14
===
I told him about the sales plan, assured him not to worry about the headache medicine, and chatted for a while. Then, I triumphantly returned home with the watch.
Diego said he would visit soon, so I thought I could ask him to deliver the gift.
'He probably already has many good watches. But he'll also need a watch for everyday use. Something like a beater watch that he wouldn't mind losing.'
It was a huge expense, but I felt good thinking I had bought a suitable gift. I was humming to myself when I arrived home.
"...?"
An unfamiliar car was parked in front of the house. Archduke Erzeht's men usually used military vehicles with the Imperial Army insignia. I carefully examined the car, but there were no markings, so it didn't seem to belong to a soldier.
Aileen passed the car and entered the garden, where she was surprised. A stranger was in the garden, admiring the orange tree.
He was an elderly man with a large build.
'Is he perhaps Father's guest?'
Except for the Grand Duke's soldiers, no one would come to visit Aileen here. So, the hypothesis that he was Father's guest seemed the most plausible.
Aileen subtly hid the watch box behind her back and approached the man.
"Hello."
The man immediately turned around at the greeting. His murky eyes, set in drooping eyelids, scanned Aileen up and down. It was a lingering and unpleasant gaze.
Aileen shook her head inwardly. It was too rude to think that a stranger's gaze was unpleasant upon first meeting him.
"Aileen Elrod?"
"Yes! Are you a friend of my father's?"
Deliberately smiling brightly as she answered, the man revealed a pleased expression. His face, smiling to reveal his teeth, was unsettling, and she felt like running away, but she held back.
"Ahem, I am a close friend of Lord Elrod."
His accent sounded foreign. He was probably a foreign nobleman.
Could it be that Father borrowed money and didn't repay it? I spent all my money on the pocket watch... Would the emergency fund I left be enough to cover it?
Hiding her complicated feelings, she spoke kindly to the man who claimed to be her father's friend.
"Father is currently out."
"Is that so?"
Even after being informed of her father's absence, the man didn't seem inclined to leave. Staring at him as he lingered, she reluctantly asked the question she didn't want to ask.
"Would you like some tea?"
"I would."
The man readily accepted and followed Aileen into the house. Aileen seated him on a chair in the drawing room and immediately went upstairs to hide the watch box.
Judging from her father's usual behavior, his friend probably came to collect money. She could give him anything else, but she wanted to protect the watch.
This was a gift only for Cesare. If she couldn't give it to him now, she would miss the moment to commemorate his historic victory forever.
"I'm sorry..."
Aileen apologized quietly to her father's friend as she hid the watch box deep in the closet. Then, she took out a small safe from under the bed and checked the emergency fund.
Counting the silver coins, Aileen bit her lip. She didn't know how much he had borrowed, but she hoped she could at least pay the interest.
After checking the emergency fund, she went back downstairs. Her father's friend was admiring the lilies in the vase, following his admiration of the orange tree.
She naturally went to the kitchen to prepare tea, but she kept feeling a gaze on her.
'Why is he looking at me?'
Thinking he might bring up the money, she prepared the tea as quickly as possible. She was about to turn around with the tray when it happened.
"Ah...!"
Aileen was startled and grabbed the tray. The man was standing right behind her. Her startled heart pounded.
The man was about the same height as Aileen, so their eyes met. He suddenly reached out and swept Aileen's bangs back. Aileen's eyes were fully revealed.
It was a rude gesture, but Aileen's hands were tied to the tray, so she couldn't stop him. As she just stared with wide eyes, the man chuckled.
"Just as I heard, you truly have mysterious eyes."
Aileen quickly stepped back. She hurriedly put the tray down and opened her mouth urgently.
"Why are you doing this? If it's about the money..."
"Money?"
The man briefly repeated, then suddenly twisted his face into a fierce expression.
"Yes, it's about money. I have a lot to say, Lady Aileen Elrod."
The man's voice grew louder. Aileen shrank back at his scolding tone.
"Lord Elrod clearly promised to sell her to me. We signed a contract and I even paid a deposit. Now, all that's left is to hand over the goods and pay the balance... But the Baron suddenly disappeared."
Aileen felt an ominous premonition. She wanted to dismiss the negative thoughts that came to mind, but she couldn't. As if being manipulated by someone, her lips moved on their own.
"What did he promise to sell?"
Hoping that her intuition was wrong, she asked the question, and the man grinned. It was a distorted smile that revealed all his upper and lower teeth.
"He promised to give me his daughter. I've prepared everything for the wedding, but the bride hasn't come, so I came to find her."
She thought there was nothing left to sell under her father's name, but there was still something left to pawn off.
It was Aileen.
According to Imperial law, an unmarried woman cannot refuse a marriage arranged by her parents. Her father had sold Aileen to make money for gambling.
A dizzying sensation washed over her, and a ringing sound filled her ears. Was it because of the overwhelming situation? Or because she couldn't believe what was happening? Not even tears came out. She felt like laughing instead.
The man arbitrarily chattered in front of the stunned Aileen and took out a contract from his pocket. The Elrod Family's seal on the contract was clear.
"I'll come back in three days, so get your affairs in order and prepare to leave the country by then. I'll make sure to pay a generous bride price."
The man left after delivering his notice. The sound of the door slamming shut echoed. It sounded like the end of her life.
Left alone, Aileen slumped to the floor. The hard wooden floor painfully pressed against her legs, but she couldn't even think of sitting on the soft sofa and just stayed there.
Suddenly, Cesare's words in the greenhouse came to mind.
"Since you have to get married anyway, wouldn't I be better than an old pig?"
The man who came to see Aileen today was large and old. A clear conclusion was drawn to Cesare's puzzling words.
'His Excellency already knew.'
He probably found out while inquiring about her father's whereabouts. Aileen covered her face with her hands. Shame washed over her, crushing her whole body. It was even more painful because it was a problem she couldn't solve on her own.
Cesare was the only one who could help Aileen.
Aileen looked down at the red velvet box she clutched like a lifeline. She never wanted to give the gift like this.
But in this situation, it seemed much better to give a gift, however pathetic, than to go empty-handed.
Aileen rubbed the tip of her nose, which was red from crying so much, with the back of her hand. As she did so, she looked at the distant mansion.
This was Archduke Erzeht's townhouse, which he used when staying in the capital. Armed soldiers guarded the gate.
It was a mansion that Cesare had newly purchased when he became the Grand Duke, but it had been empty ever since he left for the battlefield. It was Aileen's first time here.
Aileen couldn't bring herself to approach and only peeked at the Grand Duke's Residence from afar.
If she revealed her name, she would be able to enter immediately, but she didn't have the courage yet. She needed more time to prepare herself.
Hesitating for a long time, wanting to postpone the embarrassing moment of begging as much as possible, Aileen eventually approached the mansion hesitantly. The soldiers immediately blocked Aileen's path.
"I've come to see Archduke Erzeht. If you could tell him that Aileen Elrod is here..."
"Are you Lady Aileen!"
Before she could finish speaking, the soldiers exclaimed in admiration. Aileen, slightly surprised by the disciplined shout, blinked rapidly.
"Please wait a moment."
They immediately contacted the inside of the mansion and guided Aileen. The massive iron gate opened, revealing a lush green garden.
Such a mansion on a prime piece of land in the heart of the capital. She was already overwhelmed by the extravagance.
Employees were already lined up in front of the mansion. They politely greeted Aileen. The old butler, who was standing at the front, welcomed Aileen.
"You've finally come. I'm disappointed, Lady Aileen."
