Reasons for Contract Marriage - Chapter 47

As expected, Lucius rode beside her, making sure that she didn’t ride too fast. Adelheid felt ecstatic knowing that all of this man’s attention was focused on her. The golden hair that she had carefully brushed that morning fluttered beautifully in the wind, without being disheveled.

Soon, they reached the lakeshore and stopped for a moment. As they gazed at the sunlight shimmering on the water, Adelheid whispered, “It seems like spring is coming soon.”

Adelheid shifted her gaze to him with a playful smile. “When spring arrives, you will graduate, won’t you, Lucius?”

“That’s right.”

“Then, shouldn’t you be asking me to be your partner for the graduation ball? There’s only about a month left.”

In fact, Adelheid had been waiting for him to bring it up. However, whether due to his recent busy schedule or simply forgetting, he hadn’t mentioned anything about it, so she decided to bring it up first.

“I’ve already been agonizing over which design of dress to wear that day.”

At the graduation ball of the Bastogne Academy, it was customary for graduates to wear the school uniform, while the women invited as partners wore white dresses. Since everyone would be wearing similar clothes, it took more effort than usual to stand out. After all, one had to look as beautiful as possible to catch people’s eyes.

“But you haven’t said a word about it… I started to wonder if you were planning on taking someone else as your partner.”

When Adelheid pouted, Lucius comforted her with a gentle voice. “I apologize. I should have mentioned it first, but it slipped my mind. If you don’t mind, would you be my partner for the graduation ball?”

Finally hearing the long-awaited invitation, Adelheid opened her mouth to quickly say yes.

“But I heard that this year’s graduation ball will be a masquerade.”

“What?”

Adelheid unintentionally raised her voice at the end in surprise. A masquerade?

“I heard recently that it’s been decided.”

Adelheid had attended a few masquerades in the past. It had been rather fun to talk and dance with others without revealing her face, but that was only when she had wanted to hide her identity.

At the Bastogne Academy graduation ball, she didn’t want to hide. She had been looking forward to dancing with Lucius in front of everyone, but now, of all things, it was a masquerade.

“Oh…”

Seeing Adelheid’s disappointment, Lucius quietly tried to console her. “It seems that a masquerade isn’t to your liking. If you don’t want to go, that’s fine. I don’t have to attend either…”

“No! I’ll go!” Adelheid shouted immediately. “It’s been a while since I’ve been to a masquerade. It sounds fun.”

Yes, what does it matter if people don’t recognize me? I get to be with him. I can’t miss this chance. Maybe this time, we’ll grow even closer.

Come to think of it, maybe it’s better this way.

When people wear masks, they tend to be more honest with each other.

Lucius had always treated Adelheid with the utmost courtesy. He smiled at her, listened to her every word, and did everything she asked. His behavior was that of an exemplary fiancé.

At first, she liked that, but over time, Adelheid began to feel dissatisfied.

Sometimes, she wished he would throw aside his gentlemanly manners and desire her passionately. To embrace her, kiss her deeply, and go beyond that.

But so far, he hadn’t even kissed her on the cheek, let alone her lips. The most he had done was leave a kiss on the back of her hand.

But maybe this time, our relationship will change.

“Instead, may I accompany your family to the graduation ceremony? I’d like to greet the Dowager Duchess after a long time, and I want to celebrate your graduation together. You’re graduating as the top student, after all.”

And if we attend the graduation ceremony together, people will know that I’m his partner anyway.

Lucius replied in a kind voice, “Of course.”

After finishing their ride, Lucius escorted Adelheid back to the count’s estate.

Perhaps because she hadn’t ridden in a while, or because she was tired, Adelheid dozed off briefly in the carriage. When she opened her eyes, the carriage had already entered the estate grounds.

Sitting in the front seat, Lucius hadn’t noticed she had woken up. He rested his chin in his hand as he gazed out of the carriage window.

As Adelheid was about to speak to him, she noticed something unusual in his expression. His eyes, which were usually expressionless even when he smiled, now seemed warmer, and his lips were softly relaxed.

I’ve never seen that look before.

What could he be looking at?

Adelheid turned to look out of the window. There stood a woman carrying several boxes, probably returning from an errand. Adelheid recognized her face. She was Michael’s new tutor.

Although the carriage passed by her, his gaze remained fixed in place, not moving. Eventually, the woman turned toward a side entrance, and the strange light that had filled his eyes slowly faded, as if his soul had left him.

What was that just now?

It felt as though she had seen something she wasn’t supposed to. When he turned his head, Adelheid quickly shut her eyes again. Soon, the carriage came to a stop, and his gentle voice called her name.

“Miss Adelheid, we’ve arrived at the estate.”

Adelheid slowly opened her eyes. The unfamiliar expression she had just seen on him was gone, replaced by the usual Lucius she knew.

“You must have been tired from the ride. It is quite a physically demanding activity.”

“Yes, it seems so…”

With his help, Adelheid descended from the carriage. He held out his hand to the maid waiting with a shawl. Taking the shawl from the maid, he went behind Adelheid and draped it over her shoulders himself.

“If possible, use a compress before going to bed. Otherwise, you’ll have a hard time tomorrow with muscle pain.”

Kind, thoughtful words. Anyone who heard them would think that Lucius was deeply attentive to Adelheid.

But Adelheid now understood that this was all there was. His care was full of kindness, but there was no sincerity behind it. And even less so, love.

She had also come to realize that even if they married and spent years together, it would always be the same. He would never allow her to step even slightly into his world.

“…Yes.”

Adelheid forced a trembling smile.

In truth, she wanted to sit down and cry right away.

***

After parting with Florian, Brianna headed back to the count’s estate, carrying the gifts he had bought her.

As she walked through the garden, she saw a carriage approaching through the front gate. The exterior of the navy-painted carriage bore the image of two eagles soaring toward the sun. It was the familiar emblem of the Carlisle family.

If I go in now, I’ll surely run into him…

Lucius had visited the count’s estate several times, but he and Brianna had never crossed paths. To be more precise, whenever he visited, Brianna made sure to stay in her room. Even without the head maid’s warning, Brianna thought it was best not to get involved with him anymore.

While Brianna hesitated, the carriage carrying Lucius and Adelheid passed right by her. At that moment, she felt as if a gust of wind had pierced through her heart.

Brianna resumed walking. It would be better to take the back door and head straight to her room rather than going through the front entrance.

The servants were all gathered at the entrance to greet Lucius and Adelheid, which allowed Brianna to quietly slip into the estate. As she headed toward her room, she happened to run into Margot, who was cleaning.