Chapter 2
“No.”
Wilhelmina shot back almost instantly, like a spring snapping into action.
It was an instinctive reaction born of her very nature. Though she had never quite managed to shine as brightly as Francesca, Wilhelmina was, by temperament, a person who instinctively resisted.
“Your Highness has yet to hear the main point of my proposal.”
And she also happened to be someone who welcomed a challenge.
“Of course you would like to think so.”
The man tossed his glasses onto the table with a soft clink, then rested his interlaced hands on his knees and smiled.
It was a gentle smile, his eyes crinkling pleasantly at the corners.
Yet Wilhelmina thought to herself:
She had only met him for the first time today, but she was certain of one thing.
This was the sort of man one would be better off trusting a poisonous snake than.
And people called this man, who was arguably even worse than a viper—
His Royal Highness Cassian, the esteemed royal prince and heroic Vice Admiral of the great, honorable, and vast Kingdom of Brighton.
According to an extremely reliable source, this man had achieved the legendary reputation of having thrown more than three thousand pirates into the sea, into prison, or…
Well, somewhere.
Until now, that particular fact had little to do with Wilhelmina.
But things were different from this point onward.
Because using this man was the only solution left to her at present.
…Correction.
It was the only solution among the two options that would cause Benjamin the least amount of suffering.
And, at the same time, it was the only way to prevent Francesca from becoming a murderer.
With that one necessary and sufficient condition in mind, Wilhelmina spoke.
“My proposal is quite simple, Your Highness.”
As she spoke, she wondered if this might actually be an even more insane idea than becoming a murderer.
“I propose that we enter into a contract with marriage as its premise.”
Crash!
From somewhere in the corner of the room came the sound of a teacup being dropped and shattered.
Wilhelmina did not so much as turn her head.
The only thing that mattered to her was seeing how the man in front of her would react.
“……”
Sure enough, it seemed that this utterly absurd proposal had even left the illustrious and formidable His Highness Cassian speechless.
For a moment, he studied Wilhelmina with an expression that was impossible to read.
But only for a moment.
Soon, a smile began to spread across his lips.
Yet why was it that Wilhelmina could not see anything particularly innocent in that smile?
No.
If she had to put it into words…
Malicious?
“As I see it, Miss Priestley.”
Sure enough, Cassian spoke in an unusually soft tone.
“You seem to be in need of the sort of sedative commonly sought after by ladies of high society. If you happen not to have any with you, shall I have some prepared?”
Remarkable.
Wilhelmina was genuinely impressed.
To say Are you insane? so beautifully and at such length was no ordinary feat.
She dared say it was a natural talent.
Even so, Wilhelmina did not forget to shake her head in a thoroughly ladylike manner.
“No.”
She had a distinct feeling that if she did not reject him properly, this man would simply hand her a bottle of sedatives and send her home.
But was he the only one who was difficult to deal with?
While that man had spent years charging around the sea and smashing pirates’ skulls, Wilhelmina had spent years charging through the high society of Winster, the infamous capital of the Kingdom of Brighton, smashing the hearts of suitors until she had finally earned herself the title of spinster.
As far as Wilhelmina was concerned, there was little difference between their two achievements when it came to legendary status.
“If I may offer you one piece of advice, Your Highness.”
With the intention of demonstrating that legendary quality firsthand, Wilhelmina smiled calmly.
“Next time, you can simply ask me if I’m insane. There’s no need to waste so much time putting it so elaborately.”
“……”
Beneath the dim lamplight, Wilhelmina saw something flicker in Cassian’s silver-gray eyes for the first time.
It was the curiosity of a scholar who had discovered a species of plant he had never seen before.
Or perhaps…
The strange interest of a predator examining prey that had willingly walked into its own trap.
But how could anyone dare define Wilhelmina Priestley as prey?
If her opponent was under such a misconception, perhaps it was only proper for her to correct him.
“I don’t have a hobby of wasting time, so I’ll be honest with you from the beginning. As you can see, I’m quite beautiful, and I also possess a rather substantial fortune inherited from my late parents.”
Wilhelmina smiled brightly before adding,
“For reference, I’m actually being extremely modest right now.”
“Modest?”
Cassian made no attempt to hide his blatant disbelief.
Wilhelmina, however, remained perfectly confident.
She had said nothing untrue.
The four Priestley siblings were famous not only for their respective eccentricities, but also for their extraordinary beauty.
And as for their wealth, there was even less to discuss.
Pensions, trusts, estates, mansions, and all manner of heirloom jewels…
The annual income generated by Wilhelmina’s personal fortune alone was comparable to the yearly budget of an average count’s household.
It was true that her reputation had suffered an unfortunate blemish recently, but why should that have been a problem in the first place?
Wilhelmina had never felt the slightest need for the institution of marriage.
“The necessity of the institution of marriage, you say.”
“It is a universal truth that any wealthy unmarried woman can agree upon: she has no need for a husband.”
She was being completely sincere.
To Wilhelmina, marriage meant one of two things.
If she was lucky, she would merely have to hand over control of her entire fortune to her husband.
If she was unlucky, she would spend the rest of her life paying off the gambling debts of some profligate husband until she grew old and died.
How was that any different from madness?
Whenever Wilhelmina made this argument, some people would advise her:
No matter how capable you are, even you need a guardian.
Wilhelmina wholeheartedly agreed with that.
After all, this was not a world meant to be lived in entirely alone.
At the very least, when she grew old and infirm, she needed a minimum safety measure to prevent some scoundrel from appearing out of nowhere, stealing her entire fortune, and locking her away in a mental institution.
And Wilhelmina already had that minimum safety measure.
Cassian smiled as though he had just understood something.
“I have heard that the four Priestley siblings are exceptionally close. Including the fact that this is hardly good news for the respectable and good-natured people of Winster’s high society.”
As befitted a proper lady of Winster’s refined society, Wilhelmina decided to pretend she had not heard the latter part of Cassian’s remark.
“I’m glad to hear you know that. In any case, I don’t need another guardian.”
Ah, yes.
Wilhelmina did not need another guardian.
After all, where in the world could she possibly find a guardian like the Marchioness of Montrose?
A woman who would tell the person who ruined her younger sister’s reputation to pay for his crime with his own crushed skull?
The Duke of Priestley was no different.
He was famous for being softhearted only when it came to his family.
Everyone in Winster’s political circles already knew that anyone who mistook his helplessness around his family for actual weakness was bound to regret it dearly.
And then there was Ethan, the only one of the four siblings younger than Wilhelmina.
His youth was no reason to let one’s guard down around him.
After all, he was the sort of boy who would stand beside Francesca while she held a hunting rifle and dutifully prepare the bullets and gunpowder for her.
They really are an extraordinary bunch.
Without realizing it, Wilhelmina wore a proud little smile.
She truly believed they were the most perfect family in the world.
Her original life plan had been to remain in this perfect haven until the day she died, and even in old age, continue shamelessly indulging in a little childish behavior whenever she pleased.
Even if, by some infinitesimal chance, a cataclysmic change occurred and she suddenly changed her mind about not needing a husband, there would be no need to worry.
When that time came, she could simply pick a suitable man who knew how to listen and take him as her husband.
“A husband who knows how to listen.”
Cassian muttered the words with an odd expression.
“A universal virtue required of all husbands in Brighton.”
Wilhelmina replied shamelessly.
“In any case, even if that happened, there’d be no need to worry. There are plenty of third sons, fourth sons, fifth sons, sixth sons, and perhaps even seventh sons in this world who have neither wealth nor a secure social position and therefore wouldn’t have the luxury of being picky about a woman’s flaws—”
“Let’s stop there for now.”
