Chapter 40: The Fiancé’s Mother Found Out the Secret
Classie felt like her heart was about to explode and quickly nodded her head.
“Yes. Yes! I’m happy!”
She stretched her arms out to hug Kishin, but the thick fur coat she was wearing made it hard to move. Instead of hugging him, she almost dropped the ring box, then awkwardly lowered her arms again.
A small smile formed at the corner of Kishin’s lips.
“You look like a bear dressed like that.”
“Is it cute?”
“Very.”
Kishin gently took her hand and once again brought the ring to her finger.
But just as the cold winter ring brushed against her fingertip, Merran came running with her coat flapping and smacked their hands apart.
The unexpected force made Classie stumble, and Kishin hurriedly caught her.
But the ring flew out to the side and rolled onto the roadside.
Classie was about to hold it in her hand—only for it to disappear, and rage surged up from within her.
“What are you doing?”
She forgot all about keeping composure in front of Kishin and protested at Merran.
“I should be the one asking that. Don’t embarrass yourself.”
But Merran answered boldly and glared at Kishin as she snapped,
“Sir Kishin, you really have no manners. It’s not your place to propose—it should be done by your parents. Your parents and my grandparents should be the ones having a proper discussion. Why are you handing my aunt some cheap ring like that on the side of the road? Don’t even think of toying with her just because she’s kind.”
Classie wanted to toss Merran right back into the carriage. What business is this of yours? The words were on the tip of her tongue.
“Merran, that’s enough.”
“No, you stop. You’re the one embarrassing me. What are you doing in the middle of the road like this?”
“Kishin is the one proposing and I’m the one accepting, so why are you embarrassed? And it’s not like we’re in the middle of a main road or a city square.”
“Even if no one’s watching, you should still maintain your dignity!”
Merran scolded Classie instead, then shot another sharp glare at Kishin.
Her attitude, as if she were fiercely protecting Classie, left Classie both dumbfounded and fuming inside.
It was because she knew that if Merran kept pretending to defend her like this while interfering, it would only make it harder for Kishin to respond.
However, Kishin didn’t even bother replying to Merran and instead turned back to Classie with another question.
“I just proposed. Are you still planning to go to Greengold City?”
Merran’s jaw dropped.
“Auntie, Auntie! Did you hear that? Look what he said—he doesn’t even want you to visit your hometown!”
Before Merran could start yelling again, Classie quickly answered.
“No. I need to stay and prepare for the wedding.”
Merran spun around as if Classie had lost her mind and smacked her arm.
“Auntie! Get a grip! What are you doing? Are you going to throw away your hometown over a man?”
“You’re the one blowing things out of proportion without even knowing the full story. When did I ever say I’m throwing away my hometown? I never even mentioned it.”
“That’s the same thing!”
“How is it the same? That’s just what you think. And I already told Sir Kishin a few days ago: if we got engaged, I wouldn’t go to my hometown this time. I said that first.”
The look Merran gave Classie was like she was staring at a traitor to the family.
Classie felt like crying. After Kishin had spent days reconsidering and came all this way to win her back, she was stuck fighting with Merran even in this emotional moment.
Just for this moment, she regretted even the vow she had made with her eldest sister.
Tears welled up in Merran’s eyes, and she clung to Classie’s arm like a child.
“I don’t even care about going to the hometown. I just thought it would be a hard journey, so I gave up three whole months to be by your side. I did it because I didn’t want you to go through it alone. And now, because of one man, are you really going to throw that all away?”
With her big eyes full of tears, Merran looked just like a sorrowful little deer. Classie opened her mouth to speak, slightly softened by her niece’s plea.
But Kishin spoke first.
“She’s right. By the way, did either of you happen to run into Dernick?”
Classie blinked, confused by the sudden change of topic.
“Sir Dernick? Why bring him up all of a sudden?”
Merran also looked puzzled as she turned to Kishin.
He replied in his usual calm tone.
“Dernick also left for Greengold City today. I suppose you didn’t cross paths.”
Classie couldn’t understand why Kishin was bringing this up now of all times.
But whatever the reason, Merran’s mood had turned icy. Just moments ago, she had been clinging to Classie like she’d never let go, and now she was wiping her tears and staring off into the distance.
At that moment, Kishin gave Classie a quick, sly wink.
Classie was startled, but by the time she looked, Kishin was already back to his usual cold expression.
‘Did he really just wink at me?’
She stared at his face intently, but any hint of emotion had already vanished without a trace.
Instead, the previously silent Merran asked,
“Auntie. Did you tell Sir Kishin that I like Sir Dernick?!”
“No.”
“Then why did he suddenly bring that up? Isn’t that basically telling me to chase after Sir Dernick and go to Greengold, so he can be alone with you?”
Merran fired back like an angry calf, and the once-stoic Kishin let out a light laugh. Perhaps deciding it was no longer worth ignoring her, he responded in a more gentle voice,
“You’re quite clever, Miss Merran. You’d make a fine entry-level investigator.”
‘Entry-level…’
Merran glared back and forth between Classie and Kishin. Classie felt wrongfully accused.
“I seriously didn’t say anything.”
She, too, was curious. How had Kishin figured out Merran’s feelings? Whatever the method, Kishin’s move had hit right on target.
“Well, since my aunt and uncle are clearly trying to get rid of me, I guess I should go help them. You two have fun.”
Merran spoke coldly as she turned to leave—but not before calling Kishin uncle. She’d clearly remembered that he and Dernick were close and was trying to score points with him.
What followed was a bit of chaos. The servants had to sort through the luggage to separate Classie’s from the group, repacking it all into a single four-wheeled carriage.
Classie and Merran also had to make sure their belongings didn’t get mixed up. One coachman remained behind, and everyone else departed with Merran.
Apparently her anger had cooled, as she waved to Classie from the window before leaving. While the coachman finished organizing the bags, Classie and Kishin began searching for the fallen ring.
They bent over to examine the ground, and whenever the blood rushed to her face, Classie would straighten up and tap her back.
Kishin would follow suit, stretching his back and gently patting hers.
His hand was steady and reassuring, but after just a couple of pats, Classie became so shy she ran ahead to avoid him.
Luckily, Kishin found the ring in a muddy patch. He looked down at the dulled, dirty ring and murmured,
“I’ll put it on you again later. After I wash it, of course.”
Instead of replying, Classie simply slipped her finger into the ring he was holding.
Then, glancing up at him cautiously, she saw a faint smile tugging at his lips. She cradled her hand with the ring like a precious treasure and said seriously,
“No take-backs. It’s mine now. Even if you get mad or annoyed at me, you can’t take it back. Even if you ask for it, I won’t give it to you. If you try, I’ll swallow it.”
“I won’t ask for it back. Not even once. Not in my lifetime.”
“No, you don’t have to go that far. Just, like, after we’re married, three years—”
She had meant to say after three years of marriage, even if they divorced, she could still maintain inheritance rights.
But when Kishin’s gaze suddenly turned ice-cold, Classie quickly changed her words.
“Forever! I meant forever. You’re mine forever.”
* * *
The sudden, unannounced visit from the Grand Duchess of Siwil threw the entire Gosville Marquisate into a stir. Although the two women were known to be close, it was extremely rare for the Grand Duchess to show up without notice.
“Your Grace, what brings you here all of a sudden?”
The Marchioness had been enjoying a relaxing moment, but quickly changed her clothes and came out to receive the Grand Duchess.
The Grand Duchess removed her hat and handed it to a maid, looking quite apologetic as she spoke.
“I’m sorry for dropping by like this. But the information I found out was just too shocking—I had to tell you right away.”
“Information?”
“You remember, don’t you? At that party we held at our place a while back, Kishin was getting along really well with a woman. She was stunningly beautiful, but none of us had seen her before. I said I’d find out who she was. Do you remember?”
The Marchioness dismissed the attendants around them. The fact that the Grand Duchess described what she learned as “too shocking” made her uneasy.
She took a seat across from the Grand Duchess, her expression tense.
“What kind of woman was she?”
* * *