Ch#115
Chapter 115"Why... make such a proposal? I, I just..."
"Ah, it must be shocking for you. Sorry for thrusting the conclusion at you so abruptly."
Laslo let out a deep breath and began explaining the circumstances from start to finish.
"As I mentioned before, there's a one-month grace period after the pardon. During that time, you're neither a criminal nor restored to House Canian."
"Yes, I understand up to that point."
"So, if we change your affiliated house during that window, that solves it. Having Mrs. Celestine adopt you was an option, but adoption by another while your parents are still alive would stir up too much controversy. It would also take too long."
Edel's eyes gradually calmed.
"So the easiest way was marriage."
"Exactly. And the partner needs to be someone with enough power that neither Count Canian nor Marquis Winblear can touch recklessly."
"Ah...!"
Edel fully understood why Laslo had requested the pardon at this timing and why he proposed marriage.
Laslo added excuses, as if uneasy.
"Of course, this marriage would be temporary. Once House Canian has no reason to take you back and you want to leave, I'll grant the divorce immediately."
Thinking about it, it was the best way to prevent Edel from being dragged back to House Canian.
However, Edel slowly shook her head.
"I understand what you're saying, Count. But I can't accept it."
"What...?"
Laslo had considered she might refuse, but not so immediately. No, perhaps he felt a bit hurt.
.
"Didn't we agree you'd go along with whatever I proposed?"
As he asked in a somewhat stubborn tone, lips pressed tight, Edel looked up at him with a bitter expression.
"This would force you into a marriage you hadn't planned for my sake. Men have a bit more freedom, but society still treats first marriages differently from remarriages."
"...Me? Are you talking about me right now?"
"Of course you're someone everyone envies, Count. But marrying someone flawed like me would be unacceptable to high noble houses. You'd miss out on all the good matches."
Realizing Edel was refusing for his sake, Laslo felt a tightness in his chest.
"If not me... is there anyone else who can get you out of this situation?"
"I, I could run away..."
"Escaping the imperial surveillance during the grace period is grounds for revoking the pardon."
"Ah! Then I could just commit another crime. The pardon would be canceled, and House Canian would give up on me."
"Haa..."
Laslo sighed deeply, grabbed Edel's wrist, and led her to the window.
It was an unusually sunny day for winter.
"Look closely. Isn't it a pretty beautiful world?"
"Yes? Y-Yeah, it is."
"You want to live as a criminal forever in this beautiful world? Do you really have to?"
"But living well at the expense of one person while causing trouble for you, who's already shown me such great favor..."
"That's exactly the thinking that led you to marry Duke Lancaster and become a prisoner for crimes you didn't commit. Have you forgotten already?"
Edel was at a loss for words. She felt the same frustration inside.
Honestly, the moment Laslo proposed marriage, she realized the true feelings she'd been ignoring.
*I... like this man.*
Otherwise, why would that proposal make her so happy? In that brief moment, she'd even imagined exchanging rings, kissing at the wedding, and sharing a bed with him—far from fear or disgust, it thrilled her to the point her arm hairs stood on end.
- 3 -
*I want to say yes! I want to be your wife, even temporarily!*
But how could she accept his proposal?
Edel, raised solely to marry into one of the Four Great Families, knew noble society's marriage conventions all too well.
If she, a criminal, maid, and widow, married and then divorced Laslo, gossip would swirl when he sought remarriage.
Proper ladies wouldn't choose him, and even if pressured by the emperor or family into marriage, it would take ages for his bride to open her heart.
Knowing her brief happiness would burden him with equal misfortune, she couldn't pretend otherwise. Especially now that she realized she liked him.
"This must be my fate. It seems I was born shackled, unable to escape."
As Edel closed her eyes and spoke in resignation, Laslo snapped in anger.
"What nonsense! Where's fate like that?"
"Count."
"You're not a mouse worrying about the cat—you're worrying about my remarriage? Do I seem like the type to abandon my promise to protect you over something like that?"
"You deserve a happier life! Why tarnish your honor for someone like me?"
"Listen, Edel! I'm proposing marriage not just for your sake...!"
As he started to retort, a knock sounded, followed by Margaret's voice.
"Count. Dowager Marchioness Barbara Celestine has arrived and has just been shown to the drawing room. How long should I say you'll be?"
Silence fell between them.
Laslo caught his excited breath and replied.
"No need. We'll go shortly."
He then whispered lowly to Edel.
"Let's continue this in front of Dowager Marchioness Celestine. See whose side she's on."
He grabbed her wrist and strode ahead.
.
Edel felt conflicted emotions toward Laslo, charging forth like a lone general.
Half of her thought she should stop him, while pure joy bloomed on the other side. But the etiquette, survival skills, and norms she'd learned for years harshly rebuked such thoughts.
[Ungrateful wretch!]
[True love prioritizes the other's happiness—how can you only think of your own?]
[You're a widow already! And your ex-husband was an old man old enough to be your father. What will people think of Laslo?]
Tormented by such thoughts, she didn't notice Laslo holding her wrist all the way to the drawing room or that the servants witnessed it.
Upon entering the drawing room where Barbara waited, both Laslo and Edel momentarily forgot their heated argument.
The utterly noble Barbara wasn't seated but pacing anxiously inside.
"Barbara...?"
Edel spoke first, worried about her uncomfortable leg.
But spotting Edel, Barbara ignored her leg and rushed to embrace her tightly.
"Edel! Oh, Edel..."
"Barbara! What's wrong?"
At first, Edel thought it was joy over her pardon.
But Barbara's whole body trembled in the embrace. It wasn't shivers of joy.
Barbara wasn't crying, but her eyes were red as if she might burst into tears any moment, her breathing ragged as if suppressing some emotion.
And finally, a curse-like cry erupted from her.
"The Canians, those beasts worse than animals! They deserve Lord Para's heavenly punishment!"
Her voice startled even Laslo.
"Dowager Marchioness! Please calm down first. What's happened?"
"I knew they were brazen and vile, but I never imagined they'd be this wicked!"
Laslo supported the shaking, shouting Barbara and barely got her seated on the sofa.
She still couldn't contain her agitation, her hands trembling uncontrollably.
Edel was torn between shock at Laslo's proposal and Barbara's state.
But she poured a glass of cold water and handed it to Barbara first.
"Barbara. You'll ruin your health like this. Drink some water and try to calm down a bit."
Barbara nodded frantically and gulped down the water Edel offered. It was a desperation utterly unlike her usual elegance and poise.
"I investigated those around House Canian. You did too, Count Criserus, but more information is always better."
It wasn't surprising. Edel nodded readily and pulled out her ever-present handkerchief to gently dab Barbara's forehead. It was slick with cold sweat from her extreme agitation.
"I dug into connections up to the eighth cousin of Count Canian's in-laws. I didn't expect earth-shattering intel. With their distant relations, I just hoped to find some minor grievance."
"They're not on great terms, but House Canian is such a major funding source that everyone pretends to get along on the surface."
"That's right. But then I uncovered an unexpected strange connection."
Barbara took a deep breath and continued.
"Ever heard of Edgar Langburn?"
.
