* * *
While the marriage proceeded smoothly.
Count Queensguard’s second son, Edford, flew into a rage upon hearing the news of Cynthia’s marriage.
“Damn it!”
He was slow-witted and delusional.
“Father must have noticed our relationship. That’s why he’s trying to send Cynthia off as a second wife to some rich old man.”
Edford had harbored feelings for Cynthia for a long time.
He was trapped in his own delusion, thinking that Cynthia liked him too but couldn’t show it because of Carlos.
“Carlos, you crazy bastard. Are you using such a petty stunt because you’re afraid of losing Cynthia to me?”
He went to see Cynthia right away.
“Cynthia.”
Surely, she’d be crying, forced into a marriage she didn’t want.
But contrary to Edford’s expectations, Cynthia turned toward him with a bright, radiant smile.
“What’s the matter?”
Edford grabbed her hands and cut to the chase.
“Let’s run away together. Meet me in front of the bell tower two days from now, just after sunset.”
He admired himself for being someone who would give up everything for love.
He expected Cynthia to be moved and shed tears, but instead, her eyes rounded in surprise as she asked,
“Why would I?”
Edford was thrown off by her unexpected reaction.
“Father and Carlos are trying to tear us apart!”
Cynthia’s red eyes blinked rapidly.
“Were we even a couple that could be torn apart?”
“You actually like me, not Carlos. You’re just being considerate of others, poor Cynthia.”
“Eek.” Cynthia let out a small exclamation and shook her head quickly.
“That’s not it.”
“There’s no need to hide it anymore. They’re trying to marry you off to some disgusting old man.”
“No, I heard I’m marrying a handsome and wealthy officer.”
Cynthia was saying such materialistic things? Edford felt like he had been hit over the head.
Then he reminded himself that Cynthia was as innocent as a child.
“You’re being deceived. They’re just saying that, but in reality…”
Cynthia interrupted with a gentle smile.
“Let’s say I do run away with you. But eventually we’d be caught, or reach our limits, right? You’d have somewhere to return to, but I wouldn’t. I’ll probably be in trouble for seducing a noble’s son and running away.”
Pointing to Edford, she continued.
“In the end, you wouldn’t lose anything.”
Was this really the Cynthia he knew? Her voice remained kind, but it was the first time she’d spoken so directly.
To the stunned Edford, Cynthia added,
“Aren’t you just drunk on how cool you think you are for giving everything up for love? Maybe think it over again.”
Just like most people who are stung in their pride but can’t think of a comeback, Edford began to lash out at her.
“So you’ve been playing innocent and using me this whole time? Taking everything you could and now showing your true colors? Why did you even smile at me then?!”
Cynthia, who had ignited the spark of anger in Edford’s heart, replied with the same smile that he claimed she had given him.
“Did I ask you to do anything? The innocent one here is you.”
Edford was deeply shocked.
He immediately went to his family and told them about her heinous side, but no one believed him.
All he got were pitying glances that seemed to say, “He’s obsessed with a mere maid and now making up lies…”
“Edford. Don’t even think of messing this up. If the marriage falls through, I’ll kill you first.”
Instead, he was threatened by the furious Count.
* * *
On the day of departure for the capital for the wedding, Helene, the Count’s daughter, came to my room.
With her luxurious chestnut hair and blue eyes, she smiled gracefully and said,
“Cynthia, may I have a moment to say goodbye? It’s saddening to see someone like a younger sister go far away.”
Her princess-like demeanor and speech were the product of years of training and the pride of royal blood.
With a gentle expression, she took my hands.
“Cynthia. Being forced into marriage due to Father’s ambition must be heartbreaking. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Hardship? Not at all. From my perspective, this is a joyous occasion.”
“Edford said you were in a relationship with him?”
Edford was so not my type. Besides, he was too dense to understand even when I rejected him nicely.
Please don’t interfere with my warm romance fantasy development!
I shook my head.
“No way, not even if the sky falls.”
She still looked concerned as she met my gaze.
“I looked into the person you’re going to marry. Brigadier General Vicente is an old man in his seventies, and he seems to be in financial trouble. I heard he borrowed a lot of money using his title as collateral. Besides, I heard he has a violent and cruel personality.”
“That’s different from what Count Queensguard told me.”
“Well, we’re far from the capital, so information tends to be delayed.”
She made a sympathetic face.
“I wish you could marry a wonderful man like me.”
There was a trace of bragging beneath the facade of concern.
Understanding her intent, I smiled brightly.
“Don’t worry. I trust my own choices.”
A sly man like Count Queensguard wouldn’t gamble on a fake marriage scam without knowing details even his daughter knew.
“You’re so naive and innocent about the ways of the world.”
Helene smiled sweetly once more.
I returned a similar smile.
If rejecting the marriage meant death, and running away also meant death, then my only option was to bet on fate.
“You’ll be going to the Duke’s residence in the capital soon, right? Could you write me an invitation to the Duke’s residence in advance?”
“Why? Besides, you can’t even read traditional language used in formal invitations, can you?”
“If I ever need to ask for help, I can secretly come to see you.”
“I’ll write it in the common language then, for your sake.”
Having Helene’s handwriting might come in handy someday.
In truth, I could read and write in traditional language.
Pretending to be dumb and innocent had its advantages.
People let their guard down around someone they underestimated and ended up revealing weaknesses and secrets.
As she stared at me for a moment, she smiled and handed over the invitation.
Knock knock.
A servant entered and announced that soldiers sent by Brigadier General Vicente had arrived.
* * *
Edford lingered near the luxurious vehicle, scanning the uniformed soldiers.
‘It seems the old man who’s going to marry Cynthia didn’t come.’
Edford curled his lips.
‘To think Cynthia would be such a snob as to accept the marriage so readily. I wonder what her reaction will be when she finds out the truth.’
He imagined Cynthia running to him, sobbing and begging.
Soon, he approached a young man in a long coat.
His rank insignia was hidden by the coat, but he seemed to be Brigadier General Vicente’s direct subordinate, as he was at the front.
“The Brigadier General didn’t come himself?”
At Edford’s question, the young man looked down at him quietly. He was tall and broad-shouldered.
‘Is he really a soldier? He looks like some dandified playboy.’
The refined-looking man swept back his platinum-blonde hair and gave a slight smile.
“Which Brigadier General?”
“The highest-ranking among the staff, so…”
“Ah, the Chief of Staff.”
The man replied disinterestedly.
Feeling a strange sense of intimidation, Edford was about to say something when he saw a middle-aged man in uniform getting out of the car.
‘Is that old man Cynthia’s groom?’
He didn’t look seventy, but there was at least a thirty-year age gap.
Feeling both defeat and triumph, Edford turned again to the handsome man.
“Why are you speaking informally? I’m going to be the brother-in-law of the Chief of Staff you serve.”
Edford tried to assert himself out of pride.
With the war just ended, high-ranking military officers held immense influence and social status.
‘This guy is probably just a newly commissioned officer or a non-commissioned officer.’
Edford put on a smug face, staring at the man who was now expressionless.
“He must be remarrying, so he ought to be respectful to his in-laws.”
“It’s not a second marriage.”
The man shook his head as he took off his gloves.
His expensive watch and cufflinks suggested wealth.
Just as it struck him as strange.
“You’ve arrived.”
The middle-aged man Edford saw earlier saluted rigidly in their direction.
Seeing a military officer salute in perfect form toward him, Edford straightened his shoulders in pride.
“See? Even a staff officer is being polite to me. And you dare—”
But the older man’s solemn gaze wasn’t aimed at the elated Edford—it was directed elsewhere.
“I’m Colonel Rave of the Northern Command. There was a slight delay in snow removal as we get heavy snowfall in the region. I ask for your understanding, Chief of Staff Masera del Vicente.”
Behind the platinum-haired young man addressed as ‘Chief of Staff,’ a road was visible, completely cleared of the snow that was once waist deep.
And beyond that was nothing as far as anyone could see.
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