Chapter 262
“Have you completely given up the idea of divorce?”
“…I have.”
Though it seemed his wife was still thinking about divorce.
At Ash’s troubled gaze, Hozi spoke in a teasing tone.
“That’s why I told you, it’s something you’ll only know if you wait and see.”
He did remember hearing something like that, but had that been what he meant?
When Ash glared at him irritably, Hozi delivered the final blow.
“I suppose I should offer my condolences in advance, Your Grace, for the exhausting nights ahead.”
It was a petty act of revenge toward his superior who had kept him late into the night.
“…Get out.”
“I was just about to leave anyway. Then I’ll be on my way.”
As Ash glared with his forehead twisted into a fierce scowl, Hozi left the room with lively steps.
“Ha…”
Left alone, Ash sighed and rubbed his face with his palm.
That had been what worried him the most.
He had asked Nina whether sharing a room with him would make her uncomfortable, but in truth, he would be the one being tortured.
After all, no man could remain unaffected with the person he liked right beside him.
* * *
At Count Bernard’s residence, three people were seated in the drawing room.
Count Bernard and Sophia.
And Countess Coventry.
“…You’re calling something like that a marriage proposal?”
When Count Bernard asked with a flushed face, Countess Coventry frowned.
“My, what do you mean ‘something like that’? It’s true he’s older and this would be a second marriage, but he doesn’t even have children, does he?”
“You expect me, in my right mind, to take in a man my own age as a son-in-law?”
“With Sophia’s reputation, it won’t be easy to find a match like this again. And after the broken engagement not long ago, it will be even harder to arrange a marriage going forward.”
“Y-You…!”
Countess Coventry was his wife’s older sister.
Unable to curse at her outright, he trembled with anger, and Countess Coventry spoke as if she were being considerate.
“Sophia, try to think realistically. You’re of age now, so shouldn’t you be thinking about marriage soon?”
“…Aunt, thank you for your concern, but I’ll handle my marriage myself.”
After being publicly humiliated because of Duchess Bayern, Sophia’s reputation had continued to decline.
Rumors that she had approached a married man were fatal for a woman.
And now, after the engagement had been broken amid tears at the engagement party, it was obvious that marriage would not come easily.
“Anyway, think about it positively. If you miss this opportunity, later you might end up marrying a man who already has children.”
Sophia bit her lip and clenched the hem of her skirt. It was impossible to believe that her aunt’s interference came from pure goodwill.
Even before, Sophia had not been on good terms with her aunt’s daughter for certain reasons.
“I’d rather send my daughter to a convent than marry her off to such a man! There’s nothing more to discuss, so please leave.”
Clicking her tongue, Countess Coventry gathered her handbag and stood.
“If you change your mind, let me know. You know the Lambert Marquisate is hosting a charity party soon, right? You can tell me then.”
Count Bernard’s face turned beyond red and began to darken.
After Sophia’s engagement had fallen through, Count and Countess Bernard had temporarily stopped their social activities.
Moreover, they had no connection with House Lambert, so they hadn’t even heard about the party.
There was no way she didn’t know that.
It was obvious she intended to mock House Bernard by flaunting her connection with House Lambert.
“I won’t change my mind, so take that proposal somewhere else.”
“Then I’ll be on my way.”
After Countess Coventry left, Count Bernard pressed his throbbing temple and spoke.
“…Sophia, can you really trust Duchess Bayern?”
“I trust her.”
She was the person who had driven her life into the mud, and yet she still trusted her.
Because the warmth and apology she had received from the Duchess that day had been sincere.
“If things really don’t work out, I can just enter a convent like you said, Father.”
“Do you even hear yourself…!”
Just as she smiled while looking at the Count, who shouted at her with a bewildered expression.
“Miss, a letter has arrived for you. It’s from House Bayern, so please read it right away!”
“House Bayern? Give it to me!”
Even though the letter was addressed to Sophia, because the matter concerned his daughter’s future, Count Bernard hurriedly tore open the envelope before anyone else.
“J-Just what am I reading right now…?”
Count Bernard’s eyes trembled in disbelief as he read the letter.
That was only natural, because it contained an invitation for them to attend the ‘charity party of House Lambert’ together.
