~Chapter 104~
A proposal? The ring!
Did he fail the proposal because he was shy?
Mari hurriedly called out to him.
“Excuse me, just a moment!”
“Yes?”
“The road back is quite long if you take another carriage. Since you’re already here, why not stop by the mansion for some tea?”
“Tea? …I think I’ve had enough during our date today. I’ll just accept Lady Hern’s kind heart.”
“Wait…!”
Mari grabbed the edge of his coat again and spoke carefully.
“If you’re worried that I’m too popular and not thinking of marriage, I want to ease that worry. Like my friends these days, I often think about becoming someone’s wife and building a family.”
He, one of Mari’s many suitors, listened quietly, arms folded, nodding slowly.
“Yes, marriage isn’t something simple. Managing lands, keeping family honor… it’s something that must be considered often and deeply.”
“Yes, I think so too.”
“As expected, Lady Hern’s insight is admirable. Then, I’ll be going.”
He tried to leave again.
How much more do I have to hint for this idiot to understand?
Mari forced her stiff face into a smile.
“I’d like it if you told me honestly what kind of relationship you want with me.”
At her direct question, he smiled brightly.
Finally, was he going to propose? Mari wet her lower lip nervously, ready to smile.
“I think our relationship right now is excellent. I hesitated because I didn’t know how you felt, but since you ask, it must mean you think the same, right?”
What?
Mari felt uneasy—it didn’t sound like a proposal.
“What do you mean by ‘excellent’…?”
Checking his pocket watch, he raised his head.
“A relationship without pressure… not rushing into important matters. Just like you’re doing now.”
Mari fell silent.
…What exactly am I doing?
As she kept her face stiff, he checked his watch again, then spoke.
“I must leave now. I have another appointment.”
“Yes, then.”
Angry, Mari turned sharply and went back to the count’s mansion.
“Young lady, you’re back?”
Many servants greeted her politely, but she had no strength to put on her usual smile.
Bang!
“Aaahhh!!!”
Mari slammed her door and screamed.
The bouquet from the viscount was thrown against the wall.
He’s going to meet another woman, isn’t he?
Her shallow hope that he would soon propose was completely broken. Worse, he had even hinted that she was the one seeing other men.
Mari had no idea what her reputation was in society—that the men only enjoyed dates with her but never thought of proposing.
At that moment, a maid entered after knocking.
“Young lady, a gift has arrived. Where shall I put it?”
“Anywhere.”
“Yes.”
The maid carefully placed a flower basket on the table. When Lady Hern had first come here, she hadn’t been like this, but her temper grew worse with each day.
At first she seemed sweet and kind, but recently she had even slapped a maid.
It was common among nobles to strike servants, but it had never happened in this mansion before.
The maid tried to leave quickly.
“Aren’t you going to say who sent it?”
“Ah… yes.”
The maid searched the basket and found a small card.
“It’s from Baron Berso.”
“Give it here.”
“Yes.”
Mari sighed as she opened the card. It said he was looking forward to their date.
So predictable.
She had already met Baron Berso several times. Men like him wanted to enjoy pretty women but had no intention of taking responsibility.
They should be grateful I even meet them… so annoying.
Mari’s eyes shifted to the maid standing quietly.
“Bring me the basket.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Mari threw the basket at her face.
A rose thorn scratched the maid’s cheek, but she stayed silent in fear.
“You dared open the card? Did I ask you to read it? I only asked who sent it!”
“The name wasn’t written outside, so…”
“Then you should have told me and brought it to me unopened.”
“…Yes.”
“You must act like this with Riden too?”
At Riden’s name, the maid burst into tears. She knew Riden would never torment a servant for such a thing.
“No, this is my first mistake. Please forgive me.”
“Mmh, Riden is too soft. That’s why servants talk back. If she can’t do it, then as her friend, I will.”
“Riden is too soft. If she can’t discipline you, then as her friend, I will.”
“What are you doing? Bring me a cane.”
The maid panicked, not knowing what to do.
“I… I don’t know where a cane is…”
It was true. In this mansion, no one had ever been beaten with a cane, so she didn’t even know if such a thing existed.
“Really? Then…”
But whether there was a cane or not didn’t matter to Mari.
She slipped off her slipper and gripped it firmly in her hand.
“Lift your head so your face shows clearly.”
The maid squeezed her eyes shut.
At that moment, Mari, wearing an angry expression, had gone into the room, but when the maid didn’t come back out, Glen, who had been watching from outside the door, rushed in.
He blocked in front of the maid and shouted.
“Lady Hern, this is unacceptable!”
Glen looked at the maid with pity.
Her head was turned, and she was covering her face with her hands—it seemed she had already been struck.
Frowning, he looked back at Mari.
Startled by Glen’s interruption, Mari awkwardly lowered the hand she had raised again to strike.
She rolled her eyes and tried to explain.
“Since Riden wasn’t here, the maid grew impudent. I was disciplining her in Riden’s place, Steward.”
“Lady Hern.”
“….”
“When the young lady is absent, the one responsible for this house is me. Discipline of the maids is also my duty, and the responsibility is mine.”
“….”
“My hope is that you, as Lady Riden’s friend, will simply enjoy your time here as a guest. There is no need for you to take on responsibility in this place.”
In other words, she was nothing more than a guest—so just stay quiet.
Mari’s eyes filled with tears.
I don’t want to stay in this wretched mansion either!
“Forgive me. I shouldn’t have interfered.”
“It’s fine. Then please rest.”
Glen didn’t even give an order to clean up the scene—he only wanted to quickly take the maid away to rest.
But as he stepped into the hall—
“My lady?”
Standing at the door was the real daughter of the count’s family, her expression frighteningly cold.
“My lady?”
The true daughter of the count’s family stood at the door, her face terrifyingly cold.
