If You Leave Without a Word - Chapter 10
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
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Agatha’s face, still shivering as she recalled John’s always sinister gaze directed at her, was closely observed by Cain. If one didn’t know what kind of person he was, one might have mistaken him for a compassionate man who cared about someone’s well-being at the princess’s birthday party where they had coincidentally met.
“No, it’s nothing,” Agatha replied.
The idea of marrying to reclaim the Kristin estate was tempting, but Agatha wasn’t about to be swayed by such sweet words.
“However, I must admit, Lord Cain, I don’t quite understand what you’re saying… to me.”
Agatha looked around once more before leaning closer to Cain.
“Give the Kristin estate to me?”
Agatha whispered, making sure no one was nearby to hear.
It had been a year since her debut. Stella didn’t hesitate to wield the whip on her niece, now an adult. If Agatha showed even the slightest resistance to her demands, Stella ordered the servants to pin Agatha against the wall and whipped her tender back.
The humiliation was even worse than the pain. To be whipped when she had just celebrated her coming of age, in front of servants, was an unthinkable ordeal.
Repetitive torment pushed people into fear, rendering them powerless. Agatha struggled not to succumb to fear, but discussing the fate of the Kristin estate in a place crowded with so many people was genuinely frightening. If Stella found out that Agatha was talking about this, her punishment would not end with the whip.
“Exactly. Accept my proposal, Lady, and I will provide you with the strength to secure the Kristin estate entirely,” Cain urged.
For Agatha, who was struggling desperately on the edge of a cliff, Cain’s words were like a lifeline. However, she couldn’t understand why. Why would someone like him, who had everything, want to grant her such a favor?
Even if he had received some favor from the Kristin estate in the past, it had been more than ten years ago. Moreover, the Kristin estate no longer existed, thanks to him annihilating the Kristin Order of Knights.
“Why are you making such an offer to me?” Agatha asked, genuinely puzzled.
Agatha couldn’t fathom any reason why he would want to marry her when he could have had a choice of anyone else in the marriage market. His desire to marry her, someone whose face he hadn’t even seen, was a complete mystery.
If it were for “love” as he jokingly claimed, that might have been plausible, but any other reason seemed unfathomable.
“Isn’t it true that you attended this party to find a suitable husband, Lady?” Cain continued, his words stinging Agatha’s ears. “Accepting my proposal and avoiding unnecessary trouble might be in your best interest.”
Agatha’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. His words were not entirely incorrect. She had to secure a proposal from some eligible suitor, from any noble family, to use as an excuse to decline Stella’s absurd offer.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
<“And through marriage, it’s not just the lady who obtains what she needs”>
Cain added, tossing an inexplicable proposal before leaving the place. It was still a woefully inadequate explanation.
However, it seemed that Cain had no intention of easing Agatha’s uneasy feelings, as his words ended there. His strange proposal lacked any hints of love or romance.
Agatha was reminded of his nickname once again: Cain Bernat, the Knight of Blood and Ice, who wouldn’t hesitate to use any means necessary to achieve what he wanted, devoid of emotions.
The expression that he wouldn’t hesitate to use any means to obtain what he wanted was associated with him taking control of the Kristin Knights, and the notion of having no emotions was linked to the massacre of the Meseva Kingdom during the war.
It might have sounded somewhat childish and overly passionate as a nickname, but as Agatha faced the strong and resolute young man, she couldn’t think of a more accurate description.
<“Then I shall take my leave. I hope I haven’t disturbed you too much, Lady. Please enjoy the party.”>
With the minimum of business delivered, he seemed to imply that she should think carefully. Then, whether he held no attachment, had great confidence that she would naturally reach the conclusion he desired, or simply didn’t care, he promptly left.
Agatha considered whether to call him back and question him further about this rude and unnecessary proposal, but by the time she regained her senses, Cain was already gone.
She sat there in silence, staring at the empty place where he had been.
