IWBCAS 07

Episode 7

Carlhail frowned and asked a question.

Bayen, not understanding why Carlhail was in a bad mood, just told him everything he knew.

“Yes, Your Highness. For a noblewoman, she’s getting old for marriage, so the Count and Countess are trying to hurry things. I heard the young lady wasn’t very interested before, but lately she’s been more active. Letters from young noblemen asking to date her are arriving every day. It looks like she’ll be engaged soon.”

Now that he thought about it, the Philons had looked pleased when they saw him.

‘They must’ve thought I was one of those suitors.’

Carlhail, lost in thought for a moment, smiled playfully.

“Maybe I should ask Lady Rayna out on a date.”

“What? A date?” Bayen frowned.

Dating? Was now really the time to joke like that?

Bayen patted his chest in frustration.
“A date, Your Highness? First, you need to find a cure for the poison in your body. Time is ticking away, and we haven’t found anything that works yet.”

Then, as if remembering something, Bayen added,
“Oh! If you’re trying to have an heir before you die, then I won’t stop you.”

Carlhail glared at him, making Bayen shut his mouth with a gasp.

After glaring at him for a while, Carlhail clicked his tongue and said,
“Tsk. I never said anything about marriage. I just want to be alone with her using the date as an excuse.”

“Ah…”

“And did you already forget I told you that woman might have the antidote?” Carlhail said.

“You mean when your skin looked a little better?” Bayen asked doubtfully.

Carlhail’s symptoms had briefly improved, but they were now back to normal. Bayen thought it was just a coincidence.

“We’ve tried everything else with no success… Could a noble lady really have a cure?”

“I’m sure it’s her. She has the key to neutralizing my poison.”

Carlhail spoke with such confidence that Bayen couldn’t argue anymore.

‘Just one more chance.’

If he could be alone with her again, he planned to kiss her. If kissing her really helped, he would do anything to keep her near.

“Are you really planning to go on a date?”

“I have to. What if she marries someone else and leaves the capital? Then I might never find a cure.”

Once he said it out loud, Carlhail realized how urgent the situation really was.

“…I’ll send her a letter as soon as I get back to the palace.”

Watching Carlhail become anxious, Bayen shook his head slightly.

Back in her room, Rayna slumped onto the couch. She didn’t move for a while, then shivered.

‘Ugh, that was intense.’

His cold eyes…

And why was he dressed like the grim reaper on such a sunny day?

She sighed, thinking of how Carlhail had shown up in all-black clothes again.

Her mind was full of worries.

Where did he even get that hair from?

He’s going to keep suspecting me, isn’t he?

Should I run away now?

She glanced at the big suitcase she had prepared earlier, but someone knocked on her door.

“Rayna, are you in there?”

It was Nikolai’s voice.

“Yes! Come in!”

Rayna quickly fixed her posture. Nikolai and Grace entered the room together.

“Mother? Father?”

Their eyes were sparkling with excitement.

“What did you and His Highness talk about, Rayna?”

“Yes, tell us everything.”

Rayna sighed and waved her hand, already exhausted from dealing with Carlhail.

“It’s nothing. His Highness isn’t interested in me at all.”

“Don’t be silly, Rayna. We know everything,” her father said with a knowing look.

They seemed to believe Carlhail was already smitten with their daughter.

That confidence felt strange to Rayna.

“What do you think you know…?” she asked.

Nikolai handed her a letter.

She saw the name on the envelope right away.

“Carlhail Rautzen…? This is from him?!”

Rayna’s eyes widened like candy.

“Who else would it be?” Grace smiled.

Rayna tore open the letter and read it quickly.

The message was simple: he wanted to meet her as soon as possible.

Her head started spinning.

What’s he planning now?

Wasn’t he just threatening me with a strand of hair?

A date?
A date??

Hah!

She let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.

That man is clearly out of his mind.

“I don’t want to,” she said, folding the letter and handing it back to her father.

Nikolai and Grace looked surprised.

“You could at least meet him once…”

“No. Is there anyone else? I’ll meet someone else,” she said firmly.

“Someone else…?”

Rayna muttered seriously,
“Maybe it’s early, but… marriage sounds good. I want to meet someone kind and live peacefully. It doesn’t have to be Duke Carlhail, right?”

Her strong response left Nikolai and Grace speechless.

“Well… I suppose that’s true.”

“I’m sure that letter wasn’t the only one I received, right?”

“There are others, but…” Nikolai still looked disappointed.

“Still, Carlhail is a great match…”

“No!”

Rayna cut him off sharply and shook her head.

“Anyone is better than him.”

“Anyone…?” Nikolai asked carefully.

“Is he really that bad?”

“At least they won’t be as scary as him!” Rayna cried.

“Carlhail isn’t that scary-looking…” Grace started to say but then stopped.

Remembering his ice-cold face, she shut her mouth. Up close, he was definitely intimidating.

“And I don’t even think he’s serious about the date. He still thinks I’m a thief.”

‘This is probably a trap.’

If I fall for it, he’ll take revenge.

His temper is no joke.

“Anyway, I want to meet someone else.”

Nikolai, seeing how determined Rayna was, gave up and nodded.

“Alright, if that’s what you want.”

Grace patted his shoulder and said,
“At least she’s finally thinking about marriage. That’s a good thing.”

Nikolai nodded and took back Carlhail’s letter from Rayna’s hand.

“I’ll go through the other letters and show you tomorrow.”

His serious face made Rayna a little uneasy.

But she was too tired to think more deeply and just nodded.

“Okay.”

“Rest well then.”

Once they left and she was alone, Rayna slumped her shoulders.

“Marriage, huh…”

She was only twenty-four. She hadn’t planned on it.

But considering her situation, it seemed like the best way to leave the capital without losing her noble status.

“I’ll treat it like a blind date. Let’s just see who’s out there.”

Who knows? Maybe there would be someone truly amazing.

At first, she didn’t take it seriously.

If things didn’t work out, she’d pretend to be sick and move to the countryside.

But she realized she had misunderstood everything the next day—
when her father came in with his arms full of papers and scrolls.

“What is all that?”

Sitting in her chair, Rayna’s eyes went wide seeing the mountain of documents.

“What do you think? These are the young noblemen you can meet.”

“That many?”

“Of course! You’re beautiful. Tons of people want to meet you.”

Wow. Her dad really thought highly of her.

Sure, maybe some men had proposed because they liked her.

But most probably just wanted to marry into the Phylon family.

Rayna flipped through the papers half-heartedly.

Each scroll had a portrait, and the files listed names, schools, hobbies, money, and more.

“Do I really have to go through all of this…?” she asked, eyes half-closed.

“Of course. This is about the future of our family. You have to choose the best match.”

That’s when Rayna realized…

‘So this isn’t just dating… It’s an arranged marriage.’

Just like those loveless marriages in dramas.

Still, having choices was better than none.

There had to be someone she could tolerate.

While she was thinking, Nikolai pushed forward a shiny scroll.

“This one… looks the most handsome to me.”

Oh, her father’s recommendation?

Rayna looked at the scroll casually and picked it up.

“Let’s see who it is…”

‘Not like anyone’s caught my eye yet.’

She untied the ribbon and let the scroll unroll—

“AAAAAAH!”

Rayna screamed and flung the scroll onto the couch like it had burned her.

On the scroll was a sharp, chiseled face—
Carlhail, glaring right at her with piercing eyes.