Episode 5

Unable to refute his words in the slightest, Violette lifted her teacup again. No matter how much she thought about it, this situation was utterly ridiculous.

Even if she did tend to be uninterested in everything and preferred to live her life as smoothly as flowing water, how on earth had her engagement and marriage been proceeding without her even knowing?

After thinking about something for a moment, Violette asked in a puzzled voice.

“Wait a minute, it says in the agreement that the wedding will take place 50 days after the engagement, doesn’t it? Then doesn’t that mean there are less than three weeks left?”

“That’s right.”

“Even if it’s a political marriage, how are you supposed to prepare a wedding in three weeks?! I’m the youngest daughter of House Rascal, for goodness’ sake. I don’t want a wedding that’s thrown together all haphazardly!”

“Ah, you don’t have to worry about that. Father is putting a great deal of effort into preparing the wedding because he says we can’t let ourselves be intimidated by the ducal family. Remember how the boutique staff came by recently and took your measurements?”

“Right.”

“They’re going to use those for your wedding dress. Father says he’ll have it custom-made in the most luxurious style. And the jewelry you picked out with Hurein before will be brought as wedding gifts, and the reason Sinya has been bringing you new desserts all the time lately is because they’ll be served at the wedding……”

Listening blankly to his words, Violette let out another deep sigh.

“In other words, everyone except me has been putting effort into preparing for my wedding.”

“That’s right! I even ordered the most expensive carriage in the Empire to give you as a wedding present. What do you think? Isn’t it reassuring to have an older brother like me?”

“Ah, seriously, please just shut your mouth. I’m already so distraught because I’ve been invited to dinner at the ducal family’s residence tomorrow……”

“It’s a chance to make a good impression on the duke and duchess. Since you’re going anyway, take a look at your husband’s face while you’re there. I’m genuinely curious what kind of person Young Duke Narsia is too.”

“Hmm, actually, I am curious about that too.”

Narsia Kegreiner, the Young Duke of Kegreiner, was a person about whom very little was known in society because he never participated in social events.

Even though he held the title of Young Duke, he rarely ever left the mansion. At one point, strange rumors had even spread that he was sickly, hideous, or afraid of people. The original novel had never contained any particular description of his appearance either, which only made him more intriguing.

Violette, who was naturally curious about everything, spent a moment imagining his face and pondering something before violently shaking her head.

No matter what happened, she had to prevent her marriage to him.

The gates of the Kegreiner ducal residence opened, and the carriage of House Rascal, gleaming with a black sheen, entered the estate.

Veronia Rascal, the eldest daughter of House Rascal and the sister with the greatest age difference from Violette, gazed out the window with keen interest. From her appearance to her personality, Veronia was the sibling who resembled Violette the least.

“The way the garden has been arranged feels quite different from what’s currently fashionable in the Empire. I heard the duke is also very interested in foreign culture. I suppose that must be true.”

Unlike Violette, who looked exactly like her father, Argon, Veronia had inherited her mother’s appearance and her father’s ambition and hunger for power.

Despite that, she was also the sibling who cherished Violette the most. She had doted on Violette, who was much younger than her, ever since she was little, and after their mother passed away, she even took it upon herself to act as Violette’s mother.

“The ducal residence really is huge! Haha, to think our Violette is going to become the duchess of such an incredible family! This father is so happy!”

“You’re not just happy because I’m leaving the house, are you?”

Their father, Argon, was also apparently visiting the ducal residence for the first time, as he busily expressed his admiration with hearty laughter. Unlike the two excited people beside her, Violette rested her head against the window with her lips pushed into a pout.

‘Well, it certainly is big.’

House Rascal was also an immensely powerful family renowned throughout the Empire, and the scale of their mansion was enormous as well. However, it could not even begin to compare with the size of the Kegreiner duchy.

On top of that, the duchy was famous for its exceptionally beautiful natural scenery. Even just looking around the outskirts, a wide river could be seen flowing continuously, with tall mountains rising majestically behind it.

Violette slightly furrowed her brow as she recalled the plan she had thought over all night.

There was only one way she could break off this engagement: House Kegreiner had to be the one to ask for the engagement to be broken.

If the ducal family, who had accepted the marriage proposal, brought up breaking off the engagement first, there was little even her father, Argon, could do about it.

‘The Young Duke is being forced into this marriage because of his parents too, isn’t he? I just need to persuade him somehow.’

After scribbling down information from the original novel on paper throughout the night, she had remembered one very important fact: Narsia had been unmarried.

If Narsia had remained unmarried even after Terso ascended to the throne—in other words, even into his mid-to-late twenties—then he clearly would not have much interest in this engagement.

And that was Violette’s only hope of escaping from it.

Of course, even if she managed to get out of this marriage, Argon would somehow find another match for her.

But it would give her one more chance. In the meantime, she could temporarily quit gambling, pretend to be a proper youngest daughter, and cling to her family again.

“Thank you for visiting us. My name is Meln, and I serve as the head butler of House Kegreiner.”

Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the mansion, and the servants who had come out to greet them welcomed them with bright smiles.

Meln, who introduced himself as the head butler of the ducal residence, was a young man with a neat and refined appearance.

Judging by the fact that he had managed to secure the position of head butler despite his young age, he seemed to be quite capable.

As Violette stared intently at his face, her gaze briefly met his in midair.

‘Well, well……?’

It had only lasted for a brief moment, but Violette could clearly read the intention hidden in his gaze.

Meln was clearly trying to look her up and down with a displeased, wary expression, as if he needed to thoroughly determine what kind of person Violette was.

Violette’s mood soured rapidly at being analyzed right from the start, but given the circumstances, she decided to hold back her anger.

If she had acted according to her usual temperament, she would have already shoved him by the shoulder.

“Allow me to escort you this way.”

As though nothing had happened, he guided the three of them toward the dining hall in a kind and gentle voice.

Antique tableware had been arranged in neat rows across a long, gleaming white dining table.

At the far end sat the Duke and Duchess of Kegreiner, along with her fiancé, Young Duke Narsia.

Violette tried to stretch her gaze toward his face, but the distance was too great, and she failed.

“Duke, have you been well?”

“Ah, you’ve arrived!”

The Duke of Kegreiner and his family, who had belatedly noticed the three of them, rose from their seats and welcomed them warmly.

Argon, who was already acquainted with the duke, also greeted him with a relaxed and gentle smile.

Opia Kegreiner.

Although he did not appear prominently in the original novel, the head of the long-established House Kegreiner was famous here for his gentle and kind nature.

At the same time, along with Violette’s father, Marquis Argon, he was one of the few figures who firmly maintained neutrality between the aristocratic faction and the imperial faction.

‘The fact that Terso became Crown Prince was largely thanks to Narsia Kegreiner helping by taking his side…….’

After exchanging light greetings, they sat across from one another at the table and smiled amicably.

As soon as everyone took their seats, dozens of lavish dishes were brought out one after another, as though they had been waiting for them.

“I never dreamed that I would have the pleasure of meeting the Marquis of Rascal through such a wonderful connection.”

“The honor is mine. I’m only worried because my daughter still has so much to learn.”

“Haha, my son is the same!”

Thanks to Argon and Opia, who had been close acquaintances for a long time, the atmosphere at the dinner table remained warm and friendly.

As cheerful laughter and compliments about each other’s families continued without end, Violette, who had been carefully watching the people around her, slowly turned her gaze forward.

At last, it was the moment she would look at Narsia, who was sitting directly across from her, for the first time.

‘Wow, I think he’s even prettier than me……?’

A brief flicker of admiration appeared in Violette’s eyes as she looked at him.

His silver hair, flowing softly around his shoulders, was filled with a lustrous shine, while his quietly lowered eyes glowed with an aloof and beautiful light, as though amethysts had been set into them.

Moreover, his skin was clear and radiant without a single blemish, and the lines of his face were so delicate that they looked as though a sculptor had carefully carved them.

‘How on earth does a ridiculous rumor about a man like this being hideous even start? As expected, rumors really aren’t worth believing.’

Violette had met practically every handsome man worth mentioning in high society, but she had never encountered a man so beautiful that he could leave her completely spellbound.

‘Huh? Wait a second……. I think I had this thought recently too……. He kind of looks like someone.’

Without realizing it, Violette stared at his face for a moment.

But when her eyes met Narsia’s, she hurriedly lowered her head deeply, startled.

Embarrassed that she had been caught staring at his face, Violette pretended to concentrate on her meal and quickly cut off a piece of meat before stuffing it into her mouth.