Chapter 75
Riena Dyke’s Confusion (1)
“A wedding?”
“Yes. She’s only engaged for now, so strictly speaking, you belong to the Dyke Count family. They could take issue with that and even bring the matter to court.”
“Then….”
“Of course, even so, there’s no way she’ll be sent back to the Dyke household. Still, it might be better to have the wedding soon, just in case….”
Cassel paused and glanced at Riena.
“Are you okay with that?”
Riena didn’t immediately grasp the implication of his question.
“Is there a reason I wouldn’t be?”
“I’ll do my best, but given the short time, the wedding preparations might be lacking.”
“Ah….”
Only then did Riena understand what he was worried about. Nobles usually had an engagement period of about six months, sometimes over a year. That meant preparing for the wedding would take at least half a year.
In fact, they had planned their wedding for next spring. Rushing it would naturally make it less elaborate than other weddings.
Yet Riena didn’t care. Their engagement had never been conventional anyway. There was no need to assign any grand meaning to this marriage.
“It’s fine. I never really had a dream about a wedding anyway.”
That was a lie. Like other girls her age, Riena had dreamed of a picture-perfect wedding since she was young.
Outdoors, not indoors. A dress with a narrow waist and a full skirt. A bouquet of lisianthus, her mother’s favorite.
But she didn’t want to make Cassel uncomfortable by saying it.
Besides, I don’t even want to insist on that dream now.
Cassel hesitated, as if sensing her lie.
“However….”
Riena smiled brightly at him.
“Really, it’s fine. The meaning lies in the marriage itself, not the wedding.”
That was no lie. Though she couldn’t have the wedding she’d dreamed of, simply becoming Cassel’s wife was enough. With her father gone and now alone, she wanted to become part of his family as soon as possible.
Even if it were a fleeting dream, she decided to enjoy this moment with Cassel.
“Understood. If you’re okay with it, we’ll prepare accordingly.”
For now, that was enough.
Riena and Cassel headed straight for the inn where the Countess Dyke was staying. True to the claim of lacking funds, the inn on the outskirts of the capital was shabby.
Upon entering, a musty smell hit them. The patrons sitting at the first-floor tables, reddened by midday drinking, stared at them.
Some men openly appraised Riena from head to toe. Sensing their intentions, Cassel wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.
“Stay close to me.”
“Yes.”
He signaled to his aide, Leo, who led them to a room. Winkler’s physician followed, carrying a large medical bag.
“Here we are.”
Cassel knocked and entered. The room was even dirtier and more worn than the inn’s exterior.
Mold spotted the walls, and dust floated in the air. The bed sheets and blanket didn’t look clean either.
Anyone staying here would likely fall ill, and yet they had brought a child with weak immunity.
Frowning, Riena stepped inside.
Aaron, indeed sick as they had been told, lay moaning on the bed, a lukewarm cloth on his forehead.
The Countess Dyke and Bianca were nowhere to be seen.
Leo noticed her expression and explained:
“They’re still on their way. They couldn’t get a carriage from the inn, so they had to hire one privately. It seems arranging the fare was difficult. They only just got on a carriage.”
Cassel had probably assigned someone to follow them.
Riena frowned at the fact that Aaron had been left alone initially.
She hurried to his side.
“Aaron, are you awake?”
He barely responded. She touched his face.
His body was burning. She fought back the tears threatening to spill.
“I’m sorry I’m late.”
Cassel came up behind her and gently rested his hand on her shoulder.
“It’s okay. Let’s show him to the doctor first.”
The physician carefully examined Aaron. Seeing the serious look on his face, Riena asked anxiously:
“How is he? Is it serious?”
The physician removed his stethoscope.
“Symptoms point to a feverish cold. With the cold weather and a long journey, his body could easily be worn down. The capital is also colder than the south.”
“Right. Even at this time of year, the Dyke estate is warm during the day. Can it be treated if it’s just a feverish cold?”
“If it’s just a feverish cold, yes. But the current epidemic in the capital has similar symptoms. We need to consider that. If it’s been a while, it could develop into pneumonia.”
“Then we should do whatever treatments we can. Is that possible?”
“I’ll do my best.”
The physician left, promising to prepare medicine at the Duke’s residence.
Riena sat by the bed, stroking Aaron’s forehead as he slept. Cassel stood behind, quietly watching them.
“When my mother and Bianca first came, I decided not to help at all. I felt uneasy, but considering everything, it seemed necessary. Even if I sent money, there’s no guarantee it would be used for the Dykes.”
“……”
“If Aaron is truly sick, I intended to give him just the treatment, nothing more, nothing less. As my mother said, he’s my blood-related brother, after all.”
Riena wiped her face.
“But seeing this… it’s upsetting. How did it come to this? How could the Dyke family fall so far in just four months? It’s absurd and frustrating.”
Cassel, who had been listening silently, spoke.
“First, we’ll move the three of them to another place.”
“No, that’s unnecessary. I don’t want to involve Winkler in Dyke affairs. They don’t deserve it.”
Cassel gently took Riena’s hand and pressed his lips to the back of it.
“How many times have I told you? You’ve already given me so much, far more than you imagine.”
“……”
“Seeing Aaron in this place breaks my heart, too. Perhaps because he’s about the same age as Noah, I feel like it’s my nephew. Once he’s fully recovered, I’ll help move the three of them back to the Dyke estate through a magic portal.”
“Then I would have no face to see you.”
“Let me help you.”
After some thought, Riena nodded. Cassel signaled, and Leo, waiting outside, went to find a new place.
While they quietly cared for Aaron, a sharp voice sounded:
“What are you doing here?”
Bianca appeared at the door, looking exasperated, with the Countess Dyke beside her.
Riena signaled Cassel not to intervene and approached them.
“You’re late. You’ve been gone from the Duke’s residence quite a while.”
Bianca snapped:
“You couldn’t get a carriage, so you walked to the main road to get one. So why are you here?”
“Bianca.”
The Countess Dyke gently restrained her daughter, smiling kindly.
“Did you come to see Aaron?”
“Yes. If he’s really sick, we can’t leave him alone. The doctor just examined him and will send medicine shortly.”
“Thank you…”
Riena interrupted her politely but sharply.
“Are you really worried about Aaron? How could you leave a sick child alone and go out? You could have just sent me a letter telling me to come!”
“You’d ignore it anyway.”
“Then at least Bianca should have stayed and cared for Aaron!”
“Do you have any idea how dangerous the capital is? Could I leave mother alone? And how would she be treated at the Duke’s residence?”
“Are you seriously saying that, Bianca?”
Unlike the Countess, who stayed quiet, Bianca continued defiantly:
“Do you think you’re the only one who cares for Aaron? He’s my brother too. Don’t think you’re the only one who loves him.”
