Chapter 23
“Life on Mortgage” —
“Good morning.”
Irina waved at Howard as he entered the dining room.
She had thought something felt different today, and sure enough, in her hand fluttered two sheets of paper —
they looked like invitations.
“What’s that?”
Howard sat down across from her.
“Since when did you develop a hobby of sleeping on the couch?”
“Ahaha. Yesterday… I was just so tired!”
Irina mumbled, trying to hide her embarrassment.
She couldn’t exactly say that she’d fallen asleep while waiting for him.
When she’d woken up at dawn in bed, she’d even startled herself.
“I don’t know why I get tired even when I’m home all day. So—”
She lifted the papers that had been fluttering earlier.
“Invitations, I see.”
“Yup. Guess it’s time I start acting like a duchess.”
Irina puffed out her chest proudly.
“Where are they from?”
“Two different places. Why, you ask?”
“One for friendship, one for rivalry?”
“Probably, huh?”
She slid the invitations across the table toward him.
“I think going to one would be enough.”
Howard examined the senders’ names.
After a moment, he set down the black envelope and pushed the white one back to her.
“This one should do.”
“Hm. And that one?”
“I’ll dispose of it.”
Irina opened the invitation he’d handed back.
Countess Kaust.
She tried to recall her from the grand duchy banquet, but she’d been too nervous at the time to remember much.
“Who’s that?”
“Probably someone around your mental age.”
“Are you kidding me?”
Irina’s anticipation deflated instantly.
But thankfully, he added a more proper explanation afterward.
The Countess Kaust was a year younger than Irina, but her husband, the count, was somewhat older.
Their family was extremely wealthy — not as much as the Ringesters, but still impressive.
And apparently, they supported Howard in the current inheritance dispute.
Since he’d decided to destroy the black invitation, the sender of that one must have been on the opposite side.
“But it’s two weeks from now.”
Two weeks away — not exactly soon.
She had thought she’d finally have something to do, but again, her excitement faded.
There’s only so much rest one can take. Even joking around with Casey was getting tiring.
And after that big accident at the arena, she hadn’t been allowed to go out much either.
“If you’re not up for it, you don’t have to go. I never expected you to handle that sort of thing anyway.”
Irina rested her chin on her hand, voice languid.
“Hmm. I think going once in a while wouldn’t hurt. You’ve been too overprotective lately.”
Before he could start scolding her, she added,
“Sure, there was an accident, but it wasn’t my fault…”
“If it’s what you want, then you should do it.”
“Huh? You mean, you’re letting me go?”
“You’d go even if I said no — you’d just make up an excuse.”
Tch.
He knew her too well.
“I’m only trying to help you. Maybe you’ll reward my effort later, Duke Ringester.”
“As I said, you can do as you wish, my lady.”
He raised his glass of water in a mock toast.
That was a clear permission.
Irina rested her chin on her hand again and reexamined the invitation.
“Countess Kaust, huh…”
A few days later.
Before she could even attend the tea party, other news reached her.
“I have something to report.”
“Hmm? News?”
Howard, who usually spoke bluntly, was being strangely hesitant.
That alone was suspicious.
“What is it?”
He handed her something familiar.
The Arendor Capital Times.
She hadn’t expected to see one here, and her eyes flicked toward him.
“Why? Where did you even get this?”
He gestured at the paper with his chin.
His expression seemed unusually grim.
“You should read it yourself.”
“Why are you being so ominous about it?”
A bad feeling crept in.
Irina unfolded the paper with slightly trembling hands.
A small folded note fell out.
“…Oh.”
She opened the note alongside the paper.
For a long moment, Irina froze in place, silent.
“My father…”
Her pupils shook violently.
Her heart dropped.
“…has gone missing?”
Why?
That’s what her eyes were asking.
But even without his answer, she already knew.
Whether it was because he still hadn’t quit gambling, or because he still hadn’t come to his senses—
“Search parties are already looking for him.”
“When—when did you hear about this?”
“A few days ago.”
Irina let the paper and note fall onto her lap.
“……”
She’d thought she wouldn’t care if her father ruined himself gambling.
Apparently not.
Because she was worried.
She stayed silent for a long, long time.
“Can I go get some air?”
It took her a while to finally speak.
Howard had worried she might not speak at all.
He silently nodded, allowing her to go.
Sensing she wanted time alone, he only sent an escort to accompany her from a distance.
Irina didn’t want to show her weakness to him.
So she went outside.
But where could she even go?
She didn’t know anyone, didn’t know the city well.
All she could do was ask the coachman to open the window and keep the carriage moving.
Damn it, Father.
He’d managed to drive a nail into her heart one last time.
And worse — he’d dragged Howard into it too.
“Phew…”
A deep sigh escaped her lips.
Hours later, she finally had the carriage turn back.
She’d thought fresh air would help, but the weight in her chest only grew heavier.
“Honestly… to the very end…”
Her hands trembled as she held the note again.
Her heart thudded painfully, her chest heavy.
Her eyes stung.
She’d gone out to clear her head, yet on the way back, she was fighting tears, her throat tight from holding them in.
By the time she returned, the sun was setting — and seeing him waiting for her nearly broke her.
“Why are you waiting?”
Her tone was curt, but the sight of him was enough to keep her from falling apart.
Irina looked at him quietly as he approached, and when he was close enough to reach, she leaned forward and pressed her forehead to his chest.
Howard carefully raised his arms and wrapped them around her.
She let the weight in her heart fall, piece by piece, against him.
“……”
His hand moved softly along her back —
not exactly patting, not quite caressing — something gentler, more protective.
After a while, when her emotions finally settled, Irina pulled away and brushed off her dress.
But her reddened eyes betrayed her.
So she lowered her gaze, avoiding his.
“…I’m fine now. I’ll go in.”
Rustle.
Before she could move, Howard’s hand touched the corner of her eye.
“I didn’t cry.”
She preempted him.
“I haven’t said anything yet.”
At that, she shot him a glare, lips jutting out in a pout.
A faint, somber smile ghosted across his lips.
That evening.
Unexpectedly, Howard came to see her again.
“Come in.”
She thought it was Casey at first when she heard the knock.
“Oh? What’s up?”
She’d planned to just curl up under the covers until she fell asleep —
her mood still weighed down.
In his hands was a tray with two wine glasses.
“Thought we might have a drink.”
“A drink?”
Irina agreed easily and stood.
They shared that drink on the balcony adjoining her bedroom.
Sitting side by side on a small bench,
it struck her that this was the first time she’d ever had a drink with him —
their last time together, she hadn’t yet been an adult.
The feeling was strange… and a little novel.
Her “wine,” of course, wasn’t really wine —
it was a sweet, warm concoction of boiled fruits with lemon.
“Why is mine this?”
She eyed his glass suspiciously.
“We ran out of wine.”
Lie.
A clear lie.
Everyone in the house knew the cellar was fully stocked.
Irina tried to steal a sip from his glass but failed.
So she settled for the sweet, warm drink he’d given her.
It barely had any alcohol left — just the rich taste of grapes and sugar.
Tonight, she didn’t speak much.
Howard hadn’t come to talk, either.
They were simply sharing the same quiet space.
Sip. Sip.
Maybe because of the warmth of the drink,
or maybe the warmth of his presence beside her,
sleep began to wash over her.
She set her glass down and leaned gently against his shoulder.
And slowly, she closed her eyes.
