About three months ago, when I arrived at Granado Castle, I had almost no belongings.
Just a small bag and a little bit of travel money. The clothes I was wearing and a change of clothes were not returned to me.
"I'm sorry, but I thought you wouldn't wear them again and disposed of them. Please take these clothes instead."
What was handed to me were several dazzling dresses. I refused with all my might and ended up only accepting the dress I am wearing now.
The dresses tailored for me at this castle and the glass shoes made to fit my feet. My hair, my skin... everything that was polished here... I bowed my head to Cyrus.
"Thank you for everything."
"...Ah."
He murmured and bowed his head. I continued to apologize with my head still bowed.
"I'm very sorry. I will spend my entire life to pay for the cost of my stay here and the compensation for the broken engagement—"
"That's not necessary."
He interrupted my words and said,
"Originally, it was an engagement made without your consent. I won't force you; I said you could break it anytime. So, you don't need to worry about anything."
"But the engagement ceremony is just around the corner... and there are guests coming..."
"It's more common than you think. Just leave the follow-up to me."
"...I understand. Thank you very much. Please take care of everything."
I straightened my posture, but I couldn't lift my head. Mio stepped forward.
"I will serve as the coachman. Let's go to the carriage, Marie."
I nodded and started walking.
Following Mio, I walked down the corridor. Despite the gas lamps and Mio's lantern, it felt unusually dark. I moved slowly, touching the walls to avoid tripping.
I caressed the uneven stone walls with my fingers.
Just before the corner, Cyrus behind me whispered,
"It's already midnight. Wouldn't it be better to leave tomorrow?"
I didn't turn around.
"I'm sorry... I thought it would be better to leave as soon as possible..."
"You should get plenty of sleep before your journey. Otherwise, you might get motion sickness."
"Motion sickness?"
I almost laughed. I pressed my lips and replied,
"It's fine. I've never been sick before, and I can sleep in the carriage."
"But... the coachman and the horses are also tired."
"Sir, both the coachman and the horses are accustomed to night work. It won't be a hindrance."
Mio said. Cyrus fell silent but still followed behind.
The long corridor stretched straight ahead. I stumbled where there was nothing. I immediately put my hand on the wall to steady myself.
"---I will eventually have to get married."
Cyrus whispered again, so softly it seemed like he was talking to himself.
"Not for the continuation of the Granado family, but for the merchants and servants connected to us. I can't just cut it off in my generation. Adopting a son is an option, but legally, I need to have a legitimate wife."
What did he mean by this?
Was he saying that I shouldn't resent him for bringing in another woman soon after I left? Or was he reassuring me that I could leave without worry? Or could it be that he would be troubled if I left?
I needed to confirm his intention and respond—when I turned around, he was holding his head.
"I'm sorry, forget what I just said."
I decided not to press the issue. I stumbled again.
Granado Castle is large. As we walked down the long corridor, Cyrus spoke to me several times.
"The Granado Trading Company is involved in overseas trade. However, nowadays, merchants bring goods to the capital, so I rarely go abroad to purchase them."
"...I see."
"Recently, I stationed an employee there. The training and handover are complete. For a while after you arrived, I was often out on business. ---So, from now on, I will never make you feel lonely."
"..."
"---But if my presence makes you uncomfortable, I can take a few days off each month... or even a few days each week to give you some space..."
Each time, I almost fell. But I kept moving forward.
Eventually, we reached a large door.
Beyond it was a huge staircase.
It was an open space where the main floor of the first level could be seen from above. It was the place where I first met Cyrus when I arrived at the castle. I slowly descended the stairs, one step at a time, covered in a crimson carpet.
"...Marie."
His voice came again.
"Leave your family's affairs to me."
I gasped and turned around,
"Does that mean you will take Anastasia as your wife?"
"Wh-What!?"
He let out a surprised exclamation. That's when I realized his intention.
"I'm sorry, you mean the baron's family. Yes, I will accept any punishment."
"No, I won't treat them badly. I just wanted to reassure you."
"...Thank you."
I bowed and started walking again.
"---Also, everything you bought while you were here is yours. If you sell it, you'll have enough to live independently without relying on anyone."
"I can't accept that. It's too much."
"Please take it. I'll leave everything here in the castle—"
"Huh?" I raised an eyebrow, and Mio cleared her throat from the lower steps. Cyrus held his head.
"Never mind. Ah, if you were a woman who could be swayed by material things, it wouldn't be a problem..."
Should I not pursue this? I started walking again.
As I walked, I spoke to him behind me.
"I'm sorry. Are you angry?"
"No."
"Then you must be disappointed."
He denied it, not shaking his head or meeting my eyes.
"No. I've been thinking all along about what I could say to make you stay."
"...Is that so..."
Still, my feet felt strange. It was unusually difficult to walk. My shoes felt loose... or tight? It was odd since I had never experienced this before.
"I've never been so frustrated by my own powerlessness."
Just as I thought that, my knees buckled.
"Ah!"
"Marie!"
My body lurched forward—almost falling on top of Mio—before stopping in mid-air.
Cyrus had caught my arms from behind.
Cyrus Granado is tall. When he pulled me up from the higher step, even I, being tall, felt my whole body lift off the ground.
My feet dangled in the air, and my shoes—
"Ah... ah..."
The beautiful shoes, as if made of glass, slipped off and rolled down the stairs. I watched them helplessly—feeling pain in my arm, I turned my head.
For the first time, I met Cyrus's eyes.
He wasn't looking at the rolling shoes. He held my arm so tightly it felt like he might crush it.
He just stared into my eyes, intently.
His emerald green eyes, feared for their bewitching power, were burning with passion, sharp and deep, and beautiful.
...What a wonderful person. Is this the man who will become my sister's husband? How lucky my sister is to become the wife of such a wonderful person—just thinking about it, a dark whirlpool rose inside my chest.
No, I can't. I forced myself to swallow the curse that threatened to spill out.
"Is Anastasia's happiness more important to you than your own?"
---It's fine. I smiled.
"Yes. Please make my sister happy."
I tried to give him the cutest smile I could.
But Cyrus's face twisted. His proud brows furrowed, and deep lines formed between them.
"I can't do it."
His tanned skin flushed, and he whispered hoarsely.
"...I can't. A man as weak as me can't make a woman happy."
"Huh...?"
---Weak? Cyrus?
I was so confused that I froze. At that moment, the grip on my arm tightened. His fingers dug into my flesh, trembling violently. I couldn't help but look at them, then returned my gaze, and my heart skipped a beat.
Tears were rolling down Cyrus's eyes.
The handsome face of a grown man was drenched in tears. He was... crying.
"Cyrus... sir..."
"I know what I should do."
Tears dripped from his chin. Without wiping them away, Cyrus stared straight at me, as if trying to convince himself.
"---I should ignore your words, grab your hand, and carry you to a room and lock you in.
Marie's words aren't genuine, so I shouldn't just go along with them... I know this. I know it, but... I'm a coward."
Slowly, the grip on my arm loosened. He released me.
With my free hand, I roughly wiped away the tears and descended the stairs, picking up the fallen shoe.
"I will come for you again."
He gently put the shoe on my bare foot.
"Once I gather the courage and become a stronger man... I will definitely come for you."
Wait for me—his voice was still a sob. The size and strength of his hands were less impactful than the words that pierced my heart.