Chapter 21
I sat down and glanced sideways to check everyone’s faces.
Duke Delphinium wore his usual stoic expression. Theodore, Lucien, and Kaiden also looked the same as always.
Well, maybe they all seemed slightly more upset than usual.
In contrast, Rashid was beaming, as if proud of what he’d done.
And the expression on Lucien’s face as he stared at Rashid… was downright terrifying. When our eyes met, he seemed to be trying to tell me something with his gaze, but I couldn’t make it out.
His glare was so sharp, it felt like it could pierce me, so I quickly looked away. Since I couldn’t read his intent, it only scared me. When I shifted my gaze, Duke Bacary came into view.
Duke Bacary looked between Rashid and me. He narrowed his brows as if deep in thought, then nodded, seemingly having made a decision.
Maybe it was because we hadn’t known each other long, or maybe it was his expressionless face—either way, it was hard to tell what he was thinking.
Taking my eyes off Duke Bacary, I looked around the table.
Despite all the delicious food in front of us, no one had started eating. Everyone seemed lost in their own thoughts, forgetting their basic manners.
‘What is this? A memorial service?’
No one in the dining hall looked like they had any intention of picking up their utensils. My brothers seemed especially wary of Rashid for some reason.
Feeling the tension, I finally opened my mouth.
“Shouldn’t we start before the food gets cold?”
Only then did everyone seem to come to their senses.
“Indeed, everyone must be hungry. Let’s eat,” said Duke Delphinium.
With that cue, an uncomfortable and awkward dinner began.
Of course, you always start with meat. I reached for the steak in the center of the table, but my short arms couldn’t reach it. Noticing this, Rashid picked up a piece of meat and placed it on my plate.
“Oh, thanks.”
As if I had been waiting, I immediately picked it up with my fork and popped it in my mouth. As expected, it melted there deliciously.
After chewing and swallowing, I turned my eyes to the shrimp I had been eyeing. Once again, I reached out my short arms, but before my fork could touch it, a perfectly peeled shrimp landed on my plate.
I turned my head. Of course, it was Rashid again. The unexpected kindness flustered me so much that my eyes trembled. I looked at him, silently asking why, but he just blinked innocently.
Once or twice was understandable. Maybe this was some noble etiquette I didn’t know, so I let it go. Surely he wasn’t doing this on purpose.
But it wasn’t my imagination. Rashid continued to place whatever food I reached for directly onto my plate before I could grab it.
‘Why is he being so extra?’
“…Thanks.”
Of course, I couldn’t say what I was really thinking out loud.
Just then—
Clink, screech. Strange sounds made me look up to witness a bizarre scene.
The fork Theodore had been holding was bent in three directions. The knife in Lucien’s hand was twisted at the neck. And the plate Kaiden held had a visible crack.
The three men had suddenly begun a strength competition.
‘What the heck…?’
My pupils danced in shock at the sudden circus act.
The atmosphere froze instantly.
Soon, the maids rushed in to replace the broken dishes and utensils. I kept shifting my gaze, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone, afraid I’d get caught in the crossfire. I focused on my plate and continued eating.
The chef had real talent—every dish melted in my mouth. After eating dry sandwiches for so long, this meat-filled meal made me smile.
I was swinging my legs under the table, happily chewing away, when I suddenly realized everyone’s eyes were on me. Especially Duke Delphinium, who wore a weird expression that I couldn’t tell was a smile or a grimace.
Did I do something wrong? I looked around.
Unable to find an answer, I finally put down my fork and asked,
“Is there something on my face?”
Why were they staring at me instead of eating?
“No, there’s plenty of food, so eat to your heart’s content. It’s good to see you eating so well.”
Duke Delphinium responded, then instructed the butler to bring out more food.
“Okay.”
I replied casually and was about to resume eating when Duke Bacary suddenly spoke.
“Do you remember the promise made between the wives? The betrothal made in the womb.”
That was a bombshell of a first conversation topic after staying silent the whole meal.
And the moment Duke Bacary finished speaking, all my brothers’ faces turned grim.
‘Is he talking about a betrothal between his daughter and one of my brothers?’
My brothers didn’t seem thrilled. Maybe it was going to be one of those enemies-to-lovers stories.
Scenes from every contract-marriage novel I’d ever read flashed through my mind. The ones where they start by saying, “I’d rather die than marry them,” and end up falling head over heels.
Seeing it play out in real life was fascinating.
“Yes, I remember. But wasn’t that annulled four years ago?”
“No. Hasn’t it become viable again now?”
Duke Delphinium furrowed his brow. In contrast, Duke Bacary’s cold face showed a flicker of amusement.
He seemed quite favorable—maybe even enthusiastic—about this betrothal.
So does that mean his daughter will become my sister-in-law?
Most likely with Theodore, the eldest. He’d have to marry first anyway.
‘Ah… this is so entertaining. Keep going, keep going!’
“What do you think, Lasetia?”
Duke Bacary, glancing at the silent Duke Delphinium, turned his gaze to me. Startled by the sudden question, I stabbed a piece of meat on my plate and replied,
“Shouldn’t you be asking Theodore about that instead of me?”
Everyone’s expressions turned strange at my response. I found that odd, but paid it no mind and took a bite of my steak. Not knowing I’d soon spit it back out.
“Why would I ask Theodore about your marriage?”
Cough! “Excuse me?”
Why are we talking about my marriage now?
‘Is this a joke? Since when were we close enough to joke like this?’
So shocked was I that the steak stuck in my throat. Just moments ago it had melted in my mouth, but now it felt like I was chewing sand.
Clutching my throat and covering my mouth, I started coughing. Rashid, seated next to me, handed me a water glass.
“You okay?”
I quickly took the glass and drank a sip, finally calming the cough.
“Thanks.”
I grabbed a napkin from the table and wiped my mouth, then glanced at Duke Bacary.
The one who had thrown me into this confusion looked almost too serene—bordering on carefree. He was so infuriating I wished I could hit him just once. Of course, I wouldn’t actually do it.
Putting that useless thought aside, I needed to figure out why Duke Bacary had brought up such a topic at a sacred dinner table.
Placing the napkin back on the table, I composed myself and asked directly,
“What do you mean? My marriage?”
“The betrothal in the womb was an agreement between the daughter of House Delphinium and the son of House Bacary. And now, you are the only daughter of Delphinium.”
At his words, Lucien slammed both hands on the table and stood up.
“That promise was with Roinez! Not Lasetia!”
He shouted, completely forgetting his manners.
Seeing him so agitated made my previously calm emotions twist in a different direction.
He was basically saying the promise didn’t apply because I wasn’t the “real” daughter.
“Yes. Someone who wasn’t part of the original agreement has no obligation to uphold it,” Theodore said indifferently, backing Lucien up.
They probably saw me as some fake who’d suddenly popped up to steal their real sister’s place.
‘Not like I want it anyway.’
I knew this would happen. This is exactly why I signed a contract before coming here.
They pushed something on me I didn’t even want, and now they were panicking at the thought of losing it. Disgusting.
I had zero intention of fulfilling that promise. But did they have to emphasize I wasn’t the real daughter so much?
Kaiden, whom I glanced at sideways, had his lips firmly pressed together. His face showed clear displeasure.
Even with all this pushback, Duke Bacary poured fuel on the fire.
“That may have been the case, but circumstances change.”
“W-What do you mean?” Lucien stammered in confusion.
“I mean I’m fine with either one.”
Wow. To talk about his own son’s engagement like that—so dry and indifferent.
I nearly clicked my tongue in frustration. Duke Bacary’s disregard for Rashid’s feelings was aggravating.
‘Of course it doesn’t matter to him. It’s not his problem.’
The person actually involved—Rashid—remained completely silent, probably trying not to upset the duke.
I looked at him with pity, unable to voice even an opinion about his own engagement. Our eyes met as he looked up from his bowed head.
‘Don’t worry. Even if my brothers are against it, I’ll ruin the whole thing myself if it ever comes close to happening.’
Rashid blinked, seemingly unsure if he understood my message. I kept staring silently until he finally lowered his gaze.
When I still didn’t look away, he lifted his hand to cover his ear. Through his fingers, I saw his ear turning red.
‘Why is your ear turning red? I’m seven, you idiot. I’m still a baby.’
