Chapter 52

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 52

Chapter Title: Overflowing Invitations

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After the night that raged like a storm passed, subtle changes began to creep into Lucia's daily life.

Perhaps because it had been grandly announced at the princess's engagement party that she would become engaged to Bern, invitations to various social events started pouring in from all directions.

She hadn't understood when Julian hinted that things would get busy once they were formally engaged, but day by day, she was feeling it firsthand.

She wasn't even officially engaged yet, and she was already this swamped—she didn't even want to imagine what it would be like after the actual engagement.

"Haa... I don't want to go."

"Oh dear, how can you be whining like this over something so minor?"

Julian, who had been helping her sort through the invitations, chided Lucia. Unlike the weary Lucia, Julian's face was beaming with smiles.

"As expected from the Casper Marquisate—the scale is on another level. The marquis's value has been skyrocketing lately anyway."

"His value?"

At Lucia's question, Julian chuckled and shared a story from one of her favorite gatherings.

It seemed that in gatherings for women her age, their children's marriages were the biggest topic. They would discuss which young lord was promising or which lady was suitable.

Bern undoubtedly ranked at the top in their evaluations.

"Right, the marquis is only three years older than you, yet he inherited the title last year. It was unavoidable since the previous Marquis Casper passed in an accident, but still."

A young man of just twenty-four inheriting a marquisate was certainly rare.

"And that's not all. No siblings means no risk of the title being taken away. Good looks, great personality, talented, young, and unmarried? You won't find that easily."

Listening to Julian's praises one by one, Lucia found they all made sense.

Forget the public opinion—even in person, he was a perfect man with hardly any flaws.

Kind, considerate, understanding, and gentle to boot. He was an impeccable marriage prospect.

'In contrast, I...'

Lucia tried to objectively evaluate herself, counting on her fingers, but aside from being younger, she couldn't find any standout merits.

Lucia broke out in a sweat.

"Mother, why on earth did the marquis choose me?"

"Hm?"

Julian looked up from the invitations. Lucia's eyes trembled like aspen leaves.

"Our daughter is such an excellent bride candidate. What's there to worry about? Or did the marquis say something?"

"...No. He said he liked me."

"If he likes you himself, what's there to fret over?"

"Well, it feels like some puzzle piece doesn't fit. I even asked why he chose me, and he just said I resemble him a lot, so that's why."

"Resemble him a lot?"

Julian clapped her hands, imagining Bern and Lucia side by side.

"Ah, maybe because you're both kind? Yeah, now that I think about it, your personalities are similar."

"It didn't feel quite like that nuance."

She had resolved ninety percent of her lingering curiosity from asking at the party, but the remaining ten percent still nagged at her.

She couldn't explain exactly what it was. It just felt like some gears weren't fully meshing.

"Young Lady, a letter from your friend."

Seine entered and handed over a freshly arrived letter.

Checking the sender, it was Christine's name. Lucia opened it right there.

The first page had a brief greeting and small talk, but the ultimate reason for the letter was on the last page.

『I'm so sorry we couldn't talk properly at the party. I have mountains of questions.

If it's alright with you, Lucia, I'd like to invite Arista too and have a girls-only gathering.

Let's share some intimate stories at this one!

I'll be waiting for your reply.』

The time spent with her friends at the party had been so short that she hadn't even explained how the arranged meeting came about.

Judging by the slightly messy handwriting, Christine must have been dying of curiosity.

'A girls-only gathering.'

It seemed like an excuse to keep Herwin from joining under the pretense of a ladies' meeting.

Lucia gave a small smile at Christine's thoughtfulness.

"Who’s it from?"

Seeing Lucia smile, Julian showed interest.

"Christine. She suggests we have a gathering soon."

At the word "gathering," Julian's expression turned peculiar.

"Herwin isn't joining, is he...?"

"No. This one's just for girls."

"Oh, really? That's a relief."

Seeing Julian visibly relax, Lucia felt a slight bitterness in her mouth.

Her parents had known Herwin for years as her childhood friend and quite liked him. She worried this incident might make them dislike him.

"Alright, sorting's done."

Julian, finally finished categorizing the invitations, placed her hands proudly on her hips.

"These are gatherings you can skip, these are ones that are fine to attend, and these are the ones you should try to go to if possible. Take a look and decide where to go."

Neatly divided into three categories by importance, the workload had shrunk dramatically.

"Thank you, Mother. I'll check them out."

"Of course. Tell me anytime if you need help again. I always welcome this kind of thing."

Julian drifted into reminiscing, saying it reminded her of her own youth.

Knock knock—

The door opened, and Lucas peeked in.

"Brother, what brings you here?"

"I have something to discuss briefly. Mother, you're here too?"

Lucas planted a quick kiss on Julian's cheek. As she accepted her son's greeting, she noticed him glancing at her and stood up.

"I'll leave you two to it. It's been a while since you've seen each other—catch up."

"Thank you."

Lucas thanked her for catching on, and she winked before heading out.

"Something to discuss? What is it?"

Lucia asked without taking her eyes off the invitations. Lucas confirmed the room was empty and lowered his voice.

"How you ended up engaged to the Casper Marquis. I came to hear the reason."

Lucia paused and finally looked up. Lucas's face was serious.

She thought it might be brotherly overprotectiveness, but it wasn't that light an emotion.

"You didn't hear anything from Mother and Father?"

"Just the bare outline. Nothing more. They brushed it off when I asked, and after the party, I've been too busy with work to talk properly."

"...So you're asking me directly?"

Lucas nodded. Lucia let out a soft sigh and leaned back against the sofa.

"Ask whatever you want. I'll answer."

Lucas hesitated before voicing what had been bothering him.

He asked how the arranged meeting happened and if she really planned to get engaged to Bern. Lucia answered honestly.

Once he grasped the general situation, Lucas frowned and rubbed his face with both hands.

"I thought you'd get engaged to Herwin."

Lucia's hand twitched. But she showed no further agitation, merely letting her gaze sink sadly.

"...Yeah?"

"Yeah. I don't know now, but you've liked Herwin for so long. Sure, there was that unfortunate incident, but you two know each other well and have history. I figured marriage would naturally be with him."

After the unintended public confession at the academy. She had never confessed to Herwin in front of others again.

So people knew she liked Herwin, but not that she had persistently confessed over time.

And Lucas was no different.

"That's why I don't get it. With someone as great as Herwin available, why go through an arranged meeting? Not that the Casper Marquis is bad. Just... why that choice...?"

"I get what you're trying to say, Brother."

Lucia cut off Lucas's rambling. He looked awkward, waiting for her response.

"To start with the facts: I got rejected."

Lucas's eyes widened slowly, unable to utter a word. Before his brows could furrow, Lucia continued.

"I've never told anyone else, but I'd confessed to Herwin a lot over the years."

"...You confessed? A lot? How much?"

"...Way more than you think. Maybe because I confessed so much, Herwin ended up not seeing me as a woman."

Lucia forced a smile, but Lucas couldn't bring himself to smile back. He couldn't.

"The arranged meeting was because of a promise with Father. He said he couldn't just watch me pine for Herwin anymore. So I agreed—if Herwin didn't accept my confession, I'd do the meeting."

"That means..."

He trailed off, but Lucas understood exactly why Lucia had gone through with it.

"It's all my choice, so no regrets. Don't blame Father, Brother. If anything, I'm grateful he suggested it now. Without him, I might still be hung up on Herwin."

Lucas ground his teeth, clenching his fists until veins bulged. He wasn't looking at Lucia.

It felt far more intimidating than usual. Lucia noticed his sunken demeanor.

"Brother, you're not mad, right? I'm fine. It's been quite a while already."

Lucas stared at her for a moment. She should be the sad and angry one, yet here she was worrying about him first—it was heartbreaking.

Lucas closed his eyes tightly, then opened them, relaxing his tense body.

"...Alright, if you're satisfied, that's what matters."

"Really?"

"Of course! I had no idea. Honestly, I thought since I haven't gotten engaged, the pressure went to you instead."

Lucia blinked in surprise, never imagining he'd thought that.

"No way. You're only two years older than me."

"All my friends are engaged. Even Ares just got engaged to the princess."

"Still, Father wouldn't push an arranged meeting on me for that reason. You know his personality. He adores me."

"Yeah, I know."

Lucas snorted at Lucia's joke. No matter how much of a sister doting fool he was, he couldn't match their daughter-obsessed father, Yohan.

"Brother."

"Yeah?"

"Do you have someone you like right now?"

"Yeah, I have a girlfriend."

"Really? You said you broke up last time."

"This is a new one. Only been two months."

"Oh? Do you like your girlfriend?"

"Why else would I date her if I didn't?"

Lucas burst out laughing at the barrage of questions. Lucia stared at him, then her bitter mouth twitched.

"I hope you marry someone you truly like, Brother."

Lucas straightened up with a sigh. Seeing his wavering eyes, Lucia's softened.

"I couldn't be with the one I love, but I don't want that for you. That's my wish."

"Lucia."

"Promise me?"

Her eyes seemed to well up. But in truth, they were dry.

Lucas closed his mouth and nodded solemnly.

"Yeah, I promise. I'll keep it, so you promise me one thing too."

"What?"

"Be happy, no matter what. And if anything tough happens, tell me right away. Just those two."

His care usually felt burdensome or annoying at times, but this once, it felt reliably solid.

She hadn't realized having someone to lean on could ease her heart so much.

"...Yeah, I'll try to be happy."

Firmly vowing to keep their promises, Lucia and Lucas hooked their pinkies together.