CHAPTER 1 – Prologue

“Your Grace, your fiance, Lady Leopold has arrived.”

“…What? There isn’t any special occasion right? There’s still a year left before the wedding.”

“Yes, but… I’m sure it’s Lady Carina Leopold.”

The man, who was busy with paperwork raised his head sharply and glared.

He clicked his tongue. Why were there no rumors about her arrival to the north?

As a result of his work being interrupted, his red eyes flashed threateningly.

“What was she thinking? Even if we are engaged, how can one come whenever they please without sending a letter first?”

Due to the malicious activities rapidly increasing in the north recently, the man’s patience has reached its limit.

The butler Fang, whose face was visibly stained with dismay, followed behind immediately.

“Tsk what kind of nonsense was my father thinking of when he died because of these political games? I want to take him out of his grave and listen to his justification.”

It was an impolite remark, but Fang couldn’t bring himself to say anything.

Frankly, Million is so buried in work and problems on the daily that he doesn’t have time to deal with women.

In addition, the territory is at its busiest, preparing for the upcoming winter.

But suddenly, there was the news of the fiancée’s visit.

He has seen her only once, during the engagement ceremony and that was it.

She didn’t seem to care for Million, and Million wasn’t interested in her either.

“Now, now, breaking up the engagement shouldn’t be hard?”

“…”

Fang, who always had clear replies, didn’t say anything this time.

‘I didn’t realize you can annoy people in so many ways.’

The sharp Million, whose eyes are more serious than those who had been starved for five days, turned his head to where Fang’s attention was fixed, on the front door.

‘She must’ve heard all of it.’

He clicked his tongue. At the end of Fang’s gaze was his fiancee.

She looks even paler than before. Million, whose first thought was of explaining the situation, opened his mouth.

“What I just said…”

“An engagement break-up, that’s fine.”

“…What?”

“Your Grace and my wedding is scheduled in about a year right?”

With his arms crossed Million listened to Carina, about whatever she was talking about in such a nonchalant manner.

Milion felt a little unpleasant listening to her speak.

He has been dealing with paperwork for three days straight, and it has kept him so busy that it’s the reason why he’s so easily irritated. In fact, the space below his eyes is a shade darker.

“Frankly speaking, I want to stay here for about six to ten months.”

“…Lady, are you crazy?”

Million asked sincerely. An ordinary nobleman wouldn’t use such vulgar words, but in this case he had to use them.

Carina’s tugged brown hair swayed at her waist. A pair of deep blue eyes faced Million.

“Instead, I’ll break off the engagement by the time I leave here.”

“…Don’t tell me you ran away from home at such an age?”

“Of course I would leave home at such an age. Only for less than a year though. Half a year is too short and 10 months is too long. I thought that there might be a separate palace in this remote place, but it’s okay if it’s not at this mansion. As you can see I didn’t bring anything with me. Oh, but I brought the divorce papers.”

She pulled a piece of paper from a shabby cloth bag with her pale hands, which resembled gloves even without them.

Million’s face contorted.

Where on earth did she pick up a cloth bag that looks like it should be in a trash can?

“…Is the lady in a difficult situation?”

“Pardon?”

Carina asked back.

His eyes were directed at the cloth bag. Noticing this, she shook her head. Who would want to buy a cheap bag that looks like it should be thrown away?

“If you carry a useless expensive bag I’m sure you’ll be in trouble during the rough and long journey.”

“How on earth have you come this far?”

“I paid money, rode a carriage, got off at an adequate place and walked, then, once again I relied on the carriage from North and came.”

Count Leopold is at the Southern end. Since the count rarely went out to the capital, it is likely that she came from where the count’s residence is, towards the Northern end.

Even when using a private carriage it takes a month to arrive without resting.

Million’s face crumpled.

“When the hell did you depart?”

“I departed two months ago.”

“And in the meantime have you been in contact… no you haven’t. Above everything, a young lady who knows nothing of the world shouldn’t go through such a rough road alone.”

“…This may be my first and last trip.”

Carina spoke out meaningfully.

Chilly wind came in from the wide-open front door of the mansion. She opened her mouth, looking silently at the colorful fallen leaves.

“I wanted to do something with my own strength, with my own steps.”

The trip was the beginning. The first thing she decided to do on her own.

Soon after, she was going to spend her time doing what she wanted to do.

‘Last trip?’

Million’s expression became weird.

Well, no young noble lady can make this reckless trip twice. He shook his head.

It’s fortunate that nothing happened, otherwise she might’ve had a real rough time.

“I can’t?”

“What if I say no?”

“There are also options I have thought of as the next best thing. Should I just go to the top end of the ladder and do chores?”

She thought about it but in reality, her body wasn’t in good condition.

Perhaps because of the cold wind, there were no times where I could let my mind be at ease after I entered the North.

She was going to stay here quietly, and paint pictures, and take a short trip to a place not far away, preparing for the end.

“Huh!”

Million was dumbfounded.

The atmosphere was so different that it was doubtful that she was the same person he had seen once before, including the bold words.

Seeing his reaction, Carina shrugged.

“Actually, I didn’t think that you’d say no, so the next best thing was really just up to imagination.”

“Why?”

“You don’t like me. You didn’t look pleased when we first met at the engagement ceremony.”

When Million looked at her absurd eyes, she added, as if she was proud.

“You know that. So I didn’t think that you’d miss out on this opportunity.”

Carina shook the paper again in front of him.

Glaring at the reddened fingertips, Million glanced at Carina. In any case he can’t keep a guest standing at the front door.

“Come in for now.”

“Yes, thank you. It’ll be as if I’m not here. And then one day, when I’m gone, please think of me as some tiresome baggage that was dropped off somewhere.”

Million sighed at Carina’s words.

When he saw the sight of her pale skin, he felt guilty. Even if there is no reason to feel guilty. He felt quite bothered by that and so he glared at Carina once again.

Even though she didn’t look like it, she was shivering from the cold. Million pushed the words he was about to spit out back into his throat.

“Fang, give her a spare room to use right now. And tell the maid to take care of her and prepare a bath.”

“I understand.”

“First, tell her to bathe the lady.”

Carina who left the leering Million behind, hurriedly followed Fang whose tailcoat was trailing behind him.

Million glanced at her back and headed straight to the office.

There was a mountain of work he hadn’t dealt with.