Chapter 11
“It was a failed compromise.”
No, in truth, those words had been circling in his head the entire time.
‘It was simply the result of a failed compromise.’
It was just the outcome of a failed negotiation. It wasn’t because he was a pathetic human being, or because he was so flawed that he deserved to be abandoned; it was simply that the two parties wanted different things. That was why they couldn’t be together.
Victoria was looking at him with a serious expression. Facing that gaze, Gerard had to admit it. He felt comforted despite himself—by the words of a total stranger. It was absurd.
“I understand your curiosity, Countess, but prying into the reasons why a man was rejected isn’t very considerate.”
Hoping it sounded like a joke, Gerard turned his head toward the window. He looked down at the people performing a group dance to a lively tune. He scanned the large, circular formation for that woman. Surely she was in there somewhere, diligently scouting for a potential husband.
Gerard couldn’t quite recall her face. He didn’t even remember the color of the dress she was wearing. What remained vivid were the gray eyes looking up at him. And the name.
Rosalyn.
He had been introduced to countless women tonight. He didn’t know why, out of all the myriad names he hadn’t even bothered to try and remember, that one in particular stuck in his mind. Perhaps it was because the name was similar. Because it sounded familiar.
Madman.
Gerard’s lips twisted slightly in self-loathing. His gaze, which had been searching the crowded floor for a woman whose face he couldn’t even remember, turned cold and distant.
Was he drunk? Similar? He’d have to be insane.
‘There is a young lady I’d like to introduce to you both.’
Karina Glenn was one of the most snobbish noblewomen he knew. Anyone who associated with her was bound to be of the same ilk. She must have encouraged his aunt just to get an introduction. She might have even approached his aunt with that goal in mind from the start.
‘My father is certainly a wonderful man, but I must clear up any misunderstanding if you think he gave me two names just to follow tradition.’
He probably wasn’t the first person to hear that. It was likely a rehearsed line, prepared in advance to leave a deep impression. Anyone active in social circles prepared a few weapons like that.
That was the law of this world. Tone, expression, even the scale of a laugh—everything was scripted. The more a remark was laced with wit and consideration, the more prestige one could flaunt. That was how the score of this game was calculated.
‘Out of respect for both my parents.’
Gerard Glenn was no exception.
He looked down at the ballroom with eyes that had cooled to a chill. He observed the women dancing gracefully, dressed to the nines in their bid to become the Duchess. Whether it was family pressure or personal ambition, their goal was the same.
To become the mistress of Maxville. To share in everything he possessed through marriage. A life where that was the only goal and meaning.
So, they were all the same. Everyone gathered in that hall was equally dreadful. And he, who had proposed this wretched scheme as a solution, was the worst of them all.
“Now that I’m here, I don’t think this was such a bad idea after all,” Victoria said after a long silence.
She crushed her half-finished cigarette into the ashtray, gathered the hem of her long dress, and took a few steps toward the entrance before looking back. Gerard remained leaning against the window, unmoving.
“Aren’t you coming?”
“Go on ahead.”
“Come down soon. Don’t be rude and hide up here after inviting all these ladies.”
After giving him a light scolding, Victoria left the drawing room. Gerard knew that her entire attitude was a form of consideration for him. He knew she felt sorry for him and was urging him not to wallow for too long.
He knew, he knew it all, but he couldn’t bring himself to go back down there.
He wanted to go back to his room. He wanted to soak in hot water until his skin turned red and then lie down in bed. He felt it would be better to fight insomnia while staring at the ceiling all night. At least then, he wouldn’t feel this miserable.
“Sigh…”
Gerard leaned his head back against the window frame. He closed his eyes and let out a long breath. He wanted to strip off this tailcoat that constricted his body, this garment that forced the upright posture of a gentleman.
He was tired. Utterly exhausted.
The guests in the Great Hall seemed ready to dance all night. A never-ending stream of people approached Gerard to strike up a conversation. He had to act as if he recognized people he barely remembered and be introduced to new women they brought along.
And so, the ball ended well past midnight. Most of the guests returned home with regret, but some remained at the mansion. For guests who did not have a home in the city of Windberg or the surrounding areas, the Duke graciously provided rooms.
In the Trissen Empire, it was considered polite to stay and be entertained for at least a week when staying at someone’s house. Since this etiquette applied to both host and guest, those visitors would be attending every tea time and dinner for the next week.
It was a common occurrence, so Gerard felt nothing special about it. Maxville always had guests coming and going, and he always made time for them. In fact, that could be said to be the main occupation of nobles who didn’t work: visiting one another to spend time gossiping, admiring, and boasting. Therefore, it was no different from usual.
“Princess Josephine is truly diligent. I heard she went riding early this morning. Count Benford praised her riding skills—apparently, he ran into her by chance at the stables.”
Listening to the chatter of his mother, who had visited his office, Gerard struggled to keep his dull senses sharp.
He had tossed and turned for a long time last night before finally swallowing a sleeping pill. Taking the medication usually left him feeling as if his head were filled with fog the next day, so he preferred to rely on a glass or two of whiskey whenever possible. But if he had already been drinking, as he had yesterday, that method didn’t work. Since he couldn’t sleep without the pill, he had no other choice.
“Why don’t you invite Princess Josephine to luncheon?”
“It’s a good suggestion, but I have a prior engagement. I have to leave soon.”
As he replied, he glanced at the desk clock on the mantelpiece. He had to leave within ten minutes to make his lunch appointment with the Chairman of the City Council. Fortunately, it allowed him to escape this tedious conversation.
“Let’s invite the Princess to dinner instead. Along with the other guests.”
“Will you seat her at the head table?”
“If that is what you wish, Mother.”
He replied readily with a gentlemanly smile.
The Hayes family, the house of Duke Mendel, was a prominent political family that held various key positions in the legal world, so Gerard knew several of them. One of his professors in law school had been a Hayes, and the presiding judge at the Isen High Court where he had interned was also a Hayes. Maximilian Hayes, the current Duke of Mendel, was the Chairman of the Upper House and the leader of the Conservative Party. Inviting his youngest daughter was purely his mother’s wish.
“I’ve narrowed it down to the five most outstanding ladies. I intend to invite them to a tea party and talk with them further.”
“That’s a good idea, but please exclude the Princess.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Diane Glenn looked at him with a face of incomprehension. Gerard responded with an incredulous expression.
“Lady Josephine Hayes has only just come of age. Surely you haven’t forgotten my age.”
“What’s wrong with being twelve years older than your bride? I’ve seen couples with twice that age gap.”
Her lack of conscience left him unable to even muster a hollow laugh. Not only did he have no intention of taking an eighteen-year-old as his wife, but the daughter of Duke Mendel presented an even greater problem.
“Duke Maximilian is a great man. He would be of much help to you.”
“There is nothing good about being deeply entangled with politics.”
“In times like these, the nobility must join forces. I don’t know much about the affairs of the House, but I’ve heard things are difficult in many ways. You are too indifferent to politics. Your father was active in the Upper House as well.”
“Circumstances are different now than they were then. If the Duke of Windberg is branded a Conservative, the public won’t be pleased.”
“My dear, who cares what the public thinks?”
“As the owner of department stores and hotels, I cannot help but care.”
Gerard maintained his smile even as he spoke firmly. Becoming the son-in-law of Duke Mendel would make it difficult to maneuver politically. He wouldn’t even be able to approach the Progressive Party.
‘Pass the Family Law Amendment. Use all your influence to do so.’
Gerard had a debt to pay.
‘Duke of Windberg. That is the price of our deal.’
