Reasons for Contract Marriage - Chapter 57

“If that’s the case, should I summon the servant who lost Florian’s formal attire and question him right now?”

“……”

As expected, Adelheid couldn’t answer. If someone from the Carlisle family personally interrogated that timid servant, he would likely confess everything out of fear.

Lucius, seemingly already expecting her silence, didn’t wait for a response. Instead, he took her hand and led her toward the center of the dance hall, whispering softly.

“Please don’t forget my warning next time.”

After that, Adelheid couldn’t remember how she managed to get through the dance. She was overwhelmed by the anger he had shown, terrified of handling someone so genuinely upset. Claiming she wasn’t feeling well, she left the ball early and returned home.

As soon as she arrived at the mansion, Adelheid summoned Margot.

“You called for me, Miss?” Margot approached with a smile. “Did you enjoy the ball? But why did you return so early…?”

“Did you do as I asked?”

Margot quickly nodded. “Of course. I tore the dress so it couldn’t be worn. When she saw the ruined dress, she was on the verge of tears.”

“And the tutor? Is she in her room now?”

“No, she wasn’t in her room earlier. Since today is her day off, she must have gone out…”

Smack!

Suddenly, a fiery slap landed across Margot’s face. It took a moment for Margot to realize what had just happened.

“M-Miss?”

“You stupid maid!”

Adelheid clenched her teeth and shouted, “Do you even know what I meant when I said to ruin her dress? How could you be satisfied with just destroying a piece of clothing and let her leave the house? You should have made sure she couldn’t go out at all!”

“Ah…”

At this point, Margot felt wronged. If that was the intention, why hadn’t Adelheid instructed her to keep Brianna from leaving in the first place?

“Get out! You’re useless!”

Margot was practically thrown out of the room. Adelheid glared at the closed door, breathing heavily.

It was clear that Lucius had left her again because of that woman.

How could this happen twice? She had been a thorn in her side from the very beginning!

“Just you wait. I’ll repay this debt,” Adelheid muttered with a twisted smile.

***

Erica Robert had been pacing anxiously around the room for a while now.

Earlier, she had attended a tea party where Baroness Wesley had shared unbelievable news. She claimed she had seen Florian with a woman who appeared to be a commoner. And the two had looked as if they were in a relationship.

Furthermore, the baroness firmly refused to mediate any further marriage arrangements for Florian. She said it was one thing for a man to have a mistress after marriage, but it was unacceptable for a man to have one before marriage. Erica had been so shocked she couldn’t even respond.

“What kind of woman has he been seeing?” Erica muttered, biting her lip.

Florian had never shown much interest in women before. She had always assumed that his disinterest in the marriage arrangements was simply due to a lack of care.

But now she realized it was because he had already been seeing someone else!

Just then, there was a knock at the door. A maid opened it and announced, “Madam, the young master has arrived.”

Erica swept out of the room, her skirts flying. Florian entered, looking as tired as ever.

Recently, he always seemed to come home in this exhausted state. He ignored his mother and headed for the stairs without so much as a greeting. He had been avoiding his father’s demands to help with the family business after graduation and rarely stayed at home anymore.

Erica called after him. “I need to speak with you!”

A short while later, Florian trudged back into the room. “I don’t know what this is about, but I’m tired. Can’t we talk tomorrow…?”

“Is there a woman you’ve been seeing lately?”

At her sharp question, Florian’s lips tightened.

“Baroness Wesley said she saw you with a woman recently. Who have you been seeing? Is that why you’ve been turning down the marriage proposals?”

Florian let out a small sigh, then looked his mother straight in the eye. “Yes, I’m seeing someone. I plan to marry her soon.”

“What?”

“I hope you and Father will give your blessing, but if not, it won’t matter. I’m going to marry her regardless.”

Erica felt her head spin. She had to fight to stay upright as she stared at her son. “Who is this woman? We’ll meet her first.”

If the woman turned out to be insignificant, Erica would do whatever it took—whether pulling her hair out or slapping her—until she drove her away from Florian.

Or perhaps, just maybe, it was all a misunderstanding, and the woman was from a decent family after all.

Erica clung to that hope.

“She’s a commoner, an orphan with no wealth to her name. Still want to meet her?”

“Florian!”

When her last hope crumbled, Erica couldn’t contain her shout, while Florian shrugged indifferently.

“So, you don’t approve. Well, that’s too bad.”

“Do you have any idea what kind of trouble our family is in?”

“I’m well aware. You gambled all our money on an investment that failed, and now the family is on the brink of ruin.”

“And knowing all that, you still want to marry a woman like that? Instead of trying to save the family?”

“She’s not ‘a woman like that,’” Florian retorted, his voice cold.

“She works harder than anyone, and she’s a far better person than either of you or I will ever be. So don’t speak about her that way.”

“Do you think we’ll accept some commoner into the family? Never!”

“Then I’ll leave the house.”

“…What?”

Erica’s mouth fell open in shock. Leave the house?

“I don’t need the title or the family’s money. I’ll give it all up.”

“You don’t know what you’re saying. You’ve been sheltered by this family your entire life. How do you expect to survive without a penny to your name?”

Florian smiled brightly. “Actually, I got a job recently. Isn’t that fortunate?”

Erica was left utterly speechless. “You… got a job?”

“War isn’t bad for everyone. A lot of places are in need of gunpowder experts right now. I’ve been going to work every day, learning the trade.”

Realizing that Florian had been preparing for this for some time, Erica was struck by just how serious he was.

When did this all start?

“I’m ready to leave whenever you want me to. Just let me know.”

With that, Florian left the room, leaving his mother stunned. Erica sank onto the sofa.

“Oh my goodness…”

Florian had been such an obedient child when he was younger. But ever since his return from Harzen, he had been behaving oddly, becoming more rebellious by the day. Now, he was outright defying his parents.

Most noble children, even if they strayed, still obeyed their parents unconditionally. They needed to, if they ever wanted to inherit their titles and wealth.

But Florian was willing to give all that up and leave the house. And it was clear that he meant it.

“I need to find out who this woman is,” Erica muttered quietly.

If she wasn’t careful, she might lose her only son. Her top priority now was to separate Florian from that woman.

***

Brianna couldn’t contain her amazement as she saw a parrot for the first time.

The bird’s vibrant feathers were far more vivid and beautiful than anything she had seen in picture books. And hearing it speak human words was astounding, no matter how many times it happened.

“Hello! Welcome to our shop.”