"Keivrand Green? Are you sure it's Count Green? The guardian of the sacred relics?"
What Iris had 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."
"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?"
Keivrand was now the most popular man in high society.
As he was the guardian of the sacred relics and had the protection of the Divine Kingdom, even the Emperor couldn't treat him recklessly. Although his title was Count, he had the same power as a Grand Duke.
However, that was only secondary. The important thing was his 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 his 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 had never been a scandal of him sleeping around.
"As a matter of fact. Last time at the party, Count Green had asked me to dance with him once."
Although it was true that Britney had danced with Keivrand, it wasn't him who had offered.
She had carefully approached him and asked for a dance, and because it wasn't polite to refuse a lady's proposal for a dance, he had simply accepted.
However, it had been glorified in her memory and had turned into his 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 had 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?"
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 Britney had forgotten about Iris' existence, she 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, she 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 had 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.
Duke Reuben Whittle looked at Keivrand with a perplexed expression.
"Yes, her. You've only mentioned your eldest daughter Britney. Is the youngest, Miss Iris, not your daughter too?"
Hearing Keivrand's slow flowing words as if saying he knew what the circumstances of the Whittle family was, Reuben became at a loss for words.
"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 had recently gone to a party, had been talking nonstop about how Count Green had asked her for a dance.
Although the Whittle family was a dukedom, it was on a path of decline. That was why Keivrand Green, who also happened to be the guardian of the sacred relics, was a very coveted man.
However, rumor had 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 was also why he had thought it was an opportunity when he had come 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 he 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 hadn't even sent Iris to any parties.
She was only shown to men who could be a source of benefit to the Whittle family. Through their mouths, Iris had become the flower of Duke Whittle.
Everyone was curious about Iris, but she had never made her debutante in high society, so there were many men who wanted to see her.
That was how her 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 in marriage.
It was an awkward situation.
"Oh, that, um...But our eldest daughter hasn't married yet."
Keivrand's lips twisted at the poor excuse.
Seeing the cold smile, Reuben gulped anxiously.
"Who cares about that these days? You know that Count Lovern and Marquess Prunta had their youngest and second youngest married off. Even the third and fifth princes of the Gabijar Empire got married before the eldest."
"Do you think this Keivrand Green isn't 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."
A smile that wasn't a smile. One that was devoid of humor. Reuben had come to experience it first hand.
"I'm glad to hear that, which makes it all the more tempting."
Reuben quickly wracked his head to find another reason.
"As you know, marrying for love is the trend these days. Our Iris has told me so many times that she wants to marry for love..."
"I have a gold mine in Venott."
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. Not only that, dozens of large diamonds had 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."
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 say.
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 he 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?"
"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 Venott's gold mine as a dowry?"
Keivrand took out a piece of paper from his chest pocket.
"I've even prepared the document. All you have to do is sign it."
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..."
The knocking interrupted Reuben. He became irritated by the interruption during such an important moment.
Reuben's thoughts changed after hearing Britney's voice.
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?
Reuben answered without asking for Keivrand's opinion.
The door opened and Britney, who was decorated more beautifully than ever, walked in.
Her 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.
She was as beautiful as a doll.
Holding her skirt slightly towards Keivrand, she gently bent her knees to greet him.
"Long time no see, Count Green."
"I haven't seen you since the last party."
Reuben glanced at Keivrand's expression.
However, he couldn't read any emotions from his expressionless face.
"S-sit down for now, Britney."
Britney slid down next to Reuben.
Nevertheless, Keivrand's eyes remained cold.
"C-Come to think of it, you had asked Britney for a dance at the last party...I heard you two made a magnificent pair, Count Green."
Keivrand's eyes squinted.
Of course it was Britney who had told him.
"At that time, you danced with me, Count. Don't you remember?"
Britney asked innocently.
Looking at her like that, Keivrand spoke casually.
"Miss Britney seems to have a very bad memory."
"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 her 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 and wished her father would come forward at a time like this, but Reuben only restlessly looked at Keivrand.
Breaking the heavy and awkward atmosphere was a knock.
The door opened even though no one answered it.
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, she stood up, but Keivrand, who had stood up earlier, walked towards Iris.
Wearing a shabby dress that didn't match the environment, Iris rested her hand in front of her as she watched him walk up to her.
Then, as if it was the most natural thing to do. Keivrand, who had 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?"
1. Please report any typos, grammatical/spelling errors, sentences you find weird, and other etc...in the comment section or DM me on Discord at Yasi#9824.