Chapter 3
“Keivrand Green? Are you sure it’s Count Green? The guardian of the sacred relics?”
Britney’s eyes widened.
What Iris just said about her father was forgotten as if it had never existed the moment she heard the name Keivrand Green.
“Yes. He just arrived a little while ago and is now in the drawing room with the Duke.”
“What brings him here?”
“I overheard him saying something about the Duke’s esteemed daughter as they went into the drawing room. I couldn’t hear them well because of their low voices, but…”
“The Duke’s esteemed daughter? Me? Is he talking about me?”
“Of course. Who else could it be?”
Britney’s face flushed.
Keivrand was now the most popular man in high society.
As he was the guardian of the sacred relic and had the protection of the Divine Kingdom, even the Emperor couldn’t treat him recklessly. Even though his title was Count, he had the same power as a Grand Duke.
But that was only secondary. The important thing was Keivrand’s appearance.
He was simply beautiful. With his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs, he was praised as a statue of God’s greatest creation.
Even the unkempt black hair and blue-gray eyes under the dark eyebrows were breathtaking.
The red lips beneath the perfectly shaped nose were moist and tempting. So much so that many women imagined them pressed against their skin.
Noblewomen wanted to be Keivrand’s wife, and would drool at the thought of being his lover.
However, unlike his beautiful appearance, Count Keivrand of the Divine Kingdom was modest. There has never been a scandal of him sleeping around.
“As a matter of fact. Last time at the party, Count Green asked me to dance with him once.”
Although it’s true that she had danced with him, it wasn’t him who had offered.
Britney had carefully approached him and asked for a dance, and because it’s not polite to refuse a lady’s proposal for a dance, Keivrand simply accepted it.
But in her memory, it was glorified and had turned into Keivrand’s desperate request for a dance.
“We talked a lot while dancing at that time…”
“I think that’s it, Miss. He must have had a crush on you since then.”
The maid quickly told Britney what she wanted to hear.
“That has to be it, right?”
“Of course. Miss is so beautiful. You’re also a great dancer. Which man wouldn’t fall for you?”
“What if he asks me to marry him?”
“How do you feel about him, Miss? Do you like Count Green?”
“I don’t know.”
Actually, she was dying of happiness.
“That was the first time we spoke. But since he has come all the way here, let’s see him and talk a little bit more.”
“In any case, not like this. You should go and change your dress.”
“Right, right. I should.”
As if she had forgotten about Iris’ existence, Britney took the maids and servants out of the room.
Iris picked up the corset with an expressionless face and threw it sideways.
She didn’t even give the dress that she had to wear for Alfred a second glance as she picked up her clothes that were hung on a chair.
An old dress that was a little better than the one worn by the maids.
After putting on the dress, Iris stood in front of the mirror.
The tied hair didn’t match the old dress.
So she pulled out one pin to fix it.
The silver hair that has a tinge of pink fell down to the back of her neck.
She ran her fingers across her messy hair and smiled.
The way she looked now was more splendid than ever, she thought.
* * *
Duke Reuben Whittle looked at Keivrand with a perplexed expression.
“That child?”
“Yes, her. You’ve only mentioned your eldest daughter Britney. Is the youngest, Miss Iris, not your daughter too?”
At Keivrand’s slow flowing words as if saying he knew what the circumstances of the Whittle family is, Reuben swallowed a dry saliva.
Keivrand continued.
“I’m here because I want to establish a connection with the Whittle family.”
At that moment, Reuben could guess it to be a military or economic alliance.
“I’ve heard that Duke Whittle’s esteemed daughter is very beautiful…”
Reuben had naturally thought Keivrand meant Britney.
It was because Britney, who has recently gone to a party, has been talking nonstop about how Count Green had asked her for a dance.
Although the Whittle family is a dukedom, it was on a path of decline. That’s why Keivrand Green, who also happens to be the guardian of the sacred relics, was a very coveted man.
However, rumor has it that he wasn’t interested in anything other than looking for the sacred relics, so Reuben had given up without even thinking of trying.
That’s why he thought it was an opportunity when Keivrand came to him on his own and asked about his daughter.
“I want to spend the rest of my life with Miss Iris.”
Keivrand had said as such.
Reuben never could have imagined that it was Iris who Keivrand had come to see.
With the excuse that he wanted to nurture her, so much so that he was cautious of exposing her to the world, he hasn’t even sent Iris to any parties.
She was only shown to men who could be a source of benefit to the Whittle family. And through their mouths, Iris had become the flower of Duke Whittle.
Everyone is curious about Iris, but she has never made her debutante in high society, so there are many men who want to see her.
That’s how Iris’ worth went up, and not long ago, Alfred had mentioned the Lavent’s gold mine, in which a contract was going to be signed today.
However, Alfred, who was supposed to come, didn’t. It was Keivrand who had suddenly arrived and asked him for Iris’ hand.
It was an awkward situation.
“Oh, that, um…But our eldest daughter hasn’t married yet.”
Keivrand’s lips twisted up at the poor excuse.
Seeing the cold smile, Reuben swallowed a dry saliva.
“Who cares about that these days? You know that Count Rodvern and Marquess Prunta had their youngest and second youngest married off. Even the third and fifth princes of the Gavizar Empire got married before the eldest.”
Keivrand spoke slowly.
“Do you think this Keivrand Green is not good enough to be the son-in-law of Duke Whittle?”
“N-no way. Never. That’s not it, Count Green. It’s just…our Iris is shy and frail…I don’t think she’s ready to get married yet. In fact, she’s afraid of socializing in high society.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Keivrand’s lips rose.
A smile that wasn’t a smile. One that was devoid of laughter. Reuben had come to experience it first hand.
“I’m glad to hear that, which makes it all the more tempting.”
It was a disaster.
Reuben quickly wracked his head to find another reason.
“As you know, marrying for love is the trend these days. My Iris has told me so many times that she wants to marry for love…”
“I have a gold mine in Venott.”
Keivrand cut Reuben off.
Reuben’s ears perked up when he heard the words ‘Venott’s gold mine.’
Venott’s gold mine, owned by the Green’s estate, was one of the top five gold mines with an abundance of gold deposits. Even dozens of large diamonds have been discovered.
It was an embarrassingly large gold mine compared to the Lavent’s gold mine that Alfred had promised to give.
“I was going to give Venott’s gold mine as a dowry.”
Gulp-
Reuben swallowed his saliva to stop his mouth from drooling.
“I’m sorry to hear that Miss Iris wants to marry for love.”
Keivrand stood up as if he had nothing more to do.
“H-h-old on, Count!”
Now the ball was in Reuben’s court.
He had raised Iris for this very moment.
Venott’s gold mine. And the reputation of the Green family.
Just like his wife had said. He was now glad that they had chosen to raise Iris instead of killing her.
“Is there anything left to talk about?”
Keivrand, who had given up on Iris, was cold.
Reuben was afraid that Keivrand would leave at this rate.
“Well, for the time being, sit down, Count. Hasn’t it been a long time since we’ve seen each other?”
“Hmm.”
“And…Come to think of it, Iris once said she was shy and afraid of dating, and that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to marry a man I picked. So…Please sit down. Okay?”
Reuben said, pointing to the sofa.
Keivrand slowly sat down on the sofa and crossed his legs.
He wasn’t angry even though Keivrand was much younger than him and was being rude
The only thing on his mind was Venott’s gold mine.
“That…You’re giving me Venott’s gold mine as a dowry?”
“Yes.”
From his chest pocket, Keivrand took out a piece of paper.
“I’ve even prepared the document. All you have to do is sign.”
“I-is that so.”
Reuben’s eyes glistened with greed when he saw the document.
“Then…uh…I’m sure Count Green will take good care of my Iris…”
Knock, knock-
The knocking interrupted Reuben. He became irritated by the interruption during this important moment.
“What!?”
“Father, it’s me.”
Hearing Britney’s voice, Reuben’s thoughts changed.
He thought it would be a waste to hand over Iris to Count Green.
And since the rigid Keivrand had even asked Britney for a dance, wouldn’t he change his mind once he saw her again?
“Come in.”
He answered without asking for Keivrand’s opinion.
The door opened and Britney, who was decorated more beautifully than ever, walked in.
Britney’s dazzling blonde hair was slightly tied just enough for a few strands to flow down. She wore a pink dress that revealed her shoulder, which made her look elegant rather than sexy.
Thanks to the necklace with the small pendant, her delicate neckline stood out.
Britney was as beautiful as a doll.
She held her skirt slightly toward Keivrand and gently bent her knees to greet him.
“Long time no see, Count Green.”
“Yes.”
“I haven’t seen you since the last party.”
“Yes.”
Reuben glanced at Keivrand’s expression.
But he couldn’t read any emotions from his expressionless face.
“S-sit down for now, Britney.”
“Yes, father.”
Britney slid down next to Reuben.
Still, Keivrand’s eyes were cold.
“C-Come to think of it, you asked Britney for a dance at the last party…I heard you two made a magnificent pair, Count Green.”
“Oh?”
Keivrand squinted his eyes.
“Really? Who said that?”
“What? Oh, that’s…”
Of course Britney told him.
“At that time, you danced with me, Count. Don’t you remember?”
Britney asked innocently.
Seeing Britney like that, Keivrand casually spoke.
“Miss Britney seems to have a very bad memory.”
“What?”
“It wasn’t me who asked you for a dance, it was Miss Britney. You were begging me to dance with you just once. Oh, and what was the last bit? Didn’t you add the word please?”
Britney’s face turned red.
Because of Britney’s personality, she would at least shout back at times like this, but she couldn’t because her opponent was Count Green.
She gripped her skirt tightly.
She wished her father would come forward at a time like this, but Reuben only restlessly looked at Keivrand.
Knock, knock-
Breaking the heavy and awkward atmosphere was a knock.
The door opened even though no one answered.
Standing behind the door was Iris.
“Iris, what are you doing now…”
Britney wanted to vent her anger.
She was going to pretend to take Iris out of this room and then vent her anger on her.
With that thought, Britney stood up, but Keivrand, who had stood up earlier, walked toward Iris.
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Wearing a shabby dress that didn’t match the environment, Iris rested her hand in front of her as she watched Keivrand walk up to her.
Then, as if it was the most natural thing to do. Keivrand, who stopped in front of Iris, placed his right hand on his stomach and politely bowed.
“It’s nice to meet you, Miss Iris. And, I would like to sincerely ask you. Will you please marry me?”
== Translator’s Note ==
1. Please report any typos, grammatical/spelling errors, sentences you find weird, and other etc…in the comment section .