~Chapter 85~
Contrary to Riden’s worries, the atmosphere was friendly.
“Lady Mari, your eyes are truly like jewels.”
“Really?”
‘See that? He’s using this “helping” excuse to flirt after his mistake.’
Even if they were only a show-window engagement, this was too much.
Ugh.
Riden frowned.
“But you don’t seem the least bit awkward, even with just the two of you here.”
“Do I? Ah… well, I’ve always been more comfortable with gentlemen than with ladies. Ladies feel a bit harder to me.”
“Perhaps it’s because you’ve been envied a lot for your beauty, Lady Mari? That’s why it feels difficult?”
“Oh, that’s not rare at all. There are plenty of beautiful people.”
“…?”
Riden leaned against the wall in silence.
For some reason, her heart was beating fast.
The mood was strangely different from what she expected, so she couldn’t step in.
But she stayed nearby, just in case something bad happened to Mari.
‘Why do I feel so uneasy?’
After a while, Riden quietly left the spot.
On the way back in the carriage, Mari was quiet, but her crossed leg kept bouncing at the toe.
Her restless foot showed she was still in high spirits.
She watched the rows of shops passing by the window with curiosity, her bright blue eyes sparkling.
Riden, watching her, felt conflicted.
‘Mari has always been confident, never losing her composure in difficult situations—that’s why so many like her.’
But in person, she was a little different from the main character Riden had vaguely imagined.
Riden wondered if the sense of wrongness she felt was just her being oversensitive.
“Mari,” she said.
“Yes?”
“Count Karencia—he’s engaged to Lady Rosalie, right?”
“Yes.”
“They got engaged last year, so why aren’t they married yet?”
Riden couldn’t say the truth—that it was a loveless, strategic match and both were waiting for a better partner to appear.
“Probably not just their own decision—there could be family matters involved. That might be why it’s taking so long.”
Mari smirked slightly.
“Riden, you’re smart but also a little clueless, you know that?”
“Really?”
Mari waved her hands as if to say it wasn’t meant badly.
“Not a bad thing. It’s cute. At first, you look cold, sharp, like a real ice beauty… but your personality is a little clueless. That’s really cute.”
Unable to find a good response, Riden just smiled.
Mari pointed to Riden, then to herself.
“That’s why you need a friend like me around. Got it? Look, Riden—”
Mari lowered her voice.
“There’s no love between Rosalie and Count Karencia. Didn’t you see their eyes? Maybe not sure about Rosalie, but for sure Count Karencia.”
‘The heroine was always sharp, but this is impressive.’
Riden hesitated, then asked carefully,
“Was it? I must’ve been distracted—I couldn’t tell.”
“When the Count spilled the dessert plate on my dress—that wasn’t an accident, Riden.”
Riden’s eyes widened in shock.
It was on purpose?
She sat up straight, startled.
Mari chuckled at the reaction.
“In the washroom, he pretended to help fix my dress and openly showed interest. He even ‘accidentally’ held my hand while pretending to point something out.”
“What a scummy man!”
Startled, Riden clenched her fists, forgetting her earlier unease.
Because she’d hesitated, she hadn’t gone into the washroom—and in that time, Mari had her hand held by a man she’d never met before.
‘How disgusting and creepy that must’ve felt!’
I should reflect!
Mari burst out laughing.
“Pfft! Riden—”
“Ah… you’re so cute.”
“Sorry. I should’ve been there to stop that from happening. It’s like I came along for nothing.”
In the original, Count Karencia was barely mentioned, so Riden hadn’t known what he was like—but apparently, he was trash.
“Why are you sorry? The Count’s the one I feel sorry for.”
‘Huh? How did that turn around?’
Mari, still amused, turned to look out the window, her expression thoughtful, almost nostalgic.
“Look at Rosalie. How much trouble must she have given him for him to look elsewhere before they’re even married? Don’t you think? Poor Count.”
Ba-dump, ba-dump…
The same wrongness Riden had felt at the count’s estate returned.
She stared at Mari.
Her eyes were filled with sincerity, mixed with pity and reminiscence.
When a man—engaged or married—reaches for you, wouldn’t you be angry?
‘Like, what does this jerk think I am?’
Then why, Mari—why do you look… thrilled?
At the imperial palace, a royal messenger was about to step into his carriage when quick footsteps came from behind.
“Wait!”
Turning, the messenger saw a young man with blond hair and light brown eyes jogging over, waving.
Recognizing him immediately as the Kenwolf heir, the messenger bowed.
“Lord Marik Kenwolf.”
Marik caught his breath and smiled elegantly.
“Thanks for recognizing me. Headed to the McCreary estate?”
The messenger looked puzzled.
“Yes… but it’s official business, so I can’t share details.”
“No worries—I’m not interested in your work. I just happen to need to go there too.”
Marik smiled in that persuasive way that was hard to refuse.
“Mind if I ride along?”
“….”
“I’ll be quiet and just share the carriage.”
The messenger hesitated, but refusing a Kenwolf was difficult, and there was no rule against it.
“If you need to, my lord, please join me.”
“Thanks.”
Marik hopped lightly into the carriage.
The messenger followed, a bit tense.
Marik gave a reassuring look before falling into thought.
The Kenwolf and McCreary families had exchanged much, but outwardly, they had no official ties.
Rumors had spread quietly, but because the McCreary lady was still cautious, visiting the count’s estate meant taking public transport—a nuisance.
If only Ethan and Riden decided to marry, everything would be solved.
‘They’ve grown closer… but still not enough for her standards, I suppose.’
Marik’s expression dimmed slightly as he looked out the window.
No.
‘No matter how I think about it, this really isn’t right.’
Riden sat in a corner of Mari’s room at the count’s estate, watching her busy herself with getting ready.
