'What should I do?! All of my effort to show Gian my feminine and graceful sides have gone to waste!'
Lady Shannen is really panicking deep inside. She should not show this ungraceful bearing of hers to Gian. She is supposed to show Gian her ladylike manners and graceful etiquettes. She should be a fairylike goddess in front of him, not like a vulgar woman in the marketplace!
Gian is not aware of Lady Shannen's thoughts. He is currently thinking about the relationship between their families. The Cres Val family and the Cladeu family are both involved in the business. It is not impossible for Lady Shannen and his brother to have an encounter before. But it seems like both of them are already familiar with each other?
'So the main question is, did they have a quarrel or something?'
If Gian will focus on Lady Shannen's attitude towards Viel just now, it seems like his brother did something to Lady Shannen which results in her dissatisfaction with him. Thinking about it, that is really possible. Even if Viel is an outstanding man in the society who received a lot If achieved, these can never hide and cover his annoying and overbearing attitude to some people. Maybe Lady Shannen is also a victim of Viel's teasing torments?
Gian suddenly looks at Lady Shannen and feels like he found someone who can understand his hardship having a brother like Viel.
Lady Shannen misunderstand Gian's looks he is giving towards her. She saw Gian looking at her with a hidden disgust in his eyes. Lady Shannen wanted to cry but there are no tears running out in her eyes. It is now all ruined! All of her efforts have gone to waste!
Gian awkwardly coughs and tries to continue their conversation.
"It seems like you did not like my suggestion just now. I apologize for that."
"No, no. Please, don't apologize." Lady Shannen hastily said as she waves both of her hands. "There is no need for you to do it."
"Alright. Then I will apologize because I can't marry you now."
Lady Shannen's face fell. Gian just said that he can't marry her. Why? Because he is not interested in her? Because Gian thinks that her impending marriage with Earl Barilton does not really concern him? Or maybe because she is not like the other ladies who were more graceful and beautiful than her?
"I...see." Lady Shannen said in a small voice.
"Dude... You should be more gentle when treating a lady like her. You are not being a gentleman right now, you know?"
Russel looks at the pitiful appearance of Lady Shannen in front of them. She looks like a woman who lost her reason to live. Anyone with good eyesight can see that this lady is very fond of Gian. But did this young master aware of it?
'With the things he just said and done towards this young lady? I doubt it.'
Sure enough, Gian did not give too much attention to these trivial things. He is currently thinking of something important. Just now, Gian remembers certain information and he starts thinking of a plan to achieve it. Lady Shannen's body is shaking like a leaf as if she will suddenly collapse anytime. But still, she forced herself to show Gian a small smile before she stands up from her seat.
"I-If that is the case, then I should go now. I deeply understand why you did not like to help me. I will not trouble you again in the future. I apologize for everything that happened today." Lady Shannen said as she gives Gian a quick curtsey and walks towards the door.
But before she can even touch the doorknob, Lady Shannen heard Gian's clear voice.
"Why are you leaving? I am not yet finished talking with you."
Lady Shannen paused for a while before looking at Gian who leisurely leaning his body on the backrest of the sofa. His eyes are lazily following her every movement.
"But you said..."
"Clearly, you did not listen well to what I had said." Gian stated. "I told you that I can't marry you. Yet."
"Huh?"
Gian can't bear to look at her stupefied expression anymore, so he signals for Lady Shannen to take a seat again with his hand. Even though she is obviously confused, Lady Shannen still obediently follow Gian's order. When she was back at her seat, Gian explained the things more clearly at Lady Shannen.
"Lady Shannen, how old are you right now?"
"Sixteen."
"Oh. I am also sixteen, but I will turn seventeen two months from now." Gian stated. "The both of us have not yet reached our legal age. That means the closest way for us to be announced as a couple is through engagement."
"You mean..."
"You did not use the right words earlier, Lady Shannen. I can't marry you now, but it is possible for us to be engaged in the meantime so you can avoid having any sort of connection with Earl Bartilon." Gian said. "If you are willing, you can be my fiancee. I think Earl Bartilon will not dare to approach you anymore if he will consider that your fiance is from a family with a higher rank than him."
"What did you just said?" Lady Shannen asked in disbelief.
"I am willing to be engage with you." Gian patiently answered her.
Lady Shannen's expression is changing rapidly. It is quickly changing from anxiousness, nervousness, surprise, and happiness. Gian initiatively asked her to become his fiance! But before she can soak herself in a delightful feeling, Gian quickly burst her happy bubble.
"But I will ask for your hand to be my fiancee only if you follow my condition."
"Condition?"
"Yes, condition." Gian said. "It would not be fair if only one of us will be benefited from this agreement, right?"
"So... You are just proposing to me because you also need something from me? Only because of that?"
"Or else?" Gian asked. "Do I need to have another reason to do this?"
"...No. You are right."
"Fucker! What are you?! A scumbag? Dude, stop tormenting her fragile heart! You piece of garbage!"
"..."
"Dude, I thought this is already your second life?! Then you should know how to treat a lady right! Ah, damn it! Even if I am not a good person to begin with, at least I am much better than you when it comes to women! Bruh, do something about your brash attitude!"
Gian furrowed his eyebrows when Russel suddenly shouts at him making him feel irritation towards this noisy pen. He touches the metal pen placed on his chest pocket before smoothly running his fingertips on its surface. Then all of a sudden, Gian pinch the barrel of the pen so hard as if he really wants to make a dent on Russel's surface. Not only that, he even purposely drag his fingernails making soft friction sounds on its barrel.
"Oh, damn shit! Fine, fine, fine! I will now shut my mouth! Happy?! Now stop pinching me!"
This ancient hooligan! He is not only a heartless human who can calmly watch a lady to be brokenhearted, but he is also a sadist living creature! He always dares to hurt him just because he's helpless with his attacks! After all the things he did for him, this is how Gian will repay him?!
'And damn this stupid life! I am already reincarnated as a damned pen, but why do I still need to feel hurt if a certain someone pinches or scratch him with his fingernails on the smooth surface of my barrel?! I should at least be like an immortal without any weakness!'
"What condition are you going to ask me?" Lady Shannen said, interrupting Gian's silent torture towards Russel. Gian gives a 'Try to make a sound again or else' look at Russel before giving his focus again towards Lady Shannen.
"It's simple. I want you to become my main supplier of papers and parchment."
"That's all?" puzzled Lady Shannen as look at Gian with perplexed eyes.
"Yes. That's all." Gian reassured.
"But that's too easy!" Lady Shannen complained.
"I don't think so. Prioritizing me for the bundle of papers you make every week is not as easy as you think. Especially when you have a quota needed to deliver in another kingdom for a specific date and time."
"But—"
"If you accept my condition, I can talk to my father later about my intention of asking you to be my fiancee, Lady Shannen. I can easily arrange it so we can be engaged as soon as possible." Gian replied.
Gian can clearly see from Lady Shannen's expression that she can't follow his pace of making decisions for the both of them. But this is also good. Gian is taking advantage of her confusion to get the things he wanted to achieve right now.
"But of course, you should also do your best to convince your family to accept me." Gian added. "Based on what you had said earlier, your mother very likes the idea of you marrying Earl Bartilon. Who knows what will happen if you suddenly announced that you wanted to engage with me who possess nothing aside from being the youngest member of the Cres Val family."
"No! I will make sure that they will accept you as my fiance!" Lady Shannen firmly stated.
"Then that would be good."
Silence suddenly filled the receiving room. Gian already achieved his plans today so his foul mood earlier was lessened. Lady Shannen's visit was surely surprised for him, but Gian managed to make things beneficial for him. Not only that, but Gian also makes a solution for Lady Shannen's problem. If their engagement becomes a success, then maybe Gian can alter the gruesome fate of Lady Shannen by severing her any possible ways of contact with Early Bartilon.
"Are you fine with it?" Lady Shannen suddenly asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Having me as your fiancee. I know that I am the one who brought this up, but—"
"How about you, Lady Shannen? Are you certain that you want to be associated with me?" Gian said as he interrupts her words.
"Of course!" Lady Shannen exclaimed. "I'm just worried that I will become a hinder if you already have someone you like."
"I don't have anyone like that." Gian clarified. "You, Lady Shannen, is the first lady who approached me."
Both in his past life and his current life, Lady Shannen is the first lady who shows a sudden interest with him.
The two of them were interrupted when Madam Finna suddenly knocked on the door. When Gian gave his permission, Madam Finna opens the door and informs them that Lady Shannen's personal maid told them that it was time for her to go. Even if she was reluctant to go, Lady Shannen knows that it's not good for a lady to overstay in someone's home especially when she doesn't have any relationship with anyone living in that mansion. Letting out a soft sigh, Lady Shannen is about to leave when Gian suddenly raises his hand in front of her.
She looks at Gian with a surprised look. Gian didn't say anything any just patiently waits for her. Lady Shannen shyly put her hand on top of his. Gain firmly holds her hand and escorts her outside their mansion where Lady Shannen's carriage is waiting. Before she leaves the mansion, Gian planted a kiss on the back of Lady Shannen's hand, making her blush. Gian's action also makes the present servants and knights to be surprised. While there are busy watching their young master being gentle to a lady for the first time, Gian smiles at Lady Shannen and says something to her.
"Three days from now, I will visit you in your mansion and officially asked for your hand. I hope you will wait for me, my future fiancee."
Lady Shannen fiercely blushed after she heard Gian had said. But she still nods her head and gets up on her carriage. Gian didn't leave until he can't see the carriage anymore.