We Spent the First Night Again

“I have some urgent business to attend to in the capital. Please inform Callie when she wakes up.”

“Yes, understood.”

Brandon was about to leave after talking to Billy, but he ran into Leslie, who just came down.

When he saw Brandon getting ready to leave, Leslie asked, “Where are you going?”

“I have some business in the capital.”

“Looks urgent if you have to leave so suddenly.”

Brandon didn’t feel like explaining the details to Leslie, so he quickly wrapped up the conversation. “It’s nothing important. Just make sure nothing happens while I’m gone.”

In fact, Leslie was just about to come down to return to Hughes Hall. However, when Brandon mentioned that he would be leaving the villa, he changed his mind.

“Don’t leave your new bride alone for too long.”

“I’ll be back by tonight or tomorrow at the latest.”

Although Brandon wasn’t close to Leslie like he used to be when he was young, he was still the only man in the villa apart from the servants, so he entrusted Callie to him.

After Brandon left, Billy asked, “Should I load the luggage onto the carriage, sir?”

“No, I’ll stay here a bit longer before leaving. Please go to my room and unpack the luggage again.”

“Yes, sir.”

.・゜゜・ ・゜゜・．

After entrusting Callie to Leslie, Brandon headed toward the Loris estate to meet with Matthew Loris. 

Although he had urged him to resolve the issue of the dowry quickly, Matthew was quite surprised by Brandon’s sudden visit. However, he greeted him warmly as he knew he could rely on Brandon’s financial support.

“You could have given me a heads-up before coming. I would have prepared to receive a guest,” Matthew said.

“No need for that. I don’t plan on staying long,” Brandon replied. He immediately explained to Matthew why he had come to see him. “I heard from my servant that you contacted him to resolve the issue of the dowry quickly.”

“Ah, the dowry. Traditionally, the dowry is settled before the wedding ceremony. But since you asked to postpone the discussion until after the wedding, we have been delaying it. Now that it’s been a while since the wedding, I hope we can conclude the matter. People are curious about it in social gatherings. The question is, how much will the eldest son of the wealthiest family, marrying the daughter of a count, offer as dowry? It’s not just a matter of honor for the Cleart family,” Matthew explained, considering his own interests.

“If you had only considered the Cleart family twice, we would be asking for our family’s entire fortune*,” Brandon replied.

Before the private discussions between the two families began, Brandon had seen Matthew Loris a few times at social gatherings. At that time, he didn’t pay much attention to him and didn’t bother getting to know him. But just a few greetings were enough to gauge his character. He was nothing more than a person filled with showmanship and hypocrisy, despite having only the title of a count. Brandon didn’t like such individuals, especially after witnessing the wounds on Callie’s back.

Brandon’s straightforward words took Matthew aback. Nonetheless, Brandon continued with his point.

“You may know, but I am the eldest son of the Cleart family, yet I am an outcast in my father’s eyes. My father has no intention of elevating the status of the Cleart family through this marriage. Besides me, the Cleart family still has another son.”

“So, are you implying that you won’t pay the dowry?”

How much money has been invested in this marriage? We held a splendid and grand wedding ceremony that would be the talk of the town, all to receive a larger dowry.

However, when Brandon seemed indifferent to settling the dowry, Matthew openly showed his discomfort. But Brandon didn’t care about it.

“Of course not. If we do, it would be an issue if the Count declares the marriage invalid at the title bestowal ceremony in the winter. As everyone knows, I married into the Loris family to obtain the title.”

“I know that.”

“Well then, why don’t you tell me how much of a dowry you desire, Father-in-law?”

Even if Matthew asked for an amount, it didn’t mean that Brandon would agree to it. Nevertheless, Matthew quickly changed his expression as if he had been displeased.

“I’m fine whether you give me a dowry or not, but still, considering the Cleart family’s reputation, shouldn’t you provide enough to buy a mansion? Your family’s prestige will stand if it’s bigger than the dowry paid by Viscount Edward, who was recently married.”

Huh, enough to buy a mansion? 

It was a ridiculous amount to expect a significant share by selling off an abused and mistreated niece.

“Haha. If it’s according to my heart, I would like to give you not just a mansion but even a fine estate.”

Matthew’s face turned pale. Should I have asked for more?

The amount he mentioned was already a considerable sum that others would envy, but judging by Brandon’s reaction, it seemed he could ask for even more. Matthew contemplated whether to raise the amount.

“But I’m not sure if my father will agree. If he hears the amount you mentioned, he might demand that the marriage be nullified since he hasn’t given any dowry yet. If that happened, I would have no choice but to obey Father’s words. Are you okay with that?”

“Didn’t your father consider giving such a dowry when he married the daughter of a Count?”

“Well, as far as I know, Father-in-law was the one who initiated the marriage proposal to our family. Father wasn’t interested in my marriage. I thought the Count would know that, but now you’re disappointed. What should I do?”

Even though he pretended to seek understanding, his slow smile was clearly mocking.

Hearing Brandon’s words, Matthew regretted it. He hadn’t agreed to postpone the dowry until after the wedding.

He didn’t expect it to be as high as other wealthy families’ dowry. Still, regardless, the one holding the cards at the moment was the Cleart family, so he couldn’t easily provoke Brandon’s sentiments, no matter how annoyed he was.

“So, how much does the Cleart family have in mind?”

The fake smile on Brandon’s face disappeared. Even when he jokingly spoke, there was an intimidating atmosphere that made it difficult to respond casually, and with the smile gone, the atmosphere became even more oppressive.

It’s hard to believe that someone like him has been living so disgracefully that it would spread rumors everywhere.

“After consulting with Father, I will send the dowry promptly. The Count only needs to receive it and sign.”

“Are you telling me just to accept it without any objection?”

“I don’t think provoking me is a good approach, especially since we’ve already gone through the wedding ceremony. If you want to receive a little more, it would be advantageous for the Count to follow my suggestions quietly.

Matthew, angered by the dismissive attitude, clenched his fist tightly.

“If it doesn’t please you, then why don’t you declare the marriage null and void before the ceremony in winter? Well, it wouldn’t make much difference to someone like me who is already engulfed in disgraceful rumors, but I don’t think the Count would be able to recover the expenses incurred for this wedding.”

Until coming here, Brandon had thought of giving a dowry equivalent to what other nobles offer, despite Callie’s request. However, seeing Matthew Loris being so greedy, that thought vanished.

“I have urgent matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave. I will send the dowry soon. The choice is yours whether you accept it and sign or return it and end this marriage as if it never happened.”

Knowing that Matthew would never be able to annul the marriage due to his reluctance to part with even a single penny, Brandon left without any concerns, leaving the tension behind.

.・゜゜・ ・゜゜・．

Meanwhile, after Brandon left the villa, Leslie quietly went to Olivia’s room. No one was there, neither the maid who used to accompany her in the city nor Olivia, who had gone out in the morning.

Callie, who had been asleep until then and woke up to find the adjacent seat empty, came out of her room. 

‘Is Brandon in the study?’ she thought. She was about to go to the study to find him because the spot beside her was empty.

However, on the way, she saw Leslie coming out of Olivia’s room.

‘Why is Leslie coming out of Olivia’s room?’

With a puzzled expression on her face, she descended to the reception room, where Billy informed her that Brandon had left the villa due to an urgent matter.

“When did he say he would return?”

“He said he wouldn’t be late. He should be back by tomorrow at the latest.”

“Okay, I understand.” She replied that she understood, but a sense of disappointment seeped into Callie’s face.

What urgent matter could it be? He left without saying a word to me.

He should have at least woken me up and told me directly.

The growing feeling within her, unbeknownst to herself, made her feel uneasy even during his short absence.