The White Night

The atmosphere at dinner was profoundly strange.

Although it was the day of the funeral, there was little grief or mourning to be found. Distant relatives and guests, eager to gauge the temperament of the new Count, hovered at a distance, whispering among themselves, unable to approach. Even the closer kin hesitated, their attitudes yet to be decided.

They ought to have condemned the late Count’s will, but the fortune at stake was too vast to speak out against it rashly. Theodore, the party in question, had signaled his intention not to marry Olivia, yet even if he were to change his mind, no one could truly blame him.

If she were to become the Countess, it went without saying, but even if she did not, Olivia would become a woman of such immense wealth that no one could treat her lightly. Many of them thought as much in their hearts.

"No matter how large an inheritance she receives, she’s just a twenty-two-year-old girl. Someone will have to look after her."

"Olivia has no other relatives. In the end, Lutgarth will have no choice but to take care of her."

If Theodore did not step up, there was no reason why they couldn't become her guardian. And, of course, the fortune would come with her.

The stance of the very closest relatives, including Dennis and Daria, as well as the House of Knox, was different.

Dennis had caused a scene, demanding to know if it made any sense to bequeath such a massive fortune to a girl who didn't share a single drop of their blood, and as a result, he had been ordered by Theodore to take his meals ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in his room.

Andrei Knox wore a look of concern, but once Theodore had expressed his intention not to marry, there was nothing more to be said. Unlike the older generation, as a cousin, he held no emotional resentment regarding his aunt's death.

"It wouldn't be the end of the world if Theodore changed his mind. We can't just abandon the residual assets. My father would be furious, though..."

Only Daria looked at Theodore with a face full of worry.

"Are you alright?"

"At the very least, one thing has been proven, hasn't it? There is no reason for me not to be alright."

"Proven?"

"That I was not my father's illegitimate son. Surely, he wouldn't have asked a son to marry his own sister."

"Theo..."

Daria looked anxious at Theodore's cold tone.

It would have been better if he had shown anger or disgust. That would have been ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a reaction befitting a twenty-five-year-old man. After all, Pavel had effectively willed his estate to Olivia, who treated Theodore's rightful inheritance like an enemy.

But Theodore remained calm. One might call it aristocratic, but to Daria, it looked as though he were suppressing something, which made her heart ache.

She let out a long sigh and said, "I don't mean to say I don't understand your feelings, but Olivia is a decent lady."

"..."

Theodore looked at Daria with black eyes that revealed nothing of his inner thoughts. Daria felt herself tense up, carefully choosing her next words.

"Of course, I find her uncomfortable as well. I think it is unjust that my brother left you such a will. But I say this because I have seen and heard things while coming and going here all this time. She will perform the role of the mistress quite well."

"Aunt, do you wish for me to marry Olivia?"

Daria could not answer immediately and remained silent for a long time. In truth, she was deeply bewildered by a will she had never even considered. If Pavel had only left a will asking Theodore to find a good match for Olivia and look after her until then, she would have told him to do so.

In the end, she spoke her true heart.

"I just wish that you would not give up even one of your rightful rights."

"Well. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠What my father did not bequeath to me is not my rightful right."

Theodore said this and stood up. The meal was already over.

Since it was not a formal banquet, it was acceptable to leave early. He set down his napkin and said to the guests,

"I shall retire first. Please finish your meals and rest as you please."

Those sitting nearby offered their farewells. Theodore bowed slightly to them and left the room.

Once he stepped out of the dining hall and returned to his bedroom, the old butler, Henry, was waiting for him.

"Has something happened?"

He was surprised, as he had been about to change his clothes and rest. Henry was a man who had personally served Pavel for decades since his youth and had managed the entire castle. Since the castle was filled with mourners, he would be busy; he would not have come for a trivial errand.

Henry bowed respectfully to Theodore and spoke.

"This old man has something he must say to the young master, so I have waited here, knowing it is a rudeness."

"Speak."

Theodore nodded willingly. It was the first time they had faced each other since he was fifteen, but there had been a time in his childhood when he had followed this butler around, mimicking him. It was impossible not to have some affection for him.

Above all, this old butler was one of the people who would be most saddened by Pavel's death, so he wanted to grant his request if at all possible.

Henry showed a soft expression on his wrinkled face. Then, he spoke politely.

"Although I have not seen you for a long time, this old body knows that you are, in fact, a kind-hearted person. That is why I am saying this, even though I know it is not my place to interfere."

"..."

"Please do not hate Lady Olivia too much."

Theodore frowned slightly.

"Was that what you were waiting to say?"

"I apologize. As a mere employee, this is not a matter for me to involve myself in, but if not me, no one else would dare say such things to you. Everyone in this castle wishes for the young lady to be happy. She was a person good enough to deserve it, and she is someone who can make those around her happy."

"Are you also advising me to marry Olivia?"

When he asked, Henry answered without much hesitation.

"If you are asking for my thoughts, I believe that the master did not leave such a will solely for the sake of Lady Olivia. He was always worried about you, young master."

Theodore did not answer. Henry bowed respectfully once more and withdrew.

Only after the door closed did Theodore pull off his tie with a nervous hand and bury himself in the sofa. His head ached.

'A will not left solely for Olivia? That much is true.'

If he wanted to make her miserable, marrying her might actually be the easiest way. There were countless methods, and his father would have known that.

Even if he didn't intend to take revenge, it was perfectly possible to marry her for the sake of the property and then abandon her at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠some remote villa. Daria's advice to follow the will was likely based on the consideration of such options.

'I have no intention of taking revenge, but I suppose that is how it looks.'

Thinking this, he bit his lip, which tasted of bitterness, and then let go.

His mother had passed away when he was three. He didn't even remember that time well. Since he had left home at fifteen and headed for the House of Knox, many people seemed to think he held a grudge against his father, but that was not the case.

His feelings were far more complex and terrible. He did not love his father at all, and he resented him bitterly, but it was not because of his mother.

Feeling an unbearable sensation, he stood up abruptly.

It had been his quarters in his childhood, but thanks to Andrei having a drink in this room earlier that evening, a bottle of strong distilled liquor still remained. He poured the amber liquid into a water glass and took a sip.

The alcohol spread through his fatigued body in an instant. He took another sip, then simply drained the glass. He felt that he wouldn't be able to sleep tonight unless he drank.

Olivia. Olivia.

Everyone was only talking about her. That was what Theodore found hardest to bear.

'Seeing that even Henry came to ask me, she must have truly gotten along well with everyone.'

He could easily imagine it. The young girl who was full of laughter, kind, and a crybaby, growing into a lady of grace and refinement, making the entire castle happy.

While he spent his time in despair that he could barely endure.

Theodore, feeling an unbearable urge, stood up, when suddenly a letter left carelessly on the table caught his eye.

It was Pavel's letter, which had been enclosed in the box with the will.