Chapter 3 – “Marriage Proposal from Nowhere”
Scar snapped his head up at my words and quickly explained.
“Ah… The Duke isn’t the type to lend money, my lady. And the Asser family has never had that kind of relationship with anyone. The Dante Marquisate and the Asser Duchy used to be on good terms, though.”
“Used to be? So not anymore?”
“Yes. Once our family started going downhill, things naturally became awkward. It’s been about five years since we last had close contact.”
Awkward for five years—and now he suddenly shows up?
‘Did he realize we’re broke and come running to snatch what’s left?’
When people go bankrupt, you’d think others might help, right?
Wrong. The moment you start falling, they show up to grab whatever’s left.
When my father’s business collapsed and he started gambling, even our relatives—who pretended to care—emptied our pockets clean.
If loan sharks are all the same, then people without consciences act the same way too.
“I’m not giving him a single coin! Every penny left here is mine!”
“The Duke’s the richest man in the entire kingdom. I doubt he came here to steal pocket change, my lady.”
“And how do you think he got so rich? There’s definitely something shady going on.”
I hid my trembling hands behind my back.
“…I’ll test him.”
I walked up to the man.
He’d looked tall from afar, but up close, he seemed even taller. His sharp, deep-set eyes had an intimidating glare—most people would’ve backed away immediately or bowed respectfully.
But not me. I wasn’t thinking straight. Not with money on the line.
“I greet the Duke—”
“Aileen.”
He cut me off. His tone was cold as ice.
“I came to speak about what we discussed previously—”
Now’s my chance. This guy was definitely here to sell me something shady.
“Not interested,” I said quickly. “I’m not investing in your pyramid scheme, I won’t transfer my property to you, and I’m not moving just because you think it’s ‘better land.’ And no, you can’t ‘squeeze out’ a little extra cash either.”
“…What?”
“I’m completely broke. So please, just take your fancy carriage and go home.”
The man stared down at me in silence. His half-lidded eyes gleamed like a predator’s.
What, am I supposed to be scared? I lived thirty years in Korea. You think this is scary?
I glared right back.
“Ha…”
He sighed and slowly looked me up and down, from head to toe.
“Do I look like a scam artist to you?”
“I wouldn’t say you don’t.”
“I’m your fiancé.”
…What?
Before I could process that, he repeated firmly,
“I came here regarding the engagement between the Asser Duchy and the Dante Marquisate. It’s insulting that you think I’m some fraud.”
I stood there, speechless, as if someone had slapped me.
“…Engagement?”
So… not a scam?
***
“Scar! Scar, where’s Scar?!”
“Right here, my lady! You called for your faithful ‘ScarScarScar’—is there a problem?”
The butler’s cheeky tone made me want to slap him, but I restrained myself. He was my only source of information.
“That man—who is he? And what’s this about an engagement?”
Beep beep, information request received. The Scar search engine immediately began spitting out results.
“As I mentioned earlier, that’s Duke Cartiman Asser, the young head of the Asser Duchy. And yes, there were talks of marriage between your two families. It makes sense given how close they used to be.”
“And?”
“I honestly didn’t expect this. I thought he’d cancel the engagement after hearing about our situation, not come to confirm it.”
Scar paused for a moment, then tilted his head.
“But, my lady… how did you even leave the drawing room? What about your guest? And what is that stain on your sleeve?”
“Oh, this?”
I looked at my sleeve, smudged with dirt, and sighed.
“The filthy loan sharks left a mess on the table. I couldn’t let him see how dirty the house is, so I wiped it with my sleeve.”
“How very bold of you, my lady. My heart’s trembling.”
“Anyway, I need to know who that man is before I can even talk to him. Just standing near him makes my skin crawl.”
“…Do you really not remember him at all?”
“Remember when I almost drowned? I must’ve hit my head then. I don’t remember anything about him.”
Scar’s mouth fell open. Then he nodded knowingly.
“I should’ve realized when you forgot my name… You’ve forgotten everything. Even our deep, unspoken memories…”
“I’m pretty sure we don’t have any deep memories.”
“Strange, I could’ve sworn we—”
“Less talk, more facts.”
Thankfully, Scar returned to the point.
“The Duke has been engaged to you since before you were born. You used to look forward to seeing him—you’d smile more, talk more. You even stayed up the night before his visits. Everyone knew you were in love with him.”
“I loved him? Really?”
“You wrote him a letter every month. A thick one. Although he hasn’t replied in about a year…”
Me? Writing love letters to that man? The one who looks like he’d burn them without reading?
“Yes, a thick one indeed. So everyone assumed you adored him.”
Scar frowned.
“By the way, shouldn’t you be getting back? You’ve been gone for a while. Not that I care about my honor, but your guest might.”
“Oh, right!”
He was still here. I’d snuck out using the “I need to use the restroom” excuse. Realizing how long I’d been gone, I rushed back to the parlor.
The Duke was sitting exactly as I’d left him.
“Sorry! There was a huge bug in the washroom. That’s why I was late. Definitely not because of anything else.”
“I don’t care.”
“No, seriously—it wasn’t because of anything else!”
“…You’ve changed.”
Cartiman sighed.
“You used to be much quieter and more graceful. You’d cry over a speck of dirt on your dress.”
What a rude man. Showing up uninvited and now criticizing me?
“Oh, sorry. Would you like me to scream and cry about my dirty dress? It’s the only one I have left, by the way.”
“You’ve changed too much.”
“I’ve had a lot on my plate. Circumstances change people, you know.”
“Nothing’s changed. Everything’s the same.”
“I’m sure you know full well the difference between now and then. My family’s ruined. Everyone’s gone except me and my annoying butler. You think I’d still be calm?”
“You’re different. Like someone’s gone mad.”
“Exactly! If madness is what it takes to survive, then I’ll be a crazy woman.”
A heavy silence fell between us.
‘What’s he staring at, this oversized bear of a man?’
No, not a bear—too scary. Let’s go with hamster. A big, fluffy, white hamster.
After a long moment, the “hamster” blinked slowly.
“I see… The situation changed, so you changed too. Understood.”
“I’m glad that cleared things up. Now, if you’ll excuse me—”
“I came here to finalize the engagement. I’d prefer to skip straight to marriage.”
“…I must’ve misheard. Could you repeat that?”
“Aileen Dante. I want to marry you.”
Nope. I definitely didn’t mishear.
“Do you… have a thing for rude, sarcastic women who talk back and have bad tempers?”
“…No.”
“Then I don’t get it. Anyway, I’m sorry, but that’s impossible.”
I firmly rejected his proposal. He flinched, visibly surprised.
“Why?”
“My father—the one who arranged it—is gone. If I leave too, there’ll be no one left to manage the estate.”
“So it’s because of the debt. I’ll pay it off for you. Come live at the Duchy.”
What kind of nonsense was this?
“You’ll pay… my debts? Why? You gain nothing from that.”
“There’s no need for you to know. You said it yourself—it’s good for you.”
“…”
“Choose.”
I took a deep breath.
A magical solution to all my problems was right in front of me.
‘What, does he think I’ll just throw myself at him because of money? After talking to me like that?’
…But honestly, I was tempted.
