CH 78

Chapter 78: Pryster's Saying (1)

Daisy was taken aback when her father suddenly mentioned that she had been promised to someone.

Although there was no one she had set her heart on... there was someone she was interested in.

Vaguely, she had hoped that something would happen between her and Cyaden.

However, that hope was crushed in an instant, as Cayden suddenly had a fiancee.

Just a few days ago, her father had considered Cayden as a potential match for her. But now that another man had been decided upon so quickly, she couldn’t help but feel a slight dissatisfaction.

But with the continuation of her father’s words, Daisy had to hold her breath.

“...Daisy, your fiance is Cayden Pryster.”

“....Yes?”

Daisy blinked her clear eyes. A bright light began to spread across her face, replacing the faint dissatisfaction she had shown before.

“I told you a few days ago. Cayden Pryster can be your match, so get ready.”

“But... Cayden is with Judy Ice...”

“Hmm? Judy Ice? The lady from the Ice family?”

“Yes.”

“Why did Judy Ice come up suddenly? Is she perhaps Cayden’s lover?”

Daisy fell silent.

Only now did she realize that her father knew nothing about Cayden and Judy’s private discussions.

Didn’t Cayden say they didn’t make an official announcement due to some circumstances?

“Oh... no. It’s not like that.”

“Even if that were the case, it wouldn’t matter. There’s no room for emotions in political marriages. Now, you should only think about how you’ll live well with Cayden.”

Count Hexter gazed slowly at Daisy.

“...But he is a person this father has carefully chosen after much consideration. He may be an adopted child from a commoner family, but... I hear he has gained favor from Lady Liana, the former Duchess. I’m not sure about his relationship with the twins... hmmm. Nevertheless, entering into a marriage alliance with the Prysters would be a great advantage for us compared to a mediocre or low-ranking family.”

“...Yes. Th-that’s right.”

The words didn’t quite register in Daisy’s ears. Her mind was spinning too quickly.

As her father had said, political marriages were not meant for emotions, but... now that she was the one involved, Daisy’s feelings were different.

The realization of actually marrying him. The anticipation of the emotions that would grow as they got closer. A sense of relief that it was not some strange person she was being tied to, but Cayden with whom she could connect… and excitement about the person himself. All these emotions rushed in like a tidal wave with just that one word, “fiancé.”

“Besides... isn’t he greatly loved by the commoners? Lady Liana, the Duchess, asked if Cayden could settle in our territory. That’s a fortunate development. You don’t need to leave for the Pryster territory. On top of that, with the provisions he has gifted us, our people will welcome him... It’s up to your judgment, but I think there is no better man for you than him.”

“......”

“Daisy, do you think… you can manage married life?”

At least for this question, Daisy was able to gather her thoughts and respond. She lifted her head and met Count Hexter’s gaze straight on.

“Yes. I believe I can.”

****

Keirsey arrived at the library.

She realized that she was being too carried away by the situation.

Although she was far from being a studious person... just as she had learned about kisses in the past, she hoped she could learn something again this time.

She felt that this desperate situation would not end easily.

No matter how she tried to break off Cayden’s engagement, her grandmother would bring a new candidate.

Something needed to change.

And as her way out, Keirsey eventually chose to confess.

There was no other option. She felt like she had to confront her feelings somehow.

As a love that she had realized too late, she needed to act fast.

Asena had already been preparing for something.

Whether it was her determination to remove Pryster from his name or a kiss a long time ago...

She had realized her feelings and had been acting upon them.

Of course, Keirsey knew that even Asena’s plans were falling apart lately.

But she couldn’t simply stand still and watch.

Because, even if many things had become uncertain, one thing remained clear.

She couldn’t bear to see Cayden leaving her, and she wanted to spend her life with him.

She realized that she could only be happy if his affection was directed solely at her.

“Ah...”

Before searching through the library shelves, Keirsey had to calm her heart.

The aftermath of her argument with her grandmother was still lingering.

Now she had decided to rush toward Cayden without caring about her grandmother’s opinion, but it wasn’t as easy as she imagined.

Since she loved her grandmother, it was difficult to put a stake through her heart, but she couldn’t just stand by and watch Cayden leave.

It was her life, and she would achieve what she desired.

No matter how much she loved her grandmother, she couldn’t give up Cayden.

She scanned the library quickly, using her eyes to search for the books she needed.

“The Art of Love.”

“On the Cruelty of Political Marriages.”

“How to Get Along With the Other Person.”

“When Will I Fall in Love with My Fiancé?”

Finding a book that perfectly matched her situation was challenging.

There weren’t many books about confessions. Perhaps it was because political marriages were so prevalent.

“The Kiss Primer.”

She paused at a book she remembered from the past. Maybe it was the familiarity. Before she knew it, her hand was already holding the book.

She skimmed through the book, flipping past familiar illustrations and explanations.

From soft kisses to leaving kiss marks.

In the illustration of a deep kiss, there was a brief description below, saying, “The final stage of kissing. Provides profound pleasure.”

She had expected kissing to be pleasant, but at that time she couldn’t quite relate to the notion of profound pleasure.

She had not thought that there would be such a big difference.

...However, now that she had experienced this act, she realized that this description was wrong.

No, not entirely wrong, but she had come to realize how inadequate the description was.

It couldn’t be described as just “profound pleasure.”

Even imagining it now made it hard for her to breathe.

A pleasure that melted the brain. A pleasure that led to immediate addiction. Like a drug.

Even if it was inappropriate to put such a description, Keirsey knew she would do it again if given the chance.

She had already been struggling every night, reminiscing about their kisses.

And she had imagined countless times what she would do next... endlessly.

Hugging his neck tightly and sealing their lips without leaving any gap. Putting her tongue in his mouth and teasing his tongue like eating candy. Breathing through his mouth. Puffing his lower and upper lips until they swell. Flipping him over while hugging him and kissing him with herself lying beneath. Very gently, carefully kissing him with the emotions of excitement and anticipation when he was awake.

There were so many things she wanted to do.

While Keirsey felt that, at the same time, she knew that kissing wasn’t the end.

As she had learned during sex education, there was a pleasure beyond kissing.

Even trying to imagine it was difficult. If it was just physical pleasure, she could vaguely understand what it might be like. Perhaps similar to the pleasure she felt when she fantasized about Cayden and calmed her heated body at night.

What she was curious about was the emotional pleasure, like what she felt when they kissed.

And at least in that aspect, it was something she couldn’t do while he was sleeping.

After all, they had to move their bodies together, so she couldn’t do it if he was asleep.

If she wanted to know that pleasure, she had no choice but to make an effort here in the library.

Putting aside her brief reminiscence, Keirsey returned the book to its shelf.

And as she continued exploring, her eyes stopped at one book.

“The Love Life of Commoners.”

She hadn’t read it before.

But she immediately sensed that there would be a lot to learn from that book.

Because commoners were rarely involved in political marriages. So confessions of feelings and what follows next happened frequently.

****

The next day, Judy rose with a heavy heart.

The previous day, she couldn’t hold back and finally shed tears.

She had only just realized how much she had been looking forward to her life with Cayden.

It was always the case that one only truly realized the value of something after losing it.

Maybe, now that she was alone, figuratively and literally, she could finally be honest with herself.

At the same time, she felt incredibly bitter.

It was due to her family that they were engaged in the first place, but it was hard for her to accept that the broken engagement was due to their families and was unrelated to the feelings of the parties involved.

‘Nera.’

Once again… it was Nera Ice who had interfered.

Her half-sister and someone she disliked.

After all, it was Nera due to whom Judy suffered as a child.

Though she didn’t want to make excuses, Judy believed that Nera played a part in her reserved and defensive personality.

And now, because of this incident, Judy had intense hate for Nera.

It was the first time she had such a strong desire to curse someone.

She knew she couldn’t do anything against Nera, the legitimate daughter of the family head, but still, she knew she would hold this grudge until she died.

Who on earth?

Who would kick and spill wine on such a formal occasion? Why did it have to happen that day?

If Nera didn’t do those things, Judy could have endured everything like she always did. She could have withstood all the humiliation and disgrace. So why did she have to interfere that day?

Cayden was her first friend and someone who shared the same pain. She had seen how bright he shined and how upright he was.

It wasn’t because of his appearance or family background. She was attracted to him because of his inner self.

And yet, when the opportunity came and she reached out to him to hold him with an excited heart… he was gone.

…All… Because of Nera.

It was all too unjust, and that’s why Judy had shed tears the day before.

“....Ha.”

But that was only for some time.

Judy washed her body, dressed herself, and tightened the sword at her side, brushing aside her swollen face.

The escort training must continue.

Leaving the bed that whispered to her to come back, she headed to Daisy’s room.

.

.

.

Cayden was not seen all day.

Perhaps it was for the best.

Her emotions were still vivid, and she didn’t know how to face him in her current state.

It seemed better to talk when her heart had calmed down.

‘He seems to have been pulled away by the twins again.’

Maybe he was attending a family meeting.

Speaking of family meetings, Judy thought of Nera.

Of course, she had never been in a family meeting, but Nera still came to mind.

She wondered what excuses Nera would come up with this time.

The engagement was broken mostly due to her fault... How could she justify her actions to father?

After the momentary injustice passed, cold anger and hatred kept resurfacing.

When the chance for revenge came, Judy knew she would act. That was certain.

The hatred she had bottled up since childhood overflowed due to this incident.

She couldn’t bear it any longer.

“....Hoo.”

But Judy calmed her heart.

She couldn’t afford to have other thoughts while escorting someone.

Even in a peaceful academy, unexpected incidents could happen.

The most vulnerable time was when one let their guard down.

As she was trying to erase unpleasant thoughts, Daisy, who was sitting at the student council desk, turned around cautiously.

“....?”

When Judy looked puzzled, Daisy looked back at her carefully.

“.....What’s going on?” Judy asked.

“...I think I should tell you,” Daisy’s face looked apologetic as she opened her mouth. “I heard. About Cayden and...”

Judy responded, hiding her melancholic emotions, “It’s okay.”

“...Yes?”

“It’s because of the family circumstances…”

Afterward, as if trying to console herself, or perhaps because not saying it was too painful, Judy blurted out an explanation.

“Pryster and Ice... couldn’t be together.”

Judy’s heart ached as she said those words.

As time passed, she realized how complex her feelings were when it came to her engagement with Cayden.

Judy stopped speaking. She thought the conversation had ended, but Daisy didn’t turn away.

She still had a remorseful expression.

However, Judy could also sense a faint glimmer of anticipation on Daisy’s face.

As Judy’s heart grew anxious, Daisy opened and closed her mouth a few times.

As if she couldn’t bear it any longer, Daisy said, “I’m next.”

“What...?”

Daisy avoided eye contact with her and whispered softly.

“Now, I... I am Cayden’s fiancée.”