How on earth did it come to this?
Without warning, she barged into the castle under the pretense of a contractual relationship, but the existence of Sylvia, who proposed an engagement, and the parents who readily accepted it, made Kyle feel a growing headache.
That said, Kyle was not so foolish as to be unaware of Sylvia’s reasoning behind this.
The way she had been acting as if they were strangers, even though they had only just met, must have been for the same reason.
‘I must have nullified our previous relationship, so she wants to rebuild it from scratch.’
Guessing Sylvia’s true intentions, Kyle wore a complicated expression.
Of course, he was extremely grateful for her kindness.
For Sylvia, who had already regained her freedom, Kyle Lyard must now be an unnecessary presence.
It would be just fine for them to part ways and live in peace, but the fact that she came to him with this absurd proposal showed that Sylvia really valued human connections.
However, while grateful, Kyle was still not prepared to accept it.
No, he thought it was something he should never do in the future.
Therefore, Kyle tried to appear calm as he spoke to her, who was wearing a self-assured expression.
“I understand what you’re saying, but Your Highness, no matter how much both of you want this, I am not willing to accept it yet.”
“Is there someone else you have in mind?”
“No, that’s not the case, but…”
For some reason, Kyle suddenly felt a chill, and he slightly shuddered, shaking his head.
If he felt like Sylvia’s expression disappeared for a moment, it was probably just an illusion.
“Then it doesn’t seem like there would be any issues, does it?”
“It’s about the previous matter. Isn’t it about deceiving both of our parents? There’s no way I could do something so unethical.”
“…Tch, you’re the one who deceived people, pretending to be someone who would always be by their side, and then quickly kicked them aside.”
Seeing Kyle, who was suddenly talking about morals and saying things that wouldn’t work, Sylvia clicked her tongue and grumbled in a frustrated voice.
“What did you just say, Your Highness?”
“Huh? No, I didn’t say anything.”
However, since her voice was so small, it didn’t reach Kyle’s ears, and she quickly returned to her smiling face, casually shrugging her shoulders.
“The reason I’m refusing isn’t just that. Even if it’s a contract relationship, an engagement with someone I just met… It’s too difficult for me, as I already struggle with dealing with women.”
“…Tch, it’s difficult, huh? You’re the one who flirts whenever you breathe.”
“…Your Highness?”
“No, never mind. I think I misspoke for a second.”
Despite having said that, Kyle didn’t mind, letting it slide as he thought nothing of it.
“Anyway, for various reasons, I am grateful for the proposal, but I’m afraid I can’t accept it. I’m sorry.”
“I see… I suppose you have your reasons too, Lord Lyard.”
“…Hah.”
Fortunately, Sylvia didn’t seem like she would push things too far, as she nodded, showing a hint of understanding.
Seeing this, Kyle let out a small sigh of relief.
However, it’s said that one should listen to the entire conversation.
“So, the conclusion is that you’re not comfortable because we don’t have any prior relationship, and you’re bothered by deceiving our parents, is that it?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Of course, both of them knew that the real reason wasn’t as simple as that, so there was no one who was being deceived, only someone trying to deceive.
At that moment, a bright smile appeared on Sylvia’s face.
“Well, that’s good to hear. Actually, I was concerned about that point too, so I came to ask Lord Lyard for a favor.”
“…A favor? What kind of favor?”
Wasn’t the proposal about the engagement already the favor?
Wondering if there was something more to it, Kyle looked at her with uneasy eyes, his gaze shaky.
“I asked if I could stay here for a while, as I want to build a closer relationship with Lord Lyard now that we’ll be engaged. Fortunately, he kindly accepted.”
“Your father?”
“Yes.”
“Then, what about your family? The position of the head of the household isn’t something trivial, is it?”
“Of course, I asked my mother as well.”
Thud.
So, that was the plan.
Kyle, who had absentmindedly forgotten about Marianne’s existence, touched his forehead as if he was about to collapse.
Even if he roared and grumbled that the engagement was no longer valid here, Sylvia would probably just bring up some ridiculous reason like, “I want to get closer to Lord Lyard,” and smoothly slip away from it.
In reality, since the conversation had led this far, her victory seemed almost certain.
The only remaining defense Kyle had was his claim that he couldn’t deceive his family.
He was confident that Sylvia wouldn’t be able to break through this line, and as he tried to hold onto his sanity, he braced himself.
“Moreover, Lord Lyard said he would reject this because he doesn’t want to deceive his parents, correct?”
“Y-Yes.”
“Heh, actually, I feel the same way. To begin with, isn’t it absurd that the word ‘contract’ is involved in something as important as an engagement?”
Then, though Kyle wanted to scold her for bringing up such a topic, she spoke first before he could even open his lips.
“So, I thought it might be fine to stay here for a while and build a friendship with Lord Lyard, eventually becoming a true engaged couple.”
“A true engaged couple…?”
“Oh my, do you still not understand even after I’ve explained this much?”
Sylvia’s eyes curved like crescent moons as she watched Kyle stare at her, his pupils shaking violently as if an earthquake had struck them.
Then, she lightly tapped his fingertip, which was resting quietly on the table, as if giving a bird kiss, and added with a sultry smile,
“Fufu, you’ll find out in due time. Look forward to it, Lord Lyard.”
It was the most enchanting yet also the most chilling voice Kyle had ever heard in his life.
After his conversation with Sylvia, Kyle was suddenly summoned by his father, Dver.
“I’ve heard the story, Kyle. The lady of the Eleonore family… No, I suppose I should call her the head of the family now. You rejected her and came back, didn’t you?”
“…Yes, Father.”
It seemed that Sylvia had mentioned that part as well. Kyle nodded indifferently at Dver’s words.
Dver, who had been silently looking down at him, let out a sigh before speaking in a heavy voice.
“I thought she was a woman you cared for quite a bit. What happened?”
“The situation didn’t allow for it. I also didn’t feel like I was needed by her anymore.”
“That’s foolish talk. Why did you make that decision on your own? Did you ever ask for her opinion?”
At the sharp rebuke, Kyle remained silent.
Of course, he hadn’t asked.
If he had intended to ask, he wouldn’t have coldly rejected her and come back in the first place.
“Kyle, I know. You must still resent me.”
“I do not.”
“Don’t lie. Do you think your father is so foolish that he wouldn’t recognize his own mistakes?”
“…No, sir.”
To be honest, a part of him had thought so.
No, from the very beginning, he had assumed that his father, who had tormented him since childhood, had no human emotions left.
Seeing Kyle take a moment before denying it, Dver let out a complicated sigh, closing his eyes for a moment before reopening them.
“I don’t care how you think of me. I have no intention of asking you to forgive me for what I did. I only did what I believed was necessary to keep the Lyard family name untarnished. I have no regrets about that. Even if the one in question was my own flesh and blood.”
“……”
For the first time, hearing his father’s honest thoughts, Kyle felt a wave of emotions crash inside him.
That was it.
Dver had never actually hated Kyle as a person.
He simply could not tolerate a parasite that would only tarnish the name of the noble Lyard family while contributing nothing.
To him, the important factor was not whether Kyle was his son by blood.
It was whether Kyle could uphold and elevate the Lyard family name—that was the only thing that mattered.
“If Hassel had been in your position, I would have done the same. Call it an excuse if you want. I don’t care. But…”
For the first time, Dver’s emotionless eyes sharpened, and his gaze became piercing.
“…If you cannot even understand your own feelings and end up hurting the woman you care for, then I have no intention of acknowledging you as my son.”
“Father…”
Kyle widened his eyes in shock, staring at his father seated in the high seat.
Hadn’t he disapproved of Sylvia?
His attitude almost seemed like he was siding with her instead, which left Kyle feeling confused.
“I thought you didn’t like her very much, Father.”
“I didn’t, at first. At least, when you first visited the Eleonore family, I had only heard the rumors and was convinced she was a witch.”
Dver added bitterly, “I was foolish.”
Then, he continued cautiously,
“But when I met her in person, I realized she was a decent girl. And I could see how deeply she cared for you. Most importantly…”
Dver’s gaze locked onto Kyle.
Kyle, who was used to only hearing rebukes or criticism from his father, found the look strangely unfamiliar.
It was as if… as if his father was truly looking at him as his son.
That was the only way he could describe it.
Yes, it was unmistakably the gaze of a father.
“I had never seen you look at someone with such affection before. As your father, I could only support you. That’s the only reason I came to accept her.”
At last, Kyle understood why his father had been so accepting of Sylvia from the very start, why he had even allowed her bold request.
It was simply because she was ‘the woman his son loved.’
How laughable.
Kyle had assumed his father had some ulterior motive, but the truth was so plain and simple that it made him chuckle in disbelief.
“So let me tell you this in advance. If you’re going to cut her off, do it completely. But if you can’t… then take care of her with everything you have.”
At Dver’s final piece of advice, Kyle couldn’t bring himself to respond.
Because the moment he nodded in agreement, he felt as if all the emotions he had been holding back would finally overflow.