chapter 45
I smiled, secretly pleased that the negotiation had been concluded so easily.
“It seems we just need to sign the contract.”
At those words, Mille flinched and looked up at me as I stood. I reached out my hand toward her for closure.
“A… a contract? Do we have to sign a contract?”
“You are a Saint. And I am the daughter of a Count. There is a clear imbalance of power between us due to our social standings. You may not be able to overcome that difference, but you must acknowledge it and sign a contract to protect me.”
There was a brief pause, then Mille’s eyes slowly blinked. She straightened up, assumed a proper stance, and suddenly stood upright.
Grasping my hand tightly with both of hers, Mille bowed her head. Whistler reached out as if to stop her, but it was already too late.
“Yes, y-yes! If you give me the contract, I can sign it r-right away!”
I furrowed my brows at her recklessness.
Was it not that she had been complicit with Whistler, but rather that she was deceived by his lies?
Mille radiated an easygoing vibe that could almost make one forget the earlier tension. If Herace had a flexible ease, Mille had an innocent, carefree ease.
But could she really have been deceived?
She must have known I was Whistler’s girlfriend.
A memory of a penpal friend briefly flashed in my mind—she had mentioned how, having just come from the countryside, she didn’t have many friends.
Still, that uneasy premonition didn’t entirely fade.
Timing matters. When I caught Mille and Whistler kissing, she might not have known yet. But soon after, she would have realized that Whistler had a girlfriend—and that girlfriend was me. She would also have known that despite our public relationship, he had kissed her. Recent articles had even mentioned our past relationship, so there was no way she could be unaware.
Whistler was a highly famous figure. Even when I wasn’t active, almost no noble was unaware of my name. She might have been ignorant immediately after coming from the countryside, but she would have quickly recognized both my face and name.
Yet in Mille’s eyes, I saw not a hint of guilt. Other than a brief expression of regret for the recent incident, there was nothing.
Most decisively, I could find no trace of negative emotion toward Whistler in her gaze.
Has she gone mad in love?
There are people who, ordinarily, seem normal but who will forgive affairs or infidelity for love. Well, that’s one thing. Thinking again, such a person was still preferable to Whistler. At least there was a way to approach her.
Avoid the love triangle. Unlike with Whistler, Herace had no reason to betray me, so this was an issue I could manage easily.
We might even marry soon, so even if Mille develops a liking for Herace, she wouldn’t act rashly then.
Before Whistler could intervene, I spoke with emphasis.
“As a Saint, you hold the most honorable position in this empire. I trust that someone like you would not easily retract a spoken promise. Especially at a delicate time like this, you must be cautious.”
“That’s right. I agree.”
Whistler responded, his face tense, though I noticed the subtle change from my continued observation.
“Once the Saint signs the contract permitting me to act as the ‘honor attendant’ for you twice in public, it should be done.”
Saint Mille Shining and I, Filena Light, who until recently had been labeled a villainess—the temporary role of honor attendant was perfect for understanding Mille and improving my reputation simultaneously.
Its influence would naturally extend to me, and to Herace, who was increasingly in the public eye with me. Perfect.
That day, Whistler twitched his fingers at me several times, but sadly, there was no banana to give him. I wasn’t that idle.
The night before, I had spent late hours buying various reference books: Historical Proposals, The Art of Marriage, 100 Tips for Proposals, Experiences for Brides and Grooms-to-be. I avoided only the popular ones and also picked up some seemingly useful books after checking their tables of contents.
Clara was amazed when she saw my room filled with new miscellaneous items from early morning. She looked at me curiously.
“Miss, have you found someone to give you marriage advice? Or have you suddenly decided you need to get married in the next few years?”
“The first is wrong, the second is right.”
I put down the 100 Tips for Proposals I was reading and looked Clara straight in the eye.
“I’m thinking about getting married.”
“Then in five—”
“This month.”
“-yeaaah!!”
“That sounds weird, Clara.”
“Not in five years, you mean this month?!”
“The phrasing is really strange.”
“So not five years, not four, not three, not two, not one, but this month?!”
Though unintended, it sounded like a curse. I relaxed my furrowed brow and calmly said,
“I know how to count numbers, and I’m not saying it will be tomorrow. I said I want to do it this month.”
“Miss! No matter how freely Master and Madam raised you, humans can’t just fly like birds! It’s time to be ordinary like me!”
Clara paused, panting, then exhaled all the breath she had been holding and shouted,
“You’re not going to the jeweler just to buy a ring, are you?”
“You got it. It seems your judgment and deduction skills have improved after being my maid for so long. I praise you.”
Clara’s stunned face suggested she didn’t appreciate the compliment. I decided to share more exciting news beyond the wedding.
“Clara, when Herace and I marry, our influence will grow even more. Even after the wedding, our story will still be a hot topic, so we can continue to exert influence for some time.”
“I-I see…”
“Then, when we sell all the newspapers we’ve hoarded, we could become rich. Your wealth will increase soon enough too.”
“I-I see?”
Before I knew it, Clara’s expression had become as composed as mine.
“Master and Madam raised you freely, right? They never opposed your choices.”
“Yes. This time will be the same.”
“…You said you ‘want’ to marry, but have you heard the Duke of Grey’s response yet?”
“Not yet. That’s why I’m preparing thoroughly.”
“There are few humans who can beat a lady who prepares as meticulously as if going to war.”
Clara interlaced her fingers on her lap and met my gaze.
“Miss, soar like a bird—or a dragon. Don’t stay ordinary like me. I fully support this marriage.”
With so much money waiting for her, Clara could no longer remain flustered. Excited, we shared a satisfied smile.
“Miss, we’ve arrived.”
Before going to the jeweler, I had arranged to meet Herace at the Grey estate to check his ring size.
“I’m sorry. He didn’t wake up when I tried. I’ll guide you inside.”
The butler apologized and led me in. As I walked, I reflected on how long it had been since our last meeting.
Since the proposal, Herace and I hadn’t spoken much, nor exchanged letters.
Was he avoiding me? I thought briefly, but logically, there was no reason for him to do so.
Our discussion had revolved entirely around marriage, and he had expressed reluctance—but his reasoning wasn’t particularly persuasive.
