Chapter 8

Amidst the ridiculous lines of this play, this was the only one that carried genuine sincerity.

"Thank you so much. I'll make sure not to be a burden to you, My Lord Marquis."

"No, you've already been quite a nuisance. Now that your business is done, why don't you return to your place?"

Though it didn't seem like his sincerity was conveyed.

Since her goal was achieved, there was no reason to linger. As she quickly returned to her father's side, she caught sight of Lee Jiho.

He was looking at Nadia with a face full of betrayal, his complexion deathly pale.

'Why such an expression? Oh, could it be... he didn't get any prior notice from Father?'

Nadia had believed that Father would give her the laurel wreath, but seeing it go to someone else must have been quite a shock.

'Father really should have given him a heads-up, even if it was urgent.'

Given the treatment he received, it wasn't hard to understand why he had become so obsessed with success.

However, she wasn't broad-minded enough to show understanding to a man who had betrayed her in her previous life.

Ignoring his gaze, Nadia returned to her place.

The festive atmosphere of the triumphal ceremony was thickening.

* * *

As the sun dipped below the horizon in the evening, the triumphal ceremony concluded, and people began to return home one by one.

The three women of the Balazit family were also preparing to return to their mansion.

Just before getting into the carriage, the Duke patted Nadia on the shoulder and praised her.

"Nadia, you did well today. That guy's flustered face was quite a sight. Hahaha!"

"It was nothing."

She could feel Karein rolling her eyes from behind, but Nadia didn't care at all.

Just as she was about to board the carriage, ignoring her half-sister,

"Duke! I have something to say!"

A voice from a distance stopped her in her tracks. Nadia turned around reflexively.

"Sir Jiho?"

The man, dressed in ceremonial attire, was approaching with a determined stride. His expression was as hard as ice.

Considering how polite he usually was in front of his guardian, the Duke, this meant his mood was at rock bottom.

The Duke responded.

"What is it? You must be tired from the long journey. Why not go inside and rest?"

"There's something I need to ask urgently. About the laurel wreath at today's triumphal ceremony... I was told it was definitely going to be given to me, so what happened?"

"Ah, well... let me explain..."

A hint of annoyance flashed across the Duke's face.

He hadn't expected the man to come and question him, even if his lord had changed his plans.

He waved his hand dismissively.

"Things changed. I apologize for not giving you a heads-up. I'll find you a better match, so don't worry too much about it."

"I didn't come here to find another match! What reason could there be for the plan to change? I want to know the reason."

"There was a reason. It's not something we should discuss here, so let's arrange a meeting later. For now, go back home."

"That's really too much! Before the expedition, you clearly said..."

Frustrated by Jiho's persistence, the Duke finally lost his temper.

"Then what do you want me to do now! The triumphal ceremony is already over! Do you want me to post a notice in the city to make it as if it never happened?!"

"......"

A voice that shouldn't have been raised.

Intimidated by the Duke's fierce momentum, he had no choice but to remain silent.

He still needed the Duke's support.

As Jiho clenched his fists, the Duke, rubbing his forehead, continued.

"Regardless, it was my mistake not to inform you earlier, so I'll compensate you. I'll arrange a match with the woman of your choice. There are many beautiful women in the capital, like stars in the sky."

"......"

"Do you understand?"

This time, his voice was softer, as if trying to soothe him.

Nadia knew very well that this was how her father handled people.

With the offer of a desirable match, there was no way Jiho could continue to press the issue.

However, there was one thing the Duke had overlooked: the two had never gotten along well to begin with.

Before the regression, Lee Jiho and Glen Winterfell were famous rivals, known to everyone.

To be precise, they had never directly confronted each other.

However, their similarities—similar age, heroic abilities, and good looks—made them a perfect pair for comparison by the gossipy nobles.

Even if they had no personal animosity, the rivalry mentality fostered by their surroundings would inevitably create competition.

Moreover, the Marquis Winterfell was a prominent rival of the Duke, Jiho's guardian, so their relationship was bound to be complicated.

'But at this point, the conflict hadn't surfaced yet...'

She remembered that they only began to receive significant attention after some time.

Jiho, who had been ignored as an outsider, harbored inferiority towards the Marquis Winterfell, a descendant of a prestigious family.

Though he would never admit it out of pride.

Perhaps this incident would accelerate the deterioration of their relationship.

To have something that should have been his taken by someone he disliked would surely leave a lasting grudge.

When someone harbors inferiority, they tend to want to take everything from the person they envy, even if it wasn't something they valued much to begin with.

While Nadia was recalling these pre-regression events, the conversation between the two continued.

The Duke continued in a soft voice.

"Since it was my mistake, I won't hold your attitude today against you. Go back to your quarters and rest."

"......"

"I'll do my best to arrange a match with the woman you desire. There's no one in this capital who would dare refuse my request. Do you understand?"

"......Thank you for your consideration."

"Good to hear that you understand."

Though he said that, Jiho seemed unable to swallow his frustration, constantly biting his lip.

However, the Duke wasn't so considerate or lenient as to seek his subordinate's understanding.

Feeling that there was nothing more to say, the Duke turned and said,

"Nadia, Karein. Let's go."

"Yes."

At this point, she felt a slight pity for her former fiancé.

Just before getting into the carriage, Nadia glanced back absentmindedly.

Jiho was still standing there, his face showing disbelief.

For a moment, their eyes met in the air.

"......"

"......"

But her gaze didn't linger.

After a brief glance, she fully entered the carriage.

The door closed with a thud.

Thump, thump.

The carriage carrying the Balazit family began to move.

He stood there, watching the carriage disappear from his sight for a long time, a very long time.

* * *

"So, the eldest miss said this?"

"What did she say? Huh?"

"Stop stalling and tell us quickly!"

"I love Lord Winterfell so much! Please accept my feelings!"

"Good grief... She's gone mad, gone mad!"

"Isn't he on bad terms with our Duke? Is that even okay?"

"Since the mansion hasn't been turned upside down yet, it must mean the Duke has approved it."

"Wow, a child can't surpass their parents. How did he allow that?"

"I never knew our Duke was so lenient."

The noble society wasn't the only one turned upside down by the public courtship of the Duke's daughter.

Even the lowly maidservants in the mansion were buzzing about the incident.

They were so engrossed in gossip that they didn't even realize they were talking right below Nadia's room.

Their voices were clearly heard in Nadia's room on the second floor, very clearly.

"So, are they really getting married? Really?"

"What can be done now that the deed is done? If she doesn't marry into the Winterfell family, she won't be able to marry anywhere else."

"Who would want a woman who gave the laurel wreath to another man? It's a disgrace to the family, so they have to make the marriage happen. Even His Majesty is putting pressure on the Marquis."

"But why? Why would she choose to marry in the cold north? If she had stayed, the Duke would have introduced her to a good family in the capital!"

"I agree. Why go through all this trouble...?"

Nadia, leaning by the window, listened to the maids' conversation.

Despite the impolite talk, her expression didn't change at all.

The head maid, however, jumped up in alarm.

"Th-they... I told them to be careful with their words! I'll go down and scold them..."

Nadia gestured for her to stop.

"No, just leave them be."

"But if we let them continue, the rumor will spread everywhere."

"By now, the whole capital must already know. What difference would it make to discipline a few servants? Besides, I actually want the story to get bigger."

"......?"

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