If I Can’t Be Your Wife

/p>

 

“Hello, Madame.”

“Ah, Count Schenberg.”

 

Count Schenberg appeared out of nowhere and sat next to her.

 

“You are the main character who returned to the social world after a 3 year absence, so why are you alone in the garden?”

“Today’s protagonist is the Count.”

 

Kathleen stepped back and pointed out his words.

 

“I heard that all the nobles were waiting for you to attend.
The same would be true for Her Majesty, so why are you here?”

“Perhaps it’s the same reason as the duchess.”

 

With a light burst of laughter, he emptied the glass he was holding at once.

 

“I don’t want to get involved in troublesome affairs.
To be precise, the Imperial Family.
So I sneaked out.
I’m glad the focus was on His Grace.”

“…..”

“In the meantime, I am contemplating how to break the plate laid out by the Duke of Walten.”

 

Kathleen was a little startled by Count Schenberg who saw right through her, but she answered without expression.

 

“You seem to have forgotten that I am also a member of the Imperial Family, Count Schenberg.”

“You are, but it seems that the Madame has a different opinion than His Grace.”

“Different opinion?”

“It seems to me that Madame is against the marriage of the Imperial Family and the Schenberg family.”

 

A smile hung on his lips as he set the glass down on the fountain, but his eyes were cold.

 

“Looking earlier, I saw you were very worried for the Crown Prince.
Weren’t you?”

“It may have looked like that because he’s family that I haven’t seen in a long time.”

“I heard that you and His Highness are very close.”

 

Count Schenberg’s voice lowered at Kathleen’s attitude of pretending not to know.
As if he was nervous.

 

“It’s presumptuous, but I want you to persuade His Highness.”

“What kind of persuasion are you talking about?”

Sponsored Content

“Please tell him to refuse the arranged marriage.”

 

He and the Crown Prince had the same thoughts.
Kathleen almost sighed in relief, but tried to hide it.

 

“I don’t have the strength to dare to say that.”

“If the Madame says a word, His Highness will listen.”

“In that case, I think it would be better for the Count to meet His Highness in person.”

 

If she welcomed this here and accepted his offer, Peter would not have an advantage in the negotiations.

 

Kathleen stood up and took his hands together and said.

 

“Tell His Highness directly why you do not want this marriage.
It’s not for me or other parties to intervene.”

“But Madame.”

“I will call His Highness.
That’s all the help I can give you.”

 

Count Schenberg paused to say something.
Kathleen rang the small bell near the fountain to call her attendant.

 

“Take this person to the lounge with the west terrace and inform the person who made the reservation in advance.”

“Yes, I understand.”

 

Kathleen took off a pair of gloves and handed it to Count Schenberg, who looked back with wondering eyes.

 

“If you take this with you, you will be able to talk about what you want.”

“……Thank you, Madame.”

 

He nodded his head as if he understood Kathleen’s intentions at that moment, and disappeared following the attendant.

 

Kathleen sighed and put the bell away.
She had sent the attendant in the garden with Count Schenberg, so now she can truly rest without anyone watching.

 

She was resting peacefully while listening to the sound of the water, and it seemed that a certain amount of time had passed so she was about to return to the break room.

 

“Kathleen!”

 

Someone called her from behind.
Kathleen froze on the spot.
She could not forget the cheerful voice of the middle-aged man, even after a long time had passed.

 

“Kathleen, how long has it been?”

 

When she turned around, shocked by the hand on her shoulder, Count Winston was standing there.

 

“How are you here?”

“I got an invitation too.
What are you so surprised about?”

“……I see.
Please enjoy yourself.”

 

Not wanting to see any more of that creepy face, Kathleen was about to leave her seat.

 

Sponsored Content

Count Winston said.

 

“I heard the news.
You brought a child? The successor to the Walten family.”

 

The corners of his mouth which had risen had a strange smile.

 

“I thought you only knew how to use your body, but your brain works too.
Yeah, well done.
As long as you don’t get caught… Duke Walten pretends to be cold-blooded, but in the end he also wanted a son.”

“…I will go now.
His Grace must be looking for me.”

“Where are you going? I’m not done talking to you yet.”

“Ah!”

 

Margrave Winston’s arm was so strong that his slender daughter’s wrist was about to break.

 

“I don’t know where you stole him, but do it properly.
If people find out that he’s not the Duke’s blood, let alone yours, even the Winston family will be furious.”

“Let me go!”

“Answer me properly!”

 

Angry at the words that insulted Luci, she pushed him with all her might, but she could not defeat the power of the war veteran, Count Winston.

 

“You must hold the ankles of Duke Walten with that b*stard.
Apparently, he was kicked out and abused, so don’t miss out on this opportunity! When your child becomes the duke, I will be able to come down from the d*mn North.
Then Isabella can find her true husband again, right?”

“Please, please, pl-…!”

 

It had never been more terrifying to have the blood of Count Winston in her veins than it was now.
She was fed up with her father, whose eyes only saw her as a tool until the end.

 

“I don’t want to do that.”

“What?”

“My child will never be the duke.
So stop dreaming!”

“Y-You! Duchess, duchess, you really are so precious!”

 

Count Winston’s other hand, not grabbing her wrist, went up to the sky.
Kathleen was again enveloped by the feeling of helplessness she experienced as a child, and her whole body trembled.

 

‘Let’s just get hit.
If I get beaten by a few hits, then he will release……’

 

She closed her eyes.

 

As she resigned herself, waiting for her bitter father’s hand to fly to her cheek, her wrists were suddenly freed.
Simultaneously, Count Winston screamed.

 

“Aack!”

 

When she opened her eyes, she saw Count Winston stuck in the fountain.

 

“Are you hurt?”

 

An unexpected person pulled her over with an angry face and examined her.

 

Alexis Walten.

 

Her husband.