But the intricate crown-shaped setting on top, made of tiny embedded stones, was anything but ordinary.
You could call it cute, or elegant. What was certain was that it was both unique and beautiful. A ring unlike anything I had ever seen—and definitely not in the catalog.
“Try it on. If it doesn’t fit, we’ll need to have it adjusted.”
Leaning back in his chair, Lord Winchester spoke casually. I wasn’t sure what to point out first.
Should I mention that it’s strange to be putting on my own engagement ring, even if this wasn’t a real wedding yet? Or that you don’t call adjustments to jewelry a “repair”?
“Hmm… it fits perfectly.”
But I chose not to say anything. Instead, I did as he told me and slipped the ring onto my finger. Truthfully, it felt a little tight, but it was so beautiful I didn’t want to make a fuss. I was worried adjusting it would ruin the perfect moment.
“Ah, then what about the wedding dress? Do you have a tuxedo in mind?”
Mesmerized by how beautiful my hand looked with the ring, I shook myself out of it. I quickly moved on, pretending I hadn’t just been enchanted by the ring.
“I don’t know anything about dresses. I’ll leave it to you.”
It was a detached response, but honestly, that was better for me. At least he wasn’t going to insist on an expensive dress or pick something that wasn’t my style.
“Is there anything else?”
He sounded like he just wanted to get everything over with. Right, he had mentioned earlier that he was squeezing this in despite a packed schedule.
“There’s… one last thing…”
I cautiously broached the subject. This was actually the most important issue.
“…”
But I couldn’t bring myself to speak easily. Talking about money was always difficult. And asking for a discount on money I hadn’t even been promised felt both laughable and awkward.
“…”
As I hesitated and mumbled, Lord Winchester stared at me, clearly urging me to get to the point. I knew better than anyone that I couldn’t stall forever.
“Um…”
I licked my lips nervously and finally forced myself to speak.
“How much were you planning for the bride’s dowry?”
There. I said it.
“Zero fads.”
Huh?
Unlike my hesitant delivery, Lord Winchester’s reply came instantly—and shockingly.
According to what my sister and mother told me, a noblewoman’s dowry usually started at 30 million fads. It was a sign of the bride’s worth from her side, and an honor for the groom’s family to receive such a valuable daughter-in-law. The higher the rank, the larger the dowry.
Even commoners usually prepared several million fads. The poorest would at least offer sacks of wheat or crates of potatoes.
But a zero dowry for the bride of the Earl of Winchester?
“Is something wrong?”
When I stayed silent in surprise, Lord Winchester asked as if something was amiss.
“Are you sure you’re okay with that?”
“I believe I’ve mentioned this before: I don’t intend to treat marriage as a business deal.”
Even when I asked again, his answer remained firm. Honestly, I was a little moved by how he refused to assign a price tag to people.
But it also raised a question. Why, then, in the novel, did Lord Winchester marry off Daniel like a transaction over a dowry?
From today’s conversation, he seemed upright and moral—hardly someone who would neglect or mistreat a child.
“Then it seems everything’s settled. I’ll be going now. Thank you for making time for me despite your busy schedule, Lord Winchester.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes.”
“There’s still one important matter left, isn’t there?”
“An important matter?”
What’s left? We’re living in his house. We’re having the wedding here. There’s no need for a dowry or gifts. I’ll choose the dress. Guests can be handled separately. Even the dowry issue is resolved. So what’s left?
“When do you plan to have the wedding ceremony?”
“Ah!”
At last, I realized what I had forgotten. I had been so fixated on the money that I completely missed it.
“When would be convenient for you?”
I sat back down and asked.
“Next week is out. The envoy from the Batro Duchy is scheduled to visit in two weeks, and I have to prepare a parade. Next month, I’ll be away for ten days inspecting the northeastern garrison. And the fifth of every month is joint training with the knight order. These days are out because I must tutor His Highness the Crown Prince…”
He showed me his nearly fully-booked schedule. Just listening to it was exhausting.
“Then the only available date is…”
I searched the calendar like a hidden picture puzzle.
“How about this day?”
I pointed to one rare open slot next month.
“Let’s go with that.”
He picked up a quill and neatly marked a V where I had pointed. Clean and simple.
“Then I’ll really be off now.”
I rose and gave a polite curtsy. He nodded slightly in return. A simple farewell. No one would guess we were about to be married soon.
Why is he marrying me, anyway?
The wedding, the ring—it didn’t seem to matter to him. He scheduled it around his work like any other task. He wasn’t marrying me out of love or desire.
And honestly, the same went for me. But at least I had a goal for this marriage.
“Oh, Lord Winchester?”
Just before I left the room, I turned back.
For my small, precious little Daniel!
For the purpose of this marriage.
