Reasons for Contract Marriage - Chapter 84

Lucius was released from detention sooner than expected, leading him to believe they had given up on finding the woman who had been with him. After all, with all the critical evidence in their possession, they must have decided not to waste their energy on unnecessary matters.

It wasn’t until he returned to the Duke’s estate that he realized it had been thanks to Brianna. The Dowager Duchess, who came to greet him, hugged him tightly and sobbed for a long while. Then, belatedly, she brought up the topic of Brianna.

“But, Brianna… is she all right? She must be in a very difficult position right now.”

Lucius, caught off guard by the sudden question, asked her back.

“What do you mean by that?”

Veronica, realizing he knew nothing, took a deep breath.

“Luce, it was thanks to Brianna’s testimony at Luton Castle that you were cleared of suspicion. She went there herself and testified that she had been with you that day. But Brianna is staying at the Kirchner estate right now. I’m worried she’s being humiliated there because of this incident. Luce?”

Without another word, Lucius bolted out the door. He climbed into the carriage he had used to come to the Duke’s estate and headed straight for Count Kirchner’s residence.

“Damn it!”

Inside the speeding carriage, Lucius muttered a low curse. He should have protected Brianna, or better yet, prevented her from going to Luton Castle in the first place. His complacency had resulted in her being hurt.

When Lucius arrived at the Kirchner mansion, the place was thrown into chaos. The Count, who happened to be at the mansion, was the first to greet him.

“Luce, I was just about to go see you after hearing you had been released.”

The Count pulled Lucius into a strong embrace. When he let go and patted Lucius on the shoulder, his face showed no signs of unease or embarrassment. It was the demeanor of a seasoned politician, one who had earned a reputation for being a cunning fox.

“Come to think of it, I shouldn’t address you so casually anymore. You’ll soon be the Duke of Carlisle, after all.”

The Count let out a hearty laugh just as the Countess and Adelheid entered the drawing room. Unlike the Count, they couldn’t hide their nervousness and hesitated as they approached Lucius. However, the Countess, a woman trained to maintain a composed expression all her life, soon managed to display a flawless, elegant smile.

“Lucius, I’m truly delighted to see you safe and sound. We’ve been so worried about you all this time…”

“Pardon my interruption.”

Lucius decided not to waste any more time on meaningless conversations with them.

“The reason I came here today is to take Miss Brianna with me. Where is she?”

The expressions of all three froze simultaneously. The first to speak was Adelheid.

“How could you! How dare you mention that woman’s name in front of me?”

“Adel…”

The Countess hastily tried to calm her agitated daughter, but Adelheid shook off her mother’s hand and approached Lucius.

“Shouldn’t you first apologize to me for your wrongdoing? How dare you behave so shamelessly after rolling around with that harlot while engaged to me…”

“I suggest you shut your mouth.”

It was an unusually rude remark for him. Even when he had cornered Adelheid before, Lucius had never attacked her in this manner. He had maintained his gentlemanly demeanor to achieve his goals. But now, he was threatening Adelheid with harsh words.

“If you say one more insulting word about her, I swear I will personally destroy you and your entire family, Adelheid.”

“Luce!”

The Count erupted in anger.

“What nonsense are you spouting! As Adel said, shouldn’t you be apologizing for your behavior first? Yet here you are, looking for that woman and even making threats!”

“Engaged, you say.”

Lucius let out a derisive chuckle.

“As far as I’m aware, you had already broken off the engagement between your daughter and me, Count.”

His reply left the Count speechless.

“Th-that…”

“To be precise, just before my release from detention, the engagement was annulled. Did you really think it would still be valid, Count Kirchner?”

“…That was indeed my mistake. I apologize.”

After a brief pause, the Count admitted his fault without resistance.

“It’s true that I wavered, thinking it would be difficult for you to be released. But now that you’ve returned safely, all is well, isn’t it? Let’s do this: we’ll overlook your misstep, and you can overlook mine just this once.”

“It wasn’t a misstep.”

“What?”

“My feelings for Miss Brianna are not a mistake, so I have no intention of overlooking your faults either. As of today, I am breaking off my engagement with Miss Adelheid.”

“Lucius!”

Ignoring the Count’s furious outburst, Lucius turned to the Countess.

“Now, please tell me where Miss Brianna is. No, bring her to me immediately.”

The Countess’s refined face twisted momentarily. Then, with a distorted smile, she spoke, “That woman is no longer here.”

She stared at his frozen expression and continued, “We sent her far away from this house long ago. By now, she should already have left Bastogne.”

Lucius immediately turned on his heel.

“If you leave like this, the ties between the Carlisle family and ours will be severed!”

The Count shouted at his retreating back.

“Do you think you can survive in this ruthless political arena after making an enemy of me? You’re nothing but a mere boy who has just come of age!”

Lucius slowly turned back. But it wasn’t because he was cowed by the threat.

“I previously warned your daughter to watch out for your behavior, but it seems you haven’t heard about it yet, Count.”

“What are you talking about…”

When Lucius’ gaze fell on Adelheid, her face turned pale. She remembered the time he had blackmailed her regarding the House of Commons.

“Weapons can be used differently depending on whose hands they are in. My brother was a pacifist who remained silent despite having weapons in his possession. But I am not. As a soldier, once a weapon is in my hands, I will strike down any foe without hesitation. So I suggest you refrain from making yourself my enemy.”

The Count quickly realized that Lucius held a critical weakness against him.

Lucius turned his back once more.

“Sir Lucius, wait…”

Adelheid tried to stop him, but Lucius had already left the drawing room.

Should I return to the Duke’s estate and wait for news from my informant for now?

As he walked toward the carriage, Lucius pondered. He had someone keeping an eye on Brianna, so he would hear from her soon.

The problem was if she had taken a train and traveled far away. He had instructed the informant to intervene only if she was in danger; otherwise, they were to simply observe. If she had taken the train, there was no way to stop her.

In that case, it might be better to head to the train station first. She might still be waiting for the train. But if she had already boarded…

At that moment, a sharp pain gripped his heart, as if his beating heart had turned into a hard stone.

“Ah…”

Clutching his chest, Lucius paused to catch his breath. The mere thought that Brianna Everett might have left him forever made it hard for him to breathe.

Just as he was about to resume walking, a maid approached him. She glanced around quickly before whispering to him.

“If you’re looking for Miss Brianna, she boarded a coach heading to Cassel an hour ago. By now, she should be passing through Burk. I know this because it’s the same coach I often take when going to my hometown.”

Leaving only those words, the maid swiftly disappeared. Lucius realized that the maid, who had been friendly with Brianna, had given him this information to help her.

“To Burk.”

Lucius got into the carriage and gave the driver his command. Although some time had passed, the coach carrying Brianna would be slow, as it had to pick up and drop off passengers along the way. By riding quickly, he could catch up within half an hour.

If I meet her again this time…

Lucius gazed out at the distant sky beyond the rushing scenery outside the window.

He had hoped for Brianna to find happiness with Florian. But now that it was no longer possible, he resolved not to back down any further.

From now on, he would do whatever it took to keep her by his side.