Bridal Lessons - Chapter 10
The next day, Rosen barely managed to get up and make her way to the dining room, where she was at a loss for words when she saw the food laid out for her. On her plate were the same dishes she had left the day before: bean soup, eggplant, and a dried-out fish. After a full day, the eggplant and fish had become very hard, and the bean soup, improperly stored, had developed a strange smell.
“This is your meal. Eat up.”
“How can I… eat this…?”
Mrs. Damon replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world to the speechless Rosen.
“Are you suggesting we just throw away the food you left? There are still people starving outside, yet you don’t appreciate the value of food.”
“That’s not true!”
“I understand that if His Highness hadn’t taken you in, you wouldn’t be in a much different situation yourself…”
“…”
“Lady Ellen is right, you indeed lack many qualities to become the Grand Duchess.”
Criticisms of her lack of nobility and poise followed. Rosen, tearful from Ellen’s comments about losing her parents early, picked up the spoon.
Just as she was about to take a spoonful of the foul-smelling bean soup, someone took the spoon from her hand from behind. Rosen turned around, her eyes wide in surprise.
“…Brother!”
“Your Highness!”
Everyone was shocked to see Iscarion calmly swallow the spoiled soup. Without a moment’s hesitation, he also picked up the dried-out fish. Ellen stood up abruptly.
“Grand Duke! How can you eat that…”
“Isn’t it a noble’s virtue not to waste food?”
Without batting an eye, Iscarion ate all the spoiled food in front of Rosen. Finally, he put down the spoon and looked at those involved in this incident.
“You dare torment Rosen while I’m away. If this happens again, I will not tolerate it, even if it’s you, Aunt.”
“Torment? As an adult, I was merely teaching a spoiled child some manners. Does that deserve such words?”
“She is to be my wife, so it’s my responsibility to teach her manners. Furthermore, I forbid you from visiting the grand duchy without my permission from now on.”
“…Iscarion!”
Ellen stood up, her face red with anger.
“How dare you! I’ve cared for you since you were a child. I am your aunt!”
“That’s why I’m being this lenient. If anyone else had dared to treat my fiancée like this, they would have been thrown out already.”
“Thrown out? This is my family’s estate too! I’ve never heard of needing permission to visit my own home!”
“That was when my parents were alive. Now, it’s my house.”
He held Rosen’s hand firmly, his lips curling into a cold smile.
“And it’s Rosen’s home too.”
“How… how can you do this to a family elder…”
“I guess it’s because I’m also a child without parents. So, unless you bear the Lutèce name, please leave. Come, Rosen.”
“Isca, Isca!”
“Is Aunt, is Aunt going to be okay?”
Leaving the trembling and pale-faced Ellen behind, Iscarion walked away with Rosen. Once they were alone outside the dining room, Rosen suddenly remembered something and pulled her hand away from his.
“Rosen.”
“Sniff, she said it’s all fake…”
“What are you talking about?”
“She said… if you didn’t kneel and propose, it’s not real…”
Rosen, taking a step back, started to cry again. Ever since Eloise’s words, she couldn’t shake the thought. She didn’t believe Iscarion had lied to her, but in fairy tales, princes always kneel when proposing to princesses.
“Look at me, Rosie.”
Understanding why his young fiancée was crying, Iscarion smiled softly.
“Sniff, sniff…”
“Don’t cry. Okay?”
He slowly bent down on one knee. Meeting her eyes, he took Rosen’s hand gently.
“My precious Lady Rosénia.”
He kissed her small hand and whispered softly.
“Will you marry me? Will you grant me the noble honor of spending my life with you?”
“…Yes.”
He looked even more princely than those in fairy tales, making Rosen nod with a blushing face. After a moment, Iscarion stood up and patted her little head.
“But still, you should try to eat beans and eggplant sometimes. To grow quickly and not keep the Grand Duchess’s position empty for long.”
“Yes, I will! Rosie will eat beans and eggplant well from now on.”
“Good, grow up fast.”
Seeing her clench her fists with determination, Iscarion chuckled softly.
