Chapter 71: Iris’s Situation
Once again today, Iris let out a sigh as she looked at the letter and gift that had arrived for her.
The sender was none other than Oscar Vandemir. Since the hunting festival, he had been contacting her incessantly, as though possessed by something.
No matter how politely she wrote to refuse or sent his gifts back, it was all in vain.
“As you must know, a man is always more drawn to a woman who is hard to win than one who is easy.
That’s why I don’t mind a lady who keeps her distance and coolly refuses me. In fact, it’s reassuring—shows me you’re not the type to go around entertaining just any man.
Still, you should be careful. If you keep making a man desperate and aching for you, it could backfire.
But of course, no matter what you do, I find you endlessly charming, so don’t worry yourself too much.”
This kind of ridiculous nonsense was all she got in return—long-winded replies filled with empty words.
At least he usually stayed within the Duchy of Vandemir, which meant they had little chance of running into each other. If he had been in the capital, he would have pestered her daily without a doubt.
‘Just how long is he going to keep this up?’
Iris stared down at Oscar’s letter, which contained a confession proposing they date seriously with marriage in mind. Her expression was dark.
She had never said she wanted to marry him. Not once.
His disregard for her feelings and persistence made her deeply uncomfortable, but she couldn’t bring herself to confide in anyone about it.
Because Oscar was her younger sister’s husband’s older brother.
If she said the wrong thing, it could spiral into a family issue.
And above all, Iris was… afraid.
She was deeply unsettled by the thought of how people around her might react once it became known that Oscar was courting her.
It wasn’t taboo for sisters to marry brothers from the same family, but it certainly wasn’t common. Their families might even be delighted by the prospect and push for her to marry Oscar.
‘Sure, it’d be nice to officially become family with Ari… but that’s no reason to marry someone. We’re already family anyway.’
Iris was content with her life as it was. She had a warm family, good friends, and the freedom to pursue what she wanted.
Marriage wasn’t necessary for her happiness.
But no matter how much she expressed her satisfaction with her current life, the people around her never let her settle peacefully.
Propping her chin on her hand, Iris lowered her eyes. Beneath the fresh green hue of her irises, a deep sorrow lingered.
‘…Do I really have to get married?’
Even when her younger sister, a year her junior, had married before her, Iris hadn’t felt anxious in the slightest.
She simply didn’t want to get married. The thought itself held no appeal.
And that was strange. It wasn’t as if, like Aracila, she had a clear childhood dream that led her to reject marriage.
On the contrary, she had received a thorough bridal education, just like any noble daughter should.
She had learned embroidery to become a virtuous lady, studied how to support her future husband, and taken up elegant hobbies like playing instruments.
She had all the makings of a refined noblewoman, but when it came to the idea of actually marrying someone, she couldn’t bring herself to want it.
No one understood this, and Iris herself had never spoken these thoughts aloud.
Because such feelings didn’t suit the thoughtful, well-bred eldest daughter of the considerate Marquis Hugo.
‘Even if I said something, who would ever truly understand me, or take me seriously?’
Even she found it strange that she had lived her life comfortably under the bridal training, only to suddenly start feeling repulsed by it. Others would surely find it even stranger.
They would no doubt believe she was just having foolish thoughts out of anxiety over missing her prime age for marriage.
“Haa…”
Unable to contain herself, Iris let out a long sigh.
That was when someone knocked at the door.
Through the slight crack in the doorway, the Marchioness peeked her head in.
“Iris, are you busy?”
“No, Mother. What is it?”
Iris quickly turned Oscar’s letter face down and stood up. Her maid, quick-witted as ever, discreetly tucked the letter into her own pocket.
“I just have something to talk to you about.”
“Alright. Come in.”
With a gentle smile, Iris guided her mother into the room.
Mother and daughter—uncannily alike—sat facing each other.
“What is it you wanted to talk about?”
“I happened to run into Madam Kelly a few days ago. She asked me whether you were seeing anyone. Said that if you weren’t, she’d love to introduce you to a very fine young man.”
“Ah… I see.”
Iris’s smile faltered slightly. But the Marchioness didn’t notice, and continued on with the conversation she had clearly prepared in advance.
“What do you think, Iris? The young man she wants to introduce is the eldest son of Count Roberts. He has a good reputation and is a promising scholar. They say he’s so well regarded that many noblewomen have already marked him down as ideal husband material for their daughters.”
The Marchioness looked at her daughter with expectant eyes. After unexpectedly marrying off her younger daughter, she had become quite anxious to find a good match for her eldest as well.
The fact that Iris was nearing the end of her marriageable age only added to that urgency.
Feeling the mounting pressure from her mother’s words, Iris forced a smile.
“Mother, I’m not quite ready for marriage just yet…”
“Oh, come now! Who said anything about getting married right away? Even Aracila had her secret romance before marrying. You can meet him and see how things go—if it works out, good. If not, so be it.”
But of course, the reality was not so simple. Among the nobility, especially for ladies of Iris’s age, it was exceedingly rare to date someone without it ending in marriage.
And the older a lady was, the more damaging it became if a relationship ended after just a year.
Still, rather than be forced into a marriage, Iris would rather not meet anyone at all. Unfortunately, she was a dutiful, well-mannered eldest daughter who had always obeyed her parents.
Even knowing what her parents wanted from her, she couldn’t bring herself to selfishly turn away from it.
“…Alright. Then I’ll meet him, just once.”
At last, when those reluctant words of consent escaped Iris’s lips, the Marchioness’s face lit up with a broad smile. She gently patted her daughter’s hand.
“Yes, yes. That’s a wise choice. You can meet him, and if it doesn’t feel right, we’ll find someone else. What matters is that you meet someone good. So what if you marry a little later?”
In truth, the Marchioness of Hugo was relatively liberal when it came to raising her daughters.
She herself had married for love—something rare in noble society—and unlike other families, she hadn’t bound her daughters with engagements from childhood or forced them into political marriages.
It wasn’t without reason that the long-standing political marriage arrangement with the Vandemir family had been kept a secret.
The Marquis and Marchioness had deliberately delayed and kept quiet, hoping to give their daughters a chance to marry someone they genuinely wanted.
Compared to the Marchioness, who left with a fresh smile on her face, the shadow over Iris’s expression only deepened.
“Are you alright, my lady?”
“Of course I am. In any case, I suppose I should get ready to meet Lord Roberts.”
Iris offered a smile to her concerned maid. If she could pretend to be fine in front of her family, she certainly couldn’t let her maid see through her either.
Two days later.
Iris met with the young lord of the Roberts family in a quiet restaurant tucked away in a bustling part of the city.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Eric Roberts.”
“I’m Iris Hugo. Pleased to meet you.”
Eric had the gentle demeanor of a scholar. His voice was soft, and his behavior showed a quiet attentiveness in even the smallest gestures.
Thanks to that, Iris was able to pass the time with him in relative comfort. Despite her inner tension, the meeting went smoothly and without discomfort.
Perhaps that was why. While Iris could recognize that Eric was a good person, she didn’t feel any particular desire to meet him again.
But it seemed the feeling wasn’t mutual. As their meal neared its end, Eric hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking,
“Would it be alright if we arranged to meet again?”
“Ah…”
Iris couldn’t answer right away, a conflicted expression rising to her face. Then Eric, with a firmer tone, added:
“Don’t you think it’s fair to meet at least three times before deciding? It’ll be easier to explain to our parents that way, too.”
His words struck right at the heart of what Iris had been avoiding—she had come here purely because of her mother’s hopes.
Still, even as she hesitated to give a clear answer, a sudden voice from behind called out a name that felt all too familiar.
“Lady Vandemir, I’m talking about!”
***
Translator’s Notes:
영식 (yeongsik): A formal term for a noble young man; translated contextually as “young lord” or simply by name.
아슬아슬한 나이: Literally “on the edge” age; implies someone at the very end of the socially acceptable age for marriage.
The cultural tension surrounding noble marriage expectations is strongly expressed here—especially the pressure on women like Iris to accept arranged introductions despite their lack of interest.
Let me know if you want the next part or need clarification on any part of this translation.
Here is a complete, literary English translation of the latest passage. It preserves the original tone, emotional complexity, and character development, with clear and flowing narration for English readers:
***
‘Our Ari?’
Iris turned around instinctively. Two young ladies seated two tables away were chatting enthusiastically about her younger sister.
Even from just catching bits of their conversation, it was clear their words were far from kind. Iris’s brow faintly furrowed.
“Um, Lady Hugo—”
“I understand.”
“…Pardon?”
“Let’s meet again another time, my lord. But if you’ll excuse me, would it be alright if I left now?”
Eric nodded, taken aback by the sudden request. Without delay, Iris rose from her seat and walked quietly over to the two young ladies’ table.
As she drew closer, their voices became more distinct.
“That magical airship project? I heard Lady Vandemir didn’t actually do anything. The airship was designed by her juniors, and the business succeeded entirely because of Lord Vandemir.”
“Is that true?”
“Yes, I heard it directly from Lady Cooper. She said the lady just used her husband for her own gain…”
“And where exactly did you hear that from?”
The girls, who had been gossiping away, fell silent instantly, their mouths snapping shut. When they turned to look, they found Iris standing beside them, her expression adorned with a gentle smile.
“L-Lady Hugo, how did you…”
“M-My lady, we were just—”
Cutting off their frantic attempts to explain, Iris spoke sweetly but firmly.
“Please, do tell me in detail as well. I’m very curious—who exactly has been spreading such stories about my sister, and what exactly have they been saying?”
“Uh…”
The two girls, caught off guard and stammering, eventually caved under the polite but unmistakable pressure. They spilled everything: all the rumors currently circulating through the social scene.
Having listened to everything, Iris went straight to find Aracila.
***
***
These days, leaving work early had become a norm in Aracila’s lab.
After working tirelessly into the night throughout the airship project, getting off early now was something of a reward.
Basking in the rare luxury of returning home while the sun still blazed bright in the sky, Aracila was greeted by none other than Iris.
“Sis? What a surprise—no message or anything?”
“Ari, could we talk for a bit?”
“Sure.”
Noticing something just slightly off—something subtly strained about Iris’s otherwise normal expression—Aracila sat down across from her, a touch of tension creeping in.
Audrey, perceptive as ever, brought refreshments to the sitting room without being asked.
Iris took a slow sip of tea before she finally spoke, her voice calm.
“It seems Lady White has been spreading some strange rumors about you.”
Though the young ladies she had questioned earlier said they heard the rumors from Lady Cooper, Iris had quickly deduced who was really behind them.
Everyone knew that Cooper and Nora White were close. And really, Cooper had no clear reason to act with such spite.
But Nora White—daughter of a marquess house in open rivalry with House Hugo, and someone who had once harbored feelings for Damian Vandemir—that was a different story.
“That last rumor too—it seemed to come from Lady White’s circle. Did you know?”
─── ･ ｡ﾟ✧: *. ꕥ .* :✧ﾟ. ───
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