Bridal Lessons - Chapter 19
If things had gone as planned, she would already be at the home of Mills Esther, a male classmate from the academy, spending the night. Afterward, she would be on her way to Dhanas, switching between express carriages and ships, where his relative lived.
“Come with me, Rosen. My cousin, who runs a large trading company there, can help you find a job. Dhanas is a city adjacent to the harbor, and since many of its important clients are foreigners, they prefer those proficient in languages. You’re good at accounting and foreign languages, so they would definitely welcome you.”
Mills, the third son of the Esther Marquisate, had long desired to become a monk, but his family had always opposed it. He planned to take this opportunity to leave the capital with Rosen, entrust her to his cousin, and then enter a monastery in Dhanas. He believed that once he was admitted to the monastery, his family would have no way to interfere. However, to avoid surveillance before departure, Rosen was to keep their ship tickets.
That was why the two tickets, which had been placed in the pocket of her travel bag, were now fluttering between Iscarion’s long fingers.
Seeing this, Rosen’s eyes widened.
“Give them back!”
“One of these tickets, who is it for? Esther?”
Iscarion asked coldly. As soon as Rosen nodded, the ticket in his hand was torn. For some reason, he seemed livid.
“I didn’t realize you were that close with him. Were you planning to elope?”
“What a misunderstanding… It’s nothing like that!”
Rosen felt very wronged, but she couldn’t reveal the truth. Mills’ plan to secretly leave the capital and become a monk was a secret that could never reach his family’s ears.
“Mills and I are just friends. He was going to help me find a job in Dhanas, so we’re supposed to travel together.”
“Just for friendship, all the way to that far place.”
“There are circumstances that make it necessary…”
Iscarion still didn’t seem to believe her. But Rosen couldn’t understand why he was so angry. Wasn’t he about to ask her to leave anyway? Hadn’t he considered how she would live after leaving the grand duchy?
Or was he worried that rumors of his former fiancée working for a trading company would tarnish the family’s honor? But Iscarion wasn’t the type to be so narrow-minded. So, was it because…
He was angry because she had informed him of the breakup first.
Though times had changed, some old-fashioned people still considered a broken engagement a blemish. Without a clear reason, people usually assumed the fault lay with the one who was rejected.
But he was the Grand Duke of Lutèce. Even if it were a divorce, it wouldn’t hinder his future romantic or marital prospects. Rosen hadn’t thought much of it, but it seemed he was deeply offended.
Perhaps she should have waited until he brought it up first. From his perspective, it was as if he had been betrayed after raising her all this time. Rosen cautiously apologized for her thoughtless actions.
“I’m sorry. Are you very angry?”
“Of course I’m angry.”
Who wouldn’t be upset upon hearing a request for annulment on the day they planned to give their fiancée an engagement ring?
“But you agreed to end the engagement.”
“Yes, I did.”
His cold blue eyes stepped closer, staring at her.
“But don’t you think it’s unfair for you to just run away like this after all the care I’ve given you?”
“Brother! That’s…”
But what was she to do? Just being in this room, which would soon be the bridal chamber for him and another woman, was tormenting Rosen every moment. Whenever she saw Iscarion, she thought of his faceless lover. Furthermore, the new bride wouldn’t be pleased to know the former fiancée was still around, so Iscarion would be in a difficult position too.
“I thought it would be better for you if I left quickly.”
“For me, huh. What great consideration.”
He responded with a raised eyebrow. Seeing Rosen lower her eyes to choose her words, he seemed annoyed, thinking she was avoiding his gaze.
“You said it yourself. You will repay me.”
“W-what?”
Looking at her confused pink eyes, he spoke as if dropping a bomb.
“The cost of raising you.”
“…”
Rosen’s mouth shut tightly at the worst-case scenario.
In truth, she couldn’t remember much of the previous night’s events due to the alcohol. As she had expected, after discussing the breakup, he seemed to be asking for compensation for the cost of her upbringing and education.
Of course, if not for him, Rosen would have long been sent to a convent. It was only because of their engagement that she had been raised at the grand duchy. So, since she had initiated the breakup, repaying the money was the right thing to do if he demanded it. However, estimating the large amount, she knew it was impossible to gather immediately. Rosen had no choice but to plead with a trembling voice.
“I’m sorry, Brother. I can’t repay it right now, but if you give me time, I promise…”
“What should I do? I can’t wait until then.”
