When the Duke de Walte returned to the mansion after the meeting at the Imperial Palace, the sun hadn't yet set. Since dinner was usually served after seven in the evening, there was still quite a lot of time before it. So the Duke decided to return to his study to finish up his remaining tasks.
"I've had more worries lately."
Not to mention having problems in his own home, work was also difficult. Today, the aristocrats were vigorously squabbling over the details of the upcoming inauguration ceremony. After all, this event was planned to be made even more grandiose than the empire's founding anniversary.
Since Victor wanted to get noticed by the imperial family, he also had to participate actively in this discussion.
The Duke felt relieved that he had managed to free himself from state affairs before the sun set.
He handed his coat to the butler.
"Your Grace, the doctor came today," the servant began his usual report on the current state of affairs in the estate, "According to him, the commoner my lady sheltered is quite healthy. So she should be leaving soon."
As soon as Victor heard this, he snorted irritably.
"Is that so?"
He walked over to his desk and sat down. On it was piled a whole stack of work papers.
"Make sure that's really the case," the head of the family ordered angrily, "I'm not going to put up with this anymore. If Camilla comes up with anything else to keep her here, I authorize the guards to use force."
The butler nodded, accepting his instructions.
"Yes, Your Grace."
Honestly, the lawlessness his own daughter had been causing in the house lately was getting on his nerves considerably. Victor had already been thinking about putting a firm stop to it. But still, Camilla's words that day wouldn't leave him alone. For some unknown reason, he had even agreed to make concessions to her.
However, now this would finally come to an end. The Duke felt relieved that one of his problems was finally resolved.
Although another still loomed on the horizon.
"Rewrite the marriage list for Camilla," the man loosened the tie around his neck,
"Enough of her messing around with all sorts of nonsense. Instead, let her do something useful."
In the Duke's opinion, every member of his family should be useful. While Yufil studied and prepared to receive the title of heir, his daughter should also not be idle. The carefree childhood she had once lived was in the past. Camilla should have understood that long ago.
The butler sighed upon hearing his master's remark.
"Your Grace..." the butler hesitated, "I'm afraid that after the last incident, there won't be many worthy contenders for my lady's hand..."
"Hmm?"
The Duke looked at him coldly.
Despite his inner agitation, the butler had to respond professionally.
"Yes, I'll try to compile a new list..."
"Alright, and while you're at it, choose those who are at least somewhat close to our family's status."
In high society, where rumors about the ducal lady's illness had already spread like wildfire, the Duke's request could be compared to finding a needle in a haystack. Although the butler felt helpless, he merely nodded his head without voicing any complaints.
"As you wish, Your Grace."
"Good. Inform me when it's time for dinner."
Just as the butler was about to leave the study, a miniature pink figure had already disappeared behind the door.
***
Having accidentally overheard the conversation between my father and the butler, I immediately panicked.
I had to slip away from there as fast as I could. And as soon as I left the "scene of the incident," I angrily ground my teeth.
"How can this be?!"
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As is known, my previous "date" with the marquis's son had ended in a huge scandal. As soon as information surfaced that I couldn't have children, the number of acceptable suitors significantly decreased. Few wanted to get involved with a sick noblewoman, who moreover had no high status. The Duke tried his best to hush up the incident, but rumors spreading at the speed of light couldn't be stopped.
Therefore, I considered this could be my reliable insurance for a certain period. At least for the next six months. I should have had enough time to prepare my departure from the estate. But who knew that father would make the first move?! His statement today literally shocked me.
"Apparently, he can't wait to get rid of me." — this thought made me bite my elbows in frustration.
Taking a deep breath, I clearly understood that the Duke had put me in a difficult position. I hadn't even had time to make any preparations for my escape. If things went according to the worst-case scenario, I wouldn't even be able to take the valuables I had with me, because then the Duke would immediately catch me.
"And why do I deserve all this...?"
From all these anxious thoughts, my head began to ache.
Well, first of all, I needed to calm down. And then think of some countermeasures... Although, of course, that's easier said than done.
Returning to my room, I found the commoner sorting through my things. After the recent shopping trip, where I had bought a bunch of clothes, including a sea of useless junk, everything needed sorting. And although I hadn't asked her to, the commoner had volunteered to help me with it. That was very sweet of her.
Although actually, she had more important things to do. Any day now, the girl was supposed to leave our estate. But instead of preparing, the commoner didn't seem to be thinking about packing her things at all. Instead, she was dealing with mine.
Although this was a question I wanted to ask her, my head was already so full of complicated thoughts that I simply forgot about it.
Despite trying to act as usual, the commoner still noticed the slightest fluctuation in my mood.
"Why are you sighing?" frowning, she immediately stopped sorting things and turned to me.
"Uh..."
Although I definitely felt a sense of closeness with her because of the time we had spent together, I still didn't want to involve her in my personal family problems.
"It's nothing..." I tried to brush it off, but it didn't work.
"What's the matter? Did something happen?"
"No, nothing serious..."
Even though I tried to change the subject, the commoner kept insisting on an answer. In the end, I gave up.
"Maybe I'll feel better if I tell someone about my problem?"
After hesitating a bit, I finally decided to trust her.
"The thing is... my father wants to marry me off."
Marry off. As soon as Kaena heard these unexpected words, she felt her mind go blank.
"Your father wants to marry you off?" she repeated what she had said, through clenched teeth.
"Yes, and he's already started looking for candidates!" Camilla sighed mournfully.
Without realizing it, Kaena clenched her fists tightly.
"Who would have thought that this woman would be forced into an arranged marriage..."
Although this was a completely ordinary phenomenon in the aristocratic system and quite predictable, as soon as it came to this woman's marriage, the princess flew into a rage.
"Will I have to start acting prematurely...?!"
A murderous expression appeared on Kaena's face, overcome with rage. But when she thought about blood being shed in the Duke's mansion today, Camilla suddenly said:
"That's why I absolutely must find a way out of this situation."
Hearing her words, the princess unconsciously turned her gaze to her and stared intently as the duke's daughter continued speaking.
"I don't want to follow my father's lead."
No matter how many times she saw this woman's beautiful face, Kaena never tired of looking at it.
"So you have a way out?"
"Well..." Camilla scratched her cheek hesitantly, "Maybe if I already had another chosen one, it could influence my father's opinion. But I don't have anyone."
At that moment, Kaena Hessen de Ronan held her breath.
"Really?" she asked again.
"Oh, well, yes..."
As soon as I said that, her furrowed brow immediately smoothed out. She even smiled. I found it hard to understand such a sudden change in her mood.
In any case, along with escape, this was indeed the most suitable option. If I could demonstrate to my father that I was already seeing someone, the matter of my marriage would become much more complicated. The problem was that I simply didn't see any suitable candidate for this purpose on the horizon.
"Oh, it turns out it's very difficult to find a way to avoid an engagement..."
However, at the moment I was about to sink back into despair, the commoner's next words stunned me:
"Then how about me?"
"What?"
In surprise, I raised my head and looked at her.
"You said the problem would be solved if you had a partner," the girl murmured, "In that case, how about me?"
For a moment, I might have even thought she was joking. But the serious expression on her face at that moment suggested otherwise. I was somewhat confused.
"Oh, so this is that situation from soap operas where a noble lady falls in love with a poor person and goes against her parents, right?"
No, giving up everything and running away from home for love is fine, but the problem was that I would be running away with a woman who has no home and no money.
She literally has nothing but a pretty face.
I was sincerely grateful to the commoner for trying to help me in any way, and yet...
My goal was to become at least not rich, but at least a well-off person. If I followed the commoner literally into nowhere — I would have to face many dangers. Various diseases, poverty, the possibility of dying at any moment at the hands of bandits, and other "delights" of the life of a common person in the Middle Ages.
Thus, it wasn't easy for me to give up my dream of leading a comfortable and relatively safe life. However, I couldn't directly tell the commoner this, afraid of hurting her feelings with my refusal. So I had to come up with another excuse.
"Well, if you can get my father's approval, I suppose that wouldn't be a problem."
Of course, I knew this was impossible. No noble person would ever accept a commoner as their son-in-law or daughter-in-law. This was just a gentle pretext for refusal.
Nevertheless...
"Alright," the commoner replied calmly after a short pause, "Then I'll get it."
Honestly, I was unsettled by the confident tone of her voice. As if she didn't even doubt her success in obtaining permission from my father. I even worried that, out of ignorance, the commoner might do something foolish, and was about to dissuade her from it, when suddenly a cold hand was placed over mine.
"Don't worry," her golden irises flashed unusually, "I will take responsibility."