Chapter 1 - The Reason for Marriage (1)
A long, thin sigh escaped his parted lips. Grayson slowly swept a hand through his hair. The sunlight caught his pale blond locks, scattering in a dazzling display as the strands slipped through his fingers.
It was a fine day. If not for the mad ramblings of a crazy old man.
When the king of this country, his dearly beloved father, had suddenly asked him for a walk on this cold day, Grayson had felt a sense of unease, wondering what sort of nonsense he was planning to spout this time. He hadn't expected it to be not just nonsense, but utter madness.
Grayson stared at his father's face, which was filled with worry.
Who was that worry for? It didn't seem to be for me. It must be for his two dear, pitiable older brothers. Is he still afraid I'll push them aside and take their place?
He had realized at a rather young age that there was a difference in the amount of affection his father held for his two older brothers and for him.
The first queen, whom he had met and fallen in love with at a young age, marrying her against all opposition. The second queen, whom he had married for mutual benefit. Just as the depth of his feelings for the two women differed, it was only natural that his affection for their children would differ as well.
The realization had been a shock to him as a child, but now, it was nothing to get upset about.
"You want me to marry?"
The end of his low voice cracked slightly, making him realize that this command disguised as a request had shaken him, if only a little.
Franklin, the great and august king of the House of Riley, stealthily averted his gaze.
"It's not a bad match."
"Not a bad match..."
"The family of Marquis Reynolds is a prestigious one, and with their large-scale trading business, their foundation is solid."
Grayson crossed his arms and watched the king speak, as if making excuses.
"The marquis's children are all doing their part, and Miss Edith is rumored to be exceptionally beautiful. She would be a fine match for you."
Miss Edith.
Grayson smiled faintly, rolling the name around in his mouth as if tasting it. The king, who had been sneaking a glance at his son's expression, flinched at the sight of the smile forming on his lips and looked away.
"A fine match for me, you say? That woman is afflicted with madness?"
Grayson knew as much as anyone about Edith Reynolds, the youngest daughter of the prestigious Marquis Reynolds. Recently, there had been no topic of gossip more entertaining among society circles than Edith Reynolds.
A woman who, early last year, had gone mad with grief over the death of Marquise Reynolds.
The woman who, just a few years ago at her débutante ball, had captured the hearts of men with her beautiful looks and modest demeanor, had completely lost her mind after her mother's death. After her recent eccentric behavior at a tea party, rumors were even circulating that Marquis Reynolds was planning to send her to a mental asylum.
And he thought she would be a fine match for me? A woman who was nearly sent to a mental asylum? This, after he had painstakingly chosen flawless women for his brothers, without a single imperfection.
Wondering if he was serious, Grayson stared intently at the king, but the king avoided his gaze as he spoke.
"Madness? Miss Edith is simply struggling with the grief of losing her mother. She was a very clever and quiet child before. So, if you, as her husband, embrace her and care for her, won't you be able to have a good relationship?"
He had never placed much importance on marriage anyway. He had always assumed that when the time was right, he would marry a suitable woman based on mutual interests. He had even been prepared, to some extent, for the fact that the king's interests would be reflected in that arrangement far more than his own.
But to be thrown a woman afflicted with madness... To make matters worse, Edith was only the marquis's legal daughter, not his biological one. No matter how much he wanted to solidify his two older brothers' positions, wasn't this going too far?
If he wanted to argue, there were a thousand things to contest, and if he wanted to refuse, there were more than enough reasons, but Grayson decided against it.
He had been fortunate enough to be born a king's son and had enjoyed all the privileges that came with it, so it was only natural that he fulfill his duties. A prince's duty included alleviating the worries of the king and the people of this nation, so he decided he could certainly go through with a marriage he had little interest in anyway. Even if his partner was a woman afflicted with madness.
"Very well, Your Majesty. I will obey your command."
***
Edith gazed at the sky beyond the small window.
'The weather is nice. I wonder if it's warm outside?'
A week had passed since she'd been locked in the storeroom, which had no fireplace. The January cold was biting, and the chill seeped through the blanket she had wrapped around herself. Even sitting in a patch of sunlight, she felt no warmth at all.
"Haaah."
The small sigh she let out condensed into a white puff of vapor. Watching her breath drift away like smoke, Edith closed her eyes.
She hadn't known when her mother was alive. She hadn't realized that her mother's mere existence had guaranteed her safety in this mansion, and so, she had even resented her at times.
Why did Mother submit to that man? Why did she try so hard to win the favor of his family? For what reason did she not seek revenge? Was the position of Marquise Reynolds so coveted? Was the reputation and wealth of the House of Reynolds sweet enough to make her bow her head to the enemies of my real father, my own father?
Only after her mother died did she realize that all those actions had been solely to protect her daughter. She also came to understand that her mother was called the Marquise, but in truth, she had possessed no power or authority whatsoever.
"Haaah."
The sigh she let out this time was smaller than the last. Her stomach, empty since the day before yesterday, was screaming in protest. It seemed the people of this mansion had forgotten they'd locked Edith in the storeroom.
It was something that had happened often since her mother's death, so it wasn't particularly frightening anymore. They would probably let her out right before she was about to die. They would toss her something like dog's gruel, tell her to fill her stomach, and make her promise not to do anything to tarnish the Reynolds family name again.
'Then I'll make the promise.'
And I'll look for the first chance to break it. If I keep being a thorn in their side, eventually I'll be able to leave this house, whether dead or alive.
Marquis Wyatt Reynolds was a calculating man, and he intended to get his money's worth for having raised Edith.
-"Do you have any idea how much money I spent raising you? Even though your mother is dead, you still have to do your part."
As he said that, he had subtly groped her thigh. When she grabbed his hand and bit down hard, she earned the title of "vicious bitch." She'd also been slapped a few times.
It was better to be a vicious bitch and get hit than to endure the touch of Marquis Reynolds, her mother's husband and her stepfather. Even though he had taken a new wife not long after her mother's death, the marquis still reached for Edith whenever he had the chance.
She had realized, far too late, why her mother would come to her room as soon as she woke up in the morning and try to stay with her all day.
-"Come here, Edith."
On nights when the marquis wasn't home, her mother would sleep with her in her room.
-"No matter how dark the night, if you lift your head, there is always a light like that."
Her mother loved to sit on the terrace late at night and gaze up at the night sky.
-"No matter how dark it is, there is always a light somewhere. So, Edith. No matter where you are, don't ever lose your light."
Recalling her mother's words, Edith opened her eyes again and stared out the small window. Looking at the cloudless blue sky, she was reminded of her mother's eyes, which she missed so dearly.
*Creeak-*
At the sound of the storeroom door opening, she flinched reflexively, then relaxed after seeing the face of the person entering.
"Lenny."
It was her maid. Edith's only ally in this mansion.
"My lady."
Lenny scurried over, crouched down in front of Edith, and held out the bread and apple she had brought hidden in her apron pocket.
"I snuck these from the kitchen. Please, eat something."
"Thank you."
Watching Edith devour the apple ravenously, Lenny's face crumpled.
"Oh, the marquis is too cruel. At the tea party, it was Julia. That wicked woman was the one who started it, wasn't she?"
Julia, the new marquise, had hosted a tea party at the mansion, and Edith had been invited. She was in no mood to attend such a thing, but she knew that if she didn't, Julia would go running to the marquis and who-knows-what she would say. So, she had dressed in a respectable outfit and attended.
Her plan was to keep to herself and then leave early with a suitable excuse.
-"By the way, it must be difficult for the marquise."
Who was it that had said that? Some countess, she thought.
-"The former marquise tarnished the family's honor so completely, it can't be easy to clean up the mess, can it?"
The former marquise. My mother, Eliana.
It was clearly an attack aimed at Edith, but she tried to endure it.
-"It is difficult. She was a lewd and extravagant woman, wasn't she? It seems the marquis developed something of a trauma because of her. He gets anxious even if I just speak with the eldest son, Matteo. I heard from Matteo that that woman, well, even to Matteo, she..."
0 Comments