Chapter 16
First, a Kiss
Ariel had encountered the greatest dilemma of her life.
Marriage.
To Valentin, of all people.
They had once run through the fields of Milton Abbey together as children, dirt smeared across their faces while they crouched in the grass observing ants.
How could people like them possibly become husband and wife?
Recalling the awkward bouquets he used to force into her hands, Ariel slowly closed her eyes.
It made no sense.
And yet that impossible future was rapidly becoming reality.
“Being the second son is a slight issue, but the Cayennes are still a prestigious family. It’s not a terrible match.”
Margarete’s standards had softened considerably. Heinz was no different.
“I should speak with Erich sometime. Perhaps the Cayennes could pass one or two businesses down to his younger brother.”
“That would be wonderful.”
Margarete smiled with satisfaction. As though a great burden had finally been lifted from her shoulders, she took Ariel’s hand warmly.
“This really turned out well, don’t you think? I had no idea Valentin felt that way about you.”
“You used to say a second son was absolutely unacceptable.”
“My dear, not all second sons are the same. The Cayenne name carries weight. If he inherits part of the business, that’s far better than becoming the eldest son of some mediocre family.”
“And if Erich refuses?”
Money complicated even the closest relationships.
Ariel knew very well how calmly and rationally Erich could draw lines when necessary, despite his reputation for gentleness. Surely her parents also understood the personality of the nephew they had adored since childhood.
“I intend to teach my future son-in-law some of the Rosenberg business as well.”
“Father!”
The shocking statement made Ariel raise her voice before she could stop herself.
But Heinz’s fierce glare slammed down harder in return, forcing her mouth shut.
“I’m amazed you still think you have the luxury to refuse. When there’s no better option than Valentin, this stubbornness only makes you look even more ridiculous!”
“Darling! That’s too harsh.”
Margarete quickly stepped in to defend her daughter.
“Your daughter is going to marry Valentin. So enough.”
Ariel’s eyelashes trembled.
It felt as though chains had wrapped around her tongue.
As though stones had filled her throat so completely she could barely breathe.
[A Miraculous Proposal Arrives Like Sweet Rain!]
A new article had been published.
While searching for something to read over coffee, Leonardo picked up a gossip magazine instead of a newspaper for once.
Had Ariel’s reputation truly deteriorated that badly?
He recalled her face from the day they had been trapped in the library together—her anxious frustration, the panic she had tried so hard to hide.
He had mocked her then, asking whether she was worried she might never marry.
But deep down, he had assumed a family as powerful as the Rosenbergs would never fail to secure a match for their daughter.
Yet apparently not even the Rosenberg fortune could completely erase the damage.
Opening Morning Whisper with mild concern, Leonardo had not expected to encounter something far more shocking.
Frowning deeply, he began reading.
[A single bee has finally flown toward the flower of society, who had long withered beneath an unprecedented drought.
Naturally, curiosity surrounds the identity of this brave suitor. According to insiders, the gentleman belongs to the Cayenne family, the Rosenbergs’ closest relatives. And between the two brothers, the answer already seems obvious.
This is why some suspect the engagement may be a carefully orchestrated performance.
…(omitted)…
Is the cousin’s proposal true romance? Or merely a handful of pity offered like charity?
Whatever the truth may be, one cannot deny that the helping hand arrived very late indeed. Though perhaps the timing itself was intentional.
After all, true salvation always appears at the final moment.]
Gossip magazines had always been built upon a careful mixture of truth and lies.
After reading the article with surprising seriousness, Leonardo eventually let out a dry laugh.
What ridiculous nonsense.
There was no way Count Rosenberg would ever approve of a second son pursuing a military career.
Still, he had to admire their talent for manufacturing sensational stories.
Closing the magazine, Leonardo leaned back just as a knock sounded at the door.
“Your Grace, Count Murlington is on the telephone.”
“Dietrich?”
One brow lifted.
Something sharp and smoky flickered through Leonardo’s blue eyes.
Sometimes it happened without warning.
A sudden coldness deep inside his chest.
What business could that fool possibly have?
Carrying an inexplicably bad feeling, Leonardo headed toward his office.
And the moment he picked up the receiver, Dietrich’s excited voice exploded through the line.
—Hey! Big news!
Was he thrilled?
Shocked?
It was hard to tell.
—I just came back from meeting Count Rosenberg. Looks like he’s accepted an heir into the family!
“What are you talking about? Speak clearly.”
Even as he asked, an unpleasant chill slid through his heart.
Dietrich and Heinz were heavily involved in business together. They met often enough for official matters.
—Honestly, where do I even begin? Anyway, Lady Rosenberg received a proposal.
The exact same story Leonardo had just read in the gossip magazine now poured through Dietrich’s mouth.
Except this version came with an addition:
Heinz himself had introduced the prospective groom to Dietrich.
—The meeting had just ended when I ran into Sir Cayenne. I was about to greet him and leave, but Count Rosenberg stopped me and said we’d be seeing each other quite often from now on!
“…You sure you weren’t dreaming?”
—You insane bastard. Why would I call you to tell you about a dream?
Dietrich’s laughter sounded strangely distant.
Veins stood out sharply across the back of Leonardo’s hand as he tightened his grip on the receiver.
Had Heinz completely lost his mind?
He was accepting a second son?
—This is all thanks to you, you know.
“……”
—The great Heinz Rosenberg completely ruined his daughter’s marriage prospects. His pride must be suffering terribly.
“I imagine so.”
His answer sounded calm.
But bitterness coated his tongue.
After ending the pointless conversation, Leonardo remained standing there silently for a long time.
That night, Ariel could not sleep.
Curled up on the couch, she absentmindedly played with a piece of Schmidt lace while staring into space.
Mary, who had come to assist her before bed, noticed immediately and approached with concern.
“My lady, why are you still awake?”
“It’s just…”
Ariel glanced up briefly before lowering her gaze again, hugging her knees tightly.
“It feels strange.”
“What does?”
Mary sat beside her naturally, speaking in a soft, soothing voice.
Sometimes she found the young lady quietly drowning in her thoughts.
Tonight was clearly one of those nights.
She seemed to be enduring things well enough on the surface…
And yet now that her future had already been decided for her, Ariel looked completely lost.
“Does marrying Lord Valentin trouble you that much?”
“…Yes.”
The single syllable that emerged after a long silence felt unbearably heavy.
Mary realized the situation was affecting her more deeply than expected.
“You don’t need to think of it so heavily. It’s simply a new kind of relationship forming. I honestly think the two of you suit each other very well.”
The gentle reassurance accomplished nothing.
Ariel slowly shook her head.
“I can’t imagine us as husband and wife at all.”
They had always been precious friends.
Family.
Perhaps Valentin had secretly carried romantic feelings for years, but Ariel had never once viewed him as a man.
So this is what he meant when he told me not to struggle anymore.
He solved the problem quickly enough.
By burying it beneath an even bigger one.
Perhaps the rumors were right.
Perhaps Valentin had proposed because he pitied her—because she had become a victim of gossip.
No.
That was not speculation.
Ariel knew it was true.
Because she had seen the pity hidden within his eyes.
Of course his feelings were sincere as well.
That was precisely what made everything worse.
Under normal circumstances, Valentin probably would have hidden his feelings forever, remaining by her side as a friend or cousin for the rest of his life.
But once the scandal exploded, he stepped forward.
Ariel understood it instinctively without needing an explanation.
And somehow that made it even more miserable.
Everyone was pretending his proposal had been born purely from love.
“I know a good solution.”
At that moment, Mary suddenly raised a finger with sparkling eyes, as though struck by inspiration.
Ariel looked at her blankly.
“What solution?”
“You said you can’t picture yourselves as a married couple.”
“Yes. So?”
“Then imagine it.”
Mary lowered her voice dramatically, as though sharing a dangerous secret.
“Imagine kissing Lord Valentin.”
“…What?”
Good heavens.
How scandalous!
Ariel’s eyes widened in horror.
“Why are you reacting like that? If you become husband and wife, you’ll do far more than kissing.”
“More than that?”
“Well… you’ll find out soon enough, so I’ll spare you the details. But start with a kiss. If you can imagine kissing him, it means the relationship can develop romantically.”
Where Mary even heard such nonsense was beyond comprehension.
And yet—
Disturbingly enough, it sounded plausible.
Slowly, carefully, Ariel tried to imagine it.
A kiss between people in love was supposed to be beautiful.
There was nothing strange about it.
And if Mary was right, married couples probably did far more intimate things than that.
Like the lovers in the library.
“……”
“Oh my. My lady, your face is turning red.”
This had to be the library’s curse.
The moment lips touched in her imagination, the man beside her suddenly changed.
Not Valentin.
Leonardo.
“See? I told you. You two could absolutely become husband and wife.”
“That’s not what this is!”
Ariel denied it fiercely, but Mary clearly was not listening anymore.
“You’re just shy right now. Once you’re married, you’ll become very affectionate.”
“I said that’s not it!”
What kind of ridiculous test even was this?!
Absolutely unacceptable.
