Reasons for Contract Marriage - Chapter 48

“Oh? What’s that? Clothes?”

Margot approached with interest when she saw the boxes Brianna was holding.

“Wow, the boxes look really fancy. These seem really expensive. How did you afford something like this?”

Without asking, Margot opened the lid of one of the boxes. The moment the white silk fabric was revealed, Brianna swatted her hand away.

“Don’t touch it.”

Margot glared at her with eyes full of fury, as if she was ready to hit her.

“What was that attitude? That’s really rude.”

“I just don’t want you touching my things.”

“Why? Because I stole something once? You think I’ll steal again?”

“I never thought that.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! You were totally thinking that just now!”

“Did it never occur to you that it’s wrong to touch other people’s belongings without permission?”

“I was just curious and wanted to take a look. Did I steal it? Did I break it?”

“Margot, you’re the one who asked me to keep your past a secret. So, I haven’t said a word. But you’re the one talking about it so openly. What would happen if someone had heard what you just said?”

Margot clamped her mouth shut, clearly at a loss for words.

“I’ll say it again: I’ll stay out of your business, so stay out of mine. Don’t talk to me again.”

Brianna entered her room and shut the door in Margot’s face. She could hear angry mutterings through the door, but Brianna completely ignored them and didn’t respond.

Once it grew quiet outside, Brianna began to open Florian’s gifts one by one.

In the first box was a white silk dress. The full skirt was embroidered with silver thread, sparkling like a handful of stars scattered across the night sky.

Florian had insisted that since it was her first ball, she needed to wear the most beautiful and extravagant dress, and he had chosen this one from many options. The boutique owner had also contributed, pointing out that this was the most valuable and beautiful white dress they had.

Brianna held the dress up to herself and looked in the mirror.

“This feels like too expensive of a gift…”

She had been too tired to argue and just accepted it at the boutique, but now she could tell that it was quite costly. The intricate embroidery alone must have taken countless hours to complete.

Still, wearing this dress would make it easy for Florian to find her among the masked crowd. After all, he had picked it out himself.

“But will I be able to find you? If we’re wearing masks, I won’t be able to see your face.”

When she had asked him that question before they parted, Florian had responded confidently.

“I’ll find you. Don’t worry. I’ll recognize you right away!”

Brianna smiled to herself and folded the dress back into the box.

After the graduation ceremony, she planned to tell him about the inheritance passed down to her by Madam Leona. She had originally intended to wait until he was fully independent from his parents, and now seemed like the right time.

If he really did end up leaving his family’s estate, she hoped that money would help him.

***

“…Adel?”

Adelheid, lost in thought, looked up at the sound of someone calling her name.

“Oh, Mother. Did you call me?”

The countess lowered her embroidery hoop to her lap and gazed at Adelheid. “You’ve been distracted for a while. Did something happen with Lucius today?”

After returning home, the two had been embroidering together. The countess had recently begun giving her bridal lessons, saying Adelheid needed to learn more before marriage.

Although Adelheid found it difficult to stay focused on one task for long, she was quite good at embroidery. But today, she couldn’t seem to concentrate at all.

“No, nothing happened. Lucius has been very kind to me lately.”

“For someone who’s been treated kindly, you don’t look very happy. What’s going on?”

Adelheid bit her lip at her mother’s concerned question. “I think Lucius doesn’t love me.”

In the end, Adelheid confessed her worry.

“But I want him to love me.”

At first, she had desired him because she wanted to possess him. But once she had him, she found that what she really wanted was his heart. Knowing that his kindness was hollow, she no longer found any joy in it.

The countess sighed deeply, as if she had expected this. “Adel, don’t ask for love from your husband. You’ll only make yourself unhappy.”

Adelheid flared up a little at that. “Why?”

Why not? Why shouldn’t I ask for love? I love him so much.

“I’ve told you before. The greatest life a woman can have is to become the wife of the highest-ranking man. That’s why I aimed to make you the Duchess of Carlisle. That title will fulfill your desires.”

The countess threaded the golden silk through the fabric as she continued, “Men, whether powerful or not, always have complicated relationships with women. Even if they say they love you at first, they soon grow bored and start seeking other women. That’s just how men are. So, women who long for love from their husbands are bound to be miserable. It’s better to enjoy a position that won’t change, no matter what.”

The countess, seeing that Adelheid still wore a gloomy expression, added in a comforting tone, “Lucius isn’t so bad, though. It was your insistence that made him your match, but now I think it worked out for the best. A man with a cold heart is better as a husband than one with a warm one.”

“What do you mean?”

“A man with a cold heart isn’t interested in love. Such a man values responsibility and duty over emotions. So, while he won’t love you, he also won’t seek out other women. Isn’t that enough?”

“Are you sure? That he won’t love anyone else?”

“Of course. How could he love another woman when he has someone as beautiful as you?”

The countess laughed and affectionately stroked her daughter’s cheek.

“So be confident.”

Adelheid wanted to believe her mother’s words.

But.

She recalled what had happened in the carriage earlier. The strange look in Lucius’ eyes as he gazed at another woman.

“What do you think of Michael’s tutor?”

“Why are you asking about the tutor all of a sudden?”

“Michael seems to be very fond of her.”

The countess thought for a moment, then nodded. “She’s quite skilled. Michael is studying harder than before. I’m satisfied.”

“She said she’s connected to the Carlisle family, right? Do you know exactly what her relationship is?”

“The Dowager Duchess told me that Lucius once brought her to the Carlisle estate because of a friend.”

“A friend?”

“Florian Robert, of course. He and Lucius are close. It seems they bonded while Florian spent some time in Harzen as a child. The tutor came to the capital on an errand for the late Countess Linares, and that’s how she ended up at the Carlisle estate. The Dowager Duchess said she was impressed with her after talking with her.”

So, she’s more connected to Florian Robert than to Lucius.

As Adelheid pondered this, the countess continued, “Now that I think about it, that tutor seems to have a talent for charming people…”

“What do you mean?”

“Your father mentioned recently that the tutor had something to do with Drevis’ investment in the theater.”

“Theater investment?”

“The La Fenice Theater.”

Adelheid felt an inexplicable sense of unease.

“She had a recommendation letter from the Drevis family. Apparently, they met through business related to the theater, and that’s how she got the letter. That also led Mr. Drevis to consider investing in the theater.”

Adelheid finally understood why the tutor had seemed vaguely familiar when they first met. Now she realized that the tutor resembled the woman she had seen in the box opposite hers at the opera. The hair color, the overall silhouette, the feeling—it all matched.