IWBCAS 15

Episode 15

At the dinner table with her family, Nikolai looked at Reina with hopeful eyes.

“Grand Duke Kallheil sent another letter today.”

Reina’s hand, which was cutting meat with a knife, froze.

“Haha… Again today…?”

Ever since Kallheil had left with the sound of the ship’s horn, he had been sending her three proposal letters *every single day*—morning, noon, and night.

The contents were always the same: *“Marry me.”*

Nobody even opened them anymore. The letters were just piling up untouched on a silver tray.

Was he sending them so his letters wouldn’t feel lonely?

Why waste paper saying the same thing again and again?

He said he was rich, but this was a strange way to show it.

Reina sighed. *Rich people are really hard to understand.*

“I’ll take them later,” she said.

Nikolai just nodded silently.

Even though it was a rare dinner with the whole family, it was incredibly awkward.

Reina felt like she would throw up the meat she had just swallowed.

As she quietly cut up her roast beef without eating it, Nikolai—after glancing at Grace a few times—finally spoke.

“My dear… the Grand Duke recently visited, and… it seems he’s quite interested in Reina.”

“Father!”

Reina looked at him, trying to stop him with her eyes. But Nikolai, tempted by the magic stones Kallheil had promised, kept talking.

“There were some unfortunate events, yes… but overall, he’s a fine marriage partner. Maybe you should think about it…”

He hadn’t even finished speaking when Grace interrupted.

“Honey.”

She put down her spoon and looked up.

“I’m against it.”

“Dear…”

Nikolai’s face darkened.

“How can you let her marry someone who humiliated our family? That’s impossible.”

Grace looked pale.

She had recently gone to the Empress’s salon and was cruelly insulted by the other noblewomen.

Everyone had once wanted Kallheil, but couldn’t have him. Their jealousy was nastier than she expected.

Rumors, gossip, and shame had surrounded her daughter and their family.

Grace had such a hard time mentally that she even got sick.

“My dear, I know this incident has hurt you. But right now, no one else is proposing to Reina. And the Grand Duke is still a very suitable man…”

Nikolai tried to speak gently, but Grace shook her head firmly.

“A Grand Duke? So what? He humiliated Reina publicly before they were even engaged.”

“But still…”

“Our family must’ve seemed like a joke for him to act so shamelessly!”

Grace’s hands shook, making her utensils rattle.

“The world is changing, yes. People marry for love more now. But the noble world isn’t that open.”

“My dear…”

“I knew Kallheil was a man who lived as he pleased. But this isn’t about freedom. It’s about respect. Anyone with proper manners wouldn’t behave that way. Especially someone trained by the royal family!”

**Yes!!** Reina quietly nodded, agreeing with her mother.

“I just can’t allow this. I’ll find a better match for Reina myself. We are the Count Philon family, well-respected in the capital for generations.”

Grace let out a deep breath and gave a small smile.

“If we look among nobles from distant regions where rumors haven’t spread yet, we’ll find a good match.”

Once Grace made up her mind, she was hard to stop. Nikolai gave Reina a look, silently asking her to say something.

But Reina, who didn’t want to marry Kallheil anyway, just shrugged as if to say, *It can’t be helped.*

When she didn’t take his side either, Nikolai sighed.

“Fine, dear. Let’s do as you say.”

Grace held Reina’s hand tightly, as if accepting a mission.

“Your grandfather is a leader among eastern nobles. He’ll help us find someone. Don’t worry. I’ll get you married within six months.”

Reina nodded at her mother’s determined face.

*So… my marriage is now in Mother’s hands.*

*But six months…?*

*Kallheil won’t be cured with weak methods…*

She didn’t like it, but it couldn’t be helped.

*“I guess I have to use *that* method.”*

Reina smiled faintly and stuffed her mouth with roast beef.

She needed energy for what was coming.

—

After surviving that tense dinner, Reina returned to her room. The sunset outside was glowing red.

She was staring out the window when she noticed something white.

“A bird…?”

It looked like a white dove and sat calmly by the window. When it saw her, it gently tapped on the glass with its beak.

Reina opened the window, and the bird bounced inside.

There was a tiny scroll tied to its leg.

“A pigeon messenger…?”

Reina gently removed the letter.

The dove stayed calm and looked at her expectantly.

“Do you want food? I don’t have anything…”

She looked around, but of course there were no worms or rice grains lying around.

When nothing came out, the bird pecked her hand sharply.

“Ouch!!”

She cried out, but the pigeon was already flying away.

Rubbing the red mark on her hand, Reina opened the tiny scroll.

It was a short message in beautiful handwriting:

**“If you understand that your life is in my hands, don’t forget our meeting tomorrow. – K”**

*K… it’s definitely Kallheil.*

*No wonder the pigeon had an attitude. It takes after its owner.*

“Now he’s sending pigeons to threaten me?”

Reina was planning to go to the palace quietly anyway.

She had something to tell him about her new treatment idea.

She crumpled the note and threw it away, then got ready for bed.

Tomorrow, she would visit the palace early in the morning.

—

**The next morning.**

Reina got up earlier than usual, got dressed, and headed to the palace.

As soon as she gave her name at the gate, a huge man showed up—built like an ox.

Reina peeked out the carriage window. It was the man who always followed Kallheil.

He opened the door politely.

“Greetings. I am Bayen Trist, a knight who serves Grand Duke Kallheil. I’ve come to escort Lady Reina.”

*Bayen…? That’s a unique name.*

Maybe he noticed her curiosity, because he started explaining.

“It’s a northern name. Not common here.”

“I see.”

This continent was divided into five regions—North, South, East, West, and Central—each with their own unique culture.

“Please, let’s go. His Grace has been waiting for you since morning.”

*I came right after breakfast… He’s so impatient.*

Reina got out of the carriage with Bayen’s help, and her maid Amy quickly followed.

Amy looked nervous, as if she thought Bayen might be dangerous.

It wasn’t fair to judge, but… he really didn’t look gentle.

His shirt looked ready to burst at any moment.

As they walked, Reina asked carefully:

“Sir Bayen… are you a servant?”

He looked more like someone who should be wearing armor.

“I’m a knight from Lautzen, following His Grace. This outfit… feels strange to me too,” he said shyly.

“I usually wear armor, but here in the capital, I was told I’d scare people. So I’m wearing this.”

Reina nodded.

*Yeah, if he wore armor too, people would part like the Red Sea.*

Finally, they arrived in front of a room.

Bayen stopped and bowed.

“This is the room. But…”

He looked at Amy.

“His Grace asked to speak privately…”

Amy looked worried, but Reina nodded.

“It’s okay, Amy. Wait here.”

This meeting needed to be between just the two of them.

Amy stepped back nervously.

Bayen opened the door and announced her presence.

“Lady Reina Philon has arrived.”

*Short and simple. Keep it short and simple,* Reina reminded herself as she stepped inside.

“You’re here.”

Backlit by the window, Kallheil Lautzen stood with his arms crossed, looking like a Siberian tiger waiting for its prey.

Reina gulped nervously.