Chapter 44
“Yeah. It doesn’t matter.”
Was he worried about what to do with her room?
Still, Katrina understood his concern.
Damian had taken meticulous care of that room on a regular basis.
He led Katrina toward Arabella’s room.
When they arrived, he pulled a key from his coat and unlocked the door.
‘Ah.’
It was Katrina’s first time seeing this room.
She had known Damian had set up a room like this after Arabella died, but she had never gone inside before.
Katrina slowly stepped in.
The first thing that caught her eye was a large portrait.
Hair blacker than ebony, skin white as snow, eyes glowing crimson.
The infamous beauty said to have shaken the world—that phrase immediately came to mind.
In the portrait, the woman wore a pure white dress and held a white parasol.
With a smile more beautiful than anyone’s.
She looked exactly as Katrina remembered her.
“Katrina, I think we really look alike.”
Suddenly, a memory of something Arabella had said one day came back.
“Just look at this black hair. People would believe you were my real daughter.”
Arabella had hugged Katrina tightly as she said that, but Katrina hadn’t been happy.
Was it because she hadn’t felt that kind of affection in so long?
Or was it because she had locked eyes with Damian watching them from a distance?
Katrina slowly looked around the room.
There wasn’t anything particularly special.
“Mother was very fond of you during her life.”
“…”
“She liked you more than she liked me.”
Katrina didn’t know what to say.
But that was a part of entering this room that she had to accept the moment she asked to come in.
“What kind of person was Arabella?”
She had a feeling that the side of Arabella she knew wasn’t the whole picture.
“You probably know better than I do.”
“…”
She really had nothing to say to that.
Damian spoke in a low voice.
“She was the wisest person I’ve ever known.”
“…”
“She always saw right through everything. She was the only one who ever caught me lying.”
“Really? What did you lie about?”
“Hmm. There were quite a few.”
“Any particularly memorable ones?”
Damian looked off into space for a moment as if thinking.
“Ah, right.”
Then, he turned to look at Katrina.
“You already know, don’t you?”
“What?”
Katrina froze as she looked at him.
“When I framed you.”
A smile slowly spread across Damian’s face, his eyes narrowing.
Katrina stared at him with a hardened expression.
He had brought up her pain so casually, as if it were nothing.
Katrina opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again.
Arabella’s portrait seemed to be watching her.
Right. This was Arabella’s room.
So she held it in.
Damian, that bastard.
‘This is exactly why I didn’t want to see him.’
The moment Damian said that, Katrina was left speechless—and didn’t speak to him again after that.
She quietly looked around the room, and Damian silently watched her.
Even when they left the room, they didn’t exchange a single word.
Damian locked the door again with his key, and Katrina had the distinct feeling she would never enter that room again.
There hadn’t been anything particularly significant in Arabella’s room anyway.
She hadn’t expected to find much, but still, she felt disappointed.
What kind of person was Arabella, really?
It felt like a question that might never be answered.
Just then, a servant cautiously approached Katrina.
“Miss… there’s something you need to check.”
The maid held something out to Katrina.
‘What is this?’
Katrina froze as soon as she saw what it was.
…A marriage proposal?
“Katrina, you’re getting married.”
…What?
She nearly lost control of her expression right in front of the Duke of Abiche.
…Marriage? Out of nowhere?
“You’re of age now. You need to marry before you’re past your prime.”
“…”
“You chose to remain in this house. Then you must fulfill your duty, Katrina Abiche.”
…So basically,
Because Hildegard was watching, they couldn’t send her back to the convent—so instead, they wanted to marry her off?
“I’ve already found a suitable match. You’ll meet him soon.”
They’d already gone that far. That was fast.
“He’s the second son of the Karold family.”
“Is there a reason?”
“As a dowry, they offered a carrack.”
A carrack?
In this era, carracks were large ships used for long-distance trade. Receiving one as a dowry meant an incredible amount of wealth.
Come to think of it, the Karold family had grown rich through maritime trade in the Age of Exploration.
“I’d like for you to just marry quietly.”
Since sending her to a convent failed, now he wanted to marry her off.
Trying to profit one way or another, huh?
‘Hmm.’
But from Katrina’s perspective, she didn’t have much reason to refuse.
Even if the engagement went through, she planned to leave before the ceremony anyway.
“Alright. I’ll do it.”
Katrina agreed cheerfully, and the Duke of Abiche looked surprised.
“Truly?”
Then his gaze turned suspicious.
Katrina beamed at him.
“Of course.”
It didn’t matter to me either way, Father—I’ll be gone before any of that happens.
The Imperial Palace, Emperor’s Office.
Warm sunlight streamed in through the window.
“Your Majesty, Katrina Abiche has returned,” the aide reported as he helped Raymond with paperwork.
“They say she resolved the issue in Asius.”
Katrina had left for the Asius estate immediately after the Harmony Conference ended.
Raymond didn’t respond and simply continued flipping through documents.
‘His Majesty doesn’t like that woman.’
The aide carefully continued, watching Raymond’s expression.
“Still, there’s nothing for you to worry about anymore.”
“…”
“It seems that woman has finally given up on you.”
Raymond raised his head at that.
“It’s recent news, but I hear the Duke of Abiche is arranging an engagement.”
The aide seemed delighted to be delivering the update.
“An engagement?”
“Yes. I heard Katrina Abiche agreed without resistance.”
Raymond’s expression slowly disappeared.
“With the Karold marquisate’s second son. Although… there are some messy rumors about him…”
“Messy?”
“Yes. Something about a past fiancée, I believe. Some personal scandal.”
The aide smiled brightly.
“But really, whoever she marries has nothing to do with you anymore, does it?”
“…”
“That woman’s been a nuisance all this time—so congratulations, Your Majesty.”
“Good day, Lady Katrina Abiche! I am Milo, second son of the Karold family.”
Katrina stared at Milo.
The second son of the Karold family…
‘…That name sounds familiar.’
When was it? There had been some rumor about him, but she couldn’t quite recall.
Katrina wasn’t particularly curious about her prospective match.
It didn’t matter who showed up, honestly. So she had intentionally avoided finding out anything about him before coming to this meeting.
“I’m Katrina Abiche.”
That was all the introduction she offered.
He likely already knew her reputation.
And there wasn’t much worth explaining, anyway.
“You’re even more beautiful than I’d heard!”
“Thank you.”
“I’m not just saying that. You really are stunning…”
Milo’s cheeks flushed bright red.
