To the One Who's Only Cold to Me - Chapter 37

Aisha fell silent, as if Ian’s confident words had taken her by surprise. She even stiffened her face, which was unlike her, and spoke clearly to Ian.

“Our engagement ceremony is just one month away. We’ve already sent invitations, and people know we’re getting engaged. But at a time like this…”

“It’s something important for business. I had no choice. So please, Aisha, try to understand.”

Ian frowned and sighed. He even turned his head away, as if he didn’t want to talk anymore. Seeing him like that, Aisha’s hands lost strength. Because of that, the velvet box in her hand dropped onto her dress with a soft thud.

When Aisha didn’t respond, Ian suddenly felt like something was chasing him. He swept his hair back in frustration and spoke in a softer voice, looking at her limp fingers.

“I’ll let you know in advance where I’m going.”

“Aisha.”

“Okay. But you have to tell me ahead of time. Promise. Alright?”

When Ian said her name, Aisha finally nodded. But this time, she turned her head away from him. Ian felt an urge to touch her face, which was not looking at him, but he frowned instead and closed his eyes again.

Inside the carriage, neither of them spoke again or looked at each other. Then suddenly, the carriage shook roughly, and the velvet box on Aisha’s lap fell to the floor.

Thud

Ian slightly opened his eyes at the sound. He saw the velvet box rolling on the floor of the carriage.

‘She held it like it was a treasure, but now she’s being careless… Why isn’t she picking it up?’

It was something he gave her without much meaning, but seeing it rolling around like that made him feel strangely annoyed. Yet, for some reason, Aisha didn’t even seem to think about picking it up.

‘She’s really showing her feelings like a child.’

In the end, Ian couldn’t take it anymore. He bent down and picked up the velvet box, then placed it in Aisha’s lifeless hand.

But unlike before, Aisha didn’t hold it tightly. She only held it just enough so it wouldn’t fall again no more than that.

The celebration party at Count Garrot’s estate was quite grand. That was expected, since the count and his wife had been married for eight years since they were nineteen, without having children. Their concern was well-known, so everyone who attended the party came with bright faces to celebrate the couple and their newborn child.

“Seeing my sister so happy made me cry too.”

Evelyn, the Countess’s younger sister, said to Aisha with tears in her eyes. Evelyn was also a member of the social club Aisha attended. She had a strong personality and rarely cried, so Aisha was surprised but found her sisterly love touching, and stayed beside her to listen.

“If Miss Evelyn is crying like this, Miss Viola will surely tease you.”

“Miss Viola always overreacts. That’s why she causes trouble. Remember when she brought up some useless gossip without knowing you were engaged to Marquess Lloyd… tsk.”

“It’s fine. She didn’t know. Anyway, there are so many guests. I can see how kind the Count and Countess must be in daily life.”

Aisha looked around as she spoke. It wasn’t just polite talk there really were a lot of people for a child’s celebration. Other houses that held parties today were even upset about losing all their guests.

“Oh come on, Miss Aisha, you’re praising them too much. My sister and brother-in-law aren’t that special. It’s just that my sister’s from this side and my brother-in-law’s from that side, so people from both came.”

Evelyn pointed left and right with her fingers. Aisha understood what she meant and gave a small, awkward smile. The tension between the old noble faction and the new noble faction was still strong. Though everyone smiled on such a happy day, no one crossed the invisible line they stayed with their own side.

“Even on a good day like this, the power struggles continue. Ugh, it’s annoying. But my sister and brother-in-law are trying to stay away from all that now”

Evelyn’s next words surprised Aisha. Count Garrot and his wife were known figures in noble faction politics. Though they had a good relationship, the Count followed his father, Marquess Gamel, as part of the old nobles, and the Countess followed her own father as a key member of the new nobles.

“You didn’t know, did you? I only found out recently. My sister told our father she wouldn’t be part of the power struggles anymore. And my brother-in-law told his father, Marquess Gamel, the same thing.”

In the Caesar Empire, it was normal for a Countess to follow her husband. But Countess Garrot was different. She had worked for a long time as one of the Empress’s close ladies-in-waiting, so she had some political influence even as a woman. Because of this, her father, Baron Holt, pressured her to keep working for the new nobles even after marriage.

“Well, it was only a matter of time. My sister was already tired of politics. And after getting pregnant, she became even more worried. You know how it was before, people even sent assassins. It’s rare now, but she was really scared. So my brother-in-law suggested they leave politics and live peacefully as a family.”

“They haven’t told everyone yet, but once the baby is old enough for carriage travel, they’ll move to their estate in the countryside. That made my father, my brother, and even Marquess Gamel furious. I’m sure some guests today are pretending to celebrate while trying to change their minds.”

“The Count and Countess are amazing. That couldn’t have been an easy decision”

Aisha said with admiration, and Evelyn let out a playful groan.

“Amazing? I just feel stressed. If my sister leaves with her husband, who will my father bother? Me, of course.”

“But if my sister can live peacefully, it’s worth it. I used to worry a lot back when she first got married.”

Aisha tilted her head. She had heard that the Count and Countess were happily married from a young age. Evelyn noticed her confusion and smiled.

“Miss Aisha, you’re really slow with gossip. It was a well-known story back then. I guess you were still young eight years ago, so maybe you didn’t hear it. It’s not a secret. My sister had a scandal with my brother-in-law and got married because of it.”

“What?”

“Why else would they marry at nineteen? They had a secret relationship, and she got pregnant. But the baby didn’t survive. Marquess Gamel’s wife gave my sister a really hard time. She said awful things, called her unworthy of being a true noble, even while she was pregnant. That’s why she lost the baby.”

Now that she thought about it, Aisha remembered hearing that Marquess Gamel’s wife had gone to the countryside for health reasons. She hadn’t questioned it before, but now it all made sense.

“My sister was a wreck back then. I was so angry I slapped my brother-in-law. My sister scolded me later when she found out, but I don’t regret it. If I hadn’t slapped him, I would’ve stabbed the Marquess’s wife. That old woman should be thankful she got sent away.”

“Still, seeing them happy now makes me want to support them. They’re clearly meant for each other.”

Evelyn, who had been speaking with a scary expression, waved cheerfully at her sister. Aisha turned to look at the Count and Countess with her. The couple stood close together with their small child between them. It was exactly the picture Aisha had dreamed of.

‘I want that too’

Aisha suddenly felt a pang of jealousy toward the Countess, someone she barely knew. And beneath that jealousy was a quiet acceptance that she might never have that. Unable to look at the happy couple anymore, Aisha turned her gaze away. Just then, Evelyn brought up a painful subject.

“By the way, Miss Aisha, why did you come alone? Where’s your fiancé?”

“He seems busy.”

“But your engagement is next month. Even if he’s busy, he should come with you. We understand, but gossipy people will talk about that kind of thing.”

Aisha gave a shy smile. Seeing it, Evelyn stopped herself from saying more. Truthfully, people were already whispering about how Aisha had come alone, even with her engagement so close.

‘I’m glad she came, but I also feel bad. I didn’t know. I didn’t think Marquess Lloyd wouldn’t show up.’

Rumors had already started: that Ian didn’t care about Aisha, that she was pitiful. Evelyn felt it was her fault somehow.

“Oh right, I’ve been meaning to ask where did you buy those pearl earrings? The shine is so fine, they must be huh?”

Evelyn was trying to change the subject while fiddling with a rose in a vase, when she spotted someone and widened her eyes. With a hesitant look, she asked Aisha carefully.

“Miss Aisha Isn’t that the Marquess? And that woman isn’t she the one Miss Viola mentioned back then?”

Ian, unaware if Aisha could see him or not, was walking arm-in-arm with Helen. They looked just as close as the Count and Countess.

Aisha stood up from her seat.

“Miss Aisha!”

Evelyn called out from behind, but Aisha quickly walked away, trying to find a place where she couldn’t see Ian.

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