Reasons for Contract Marriage - Chapter 140

Brianna buried her face in his chest and closed her eyes.

She finally understood why, though she had always felt calm and secure around Florian, being with this man always made her feel tense and somehow uneasy.

It was because she had been constantly suppressing her heart that kept trying to reach for him. Because she had resigned herself from the beginning, knowing he was someone she could never truly have, no matter how hard she tried.

The truth was, she had loved him for a very long time. Long before she ever accepted Florian’s proposal.

Ironically, she only realized this now, with so little time left before she would leave him.

“Brie…”

Before he could offer any words of comfort, Brianna kissed his lips. Just as he had always done, she silenced him with a kiss. Then she smiled brightly at him.

“Tonight, I’ll do well. I’m confident. So don’t worry.”

She hoped that before she left, she could give him one last, great gift.

***

The Night of the Patrons proceeded flawlessly. None of the unexpected mishaps she had feared occurred. Despite the large number of attendees, thanks to the well-planned layout and activities, there was no overcrowding in any one area.

Some guests skipped the party altogether and quietly appreciated the artwork in the gallery. Others had deep conversations with authors of their favorite novels. In various corners, impromptu performances took place—people played instruments, performed short plays, and even debuted original songs.

“The Duchess of Carlisle is quite capable. She has remarkable taste.”

Even those who had looked down on her could no longer deny her talent. The more perceptive guests could easily foresee that gatherings like this—where patronage and social interaction were combined—would soon become a major trend. It was an evolution of the highbrow salon culture previously admired. To keep up with the times, other noblewomen would soon begin hosting similar events.

“Limiting protégés to women also seems like a commendable initiative.”

It was no secret that countless male nobles used patronage as a pretext to demand sexual favors. And realistically, women had few other avenues to receive support. But if an official patronage culture like this became established, many of those darker aspects could be eliminated.

Noblewomen who had long suffered in silence due to their husbands’ mistresses welcomed this change even more. Official patronage prohibited private relations between patrons and their protégés. It also formally stated that anyone involved in scandalous conduct would be stripped of patronage rights. For the sake of their reputations, nobles could no longer use patronage as an excuse for affairs.

“Duchess of Carlisle.”

As Brianna was engaged in conversation with several guests, a voice called out to her. Lily approached with a bright smile.

“I’ve brought the person you mentioned before.”

Two women stood beside Lily. One was a modestly dressed middle-aged woman—clearly one of the artists participating as a protégé tonight. And beside her, a young woman with her head slightly bowed, appearing to be her assistant.

“Madam Rosenthal.”

“Ah, Madam Rosenthal. I’ve heard much about you from Miss Lily.”

Instead of waiting to be greeted, Brianna offered her hand first. Madam Rosenthal hesitated briefly but then reached out and returned the handshake.

A smile spread across Brianna’s lips.

“By chance, I came across an opera script you wrote, and I found it so intriguing that I just had to meet you. That’s why I asked Miss Lily to bring you. This place isn’t really suited for a long conversation. Why don’t we move somewhere else?”

After politely excusing herself from the others, Brianna led the way to another room. Once inside a quiet, empty space, she turned around.

Only three people were in the room—Madam Rosenthal, her assistant, and Brianna. Brianna’s gaze immediately locked onto Madam Rosenthal.

“Madam Rosenthal—no, Madam Bremer.”

Brianna’s lips effortlessly spoke in Kazakh. Smiling softly, she addressed the woman before her.

“I heard you are the lady most trusted and relied upon by Her Majesty the Empress.”

Madam Bremer had been sent by the Empress of the Kazakh Empire. With Lily’s help, she had disguised herself as an opera writer to converse without raising anyone’s suspicions. She hadn’t spoken a single word in the ballroom, so no one would have noticed that she was a foreigner.

Unlike earlier, Madam Bremer now offered a formal bow to Brianna. Then, lifting her head, she replied, “Yes. You may relay everything you wish to convey to Her Majesty through me.”

After briefly glancing around, she asked another question, “But where is the Duke of Carlisle?”

Her tone carried a low hint of displeasure. Naturally, she had expected to speak directly with the Duke, but finding only the Duchess here, she couldn’t help but feel offended. Even though she had seen firsthand tonight how influential the Duchess was, she was still not the official party to the negotiations.

“I was supposed to speak directly with the Duke…”

“You’ll meet the Duke shortly. But before that, please speak with me for a moment. I’m sure it will be helpful to the negotiation.”

“What do you mean, speak?”

“About how Her Majesty the Empress and Her Highness the Princess might overcome the crisis they will soon face.”

“…What are you talking about?”

Brianna turned her gaze to the young woman who had quietly kept her head bowed from earlier.

“From here on, we’ll be discussing rather confidential matters. Is it alright for that young lady to remain in the room?”

Madam Bremer glanced at her briefly, then nodded. “Ah… It’s fine. Her Majesty the Empress trusts her so deeply she would share all her secrets with her.”

“Then I’ll speak frankly. I believe it would be best to revisit the negotiation with the Duke of Carlisle from the beginning.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You demanded that, should the war end in defeat for the Empire, the Kingdom of Schwerin and neighboring nations sign a document recognizing the princess’s right to the throne. But in the end, that won’t actually benefit Her Majesty or the princess. In fact, it could put them in even greater danger. Frankly, I can only see it as a foolish decision.”

Madam Bremer immediately flared up. “A foolish decision? That’s rather harsh!”

“Then what should I call it? A weak will that seeks to preserve the imperial authority by relying on others’ mercy instead of achieving anything through one’s own strength? Is there a better word than ‘foolish’ for that?”

“I don’t even understand why I’m having this conversation with the Duchess. I will negotiate with the Duke of Carlisle as originally planned.”

She turned as if to leave the room that very moment. But then, the young woman who had quietly listened reached out and took her arm.

“Ah…”

Rather than shaking her off, Madam Bremer flinched and looked to her for direction. She seemed honored just to be touched by her. It was only then that Brianna realized this woman was no mere maid.

“I’m sorry I haven’t properly introduced myself, Duchess of Carlisle.”

The young woman stepped forward and stood before Brianna. Unlike earlier, she now met Brianna’s gaze confidently. She was much taller than Brianna. Her neatly tied hair shimmered with a deep navy hue, and her eyes were an even darker blue.

Because the princess of the Kazakh Empire had long lived in seclusion, few people knew her face. But childhood portraits had been made public, so Brianna had a general idea of her features.

The child in the portrait had looked adorably sweet with black hair and eyes like Lucius’s. But now, she could tell the color was not black, but rather a near-black shade of navy.

“Princess Astried.”

At Brianna’s address, the woman offered a captivating smile.