IWCVF 02

Chapter 2

I Gave My Husband Connections

Morning came to the Pellis Viscount family.

Silver hair that reached his shoulders gently swayed in the wind. The breeze entered through the open window. As he brushed his flowing hair back, he tilted his head slightly and turned a page.

His pale skin looked almost transparent. His red eyes—more beautiful than jewels—moved slowly.

Those eyes, like stars shining in the sky, were fixed on one place.

His name was Raiden Pellis.

What he was looking at was a portrait of a woman.

Her skin was like white jade, and her eyes were a clear blue, more beautiful than the sky. Even in a painting, her bright and pure gaze stood out.

Anyone could tell at a glance that she was beautiful.

It was a portrait he had received during marriage talks.

He opened an old newspaper and read the headline.

Academy Top Graduate — Interview with Celia Roel

As he read the article, he stayed focused on it, while gently brushing the portrait with his hand, as if it were something precious.

He already knew that in reality, she was even more radiant than the painting.

Time passed.

The door opened, and a man entered.

He had tied silver hair and black eyes. Unlike Raiden, his appearance was plain. He was Artern Pellis, Raiden’s father.

“What brings you here?”

Raiden asked without turning his head. His voice was calm and clear. Artern already knew that every time Raiden looked at Celia’s portrait, he became lost in thought.

“Raiden, your fiancée will arrive today.”

Only then did Raiden turn his gaze toward him. His eyes moved slightly before he spoke quietly.

“I know.”

He stood up and carefully placed the newspaper back into a file. He also put the portrait into a square box.

“She will resent us a lot.”

After saying that, he looked back at the newspaper.

His heart was beating fast.

He felt overwhelmed at the thought of seeing her again.

“She won’t show it openly, but…”

Raiden shook his head.

* * *

The sun shining in the sky felt like it was smiling at me.

The distance between the Roel mansion and the Pellis mansion was not far. Since they were both in the capital, the carriage I was in stopped after about 30 minutes.

‘We’ve arrived.’

I was finally going to meet him.

Nervousness wrapped around my entire body. I clenched my trembling hands and waited for the carriage door to open.

Soon, the door opened, and I stepped out.

My long hair fluttered in the wind.

I brushed it back and looked at the people who had come to greet me.

A tall man with brown hair and brown eyes stood there. He was wearing a suit and looked a bit older.

‘Where is Raiden?’

He had silver hair and red eyes.

I looked beside the brown-haired man.

There he was.

A young man with flowing silver hair and red eyes, dressed neatly in a suit.

‘He’s the same.’

He was still incredibly handsome. His strong features gave him a masculine charm. His broad body was built with muscle, and his chest, visible through his shirt, looked wide enough to make any woman’s heart race.

It was exactly like in the dream.

…No, something was different.

Why is he looking at me like that?

His shining eyes were fixed on me, as if he was nervous. In my dream, he never looked at me like this.

I would think about that later.

First impressions were important.

I had to smile no matter what.

“I’m Celia Roel. You are Raiden Pellis, correct?”

At my words, he took a deep breath and looked at me.

“Yes, that’s right. I am Raiden Pellis. It is an honor to meet such a beautiful lady.”

His words were a bit embarrassing, but I smiled again. If nothing else, I was confident in my smile.

His eyes trembled.

Why?

“Nice to meet you.”

I held out my hand.

“It’s a pleasure.”

He took my hand and returned the greeting.

“You’re not angry.”

“What do you mean?”

When I asked, he let out a sigh.

“I knew you were calm and good at hiding your emotions, but I didn’t expect you to greet me so normally.”

He carefully observed me.

I understood now.

The Roel family was a high-ranking ducal house. But I had been forced into an engagement with a lower-ranking viscount family, almost like being sold.

He must have thought I would be upset.

“Still, I’m glad you’re smiling.”

Should I openly resent him?

I used to, but not anymore.

“Wouldn’t it be rude not to smile when meeting for the first time?”

At my words, Raiden nodded quickly.

“You are absolutely right. Ah, this is our butler, Luten.”

He introduced the brown-haired man. Luten bowed to me.

“It’s a pleasure, miss.”

“Please call me Celia.”

“Yes, Lady Celia.”

A gentle breeze passed by.

Raiden was looking at me with shining eyes.

Like a puppy.

I must have made a good impression on him, right?

…He’s still so handsome.

I looked at him carefully.

It felt like meeting my first love again.

* * *

Raiden walked ahead, lost in thought.

In the Susian Empire, there was Milton Academy. It was famous for its difficult entrance exam, but it wasn’t a place nobles usually attended.

Most nobles studied at home. The academy was usually for lower nobles, wealthy commoners, or exceptionally talented people.

Still, Milton Academy evaluated students strictly based on skill. Graduates were recognized as outstanding individuals.

Raiden glanced at Celia beside him.

She had graduated at the top of her class at the age of 16.

She entered at just 13 and even graduated early.

From the moment she entered the academy, Raiden had followed news about her. He read about her in newspapers and gathered every piece of information about her, almost obsessively.

Celia didn’t know.

It was true that he wanted her as his partner.

But he never intended to ignore her feelings.

This situation happened because Celia’s father, Kellian, pushed it forward without asking her.

So she was probably just pretending to welcome it.

Raiden gave a bitter smile.

* * *

I waited for Raiden to open the door.

“This will be your room, Lady Roel. I hope it suits your taste.”

I slowly looked around the room as he spoke kindly.

My room in the Roel mansion had felt simple.

This room was completely different.

The wooden furniture looked newly made. Even the dressing table was new. The ceiling had patterned wallpaper that shimmered.

“It looks like the room was newly prepared. Was that necessary?”

“It’s the room where my fiancée will stay. It’s only natural to prepare something that suits you.”

It sounded like he was saying he would treat me properly as his fiancée.

In the dream, I had shut the door immediately, so he never got the chance to say something like this.

I looked at the dressing table.

‘I don’t wear makeup often, but…’

Still, I sometimes sat there and used basic cosmetics.

As I touched the table, Raiden came closer and asked,

“I personally gave instructions for the interior. What do you think?”

“I like it. It’s pretty.”

He sounded strangely excited.

Why did he personally handle it?

And I still wasn’t used to his warm attitude.

I sat on the sofa.

“Lord Pellis.”

He had been circling around me.

“It seems like you have something to say…”

“I’ve been found out. May I have the honor of speaking with you?”

Anyone would notice if he stared that openly.

“Of course.”

In the dream, he had approached me and said many things, almost as if trying to comfort me.

“Would you like some tea?”

“Yes. Lao-den tea, please.”

As I waited for the servants, I clasped my hands tightly.

I felt nervous without realizing it.

What was he going to say?

Soon, the tea was brought.

Even after the servant left, Raiden stared at the cup for a while before taking a sip and speaking.

“I hope we can get along well.”

Ah, so that’s what he wanted to say.

“I’m sorry the engagement process was somewhat forced. I wanted to meet you, talk happily, and prepare a grand engagement ceremony… but things didn’t go as planned.”

That was true.

It had been a half-forced engagement without my consent.

I tightened my grip on the teacup.

“I know it doesn’t make sense to say this now, but…”

As he hesitated, I made up my mind.

This was where it began.

“I also want us to get along well.”

“Really?”

I wanted that too.

“Please call me Celia.”

If we wanted to get closer, using names was important.

“And could you… call me Raiden?”