Bridal Lessons - Chapter 2
His slightly upturned eyes would precisely resemble a feline if one were to say so, but because of his overall round eyes and delicate features, Rosen appeared more like a young, naive cat trying to act aloof rather than a haughty one.
Looking at her as if she were a suddenly grown child, he handed her a glass filled with a pale liquid with a somewhat admiring expression.
As Rosen accepted the glass, her eyes briefly met his, who was staring intently at her. Perhaps it was due to her current anxious state, but his deep blue eyes, which had always been as calm as a deep lake, suddenly felt like a swirling swamp, causing her to hastily turn her head.
His gaze, which lingered even after Rosen turned her face away, gradually receded after a while.
Shortly after, he, now with his usual kind expression, added gently,
“Try it. It’s not very strong, so this should be manageable.”
“Yes, Brother…”
Anyone overhearing their conversation would have thought they were a loving brother and sister. Rosen herself had once wished that he were truly her brother.
However, they were undeniably betrothed. This spring marked the twelfth they had shared together. Their relationship had remained unchanged despite the passing seasons… While constancy can be ideal in some situations, it can also mean a lack of progress.
Thus today, Rosen had decided to be the first to bid farewell to this relationship that only brought her emptiness.
She recalled her happy childhood, cherished by her parents and protected by her older brother. Misfortune struck without warning one day, taking everything away.
She was the only survivor of a carriage accident on her sixth birthday trip, losing her entire family. A distant relative, who was a stranger even in appearance, suddenly appeared and exploited a loophole in imperial law to seize her title and inheritance.
When she was about to be sent to a remote convent, rumored to be a place one could never leave once entered, he was the only one who extended a hand to her.
“Don’t cry. I will become your family now.”
As a close friend of her brother, he had often visited their house and treated Rosen like his own sister. His act of salvation was likely driven by a mix of loyalty to his deceased friend and sympathy for the young girl who had always followed him eagerly.
At the time, imperial law imposed many stringent conditions on taking in a child for guardianship. Adoption was only possible for married couples, and since his parents, the previous duke and duchess, had passed away long ago, betrothal was the only viable option.
“Rosie, you remember how I taught you to write your name? Just write it next to mine here.”
“Mm.”
“Here too.”
“Mm, done!”
Rosen, who successfully wrote her name in wobbly letters next to Iscarion’s signature, looked up at him proudly. Among the words filling the white document, there were still many she couldn’t read.
“But what is a betrothal? It says it here… Mom and Dad said they were married.”
“You’re still a baby, Rosie, so you can’t get married yet. A betrothal means you promise to get married when you grow up. Like making a pinky promise. Understand?”
“So, I’ll live with you later too? Forever and ever?”
“That’s right, forever and ever.”
“Wow…!”
In her innocent childhood, it didn’t matter whether she was his fiancée or younger sister. She was just happy that she wouldn’t have to see the scary man who took over her father’s study and that she wouldn’t be sent away to a far-off place, as long as she could stay with him.
When she was left alone in the world, he warmly embraced her, becoming a caring brother and even filling the void left by her parents, becoming her new family.
Having already inherited his title early on, he was respected as a nobleman and was particularly generous to Rosen. Thanks to him, she grew up bright and cheerful, receiving treatment akin to that of a noble lady at the grand duchy.
As time passed and she began to sense the differences between men and women and gradually understood romantic feelings, it seemed only natural that she would fall in love with the kind Iscarion. She had voluntarily started learning the ins and outs of managing the grand ducal household, prepared for the difficult academy entrance exams, and studied more, all to become a woman worthy of him.
However… Rosen realized the futility of her efforts when she had her debutante ball shortly after coming of age.
“Look, it’s that girl. The one who entered holding the Grand Duke’s hand earlier… I heard she’s sixteen years old.”
“Oh my, so it’s true. They say he made the young sister of his destitute friend his fiancée. Is that why the Grand Duke hasn’t married yet…?”
“Yes. At that time, His Highness was also young and made a hasty decision out of affection, and now he’s stuck, unable to expel her from his house.”
The Grand Duchy of Lutèce, a powerful house renowned for its prestige comparable to the imperial family of the great empire of Kylon. Iscarion was a high-ranking noble, cousin to the current emperor and the most beloved nephew of the previous emperor, with a mother who was a princess.
While the continent was currently stable, there had been times when other nations invaded border areas or skirmishes occurred due to disputes over imperial interests. In such times, he led his soldiers to the front lines, fulfilling his duty as a noble with imperial blood.
Even before reaching adulthood, he achieved great feats in wars, and all the battles he led ended in victory. Thus, people continued to revere him even in the present peaceful times.
