Chapter 38
Aisha closed her mouth, seemingly speechless at Ian’s bold statement. Uncharacteristically tense, she spoke to Ian firmly.
“Our engagement ceremony is only a month away. Invitations have already been sent, and people know we’re getting engaged. At a time like this…”
“It’s an important business matter. I had no choice. Please understand, Aisha.”
Ian let out a sigh and frowned. He even turned his head away as if he didn’t want to say another word. Seeing that, Aisha’s grip loosened. The velvet box in her hand fell with a soft thud onto her dress.
As Aisha fell silent, Ian suddenly felt as if something was chasing him. Annoyed, he ran his hand through his hair and softened his tone as he looked at her limp fingers.
“I’ll tell you where I’m going in advance.”
“…”
“Aisha.”
“…Alright. But you have to tell me in advance. Promise me. Okay?”
Ian’s voice calling her name made Aisha nod at last. But this time, she turned her head away from him. Ian frowned, resisting the sudden urge to reach for her face, and then simply shut his eyes again.
“…”
“…”
Inside the carriage, neither of them spoke nor made eye contact again. At some point, the carriage jolted sharply, and the velvet box that had been sitting on Aisha’s lap tumbled to the floor.
Thunk—
Ian, eyes closed, opened them slightly at the sound. The rolling velvet box on the carriage floor came into his view.
‘She was holding onto it like a treasure, and now she just lets it drop… Why isn’t she picking it up?’
He’d bought it without much thought, but seeing it rolling around like that irritated him more than he expected. Yet, oddly, Aisha didn’t even look like she planned to retrieve it.
‘…What a childish way to show you’re upset.’
Unable to hold back, Ian bent over, picked up the box, and placed it firmly back in Aisha’s weakly hanging hands.
But unlike before, she didn’t grasp it tightly. She merely held it loosely, just enough to keep it from falling again.
The celebratory banquet at Count Garot’s estate was rather grand. Understandably so—Count and Countess Garot had married young at nineteen and spent eight years without a child. Their struggle was well-known, so all the guests attending the banquet wore bright expressions, congratulating the couple and their newborn.
“I cried when I saw how happy my sister looked.”
Evelyn, the countess’s younger sister, said tearfully to Aisha. Evelyn was also a member of Aisha’s social circle, and with her bold personality, rarely showed tears. Aisha was surprised, but touched by her sincerity and continued to listen to her.
“Miss Viola will definitely tease you if she sees you crying like this.”
“She’s too dramatic. That’s how she always causes trouble. Remember when she didn’t even know you were engaged to the Marquess of Lloyd and started spreading pointless gossip? Tsk.”
“…It’s fine. She just didn’t know. More importantly, there are so many guests here. I can see how kind and generous the Count and Countess must have been.”
Aisha glanced around. It wasn’t flattery—there really were a lot of people for a child’s birth banquet. Other families who held gatherings today were even complaining their guests had been stolen away.
“Oh, Miss Aisha, you flatter too much. My sister and brother-in-law aren’t anything special. It’s just that my sister was from one faction and my brother-in-law from another, so people came from both sides.”
Evelyn gestured left and right with her fingers. Understanding her meaning, Aisha gave a wry smile. The ongoing power struggle between old and new nobles—despite all the smiles, the invisible divide was still present. Guests kept to their own sides, never crossing over.
“Even on a happy day like this, they’re still sizing each other up. It’s creepy. My sister and brother-in-law don’t care about any of that anymore…”
Aisha looked surprised. The Count and Countess Garot were quite well-known in factional politics. Regardless of their loving marriage, the count followed his father, Marquess Gamel, as part of the old nobility, while the countess followed her own father in the new noble faction.
“You didn’t know? I only found out recently too. My sister told our father she wouldn’t get involved in factional fights anymore. And my brother-in-law told the same to his father, Marquess Gamel.”
Normally, wives in the Shizer Empire followed their husbands politically, but Countess Garot was a special case. Having worked as a close maid to the Empress for a long time, she had political influence in her own right. Because of this, her father, Baron Holt, continued to pressure her to represent the new faction even after marriage.
“Well, it was bound to happen. She’d grown disillusioned with politics and was especially worried after getting pregnant. There may be less violence now, but you know how it was. Back then, people were even sending assassins. My sister was terrified, so my brother-in-law was the one who suggested they step away from politics to live peacefully as a family.”
“…”
“They haven’t gone public with it yet, but as soon as their child is old enough to travel, they’re planning to move to their estate in the provinces. That’s why my father, my brother, and Marquess Gamel are all furious. Even today, I’m sure they’re pretending to celebrate while trying to change their minds.”
“The Count and Countess are admirable. That couldn’t have been an easy decision…”
Aisha said in genuine admiration. Evelyn gave a dramatic sigh.
“Admirable? It’s a headache for me. If my sister follows her husband away, guess who my father will torment next? Me!”
“…”
“But still, if she’s at peace, it’s worth it. I used to worry so much for her in the early years of her marriage.”
Aisha tilted her head. She had heard that the Garots had married young and were happily in love—Evelyn’s concern seemed odd.
“You’re not up to date on gossip, are you? It was a huge topic back then. But I guess it was eight years ago… You were probably still a kid. Well, it’s no secret. My sister had a scandal. That’s why she got married at nineteen.”
“What?”
“She and her husband were in a secret relationship and got pregnant. But that baby never made it to the world. Marquess Gamel’s wife was horrible to her. Said she wasn’t a real noble. Called her all sorts of names while she was pregnant. My sister lost her first child because of her.”
Come to think of it, Aisha recalled hearing that the Marquess’s wife had been sent to the countryside. She’d assumed it was for health reasons, but now she understood the real reason.
“My sister was a mess back then. I was so angry I slapped my brother-in-law. My sister scolded me later, but I don’t regret it. If I hadn’t hit him, I might’ve stabbed the old witch instead. She should be grateful she was exiled.”
“…”
“But when I see them smiling like that now, I can’t help but cheer for them.”
Evelyn, her face dark just moments ago, smiled brightly as she waved toward her sister. Aisha followed her gaze. The couple stood close, their baby between them… It was exactly the kind of picture Aisha had dreamed of.
‘I want that too…’
A flicker of jealousy rose in her chest, directed at the countess she barely knew. Alongside it came a quiet resignation—that she may never have what they had. Aisha looked away from the happy couple, and Evelyn, unaware, asked a piercing question.
“By the way, Miss Aisha, why did you come alone? Where’s your fiancé?”
“…He’s busy.”
“You’re getting engaged next month. Even if he’s busy, he should come with you. We understand, but gossipy people love stuff like this.”
Aisha gave an awkward smile, and Evelyn stopped herself from saying more. In truth, Aisha arriving alone had already caused whispers.
‘She came, and I’m grateful—but I feel bad too. I didn’t know. I really thought the Marquess would be with her.’
Rumors were already spreading—that he was ignoring Aisha, that she was pitiful. Evelyn felt guilty, thinking it was her fault.
“Oh, that reminds me—where did you get those pearl earrings? That luster is definitely high quality—huh?”
Evelyn trailed off as she toyed with a rose on the tea table, only to suddenly widen her eyes. Her expression soured as she carefully asked:
“Miss Aisha. Isn’t that the Marquess over there? And that woman… Isn’t she the one Miss Viola mentioned before…?”
Ian was arm-in-arm with Helen, completely unaware—or indifferent—to Aisha’s presence. Seeing them together, as close as the Count and Countess, Aisha rose from her seat.
“Miss Aisha!”
Evelyn called out from behind, but Aisha quickly walked away, searching for a place where she wouldn’t have to see Ian any longer.
