Chapter 45
They had only met three times, and their engagement wasn’t even confirmed yet—was it really alright for them to be this close?
Since she had never dated anyone before, Lucia didn’t even know whether they were progressing at an appropriate pace or not.
As she quietly walked beside Bern down the street, she glanced up at him.
“Why did he choose me, of all people?”
When he sent her a letter asking her out on a date, Lucia had been puzzled.
Of course, since their first meeting had ended on pleasant terms, it wasn’t strange for him to ask for another meeting.
But she couldn’t shake the thought that someone like Bern didn’t need to consider her as a potential fiancée at all.
A man who had become a marquis at the young age of twenty-four. Handsome, intelligent, charming, and kind.
He had no siblings, so there was no risk to his title being contested.
The perfect husband material anyone would desire.
Surely he had received countless marriage proposals—so why had he chosen her?
Objectively speaking, Lucia wasn’t a bad match either, but the rumors about her circulating in high society were enough to make anyone hesitate.
And yet, Bern had never once mentioned those rumors or said anything about Herwin.
That only made it harder to guess his intentions.
“Could he be comparing me with other women?”
Maybe he was meeting other candidates elsewhere, trying to decide who would make the most suitable wife.
“…Um.”
Lost in thought, Lucia suddenly realized Bern’s lips were moving—he was speaking to her.
He looked slightly flustered, as if embarrassed.
“Is there something on my face? You’ve been staring at me quite intently…”
“Oh! N-no! I was just thinking about something… I’m sorry.”
She had meant to sneak glances at him, but apparently she’d been staring too openly.
Lucia flushed red and apologized repeatedly. Bern just gave a small, awkward laugh and waved it off.
“It’s alright. It happens. You don’t need to apologize so much. May I ask what you were thinking about?”
“Well…”
She hesitated. She couldn’t lie easily—not when she had been thinking about him the whole time.
“I was wondering… if you’re also meeting other women besides me.”
“…What?”
Bern looked utterly dumbfounded. Lucia instantly regretted her words; she knew how rude it sounded.
“It’s not that I’m doubting you! It’s just… you’re a marquis, so I thought you might have other fiancée candidates. I know it’s rude of me to even think that. I’m sorry.”
“Have you been thinking that all this time?”
She wished she could crawl into a hole. Her face turned crimson as she kept her eyes down.
Bern tilted his head, puzzled.
“Did I do something to make her think that?”
He couldn’t recall acting in any way that would make her suspect such a thing.
Then it hit him.
“Ah.”
He realized why she might have thought that.
After all, their relationship wasn’t even defined yet—they were merely getting to know each other. Neither had confessed nor discussed engagement seriously.
Given that both of them were in situations where they needed to find partners, it wouldn’t have been strange if they were each seeing other candidates.
Many nobles did that before deciding on a match.
Bern turned his head toward her.
Her brown hair and the nervous expression on her cute face came into view.
When their blue eyes met, Bern smiled softly.
“I don’t do the shameless thing of meeting two women at once.”
“Oh…”
“So you don’t need to worry about that.”
“Then… may I ask if you’re meeting me because you intend to pursue an engagement with me?”
Bern nodded slowly. Lucia pursed her lips, unable to meet his kind golden eyes.
She felt embarrassed for even imagining otherwise.
“If I had no interest in you, Lady Lucia, I wouldn’t have asked you out today.
Whether or not we end up engaged, I think positively of you. What about you?”
His tone was warm and sincere. Lucia hesitated, then replied softly,
“…I’m not someone who spends time with people I have no feelings for.”
Though indirect, her meaning was clear. Bern’s smile deepened, seemingly satisfied.
“I’m glad. I was worried about how you might see me.”
His lighthearted tone eased the tension that had been building between them.
Lucia was glad she had spoken up. Now she could face him with more comfort.
“By the way, my lady—did you also receive it?”
“Receive what?”
“The Imperial Princess’s engagement party invitation.”
“Oh, yes. It arrived a few days ago.”
It was the engagement of the Imperial Princess and Viscount Lydia—the most anticipated event in the Empire.
“I heard it’ll be a simplified ceremony, just an engagement banquet.
If you don’t mind, would you go with me as my partner?”
Lucia stopped walking. Bern stopped too, waiting patiently for her answer.
Attending such a grand party with a partner was rare unless one was a very close friend or lover.
In other words, showing up with Bern would publicly declare their mutual intention to marry.
It should’ve been an easy yes—but suddenly, Herwin’s face flashed across her mind, and she hesitated.
Her expression dimmed for a moment, then she shook her head lightly.
When her blue eyes met Bern’s again, they were clear and calm.
“I’d be honored, Lord Bern.”
“Please, drop the title. Call me Bern from now on, Lady Lucia.”
“Then you should call me Lucia, not ‘Lady.’”
With the exchange of names, the two of them took one step closer to becoming engaged.
Lucia thought that someone like Bern would be fine—safe, kind, and steady.
With that thought, she stepped into the carriage he had prepared.
“How was your date today? Marquis Casper dropped you off himself, didn’t he?”
Julian asked over dinner, her tone bright and teasing.
She seemed pleased that Lucia was getting along well with Bern.
Seeing her mother’s excitement, Lucia replied evenly,
“It was nice. Bern is very kind—it’s comfortable being around him.”
“Oh my! You’re already on a first-name basis? Yesterday you were still calling him ‘my lord’!”
“…Well, it just happened.”
Julian clapped her hands together, delighted. “I’ve met him a few times—he’s a diligent man, hard to find these days. But be careful, dear. Even good men can hide their true selves.”
Lucia glanced toward Johann, seated at the head of the table. Unlike Julian, he didn’t seem very pleased about Bern.
He’s the one who suggested the arranged meeting and even approved Bern… so why does he look so unhappy about it?
Noticing her confusion, Julian whispered,
“Your father’s just a little emotional, dear. I think it’s hard for him to accept that his daughter’s growing up.”
“What are you whispering about over there?” Johann frowned.
“I didn’t say anything,” Julian said innocently, avoiding his gaze.
Lucia smiled faintly at their usual bickering. Then she spoke quietly,
“By the way… I’ll be attending the Imperial Princess’s engagement party with Bern.”
Julian’s face lit up instantly, while Johann’s darkened.
“Did the marquis invite you himself?”
“Yes. I agreed to go with him.”
Julian clapped again, clearly thrilled. “That’s wonderful, darling! I’m so glad he likes you.”
“Hmph. Of course he does—our Lucia’s perfect.”
“Oh, stop acting like that. It’s a good thing Marquis Casper appreciates her. He seems to treat her well. What could you possibly be unhappy about?”
Johann grumbled but eventually muttered that “you never know with people” and said they should wait and see.
Julian sighed, teasing that he was just upset about letting his daughter go.
Leaving her childish parents to their squabble, Lucia quietly slipped out of the dining room.
When she entered her room, she noticed a letter on her desk.
She thought it might be from one of her friends, but when she saw the familiar seal and handwriting, she froze.
“…Herwin.”
It was from him.
The moment she realized it, her heart began pounding wildly.
Her pulse quickened, her chest fluttered unsteadily, and her hands grew damp. She pressed a hand over her heart.
Thinking of Herwin used to bring her only warmth—but now, it made her uneasy.
The emotions stirring inside her felt stronger than ever before.
Still, Lucia forced herself to calm down and opened the letter.
The bold, clear handwriting unmistakably belonged to Herwin.
There wasn’t much written—just a few brief lines.
He asked how she was doing and said he’d been in the north subjugating monsters.
“My task here is done, so I’ll be returning to the capital today.”
Lucia’s hand twitched.
If he had written that before leaving, it meant he would arrive in the capital very soon.
“I heard the Imperial Princess’s engagement party is in a few days. I plan to attend. You will too, won’t you?”
Lucia nodded faintly.
“Let’s meet there again. I hope this time, we can greet each other with a smile.”
That was the end of the letter.
Her hand, still holding the paper, fell weakly to her side.
“…With a smile?”
Could she really smile when she saw him again?
After what happened a month ago—could he possibly smile at her?
As her thoughts grew darker, she suddenly laughed bitterly and brushed her face with her hand.
“What are you doing, Lucia? You were the one who said that—you were the one who asked to meet again with a smile.”
She couldn’t believe she was the one resenting him now.
With that self-reproach, her head cleared, and her thoughts settled.
Come to think of it, it had been a long time since Herwin had written first. Usually, she was the one sending letters, and he would only reply later.
When he took the initiative to write, it usually meant something important.
“Could this be… his way of making peace?”
Not that there was really anything to reconcile—they hadn’t fought.
But if he’d sent this letter, it meant he was still thinking about how they’d parted last time.
He had even stopped her then, something uncharacteristic for him.
Just receiving this letter from him made the firm resolve she’d built start to waver.
But no matter how her heart trembled, reality wouldn’t change.
At that engagement party, she would attend as Bern’s partner.
That meant Herwin—and everyone else—would see it.
That was the reality.
And reality was never as kind or beautiful as a fairy tale.
Lucia slowly opened her eyes again.
Her blue gaze no longer wavered.
Unlock soon..~