Looking for a Husband to Confine Me - Chapter 24.1
Chapter 24.1
I realized the food had been drugged only when a hazy drowsiness began to creep over me.
It was a sleeping draught that had led Amelia Hazel to her disastrous marriage to the mad prince in the original story.
Everything had been arranged while she was unconscious, completely against her will. That experience had instilled in me the habit of biting my tongue or the inside of my cheek, drawing blood, whenever I sensed something amiss.
My blood held a neutralizing agent—my first line of defense.
‘There was a time my mouth was constantly raw because of it.’
The metallic tang of blood, though familiar, was still unpleasant. I tightened my grip on Rettie’s wrist.
“Yes, I’m sure it’s all a misunderstanding. You trying to file the annulment papers on my behalf, trying to force me into another marriage…”
“B-But you were going to break off the engagement with the Duke anyway! If you were going to do it, it’s better to do it quickly. Why are you objecting now?”
“When I do it is my decision, not anyone else’s. Rettie.”
Rettie Hazel bit her lip, no longer bothering to hide her resentment. I shook my head slightly, looking at my foolish sister.
“Rettie, have you considered this?”
“Wh-What?”
I released her wrist. Rettie looked bewildered.
“Why would our parents say nothing to Keliard, but single me out like this?”
“Because you act so self-impor…”
“Impossible.” I cut Rettie off, no longer willing to listen.
“The reason is simple. They’re afraid of Keliard.”
Rettie blinked slowly, as if asking how that could possibly be a reason.
“They can’t control him. Compared to him, I’m much easier to manipulate. But what happens after they marry me off?”
“What are you trying to say? Obviously, once you’re married, that’s the end of it.”
“Will marriage magically erase our massive debt? And even if it did, will it suddenly provide us with enough wealth to live idly for the rest of our lives?”
“….”
Honestly. Why couldn’t she grasp this? It seemed I, the ever-helpful older sister, would have to explain.
“You’re next, Rettie.”
Rettie Hazel. She too could become a victim of a forced, strategic marriage, just like me.
“…!”
“Be careful. They might have already started plotting.”
“Th-That’s not possible. Why… why would they… me…?”
Her voice trembled with anxiety, but her unease was proof enough. She, too, distrusted our parents, distrusted the Hazel family.
“That’s why, Rettie, now more than ever, you need to be on my side.”
“….”
“Don’t you see?” I spoke slowly, watching Rettie stare at me with wide, confused eyes, her mouth opening and closing slightly.
“Think about who is more likely to betray you.”
“….”
“Depending on how you behave, I might even take you to Prince of Kishan’s tea party.”
After all, Vivian wasn’t the only one who knew how to dangle a tempting carrot. It was far less troublesome to use these people to my advantage.
***
Even without Rettie Hazel’s help, uncovering the Count and Countess’s plans wasn’t difficult. I simply had to ask the children to hear, as usual.
However, since I intended to use Rettie, I asked her to tell me their plans. I, in turn, shared my own plans and thoughts with her.
‘Mostly fabricated, of course.’
I didn’t fully trust Rettie Hazel. She would pretend to follow me while feeding information to our parents, and feign obedience to them while whispering secrets to me. Using and betraying each other… what a remarkable family we were.
At least I could be grateful to them for one thing: for their blatant lack of genuine affection, for their constant stream of appalling behavior.
‘It makes it so much easier to turn my back on them without a shred of regret.’
There was no risk of being swayed by familial sentiment.
The carriage stopped. As the door opened, I sat up. The mansion where the Kishan princes resided came into view.
“I can’t believe they invited us to the mansion…”
I had opted for a relatively simple outfit, assuming it was a casual tea party. Seeing the grandeur of the mansion, however, made me wonder if I should have dressed more formally.
“See? I told you! You should have worn a dress!” Rettie grumbled behind me.
Even so, I wasn’t about to wear the kind of elaborate gown suitable for a ball. Ignoring Rettie, I moved to step out of the carriage.
“Allow me to assist you, my lady.” A hand appeared before me, accompanied by a smooth voice. A hand calloused from wielding a sword. I looked up.
“You’re…”
