Reasons for Contract Marriage - Chapter 64

“Let go! Won’t you let go?”

Brianna released her grip and roughly shoved Margot away. Though Margot staggered back a few steps, she panted heavily but did not dare to approach as easily as before.

Brianna entered the room and closed the door behind her, intending to settle things before the estate became even noisier.

When Brianna did not shy away and stepped toward her, Margot flinched, then shouted sharply.

“Was it you? You’re the one who got me fired, aren’t you?”

Brianna answered calmly, “I won’t deny it. It probably was.”

“You…!”

“Margot, if you hadn’t tried to pull any tricks again, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“Tricks? I was just trying to tell the truth!”

“Is that so? Then I suppose it’s fine if I tell everyone how you were kicked out of the previous noble family for stealing. After all, that’s the truth, isn’t it?”

Margot chewed her lip, unable to retort. Instead, she glared fiercely at Brianna.

“You’re ridiculous. Acting all innocent, but you’ve got skeletons in your closet too!”

“What are you talking about?”

“That document… I still remember it.”

Margot twisted her lips into a sneer.

“The inheritance you got from the madam—it was supposed to go to the Robert family, wasn’t it? No matter if the madam gave it to you, do you think they’ll stay quiet knowing a mere maid intercepted their inheritance?”

It wasn’t something that should have gone to the Robert family at all, but explaining that to Margot was impossible without revealing Leona’s true identity as an author.

Brianna decided to skip the explanation.

“Florian already knows all about that.”

“…What?”

“I was just holding onto it temporarily so that Florian could inherit it directly without going through the Robert couple. You don’t need to worry about that.”

“…You’re giving it to him? You’re not keeping it for yourself?”

“I accepted it from the start thinking of it as his. Of course.”

Margot opened and closed her mouth a few times before falling silent. It seemed incomprehensible to her that someone would give away something they had received.

After losing all words, Margot stood there, stunned. The ferocity from earlier had long disappeared.

Brianna offered her old friend one last piece of advice.

“Margot, I hope you stop blaming others and look at yourself first. I say this as your old friend.”

After saying her piece, Brianna left, hoping this would truly be the last time she had to deal with Margot.

***

The red wine in the glass swirled. Lucius kept rolling the glass in his hand but barely took a sip.

“For someone who got engaged today, you look way too miserable.”

Florian’s question was met with only a bitter smile. There was no way to see his current expression as happy.

What a situation. It’s not like he could just tell Lucius to cancel the engagement.

Florian downed several glasses of wine in his stead. After all, Lucius wasn’t the kind of person to indulge himself in temporary pleasures like alcohol, so someone had to drink.

After the engagement, they had come to the Carlisle mansion to drink together. Originally, Florian had planned to celebrate the engagement, but instead, it felt like he had to comfort Lucius.

“Poor Princess Lucy. Forced into an arranged engagement for the family’s benefit—what a pity.”

If Daniel heard that, he’d flip out. His love for his brother was well-known, and he’d probably grab Florian by the collar, asking when he ever sold his brother off.

Of course, Florian wasn’t actually targeting Daniel with his words. He was trying to get a reaction out of Lucius by using the nickname “Lucy.” He even called him “Princess Lucy” this time, fully prepared to get punched, thinking maybe getting hit might make Lucius feel a bit better.

But even with such a provoking remark, Lucius barely reacted. That showed how bad his mood really was.

“What happened at the engagement?”

It couldn’t be that he was just upset about getting engaged to a woman he didn’t love.

Finally, Lucius opened his mouth. “What about you and Brianna? No problems?”

That deflection meant that something had definitely happened with Miss Adelheid, but he didn’t want to talk about it. Florian respected that and decided not to push further.

“It’s been a bit rough lately, but I’m planning to apologize next time we meet. To be honest, I’ve been feeling a bit insecure.”

Florian explained the inheritance Brianna had received. Hearing about such a large sum, Lucius didn’t seem particularly surprised.

“A man can’t just live off a woman’s money all his life. I’ve been trying to think of ways to make more money quickly.”

Lucius responded calmly, “Wouldn’t it be better to focus on what Brianna wants?”

“What Brianna wants?”

“Eating together, taking walks together, laughing together… Brianna probably wants that more than you bringing in a lot of money.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“She lost her father when she was young, so she hasn’t experienced that kind of ordinary life with her family. No matter how close Madam Linares was to her, there must have been limits. So be there for her and do the things you’ve missed out on.”

Listening to him, Florian felt a slight unease. It was similar to how he felt when Lucius had previously gotten mad at him for wanting to marry Brianna without any plans.

After a pause, Lucius continued, “If you have time, go watch fireworks with her.”

“Fireworks?”

“She never got to see them with her father. She’ll be happier seeing them with you.”

Florian looked at him with a dazed expression.

She was supposed to watch fireworks with her late father? Brianna had such a story?

How did Lucius know something Florian himself didn’t?

“Florian, are you staying over?”

Lucius put down the glass, barely touched. Since their academy days, it had become a habit for Florian to stay overnight when visiting the duke’s residence.

“Yeah.”

“Then I’ll tell them to prepare the guest room. I’ll bathe elsewhere, so use the bathroom here.”

“Thanks.”

After Lucius left, a maid came in carrying a bathrobe and other necessities.

“Young master, it’s been a while since you visited.”

The cheerful maid was familiar with Florian, who waved at her.

“It’s been a while, Betty. I’ll be imposing on you again.”

The maid laughed as she prepared the bath.

“It’s no trouble at all. You always just sleep quietly. Should I bring breakfast to your room tomorrow?”

“That’d be nice, thanks.”

“After your bath, please pull the bell.”

After she left, Florian entered the bathroom. Washing himself, he pondered over their earlier conversation.

The fireworks always took place the day before Saint Riccio’s feast day. Come to think of it, the last time Brianna had visited the capital, it overlapped with that date. He remembered the fireworks display the night before she returned to Harzen.

Did the two of them meet separately then?

He shook his head.

What am I thinking? Enough of this. Lucius must’ve just mentioned the fireworks when they met at the train station.

After finishing his bath, Florian walked to the bed, reaching for the bell cord hanging by the headboard. Just then, he noticed a handkerchief on the nightstand.

There was nothing unusual about finding a handkerchief within reach; Florian often kept his that way too.

What caught his attention was the paper flower decorating the nightstand beside it.

Florian began unfolding the paper. Once fully opened, he gently touched it. He recognized it instantly.

In Harzen, they used locally made paper. Brianna’s letters and envelopes always used the same paper. And now, that very paper was here in Lucius’s room.

Suddenly, Florian remembered.

Back when Brianna returned a handkerchief she borrowed from Lucius, she had wrapped it in this very paper.