FWRP 09

Chapter 9

Could it have been because the smile that blossomed like a drop of water falling onto the surface and spreading outward was warmer and gentler than she had expected?

The moment she saw the faint curve of his lips, Vanessa stared at him with her mouth slightly open.

“…That doesn’t sound like something the man who filled an entire contract with no physical contact should be saying.”

“Love isn’t necessarily expressed through physical contact, is it?”

“…”

“I didn’t take you for someone so narrow-minded.”

“N-Narrow-minded? Any grown adult would have thoughts like that at least once…”

“I place great importance on emotional connection.”

“…”

“Not physical. Mental.”

“…Look at the saint over here.”

“Looks like I’ve already made plans to become a saint around the age of forty.”

Ian answered as though it were nothing and gave a small chuckle.

The puffed-up cheeks Vanessa had worn when they first met had already returned to normal.

“Is there anything else you want to complain about?”

“…”

“If not, I’ll see you off here. Denion, see my future wife home safely.”

For someone who had just promised to fulfill her romantic dreams, his farewell was remarkably cold.

But Vanessa had no reason left to stay, so she had no choice but to quietly accept his dismissal.

Leaving the butler behind, who stood a little distance away and looked back and forth between her and Ian with an awkward expression, Vanessa began walking away.

“Vanessa. Was the dress you’re going to wear all right?”

At the sound of Ian’s voice behind her, Vanessa unconsciously gripped the hem of her skirt.

“I like the dress, but the jewelry is too much. Take that part out.”

“Oh. That’s unfortunate. I’ve already placed the custom order.”

“…”

“Perhaps next time, you should make your visit a little more prompt.”

Vanessa’s head whipped around at the implication that he had deliberately gotten ahead of her because he knew she’d like it.

But when she saw Ian’s face, wearing a faint smile, the mouth that had opened to protest firmly closed again.

“…Forget it. I don’t want to start breaking the conditions already.”

The distance between the Charose and Ruscliff ducal residences was more than ten minutes by carriage.

In other words, if she wanted to stop him from making decisions on his own like this, she needed to spend more time with him.

Though he had phrased it indirectly, he was essentially telling her to move into the Ruscliff residence.

At her tactful refusal, Ian didn’t add anything and simply nodded.

“I’ll tell you in advance when it’s time for the fitting.”

“I think I’m going to cry from gratitude, so I’ll be leaving now.”

Once Vanessa’s puffed-up cheeks had completely disappeared from his sight, Ian’s brow twisted painfully.

He took the cigar he’d kept in the inner pocket of his jacket and lit it without hesitation.

As the scent of mint brushed past his nose, Ian’s breathing gradually settled.

“Duke Ruscliff.”

“…Your Highness. You didn’t wait.”

“There was quite a commotion.”

Leaving the sly grin of the other man behind, Ian filled his gaze with the sight of Vanessa visible through the window of the ducal residence.

Judging by the force in her footsteps, she clearly wasn’t very pleased with his preparations.

So she wants a marriage between two people who love each other…

Ian bit down firmly on his cigar before turning around.

“How are the preparations for the officiating going?”

At Ian’s question, the man shrugged.

“Thanks to someone.”

“What could possibly be difficult about it? All I have to say is, ‘Congratulations.’”

“So I don’t even need to prepare a wedding speech.”

The man patted Ian on the shoulder twice.

“Leave at least one thing inadequately prepared. Then I’ll have an excuse to tell the woman who will become Empress that there’s at least one thing I’m better at.”

“You’ve decided on the Third Princess?”

“For now.”

“Wouldn’t the Second Princess be better? At least choosing a woman who has something in her hands…”

“That’s precisely why.”

A deep smile spread across the man’s lips.

“She knows very well that she holds a position in name only.”

“…”

“So it will be easier to impose my ambitions upon her. If she has nothing, then there’s nothing for her to protect.”

“How much of her territory are you planning to carve up?”

“Who knows? I don’t know how much it will take to fill my stomach. Is there a region you want? I’ll give it to you as a wedding present.”

“…”

“If you don’t have one, I’ll divide it up however I please.”

“…Give me Delphiro.”

At Ian’s words, the man grinned, baring his teeth.

“Delphiro. Yes, I’ve heard of the curse on your family there.”

“That’s not the only reason.”

Ian glanced toward the entrance of the residence, where the Charose carriage had been parked moments ago, and slowly drew on his cigar.

“It doesn’t seem like a bad place for a honeymoon.”

At Ian’s murmured words, the man took half a step backward.

His expression remained as emotionless as if he were reading one of the Empire’s famously thick history books, yet he had just casually uttered something like that.

The man looked at Ian and shook his head in disbelief.

“A honeymoon? Coming from you? I can’t think of a word that suits you less.”

At the man’s words, the corner of Ian’s mouth twitched.

He took a deep drag from his cigar and turned away.

“Obviously.”

He’s crazy. He’s completely crazy. There is absolutely no way someone sane could do this!

Early that morning, the moment Vanessa saw the dress that had arrived at the residence, she had to suppress the urge to tear her hair out.

[This is your fitting dress.

I thought it would be better to send it directly rather than tell you in advance ^^.]

He had said that he would tell her beforehand on the day of the fitting, so she’d assumed she would be going to the salon.

She had never imagined that he would send the dress to her residence outright.

The irritating little smiley face only made Vanessa angrier.

“Ian Ruscliff…!”

Grinding her teeth as she muttered his name, Vanessa called over one of the salon employees who was busily moving about.

“You.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Isn’t this dress a little too much?”

The employee tilted her head at Vanessa’s question before letting out a small gasp.

“I think it will make Your Grace’s beauty shine even more!”

…That wasn’t what she had asked.

Vanessa swallowed a sigh.

“What I mean is… wouldn’t it be better to at least remove the jewels attached to the neckline?”

“Uh…”

The employee glanced at the neckline of the fitting dress, then looked back and forth between it and Vanessa.

“No! If you removed them, the dress would be completely overwhelmed by Your Grace’s beauty!”

Vanessa flinched at the employee’s passionate response.

“It wouldn’t be able to show its full potential!”

…Exactly. She wasn’t looking for compliments.

The employee’s survival instincts were stronger than Vanessa had expected.

If even one person had played along with her, Vanessa had intended to use their reaction as an excuse to steer things in the direction she wanted.

But when Vanessa rolled her eyes around, searching for another potential ally, every employee avoided her gaze as though they had all made a pact beforehand.

Haah…

No matter where she looked, it was excessive.

It seemed even more dazzling than the magnificent chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

At least there won’t be any trouble seeing in the middle of the night.

The jewels alone were enough to make her eyes hurt!

Vanessa screamed internally before forcing a smile at the employee slowly approaching to take her measurements.

“I just ate, so… I’m sorry, but could we take my measurements later?”

She needed to put this off for now.

If they took her measurements, it would feel as though she really had to wear that dress at the wedding.

It wasn’t that she, as the daughter of a noble family, had no interest whatsoever in beautiful and extravagant things.

But this was simply too much.

It wouldn’t have been an exaggeration to say that they had casually pulled up at least one of the Empire’s foundations and thrown it into the dress.

It was far too extravagant—and burdensome—for Vanessa to wear.

This isn’t just going to get people talking for a few days. They might actually start criticizing the bride.

They could easily publish gossip claiming that she’d plundered her husband’s fortune just to indulge in extravagance, and she wouldn’t even have anything to say in her defense!

Of course, considering the wealth of the Ruscliff ducal family, a dress like this probably wouldn’t even make much of a dent in their fortune.

It’s too much…

After silently cursing countless times, Vanessa let out a deep sigh.

It would be a lie to say she had never wanted expensive diamonds or a magnificent wedding.

Especially when she remembered the rather modest and hastily arranged wedding she’d had in her previous life.

But after seeing Ian, who had listed all sorts of conditions as part of their marriage agreement, Vanessa simply couldn’t understand what was happening.

This is a loveless marriage.

“Let’s do it. If a love so desperate that you can’t imagine being with anyone else is your romantic ideal.”

Of course, Ian had said that.

But Vanessa didn’t believe him.

He was probably just joking.

Was he really the kind of man who would go this far for feelings that didn’t even exist?

Surely…

Ian in his forties hadn’t been like this.

Vanessa stared at the smiley face written in his letter for a moment before giving a small shake of her head.

“I think it would be better to schedule the fitting for another day.”

At Vanessa’s sudden declaration, the employees who had been diligently fussing over the dress stopped moving.

“Um… Your Grace.”

The employee who had enthusiastically praised the dress just moments earlier cautiously approached, measuring tape in hand.

“I’m sorry, but His Grace gave us very strict instructions…”

“What instructions?”

“Well…”

She exchanged a glance with another employee who had been adjusting the dress.

Then she pulled the measuring tape out to its full length with a sharp snap.

“No matter what happens, His Grace told us to make absolutely certain that the fitting is completed today.”

She bowed her head.

“Please forgive us for our rudeness!”