Reasons for Contract Marriage - Chapter 23

“I’ll eat with everyone else later.”

“That’s even better. If there’s anything specific you’d like to eat, just let me know. I’ll make it for you,” Mrs. Fisher said, gently patting Brianna’s head.

“Do you still think it’s your fault that the madam passed away?” Mrs. Fisher asked softly.

Brianna bit her lip hard, tears welling up in her eyes.

“If I had brought her here sooner…”

“That’s not it. She chose the place she wanted to be. She wanted you to be there in her final moments, rather than being surrounded by family she wasn’t even close to,” Mrs. Fisher reassured her.

Brianna wiped her eyes with her fingers and nodded. She hoped Mrs. Fisher was right, that the Dowager Countess had lived the life she wanted right up to the end.

“By the way, Master Florian is taking longer than expected. Must be the snow…” Mrs. Fisher muttered, looking out at the falling snow. Nearby nobles had already paid their respects, but there had been no visitors from the capital yet.

“Last time, the telegrams were delayed too. With the snow, the roads can’t be good,” Brianna said.

Mrs. Fisher, deep in thought, turned to Brianna. “Brianna, this might sound sudden, but what if you left here for the capital after the funeral?”

“What?”

“You’re educated. You could work as a tutor there. Master Florian would help you.”

It was indeed a sudden suggestion. Brianna blinked, unable to respond. Mrs. Fisher looked around to make sure no one else was nearby before speaking in a hushed tone.

“I’ve seen Master Franz lingering around your room several times. If that scoundrel causes trouble again, what will you do?”

Brianna gripped her cold cup tightly. Apparently, she wasn’t alone in her misgivings about Franz’s constant flirting.

Franz had a history of bothering maids in the castle. The maids were always the ones who ended up leaving.

“I’m telling you this because there’s no one else around. I’ve noticed the way he looks at you. He didn’t dare do anything because the madam was here, but now…”

With the formidable protection of the Dowager Countess gone, the castle could indeed be a dangerous place for Brianna, as Mrs. Fisher suggested. Who knew what might happen?

“During the funeral, he’ll behave because of all the people around, but after that, I’m worried. Think about it, and when Master Florian arrives, ask him for help.”

“Okay…” Brianna replied weakly.

Just then, the sound of a carriage arrived outside. Mrs. Fisher, peering out the window, exclaimed happily, “It’s the carriage from the House of Robert. Master Florian is here!”

***

By the time the Robert family’s carriage reached the Harzen estate, the snowfall had begun to subside. Florian gazed out at the snowy landscape. The snow-laden branches looked ready to snap under the weight, sparkling in the afternoon sunlight. The scene brought back old memories.

It was not long after he had first arrived in Harzen. A blizzard had hit that morning, so heavy that visibility was nearly zero. He had never seen such a sight in Bastogne, where snow was rare. The world, blanketed in brilliant white, had seemed wondrous to the young Florian.

Curious, he wandered alone through the snow-covered forest, marveling at the scenery. After a while, he decided to head back to the castle but soon realized the forest had transformed into an unrecognizable place under the snow.

His footprints had disappeared, and with everything covered in white, he couldn’t tell which way to go. He learned that day that darkness fell quickly in the forest. Trapped in the rapidly falling night, he shivered with cold and fear.

Am I going to die here?

Florian sat beneath a large tree, burying his head in his knees.

Would Mom and Dad even care if I died like this?

His parents had abandoned him shortly after his birth, treating him not as a child but merely as the heir to the family. They left him in the care of servants and paid him no mind. When he frequently fell ill due to his frail health, they sent him away to distant relatives under the pretext of recovery.

Maybe they wouldn’t care at all if I died here. They could just have another heir.

As he sank deeper into despair, a small light appeared in the distance like a miracle.

“Florian? Are you there?”

It was Brianna. When he shouted, “I’m here!” she trudged through the snow, knee-deep, toward him. Shining the lantern at him sitting by the tree, she let out a relieved sigh.

“Thank goodness. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Was it relief at being saved, or the fact that someone had desperately searched for him for the first time?

Tears streamed down his cheeks. Overcome with emotion, Florian began to sob. Brianna quickly set down the lantern and patted his back.

“Sorry, I took so long. It’s okay now. Don’t cry.”

That must have been when he started seeing Brianna as someone special. As he grasped the gloved hand she offered him, Florian made a promise to himself. She saved my life; I’ll protect her too.

Brianna had tied red ribbons to the trees she passed while searching for him. Following those markers, they soon reached the castle, where Leona enveloped them both in a warm embrace.

Over time, his resolve to protect Brianna grew into something more. She became increasingly beautiful as she grew older. Whenever she smiled at him, his heart would race wildly.

Brianna, do you know?

I’ll protect you. I want to share everything with you. I’ve loved you for a long time.

He had wanted to confess his feelings many times but could never muster the courage, knowing he was just a childhood friend to her, nothing more. He feared that a hasty confession might make her avoid him.

But now, his priority was to ensure she didn’t feel alone in the world. Now, he could tell her that if she allowed it, he would be by her side forever.

“What a mess the roads and weather are. If it weren’t for the inheritance issue, I’d never come to this backwater,” a voice filled with irritation broke his reverie.

Florian turned away from the window to look at his mother, Erica Robert, seated opposite him. Aside from their resemblance, they had nothing in common. The same was true for his father, sitting next to her.

The three people in the carriage were a family, but there was no sign of familial affection. To Florian, family was a more distant concept than strangers.

“Dear, we’re almost there. Just a little longer,” the Viscount said nonchalantly, to which the Viscountess’s voice grew sharper.

“Honestly, even at the end, she had to trouble us. If she had just handed over the inheritance sooner, we wouldn’t be going through this.”

“Exactly. She could have given it to us when we needed it,” the Viscount said, a smile forming on his face. “But at least she passed away now. I was worried we wouldn’t get the promised funds.”

“Indeed. Thank goodness for that.”

“So, bear with it a little longer. We’ll soon have a fortune.”

Florian burst into laughter. These people were something else.

To talk about someone’s death so casually, especially someone who had cared for their child. His laugh was filled with contempt, which Erica Robert quickly noticed.

“This business is important for you too. You’ll inherit everything eventually, so why are you so defiant?” she snapped.