We couldn't decide where to build Anastasia's tomb.
Mio suggested, "Shall we arrange it at the kingdom's most scenic spot?" and Mrs. Liu-Liu said, "No matter what, wouldn't her hometown, the Shadaran territory, be the best place?" Lord Cyrus said, "If you like, we can build a mausoleum in the garden of this castle. She is part of Marie's family, after all."
All of these suggestions were very kind, but I decided to put off my response for the time being.
"I'm sorry, I can't decide..."
"But, if the person herself is not here, someone in the family has to make the decision, right? We can't get in touch with her parents at all."
I shook my head.
"There are still many things I don't understand about Anastasia. If she could choose, where would she have wanted to spend her final days...? Please give me some time until I can figure that out."
With that, we temporarily put aside the discussion about Anastasia's memorial service. Then, I asked about something that had been on my mind.
"Can't you get in touch with her parents? Haven't you received any letters from them since then?"
Lord Cyrus nodded.
"Yes. For a while after you came here, Mrs. Liu-Liu sent scolding letters about Marie, and the baron sent letters urging us to send Marie back, but they suddenly stopped. It was the day we sent the wedding invitation."
"So, you don't even know if they will attend the ceremony? The wedding is only three weeks away..."
"That's right, we're also worried about it."
Mrs. Liu-Liu sighed. This was indeed a serious situation.
Even in ordinary families, both sets of parents are expected to be present at the wedding. Marriage is not just a new beginning for the couple in love; it is also a significant bond between the two families. The engagement ceremony, which is essentially a public announcement, is often more of a showcase for the parents. For nobility, especially for the marriage of a duke's son, it becomes a national celebration. Yet, the absence of the bride's parents would be a significant issue.
—Are the bride's relatives so unsuitable that they can't appear in public?—
—Was this political marriage so forced that the baron had to be bribed to give up his daughter?—
Such rumors would surely spread. It's not just embarrassing for me; it could tarnish Lord Cyrus's and the duke's family's reputation.
Patting my pale, trembling shoulders, Mrs. Liu-Liu smiled brightly.
"Don't worry, don't worry. In the worst case, we can say the bride's relatives are unwell and proceed without them. A little bit of gossip and suspicion will clear up once you two become a respectable couple."
"...I'm sorry..."
"It's not your fault, Marie."
"But even if the ceremony is fine, I'm still curious about why they keep refusing."
Lord Cyrus said this with a straightforward tone. Mrs. Liu-Liu laughed, as if to say, "What are you talking about now?"
"Of course, they oppose this marriage. They don't want to lose Marie."
"I agree, but considering the initial actions, it's not consistent. At first, it was the baron who forced the reluctant Marie into the carriage."
Hearing this, the two of us, along with me, tilted our heads in confusion.
That's right... it had always been a mystery.
I could guess why my parents were against this marriage. They must have seen some value in me and wanted to keep me at home.
But as Lord Cyrus said, it was my parents who pushed me into the carriage. At that time, they were still trying to marry me off.
So why are they trying to take me back now? When did they change their minds?
Father gave me mountains of advice to make me appealing to the count. He made me wear ill-fitting dresses, made me bathe in the river, and left me at the count's castle, hoping I would at least be allowed to stay overnight.
"...Overnight?"
Something didn't add up.
I remembered my parents' words. Yes, that's right... they said this:
"Don't worry, Marie. We know you're not cute."
"That's right. Anastasia is a special child. We know the count will never love you, Marie."
...My parents... understood. I couldn't replace Anastasia. The Shadaran sisters didn't look alike. The count, who sought the beautiful Anastasia, would never take me as his wife.
Even if I were made a little prettier, I would only be good for one night's comfort. If we could get the dowry money back, that would be enough—yes, that's exactly what they said.
They never changed their minds.
From the beginning, they never intended for me to marry Lord Cyrus...
I shared this certainty with the three of them. The two women immediately agreed.
However, surprisingly, Lord Cyrus alone disagreed.
"That's also strange. Even if that was their initial intention, they should be happy with the turn of events. If we officially marry, the Shadaran family will be related to the duke's family, and their status as nobles will rise significantly."
"...Oh, right, that's true..."
"Of course, they would also gain a fortune far greater than the dowry. No matter how hardworking Marie is, she's just a woman. It would be better to marry her off and use the money to hire workers."
"Isn't that because Marie was doing important work that she couldn't entrust to others?"
In response to Mio's counterargument, I firmly disagreed.
"That's not true. My work was housekeeping, helping the dairy farmers, and managing the employment of the villagers. It was just the accounting for that."
"Most of the lord's work, though."
"Yes, but it's not something only I can do. Father could do it himself."
This was not out of modesty or a lack of confidence, but the truth.
It was an honor that everyone in the count's family praised me as capable, but that was only in the context of being the daughter of a poor baron. Supporting the baron's family was just being used for free labor.
I am not particularly capable.
Housework and physical labor can be done by hired help. The Shadaran territory is indeed losing young people and becoming depopulated, but there are plenty of foreign workers near the border with other countries.
Communicating with them in foreign languages, simple arithmetic for accounting, and writing letters to check on people's well-being are things any noble should be able to do.
Father, as the head of the baron's family, should be able to do all of that.
If I were gone, it would just be a bit more trouble. What's the problem?
If Father were honest with the count about the difficulties in managing the territory and asked for financial assistance, everything would be resolved. Father should have pushed for the marriage for such reasons...
"Marie, I have one question for you."
Lord Cyrus asked, with a look of certainty in his eyes.
"When Mio infiltrated the Shadaran residence, the room to the left of Mrs. Elvira's, was it Marie's room?"
I shook my head.
"Then, the baron's?"
I shook my head again.
"The room with only bookshelves and a desk. That was originally Sasha's room, right?"
"...Are there any other rooms with books and a desk?"
"Huh? Well... the shed where I slept...?"
As I spoke, I tilted my head in confusion. I cleaned the entire mansion and woke up the family in the morning, but I couldn't think of any other place.
"My books are mostly from Sasha... My brother Cedric is only six, so he only has picture books."
"Did Marie also teach Cedric?"
That's right, but what does that have to do with anything?
In front of me, looking bewildered, Lord Cyrus's expression grew even more serious. Then, Mio said, "Ah!" and finally, Mrs. Liu-Liu let out a scream-like exclamation.
"You can't be serious! Even if they're rotten, they're still the head of the baron's family!"
What? What? What did everyone realize, and what are they so shocked about?
I was completely left in the dark.
As I was about to ask Lord Cyrus, I gasped. He was furious.
His emerald eyes were blazing with anger, and he said in a low voice:
"Mio, issue a summons to the Shadaran family."
"Not an invitation, then?"
"Yes. Tell them to come, or we will bring them to the kingdom's court."
The kingdom's court...!?
I was shocked, but Mio, with her usual expressionless face, showed no surprise or emotion as she followed her master's orders.
"Understood. I will write it immediately and send it by fast horse."
Lord Cyrus, why are you, who are usually so gentle, taking such drastic action? And why aren't Mio and Mrs. Liu-Liu trying to stop you?
Lord Cyrus gently placed his hand on my head. It was as warm and sweet as always, but the words that followed froze my heart.
"...I'm sorry, Marie. ...Not as a man, but as a high-ranking noble of this kingdom, I cannot accept the Shadaran family as relatives.
I want to resolve this as peacefully as possible, but in the worst case, I will have to destroy your family with my own hands.
...I'm sorry. ...I will protect you, no matter what."