Chapter 19
As If She Were Trying to Seduce Him
April asked the butler if she could meet with the new marquis before the evening banquet. The butler returned shortly, looking terribly apologetic as he cautiously delivered the reply.
“He says he can spare about ten minutes at 3 o’clock. It seems he’s quite busy…”
“It’s only natural—guests are arriving for the funeral. That’s more than enough. I just wanted to greet him anyway.”
“I’m relieved to hear you say so. I’ll come get you five minutes beforehand.”
Just as April had said, carriages were steadily arriving in the marquisate garden. People came to mourn the late marquis and make their presence known to the new one. Though the main house’s second floor, where the Campbell sisters were staying, remained quiet, the guest annexes were surely teeming with visitors from near and far. April was grateful the marquis had spared even ten minutes for her—especially considering what had happened yesterday.
‘Maybe Charlotte was right. He might be a kind man after all.’
Looking back, it was probably normal to glare at a stranger who barged in while you were changing. April regretted having judged him negatively based solely on his sharp gaze. It was terrible to hold such a misunderstanding after she had caused trouble herself.
As 3 p.m. neared, the butler came to fetch her right on time.
“The marquis is waiting in his office. Allow me to escort you.”
“Thank you.”
April followed the butler past the first-floor library, heading straight to the marquis’s office.
“Please wait a moment.”
The butler entered the room first—likely to announce her arrival. Shortly after, the door opened, and she was told she could enter. Gently lifting the hem of her voluminous dress, April carefully stepped forward, keeping her head lowered. After walking a few steps, she stopped and dipped into a polite curtsy.
“It’s… it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m April Campbell. My younger sister Charlotte and I are in your care.”
With an awkward voice, she raised her head slightly. As expected, the man she saw was the one from yesterday. He looked quite different today, though not just because he was dressed in full formal attire.
‘So… he normally wears glasses.’
Perhaps it was the cold impression of the glasses, but his face seemed even sharper today. After gazing at her for a moment, he stood and walked forward, stopping three steps away to return her greeting with perfect etiquette.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Campbell. I truly am glad to have you here.”
His gentle tone eased April’s tension slightly. Maybe Charlotte had been right. After all, he had sent flowers to a sick child even in the middle of a busy day—surely he would forgive her embarrassing blunder…
“…If this really were our first meeting, that is.”
But as he straightened up and added the words with an unpleasant tone, April felt her expectations shatter.
“Th-that’s…”
She tried to explain, but he cut her off with a curt “Wait.”
“Would you bring us some tea?”
At his command, the butler left. It wasn’t appropriate for an unmarried man and woman to be left alone in a room together, but a servant could hardly disobey the master’s orders. April lowered her gaze to her hands in unease. Perhaps he had dismissed the butler to rebuke her for what happened yesterday.
“How much longer?”
Now that they were alone, his tone lost all pretense of formality.
“How long until that little one in your care recovers?”
“Oh, I’m truly grateful for the flowers you sent to Charlotte…”
“Never mind that. Just answer the question—how many days?”
She didn’t know why he was asking, but April looked up at him and replied quietly.
“A-about a week… I think she’ll recover with rest. Marquis.”
“And to regain her strength, she’ll need another week. So two weeks should be enough.”
“…Pardon?”
When April asked in confusion, he crossed his arms and furrowed his brow, as if blaming her.
“I allowed this meeting because I thought you were here to confirm the day you’d return to the capital.”
“I-I only came to pay my respects…”
She hoped he wouldn’t make such a hasty decision.
“Do you need ten whole minutes for that?”
“I thought you might want to issue new instructions about the room I’m using. As you already know, the one I’m staying in…”
“Of course I know. It’s not something I could forget.”
He smirked crookedly. April flushed, realizing he was referring to yesterday.
“I-I sincerely apologize for my indecent mistake.”
“Mistake?”
He latched onto that word, and April nodded hesitantly.
“Unbelievable.”
“It’s the truth! I thought it connected to the dressing room…”
“Spare me the pathetic excuse.”
His irritated tone was followed by a raised hand.
“Continue using that room. And leave quietly in two weeks.”
“…Marquis.”
April called him in desperation. It was impolite to ask to stay longer during their first meeting, but she had no choice. There was something she wanted to do in this place—something to help her fully let go of her feelings for Rocklan.
“I know it’s presumptuous of me to ask. But the late marquis’s wife’s room is too noble for someone like me. Please assign me a more suitable room. And if you would grant me the grace to stay here longer, I will be sure to repay the kindness.”
She poured out her words in one breath and anxiously watched his expression. As expected, his deeply furrowed brow showed no sign of relaxing. Adjusting his glasses, he sighed shortly.
“It seems you don’t fully grasp the situation.”
“…Situation?”
“The reason you weren’t sent to the annex is because it’s already full of family members.”
He walked to his desk and returned with a document. April’s shoulders trembled when she recognized it.
‘Please provide a written statement promising to send money to the Campbell family whenever my child becomes pregnant.’
It was the contract her father had wrung out of the marquis—a deal between two noble houses. He held the paper close to April’s face.
“Now do you realize what people will think if they see you?”
“Th-that’s…”
She bit her lip, unable to speak. The noble families close to the marquis would certainly know the reason for her presence. With a sneer, the young Marquis Grey leaned in and whispered:
“A vulgar woman who sold herself for money.”
“….”
“No—someone who sold her unborn children. That’s even more despicable.”
His gaze was filled with contempt.
“A shameless, filthy creature.”
“….”
“And you expect me to believe it was just a mistake when you entered my room last night? Even a dog wouldn’t buy that story.”
“It really was a mistake, Marquis…”
April placed a hand over her pounding heart and pleaded.
“I won’t deny the contract is shameful. But last night was—!”
“Let me make one thing clear.”
He tore the contract into pieces and tossed them aside. As if the very sight of it disgusted him, he even wiped his hands with a handkerchief.
“I’m not interested in vulgar women like you.”
“….”
“So don’t try to cozy up to me. I don’t want your filth rubbing off on me.”
It was clear he misunderstood April’s intentions—believing she was trying to seduce him. That must’ve been why he reacted so oddly to last night.
“I…”
“I don’t want to hear it. Just shut your mouth.”
At that sharp warning, the office door opened again. The butler had returned with the tea. The marquis gave April one last meaningful look before turning to the butler and softening his tone.
“We’ve reached a conclusion. Please take the tea to Miss Campbell’s room instead.”
“Already?”
The butler asked in surprise, and the marquis nodded.
“Thankfully, we had a productive conversation. The Campbell sisters will quietly remain here for two weeks before returning to the capital.”
“….”
When April remained silent, he toyed with the arm of his glasses and asked again.
“Isn’t that right?”
It was practically a demand. April had no choice but to nod.
“…Yes.”
“Then I wish you a safe return.”
He gave a polite bow and walked back to his desk. April looked between him and the butler before quietly leaving the office.
The time granted by the marquis: just two weeks. April was frustrated with him—but also understood. After seeing that contract, no one would consider her a respectable person. Cold as it was, she should be grateful he was letting them stay for Charlotte’s sake.
‘At least we weren’t thrown out right away.’
Two weeks was enough for April to visit the outskirts and look around. She might even uncover something new—and if she was lucky, renegotiate her stay with the marquis.
‘…Though judging by the way he looked at me, that seems unlikely.’
Still, April resolved to make the most of the time she had at the marquisate.
The next day, Charlotte’s condition improved significantly. Leaving her in the maid’s care, April borrowed one of the marquisate’s horses. She had only learned riding as a polite accomplishment, so she was nervous—but now wasn’t the time to hesitate. Leaving the hilltop estate, she entered the Ackereton commercial district. It was early morning, so while some shops were preparing to open, the streets were mostly quiet. Some buildings bore black ribbons in mourning for the marquis.
April passed through district after district, following the map the butler had given her—thankfully it was accurate, so she didn’t get lost. As she approached the outer regions, she grew bolder and urged the horse into a faster pace. The cold wind against her face and ears was chilling. Her grip tightened on the reins, and her shoulders tensed. Though tempted to slow the horse, she endured the speed. She had to hurry. Because at the end of this road…
“…”
A black flag came into view. Only then did April pull the reins. The horse slowed as they passed through a thicket of boxwood trees and stopped at a clearing.
Leaving the shadowy woods, her eyes were momentarily blinded by sunlight. But it wasn’t long before she saw the ruins of a collapsed building. Only a single wall remained upright—barely enough to show that a proper structure had once stood there. The rest had been completely destroyed in an explosion. There hadn’t even been a single safe room left.
Knowing that soldiers had lain inside, unable to move, was horrifying. And among them had been Dominic…
‘People won’t even know if it’s me or Rocklan they’re dancing with.’
‘After all, Rocklan and I look exactly the same on the outside.’
She was fully lost in her memories of Dominic when—tap.
A small stone hit her arm.
