Chapter 17
4. Marriage
“Really? I thought we were having dinner together.”
“But you said he was a stranger who somehow seemed familiar.”
Howard asked.
“Hm? Oh. It’s the second time I’ve seen him.”
“Where?”
“In the city center?”
She had only gone out alone once.
Howard nodded, understanding.
“He said he’s a friend? That your friendship runs quite deep…”
“I don’t recall that.”
As always — somewhere between love and friendship…
When Irina subconsciously nodded in agreement, Howard looked at her strangely, sensing a sudden chill.
“Then I’ll be downstairs.”
“Mm.”
While Irina was getting ready, Howard decided to wait outside.
Casey, waiting for Irina, helped her dress with hands that moved as if possessed.
When she finished and came down the stairs with Casey, Howard appeared at once.
Since dinner time had long passed, the dining hall was quiet — which was a relief.
Just as they entered, Damian, who was supposed to be “too busy” to join, waved brightly.
As if to say, come sit at my table.
“Lady, hello! Why so late? I thought my stomach would stick to my back waiting!”
When Irina looked at Howard, he shook his head with a troubled expression.
“Weren’t you busy?”
“Huh? Strange. I’m not busy at all…”
“…Ah.”
“Anyway, sit down.”
Before she knew it, the three of them were eating together.
It seemed Damian had ordered food in advance, because as soon as Irina sat down, dishes began to arrive.
Howard quietly pushed a few duplicate dishes toward Irina.
Damian helped himself from the rest.
Huh? Why just for me?
Irina took a bite.
Nothing unusual.
Puzzled, she tilted her head — and Damian, about to eat, spoke up.
“Oh right. That guy told me you prefer less salt, so I asked them to make it lighter. Is it okay? They usually season things quite strong here.”
“Ah…”
Startled, Irina looked at Howard, but he didn’t meet her eyes — just took a sip of water.
“Yes, it’s good. Delicious.”
At his house, the food had always suited her taste, so she hadn’t realized why.
Why go to the trouble for something like that…
Her heart ached faintly, and she shoved a forkful of salad into her mouth to suppress it.
As they talked and ate, she got to hear more about Damian — including a surprising detail.
“You’re from Arendor?”
Damian nodded.
Irina gave Howard a sideways look, as if to say why didn’t you tell me that? — but he played dumb again.
He hadn’t told her because he didn’t want to tell her.
‘They eat a bit salty here,’ huh.
No wonder the phrasing had sounded odd — he was a foreigner too.
From his lighthearted tone, you’d never guess whether he was a noble or not.
He could be utterly casual one moment, yet graceful and refined the next.
Irina couldn’t help but be pleased.
“I never thought I’d meet someone from Arendor here.”
“I meet them occasionally. Though Arendorians don’t usually travel much.”
“That’s true. This is my first time abroad. Did you come here to travel?”
At that, Damian shook his head.
“To escape?”
“To escape? You ran away here? Why?”
“It’s a joke. Well… let’s say ‘studying abroad’ sounds better.”
“Oh. You startled me.”
“I’m not a thief, you know.”
“A thief?”
Howard raised an eyebrow.
Irina and Damian exchanged a quick glance and shook their heads firmly.
Damian dropped the subject, and after that, said little more about himself through the rest of the meal.
“You’re leaving already?”
“Of course. I met my friend and his lovely fiancée, so I should be off.”
This body is far too busy, you see.
Damian winked playfully.
“Then I’ll see you both at your wedding announcement.”
“Take care. Dinner was enjoyable.”
Damian placed a hand over his left chest and bowed like a gentleman.
“Until next time!”
After the fine dinner, Irina followed Howard up to the room.
He walked her to her door, then immediately turned to leave.
“Where are you going? It’s late.”
They had eaten so late that it was already deep into the night.
“After all, it’s not proper for us to share the same room.”
“Why not?”
Irina asked softly, but then her expression turned fierce as he replied:
“In case your stupid disease is contagious.”
“You jerk!”
That night, Howard truly did sleep in another room.
By the time he appeared again — when Irina was getting ready in the morning — it was already late afternoon, as he’d been buried in work.
Irina fell asleep as soon as she returned home, and Howard, as always, drowned himself in paperwork.
The wedding announcement was scheduled for the next royal banquet at the Grand Castle.
They wouldn’t hold a formal ceremony.
If the marriage were for show, a wedding would be expected.
It puzzled her — yet if she thought of it as a fake marriage, perhaps it was a relief.
Though… who would I ever really marry?
She’d never imagined marrying anyone else.
She startled herself with the thought.
She’d promised not to be swayed by fleeting affection again.
Then she thought about the year ahead — the year that would make her free.
“The day I turned of age, I was sold off for debt. Maybe on my next birthday, I’ll finally be alone.”
Maybe she’d spend her birthday — and their last day together — with him.
But whether she’d still be able to smile by then… she wasn’t sure.
Two days before the announcement, Irina was busy preparing to go out.
She and Howard had plans.
Borman had explained there was a custom before marriage — spending a day with close friends, exchanging gifts and blessings.
But Irina only had two close friends: Howard and Damian.
So the three decided to spend the day together.
Damian gladly agreed and came to pick them up.
While the two prepared, he waited outside in the carriage instead of coming in.
“Damian, we’re ready!”
Irina came out with Howard.
But before they could depart, a man hurried toward Howard.
He stepped down from a small carriage and bowed.
“Greetings, Your Excellency.”
“What is it?”
“I tried contacting you this morning, but there was no response, so I came in person.”
Apparently, the magic communication device hadn’t worked.
The man looked uneasy.
“Arend— ah, Your Excellency, may I speak with you privately?”
He glanced around and asked for a word in private.
“I’ll be right back,” said Howard.
“Okay, I’ll wait here.”
The man briefly met Irina’s eyes, then quickly looked away and followed Howard inside.
When Howard returned, his face was rigid.
“Something happened?” Irina asked.
“…A small issue.”
Then he looked at her — dressed beautifully for their outing.
She had been humming happily all morning.
He didn’t want to ruin it.
But after hearing bad news, he also didn’t feel comfortable leaving her alone at the mansion.
He hesitated, then decided it was safer for her to go with Damian for now.
“Damian. Go ahead without me. I’ll catch up soon.”
“We can’t go together?” Irina asked.
Howard gently placed a hand on her shoulder. His expression was grim.
“No. I’ll come right after I handle this. Damian — keep her safe.”
“Got it.”
Whether it was because Damian sensed something, or simply because Howard asked, he agreed without question.
“Then let’s go, milady.”
“Ah… okay. Come quickly.”
“Let’s go then!”
Damian opened the carriage door and held out his hand.
Irina reached for it instinctively — then froze for a moment, unsure why.
“Hmm? Something wrong?”
He looked at her, puzzled.
Irina smiled and shook her head.
“No, it’s fine.”
She took his hand and climbed into the carriage.
It sped off toward the city center.
Irina enjoyed the cool breeze blowing through the window.
“So, what should we do?”
After some time, she turned to Damian.
With his arms crossed and eyes closed, he opened them slowly.
“Howard probably won’t be here for another couple of hours. Where should we go till then…”
He thought for a bit, then brought her to a jewelry shop.
Since it wasn’t mealtime yet — and anywhere else might feel too much like a date — he’d chosen a place she could browse at her leisure.
Also, he wanted to get them a wedding gift.
“Damian, look at this. Which one’s prettier?”
Irina held up two brooches the clerk handed her, shaking them slightly.
Her bright smile dazzled him. Damian found himself staring.
“…Ah.”
“…”
“Damian?”
“Huh?”
He hadn’t even realized she’d spoken.
Startled, he asked, “W-what?”
“I said, which one’s prettier? This one or this one?”
She held up the two brooches again — one shaped like a bird with red gems, and another round one studded with multicolored stones.
To him, they looked much the same.
What caught his eye wasn’t the jewelry.
He pointed to the red one.
“Of course. This one’s prettier, right?”
“Yeah… it really is.”
Her radiant smile almost made him lose his composure again.
Damian forced himself to focus.
They chatted and chose gifts together.
It had been ages since he’d spent time like this with a noble lady — even if it was only by request.
He didn’t find it boring, and that scared him.
Time slipping by so quickly frightened him even more.
The whirlwind of forbidden emotion rising within him — he clenched his teeth against it.
He couldn’t allow himself to feel that way.
Meanwhile, Irina was wholly absorbed in picking out Howard’s cufflinks.
Somehow, she put more thought into his gift than her own.
After much deliberation, she chose a set that perfectly matched Howard’s dignified air and smiled in satisfaction.
“I’ll take this one.”
And at that moment —
a dark shadow loomed behind her.
