Reasons for Contract Marriage - Chapter 19

Brianna pondered Leona’s words deeply. Could it really be possible? Could her heart already have moved towards someone else without her realizing it?

“Shall we spend some time at our villa?” Leona suggested after a moment.

Brianna looked at her intently. “Do you mean the villa by the lake?”

The villa by the tranquil lake was a place Leona often used. It was so cherished by her that most of her works were created there.

“Yes, now that Thanksgiving is over, let’s go before it gets colder. We’ll relax away from people. We’ll read, knit, fish… Yes, I’d love to have your grilled fish again.”

A bright smile spread across Brianna’s face. “I would love that. I’ll start preparing right away.”

***

Under the sparkling chandelier, numerous men and women twirled around the ballroom, their movements reflecting the glittering lights above.

It was a rare ball hosted by the Carlisle family, which meant that Lucius, as a member of the family, had a duty to be present. In other words, he couldn’t leave even if he wanted to.

After fulfilling his obligations by dancing with all the designated partners, Lucius finally felt a sense of relief as he held a glass of champagne. His indifferent gaze wandered to the young couples dancing in the center of the ballroom.

Their practiced smiles, meticulously calculated manners, and formulaic greetings, all in the fervent search for suitable marriage partners, felt particularly tiresome tonight. He envied Florian, who had used his thesis as an excuse to avoid attending.

As he sipped his champagne, a noble couple approached him.

“Lucius, it’s been a while,” the middle-aged man greeted first, extending his hand. It was Count Kirchner, a friend of his late father and a supporter of the Carlisle Duchy.

Lucius shook his hand with a polite smile. “It’s been a long time, Count Kirchner.”

“I rarely see you at these gatherings. I know your studies keep you busy, but you should make more appearances.”

“School life has been quite demanding,” Lucius replied.

The Count laughed heartily, as if he’d heard something amusing. “I heard you topped your class again. What an achievement!”

“You’re too kind.”

“Let’s skip the formalities for now. I wanted to introduce my family to you today. You already know my wife, of course.”

Countess Kirchner smiled warmly, fanning herself lightly as she nodded. Lucius returned the gesture with a slight bow.

“And this is my daughter. She made her debut this year.”

A girl who had been quietly listening stepped forward gracefully. She was strikingly beautiful, even among the other young ladies at the ball. Her golden hair shimmered like light, and her porcelain skin added to her ethereal presence. She bowed her head shyly, though the angle was carefully calculated to make her neck appear long and delicate.

Lucius bent slightly and extended his hand to her. “It’s an honor to meet you, my lady. I am Lucius Carlisle. May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?”

Reciting the scripted lines felt almost automatic, but it suddenly reminded him of a late summer day when he had wandered around a train station square, asking similarly scripted questions to women with brown hair in search of one particular woman. His mind filled not with the golden glow before him but with the vivid turquoise amidst the dusty haze of that memory.

The girl placed her fingers delicately on his hand. “It’s an honor to meet you as well. I am Adelheid Kirchner.”

When Lucius kissed the back of her hand, a blush spread across Adelheid’s cheeks.

The Count, watching with satisfaction, spoke up. “I know it’s rude to interfere with the affairs of young people, but would you do me the favor of dancing with my daughter? Adelheid has been looking at you longingly all evening.”

“Father!” Adelheid chided, her cheeks flushing deeper as the Count chuckled.

“Oh dear, I’ve made a blunder. I suppose I’ll be in trouble with my daughter when we get home. What can I do?”

His playful remark was meant to elicit sympathy and persuade Lucius to comply, knowing well that Lucius rarely initiated a dance with the ladies.

Count Kirchner was a significant figure in the Noble Assembly, a council for the nobility. His wife was also well-connected in high society and maintained a close friendship with Lucius’s mother. Even without these connections, it wouldn’t do to embarrass a young lady who had just debuted in society.

Lucius responded with a warm smile. “Lady Adelheid, would you do me the honor of this dance?”

As they took to the center of the ballroom, all eyes turned to them.

“They look quite good together, don’t they?”

“A handsome man and a beautiful woman will always draw attention.”

“Do you think the Kirchner family is finally securing a marriage alliance with the Carlisle family?”

As the music played and they began to dance, Adelheid gently placed her hand on Lucius’s shoulder and spoke softly. “Thank you for accepting my father’s request. He isn’t usually so abrupt, so it surprised me as well.”

“It’s nothing. The Count seems to care for you deeply.”

Her crystalline laughter echoed around them, a sound that suggested she had never known sorrow. “That’s right. My siblings and I have always been showered with our parents’ love. I’ve heard the Carlisle family is also very close-knit. Is that true?”

“It is,” Lucius replied, a genuine smile briefly touching his lips.

Adelheid watched him with a dreamy gaze and whispered, “Actually, at first, my father hoped I would catch the Duke’s eye. But I immediately told him I wasn’t interested. Oh, please don’t misunderstand. It’s not because of the Duke’s lame leg…”

“Lady Kirchner, you are still young, so it’s understandable.”

The Duke of Carlisle was seven years older than Lucius, making him nearly a decade older than Adelheid. While not unheard of, such an age gap would indeed be daunting for a sixteen-year-old girl.

“Even if there were other reasons, it wouldn’t matter. Your own feelings are what’s most important.”

She smiled brightly. “Exactly. My father thinks a title is important, but it doesn’t matter much to me. To me, Lord Lucius is far more impressive and charming. Oh! What am I saying?”

Realizing she had spoken too forwardly, Adelheid blushed. “I’m sorry. I don’t usually make such slips, but today I keep…”

“It’s quite alright. I should thank you for such kind words.”

She looked at him with eyes full of admiration. “You are truly kind, Lord Lucius.”

Then, almost shyly, she added, “It’s embarrassing to say this first, but could you possibly spare some time for me in the future? I’d love to take a walk together on a nice day.”

Lucius realized it was time to draw a boundary. If he wasn’t careful, he might find himself strolling through a park with this girl under the watchful eyes of many.

“I’m sorry. With graduation approaching, it’s been difficult to find any free time. In fact, I haven’t seen much of my family lately.”

In truth, Lucius had been spending most of his time at school, only coming to the Carlisle estate to sleep. He was devoting all his time to studying and physical training. While he was genuinely busy, it was also a way to avoid thinking about someone.