011. Marriage Alliance
The lush green Kramwitz is the largest and most beautiful of the Meyer family's villas. Surrounded by dense fir forests and a small lake, it was also the family's main residence, the Van Drake Meyer sanatorium.
As she began to hand over the family business to her son, Caitlyn gradually increased the time she spent in Kramwitz. This was to personally care for her husband, whose illness was rapidly worsening. People praised Mrs. Meyer’s virtue. She was even praised as the perfect hostess for the Duke’s household.
“It would be really pretty if decorated with ivy. Don’t you think so?”
In her muttering hands was a bouquet of freshly picked lisianthus.
“Ophelia, your daughter just turned fifteen, right? Give it to her.”
“...Oh my goodness... Thank you, Madam.”
Caitlyn entered the villa, leaving the maid behind, who was embarrassed and at a loss.
The bedroom was a perfect reflection of Caitlyn's personality as the mistress of the house. It was grand, luxurious, and perfect.
There's only one blemish: her husband, Van Drake Meyer, lying corpse-like on the bed.
His pupils were completely dilated and staring unfocused at the ceiling.
His tongue has become stiff and is useless except for swallowing food, and his limbs have long since lost their function. He is conscious, but has difficulty recognizing people, and his cognitive level is that of a child.
Some doctors said it was an unknown disease, others said it was syphilis that had spread to the brain. Whatever the cause, the head of the Meyer family never recovered for ten long years.
Caitlyn leaned against the doorway and watched the old servant work hard at kneading his withered limbs. Sensing the presence of someone, he turned his head.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, Caitlyn felt a creepy feeling, as if a snake was crawling up her spine.
Should I say shameless? Or cunning?
That servant named Jetson had been with Caitlyn since she was starving and eating porridge. He was the one who stood by her side like a rock and did all the dirty work.
Maybe he was the only one she trusted and relied on, but now that she's gotten everything she wanted and has the world at her feet, she feels like a piece of her past that Jetson wants to erase.
“You can stop now and go. I want to do it myself.”
Caitlyn spoke somewhat coldly and placed a flower in a vase next to the bed. Jetson said, “Yes,” and stood up.
Caitlyn dried her hands with a wet towel and began to massage her husband's arms.
Just as sweat began to bead on her forehead, a knock was heard at the door.
“The guests have arrived. Please wait in the study.”
A color came to Caitlyn's face. She dropped his limp arms like dry branches and left the room.
“Caitlyn Meyer! You’re really annoying me for bringing us here again.”
An older man with an onyx stick in a bowler hat raised both arms.
This is William Richard, the leader of the House of Lords and known as the 'Snake of the Ronnenhalt Parliament'. Caitlyn took his wrinkled hand and shook it vigorously.
Hannes Leichnen, who had been standing behind him, approached Caitlyn with a smile.
“If you use the excuse of visiting the sick, there’s no chance of being the subject of gossip, so this is the perfect place to talk. Don’t you think so?”
The three of them moved to a secret space inside the study, exchanging laughter.
“I heard Hardius moved to a new house? He seems anxious to be independent.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. He's so impatient that it’s almost frustrating. He's been using school as an excuse to not show up for the past four years...”
“Is the succession going well? You must be careful during this period. This is when unnecessary conflicts arise between parents and children. You must clean up the weeds that were left behind by your son.”
“Don't worry.”
Caitlyn's lips curl into a leisurely smile.
“I’ve cleaned out everyone, including the groom, the tutor, and the nannies, except for one assistant, Grosjean.”
“Well done. He's an independent guy, so you’d better compromise and be careful. It’s never good to get caught watching him.”
William stroked his well-trimmed moustache and draped one arm over the armrest.
“Anyway, now that my child has become independent and will take over the family line, all that’s left to do is hold the most important wedding ceremony.”
The calm air froze over.
Finally, the biggest mountain that the three of them had to overcome came to the forefront.
“My investors have been waiting impatiently for the Leichnen-Meyer combination. But don’t forget that they have wasted five years and are disappointing everyone.”
Caitlyn and Haness looked at each other at the same time. Haness's eyes also showed a look of urgency.
“Don’t worry, my son will soon get his hands on the Trunia mine. He’s quite good at negotiating.”
“I’m not worried about whether or not I can get the mine. What matters is the merger with Laichnen. In other words, the marriage of Hardius and Bianca. That’s what the investors want. The birth of a multinational conglomerate that will own 50 percent of the mines, including those in the New World.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Don’t worry.”
Caitlyn nodded vigorously, trying to convince William, but it didn't change the skeptical look in his eyes.
“Then, when will the engagement be broken off? Isn’t the great Caitlyn Meyer just watching King Joseph because she’s afraid of him? Shouldn’t it be time to persuade the King to break off the engagement?”
“Yes, I plan to enter into negotiations at the appropriate time after returning from Trunia.”
“When is the right time? Not ‘as soon as possible’?”
Haness interjected with a shaky voice.
His pride was hurt. He was always dissatisfied with the fact that his precious daughter, whom he would not mind putting in his eyes, was locked up in a convent, waiting for Hardius Meyer to break off their engagement.
He went to see Bianca a few days ago and asked her, 'Why don't you just marry into another family?'
Bianca, with her fiery personality, begged him to do so. While she was locked up in the convent like Rapunzel, Hardius joked that he had gotten engaged to another woman.
But their engagement is not something that can be broken emotionally. The marriage is an alliance, a business, a merger, and the interests of many politicians and nobles are at stake. Even that rascal William is constantly nagging about when the joint venture will be established.
“I was going to tell you anyway,”
Caitlyn opened her mouth.
“Hardy thinks that first of all, he needs to sort out his relationship with his ex-fiancée.”
“If it’s my ex-fiancée... that country girl?”
"Yes."
William snorted, “Ha!”
“Even if it’s a formal engagement, isn’t it a royal command? It’s not something that can be easily abandoned. Don’t you two, who have been watching, know better? I would like you to wait a little longer, since Hardius said he will sort out my fiancée and negotiate directly with Joseph.”
“What exactly does ‘resolve’ mean? Is it something that can definitely be finished? As I said before, our Bianca’s marriage must be perfect. There can’t be even the slightest blemish.”
“Don't worry.”
Caitlyn answered firmly, looking back at Haness.
“Hardius is planning to move the child to the New World. He is buying up all the land in the southern part of Erndorf. He is giving her a bribe to silence her in advance so that no one will say anything.”
Isn't this enough?
Caitlyn looked at Haness with those eyes.
But there was still a look of discontent on Haness’s face. She forced the corners of her lips to turn up.
“Don’t be too hasty. If it doesn’t work out, there is still the last resort that the congressman mentioned. In the end, everything will work out the way we want.”
The words 'last resort' sat heavily in the study.
It was impossible to separate Charlotte and the dog. The dog was gentle and affectionate despite its large size. It was also smart enough to understand simple commands like sit and down after only one or two repetitions.
Emilia couldn't do anything but watch Charlotte melt into the dog.
“He may look docile, but he was raised as a guard dog. He is a brave and loyal breed that can stand up to a pack of wolves. Raise him well.”
“No, that can’t be.”
"Don't worry. I'll take care of all the expenses and arrangements for raising him."
The firm tone of voice suggests a stubbornness that will not allow rejection.
The word 'family' made Emilia's heart weaken once again.
This is a remote forest, and there is nothing wrong with having a dog. Don't wealthy nobles keep dozens of dogs in their villas?
“First of all, this is not a gift for you.”
Hardius glanced at Charlotte, who was watching them cautiously from a distance. Charlotte was now no longer just twiddling the tail, but was hugging the dog's neck.
How can I refuse any more than this?
Hardius, taking the silence as permission, approached Charlotte.
What kind of magic did he use...?
He had intended to complain, but the words that came out were terribly weak. Emilia didn't even have the energy left to meet his eyes.
“It’s simple. If I really wanted to kick you out, I wouldn’t have told you this in advance. Don’t worry. There are ongoing negotiations, and if they go well, I’ll make a decision then. Just think about it.”
“Do I have any decision-making power whatsoever...”
Hardius stared at Emilia, who was muttering weakly. The man's mouth opened as if trying to explain something, but then closed tightly again.
“...Then take care.”
After a bland farewell, he walked away.
Emilia stood there for a long time, unable to move, until the carriage carrying him gradually became smaller and disappeared altogether.
The new dog stole Charlotte's and her new mother's hearts with his cuteness and antics.
After dinner and the dishes were washed, Emilia realized that it was quite chilly outside. She took out a blanket and headed to the doghouse.
“Brave.”
It was a name Charlotte gave her.
Hardius praised the child for the good name. It was probably the first time Charlotte had heard such a compliment from someone other than her family.
You bought the land, and you're planning on kicking me out of here...
Perhaps because she had become accustomed to inconsistent behavior, Emilia simply chuckled and laughed.
“Thump!”
Emilia locked eyes with the dog, who was wagging his tail. Brave licked the back of Emilia’s hand with his large tongue, expressing his affection without hesitation. That simplicity slightly loosened the lump that had been filling her heart.
The lush green Kramwitz is the largest and most beautiful of the Meyer family's villas. Surrounded by dense fir forests and a small lake, it was also the family's main residence, the Van Drake Meyer sanatorium.
As she began to hand over the family business to her son, Caitlyn gradually increased the time she spent in Kramwitz. This was to personally care for her husband, whose illness was rapidly worsening. People praised Mrs. Meyer’s virtue. She was even praised as the perfect hostess for the Duke’s household.
“It would be really pretty if decorated with ivy. Don’t you think so?”
In her muttering hands was a bouquet of freshly picked lisianthus.
“Ophelia, your daughter just turned fifteen, right? Give it to her.”
“...Oh my goodness... Thank you, Madam.”
Caitlyn entered the villa, leaving the maid behind, who was embarrassed and at a loss.
The bedroom was a perfect reflection of Caitlyn's personality as the mistress of the house. It was grand, luxurious, and perfect.
There's only one blemish: her husband, Van Drake Meyer, lying corpse-like on the bed.
His pupils were completely dilated and staring unfocused at the ceiling.
His tongue has become stiff and is useless except for swallowing food, and his limbs have long since lost their function. He is conscious, but has difficulty recognizing people, and his cognitive level is that of a child.
Some doctors said it was an unknown disease, others said it was syphilis that had spread to the brain. Whatever the cause, the head of the Meyer family never recovered for ten long years.
Caitlyn leaned against the doorway and watched the old servant work hard at kneading his withered limbs. Sensing the presence of someone, he turned his head.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, Caitlyn felt a creepy feeling, as if a snake was crawling up her spine.
Should I say shameless? Or cunning?
That servant named Jetson had been with Caitlyn since she was starving and eating porridge. He was the one who stood by her side like a rock and did all the dirty work.
Maybe he was the only one she trusted and relied on, but now that she's gotten everything she wanted and has the world at her feet, she feels like a piece of her past that Jetson wants to erase.
“You can stop now and go. I want to do it myself.”
Caitlyn spoke somewhat coldly and placed a flower in a vase next to the bed. Jetson said, “Yes,” and stood up.
Caitlyn dried her hands with a wet towel and began to massage her husband's arms.
Just as sweat began to bead on her forehead, a knock was heard at the door.
“The guests have arrived. Please wait in the study.”
A color came to Caitlyn's face. She dropped his limp arms like dry branches and left the room.
***
“Caitlyn Meyer! You’re really annoying me for bringing us here again.”
An older man with an onyx stick in a bowler hat raised both arms.
This is William Richard, the leader of the House of Lords and known as the 'Snake of the Ronnenhalt Parliament'. Caitlyn took his wrinkled hand and shook it vigorously.
Hannes Leichnen, who had been standing behind him, approached Caitlyn with a smile.
“If you use the excuse of visiting the sick, there’s no chance of being the subject of gossip, so this is the perfect place to talk. Don’t you think so?”
The three of them moved to a secret space inside the study, exchanging laughter.
“I heard Hardius moved to a new house? He seems anxious to be independent.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. He's so impatient that it’s almost frustrating. He's been using school as an excuse to not show up for the past four years...”
“Is the succession going well? You must be careful during this period. This is when unnecessary conflicts arise between parents and children. You must clean up the weeds that were left behind by your son.”
“Don't worry.”
Caitlyn's lips curl into a leisurely smile.
“I’ve cleaned out everyone, including the groom, the tutor, and the nannies, except for one assistant, Grosjean.”
“Well done. He's an independent guy, so you’d better compromise and be careful. It’s never good to get caught watching him.”
William stroked his well-trimmed moustache and draped one arm over the armrest.
“Anyway, now that my child has become independent and will take over the family line, all that’s left to do is hold the most important wedding ceremony.”
The calm air froze over.
Finally, the biggest mountain that the three of them had to overcome came to the forefront.
“My investors have been waiting impatiently for the Leichnen-Meyer combination. But don’t forget that they have wasted five years and are disappointing everyone.”
Caitlyn and Haness looked at each other at the same time. Haness's eyes also showed a look of urgency.
“Don’t worry, my son will soon get his hands on the Trunia mine. He’s quite good at negotiating.”
“I’m not worried about whether or not I can get the mine. What matters is the merger with Laichnen. In other words, the marriage of Hardius and Bianca. That’s what the investors want. The birth of a multinational conglomerate that will own 50 percent of the mines, including those in the New World.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Don’t worry.”
Caitlyn nodded vigorously, trying to convince William, but it didn't change the skeptical look in his eyes.
“Then, when will the engagement be broken off? Isn’t the great Caitlyn Meyer just watching King Joseph because she’s afraid of him? Shouldn’t it be time to persuade the King to break off the engagement?”
“Yes, I plan to enter into negotiations at the appropriate time after returning from Trunia.”
“When is the right time? Not ‘as soon as possible’?”
Haness interjected with a shaky voice.
His pride was hurt. He was always dissatisfied with the fact that his precious daughter, whom he would not mind putting in his eyes, was locked up in a convent, waiting for Hardius Meyer to break off their engagement.
He went to see Bianca a few days ago and asked her, 'Why don't you just marry into another family?'
Bianca, with her fiery personality, begged him to do so. While she was locked up in the convent like Rapunzel, Hardius joked that he had gotten engaged to another woman.
But their engagement is not something that can be broken emotionally. The marriage is an alliance, a business, a merger, and the interests of many politicians and nobles are at stake. Even that rascal William is constantly nagging about when the joint venture will be established.
“I was going to tell you anyway,”
Caitlyn opened her mouth.
“Hardy thinks that first of all, he needs to sort out his relationship with his ex-fiancée.”
“If it’s my ex-fiancée... that country girl?”
"Yes."
William snorted, “Ha!”
“Even if it’s a formal engagement, isn’t it a royal command? It’s not something that can be easily abandoned. Don’t you two, who have been watching, know better? I would like you to wait a little longer, since Hardius said he will sort out my fiancée and negotiate directly with Joseph.”
“What exactly does ‘resolve’ mean? Is it something that can definitely be finished? As I said before, our Bianca’s marriage must be perfect. There can’t be even the slightest blemish.”
“Don't worry.”
Caitlyn answered firmly, looking back at Haness.
“Hardius is planning to move the child to the New World. He is buying up all the land in the southern part of Erndorf. He is giving her a bribe to silence her in advance so that no one will say anything.”
Isn't this enough?
Caitlyn looked at Haness with those eyes.
But there was still a look of discontent on Haness’s face. She forced the corners of her lips to turn up.
“Don’t be too hasty. If it doesn’t work out, there is still the last resort that the congressman mentioned. In the end, everything will work out the way we want.”
The words 'last resort' sat heavily in the study.
***
It was impossible to separate Charlotte and the dog. The dog was gentle and affectionate despite its large size. It was also smart enough to understand simple commands like sit and down after only one or two repetitions.
Emilia couldn't do anything but watch Charlotte melt into the dog.
“He may look docile, but he was raised as a guard dog. He is a brave and loyal breed that can stand up to a pack of wolves. Raise him well.”
“No, that can’t be.”
"Don't worry. I'll take care of all the expenses and arrangements for raising him."
The firm tone of voice suggests a stubbornness that will not allow rejection.
The word 'family' made Emilia's heart weaken once again.
This is a remote forest, and there is nothing wrong with having a dog. Don't wealthy nobles keep dozens of dogs in their villas?
“First of all, this is not a gift for you.”
Hardius glanced at Charlotte, who was watching them cautiously from a distance. Charlotte was now no longer just twiddling the tail, but was hugging the dog's neck.
How can I refuse any more than this?
Hardius, taking the silence as permission, approached Charlotte.
What kind of magic did he use...?
Charlotte was so infatuated with him that she revealed half of her monstrous face.
Hardius knelt down and patted the child's head. Just looking at the two of them made Emilia feel like her heart was going to burst.
When he returned to Emilia, Hardius's eyes were as if shrouded in fog, making it impossible to see inside at all.
“Before you go, I have something to tell you. You may have to move in a few months.”
The warmth that had been growing faintly disappeared in an instant. Thanks to Charlotte and her lovely dog, the 'place of purchase' that she had briefly forgotten filled her head again.
She must not forget.
The carriage, Uncle Beppi, and even that dog. There's only one reason why Hardy Meyer does unwanted kindnesses.
That's right, the divorce agreement.
Emilia clenched her empty fists and steeled her resolve.
“I’m telling you in advance that I’m not kicking you out. I’m thinking of a few months at the shortest, or a year or two at the longest.”
“That’s funny, how on earth can you say that without it sounding like I’m kicking you out?”
Hardius knelt down and patted the child's head. Just looking at the two of them made Emilia feel like her heart was going to burst.
When he returned to Emilia, Hardius's eyes were as if shrouded in fog, making it impossible to see inside at all.
“Before you go, I have something to tell you. You may have to move in a few months.”
The warmth that had been growing faintly disappeared in an instant. Thanks to Charlotte and her lovely dog, the 'place of purchase' that she had briefly forgotten filled her head again.
She must not forget.
The carriage, Uncle Beppi, and even that dog. There's only one reason why Hardy Meyer does unwanted kindnesses.
That's right, the divorce agreement.
Emilia clenched her empty fists and steeled her resolve.
“I’m telling you in advance that I’m not kicking you out. I’m thinking of a few months at the shortest, or a year or two at the longest.”
“That’s funny, how on earth can you say that without it sounding like I’m kicking you out?”
He had intended to complain, but the words that came out were terribly weak. Emilia didn't even have the energy left to meet his eyes.
“It’s simple. If I really wanted to kick you out, I wouldn’t have told you this in advance. Don’t worry. There are ongoing negotiations, and if they go well, I’ll make a decision then. Just think about it.”
“Do I have any decision-making power whatsoever...”
Hardius stared at Emilia, who was muttering weakly. The man's mouth opened as if trying to explain something, but then closed tightly again.
“...Then take care.”
After a bland farewell, he walked away.
Emilia stood there for a long time, unable to move, until the carriage carrying him gradually became smaller and disappeared altogether.
***
The new dog stole Charlotte's and her new mother's hearts with his cuteness and antics.
After dinner and the dishes were washed, Emilia realized that it was quite chilly outside. She took out a blanket and headed to the doghouse.
“Brave.”
It was a name Charlotte gave her.
Hardius praised the child for the good name. It was probably the first time Charlotte had heard such a compliment from someone other than her family.
You bought the land, and you're planning on kicking me out of here...
Perhaps because she had become accustomed to inconsistent behavior, Emilia simply chuckled and laughed.
“Thump!”
Emilia locked eyes with the dog, who was wagging his tail. Brave licked the back of Emilia’s hand with his large tongue, expressing his affection without hesitation. That simplicity slightly loosened the lump that had been filling her heart.
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