Reasons for Contract Marriage - Chapter 58

When the parrot spoke, Brianna covered her mouth in amazement, and Michael, who stood beside her, did the same.

“Wow! It talks just like a person!”

Michael had been pestering her to take him to see the talking birds for some time, and today he finally got his wish, accompanied by Brianna.

Countess Kirchner had been extremely busy preparing for the engagement ceremony lately, so she had decided to send her son out for the day, knowing he would keep begging to see the birds if he stayed home.

Inside the antique shop, aside from the two parrots, there were many old items scattered around. The parrots fluttered from perch to perch, loudly chattering whatever they pleased.

“If you’re here, don’t just look around—buy something!”

Brianna and Michael burst into laughter at the parrot’s remark.

“This is perfect timing. I need to buy a gift for a friend.”

Brianna had decided to buy a gift for Florian. She hadn’t managed to get him a present after receiving her first paycheck, and now that she had been given a ring, she wanted to give him something in return.

“I’ll be picking out a gift, so why don’t you play with the birds for a while?”

Michael responded cheerfully with a bright “Yes!” He was already fully absorbed in stroking the soft feathers of the parrot perched on his shoulder. Brianna watched him affectionately for a moment before turning to browse the shop.

But what should I buy?

Brianna found herself deep in thought. At first, she had considered giving Florian a watch, just like her mother had once gifted her father. But Florian already had an expensive gold watch.

Other ideas came to mind, but either he already had them, or they were far beyond her budget.

Then, Brianna remembered the brooch Lucius had given her at the ball.

A brooch seemed like a good choice—affordable and something Florian could wear on his clothes. Being worn close to the heart, it would carry a special meaning.

There were several brooches on display, and Brianna began selecting ones that might suit Florian.

Now that I think about it, is it really okay for me to keep that brooch?

On the night of the ball, she had been too overwhelmed to examine it closely, but when she looked at it at home, the red stone embedded in it seemed to be a ruby.

The brooch felt far too valuable for her to keep, and she wanted to return it, but returning a gift that had been explicitly given was considered impolite. Moreover, with Lucius preoccupied with his engagement and preparations for deployment, meeting him to return it seemed unlikely. Asking someone else to pass it on also felt awkward.

What should I do?

As Brianna agonized over this, Michael’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Teacher! Have you chosen a gift?”

He walked over, having had his fill of playing with the parrot. Brianna quickly picked up a leaf-shaped pendant from the display. It seemed like it would complement any outfit nicely.

After paying for the pendant and having it gift-wrapped, the two headed to a café she had visited once before. Michael had been begging to return for the delicious chocolate he had enjoyed last time.

“Mmm! It’s so good!”

Michael took a big bite of chocolate and looked as though it might melt in his mouth any second. Watching him, Brianna couldn’t help but feel happy as well.

“Do you like chocolate that much?”

“Yes, it’s so delicious! Teacher, you should try some too!”

Brianna popped a small piece of chocolate into her mouth. The sweet flavor melted away, bringing a smile to her face.

Michael, with his cheeks puffed up like a squirrel, glanced at the gift-wrapped package beside Brianna.

“Is that the gift for that friend you mentioned before?”

Remembering how Brianna had once said she was meeting a friend, Michael asked, and Brianna nodded.

“Yes, that’s right. I owe that friend a lot, so I wanted to give him something nice.”

“You must really like that friend, don’t you, Teacher?”

Brianna smiled brightly. “Of course I do.”

“My sister really likes Lucius, too. But I don’t know why she’s been so angry all the time lately.”

Indeed, Adelheid had been unusually irritable recently. It made things uncomfortable for Brianna as well.

“An engagement should be something good for her, so why does she seem upset?”

Why indeed?

Brianna cautiously answered, “Maybe she’s worried because Sir Lucius is leaving for war after the engagement.”

“Oh, is that it?”

Michael nodded as if that made sense.

“That’s why you should comfort your sister, stay close to her, and stop teasing her so much.”

“Yes!”

Michael answered cheerfully before focusing on his food again, and Brianna quietly watched him.

It’s amazing how different these siblings’ personalities are.

Apart from being occasionally mischievous, Michael had a kind and easygoing personality. He got along well with the servants and was well-liked wherever he went.

Adelheid, on the other hand…

Brianna lowered her gaze, lost in thought.

Was it really Adelheid who had orchestrated what happened at the ball? If it was, why would she do such a thing?

“Brianna, I have something to tell you.”

Before they parted that day, Florian had spoken to her.

“The reason I was late to the ball—it was because of Miss Adelheid. Look at this. Doesn’t this outfit look a bit big on me?” Florian spread his arms, pointing out how the shoulders and sleeves seemed slightly oversized.

“This isn’t my outfit. I borrowed it from a friend.”

Then Florian explained everything that had happened before the ball, including how the juice spill seemed deliberate and how the claim that his formal attire had been lost felt like a lie.

“That’s why I was late. It took longer than expected to find someone who wasn’t attending the graduation ball.”

“Why would she do such a thing?”

At Brianna’s question, Florian chuckled, propping his chin on his hand as he answered, “Probably because she’s jealous of me.”

“What?”

“She’s bothered by how close I am to Lucius. It’s a warped sense of possessiveness, a misplaced obsession. Even if I’m another man, she can’t stand anyone being near him.”

Florian laughed heartily, finding the whole situation amusing. But Brianna couldn’t bring herself to tell him about her own experience.

She knew that the moment she mentioned what had happened to her, the smile on Florian’s face would vanish, replaced by anger. Besides, she wasn’t even sure that Adelheid was the one backing Margot.

And if Florian were to ask, “Why would Adelheid treat you like that?” she wouldn’t have an answer.

Thankfully—or perhaps unfortunately—nothing significant had happened since. Margot avoided Brianna whenever they crossed paths, and while Adelheid’s gaze toward her remained cold, she hadn’t called her out or caused any further trouble.

For now, it seemed all she could do was wait and see.

Brianna smiled as she noticed that Michael had finished his plate.

“Shall we head back now?”

***

Michael, who had gone out with his governess, returned home alone. He seemed to be in a good mood as he entered the drawing room, his face beaming.

“Why did you come back alone? Where’s your tutor?”

At Adelheid’s question, Michael babbled an answer. “She dropped me off and then went to meet her friend. She bought a gift for her friend today, and she said she wanted to give it to them right away.”

Friend?

It was probably Florian Robert.

“Mother! The parrot was amazing—it talked so well!”

While Michael excitedly told Countess Kirchner about his day, Adelheid quietly sipped her tea.

Recently, she had been contemplating how to deal with Brianna Everett. She realized that if she acted clumsily like last time, things might backfire, so this time, she intended to approach the situation more carefully.

“Michael, do you like parrots that much? Should I buy you one?”

At the countess’s suggestion, Michael shook his head. “No, Teacher said parrots are sensitive animals, and it’s not good to keep them carelessly.”