“Your Highness, all of a sudden at this hour?”
Hermia asked, staggering as Andy tightened the corset laces roughly. Madam Laura was in a hurry and was even putting on her shoes herself.
“The Duke brought the Master himself! He was quite drunk, I see!”
What does it mean that the Duke brought his father?
Hermia was dazed for a moment before being thrown out by the maid’s torch. She came out into the hallway in a daze, and there was a commotion downstairs.
Standing on the railing and looking down, I saw the people from the duke’s house standing in front of the mansion’s servants as if facing each other. And among the dark people, there was one person who stood out in particular.
The man, who was significantly larger than the others, was the tallest among those wearing similar uniforms.
His pitch-black hair was neatly pulled up, and his high nose bridge stood out even when viewed from above. His broad shoulders and upright posture gave off a sense of the strictness and solidity typical of a soldier.
The man who felt her gaze lifted his head. Hermia could tell instinctively.
That person was the famous ‘Walter Rockford’.
‘It must be popular.’
He looked at me with his deep olive eyes and tilted his head slightly.
Hermia, who had been looking at his handsome face, immediately caught her breath. He was walking towards the stairs.
Hermia slowly walked down the stairs, meeting his gaze. When there were only two steps left, Walter held out his hand.
‘The escort is perfect.’
She placed her hands lightly on the leather gloves and stood on the same floor. Then her head rose of its own accord.
Even from his own, not-so-small, eye level, the only thing that comes into view are the epaulettes on the shoulders of his military uniform.
The man I saw up close was much bigger and more muscular than I had expected, and he also had a broad chest… … .
“Nice to meet you. My name is Walter Rockford.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”
Hermia broke off her sentiment and greeted him politely with a gesture that was familiar to her. Then, as her lips lightly touched the back of his hand, a strange thought occurred to her.
‘I should have taken off my gloves.’
It was a strange and unfamiliar feeling that was almost regrettable. My chest was itching and my toes were curling for no reason.
As I was wondering, “What is this?” Walter met my eyes again.
“I know it’s rude, but I apologize for visiting you so late.”
In contrast to the masculinity that radiated from his entire body, his voice was calm and neat. Moreover, he seemed to be born with dignity and was very noble.
The moment I was about to shake my head without realizing it, he continued speaking softly.
“It seems the Count has had too much to drink. He has brought his friends to our house.”
Ah, I’m screwed.
Hermia dutifully lifted her lips.
“My father… is.”
At Walter’s nod, a male soldier who appeared to be his subordinate immediately dashed out of the hallway. A moment later, the man came back in, carrying on his back the head of the Bahnsen family, Count Arnold Bahnsen.
He was so drunk that he dozed off for a moment and then woke up, still mumbling with his tongue twisted.
“I’m going to get a son-in-law soon! Huh? So everyone should invest in me! Invest!”
“Yes, yes. On the twenty thousand square meter southern ranch owned by the Count.”
When the red-haired soldier carrying the count responded appropriately, he raised his head and said, “Eung?”
“Who are you? How many times have I told you to go to the Duke of Rockford’s house? Now the Duke’s castle is like our home!”
“Yes. You came. You brought eight friends you met for the first time today.”
“henry.”
Walter gave a stern warning to the adjutant who was muttering. Henry, who was about to grumble, looked around and shut his mouth tightly.
‘I have a lot to say, but I hold back because it’s someone else’s house.’ Anyone who looked at it could tell that he had such thoughts.
“I have invited everyone else to their homes. However, I thought it would be rude to do so to the Count, so I decided to visit him in person.”
Walter explained calmly. It seemed that he had decided that it would be impolite to send the prospective craftsman off alone in a carriage.
However, this does not mean that he was merciful enough to let all the intruders who barged into the duke’s castle in the middle of the night. Walter Rockford drew a proper line and fulfilled his duty within it.
I wasn’t upset. I just thought, ‘That’s what a soldier is like.’
There was no emotion in his speech. There was no sign of irritation, annoyance, or anything like that.
Hermia bowed as she looked at Walter, as if reporting to a superior.
“sorry.”
And then he nodded to Madame Laura, and she and the male servants handed the Count over. The Count, still grumbling, was led by the servants into the bedroom.
It was a huge commotion that broke out at a time when everyone else was already in bed. In the midst of all this chaos, the Countess was still nowhere to be seen.
There was no way he hadn’t heard that the Duke had arrived. Walter’s men could be seen peeking around the mansion.
Only the servants, including Hermia, knew the reason.
As expected, the mistress of the count’s house showed up only after everything was sorted out. And she was dressed in a very splendid manner.
“Oh my god! Who is this?”
The countess smiled brightly, her red lips pursed up. She had an old butler with gray hair by her side, acting like a confidant.
The elegant one-piece dress she had worn to the garden party was a voluminous dress with layers of lace.
It was an action that was faithful to the duty of a noble lady, who must match her outfit to the time, place, and person.
Hermia then looked down at her attire. It was the same outfit she had been wearing all day.
Since it was an outdoor party, there was a bit of grass on the hem of her skirt. I felt my face get hot when I thought that Walter couldn’t have missed it from down the stairs.
‘But it’s our first meeting.’
No. The first impression might already be bad.
When I thought of my father lining up his carriage in front of the Duke’s house and yelling at the top of his lungs, I found myself clenching my fist.
Count Arnold Bahnsen acted like a nobleman when he was sober, but when he got drunk he often acted like a back-alley thug. Hermia thought that maybe that was her father’s true nature.
“Good evening, Mrs. Bansen.”
Walter greeted smoothly without blinking an eye.
Isn’t this man someone who is born upper class? I feel a bit distant even though we haven’t even gotten to know each other yet.
By the way, I should change my clothes too, Hermia was pondering as the Countess continued to speak hastily.
“I was surprised by your sudden visit, but Sir Walter is always welcome. Of course you have had a meal… … . It is too late for coffee. I think tea would be better.”
‘The peacock must have been more surprised.’
Hermia turned her head away from the red lips that were shamelessly slurring.
“It’s getting late, so let’s have tea later. I’ll visit you soon. Well, that’s it for me.”
Walter still expressed his intention to decline with an indifferent face. Not only that, he even said goodbye in one go, as if he wanted to leave quickly.
It was a natural reaction when the peacock pounced on me with its magnificent tail spread out as if it were waving its tail with all its might for courtship.
Why would a man who could marry a princess if he wanted to do so be drinking tea here?
‘Even I would run away.’
I felt a little funny about myself, having just been excited to see such a handsome man.
As he left, the Count’s servants rushed out to see the Duke off. Hermia reluctantly followed Walter as her mother’s hand poked at her waist.
The gaze of someone two or three steps behind me felt oppressive and stung the back of my head. Walter, who was walking alongside me, slowed down his pace to match my pace.
“… … .”
“… … .”
What should I say? My mind was spinning.
I know you’re having a hard time with your will. I offer my deepest condolences.
But let’s get married anyway. You get the inheritance and I get my freedom, so it’s definitely a win-win for both of us.
After a year, I will break up with you without any regrets.
Instead, could you give me just a little bit of compensation, just a little bit? I don’t want to live in a convent.
You have so much money that it won’t even be noticeable as dirt on your fingernails.
If you don’t have cash, even a small house in a remote countryside…
“I’m sorry for being rude late at night. Okay.”
‘Damn. They’re all here.’
Before I knew it, I was in front of a carriage with the Duke’s emblem on it. Walter, who had been greeting me politely until the end, turned around.
Gulp.
A sudden gurgling sound echoed through the garden where crickets were chirping and chirping. Hermia immediately hugged her slim belly.
“Oh ho ho! My kid is making a fuss about losing weight these days!”
The countess ran up and grabbed Hermia by the shoulder.
“You often skip meals because you want to look pretty in front of the Duke. It really annoys me.”
“… … .”
The Countess hurriedly pushed Hermia back. Hermia heard the carriage door open between the maids.
Then the reins cut through the wind and the horseshoes moved. Soldiers on horseback were marching away behind the huge four-wheeled carriage.
“I’m not in my right mind.”
The Countess, after making sure they had all left, placed her hand on her forehead.
“Anyway, Arnold, really!”
The Countess belatedly showed her anger and then walked away without hesitation.
“What are you wearing? The Duke has come and you’re not properly dressed!”
Hermia immediately looked for Madame Laura with a look of indignation on her face. But she just turned her head and stared into the distance.
“…sorry.”
It’s always like this. The quickest way to get in trouble is to give up and ask for forgiveness.
“Please don’t let the time and effort I put into accepting and teaching you go to waste. You should think about repaying the favor by marrying into a good family and raising you.”
Fortunately, the countess’s mood did not seem to be at its worst. She seemed to think that the Duke’s visit in person was an achievement in its own right.
I wish I had come when there were more people on the street. Mrs. Laura clung to her mother as she walked away, muttering. Mrs. Laura nodded, glancing behind her.
‘You don’t have to be so careful. My mother won’t listen to me anyway.’
As she looked at Hermia, who was laughing vainly, Madame Laura’s gait became brisk.
When I entered the mansion slowly, feeling exhausted, Inyoung, who was hiding behind a pillar, disappeared as soon as she discovered me.
Hermia, who had briefly seen the bright brown hair, ran over like lightning.
“Mel!”
Hermia grabbed Mel Greenwood’s arm and spun him around, frozen stiffly.
“You… why are you crying?”