Chapter 28: The Young Lord’s Proposal
A flood of visitors.
If this were about the Lycoris Tavern, it would be wonderful news.
But the triple assault of Adolphus, Liliana, and now the young lord is anything but welcome.
“…So, Young Lord, what was it you wanted to discuss? I have to pick Lowell up soon, so I’d appreciate it if we could keep this brief.”
Inside the defense captain’s office, Rosy sits across from the young lord, who looks strangely tense.
“Sorry to stop you on your way home, Rosy. There’s something I wanted to tell you as soon as possible.”
With those words, the young lord kneels before her and presents a bouquet of roses with great ceremony.
“Rosy, more noble and beautiful than the fully blossomed roses before you. Allow me to ask once more for your hand. Will you become the fiancée of me, Philip Barrow?”
“…What?”
The usual theatrical, flamboyant line.
But his expression is different from usual, and Rosy hesitates in confusion before opening her mouth to refuse as she always does.
“Um, no matter how many times you ask, I have no intention of becoming your mistress—”
“Not a mistress. I want you to become my official fiancée… and my one and only wife.”
“…Huh?”
The unexpected words leave Rosy staring blankly.
“But… you said before that you couldn’t take a commoner as your legal wife…”
“That’s true for ordinary commoners.”
The young lord rises and looks at her seriously over the bouquet.
“But it’s different if you’re a saint. Once you’re officially recognized by the royal palace, you’ll be granted a status equivalent to the nobility. There would be no issue making you the wife of the Barrow baronial house. More importantly, the power of a saint would be a great help to the town of Diudo. And it would also fulfill your wish to live here permanently.”
“That may be… but I have a child…”
“I intend to formally adopt Lowell as well. If I never have a son of my own blood, Lowell will inherit the Barrow house. I’ve already obtained my parents’ consent on that matter.”
His words come like a rushing stream, cutting off every possible escape.
Rosy’s eyes spin as she tries to process everything.
She can understand wanting to secure the power of a saint for the Barrow family.
But allowing Lowell—who carries no Barrow blood—to become heir…
“…Why would you go that far?”
When she finally manages to ask, the young lord smiles awkwardly and runs a hand through his hair.
“…That’s embarrassing. I can’t believe it never got through to you. It’s because I’m in love with you, Rosy. I have been since the moment we first met.”
The smile he shows now is different from his usual theatrical one.
There’s no composure in it.
Only sincerity.
“I know this is sudden. I planned to take my time winning your heart. …But I don’t want anyone to take you away from me. Not even General Duar.”
“…!”
Just hearing Adolphus’s name makes Rosy’s chest tremble embarrassingly.
Even though nothing like that could possibly happen.
Lowering her head, she grips the wedding ring hidden beneath her clothes.
“It’s impossible for anything to happen between me and Ad—… General Duar. But I—”
“Stop.”
The young lord cuts off her attempted refusal.
When Rosy looks up, she sees his serious gaze fixed on her.
And only then does she notice—
The hand holding the bouquet is trembling slightly.
“Don’t reject me right now. Think about it carefully. …And then choose me.”
Rosy cannot answer.
Seeing that, the young lord smiles faintly.
“At least accept this bouquet as proof of my formal proposal.”
Unable to refuse after that, Rosy leaves with the large bouquet in her arms.
Unaware that someone has been secretly watching the entire exchange.
◆
Watching Rosalind accept the bouquet of roses through a crack in the door, Liliana quietly leaves.
“Oh? That was interesting to see.”
She carries a tray with a tea set for two.
Her steps light, she walks down the hallway toward Adolphus’s temporary office—the meeting room.
Stopping before the door, she adjusts the angle of her eyes and the curve of her smile so her face will look as cute as possible.
When she knocks and enters, Adolphus is seated at a desk flipping through documents.
Nathaniel stands beside him.
“Lord Adolphus, shouldn’t you take a break soon? I brought tea.”
“…Thank you, but you needn’t trouble yourself, Miss Liliana. That isn’t your job.”
Even though Liliana speaks directly to him, Adolphus doesn’t lift his gaze from the papers.
Liliana feels irritation stir inside her, but she does not show it.
“Hehe, please don’t worry. I’m doing it because I want to.”
She spreads a cloth on a nearby table and begins arranging the teacups.
“By the way,” she says cheerfully.
“I just witnessed a very lovely scene. The captain of the defense force was proposing to Miss Rosy!”
“…What?”
Adolphus’s hand freezes.
He lifts his head from the papers.
“They seemed quite close before, but I guess they really are lovers after all. Miss Rosy accepted a huge bouquet of roses and looked very happy.”
“…I see.”
Adolphus’s eyes widen slightly before his brow tightens.
Liliana feels a flicker of irritation at his reaction, but she hides it behind the dreamy smile of a girl enchanted by romance.
“It seems Miss Rosy awakened her saintly power, which made the marriage possible. They apparently even have a child together. It’s wonderful, isn’t it? …Ah, the tea is ready, Lord Adolphus. Please come over.”
She encourages him with a smile.
But Adolphus does not move.
Instead, he lowers his gaze back to the documents.
“I’ll have it later. Just leave it there.”
“But I thought we could have it together—”
“Oh my, Miss Liliana, you even prepared a cup for me. I’m honored.”
Nathaniel smoothly interrupts her.
The bespectacled secretary maintains his unreadable smile, completely unfazed by the beautiful Liliana—who is quite popular among the soldiers.
“Has your work with the medical unit concluded for today? Dinner has been prepared at the lord’s residence, so please go ahead and return. We still have some paperwork left. Ah, don’t worry about the cups—we’ll clean them up.”
Nathaniel’s tone is polite but leaves no room for argument.
Liliana’s eye twitches slightly, but she quickly regains her composure.
“…I see. Then I’ll take my leave. Please keep up the good work, Lord Adolphus.”
Masking her irritation with a charming smile, Liliana exits the meeting room.
“…Philip Barrow proposed to Rosalind…?”
After she leaves, Adolphus mutters in a low voice that seems to scrape along the floor.
The pen clenched in his hand creaks.
“She accepted the bouquet? Does that mean she accepted the proposal…? But she is still my wife. Bigamy is not permitted…”
Beside him, Nathaniel sighs loudly and deliberately.
“If you are that concerned, why not simply ask Lady Rosalind directly? I can free up a bit of time for you tomorrow afternoon.”
“Afternoon…”
“Why not pay a visit? To the tavern where your wife… the former princess… works.”
Nathaniel’s glasses glint as the corner of his mouth curls upward.