Translator : Ariana
Chapter 2. An Unwanted Marriage Proposal (1)
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“What on earth are you talking about?”
Bianca, who was sitting beside the Countess who could not retort, asked instead.
Bianca, who had come along when her new mother remarried Count Dyke when Riena was eight years old, was the same age as Riena. However, in the past 12 years, Riena had never had an intimate conversation with her.
They were family but worse than strangers. That was the perfect description of Riena and Bianca's relationship.
“Well, I thought I was clear enough to avoid any misunderstanding.”
“So, you’re saying that Mother didn’t love the Count?”
“I didn’t say that. I only mentioned that she didn’t seem deeply affectionate.”
“Isn’t that the same thing? And Mother loved the Count very much! You saw her weeping to the point of fainting on the day the Count passed away!”
Was that really genuine though?
Although Riena didn’t understand why Bianca was so insistent that the Countess loved Count Dyke, the fact was that everyone in the manor knew it wasn’t true.
Even Bianca knew this fact.
Their marriage was purely a matter of convenience, and after Aaron was born, they maintained a distant relationship at best.
And wailing? Didn’t she just shed a few tears?
Instead of snapping back, Riena offered an apology.
“Is that so? I’m sorry. It seems I misunderstood. I apologize for misinterpreting Mother’s intentions. As Viscount Rotman said, Mother probably changed her attire quickly to brighten the atmosphere of the manor. Isn’t that right?”
Riena smiled benignly at the Countess. Even though the sarcasm was evident, the words themselves were an apology.
If it had just been the family, it wouldn’t have mattered, but losing her temper in front of Viscount Rotman would only harm her reputation. The Countess gritted her teeth and barely managed to respond.
“Yes, I’m grateful that you understand my intentions now.”
“I’m the one who should be thankful. Thank you, Mother, for enlightening this foolish person like me.”
Riena, still smiling, placed the napkin on the table as Viscount Rotman subtly attempted to place his hand on her thigh. Then, she naturally stood up.
“If you don’t mind, may I excuse myself? I feel a bit dizzy after shedding some tears thinking about Father earlier.”
“Oh, then I shall escort you…”
Riena raised her hand toward Viscount Rotman, who was trying to rise.
“No. I’d like to go alone because I might show an unsightly side of myself. Is that alright?”
“Oh, yes, well…”
Viscount Rotman clicked his tongue.
“If that’s what you wish, I can’t force you. But may I request a walk when you’re feeling better?”
“Yes, of course.”
As long as Viscount Rotman lingered in the manor, Riena wouldn’t feel better. So, she wouldn’t be taking that unpleasant walk with him either.
Unaware of Riena’s thoughts, Viscount Rotman placed his left hand behind his back and slightly bowed as soon as he heard her response.
Riena had to control her expression to keep from grimacing as she saw his right hand extended toward her.
After a moment's hesitation, she reluctantly placed her right hand on his. Soon, Viscount Rotman’s lips touched the back of her hand.
Unlike the thrilling and heart-wrenching kiss of the man in her dream, Viscount Rotman’s kiss, even though it was a noble custom, it only brought discomfort.
Neither his sticky gaze nor his deliberately firm kiss on her hand was pleasing.
It was incomprehensible. The man in her dream kissed her hand without permission, yet it only made her feel pity. Why did Viscount Rotman’s actions annoy her so much?
The answer likely lay in their differing attitudes. The man in her dream conveyed a sense of respect and care for her, whereas Viscount Rotman saw her merely as a possession.
Well, no wonder.
Viscount Rotman’s wife had died this spring in a carriage accident. The wheels had suddenly come off, causing the carriage to roll off a cliff, and the Viscountess had died instantly with her neck broken.
However, rumors were rampant that Viscount Rotman had intentionally caused the accident to kill her.
It was said that after their marriage, the Viscount had frequently abused his wife, and when she demanded a divorce, he couldn’t control his anger and killed her.
There was no way to verify whether the rumors were true. Perhaps only Viscount Rotman knew the truth. But one thing was clear: like the rumors suggested, he didn’t see women as people, but as possessions.
If he truly regarded Riena as a person, he wouldn’t have ogled her body with such a sticky gaze.
Riena forcibly withdrew her hand from his grasp, which he didn’t want to release. Suppressing the urge to immediately run and wash her hands, she barely managed to smile at him.
“Then, I shall take my leave.”
With quick yet elegant steps, she returned to her room, and the first place she headed was the bathroom.
As she walked down the corridor, she was overwhelmed by the sensation of bugs crawling all over her arm, making her want to scream.
She scrubbed her hands with soap until her skin turned red, and only after thoroughly washing them did she leave the bathroom. Upon exiting, she saw her maid Joanna standing there with a troubled expression.
“What…”
Before she could ask what was wrong, Riena realized the reason. The Countess, with a face flushed with anger, was standing in the middle of the room.
Riena sighed deeply and approached her.
“What’s the matter?”
“What’s the matter? Do you really not know?”
“I’m asking because I don’t.”
“This is unbelievable!”
The Countess raised her right hand. Although Riena could sense what was about to happen, she didn’t close her eyes but stared directly at her.
But unlike usual, the Countess didn’t slap her roughly. With Viscount Rotman still in the manor, she couldn’t afford to leave a mark on Riena’s face.
Unable to relieve her anger, the Countess instead slapped Joanna, who was standing behind Riena.
“Mother!”
Riena sharply cried out as she held the staggering Joanna in her arms.
“Don’t call me Mother! If you considered me your mother, you wouldn’t have treated me this way today!”
The Countess’s face turned red as she vented the anger that had been building up all evening.
But Riena found her reaction absurd. The one who should be angry wasn’t the Countess, but herself.
If the Countess had truly considered Riena her daughter, she wouldn’t have arranged a marriage proposal as if she were selling her off.
In fact, her biological daughter Bianca had openly mocked her before dinner, saying, “Your fiancé is here, so why don’t you smile? Well, I can understand why.”
Even so, Riena hadn’t unleashed all her anger at the Countess because, after all, she was still her mother on paper. But to hear such words!
Oblivious to Riena’s anger, the Countess spoke firmly.
“You’re grounded until the wedding. And you’re to stay confined to your room for the next week.”
“Mother!”
“Don’t call me Mother!”
With her anger at its peak, the Countess stormed out of the room. Riena, lacking the energy to follow her, instead examined Joanna’s face. Her left cheek had already swollen red from the force of the slap.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
Joanna’s forced smile brought tears to Riena’s eyes. Joanna was her only personal maid, which meant she was the only person in the manor whom Riena could trust and care about.
The thought that Joanna had been struck in her place made Riena’s heart ache.
“Go to the kitchen and ask for some ice to treat it immediately. If you leave it as it is, it’ll swell even more tomorrow.”
“It’s alright. How could I use expensive ice?”
It was now fully autumn. Although ice was less in demand than in summer, it was also the most expensive time before winter.
“It’s fine. Just tell them I asked for it and get a block of ice.”
“My lady…”
Joanna, overwhelmed by Riena’s insistence, could no longer refuse. With a touched expression, she headed for the kitchen.
Watching Joanna leave, Riena curled up on the bed and began to reflect on the past two months. She couldn’t figure out where things had gone so wrong.
Two months ago, when her father, Count Dyke, suddenly passed away in a horseback riding accident, the atmosphere in the manor had completely changed.
Those who had once followed her father had all turned to the Countess instead of Riena. Seeing this, Riena keenly realized how meaningless a knight’s oath was.
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