Looking for a Husband to Confine Me - Chapter 23.1
Chapter 23.1
‘I did ask Tepine to bring me a simple dinner, but…’
Today, Kelliard returned to the mansion after a long absence. Even though it’s just for today, and tomorrow life will return to its usual rhythm, I wanted to avoid him as much as possible. He would likely provoke me if he saw me. Since he wouldn’t go so far as to come all the way here just to cause trouble, I skipped dinner and asked Tepine for something light.
‘Tepine would never open the door without knocking.’
I turned my head to see Rettie Hazel’s displeased face. She stood there, holding a tray, glaring at me.
“What is it?”
“I need to talk to you.”
“You should have knocked.”
Rettie sneered, one corner of her lip lifting. “Since when have you cared about that?”
‘I’ve always cared.’
It seemed like she was the one who hadn’t. She clearly didn’t remember.
Rettie came inside, slamming the door behind her. She had initiated the conversation, yet her expression was one of pure annoyance.
“What?”
“Don’t rush me.”
Glaring at me, she slammed the tray down on the table. On it was a simple sandwich and juice—the dinner I’d requested from Tepine.
“You’re scared of brother too, aren’t you? Skipping dinner and asking Tepine for this.”
“It’s not just fear that makes me avoid him,” I replied. Disgust played a much larger role.
Rettie plopped down on a chair, arms crossed, and stared at me. I met her gaze calmly and took a bite of the sandwich.
“Tell me. What is it?”
Watching me chew, Rettie tossed an invitation onto the table.
“What’s this?”
The invitation bore the seal of the Kishan Kingdom. It was unlikely the Kishan Kingdom itself had sent it to me; it was probably from the princes. The invitation was already open. Rettie had checked it first.
“This isn’t yours. You opened it.”
“Shut up. Anyway, take me with you.”
The brief invitation mentioned a desire to express gratitude for a past favor. It was just for refreshments. Why would Rettie want to go?
“Why?”
“I want to meet the princes.”
“Hmm.” It didn’t seem like she had pure intentions. “You have a fiancé.”
I heard the gritting of teeth. “Whose fault is it that that engagement is about to be broken? Would it make you happy if I got jilted too, just like you?”
‘Why is it my fault?’
One of the most irritating things about this family was their tendency to blame me for everything that went wrong. Even when I’d done absolutely nothing.
Seeing my lack of reaction, Rettie anxiously nibbled on her fingernails.
“I’ll help you. Then we’re even, right?”
“What?”
“I’ll tell you about our parents’ plan.”
My appetite vanished. I placed the half-eaten sandwich back on the plate and took a sip of juice. Rettie’s intense gaze followed my every move. I dabbed my lips with a napkin and looked at my sister, my one and only, though not particularly beloved, sibling.
Leaning closer, I asked, “How much did you get?”
“What?”
“Didn’t Vivian pay you? How much was your cut?”
Rettie’s expression hardened. Today, after leaving Luke’s mansion, Vivian went straight to see my parents, the Hazel couple. I could guess the nature of their conversation. My parents would have initially been furious with Vivian, practically blaming her for Hector’s infidelity. But they would have gradually been swayed by her words. Anger aside, they must be realizing that my relationship with the Duke was truly over. In that light, Vivian’s proposal would have been quite tempting.
“What did Vivian say?”
She remained silent.
“Did she say that a quick break from the engagement would be good for the Hazel family, considering how things have turned out?”
Rettie’s lower lip trembled slightly. She tried to maintain a calm facade.
“A quick break so you can move on to the next marriage prospect. Right?”
“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about, Sister.”
“Really? I thought you’d have picked out a few potential suitors for me, along with the money, to pass on to our parents.”
Rettie’s shoulders flinched. She seemed startled that I knew exactly what the Hazel couple had told her.
