episode_0088

“I will save you no matter what!”

“Hmm…”

“Ahem…”

I answered with all my sincerity, but all I got in return were suspicious and worried glances.

“If we leave it to that child, something terrible will happen.”

“That seems likely.”

“If we also try hard to find a solution, wouldn’t there be an answer somehow?”

“……”

Unlike my sister-in-law, who was at least showing concern, my brother and mother were looking at me with suspicion, which broke my heart even more.

“Sigh-”

Turning her head away from me and sighing deeply, my mother looked at my brother and sister-in-law and asked with a serious expression.

“Daughter-in-law, do you happen to know anyone suitable around you?”

“I don’t think so. Everyone around me is either taken or too young…”

“How young are they? Even if they’re young, if they’re girls…”

“The oldest is five years old.”

“Oh…”

I might still be a minor, but even so, five is a real problem.

I’d rather meet someone who’s sixty-five and get less criticism.

At least that person is an adult.

I might be accused of being after their wealth, but I wouldn’t be accused of abandoning humanity or having my human nature denied.

“Too young indeed.”

“That won’t do.”

“I thought so, right?”

When my mother and I simultaneously showed our disapproval, my sister-in-law, also thinking it wouldn’t work, shrugged awkwardly with a smile.

“Edward, what about you?”

“I also don’t know anyone William’s age.”

“Hmm…”

“Should I call Caroline, at least?”

“Mother, even so, isn’t Aunt too much?”

“What can I do when there’s no one else? Do you think I want to drag that child who’s living leisurely?”

“We don’t have much, but we still have some time left, so let’s leave that as a last resort for now.”

At the mention of my aunt’s name, which hadn’t been heard in a while, my brother calmed my mother down and looked at me.

“William, don’t you know anyone? People from the atelier or something…”

“That won’t do.”

“Pardon?”

“Mother, isn’t William in a situation where he can’t afford to be picky? If it’s urgent, he should use even his coworkers.”

“I said no, William. Even if it’s a commoner, that’s the one thing you can’t do, understood?”

“I, I’ll try my best.”

“Not try, but must.”

“Yes.”

My mother grabbed my hand and looked at me earnestly, forcing me to answer.

My brother and sister-in-law, not knowing why my mother was so opposed, looked bewildered, but I knew the reason, so I nodded and squeezed the hand my mother was holding.

“……”

“By the way, isn’t the young master’s birthday after the Founding Day? Isn’t the young master’s birthday on October 23rd?”

It was my sister-in-law, who had been sitting there cautiously, looking around, who broke the rather heavy atmosphere.

I often forget because it’s near Founding Day, but my sister-in-law managed to remember it.

“Ah, that’s right.”

“Then shouldn’t we prepare for the young master’s birthday too?”

“Is there even anything to prepare? He’s the type to say it’s burdensome and wants to celebrate quietly with family.”

“That’s true… But he’s been going out more often lately, so maybe he’s changed a little?”

“Hmm…”

Everyone’s gaze turned back to me.

“William, do you have any plans?”

“No.”

“See?”

“……”

The icy atmosphere, which was about to crack slightly, froze over again, becoming even more chilling.

My sister-in-law, who had tried her best, realized that there was no answer and slightly lowered her head with a resigned expression.

“Haa… Let’s eat first and continue the conversation tomorrow.”

We all quietly picked up our forks and knives.

I don’t know about the others, but I had indigestion that day and couldn’t sleep, so I had to take a bitter digestive medicine before falling asleep.

_

A day passed, and I went to the atelier with complicated feelings.

Honestly, I should be out there looking for a partner right away, but I couldn’t just abandon the busy atelier, so I came to work first, even if it meant disappearing halfway through.

“If there’s anything unusual, tell Elizabeth. I have something to do today, so I’ll have to go somewhere else for a while. I’m counting on you.”

“Understood.”

After confirming that there was nothing unusual, I gave the employees their assignments and entrusted everything to Duchess Elizabeth.

If it’s like usual, Elizabeth can handle most of it anyway.

“Excuse me, Sir William?”

“Huh?”

Just as I was leaving the workshop with a light heart, about to leave the atelier.

Duchess Elizabeth, who had followed me out, stopped me and gestured for me to come closer.

“What’s wrong?”

“Can I talk to you for a moment?”

“About what?”

“I have something to ask about dresses.”

“Hmm…”

This was troublesome.

I’m short on time, but this is also important.

Biting my lip slightly, I pondered for a moment and nodded, thinking that talking about dresses couldn’t take that long.

“Alright.”

“Then let’s go to the lounge.”

“Okay.”

As the duchess and I headed to the lounge, Sera and Emily followed behind, closing the door.

“So, what do you want to ask?”

I walked heavily to a chair in the center of the lounge and plopped down, looking directly at the duchess, who was sitting primly on a nearby chair, and got straight to the point.

“Sir William, have you found a partner?”

I immediately frowned and narrowed my eyes.

The question was strange.

Didn’t she say she had a question about dresses?

Why is she talking about a partner?

“That’s a strange question. Can you ask it again?”

“Sir William, have you found a partner to accompany you to the Founding Day event?”

“……”

The question became very detailed for my sake, but the content was the same.

“Elizabeth, what does this have to do with dresses?”

“I haven’t heard that you’ve found a partner. I have to proudly introduce the person who made my dress, but it’s a bit strange if you attend without a partner, isn’t it?”

“Hmm…”

It was a bit of a stretch, but it wasn’t entirely unreasonable.

It would be good to be honest, but I didn’t want to be honest because of the unease I felt in Duchess Elizabeth’s words.

Anyway, if I find someone later, the duchess won’t be embarrassed.

It would be better to lie for now.

“I already found someone, but I didn’t tell…”

“Who?”

The duchess cut me off and leaned in, bringing her face closer.

Wide eyes.

The energy contained in her very large pupils was extremely fierce.

I needed someone who wasn’t lacking as a partner and someone the duchess wouldn’t know well.

I needed someone who could get me through this moment.

“Lady Rachel…”

“Lie.”

As soon as she heard the name, the duchess’s energy became ominous.

“It might not be a lie…”

“Ha, Lady Rachel is on duty that day, and she continues to work through the weekend. How can she be your partner?”

“Ah, ahaha~”

I messed up from the beginning of my excuse.

Honestly, isn’t this just being unfair?

It’s not like she’ll find out later, but knowing Lady Rachel’s schedule from the beginning is crossing the line.

It’s not like she’s in a high position like the vice-captain. Where would you find someone who knows the schedule of a low-ranking knight?

“Is that, is that so? I must have been mistaken.”

Even I think it’s a stupid excuse, but Duchess Elizabeth smiled and crossed her arms as if to say, “Let’s see if you can get away with this.”

I glanced at the door.

Then, I made eye contact with Sera, who had been staring at me intently from the beginning.

“Um, Lady Sera, why are you suddenly grabbing my arm? And why is the door…”

“I just have my reasons. Just hang out with me for a little while.”

“Okay…?”

Sera, who quickly locked the door and grabbed Emily, leaned against the door and raised one corner of her mouth as if to say, “Try to escape if you can.”

Damn it.

It was a trap from the beginning.

I looked at Duchess Elizabeth with trembling eyes.

“Isn’t there anyone?”

“Well… actually, Fannie…”

“Duchess Fannie is already partners with Duke Herbert.”

“Wha, what?”

It’s something to celebrate that the employees are close, but I was bewildered.

When did those two become like that?

Haven’t they only been working together for about two months?

“Really? When?”

“Duke Herbert suggested it two weeks ago. Didn’t you know?”

“I didn’t know…”

Even two weeks ago, at the very moment I started a battle of nerves with the late Duke of Devonshire, Duke Herbert was diligently preparing for Founding Day.

Keuk… I thought Herbert was the same type of fruit as me, but he was more diligent blue blood than I thought.

“What, is there anyone else?”

“Hayney…”

“She’s also working on Founding Day. The Magic Tower is so swamped with work these days that she’s ecstatic.”

“How do you know that? No matter how busy she is, that day…”

As I tried to continue with my unreasonable claim, Duchess Elizabeth took out a thin object from her bosom and waved it around.

“I know because I asked.”

“Ugh…”

What the duchess was holding was a common envelope used in the Magic Tower.

On the outside of the envelope, the names “Elizabeth” and “Hayney Bailey” were written in Hayney’s handwriting.

“I’ll listen to just one more person, is there anyone else?”

“Uh…”

Even though she said she’d listen to one more person, the duchess listed the women around me and blocked off all possibilities.

There’s no one else I can bring up.

There’s no place to escape, and even if I somehow escaped, Emily was already being held hostage.

No, wait.

There’s only one person.

There’s only one person left.

“Well… actually, there’s someone I’m planning to ask.”

“… Who is it?”

The duchess’s gaze sharpened.

I closed my eyes tightly and brought up the name of someone I really didn’t want to bring up until the very end.

“Lady Caroline.”

“That’s a name I’ve never heard before. Who is that person…?”

For the first time, the duchess’s voice softened.

I steeled myself and added.

“She’s my widowed aunt.”

“……”

As soon as I said the words, the air in the room turned cold, and it became eerily quiet.

As I trembled and opened my eyes slightly, I saw Duchess Elizabeth, sitting in front of me with her eyes narrowed and her arms crossed, staring at me fiercely through the narrow gap in my vision.

“Sir William.”

“Yes…”

“By chance, I also don’t have a partner. Should I ask you first? Or will you do it?”

As expected, my aunt shield didn’t work at all.

Knowing that she wouldn’t choose to bring my aunt, since bringing a commoner would be unconventional but less criticized, the duchess issued an ultimatum, giving me the chance to save my last bit of pride.

“Can you give me a little time to think?”

I leaned back in my chair and asked for time to organize my thoughts.

Duchess Elizabeth silently held up five fingers.

“Hoo…”

Actually, there’s no need to organize my thoughts.

Since I’ve exhausted all my resources, no matter what I do, the result will be ‘Going with the duchess.’

Because attending the event is confirmed, and I’ve been caught without a partner, I have no right to refuse either way.

Unless I declare, ‘I sincerely hate you,’ it’s etiquette and culture to accept as much as possible.

But I just want to deny this situation, so I’m trying to buy time somehow.

I’m grateful that the duchess is being merciful and giving me one last chance to save my pride.

I might be seen as a coward who let a woman ask first by dragging it out, but at least she’s creating the appearance that I’m asking first.

You might say I should have anticipated that the duchess would come out like this.

But think about the reaction my mother and brother had when they heard I didn’t have a partner with less than a week left.

I’m getting that kind of reaction even though it’s not my social debut. What about someone who’s making their social debut and doesn’t have a partner for the event next week?

That’s crazy.

“There’s not much time left.”

“Ah…”

As I let my thoughts flow, the last remaining finger gradually bent down.

And when the finger was completely bent into a fist, the duchess lowered her hand and said.

“So, what’s your answer?”

“……”

I smiled and met the duchess’s eyes.

Since the answer is already decided, I can’t avoid it no matter how much I deny it.

“Will you go to the Founding Day event with me?”

The die has been cast.

It’s a die where every face is a blank worth 1, but it’s still been cast.

With my answer, the duchess nodded with a satisfied smile.

“Hehe~ That’s a very good answer, but that’s not enough.”

“Huh?”

“Here.”

The duchess, pleased with my declaration of surrender, rummaged through her bosom and handed me something.

“Ah, this is…”

I reached out and took the item, and the stamp that high-ranking people use to hide their identity appeared in my hand.

“I’ll be looking forward to your letter, Sir William?”

“Ah.”

It’s not a statement that can be overturned or reversed at any time, but a message to send in a letter and leave clear evidence.

“You understand, right?”

“Ye, yes…”

If I said no, I’d have to put my seal on a document that said, ‘Elizabeth’s partner is William Henry Howard.’

I nodded immediately.

“Ohoho~ That’s all I wanted to ask. Thank you for the good answer.”

“O, okay…”

The duchess, hearing my answer, got up from her seat with a pleasant smile.

I blankly watched the duchess’s back as she walked away, then looked up at the ceiling.

“Ha.”

Mother, I’m sorry…

I couldn’t keep my promise in just one day…