Betrothed to My Sister's Ex

Turning two corners, I opened the large door at the end. Immediately, there was a staircase leading down to the main hall. Beyond that, it was just a short walk to the courtyard.

However, in the corner of the spacious hall—right in front of the door leading to the main gate—stood a familiar silhouette.

—It was Thomas, the gatekeeper of Granado Castle.

When he noticed me, he spread his arms wide in front of the door.

“I won’t let you pass here!”

“Thomas?”

I hadn’t really intended to go through anyway, but I decided to take a few steps forward.

“I swear on the name of Granado Castle’s gatekeeper, I will defend this place to the death. Master and Mio told me to leave your choice alone and not to interfere, but… no, I can’t let you through!”

“Thomas, um… I’m sorry.”

“Why are you leaving? What will you do going back to a place like that? No matter how you think about it, Granado Castle is much more comfortable, and there’s not a single man in that village better than Master.”

Every time I tried to say I wasn’t going back, he interrupted me. I was at a loss when Thomas finally started to shed tears. From his tawny eyes, tears fell one by one as he whimpered.

“Every day, when you came to the main gate and greeted me with ‘Good morning’, it was my greatest comfort. I don’t want you to disappear. If Master doesn’t like it, then I’ll… I’ll fight Master! Ah, he’s big, so I probably can’t win, definitely can’t win, but still—I’ll somehow land a punch and make you apologize. So please…”

With his eyes tightly shut, Thomas shouted. I took his trembling hands in mine. He whispered,

“Don’t say goodbye… please say ‘I’m home’…”

“Yeah… I’m home.”

“Huh?” Thomas looked up from his tear-streaked face. Oh dear, his nose was running all the way down to his chin… I didn’t have a handkerchief either. I tried to wipe it with the hem of my clothes, but he hurriedly refused.

“L-Lady? What did you just say…?”

I smiled and briefly explained the situation. The engagement cancellation was revoked, and I would continue living in this castle.

His eyes went wide at the news. He breathed out a deep sigh and then sat down on the floor.

“Ah… that’s a relief… I’m sleepy.”

“I’m sorry for worrying you. It’s alright now, so please take your time to rest…”

Before I could finish speaking, his nose inflated like a balloon… Oh dear.

What a predicament. It’s summer now, so I don’t think he’ll freeze to death… but I can’t just leave him like this…

For the time being, I left him there and stepped out through a small door nearby. I hadn’t been there often, but this should lead to the servants’ quarters.

I wondered if anyone was awake… and soon found a room with light spilling out. I knocked and entered. To my surprise, someone was inside.

“Lady Ryuu-Ryuu. What are you doing here?”

The duchess turned with a lazy look in her eyes and cheeks flushed a deep brown. She was slumped in a shabby chair, the table before her lined with empty wine bottles.

The room was modest. It was slightly smaller than the nap room Lord Cyrus used, furnished only with a bed and a table.

“Why? Because this is my room. I can’t keep going back to the Duke’s mansion just to sleep when I have so much work. Of course I’m here.”

She said this as she poured wine into a goblet until it nearly overflowed. I hurriedly took it away from her.

“Madam, aren’t you drinking too much? It’s late at night—no, dawn already. You should rest.”

“There’s no way I can sleep! My dear son is heartbroken and falling apart!”

She struggled to grab the goblet back. I spotted a water pitcher on the table and handed it to her instead. Lady Ryuu-Ryuu gulped down the water, then collapsed face down on the table with a deep sigh.

“Ah… I’m so sad… so sad. Poor thing, he loved that boy so much and cherished him. My son is pitiful…”

It seemed she didn’t recognize me.

“Poor son… He must have hated the idea of an arranged marriage so much he almost retched. But… since I, a former concubine, and Mio might lose our places, he said he would inherit the duke’s position.