TDWO Chapter 12
by xxsienna
The carriage was fully equipped with every option imaginable.
In the event that a carriage overturned, features such as airbags popping out from the ceiling or fold-out tables in the middle were available.
The coachman who accompanied them also had the image of a high-class, top-tier coachman, just like those seen in ads for coachman services.
‘…Nice. Very nice.’
Sitting in the carriage, Anri pressed her hands against the beige seat. It was soft and felt snug. Somehow, the carriage seemed prettier and cozier than her own room.
It was probably worth the price of a decent mansion, right?
Well, it’s just a carriage to be used temporarily anyway.
After running her hands over the carriage’s walls, windows, and curtains and exploring the interior, Anri finally emerged outside after a while.
The man and Albert were standing there. Albert smiled warmly as soon as Anri appeared.
“I hope the carriage met Lady Wentworth’s expectations. If there are any shortcomings, we will immediately arrange for another carriage.”
Facing Albert, Anri smiled politely.
“Just having these amenities prepared is truly appreciated. Thanks to you, Hendel and Jeffrey can rest comfortably.”
“Of course, Miss. Please use it as much as you wish; it would be our honor.”
“Just hearing that puts my mind at ease. We are also wondering how to repay Sir Kristan’s father for his kindness.”
“Well, I intended to lend it for just about ten days.”
But then, suddenly, the man poured cold water on Anri.
Anri blinked, unsure if she had heard correctly, and looked toward the sound’s source.
She felt like she heard something nonsensical. Of course, it was the man.
The man had put Anri in a serious mood, but he remained calm and cool, as if nothing had happened.
He couldn’t be serious, could he?
“Oh my, you’re stingier than I thought.”
Anri shrugged her shoulders slightly and smiled.
Under the sunlight, Anri’s pink hair and white cheeks shone brighter than usual. Her face was as bright as a flower in full bloom, but inside, she was lashing out at the man.
‘Is he trying to pick a fight with me?’
Edwin, who understood her inner thoughts, found it quite amusing as it aligned with his intentions.
The woman showed interest with just a little provocation.
“Well, we agreed to retrieve it in ten days.”
The man remained businesslike and indifferent, without a hint of laughter.
Unfazed by his demeanor, Anri kept her smile intact.
“Of course. I’ll make sure not to leave a scratch. It’s even more precious because it was lent by someone esteemed.”
“Ahem.”
Albert coughed as if to mediate the ongoing tension between Anri and Edwin.
It was directed at Edwin, of course.
“Haha. Master, you have quite the sense of humor. Don’t worry about it, Miss.”
Despite Albert’s efforts, the tension between Anri and Edwin seemed unyielding.
Having enjoyed Anri’s gaze just enough, Edwin bid farewell.
“It’s time for us to go back already. Please take care of Kristan.”
“Of course. Thanks to the fine herbs that are said to be passed down only to the heir at Sir Kristan’s father’s house, Marilyn will also be well taken care of.”
For some reason, she thought the man was going to tell her not to give any to Marilyn, but he didn’t say a word.
And so the man left the Viscount of Wentworth’s manor.
Unless something special concerning Kristan arose, he wouldn’t return.
Finally, the man’s black carriage disappeared completely out of sight.
Anri, who had been eagerly awaiting the moment, gracefully leaped into the new carriage.
‘Alright. This is nice,’
Lying on the soft seat, Anri pressed her cheek against it.
What kind of leather is it? It’s so soft, like baby skin.
Her body melted into comfort, enjoying the privilege of wealth.
It was something that had to be returned someday, but for now, Anri enjoyed it without a hint of regret.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
“……Your Grace, you seem unusually cheerful today.”
As the carriage smoothly ran along, Albert casually remarked.
It had been quite some time since they left Wentworth Manor.
Albert, mustering up his courage, finally spoke up about something he had been feeling all day.
“Hmm?”
Edwin’s expression shifted from impassive to slightly sardonic as he tilted his head slightly.
He seemed to be silently cursing at Albert for speaking nonsense.
Almost immediately, Albert regretted his boldness.
“Did I even laugh?”
“It’s not that, but…”
Edwin’s eyes seemed to roll slightly, as if considering what else might be on his mind.
He changed his posture and crossed his arms again.
“But I can’t quite tell why you think I look cheerful.”
“Hmmm, Your Grace’s aura? demeanor? atmosphere?”
“…….”
Edwin raised his eyebrows at Albert, as if he saw something unpleasant.
Now Albert was undaunted. With a little laughter, he began to tease Edwin.
“You’ve been talking a lot lately. Even though you don’t know Lady Wentworth very well, you threw around jokes and made comments…”
“Did that sound like a joke to you?”
“Then were you trying to win her favor, perhaps…?”
Albert’s eyes lit up mischievously.
But it only aggravated Edwin’s displeasure, and his mood turned sour.
“Or were you genuinely trying to provoke her?”
“…….”
Edwin remained silent, turning his gaze out the window.
Albert sighed inwardly, wondering if he had been mistaken.
‘Is that not the case?’
He felt a peculiar tension from his lord, but perhaps it was just his imagination.
Whether it was a joke, flirtation, or provocation wasn’t clear, but Edwin’s manner toward Lady Wentworth showed a subtle difference from his usual self.
Albert, who had observed Edwin’s interactions with women thus far, noticed this difference keenly.
His gaze was a little longer, and he was a little more talkative.
The Duchess had seated numerous young ladies beside Edwin for meals and led them onto the dance floor together.
However, the young ladies often ended up in tears afterward.
While Edwin hadn’t been particularly rude or ill-mannered, he had somehow left them feeling oddly hurt and disappointed.
‘Though he wasn’t exactly kind to Lady Wentworth, either.’
Albert concluded that the tension between Edwin and Anri was simply a clash of personalities.
With that, Albert put on a friendly smile again and rubbed his hands together.
“It seems the day of your marriage isn’t far off, Your Grace. I can’t believe it. The Duchess is just counting down the days until the ball, truly.”
“…….”
Edwin felt uneasy at the sudden mention of marriage.
Leaning his head against the backrest, he subtly closed his eyelids and lightly touched his forehead with slender fingertips.
“Isn’t there any way to delay it further?”
“Hmm? Haven’t you done everything except sever your relationship? Now, all you can do is cut ties with your mother.”
His act of kneeling before his mother, expressing his reluctance to marry and vowing a lifetime of obedience, had remained a secret that would go to the grave with him.
He had even once prepared a logically crafted report on why he was not ready for marriage yet.
He had attempted to push forward male relatives in the line of succession to inherit the ducal title if he didn’t have a son.
He had once argued that he preferred work over women, only to narrowly avoid a slap in the face.
But none of it had worked.
“I wish a war would break out.”
“No one goes to war because they don’t want to get married.”
Such is the way of his master.
Albert chuckled awkwardly.
“Since you’ve agreed to it, you might as well give up this time. On the ball’s day, young ladies will fill the hall. Perhaps there will be one among them who will catch your eye.”
“Sigh.”
Edwin let out a deep sigh and dropped his hand.
‘It’s not my wish, but my mother’s.’
He murmured silently, unable to voice his true thoughts in front of Albert.
And many thoughts continued to swirl within him.
Of course, if he were to marry, it would be solely for his mother’s sake.
But he still wasn’t ready to embrace the idea of marriage.
Sharing the same surname with someone makes him uneasy, so there’s no way a normal married life would be possible.
Furthermore, there was one reason he didn’t particularly want to attend the ball where he would find his bride…
It would be unbelievable to others if they heard it.
“In the end, we can’t stop this darn ball.”
Albert raised the corner of his mouth in a wry smile at Edwin’s bleak sigh.
“It is not, in fact, a ball that requires Your Grace’s presence, but, given the Duchess’s reputation, it would be ideal for you to attend.”
For a moment, Edwin glared at Albert with intensified, narrow eyes.
Albert averted his gaze. Even the Duke’s normally fair face seemed to freeze over more intensely.
That air of superiority only added to his allure, making it understandable why he could capture so many hearts as a man.
“…You’re getting more and more witty, Albert.”
Edwin clicked his tongue briefly.
It was when he returned to gazing aimlessly out of the window that a more serious tone resounded.
“…You still can’t trust women, can you?”
“…….”
Edwin’s voice, tinged with bitterness, turned towards Albert.
“Didn’t I tell you I couldn’t trust them since I was four years old?”
“…What? Four years old? Hahaha!”
At Edwin’s serious remark, Albert burst into laughter.
Four years old—while it was a way of saying he couldn’t trust them that much, it was a type of joke that didn’t match the Duke’s usual character, which made Albert laugh even more.
“Guess I never mentioned it.”
Edwin’s cold retort turned back towards Albert.
It was better to just laugh it off, because it would be difficult for someone to believe.
“What did the Duchess say?”
“……What parent would listen to that?”
He had once spoken sincerely to his mother when he was about eighteen.
“I feel like I don’t have enough trust to open my heart to a woman yet.”
However, his mother grabbed him by the shoulders and replied,
“From what I’ve lived, the heart isn’t everything, Edwin. You must first open your body.”
“…….”
His mother said that everything would be resolved from that point on.
It was perhaps a relief that she didn’t ask if something had happened to make him distrust women.
It wouldn’t be pleasant for others to know.
Suddenly, Edwin realized that, at twenty-four years old, there was no other way to avoid his mother’s pressure for marriage.
He was already worn down by her relentless nagging.
There was no woman in sight to make him consider marriage, so his mother was fretting more with each passing day.
Observing her distress was making it impossible for him to continue avoiding the situation.
Now Edwin had to admit the harsh reality: he could no longer postpone marriage.
So, at this upcoming ball, he absolutely had to find a bride.
