Chapter 5
"...?"
Alter was momentarily seized by a silence as he met Brillie's gaze.
Her light orange eyes flashed as if seeing right through his thoughts.
He should have explained things kindly enough—so why was she suddenly reacting like this?
"You might be lacking in some ways, sure, but you can always say, 'I can do well, I'll prove it with results,' right?"
"That's not wrong, but..."
"Why do you keep trying to avoid things? You should stand firm and claim what's yours. Aren't you the grand duke's child from the North? Haven't you endured and held the borders in such a cold place?"
"..."
"I'm not getting married because I want to, either. But the way you talk makes me feel like I just can't accept it. Women don't like men who lack even that much spirit, you know!"
"Even if I don't get married..."
"Are you going to live alone your entire life? Have you never even thought about trying? No matter how poor your health is, you can still have dreams, can't you?"
Brillie found herself admonishing Alter without even realizing it.
At first, she let it go, but now she couldn't just sit quietly and listen.
If he was her fiancé, shouldn't he show at least a firm resolve?
'It's too pitiful to watch. If this continues, I'll just grow weak-hearted myself.'
At some point, Brillie had started to feel a pitiful sympathy for Alter.
He was younger than her, but still a child of the grand duke's family.
Despite being of the grand duke's lineage, which had long held the northern borders, he belittled himself just because of his frail body.
If only he had shown a bit more confidence, maybe she would have thought him a little more resolute.
'I just didn't want to get married, not break this person down.'
Of course, before meeting Alter, Brillie had relied only on rumors.
When examined closely, all that remained was the title of the northern grand duke's youngest son.
But upon meeting him face to face, she found she couldn't even think of being hard on him.
'Besides, he just seems... too fragile to treat him harshly.'
From her first impression of Alter, Brillie instinctively sensed something.
She couldn't describe it exactly, but a faint feeling welled up from within her.
It was as if she was looking at a child shivering in loneliness, making her just hesitate even more.
'Not that I'm going to get married anyway, but... well, I suppose it's okay to look after him a little.'
As Alter had said, there wasn't zero possibility of their engagement being broken.
Her own father sought to profit through a political marriage.
In other words, if someone appeared with better terms than the northern grand duke, the policy of political marriage would obviously change as well.
'If someone is to outdo the northern grand duke, only someone from the imperial family would be left...'
Brillie stopped her train of thought there.
The grand duke's youngest son was pressure enough; if it were the imperial family, it would only be more difficult.
Above all, she was too dissatisfied with her father's ways to just accept things as they were.
'Should I go find someone decent myself...?'
"I'm sorry to say it, but I mustn't have dreams. I don't want to die before I even have the chance to achieve one."
"You say that before even trying?"
"What makes you think I haven't tried?"
"Well, that's..."
Brillie fell into an awkward silence, swallowed by embarrassment.
She knew only the rumors about Alter, but had never heard anything from the person himself.
If you did your best and still nothing changed, wouldn't you just want to give up?
"Just preserving my life is a struggle. Wherever I go I have to focus on not getting hurt or collapsing. Even then, am I still supposed to try anything?"
Even Alter could only speak with sincerity at that moment.
The original owner of this body had died, and Alter had taken his place.
He had no way of knowing exactly why, but it no longer mattered in the present situation.
At his current state, it wouldn't be strange if he died at any time.
"..."
"I don't disagree with what you said, my fiancé. But reality isn't like that. What may be right for you, may be wrong for me. I don't want to lose my life pretending that something wrong is right."
Brillie listened quietly to Alter's protest.
She thought, perhaps she had asserted herself too much from the very beginning.
She had never thought that something possible for her could be impossible for someone else.
Maybe Alter, having recognized that gap, was the one who brought up breaking the engagement first.
"Hmm... Well, let me apologize, then. I think I was a bit too careless."
"I didn't say any of this to receive an apology. I just... wanted you to reconsider this marriage with me. I have to contribute to my family, but I don't want to end up a disgrace."
After two attempts, Alter barely managed to finish the conversation.
Though Brillie suddenly took issue with his attitude, she quickly came to understand.
Moreover, this aspect gave her a protagonist-like quality, so it didn't really feel unpleasant.
'I guess that's enough to consider her persuaded.'
Just catering to Duke Illenat would likely be enough for a smooth engagement break.
Still, as Brillie was central to the political marriage arrangements, nothing could be excluded.
And since she was bound to get involved with the male leads, she would have an impact in various ways.
'Should I start meeting them one by one now?'
He needed to establish in the male leads' minds a certain perception of himself.
That he wasn't worth treating as a rival, and could be pushed aside at any time.
There were already five of them, so nothing good would come of getting mixed up among them.
'For now, I can probably meet only the knight commander and the butler.'
As the knight commander was Brillie's direct superior, contacting him would not be difficult.
And the butler—well, just staying put would naturally bring them into contact.
Especially since the butler could approach him under the pretext of work.
'Once I hear the names, I'll know right away. For now, I'll wait and see.'
* * *
Hilise Renia had a modest interest in the fiancé of the duke's second daughter.
The only special reason, if any, was that he had a close relationship with Brillie Illenat, the duke's second daughter.
He had known Brillie since childhood, but now that she was the duke's daughter and he a butler, a strict hierarchical relationship had been formed.
'I did want to know what kind of guy he was...'
Using his status as the duke's butler, Hilise could roam about the mansion as he pleased.
He was recognized by the other butlers and maids for his competence, and lacked nothing in sociability.
So even if he acted a little independently from time to time, people took it in stride.
'Even considering he's eighteen, he's not very manly.'
Hilise understood the psychology of noble ladies.
Most noble ladies preferred men who were both refined and strong,
and when a man possessed supreme authority and great fortune, attention followed.
'If he's the youngest son, inheriting a title will be difficult...'
Of course, there were rare times when the youngest son inherited a title.
But the Grand Duke Radiant's family had a securely established eldest son, and even the second daughter had made a name on the battlefield.
With the hierarchy thus fixed, the youngest could hardly aspire to the title.
'He'll get a share of the fortune, but it won't be much.'
The Grand Duke Radiant, by the emperor's decree, had been granted the governance and defense of the northern region.
They had to combat monsters and barbarians regularly, but monopolized specialty goods that could only be found in the north.
This brought in considerable funds, but, since they managed the region's troops and supplies, most of the assets had to be distributed accordingly.
'All that's left is his bloodline.'
Of course, being of the grand duke's blood was special in itself.
A grand duke was the highest of all noble titles—one even the emperor would not grant lightly.
It meant de facto control of a part of the empire, and the right to command several castles and a large personal army.
'The northern grand duke is quite the powerful connection.'
Were he Duke Illenat, he too could hardly refuse an alliance with the grand duke's house.
Though isolated in the north, their power far exceeded that of other nobles.
In effect, the northern grand duke was the lord and ruler of the northern lands.
'But for Brillie to marry him... something's missing.'
Hilise moved on, unable to resolve that doubt.
He was a fitting partner for a political marriage, but didn't align with Duke Illenat's nature.
Maybe to Duke Illenat, a marriage with the grand duke's house was just another move.
'I guess I'll have to look into things a bit more.'
Hilise had been watching since the grand duke's youngest had arrived at the mansion.
Of course, considering his status, he couldn't watch too openly.
He just observed in passing, picking up information from the butlers and maids.
'They said he's in the garden now?'
As long as he stayed at the mansion, it was easy enough to find out where he was.
Plus, as the duke's daughter's fiancé, a maid or butler always had to be by his side.
When it was discovered he was sickly as well, they had no choice but to watch him attentively to keep him from suddenly collapsing.
'The meals are adjusted for the fiancé... and even special tea leaves and medicinal herbs are set aside.'
Upon entering the garden, Hilise began to think up a plausible excuse.
He couldn't approach the duke's daughter's fiancé for no reason.
Even if he just lingered nearby, he needed a legitimate reason.
'I'm not in charge of the garden... Maybe I can say I came to fetch something, or to find someone...'
Eventually, Hilise met the eyes of the very person he had wanted to observe.
His dark blue eyes were wrapped in gloom, but their hue did not fade.
Even from his appearance, it was obvious at a glance that he was frail.
"Hilise, something urgent came up. Could you take over for just a moment?"
The maid following the fiancé approached Hilise and spoke to him.
He nodded immediately and offered a gentle smile.
"Take your time."
"Thank you. I'll be back soon."
The maid quickly disappeared, and Hilise bowed formally.
The fiancé calmly accepted the change and began to walk again.
'Was I a bit lucky today?'
Hilise moved slowly, swallowing a quiet sigh.
As a servant, he had to avoid making those he attended uncomfortable.
Especially given the risks surrounding this noble, he had to be careful about everything.
'If he's smaller than me...'
"What's your name?"
"Hilise Renia."
"How long have you been a butler?"
"For about ten years now."
"Since you were a child?"
"Yes. I've been a butler ever since I was young."
While surveying the garden, Alter cautiously glanced at Hilise.
As he'd expected, one of the male leads had approached him first.
Of course, as the duke's butler, there was nothing Hilise could do to harm him.
"... It must have been tough."
"Is anything in this world easy? I'm used to it now, so I can hardly call it difficult."
"If you've stayed here for ten years, you must know everything."
"Why would I know it all? I'm just a mere butler."
"But you do know this: I'm not suited to be my fiancé's partner."
"...."
Alter deliberately brought up his thoughts on Brillie.
If he wanted to soften Hilise's competitive spirit, he had to make it clear he didn't intend to marry Brillie.
Once Hilise decided Alter was just a token rival, he would leave him alone.
"It's a marriage arranged by our families, but it's just an engagement for now. If we break it off, then that's the end of our relationship."
"...."
"There's someone more suited to her than me. How could someone as young and weak as I hope to marry at all?"
Though Hilise listened, a subtle sense of resistance rose within him.
As a child of the grand duke's family—Brillie's fiancé—he ought to show unwavering spirit.
Yet Alter Radiant had already given up, only bemoaning his own weakness.
"... Lady Brillie would not appreciate you saying that."
"Even if she doesn't, what can I do? That won't change reality."
"A child of the grand duke's house lamenting about reality is not right. Lady Brillie esteems effort above talent."
"This isn't something effort can solve. Nothing will change."
"Even so, you are Lady Brillie's fiancé, Alter. So how could you turn your heart away?"
"...?"
Alter realized the conversation was flowing oddly.
By his expectations, Hilise would have either kept silent or ended things with a reassuring word.
So why was Hilise now showing such stern attitude toward him?
'Why is he acting like this? Shouldn't I disappear for him to get close to Brillie...? Why is he telling me not to give up?'
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Did Alter make Brillier swoon, even for a bit?
Also, an unexpected supporter?
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】