101CF 44

Chapter 44

Something was strange.
Three weeks had passed — plenty of time for Lucia to have sent a letter.

Given how often she usually wrote, Herwin had expected at least three of them by now.
But there were none.

Eventually, Herwin rang the bell cord to summon the butler.

“Are you certain you brought me all the letters that arrived?”

“Yes, young master. Is there something in particular you were expecting?”

Herwin was about to mention Lucia’s name but hesitated for a moment, rubbing his chin.

“Then, the letters from the capital mansion — you’ve brought all of those as well?”

“Yes, of course. The letters from the capital are sent regularly. I’m sure the one you’re waiting for would be among them.”

When the butler said that, Herwin glanced over the stack again.
There were several envelopes with double stamps — letters forwarded from the capital.

That meant Lucia hadn’t sent a single one.

A hollow feeling spread in his chest. She had never once failed to write before.

“Would you like me to help you find something, young master?”

The butler’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. Herwin quickly shook his head.

“No, it’s nothing. I was mistaken. You may go.”

“Very well. Please call if you need anything.”

Click.

Once the butler left, Herwin skimmed through the pile of letters with a complicated expression.

Why hadn’t Lucia written to him?

Ever since they were young, they had always exchanged letters whenever they were apart.
In fact, Lucia used to send letters so frequently that her replies would arrive before he had even answered the previous one.

“Ah… could it be…”

A thought suddenly crossed his mind.
The last time they met before he came north, Lucia had cried for the first time.

Though she had smiled and said they’d meet again happily, perhaps she hadn’t yet sorted through her feelings.
If that were the case, her silence made sense.

Her tearful face as she pushed him away came vividly to mind.
An uncomfortable heaviness pressed against his chest.

Why did she like him?
She knew very well that his heart already belonged to someone else.

Lucia was a truly good friend — yet the fact that she harbored feelings beyond friendship always left him awkward.

But he couldn’t treat her coldly like other women. She was far too precious for that.
He didn’t want to lose her — so even while rejecting her feelings, he couldn’t bring himself to be cruel.

When the image of her crumbling face surfaced again, Herwin frowned and ran a hand over his face, shaking his head as if to erase her lingering trace.

“Pull yourself together, come on.”

Drying his still-damp hair, he redirected his attention to the remaining letters.

Half of them were invitations to social gatherings — attempts to befriend him — and the rest were from his other friends:
Ethan, Brian, Christine, and Arista.

He read through them one by one. They were all ordinary letters — simple inquiries about his health and when he might return.
The familiar warmth in their words made him smile faintly.

Finally, he opened Arista’s letter.
Just seeing her neat handwriting brought a natural smile to his lips.

And among her graceful lines was an important piece of news.

“An engagement, huh…”

It was the kind of story that would soon spread throughout the entire Empire —
the engagement between the Imperial Princess and Lord Ares Lydia.

Arista had once mentioned that discussions with the Imperial Family were underway, but he hadn’t imagined it would actually happen.
Still, since there were no unmarried princes, it was far more realistic for Ares to be engaged than Arista.

Even so, when he’d thought that Arista might tie herself to the Imperial Family, his heart had felt uneasy.

No matter who came along, Arista always seemed too good for them.

If it had been a political marriage, there would have been nothing to do about it —
but still, he had hoped she might find a match who was capable, dignified, and worthy of her.

He had never imagined himself being that person.
Given the ties between their families, such a thing would be impossible anyway.

For Herwin, who had only just entered the age of marriage, the idea of actually marrying someone still felt like a distant story.

That evening, back at the ducal residence, Herwin joined his family for dinner for the first time in a while.

“I hear the Princess is holding her engagement ceremony.”

“Yes. I’ll likely need to return to the capital soon.”

“You’ve slain more monsters than your quota — it’s fine for you to return.”

With that, Duke Heil resumed eating.
Listening to the dry exchange between father and son, Lady Scarlett frowned disapprovingly.

“It’s such a pity, though. My dear son finally comes home, and now he has to leave again.
I told you to visit the castle often and at least show your face!”

“I’m sorry, Mother. I’ll stay longer next time.”

“And you!” She turned her glare on Heil. “How could you send our son off to a monster-infested region the moment he came home?
He should’ve rested in the castle at least one full day!”

“I did ask him to assist with monster subjugation, yes — but it was his decision to go straight there.”

Trying to escape Scarlett’s nagging, Heil neatly shifted the blame onto Herwin.

Herwin shot his father a look that said, really?
Heil replied with one that said, just bear with her for me.

“When you return to the capital, when do you think you’ll come back?”

“I’m not sure. I’ll have to see once I’m there.”

Scarlett’s brow twitched at his curt answer.

“Wouldn’t it be about time you came back to the North for good? You should start preparing to inherit the dukedom.”

“You’ve been in the capital ever since graduating from the academy. It’s time to settle here again,” Heil agreed.

Herwin had expected this talk eventually — but not tonight.
He chose silence instead of an answer.

“Before inheriting, it would be nice if you got engaged first. Don’t you think so, dear?”

“An engagement… well, marriage is inevitable anyway. It wouldn’t hurt to start looking now.
Didn’t you meet any young ladies in the capital you liked?”

Feeling both parents’ gazes on him, Herwin deliberately showed discomfort.

“Must we discuss this today?”

“Of course! You’ll be gone again soon. When else can we talk about it?”

Ignoring his protest, Scarlett leaned forward and whispered meaningfully:

“What about getting engaged to Lucia?”

“Mother!”

“Why raise your voice? If there’s no one else you fancy, isn’t Lucia just perfect?”

Herwin opened his mouth soundlessly, then rubbed a hand down his face as Scarlett continued.

“Hmm, Lucia, yes. Not a bad choice,” Heil mused.

“See? I knew you’d agree. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have such a sweet, well-mannered girl as our daughter-in-law?”

“Perhaps we should send a formal proposal to House Agnes.”

Ignoring Herwin entirely, his parents began discussing Lucia as if she were already his fiancée.

“Could you not decide my engagement right in front of me?”

“Then why are you so against it? You don’t like Lucia?” Scarlett asked.

“Yes, why? What’s wrong with being engaged to Lucia?” Heil added.

Herwin froze for a moment.
They were right — Lucia would make a fine bride in anyone’s eyes.

But he simply couldn’t picture himself engaged to her.

“Since it’s come up, let me ask you something.” Scarlett’s tone softened but turned serious.
“I’ve heard Lucia has loved you for over ten years. Tell me honestly — have you really never once seen her as a woman?”

Herwin couldn’t brush that off casually. He paused, struggling for words.
Images of Lucia flickered in his mind — her small frame that barely reached his chest, her round, gentle face, and her painfully kind nature.

Her smiling eyes, the way she always beamed so brightly — it was a smile he’d seen since childhood.

Had he ever seen her as more than a friend?

He wasn’t sure.

She was certainly a dear friend he never wanted to lose —
but as a woman… he couldn’t quite say.

Watching his expression grow troubled, his parents exchanged knowing looks.

“…Lucia is only my most precious friend,” he finally said in a subdued voice.

Scarlett tilted her head, unconvinced.
Did one really need to think that long just to answer that question?
To her eyes, it didn’t look like he saw Lucia as just a friend.

Still, if she pushed him now, her reticent son would probably shut down completely.
So she decided to leave it at that.

“If you say so, I won’t press. But think about it again carefully.”

Her tone softened to a mother’s quiet advice.

“Lucia will also one day be engaged and marry someone.
If you can calmly accept her walking away hand in hand with another man, then she’s truly just a friend.
But if not—then you should figure out what that means.”

Herwin’s red eyes trembled slightly.
But the flicker of emotion soon faded, his face returning to calm.

Still, Scarlett saw it clearly — he was shaken.

“That was wonderful. I’d heard it was the most popular play lately, but it surpassed my expectations.
What did you think, my lady?”

“Yes, I enjoyed it very much. The actors’ performances and songs were beautiful.”

Lucia smiled gently as she left the theater alongside Vern.
Two weeks earlier, they had met for the first time — and not long after, arranged to meet again.
Today was their third meeting.

He had mentioned booking a delightful play, and as she suspected, it turned out to be “The Other Side of Love.”

The very same play she’d watched before making her final confession to Herwin.

Though a little repetitive this time, she could enjoy it now with a peaceful heart.

“Which part did you like the most, my lady?”

“Hmm… I liked it all, but especially the ending — when the heroine leaves to find her own love.”

In truth, the moment that had struck her most was not the heroine’s departure,
but when the man not chosen quietly left the stage, filled with bittersweet resignation.
It had branded itself into her mind.

‘Better this than being honest and getting hurt,’ she thought.
Her answer had been the kind anyone could agree with.

“I see. Personally, I was most moved by the monologue of the other man — the one who wasn’t chosen.”

Lucia’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. He had thought the same.

“Somehow,” Vern continued softly, “the happier the couple became, the lonelier the one left behind seemed. It was painfully sad.”

When no response came, he turned his head.
Lucia was gazing at him absently, lost in thought.

He gave a sheepish smile, softening his kind eyes.

“Ah, was that too gloomy? Most people prefer the uplifting finale…”

“No, I was just surprised. I didn’t expect that answer. It wasn’t strange at all.
I’m glad I got to hear your thoughts, my lord.”

Her faint smile made it clear she meant it.

“Then I’m relieved.”

Vern gently extended his arm — offering to escort her.
Lucia looked down at it for a moment before resting her hand lightly on his sturdy forearm.

Vern approached her as though she were a timid deer in the forest, careful not to startle her.
Lucia could feel his quiet consideration, and slowly, she began to lower her guard.

Being beside him… didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.