The carriage traveled steadily along the street.
Mary sat in her seat, her gaze looking out at the shortcuts blurred by the curtain of rain.
Duke Morstan sat opposite her, silently watching Mary, his eyes carrying a look of scrutiny.
"That person named Russell Watson," he suddenly spoke, the familiar name causing the young girl to start slightly.
"What is it, Father?" The young girl withdrew her line of sight from the window, maintaining eye contact with the man.
"That Russell Watson, what is his background?" Duke Morstan asked.
"There is no such surname in my memory."
"He..." Mary opened her mouth, attempting to make up something for Russell, yet didn't know what to say.
"He is just an ordinary student, that's all."
"An ordinary student calling you directly by your given name?" Duke Morstan narrowed his eyes.
The instant his voice fell, the air inside the carriage seemed to freeze for a moment.
The Duke's voice wasn't loud, and his tone was peaceful; there was no angry interrogation, only pure inquiry.
Facing this inquiry, Mary only hesitated for a brief moment before constructing an answer in her mind.
"That was just..." she spoke, her voice steady, neither humble nor pushy.
"At the school's Icebreaker Party previously, he invited me to dance. Out of etiquette, I agreed. That is all."
She tried her best to make her words sound real and credible.
"I heard." The Duke leaned back against the soft cushion, interlacing his fingers.
"A laughable farce."
His tone carried obvious contempt and disdain.
"You rejected almost everyone's invitations, and under the gaze of everyone, you waited just for his appearance.
"This isn't to the extent of 'that is all,' Mary," Duke Morstan said.
Raindrops tapped against the carriage roof, making a dense sound that was annoying.
Mary hadn't yet thought of how to answer when the man's next sentence arrived on its heels.
"Furthermore, I also heard that it was he who ruined the reputation of Ethan Roy's son, turning him into a joke.
"Setting aside what happened afterward, at least on that night, Ethan Roy was still a Cabinet Minister.
"He made a Cabinet Minister's son make a fool of himself in public, and what did you do, Mary?"
He gazed at Mary, watching the young girl's tightly pursed lips.
"I am asking you a question, Mary."
"I... danced with him," Mary spoke softly.
"That's right, you danced with him. You know what that signifies."
"I apologize... Father."
Mary did not attempt to justify or explain anything.
At a time like this, any justification or explanation was resistance.
What that man hated most, what he tolerated least, was resistance.
Seeing the young girl's lowered head and clenched hands, a trace of satisfaction flashed through Duke Morstan's eyes.
Very good, everything was still within his control.
All this was merely an interlude in a stage play; it would not affect the big picture.
"Raise your head, my daughter." His voice softened.
"Since you were young, you have been very obedient, always so for so many years."
Duke Morstan said.
"Every child has a period of rebellion. I had one too, and it was even more outrageous than yours now.
"At that time, I disobeyed my father and did some very bastardly things.
"He was very angry then; he called me to the study and didn't allow anyone to enter.
"I originally thought he would scold me ruthlessly, or even punish me, but he didn't.
"Do you know what he said to me?"
He looked at Mary. Mary raised her head and looked at him too.
"Wh... what?"
"He said, 'I will forgive your first mistake.'"
The man spoke slowly, simultaneously recounting what his father had said to him back then and warning the girl before him.
"'But I will severely punish your second mistake.'"
The young girl's breath hitched slightly.
"...I understand, Father."
Finally, she spoke slowly, her voice so light it seemed it would shatter at a touch.
She lowered her eyelids, concealing all emotions within those azure eyes.
"It is good that you understand."
The Duke leaned back into the soft cushion, his body relaxing. His tone returned to its usual flatness, as if that invisible confrontation just now had never happened.
"He is just an interlude, a stumbling block that appeared accidentally on your path of growth.
"You might stop for a moment due to momentary curiosity, but ultimately, you must continue to move forward."
He paused, then continued:
"Your task today is complete. I mortgaged two manors in the east of the city at Lloyds Bank in exchange for a short-term loan.
"Your appearance proved to them that the Morstan family is still decent and that our credit is not yet bankrupt. That is enough."
Mary's fingertips unconsciously picked at the edge of her lace gloves.
No, he isn't.
He isn't a stone.
He is the only one who treats me as "Mary," not "Miss Morstan."
"You know why I compromised today, Mary."
The Duke's voice rang out again, pulling her back to reality from her brief reminiscence.
"Mycroft's combo of moves was played very well; I admit I underestimated him.
"The family's capital chain has encountered problems. We need a new, more solid ally."
Ally?
Mary became subconsciously alert. She didn't speak, only quietly waiting for him to continue:
"The Admiral's youngest son just graduated from the Royal Naval Academy a while ago. I met him once; he's a decent young man.
"Their family carries significant weight in Parliament. Most importantly, they are not in the same faction as the Holmes family."
The Duke's voice sounded devoid of fluctuation, as if discussing a business deal, weighing pros and cons.
"The week after next, I will arrange a dinner party. You need to attend."
"..."
Mary didn't answer. She just raised her head, quietly looking at the man before her through the dim light.
It's this look again.
This look of holding out for a good price, of hoarding a rare commodity.
"I will, Father."
"Very good."
The Duke nodded with satisfaction. He spoke no more, closing his eyes to feign sleep.
For him, today's conversation was over.
He had once again placed a heavier shackle on this canary that was attempting to fly out of its cage.
The carriage slowly drove into the Morstan Estate.
The rain had stopped at some point unknown.
Mary stepped down from the carriage; the cold air sobered her chaotic brain somewhat.
"Remember, Mary."
Behind her came the Duke's nauseating voice.
"Do not disappoint me."
"Mn." The young girl nodded, lifting her skirt and stepping into the luxurious cage before her.
"I will, Father."
·
·
After returning to her room, Mary sat before her desk.
A fresh sheet of letter paper lay on the tabletop, with a fully inked fountain pen beside it.
She seemed to be hesitating about something.
But ultimately, the pen tip landed on the paper, writing along with the movement of her wrist.
She wrote very seriously, as if writing a rigorous experiment report, needing to pause occasionally to think before continuing to write.
After nearly half an hour of writing, the letter was finally finished.
Mary picked up the densely written letter paper, checking it top to bottom carefully like a student who had just finished an exam, confirming every detail.
Only after confirming there were absolutely no issues did the young girl finally pick up the pen and place her signature at the end of the letter.
[——Professor]
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