But even despair was a luxury she couldn't afford right now. Finding a new home was one thing, but she needed to get treatment for her mother as soon as possible.
Lily pawned everything she had, including the coming-of-age gift she had received in advance from her father, but it was far from enough to cover her mother's hospital bills.
"Please, please help me!"
Lily begged for help from those around her, but no one came to her aid.
People who had been kind and friendly when Baron Benjamin was alive turned their backs on her as if they had never known her. Even those Lily once considered friends were no different.
Once again falling into the pit of despair, Lily reluctantly played her last card.
It was to marry a wealthy commoner who dreamed of social advancement.
No matter how much money they had, commoners were often looked down upon, so there were many wealthy commoners who wanted to marry into poor noble families or be adopted to improve their social status.
As expected, as soon as Lily posted a marriage advertisement, suitors flocked from all over the continent. Among them, Lily took notice of Fredic, who was in the transportation business.
While other suitors were busy listing reasons why Lily should marry them, Fredic didn't do that. He respected Lily's choice and listened attentively to her story.
'He's a gentlemanly and kind person.'
Thinking she could spend a lifetime with someone like this, Lily decided to marry Fredic.
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In the quiet bridal chamber dimly lit by candlelight, following the long-standing tradition that the groom should be the first to remove the bride's veil and dress, Lily waited for Fredic without removing her dress or veil.
But no matter how long she waited, Fredic didn't come.
The wedding reception must have ended long ago, so why isn't he coming? Could something have happened?
"Where is he right now?"
Worried about Fredic, Lily asked a maid about his whereabouts. The maid, at a loss for words, bowed her head deeply.
"What's wrong?"
"Well, you see..."
The maid, trembling, spilled out an incredible story. It was the news that Fredic was having a passionate tryst with Countess Balliman.
Even for a loveless marriage, a groom rubbing flesh with another woman on his wedding day...
"My, my lady!"
As Lily staggered, suddenly feeling dizzy, the maid cried out in surprise and supported her.
"...It's fine."
Barely regaining her balance by leaning against the wall, Lily glared down the dark corridor.
She wanted to run right over, grab Fredic by the hair, and shout that this marriage was null and void, but she had already signed the marriage contract.
The image of her ailing mother also flashed before her eyes.
If the marriage to Fredic fell through, her mother might not receive proper treatment and could join her father. So Lily couldn't go confront him and quietly returned to the bridal chamber.
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Fredic came to the bridal chamber where Lily was waiting at dawn, a time that could be considered either late or early.
Discovering Lily sitting quietly at the head of the bed, still in her wedding dress, Fredic tilted his head.
"You haven't slept yet?"
"..."
Is that what a man who spent his wedding night in passion with another woman should say? Lily, suppressing her boiling anger, asked calmly.
"Sleeping with another woman on your wedding night, what kind of inconsiderate behavior is this? Were you always such an insensitive person?"
Fredic stared blankly at Lily's face, contorted with anger she couldn't fully hide, then opened his lips.
"Do you want to be loved by me?"
"What... did you say?"
"If you want to be loved by me, bring something useful. Like how Countess Balliman offered exclusive rights to transport iron ore."
"What are you...!"
So he had a tryst with the Countess because of iron ore transport rights?
At these words that completely defied common sense, Lily's eyes widened.
"If you're trying to take credit for giving me the title of Baron Benjamin, you'd better not. That's already been settled."
Fredic's outrageous words didn't end there.
"If anything, it was a losing deal for me, but I let it slide because your situation was pitiful. I was also in a bit of a hurry for noble status."
His indifferent voice held not a shred of guilt or compassion.
"I'll take full responsibility for Mrs. Grace Benjamin's hospital bills, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't interfere in my affairs anymore. I won't interfere in yours either."
Only then did Lily clearly realize that her choice had been wrong, that her future married life would be hell.