CHAPTER 7 – Whitehouse
“Nice to meet you. I’m Marianne Whitehouse.”
He recalled the woman who had spoken firmly and clearly without flinching in front of him.
But the next memory that surfaced was—
Splat, splat, splat.
“Don’t come any closer!”
“No matter how much I paint over it, the estimate doesn’t come together. We’ll have to remodel the whole thing.”
It was the scene of a slender woman mercilessly painting the face of a struggling Nathan Barrett.
“……”
Calix’s brows furrowed, and his face turned cold.
A wave of fatigue came over him instinctively.
“Is the acquisition of the Whitehouse estate proceeding smoothly?”
“Yes, My Lord. We’ll proceed as soon as Lady Whitehouse vacates in a few days.”
“Why did she take that chair from the Whitehouse estate?”
“Do you think she took it on purpose because she knew it belonged here?”
Josh widened his eyes in curiosity.
The butler hesitated awkwardly.
“N-no way she knew. It’s not even a valuable piece…”
“Maybe it was a petty form of revenge for being kicked out so harshly?”
Josh shrugged, but when his eyes met Calix’s, he flinched and looked away.
“Harshly…?”
“M-my apologies. That was inappropriate.”
“……”
Just then, the butler seemed to remember something and left, returning with a letter.
“Come to think of it, a letter arrived from the Whitehouse estate earlier today. It asks if you would be available to visit two days from now.”
“My Lord! Maybe she found out you’re attached to that chair!”
“……”
Calix didn’t even bother reading the letter. He grabbed his sword.
“M-My Lord? Where are you going?”
“I’m going there right now.”
“What? M-My Lord!”
The butler was startled, and Josh practically jumped in place.
“L-Lord Calix! It’s the middle of the night! You can’t go see a single young lady living alone at this hour!”
The Next Day
Two men and several knights in black uniforms sat on horseback at the gates of the Whitehouse estate.
Whew… if I hadn’t clung to his legs and begged last night, we might’ve stormed the estate then and there.
Josh quietly sighed in relief and glanced at Calix.
He had desperately persuaded his lord to delay the visit until morning.
Rumors were about to spread that he assaulted a noble lady. People already talk too much about him…
Calix’s brow was deeply furrowed.
They had waited at the entrance for some time, but no one had come to greet them.
There was no gatekeeper, and the mansion was too far to shout toward. They hadn’t sent notice in advance either, so there was no justification for being upset.
“……”
Calix’s hand tightened on the hilt of his sword.
“As the rumors say, it’s a beautiful mansion. Seems a shame to destroy it.”
Trying to read Calix’s mood, Josh smacked his lips.
But Calix gently shook his head.
“This mansion stays.”
Josh glanced at his lord’s face.
“Yes, I understand. It’s by His Majesty’s command, right?”
“Exactly.”
“Then… are you going to marry the imperial princess, as His Majesty ordered?”
“……”
Weariness surfaced on Calix’s face.
He was reminded of his recent audience with the king.
“Bloodstone, I want you to leave Cliff Castle immediately.”
“Your Majesty? What do you mean by that?”
The king was a man in his thirties, known for his gentle nature.
Though a little stubborn and moody, he and Calix were cousins and closer than a typical monarch and vassal.
“There’s too much talk about you living in such a gloomy castle. You do realize your actions reflect on the royal authority, right?”
Calix narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“Is there another motive behind this?”
“Hmph. Since it’s you, I’ll be honest.”
The king paused, then sighed and confessed.
“Princess Laila of Arsen is visiting Leongrad in a few months. The purpose of her visit is top secret for now.”
“Do we have any secret business with Arsen?”
“It’s for a royal marriage alliance between the Arsen Empire and the Kingdom of Leongrad. The princess’s side proposed it.”
“A royal marriage, huh…”
Calix tilted his head slightly.
“Yes. They want to strengthen relations. That shows how much Leongrad has grown in power.”
“It’s a great opportunity for friendly diplomacy.”
The king paused.
The alliance was a chance they couldn’t miss.
There’s secret information that the princess fell for a nobleman she met at the ball…
The man Princess Laila fell for was tall, with black hair and a black mask.
Apparently, even the mask couldn’t hide his good looks.
“…Did you happen to attend the Arsen ball?”
The king casually probed his handsome vassal.
“I did… once.”
“I knew it!”
“Pardon?”
So the Empire had a reason to pick this guy. But he hates the idea of marriage…
With a solemn face, the king declared,
“You will marry Princess Laila. I will proceed with the royal alliance.”
“Your Majesty?”
“She’s a bit older, but still a beauty. Only a year older than you.”
“What are you saying!”
For once, Calix’s usually indifferent face showed surprise.
“Your Majesty! I have no intention of marrying. Please rescind the order!”
“You just said it was a great diplomatic opportunity. I’m married and have no other siblings.”
“I absolutely refuse to marry—”
“You’re my cousin and my right hand. If the opposition marries the princess, it’ll be a problem. And the Empire already has their eyes on you.”
“But I—”
When Calix continued to resist, the king’s tone hardened.
“Watch yourself. Will you defy a royal order? If you had someone you loved, I’d have considered another. But you don’t.”
“……”
Calix had no choice but to kneel on one knee and bow respectfully.
“You’re their first choice. Of course, the princess will decide after meeting you. But if she accepts—you will marry. That’s an order.”
“Your Majesty!”
When Calix’s face twisted in displeasure, the king thought of Cliff Castle, rumored to be eerie.
The refined princess would be horrified if she saw it.
“She’s sensitive about interior design, so either renovate the castle or move into a home befitting a duke! Otherwise, I’ll confiscate all Bloodstone lands!”
Snapping back from the memory, Calix’s face twisted.
To gain the princess’s favor, he had to remodel his castle or move?
The king’s order was meant to secure peace between the Empire and Leongrad.
So Calix had no solid grounds to refuse.
If you had someone you loved, I’d have looked elsewhere. But you don’t.
“……”
As Calix’s expression darkened, Josh cautiously asked,
“My Lord, shall we return tomorrow? It’s quiet as a grave. Not even a mouse. And this door—”
Josh exaggeratedly pushed the gate for effect.
“Huh?”
But the white iron gate quietly slid open.
“It… it was unlocked? Could it be… someone broke in?”
There might be nothing worth stealing in a bankrupt estate, but Josh’s words gave them a good excuse.
“Let’s go in.”
Calix ordered the knights to stay behind and entered with Josh.
The Whitehouse estate featured a beautiful garden.
Bright flowers and small trees greeted the visitors with innocent cheer.
Josh cautiously shifted the topic.
“I heard Count Henry Whitehouse had a talent for interior design.”
“The first Count Whitehouse was granted his title for decorating the royal palace. That’s not surprising.”
Calix replied calmly.
Such facts were basic noble knowledge.
“His daughter too?”
“No, the young lady supposedly has no such talent. She’s been a recluse since childhood. People say she’s extremely shy and passive.”
“Since childhood?”
“Yes. Some say she can’t even make eye contact with others.”
That woman…?
Calix tilted his head.
Josh had arrived a bit late that day and missed the scene with Marianne and Nathan Barrett.
But Calix had seen it clearly.
The way she had boldly swung the paintbrush in Barrett’s face.
Shy and passive…?
He almost laughed aloud.
“Shall I bring up the matter of the chair?”
Josh, always perceptive, asked Calix.
He knew his lord hated mentioning that chair—like it triggered some hidden shame.
Whatever it is, he avoids the topic. Better if I handle it.
“Alright. You do it.”
Calix nodded as if relieved.
Soon, a mansion wrapped in white marble appeared at the end of the path.
Knock knock.
But there was no response.
“It’s locked. No sign of movement inside either.”
Josh tilted his head.
“If they requested a visit, the lady should still be here.”
“…Let’s check the back.”
They tied up their horses and walked around.
Calix instinctively drew his sword as he turned the corner.
Something felt off.
And when he turned the second corner, he stopped cold.
“…That’s—”
Seeing Calix freeze, Josh peeked out and whispered.
“My Lord…?”
“……”
Calix could hardly believe his eyes.
