Reasons for Contract Marriage - Chapter 13

After that realization, Daniel kept a close eye on Florian at parties and balls, but he never saw any sign of him being interested in a particular woman. Florian was equally kind to all women but equally indifferent to them as well.

But meeting Brianna yesterday had finally put all the pieces of the puzzle together.

“If my hunch is correct, Florian likes her too,” Daniel said.

The butler stroked his chin with a serious expression. “This is indeed a troublesome situation. Should we hope that the young master wins over Florian?”

“He won’t win. No, he won’t even try to win. Luce would rather avoid the conflict entirely,” Daniel said confidently.

“Why do you say that so definitively?” the butler asked.

“Carl, do you know what happened when my leg ended up like this?” Daniel pointed to his left leg, and the butler’s expression darkened immediately.

“When I became disabled, people started whispering behind my back. They questioned whether a cripple should inherit the duchy and suggested that the successor should be switched to Lucius. Those whispers eventually reached Lucius. Do you know what he did? He announced he would become a soldier. Before that, he had shown no interest in the military whatsoever.”

Lucius had never been ambitious for the title. While other second sons of noble families aimed to make a name for themselves in the military to gain titles, Lucius wanted to continue his studies and support his family and his brother.

But overnight, he changed his life’s goal, choosing the typical path of a second son to silence the gossipers.

“Luce preferred to pursue a military career, something he had no interest in, rather than compete with me. If it comes to competing with Florian, he might choose to give up something again,” Daniel explained.

“The young master has always been exceptionally considerate for his age,” the butler agreed.

“Yes, he’s always been thoughtful, never asking for anything. And now, his first request is to find a watch for a woman he met just yesterday. Do you think I’m worried or not?”

“So, you plan to search for the watch?” the butler asked.

“Of course. It’s not just any request; it’s something Luce asked me for directly!”

“Then I will also find a way to assist,” the butler said, bowing before leaving the room.

Daniel stopped twirling his pen and began writing a letter. The letter contained instructions to search the entire capital to find the watch engraved with the name “Everett.”

***

Harzen was quite a journey from the train station, requiring a long carriage ride. When Brianna finally returned to Harzen Castle, the first person to greet her was Mrs. Fisher.

“Brie, you’re back!” Mrs. Fisher exclaimed, hugging her warmly.

Brianna returned the embrace with a bright smile. “How have you been? Nothing much happened while I was away, right?”

Mrs. Fisher pulled back, giving her a playful look. “This place is so quiet that a day feels like ten years. Nothing happens here. How was your trip? And did anything happen in the capital?”

Brianna thought briefly about her time in the capital and then smiled. “Nothing out of the ordinary happened.”

“Well, with Master Florian there, you wouldn’t have had anything to worry about. He must have taken good care of you. It’s been almost six months since you last saw him, right?”

“Yes, and he’s grown even taller,” Brianna replied, raising her hand high above her head to indicate his height.

Mrs. Fisher laughed heartily. “Boys that age grow like weeds. Didn’t I tell you he’d soon be taller than you?”

When Florian first arrived, he was smaller than Brianna. With his delicate features, kind nature, and small stature, he seemed like a little angel. But Brianna soon realized that behind his bright smile lay a profound loneliness.

Maybe that was why she felt the urge to protect him. A child with family yet lonely and a child without family but also lonely—they naturally gravitated towards each other.

“Go see the madam. She’s been waiting for you,” Mrs. Fisher urged.

“I will.”

“And come by the kitchen later. I baked some cookies.”

Mrs. Fisher winked. “Your favorite apple jam cookies.”

Brianna smiled and kissed her on the cheek. Mrs. Fisher, the head cook of Harzen Castle, had always baked delicious cookies for Brianna. Even when her father passed away, Mrs. Fisher’s sweet cookies had comforted her broken heart.

Just as Brianna picked up her bag and headed towards Dowager Countess Linares’s room, a sharp voice called out from behind.

“So, you’re back?”

A woman approached, carrying a large laundry basket. Her apron was soaked with water and suds, indicating she had just finished doing the laundry.

“Margot.”

Brianna greeted her with a gentle smile. “It’s been a while. How have you been?”

“Do I look like I’ve been well?” Margot snapped, her voice filled with irritation. “While someone was gallivanting around the capital, I was stuck here working non-stop. Are you mocking me?”

“Margot, I wasn’t in the capital for fun…”

“Then why were you there if not for fun?”

Brianna closed her mouth, unsure how to respond. Margot eyed her suspiciously.

“Look at you, not saying a word. What were you really doing there? Huh?”

“Do you still have a lot of work left? If so, I’ll help you once I’m done meeting with the madam,” Brianna offered, trying to deflect the conversation.

“You’re just changing the subject, aren’t you? I asked why you went to the capital!” Margot snapped.

At that moment, Mrs. Fisher’s hand came down firmly on Margot’s head. Margot immediately bristled with irritation.

“Why did you hit me?”

“Why are you bothering a busy girl?” Mrs. Fisher retorted, motioning quickly for Brianna to leave. “Brie, go see the madam. You must be tired, so get some rest today.”

Thanks to Mrs. Fisher’s intervention, Brianna was able to escape.

Once Brianna was out of earshot, Mrs. Fisher turned her attention back to Margot and gave her another tap on the head.

“Ouch! Why did you hit me again?”

“Why do you keep picking on Brie? You know you can’t win against her.”

“I’m not picking on her. It’s just that you and the madam always favor her. What’s so special about that orphan girl? Ow!” This time, Mrs. Fisher’s hand hit Margot’s back. Her strength, capable of stirring a stew for a hundred people, made the blow sting.

“Exactly. She’s an orphan. Don’t you feel any sympathy for her?”

“Why should I be nice to her when she gets all the luxuries just because the madam took a liking to her?”

“If you were jealous, you should have studied harder instead of complaining.”

“Ha! Knowing a few letters isn’t something to boast about…”

“Aren’t you the one who can’t even read?” Mrs. Fisher shot back.

“Auntie!”

“I thought you’d grow out of this pettiness with time… Tsk.” Mrs. Fisher clicked her tongue in disapproval and walked away. Margot, fuming, stared daggers at the spot where Brianna had stood.

She had never liked Brianna. Playing the pitiable and virtuous role while manipulating the madam into favoring her, avoiding all hard work—that irked Margot to no end.

Wearing those pretty clothes, traveling to the capital, and taking expensive train trips that Margot could never afford on her salary… And then there was Florian, who, during his stay for convalescence, spent all his time with that girl. It must have been Brianna who had made the first move.

“Hmph, she’s nothing without the madam. That old lady won’t live forever,” Margot muttered as she picked up the laundry basket.

Margot had long suspected that there was something secretive between Brianna and Dowager Countess Linares. For Brianna to travel alone to the capital, it had to be something significant, yet she wouldn’t say a word about it, making it all the more suspicious.

“I’ll find out what it is, just you wait,” she vowed to herself.

***

When Brianna entered the room, Dowager Countess Linares was sitting by the window, basking in the sunlight. The afternoon rays gently fell on her closed eyelids, suggesting she might have dozed off.