TVIMN 38

Chapter 38

Two days later, a man stood before the grand entrance of the Marquis’ estate, taking a deep breath.

Nathan Hennet raised his trembling hand and knocked on the door knocker.

His once-unruly hair was neatly combed back with pomade. Wearing a proper suit instead of his usual worn lab coat felt strange and unfamiliar.

A few days prior, clothes from Salon Mavella had been delivered to the Academy Tower. Though there was no name on the order, Nathan had no trouble guessing who had sent them—the noblewoman who had glared at him with those fierce eyes.

There’s an old saying that “a rumor travels fastest when it has no legs.”

Indeed, the incident involving Lady Diane Redwood’s proposal scandal had already reached Nathan’s ears. The timing was uncanny—he had been planning to propose to Diane himself before hearing about it. Still, after much deliberation, he finally mustered the courage to visit the Marquis’ residence.

“Huff…”

As he exhaled deeply once more, the door clicked open.

“Ah, so you’re the one who came to propose to my daughter?”

The Marquis greeted Nathan warmly—so warmly, in fact, that Nathan was left momentarily stunned. He had expected to be turned away at the door, not welcomed.

“Yes, that’s correct, my lord.”

“Hmm. And which family are you from?”

The Marquis looked at him with a hint of expectation. Intimidated, Nathan still managed to answer steadily.

“Yes. I am from the Barony of Hennet.”

“Hm. Doesn’t sound familiar. You’re not from the capital, are you?”

“No, sir. I’m from the provinces.”

“Ah, the provinces! Hah! The Barony of Hennet, you say!”

Was being from the provinces really something to be that pleased about? The Marquis clapped the armrest of his sofa repeatedly, unable to hide his delight.

After a hearty laugh, he stroked his mustache and gave the young man before him a satisfied look.

What perfect timing.

“You’re a botanist, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

Nathan did his best to make a good impression. When he mentioned that he might be appointed a professor of herbology at the Academy in a few years if his research continued to go well, the Marquis nodded.

In truth, the Marquis couldn’t care less whether Nathan Hennet became a professor or not.

A small, countryside noble house like the Hennets was beneath his notice, and an academic post—an honorific one with no real power or wealth—was even less interesting.

Under normal circumstances, the Marquis would never have granted an audience to someone like Nathan.

But if the man was to be his daughter’s future husband, the situation was different.

Nathan’s skin was pale and rough from long hours spent indoors experimenting in the tower, giving him a somewhat unhealthy appearance. The Marquis looked him up and down, assessing his value like a merchant inspecting goods.

“So. You say you’ve come to propose to my daughter. Tell me—how much dowry do you expect?”

The Marquis asked the question casually, testing him.

Sure, a man from such humble origins wouldn’t dare ask for much—but after dealing with so many greedy fools recently, he’d learned to be cautious.

Some fools had no shame, demanding outrageous sums while proposing to the Marquis’ daughter.

At the question, Nathan’s eyes widened, and he frantically waved both hands.

“A dowry? Oh, no, sir! I—I’ve never even thought about such a thing!”

The Marquis’ face brightened instantly at Nathan’s innocent reaction.

“You’ve never thought about it? Haha! So it’s true, then—they say you’ve only ever studied! You really are a pure-hearted young man. Well then, may I make a suggestion first?”

The Marquis named an amount—half of what he had offered to Duke Grant.

As a father, haggling over his daughter’s marriage was hardly honorable. But if he could save money, why not?

Upon hearing the sum, Nathan’s face went pale. He couldn’t even form a reply.

The Marquis clicked his tongue inwardly.

Hmph. I had high hopes for this provincial boy, but perhaps he’s just bad with numbers.

If Nathan decided to rethink the proposal and walk out now, it would be a disaster.

The Marquis couldn’t let him slip away—not when the other suitors were demanding five times that dowry.

And truthfully, even that wasn’t looking promising.

He was already under pressure; the suitors who had been rejected were starting to pester him for answers, and the constant letters and reminders were driving him mad.

The Bonaparte family, in particular, had been the most persistent.

The ancient and powerful House Bonaparte, despite being only of count rank, had far greater influence than the Marquisate of Redwood.

Even though the Redwoods had risen rapidly over the last decade, they still couldn’t compare to the Bonapartes.

Just yesterday, at a meeting of the House of Nobles, the Marquis had run into Franz—Leo Bonaparte’s older brother.

“When can we expect an official answer regarding my brother’s proposal?”

Franz had asked the question relentlessly.

Leo Bonaparte’s demanded dowry was ten times higher than any other suitor’s.

If the Marquis chose another family, he would likely make an enemy of the Bonapartes.

He was trapped between a rock and a hard place.

So when Nathan Hennet appeared, the Marquis saw a golden opportunity—one he couldn’t afford to lose over a mere pittance.

The Marquis softened his tone, speaking gently.

“You must think that amount too small. Of course, I wasn’t being serious. I merely wanted to test what kind of man seeks to take my daughter’s hand. Surely, you’ll have many expenses even in the countryside. What do you say—shall we double it?”

Still, Nathan didn’t respond immediately. He hesitated, then finally said quietly,

“There’s no need for a dowry, sir. It’s enough for me that Lady Redwood would agree to marry me.”

It was the truth.

To marry Diane—a dream he’d never dared to dream—was more than enough. He wanted nothing else.

But the Marquis, ever the overthinker, didn’t hear the sincerity in his words.

To him, Nathan’s words sounded like:

“I don’t want your cheap money.”

The Marquis’ face contorted instantly, his polite smile vanishing.

“Fine! Triple it, then! Not a coin more!” he barked.

“Wait, no—my lord, I think there’s been a misunderstanding…”

“Haven’t you come here to propose?”

“Yes, I have, but—”

Nathan stammered, confused and flustered. To anyone watching, he might have seemed indecisive and timid.

But to the Marquis, he looked cunning—as though deliberately playing hard to get to raise the price.

What a sly little snake.

He must be an expert negotiator.

The Marquis was the one sweating now, not Nathan. He couldn’t lose this man—not when he was his last, best option.

The Marquis stared at Nathan, then squeezed his eyes shut in frustration.

“Fine! You’re quite the shrewd young man, I see. I’ll add a personal allowance for Diane on top of the dowry. There! Now, give me your answer. I’m starting to lose my patience. You came here to propose, and now you’re haggling with me?”

Nathan wanted to explain—really, he did—but every time he opened his mouth, the dowry seemed to climb higher, and the thought made him dizzy.

“…Understood, sir. But the dowry—”

“That’s for my household to decide! Just tell me—are you proposing or not?”

Faced with the Marquis’ booming voice, Nathan had only one possible answer.

***

The social season hadn’t even officially begun, and yet the nobility was already in an uproar.

The reason?

None other than Lady Diane Redwood.

She had always been quiet and modest, rarely seen at social gatherings. But now, everyone was talking about her.

Even before the gossip about her broken engagement to Grand Duke Grant—caused by Lady Winchester—had settled, new rumors began to swirl.

Dozens of young noblemen had reportedly flocked to the Marquis’ mansion to propose to her.

Society was abuzz with speculation over which family the Redwoods would choose. Every suitor came from a prestigious house; whoever was chosen, no one could call it strange.

Many envied the Marquis and his wife for having such desirable options, while others were more curious—what would happen to the powerful houses whose proposals were rejected? Surely, they wouldn’t take the insult quietly.

And yet, the most shocking part came last.

The suitor finally chosen by the Marquis and Marchioness of Redwood was not a nobleman from the capital—but the second son of a minor barony in the countryside: Nathan Hennet.

“It’s unfortunate, but for the sake of our daughter’s happiness, we had no choice,”

explained the Marchioness in an interview.

She said that a shy and reserved lady like Diane would not suit the life of a grand duchess or the mistress of a powerful noble house.

They had chosen based not on rank or wealth—but on the man who would make their daughter happiest.

And indeed, Lady Diane was known for her timid personality. She lacked the strength to stand as matriarch of a large noble family and struggled to fit into the bustling high society of the capital.