Reasons for Contract Marriage - Chapter 90

Brianna hurriedly approached him. As she bent halfway down to pick up the ring, Lucius beat her to it, picking it up first. Brianna stared at the ring in his hand with anxious eyes.

Could he have figured out that it was a ring from Florian?

I should have taken it off earlier. She had grown so used to wearing it that she hadn’t even thought about it.

Lucius looked down at the ring for a moment before raising his gaze to Brianna. He opened his mouth to speak.

“Brianna, you just made a mistake.”

Her heart sank with a thud. He seemed angry. No matter how close a friend Florian had been, it was only natural for him to be upset that his soon-to-be bride was wearing a ring from another man.

“I’m sorr…”

Just as she was about to apologize, he continued, “In this situation, you should have asked me to pick up the ring for you. Or at least signaled me to do so with your eyes.”

“Ah…”

Only then did she remember. A lady never retrieves an item she drops herself. According to established etiquette, she would rely on an attendant or a gentleman nearby to do so.

Brianna gave a bitter smile. “I know that in theory, but it’s not something I’ve internalized yet. My body reacted on instinct.”

“There are those who use this as an opportunity for cruel pranks.”

“Pranks?”

“When someone from a different class mixes with nobles, they sometimes deliberately drop something in front of them to embarrass them. They laugh at the sight of someone bending down to retrieve it.”

Only then did Brianna realize how close she had come to making a serious mistake. If it hadn’t been Lucius but someone malicious, her act of bending down could have been mocked for years to come.

“You must never kneel before anyone from now on. Not even the royal family. And that includes me, your future husband.”

Hearing his next words, Brianna looked up at him in mild astonishment. The era was changing, with kings losing their authority and wealthy commoners rising to power. Yet society still regarded wives as their husbands’ possessions. Coming from someone like Lucius, who remained firmly entrenched at the center of power, these words felt unexpected.

“So next time something like this happens, act like a queen and command me. Tell me to pick it up for you.”

Lucius gave her a faint smile. Brianna smiled back.

“I’m not sure I can act like a queen, but I’ll try to direct you better next time.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Lucius took one of Brianna’s hands, placed the ring in her palm, and covered it with his own hand.

“The sun is too strong here. Let’s move to the shade and continue our conversation there.”

At his suggestion, Brianna nodded. Lucius picked up her fallen parasol and handed it back to her. The two linked arms and walked toward the tea table where cool drinks and refreshments were waiting.

***

“…So, Your Grace, what type of jewelry would you like?”

The jeweler’s question prompted Lucius to glance at the sketchbook on the desk. Drawn there was a piece featuring a teal gemstone resembling Brianna’s eyes, surrounded by transparent diamonds arranged like petals. It was a design that would suit her well.

All that remained was deciding on the type of jewelry to use this design for. When Lucius didn’t respond immediately, the jeweler made a suggestion.

“Rings are the most common choice for special gemstones like this. They’re easy to carry and wear every day. How about a ring?”

“…No, a necklace would be better. It will complement her wedding dress beautifully.”

At his decision, the jeweler exaggeratedly sighed.

“But Your Grace’s wedding is less than a month away, isn’t it? Even if we worked through the night, it wouldn’t be enough time. Necklaces, in particular, require much more work…”

“I’ll pay you a special bonus. Please make it happen.”

The jeweler smiled and nodded. “Yes, the timeline is tight, but I’ll make sure it’s completed before the wedding.”

After the jeweler left, Lucius instructed his staff to ensure no one disturbed him in the study. Left alone, he thought back to the events of the afternoon and let out a heavy sigh.

I never thought I’d feel resentment toward Florian.

The people around Lucius had always fallen into two categories: those who tried to win his favor and those who envied him. Florian had been neither. He had treated Lucius as he was, without any ulterior motives. That was why Lucius had cherished him, and his death had been devastating, like losing a part of himself.

But today, seeing the ring on Brianna’s finger, Lucius felt a surge of jealousy for the first time. Jealousy toward a man who was no longer alive. He realized that no matter how extravagant the jewelry he gifted Brianna, it could never surpass the simple gold ring Florian had given her.

Jealousy. Toward someone who’s already dead. Toward Florian, of all people.

“Hah…”

Lucius let out a hollow laugh. As his chest rose and fell with suppressed mirth, he suddenly imagined Florian’s figure before him. Bathed in the sunlight streaming into the room, Florian’s golden hair shone brightly. His sky-blue eyes, as clear as ever, gazed at Lucius without a trace of darkness. With his usual bright smile, he asked:

“Lucy, what’s wrong? Why are you so upset?”

Hearing that familiar voice after so long made Lucius’ heart ache. But he gritted his teeth and poured out his resentment.

“It’s because of you.”

Florian tilted his head.

“Me? Why? What did I do?”

“You died first. You left Brianna behind. It’s your fault.”

Lucius had proposed marriage to Brianna, claiming it was for practical reasons: her safety and his need for an heir. But in truth, it had been a lie. He felt as though he couldn’t live without her anymore. The heir was just an excuse.

“I won’t let her go now. Not even if you come back to life. Brianna is mine now.”

Despite Lucius’ harsh words filled with hostility, Florian’s expression remained gentle. He even seemed to smile faintly before vanishing from sight.

Staring into the empty space, Lucius pondered.

What did that last smile mean? It would have been better if he had gotten angry.

Lucius closed his eyes. With a long exhale, he ran his hand over his face.

***

Brianna gazed at the ring on her finger. Since Florian had given it to her, she had never once taken it off.

Lucius didn’t seem to know what it represented…

Resolving herself, Brianna removed the ring from her finger. The years of wearing it had left a faint mark, but she knew it would fade with time. She hoped her memories of Florian would fade the same way.

Clenching her hand into a fist, she bit her trembling lip. Then she looked up at the window. A crescent moon hung alone in the dark sky. In two weeks, when that crescent became a full moon, she would become Lucius’ bride.

Brianna knew this marriage held no true meaning. It stemmed from sympathy for a dead friend’s abandoned fiancée, a sense of responsibility for past events. That was all.

She had no illusions about this marriage lasting. Lucius had set bearing an heir as a condition for their union. Once she fulfilled that obligation, he might very well dissolve the contract. By then, the rumors surrounding them would have settled.

And if he requested a divorce, Brianna intended to leave without hesitation. The fact that he was willing to marry her to protect her was enough of a kindness. Even after the divorce, her title as a former Duchess would deter the Robert family from threatening her.

Brianna placed the ring in a jewelry box and closed the lid. While living as Lucius’ wife and the Duchess of Carlisle, she had no intention of opening it again. She resolved to do her best in her role.

Time passed quickly, and the wedding day arrived.