The Reason Why She Can’t Get Married - Chapter 39

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Chapter 39

Was the Tower Lord insane? Had he gone mad and would end up killing her like this later? His actions were so baffling, so absurd, that such doubts naturally crept into her mind.

“Really, what is this…? Please, just tell me why you’re doing this. You don’t want to switch the glasses back, is that it?” Raymond hesitated briefly before nodding. Selena was even more flabbergasted. It was just a matter of each of them getting their own glass back. Why would he refuse so stubbornly?

‘Could it be he’s doing this because I spilled wine on his shirt earlier?’

If that was the reason, it was unbelievably petty.

“Ha… No, why? This is the glass you were drinking from, Tower Lord.”

“….”

“You should take care of your own glass.” Selena spoke firmly, holding out his glass with an unyielding expression. Raymond looked from the glass to her face and back again, then tapped the rim of the glass with his finger. When Selena looked up at him, he tapped his own lips in the same manner.

‘…What does he want me to do?’
His long, pale finger pressed against his red, full lips. Selena, having witnessed this gesture firsthand, raised her eyebrows, unable to decipher its meaning. Catching her gaze, Raymond slowly shook his head. Hmm, so…

“Are you saying this isn’t the glass you were drinking from, Tower Lord?” Raymond’s head bobbed up and down, faster this time. The misunderstanding about being assigned as the leftover drink disposal manager was cleared up, but Selena still couldn’t understand why he had handed her the glass.

“Then why did you give this glass to me?”

“.…”

“Is there a reason why you can’t just tell me?” Selena, frustrated by Raymond’s persistent silence and reliance on gestures, finally snapped.

‘Why won’t he just talk?’

The youngest Tower Lord in history, the mage of the century, a young genius. She had never once heard that this man, who carried all sorts of epithets and maintained an air of mystery, would also conceal his voice.

‘Did he lose his voice without me knowing?’

Even veteran mages sometimes suffered magical accidents. It was possible the Tower Lord had experienced something similar.

Selena cautiously observed Raymond, who was simply staring at her with an unreadable expression. He, who had been consistently silent, suddenly extended his hand and offered her the glass once more. Then, with those beautiful, elegant fingers, he pointed at her lips.

Selena paused, her mind racing. He pointed at the glass and her lips alternately, which meant…

“Are you saying you brought this drink for me to drink?” Raymond nodded. “But why me…?”

“….”

Without answering her question, he bowed his head and turned away. Selena hurriedly reached out to stop him as he abruptly attempted to leave, just as he had abruptly arrived. One of her hands was injured, and the other was holding the glass, so physically restraining him was out of the question. She resorted to calling after him desperately. “Wait a moment, Tower Lord! Hey…”

However, Raymond continued walking away with determined strides, not sparing a single glance back. Selena’s cries scattered into the air, futile and unanswered.

‘But… I don’t want to drink the wine you gave me…’

Why give her a glass of wine without her even asking? Selena sighed deeply, then resigned herself to the situation. She had a feeling that even if she chased after him to return the glass, he wouldn’t accept it.

‘But what kind of drink could it be that he personally brought me to try?’

With a wary expression, Selena cautiously brought the glass to her nose and sniffed.

‘Hmm, it smells fine.’ She carefully took a sip. ‘Huh?’

‘Oh, this is more to my liking than I expected. Delicious.’

The champagne she had chosen initially was too tart, but the drink Raymond had given her was sweet and pleasant.

“Did he give me fruit liquor?” Selena murmured to herself before taking another sip. She had planned to discreetly dispose of it, but the taste was so unexpectedly appealing that she decided to drink it after all.

“.…”

Raymond, who had stopped on his way back, watched her. A faint smile touched his lips as he observed Selena diligently emptying the glass he had given her. It was a fact that Selena remained blissfully unaware of.

***

The next day, the attendees of the hunting festival gathered at Peran Forest. The forest entrance was packed with tents set up by various noble families.

The prey caught in this manner wasn’t actually offered as a sacrifice to the Goddess. Instead, it was presented to the woman of the hunter’s choosing. The woman who received the most, and the finest, game was crowned the “Goddess of the Hunt” and awarded a prize.
This year, the prize was the golden stag head Gabriella had mentioned to Selena previously.

‘The princess’s words about suddenly making me a goddess come to mind. Surely she wouldn’t actually do that, would she?’

As much as Selena desired the golden stag head, she had no wish to draw attention to herself surrounded by potential suitors. Her anxiety grew. Furthermore, Gabriella had made a cryptic remark during their brief encounter the previous night.

‘Just trust me, Lady Selena. I have everything planned. Hehe, you’ll find out naturally later.’

Selena, troubled by the princess’s unsettling words, was lost in thought when Lucy, who had briefly stepped outside, returned. “My lady, Princess Gabriella’s handmaid is here to see you.”

“Oh? Show her in.” Selena, who had been reclining in her chair, straightened her posture. Gabriella’s handmaid entered and bowed respectfully.

“Greetings, Lady Selena. I am Anna, handmaid to Princess Gabriella.”

“Hello, Anna. What brings you here?”

“Her Highness has invited Lady Selena to an afternoon tea party. If you are willing, please let me know if you are to attend.”

It was common for noblewomen of high standing to hold small tea parties during the long and tedious hunting season. Especially for those who weren’t interested in hunting, the three-day hunting festival could be quite dull. To relieve their boredom, they would often actively host tea parties.